Song Qian Ji looked up. The shadow covering the moon rapidly expanded, like a meteor wrapped in wind, fire, thunder, and lightning crashing toward the snow plains.

He grabbed Xian Jian Chen and swiftly retreated while summoning the Spring Autumn Sword to shield them.

“Boom!”

The snow plain seemed struck by a giant fireball, and the temperature suddenly soared.

Snow accumulated over ten miles instantly melted, turning to white mist before it could become flowing water, revealing the brown frozen soil beneath thousands of years of ice and snow.

Cold winds howled, and snow mist swirled. Extremely cold and hot air currents collide.

Song Qian Ji landed gently, narrowing his eyes. He saw a heavy treasure sword embedded three inches into the ground, its blade flickering with purple flames, its hilt pointing diagonally into the night sky.

The Mountain-Guarding Sword of Hua Wei!

The earth cracked, with spider-web-like fissures spreading from the sword’s center in all directions, extending to Song Qian Ji’s feet, barely stopping before the Spring Autumn Sword.

A familiar figure slowly emerged from the swirling snow mist, right palm outstretched, and the Mountain-Guarding Sword returned to his hand: “Xian Jian Chen, you’ve been afraid to draw your sword this entire journey, hiding behind your disciple. Have you hidden enough?”

Since their last meeting, Xu Yun seemed twenty years younger. His aged face had regained its luster, his cheeks full, his eyes bright.

His body emanated the overwhelming pressure of the Transformation realm, and as he walked, he rose like a great mountain. Any cultivator who saw him would feel fear and kneel at his feet.

Unfortunately, tonight no one knelt before him.

Song Qian Ji and Xian Jian Chen had been traveling for days, looking travel-worn, yet they acted as if they hadn’t seen him.

“Did you hear that?” Song Qian Ji withdrew the Spring Autumn Sword and nudged Xian Jian Chen’s arm. “Have you ever reflected on why you’re so detested?”

Xian Jian Chen lightly stroked his sideburns, very affectedly: “Not being envied is a sign of mediocrity, especially since Master looks so handsome.”

Song Qian Ji immediately bent over, pretending to vomit: “Whose discarded face is lying on the ground.”

Originally, he wasn’t someone who enjoyed verbal sparring, nor was he skilled at arguing.

However, Xian Jian Chen was extremely talkative and sharp-tongued, and Song Qian Ji needed to conserve his spiritual energy for battle and escape, so he could only counter with words.

The two had been bickering all the way, unable to find a moment of peace.

Xu Yun’s face had turned ashen.

Tonight he had perfected his divine skill, descended from the heavens, and was eager to see the tension and fear on their faces.

But Xian Jian Chen was still Xian Jian Chen, and Song Qian Ji was still Song Qian Ji.

Xian Jian Chen even said to him: “Since you have a disciple, why not use him? If I had known teaching a disciple was so easy, with so many benefits, I would have taken a disciple two hundred years ago! You don’t understand this principle—it seems your disciple is useless.”

Song Qian Ji couldn’t bear to listen anymore and asked softly: “You’ve never been beaten up, have you?”

The Mountain-Guarding Sword trembled as if sensing its wielder’s anger, emitting a long cry.

Xu Yun sneered: “Two hundred years ago was when you massacred the Qian Kun Hall.”

Xian Jian Chen reminisced: “Back then, you were just an insignificant Golden Core elder without real power. Without me, how could you have become the sect leader?”

“Indeed, I should thank you.” Xu Yun agreed.

But his pupils were already bloodshot. The Mountain-Guarding Sword emitted scorching flames, charring the thousand-year-frozen soil.

In that nightmare two hundred years ago, Xian Jian Chen had gone on a killing spree, decimating Hua Wei Sect’s upper echelons.

Then he casually pointed at someone, tossed a jar of wine, and said from now on, you’ll be the sect leader.

With Xian Jian Chen speaking, naturally, no one dared object. The chosen person was Xu Yun.

Without Xian Jian Chen, there would be no Sect Leader Xu Yun, nor would there be a sword hanging in the Qian Kun Hall.

His power, status, and glory came from this, as did two hundred years of humiliation and fear—all thanks to this man.

Killing Xian Jian Chen meant killing his heart demon.

“No need to thank me too much; a few kowtows will do,” Xian Jian Chen laughed in response.

