Chapter 259: The Sword

The sea-side pavilions stand in dense rows, with the Dragon Palace towering majestically in the distance.

The former bustle and clamor have long vanished.

Of the Seven Palaces, Nineteen Halls, and three hundred and sixty pavilions, only a few Sacred Chosen remain to guard the scarce resources, never leaving.

Jiang Jian rode Long Que and landed before the Dragon Palace’s gate tower.

The next moment, the jet-black phoenix flapped its wings and dissolved into black light.

Jiang Jian lifted his head, glanced at the majestic gate tower, and walked straight into the Dragon Palace without any obstruction.

From the Dragon Palace’s gate tower all the way to Qiushui Palace.

Along this path, only a few scattered water soldiers patrolled.

They wore blank expressions, hurried past Jiang Jian’s side, cast him only a single glance, and uttered not a single word.

In recent times,

most of the Dragon Palace’s scarce resources have been plundered and consumed.

Its rules have changed; the celestial qi has grown increasingly thin.

Only the Seven Palaces and Nineteen Halls still hold a few renewable spiritual items of slight value.

Most academy students have gradually left this place.

Even the native beings of Lihai, those who once held the seal-imprints in the pavilions, abandoned their sacred seals and departed to cultivate elsewhere.

“Stop, intruder.”

Before Qiushui Palace, a water soldier blocked Jiang Jian’s path with a long halberd.

Jiang Jian halted and asked: “Is Shen Qingchanyi still here?”

Upon hearing that name,

the water soldier first froze, then snapped back to awareness, sized up Jiang Jian, and softened his tone: “You know our palace mistress’s name? Which demon general are you?”

Jiang Jian gave a slight nod, confirming Shen Qingchanyi was still here, then stepped forward—his form instantly dissolved into black light!

The water soldier stood stunned for a moment, staring at the empty steps, rubbed his eyes, and muttered: “Where did that man go?”

“Did I drink too much? Am I seeing things?”

The water soldier looked around but saw not a soul; he let out a bitter laugh, pulled a wine flask from his waist, and took another gulp.

Fuhai Cave.

Amid interwoven black light,

Jiang Jian’s form materialized, gazing into the cave’s depths.

When he had just used his last remaining qi to cast “Close Distance, Far Horizon,”

he sensed

that Qiushui Palace, too, was empty.

Of the Spring Fountain Demon Generals, fewer than one in ten remained.

The palace’s water soldiers numbered only dozens.

Suddenly,

the water curtain of the cave dissolved silently.

Shen Qingchanyi, dressed in a plain white dress, stepped down from the stone platform and looked toward Jiang Jian.

Her expression held surprise and complexity.

Behind her,

followed a girl in a red dress.

She was none other than the former Spring Dawn Flower Spirit, who had broken free from her cage and become a demon spirit.

Jiang Jian stepped forward, landing before Shen Qingchanyi, and said gravely: “How many times can you still use your innate divine ability?”

The girl in white realized something was amiss, studied Jiang Jian closely, changed expression, and instinctively replied: “I haven’t used it in a long time—it’s at full capacity.”

“I only expended a little while ago, while sewing clothes.”

She held the Zhao Ming longsword at her waist.

Her cultivation was steady, her spiritual aura thick and profound.

Clearly, her realm had reached great depth.

Jiang Jian entered Fuhai Cave and spoke succinctly: “If you still have strength left, immediately use your technique to help me restore my soul.”

The Weaving Fate ability, when used with its origin,

like the storage mechanism of Han Guang Divine Sword, has stage limitations.

Previously,

Jiang Jian entrusted Qiushui Palace to Shen Qingchanyi and provided her with vast resources to aid her cultivation.

All for the day when

she could use her innate ability to mend his soul.

“Sacred Chosen, you truly have soul damage.”

Shen Qingchanyi steadied herself, stepped onto the water platform, and pulled out a garment: “This is what I wove recently using my divine ability, as a token of gratitude.”

Jiang Jian stepped forward, extended his sleeve to receive the garment, and murmured: “Thank you.”

In his view,

his relationship with Shen Qingchanyi was likewise a transaction.

This robe,

was no different from the earlier moon-white robe.

The difference was,

the “Weaving Fate” technique within it was far more concentrated.

After changing into the robe,

Jiang Jian immediately sensed his soul’s cracks beginning to slowly heal as soft white light surged forth!

