Chapter 359: It Was Only Brother Xu

After some time, the small house beside the waterfall.

At the very core, within a sealed meditation chamber.

Not even a sliver of light penetrated from outside; the entire chamber was utterly deep and dark.

In this heart-stopping darkness, only a bright red glow swirled—it was clearly a longsword, entirely crimson.

The meditation chamber originally held no sound.

But if one stayed long enough, a strange chopping and carving noise could faintly be heard, like metal striking metal, or wood being hacked apart…

As if it were the collective essence of all chopping, slicing, carving, hacking, and slashing sounds in the world—deeply eerie.

In the profound darkness, how much time had passed, no one knew.

Ding—!

A crystal-clear, sharp sound rang out, as if something had been severed, echoing through the chamber.

Boom!

Crimson radiance surged wildly, instantly dispelling the boundless darkness and filling the chamber with red light.

"Ah~"

A soft sigh.

The boundless crimson glow receded, and darkness once again filled the chamber—but no longer as heart-stopping as before.

Light seeped in through the door crack, reaching a level faintly visible.

There sat Xu Xing at the center of the chamber, the crimson longsword resting on his knees now gone, replaced by a tall, graceful figure clad in red.

It was Yueying.

"Finally wore down the most critical part."

Xu Xing let out a long breath, his whole body relaxing considerably.

If the connection the Xuan Realm granted him and everyone else was a chain, he had now severed the "clasp" side.

Though the other side remained, the already taut "chain" would gradually become unable to bear the strain, eventually undergoing "deformation" and finally "breaking."

The process was much faster than expected.

"If my lord feels weary, perhaps rest for a while," Yueying suddenly said. "It's no longer the past—my lord need not push himself so hard."

As his life-sword, she had accompanied Xu Xing the longest; many things even the Sword Sovereign did not know, but she knew them all.

"No need. I'm not tired at all." Xu Xing rose, rubbing his temples. "The communication channels should be fully established by now—I need to go out and check."

"And that 'Divine Path Information Container'—I should've given it to Sister and Xiang Yuanjun earlier, to pass along for me."

"Let the Daoists of the Xuan Realm build a framework first."

As Xu Xing spoke, he moved toward the door.

Yueying watched his back, pursed her lips, and unexpectedly recalled when he had once hidden alone to rest.

Back then, even the Hong Sovereign had not yet become an Immortal, so all expectations and pressures rested solely on my lord—he dared not show any sign of fatigue…

But in the end, Yueying said nothing, dissolving once more into a thread of crimson light and sinking into Xu Xing's hand.

Xu Xing didn't think much of it.

He was still pondering the "Divine Path Information Container" and the Ascension Platform.

As the meditation chamber door opened and light poured in, Xu Xing suddenly felt a sense of relief.

After all, the connection granted by the Xuan Realm—severing it was no easy task.

Moreover, he never really liked seclusion…

Like the Hong Sovereign, he preferred wandering about over locking himself away.

…

…

Still the same familiar room.

Xiang Yuanjun held aloft in her palm a pale golden prismatic crystal, its interior teeming with countless flickering threads of light—the Array Virus Generation Seven (Improved Version)!

During this time, with nothing else to do, she had improved every product sent by the Elder Lingzu.

The Ideal-Force Combat Armor had undergone a second optimization, with all metrics now highly stable.

And this time, she decided to say outright: she had improved it herself—what was there to hide?

She could also point out the flaws in her design concept for the Ideal-Force Combat Armor…

"You still want to show off your improvements to her?" Bie Xuening said coolly from across from her.

Yet now, Xiang Yuanjun could handle it easily.

"She commissioned me to improve it—I naturally must show her the results. What's there to boast about?"

Aimed for calm ease.

Bie Xuening paused, glancing at the Array Virus in her hand. "You've been rehearsing that line for a long time, haven't you?"

Xiang Yuanjun: "..."

"You're barely holding onto your aloof persona anymore."

The Sword Sovereign has been talking more and more lately!

"It doesn't matter. Everyone already knows."

"..."

Forget it.

What's the point of arguing with a net troll and a brute who only knows how to draw his sword and slash?

At that moment, a voice came from outside.

"Sister, Xiang Yuanjun."

Both froze, then turned toward the door—and saw Xu Xing had already appeared there.

"Younger brother."

"Senior brother."

Their voices sounded simultaneously.

Xu Xing walked into the room and sat directly beside the table; the Ascension Platform floated silently above it.

"How is the communication channel coming along?"

Xiang Yuanjun deactivated the array virus: "Final stability tests are complete—only waiting for the Elder Lingzu's message."

No sooner had the words left her mouth!

Hum~

The Ascension Platform emitted a faint ripple; a beam of light descended, coalescing into a graceful, slender woman in a white lab coat.

What a coincidence?

