Chapter 21: The Myriad Millions of Humanity Are All My Descendants

Though the man had done nothing, Zhang Xiu still felt a cold shiver run down his back.

No! I must escape! He lunged violently toward the nearby wall.

With my current realm, I can be far beyond this neighborhood within two seconds after breaking out.

But the next moment, he was stunned to find that no matter how hard he tried, the distance remained utterly unchanged.

“After going through so much trouble to reach me, why rush to leave?”

His vision blurred, and Zhang Xiu finally came to his senses—realizing he was still standing in the exact same spot, his face darkening.

Illusion array!

An extremely sophisticated illusion array—he hadn’t even realized when he’d been ensnared.

“Who are you?”

Without doubt, this man’s realm far surpassed his own—but how could Xiao Lu be connected to someone of this caliber?

“Me? In a certain sense, you are the first person to discover me after my emergence.” Xu Xing did not conceal it.

Zzzt! As if a thunderbolt flashed through his mind, his soul trembled.

He had assumed Xu Xing was a cultivator drawn here by the disturbance of a great master’s emergence—but he never imagined it was the great master himself! How could this be?!

Why would Xiao Lu be tied to an ancient cultivator who had just emerged? “Don’t overthink it. I merely felt a karmic connection between you siblings and me, so I passed her a bit of knowledge to smooth her cultivation path.”

Zhang Xiu didn’t believe Xu Xing’s words, but still bowed and said, “Thank you, Elder, but Xiao Lu’s cultivation path will already be smoother than most—so…”

He stopped mid-sentence, staring in disbelief at Xu Xing—more precisely, at the red jade droplet in his hand.

Inside his storage ring—gone! He frantically patted his body—also gone!

“So that’s it. No wonder she achieved the first form of the Flowing Cloud Sword Art.” Xu Xing murmured in wonder, “Fascinating—someone actually thought to use these creatures’ blood in such a way.”

Blood?

Could this emerging ancient cultivator know the true nature of the red jade?! “The method of crafting this is ingenious, but it shouldn’t be used as you’ve done.”

Xu Xing looked at him and asked, “Shall I help you? But after using it, the object’s ‘form’ may vanish.”

“I dare not trouble the Elder.”

This was the only object left by his parents—he could never let it vanish, especially not through the hands of an ancient cultivator he didn’t understand.

“Very well. For your current realm, its utility is indeed limited.” The red jade vanished from Xu Xing’s hand. “It’s been returned.”

Zhang Xiu immediately checked—there, the red jade lay quietly inside his storage ring, as if it had never left.

A chill crept into his heart.

What level of powerhouse is this?! “Sit down. Ask whatever you wish—I’ll answer as best I can.”

Zhang Xiu wanted to say he had nothing to ask—but the chance to uncover clues about his parents’ demise was right before him. If he let it slip…

After a brief hesitation, he stepped forward and sat upright on the sofa.

“Elder, you mentioned the red jade is ‘blood.’ Whose blood, exactly?”

“The answer to that question is too dangerous for you at present. I suggest you join the Dragon-Elephant Pillar Heaven Sect. Once you achieve Dao Union, you’ll naturally know.”

Huh? Not only must he join a celestial sect, but also reach Dao Union?!

Just one answer—and the threshold is this high?

His parents, back then, were still a hundred thousand miles away from Dao Union.

“Is this the only way?”

“Not necessarily join a celestial sect—but Dao Union is mandatory. After all, you’re a body cultivator; joining the Dragon-Elephant Pillar Heaven Sect will make your path smoother.”

“… ” After a moment of silence, “What about Xiao Lu? What are your plans for her?”

“She has excellent combat talent. I will help her forge a Heaven-Born Dao Foundation, after which she will naturally enter my Sword Sect.”

Excellent combat talent means she must become a sword cultivator?

Then why not focus on body cultivation? Body cultivators need combat talent too!

“Because sword cultivators are cooler.”

Huh?!

Mind reading? “Not mind reading—but don’t all body cultivators think this when they hear ‘sword cultivator’?” He had no rebuttal.

In the Tai Xuan Realm, where both were recognized as brutes, the elegant, sword-wielding, wind-riding sword cultivators were far more popular than the muscle-bound body cultivators who constantly tore off their clothes.

“And do you really want your sister swinging her fists to smash people?”

Zhang Xiu: “… ”

Fine—he couldn’t even picture that scene himself.

“Anything else you want to ask?”

“… Elder, your cultivation rivals the cosmos. Why would someone of your realm care for lowly cultivators like us?” Zhang Xiu asked seriously.

Was he just bored and looking for amusement?

“Don’t think so darkly.”

You’re still using mind reading.

“I am a pioneer. Compared to you, I’ve merely walked a little longer.”

“When I first began cultivation, I was guided and protected by countless elders. Now that I’ve reached this point, I must likewise protect the next generation, as they once protected me.”

This answer was truly unexpected.

“But I’m not a member of your Sword Sect,” Zhang Xiu frowned.

Hearing this, Xu Xing looked at him: “Of the billions of human beings in the Tai Xuan Realm, all are our descendants.”

…………

In the gray, hazy space, Zhang Yunlu sat cross-legged, strands of gray mist flowing and converging into the gaping wound in her abdomen.

All other injuries on her body had fully healed.

【Killed: Qi Refining Ninth Layer Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Art Perfected】

【Time: Three minutes ten seconds】

Golden text appeared, followed by a smooth, round pill.

Zhang Yunlu opened her eyes and snatched the pill into her mouth.

The pill’s power took effect swiftly—her depleted dantian spiritual power rapidly restored, and grew significantly stronger.

Hadn’t she been asleep? Then why could she still sense her dantian’s spiritual power?

Why did she feel pain when injured? Was this truly how it felt when life drained away?

Many questions weighed on her mind, but she had no energy to explore them now.

Nearly a hundred unrestrained life-or-death battles had propelled her Flowing Cloud Sword Art forward at breakneck speed—she had mastered all subsequent forms, and now even a sword cultivator who had perfected the Flowing Cloud Sword Art could not defeat her.

【Enemy: Qi Refining Ninth Layer Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Art Perfected】

【Defeating him will end this trial】

Seeing that line, Zhang Yunlu’s eyes finally gleamed with spirit.

Finally, it can end!

She finally understood why Xu Xing had so confidently assured her she could master the Flowing Cloud Sword Art.

It was all built on sheer blood and death! Energized, she rose and gazed into the depths of the gray mist.

Tap, tap! The familiar sword cultivator’s shadow appeared again—faceless, his spiritual power equal to hers.

Kill him, and she could leave!

This time, Zhang Yunlu decided to strike first! Her toes lightly tapped the ground, and as she lunged toward the sword cultivator’s shadow, she slashed out five sword beams—still not her limit!

A clang of metal on metal rang out.

Puff! The blood she spat dissolved into gray mist.

Zhang Yunlu, pierced through by multiple sword beams, flew backward like a rag doll—while the sword cultivator’s shadow advanced without mercy, thrusting his blade straight through her brow.

【Enemy: Qi Refining Ninth Layer Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Art Perfected】

【Challenge Failed】

(End of Chapter)