The speed of this healing was rapid, far exceeding his original expectations!

“Heaven-given talent, truly extraordinary.”

Jiang Jian’s spirit stirred slightly.

A hint of delight appeared in his expression.

The move he had casually made earlier had, at this moment, proven immensely valuable!

The girl in red stepped forward, looked at Jiang Jian, her eyes filled with gratitude, and bowed: “Chunxiao greets the Sacred Chosen.”

Her freedom, her becoming a true sentient being, was all thanks to Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian shook his head, signaling she need not bow.

Chunxiao bit her lip, staring at Jiang Jian’s moon-white robe, and said: “This robe was stitched by the palace mistress with countless hours of effort, day and night.”

“Every stitch, every thread, was done with utmost care.”

“If this robe truly helps the Sacred Chosen, the palace mistress will surely be delighted.”

Hearing this,

Shen Qingchanyi did not deny it; instead, she met his gaze calmly and openly: “My mother taught me since childhood: one must repay kindness.”

“Since I began cultivation, the Sacred Chosen has helped me greatly.”

“When I am able, I naturally must do something for you.”

As she spoke, she never once looked away from Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian fell silent briefly, then said: “Shen Qingchanyi, you’ve done me a great favor.”

Shen Qingchanyi tilted her head slightly, smiled, and said: “The reason I stayed here with Chunxiao, and didn’t leave, was because I feared you might not find me.”

As she spoke,

she stepped onto the water platform and activated the “Weaving Fate” ability.

One after another, soft white lights wove through the air, descending to envelop Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian said no more, sat cross-legged on the ground.

He cooperated with Shen Qingchanyi’s innate technique, slowly healing his soul’s fractures, bit by bit.

The white light seeped into his soul,

causing the once jagged fissures on its surface to gradually shrink and heal.

As time passed,

Shen Qingchanyi’s face grew paler.

Her surrounding spiritual aura began to tremble slightly!

Yet she clenched her teeth, her body shaking, and persisted without yielding.

Jiang Jian kept his eyes shut, clad in the moon-white robe.

His terrible soul fractures were mending at an unimaginable speed!

Since beginning cultivation,

aside from his soul’s shattering and reassembly,

this was the first time Jiang Jian had truly repaired his soul at its core.

After an unknown length of time,

Chii!

The girl in white collapsed, blood seeping from her lips!

She knelt on the water platform, her face as pale as paper, utterly drained of strength to activate any technique.

Jiang Jian opened his eyes and stood up.

Vortices surged within his pupils.

A terrifying spiritual aura spiraled around him!

Under the full activation of Shen Qingchanyi’s “Weaving Fate” technique, the cracks in her original soul had mended to an unimaginable degree!

Only three deeper fissures still remained.

All other minor cracks had been completely repaired!

At the same time.

The foundation of her soul had healed over half.

Her two-stage spiritual essence resumed rapid circulation.

All her meridians and acupoints began healing at rapid speed!

Jiang Jian looked at the girl in the plain white dress, his expression calm.

He sensed it.

All the spiritual origins Shen Qingchanyi had accumulated since beginning her cultivation had been utterly consumed.

From this point onward.

For a long time.

She would be unable to activate the “Weaving Fate” technique again.

“Shen Qingchanyi.”

“Take this sword for now.”

Jiang Jian flipped his palm gently, and starlight gathered.

In his hand, it formed a three-foot snow-white sword.

Han Guang Divine Sword.

Earlier, during their journey.

Jiang Jian had ordered the guide emissary to bring a large quantity of ghostly spiritual items from the Tenth Hall of Yinshan.

The storage of Han Guang had been completely filled, nearly boiling over!

At this moment.

Holding Han Guang Divine Sword, she could unleash three strikes!

Each slash would carry an utterly terrifying power!

Once,

in the underworld, Cangzhou Prefecture,

Jiang Jian had used Han Guang’s stored power—its peerless frost-edged blade and piercing momentum—to slay the Divine Palace realm “Wu Jian Yin Zhu” outright!

“If you encounter danger, activate this sword.”

“This sword is called Han Guang; it can strike three times.”

“If fully activated, it can repel an ordinary Divine Palace cultivator.”

“After the three strikes, it will dissolve into light and return to me.”

Jiang Jian stepped before Shen Qingchanyi, his pale, slender fingers loosening slightly.

The frost-white longsword hovered before her.

(End of Chapter)