Could there be some kind of surveillance module installed on this Ascension Platform?

"Big Brother Xu, you've come out of seclusion?" Ning Ruo seemed surprised. "Wasn't this seclusion supposed to take a certain amount of time?"

"The process was faster than expected."

"Good." Ning Ruo looked up at the Ascension Platform. "I've tested it—the communication channel's stability is fine. Next, I'll route it to the Starry Sky and ask Elder You to send a sliver of power over."

"You should contact Elder Hong first," she gave her instructions with crisp efficiency, leaving Xiang Yuanjun no chance to speak.

Of course, Xiang Yuanjun knew what was important and wouldn't interrupt Ning Ruo over something like this.

He'd wait until she finished.

"Alright." Xu Xing gave a slight nod.

Then he took out the magnificent, cloud-like "Divine Path Information Container."

"I should've had Sister Ning and Yuanjun pass it along earlier, but it's not too late now."

"Hmm…" Ning Ruo didn't take it. "Let Elder You bring it later—I'm only a powerless projection, and transporting items back through the communication channel from you might trigger a fluctuation in the Tai Xuan Realm's repulsion."

Stability remains the priority now.

Hearing this, Xu Xing retracted the Divine Path Container.

"Alright."

Seeing the two had nearly finished their exchange,

Xiang Yuanjun took out the improved array virus, the nanoscale spirit insect-enhanced body-cultivation tonic, the Mind-Only Force battle armor, and a series of other items, lining them up in a row on the table.

Every single one—each detail, each component—was there!

"These are the ones you asked me to improve."

"So fast? No wonder you're Elder Yuanjun."

"It was nothing."

"Then, as before, just send me the improved data directly through this Ascension Platform."

"Should I explain the improvements to you?"

"No need. Just include all the details in the data and send it—I trust Elder Yuanjun's ability."

"Alright…"

He suddenly felt like he'd punched a sack of cotton.

"By the way, Sister Qian Shuang asked if Elder Hong has replied."

"No."

Huh?

Sister Qian Shuang is injured…

And Elder Hong won't even bother replying to ask after her?

Hmm…

Other people's family matters—better not meddle. I'll just report back truthfully.

"That's all then," Ning Ruo looked at Xu Xing, her emotions unhidden. "Big Brother Xu, I hope to see you soon."

"Once the matter is resolved, we'll return as soon as possible."

"No—I mean only you, Big Brother Xu."

She had always been this simple and direct.

"… "

With a smile, Ning Ruo's projection vanished.

Bie Xuening: "… "

Xiang Yuanjun: "… "

The room fell silent for a long while; Xu Xing hesitated, then ventured cautiously:

"Should we notify Elder Hong first?"

…………

Bright sunlight spilled down.

Illuminating the cloud sea that never dispersed.

Towering stone peaks stood silently amid the cloud sea.

At the mountain's peak, higher than the clouds, an ancient, gnarled pine grew from the cliffside; its canopy stretched across the mountaintop platform, casting dappled light through the leaves.

Hong Zun sat frowning beside a stone table, holding a thick stack of envelopes.

Each letter was written after long contemplation, tailored to each person's preferences and infused with everything he'd witnessed during this time.

He paid particular attention to Qian Shuang's injuries…

He planned to ask the Elder Lingzu to deliver them.

Though he was not in the Xuan Realm, he still constantly cared for them!

Soon, three figures solidified from emptiness and appeared beside the table.

Hong Zun was about to speak, but noticed his brother's gaze upon him was peculiar—especially when it fell upon the letter in his hand.

Huh??

He was baffled, so he gave up trying to understand and turned to Xiang Yuanjun:

"Little sister, when will the Elder Lingzu come again? I have several letters I'd like her to deliver."

"She won't come!" Xiang Yuanjun said coldly.

"…"

Come on, did you eat dynamite?

You were already angry when you sent the letter, and you're still mad now!

No no no!

Why is the Sword Ancestor also scowling?

Could it be… Brother messed up?!

Xu Xing watched as a faint smile suddenly appeared on Hong Zun's face, and his unease deepened:

"Don't worry, Hong Zun. When Elder You arrives later, you can just give him these letters to take back."

"Huh?!"

Hong Zun's expression froze—he finally realized something was wrong.

"What just happened?!"

Xu Xing blinked. "You don't know?"

"Should I know?"

He really didn't know…

"Just now, Ning Ruo came to deliver news and, on Qian Shuang's behalf, asked if you had replied."

I did!

I wrote them long ago!

Hong Zun glared angrily at his sister; Xiang Yuanjun turned her head away from him.

Come on!

Are you really going to screw over your own brother like this?!

"It's fine," Xu Xing comforted. "You can just have Elder You take them back later."

But Hong Zun felt no comfort at all.

How could that be the same! (End of Chapter)