Xu Yun’s pressure instantly turned violent, crashing down like a mountain collapsing.

Song Qian Ji raised a sword energy barrier with the Spring Autumn Sword to block it, cold sweat beading on his forehead: “Can’t you say a few words less?”

Before his words faded, the Mountain-Guarding Sword came slicing through the air!

The wilderness stretched boundlessly without shelter or cover. Song Qian Ji had no choice but to meet the attack with his sword.

The Spring Autumn Sword was a king’s sword, while the Mountain-Guarding Sword was a mountain-protecting divine weapon. Both were divine weapons with surging fortune and majestic heavenly might. This vast, boundless place was perfect for displaying grand, domineering divine abilities.

The two swords clashed, sword light fluctuating erratically, like black and white fierce dragons roaming heaven and earth, roaring and fighting.

Moonlight was shattered by sword energy, and sword shadows covered ten miles in every direction. Song Qian Ji’s face grew increasingly pale. Besides the difference in realms, his opponent’s spiritual energy was unusually abundant, seemingly inexhaustible.

“You’re still not helping?” he shouted at Xian Jian Chen.

A short sword suddenly flew toward him.

Xian Jian Chen said: “This is the sword I used when I wreaked havoc at Hua Wei Sect two hundred years ago, named ‘Evil-Slaying.’ This sword is impervious to all evils, specifically countering the world’s heretical ways. Since all grievances began with it, let it end them.”

“So short?” Song Qian Ji changed swords and was immediately speechless.

The Mountain-Guarding Sword was sect-protecting, and Xu Yun practiced orthodox Hua Wei swordsmanship. This place wasn’t some demon’s lair in the Western Sea—what use was this ‘Evil-Slaying’ sword?

The Mountain-Guarding Sword was four feet six inches long, violent as fire. The Evil-Slaying Sword only had an impressive name, no longer than two feet, with an aura as clear as a pool of spring water.

For a moment, the “black dragon” roared freely, while the “white dragon” greatly diminished in strength.

Xu Yun laughed coldly in triumph: “Song Qian Ji, do you understand this person? Do you know his past? He is ruthless, using any means necessary. Once he retrieves his natal sword, you’ll be of no use to him. Will he still keep you around? If he truly needed a disciple, why has he wandered alone for hundreds of years?!”

If Xu Yun could kill only one more person in this world besides Xian Jian Chen, he would choose Song Qian Ji.

Qian Qu’s rise had accompanied the Hua Wei Sect’s decline. Without Song Qian Ji, his only daughter would not have defied her father and sect, stubbornly taking a deviant path.

Resolving Song Qian Ji meant eliminating future troubles.

Xian Jian Chen seemed not to hear these provocative words and continued reciting the mental cultivation method for the Evil-Slaying Sword.

The sword energy from the Mountain-Guarding Sword filled heaven and earth, and Song Qian Ji couldn’t completely shield him. Xian Jian Chen sat on the ground, allowing his clothes to be torn by sword energy, revealing streaks of blood.

“Holding the Evil-Slaying Sword, you need a clear mind, firmly believing that evil cannot triumph over righteousness. All evils are born from the heart—first cut off the thousand desires in your own heart, then slay demons and eliminate evil!” Xian Jian Chen suddenly clapped his hands and laughed. “I almost forgot—you have no great ambitions, only knowing how to guard your little plot of land. How could you have a thousand kinds of greed?”

“A plot of land already has ten thousand kinds of good; why strive for the blue sky?” Song Qian Ji smiled.

The Evil-Slaying Sword in his hand became increasingly nimble, like a flowing stream, penetrating everywhere.

Streams of clear energy washed over heaven and earth. Thick clouds shattered, moonlight reappeared, and the violent Mountain-Guarding Sword was restrained.

Xu Yun exclaimed in shock and anger: “How can this be?!”

Xian Jian Chen sighed: “You’ve cultivated a shortcut evil method. In this life, you have no chance of reaching the great Dao.”

His smile faded, his tone unexpectedly regretful.

Xu Yun’s eyes flickered: “Nonsense to the very end!”

Xian Jian Chen: “If not for this, how could the Evil-Slaying Sword counter you?”

Xu Yun shouted: “Open!”

Space shook, and a domain expanded. A real towering mountain crashed down toward Xian Jian Chen and Song Qian Ji!

Song Qian Ji had been prepared and also shouted: “Open!”

The two spaces collided. Golden light flashed and shimmered, and the towering mountain was blocked by ocean-like waves of wheat. Even the Mountain-Guarding Sword was submerged in endless wheat fields.

Seizing this opportunity, the Evil-Slaying Sword multiplied from one to ten, sword shadows striking together!

Just as Xu Yun was about to recall the Mountain-Guarding Sword, his body suddenly stiffened and fell backward.

He collapsed to the ground, staring in disbelief at the bloody hole in his chest, filled with incredulity and extreme unwillingness: “Why?!”

He had perfected his divine skill, his cultivation surpassing his opponent.

The Evil-Slaying Sword leisurely flew back to Song Qian Ji’s hand, clear energy spilling out, cleansing the devastated battlefield.

Snow mist, dust, black and white sword shadows instantly dispersed. The night sky returned to clarity, moonlight regaining its brilliance.

Xian Jian Chen stood up: “If you had come in person this time, you might have truly forced me to draw my sword. But you fear me. Even knowing I was injured and without my natal sword, you still feared me. You only dared send an avatar—this battle was destined for your defeat.”

The Evil-Slaying Sword circled Song Qian Ji, refusing to return to its sheath.

Song Qian Ji patted it like petting a small dog seeking credit: “When an avatar dies, the original body is also wounded. You cannot win the battle for Qian Qu. Withdraw your troops.”

“You think you’ve won?!” Xu Yun, sitting in a pool of blood, used his last bit of strength to slap the ground and laugh loudly. “Song Qian Ji, you truly found a good master. In this world, those who want to kill him aren’t just people!”

As soon as he finished speaking, a rumbling sound came from afar, like rolling thunder.

The sound grew closer until the ground began to shake.

It was as if a tsunami was approaching, an avalanche brewing.

Half of the Righteous Immortal Alliance was attacking Qian Qu but couldn’t break through. The other half had come to hunt down Song Qian Ji but was restrained by opposing forces, utterly exhausted.

What cards did the enemy still have to play?

Song Qian Ji looked up, his expression changing slightly, and summoned the Shadowless Sword: “Go!”

Amid the swirling snow dust, the outlines of those black shadows finally became clear. Countless beast demons roared in the sky and on the ground.

Three-headed birds’ giant wings blocked the sun and moon, iron-toothed tigers’ claws tore up the earth, silver-scaled pythons carried red-haired turtles, and golden great rocs transported silver-armed apes. Jackals, wolves, tigers, leopards, snakes, insects, rats, and ants converged into a rolling beast tide, surging toward the snow plains in a black mass.

These powerful beast demons, hibernating in underground caves and hiding in seclusion, had all awakened and mobilized at the same time, joining this great battle of the cultivation world!

“I sent people to wake them, telling them you were injured. If they devour your heart, they can heal the sword wounds you left and gain your power!” Xu Yun shouted at the Shadowless Sword in the sky.

Xian Jian Chen looked back at the black tide and laughed: “Listen to that. Master isn’t the White Dragon Horse—I’m Tang Sanzang!”

Song Qian Ji was speechless. Was this something to be proud of?

Xu Yun demanded: “Back when you fought against heaven and earth, whether cultivators, beast demons, or whatever else—any living creature with a name in the world—you fought them all. Today, the whole world wants to kill you. Don’t you regret it?”

Xian Jian Chen spread his arms, his sleeves fluttering as he laughed heartily: “What is there to regret? Born in due time, destined by heaven!”

Hearing this, Xu Yun spat out a mouthful of blood. His avatar lost its vitality and dissipated into ashes.

Song Qian Ji suddenly remembered that Xian Jian Chen in his youth wasn’t some elegant genius from an immortal family, but a struggling individual who single-handedly drove the entire cultivation world into intense competition.

The powerful beings of his era, regardless of species, could only be described as unfortunate.

“You’re such a failure as a person!” Song Qian Ji cursed while controlling the Shadowless Sword to escape. “They’ve gone mad. We’ll be caught sooner or later.”

When flying at extreme speed, if spiritual energy faltered even slightly, the flying sword’s speed would decrease.

But Song Qian Ji had no choice but to fly toward the continent’s edge across the vast snow plains.

Many ants can kill an elephant, let alone this rolling beast tide that wasn’t just a group of ants.

The snow plains were open and unobstructed, perfect for giant beasts to display their might.

“Give me another sword,” Song Qian Ji commanded.

“Which one?” Xian Jian Chen blinked.

Song Qian Ji: “You must have a beast-slaying sword. Bring it out now!”

Earlier, Wu Xiang had mentioned that besides his natal sword, Xian Jian Chen had twelve swords. Three were destroyed in his battles across the world, leaving nine.

The Shadowless Sword was for assassination, the Spring Autumn Sword was for killing treacherous officials, and the River Crossing Sword was for use on rivers—each sword was used depending on the location and who needed to be killed.

For non-human entities, there surely must be methods to counter them.

Xian Jian Chen shook his head: “When I was young, I thought that since they ate people, I should kill them. As I grew older, I gradually realized that different species need not be exterminated. Instead, I left them with enough vitality to ensure they dared not cause trouble. So those three swords capable of fighting beast demons have already been destroyed by me.”

Birds carrying land beasts pursued the flying sword. Gusts of foul wind hit their faces, and beast roars shook the air, stirring up surging blood energy.

Song Qian Ji couldn’t help but utter a word: “Damn!”

Xian Jian Chen: “I no longer have any swords that naturally counter fierce beasts. Since it doesn’t matter which sword you use, just fight casually.”

“Can I even fight them?!” Song Qian Ji shouted angrily. “Fight until the year of the monkey before reaching the Western Heaven?”

Xian Jian Chen frowned: “Then what do you suggest? You can’t expect Master to go down and fight, can you?”

First-class at attracting hatred, first-class at being useless—Song Qian Ji cursed him a thousand times in his heart.

Suddenly he paused, his right hand extending to raise a treasure box: “Come.”

“Disciple, are you under too much pressure?” Xian Jian Chen cautiously reminded him. “This box is empty, you know.”

“Wake up, it’s time to eat,” Song Qian Ji shouted to the sky. “Good boy, good boy—”

“It’s over, he’s gone mad,” Xian Jian Chen muttered.

Deep in Blood River Valley, a flower-filled immortal mountain began to shake.

Paint Spring Mountain, responding to the treasure box’s summons, slowly rose.

Amid rolling falling rocks, a beast demon resembling a long-haired giant dog emerged.

Its body rapidly expanded, growing four wings on its back and six legs underneath. It suddenly roared toward the sky, flapped its wings, and rose into the night clouds.

……

The snow plains had never been so “lively.”

As the moon set and the sun rose, a Shadowless Sword led a beast tide sweeping across heaven and earth.

Tens of thousands of frenzied beast demons relentlessly pursued the “Tang Monk’s flesh.”

Compared to the mountain-like beasts, the two figures on the sword appeared incredibly small.

They had flown for too long, growing increasingly fatigued.

“Good boy, good boy!” Song Qian Ji called repeatedly.

Xian Jian Chen suddenly remembered something: “Are you calling that Chaos Beast? That Chaos Beast has acknowledged a master—it won’t respond to your summons or obey you. Besides, I sealed it, and you imprisoned it under Paint Spring Mountain. It must hate you.”

Song Qian Ji retorted: “No, I fed it until it was full. It doesn’t hate me.”

“Fierce beasts can’t be tamed,” Xian Jian Chen said. “Chaos is one of the four great fierce beasts of ancient times, with overwhelming killing energy inside it. When it sees these frenzied beast demons, it will surely be provoked into a frenzy too, and come to eat you!”

“Roar!” A thunderous roar sounded, and a massive shadow blocked the golden light of the rising sun.

The world instantly darkened.

The roar contained ancient pressure, causing all beasts to look up.

Chaos descended from the sky like an iron wall, blocking the beast tide from the Shadowless Sword.

Chaos’s six wings stirred up powerful winds. Song Qian Ji staggered a step, nearly falling off the flying sword.

Xian Jian Chen steadied him: “See? It’s worse than ever!”

The Chaos Beast turned its head, its wet eyes gazing at them, opening its mouth to call out again. The sound was deep but without any sign of ferocity.

Xian Jian Chen frowned: “What is it saying?”

Song Qian Ji stroked the Chaos Beast’s long fur: “It says it’s sorry for being late—it flew as fast as it could.”

Xian Jian Chen was stunned into silence.