Chapter 349

349. Chapter 349 Sui Xian Sword Spirit

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Protagonist:

Yu Zhangsheng

Yu Zhangsheng was slightly stunned; the purple child's voice carried the unique tenderness of a young child, and paired with those innocent, bewildered eyes, for a moment it actually left Yu Zhangsheng in a trance.

"This little one……"

Yu Zhangsheng shook his head, smiling faintly, yet an inexplicable shame rose in his heart, a shame of coaxing a child, growing ever more distinct.

After suppressing the thoughts in his heart, Yu Zhangsheng let out a light breath, composed his expression, turned his head to look at this Sword Cliff, thought for a moment, and took out the Beast Skin Map.

"Hum hum hum……"

The Beast Skin Map had just appeared when the dark red light spots on it suddenly emitted a dazzling radiance; following that, a drop of vivid red blood, revealing ancient ages and endless pressure, slowly rose and emerged from within.

The moment it appeared, the sword marks engraved on the Sword Cliff suddenly shed specks of sword light, abruptly lighting up, extremely abrupt; violent Sword Intent rampaged through the Void, the Void humming in response.

Countless spirit-light-gleaming treasure sword shadows, dense and numerous, suddenly emerged all around, weaving back and forth, their sword light astonishing; even the surrounding Purple Bamboo temporarily avoided the sharp edge, retreating one after another, the scene momentarily magnificent.

"This is……"

Yu Zhangsheng widened his eyes, watching quietly, and the purple child also stood frozen in place, gazing blankly at this scene, a trace of longing and confusion showing on the small face.

"Wu wu wu……"

Sword Intent pierced the heavens, suddenly stirring waves; like a calm water surface into which a stone is suddenly thrown, water splashing, reflecting one strange beast phantom after another, each emitting a terrifying and distinct aura, blending with the Sword Intent, shining together, intertwining with each other.

Beast roars resounded; one strange beast after another soared and trod, descending endless auspiciousness, radiance blooming — some shaped like deer, a pair of giant horns turning into sky-reaching trees, a light step and wherever they passed withered wood met spring, all things shining; some shaped like phoenixes, feathers scattering seven-colored divine light, a gentle brush and all sounds stilled, lotuses born in the Void; more had flying dragons in the sky, emitting boundless ice-cold within a sea of fire…… wind-and-thunder eagles' wings swung once, lightning flashing and thunder roaring……

One strange beast after another, dense and numerous, each displaying divine abilities; though merely phantoms and not truly existing, the feeling they gave Yu Zhangsheng was still enough to shock.

Yu Zhangsheng stood frozen, watching this scene quietly, his heart surging.

Sword Intent turned into a cloak of myriad beasts, sword followed beast movement, beasts danced and sword slashed, the two complementing each other perfectly; even with Yu Zhangsheng's vision, in the end he could only sigh in admiration, finding no flaw.

Boom!

Specks of radiance exploded; the surrounding Purple Bamboo recoiled in alarm, the Sword Cliff trembled, the patterns on it blazing with light, one shocking crack after another bursting open along the patterns; thus soil and stone flew, light bloomed from beneath the patterns, continuously twisting and rotating, slowly transforming into a door-shaped vortex! "Whoosh!"

A pillar of purple light piercing heaven and earth shot from within toward the dome of heaven, and these sky-full phantom swords and beast shadows also seemed to be drawn, climbing continuously along this purple heaven-piercing light pillar.

For a moment, sharp edge fully revealed, violent fluctuations rippled outward in rings, resounding to the clouds; wherever they passed, they stirred huge wind waves; even the Purple Bamboo covering the mountains actually converged their purple radiance, as if in awe!

And the commotion here was too vast, to the extent that even people at the edge of the outside world could see it clearly.

One by one they blanked for a moment, then their expressions turned to fanaticism and greed.

"That is…… such strong Sword Intent, such heavy Beast Might?"

"Heaven-sent omen, looks like a treasure is definitely born! Still inside Zizhu Mountain, this kind of forbidden zone, a treasure appearing is not surprising!"

"This kind of imposing presence, this treasure is extraordinary! I must have it! Even if I can't enter, taking a look at the edge would do!"

"Zizhu Mountain upheaval! Suspected world-shaking treasure appeared, come quickly!"

……

Thus, in an instant, winds rose and clouds surged; as long as they were nearby, countless cultivators noticed Zizhu Mountain, and even those with powerful cultivation bases had already attempted to penetrate deep into the forbidden zone, pursuing and arriving.

Among them were Wu Zhou cultivators, and also Qingzhou cultivators……

After all, Zizhu Mountain as the edge of Wu Zhou and the boundary line with Qingzhou, encountering cultivators from both states was not strange at all.

The outside world's situation changed, while inside Zizhu Mountain, after Yu Zhangsheng and the purple child collected their minds, they looked at each other, thought for a moment, and Yu Zhangsheng actively took the purple child's small hand, lightly stepping into this vortex.

"Let's go, enter and take a look."

Blinding radiance bloomed, occupying the entirety of Yu Zhangsheng's vision; his mind also followed with a bout of dizziness, and when he opened his eyes again, the world before his eyes had already completely changed.

The sky was a starry sky clear as washed, stars dotted, starlight like fireflies, a bright moon hung high, myriad stars arching toward the moon; beyond the starlight, the dark blue dome of heaven looked mysterious and also very beautiful.

And the earth was like a water surface wave, reflecting the dome's stars; a light step upon it instantly rippled with water light, ring after ring of ripples spreading, extremely strange and wondrous.

Between heaven and earth, light was very dim, only starlight and moonlight mixed together, illuminating the four directions, like fireflies like a dream, slowly drifting down.

"Here……"

Yu Zhangsheng swallowed a mouthful of saliva, pressed down the shock in his heart, subconsciously gripped his palm — empty, nothing.

"Hm?"

Yu Zhangsheng frowned slightly; the purple child who had been holding his hand just now, in the instant of entering, was separated from him by a strange force, obviously entering a separate space alone.

Retracting his gaze, Yu Zhangsheng also did not mind overly; after taking a deep breath, he slowly walked forward, each footfall igniting layer upon layer of ripples on this earth, starlight winding around, quite poetic and picturesque.

"Here, interesting."

Yu Zhangsheng muttered softly, footsteps not stopping; after nearly an incense stick's time, amid the surrounding starlight, he slowly halted his steps, gaze looking toward the front.

There seemed to be the core of this space; specks of blue light converged, an ancient dark blue sword inserted into the ground, ring after ring of invisible blue ripples brewing continuously with this as center.

This sword, seven feet six inches high, carved with dragons and phoenixes on it, one profound pattern after another engraved, glowing with dark blue light; inserted into the earth, the sword body ancient, bearing the mottled marks of time, its surface pitted and hollowed, as if having followed its master through countless battles, unable to bear the burden, already become damaged beyond repair.

On the sword hilt, two characters, even after the baptism of years and the sedimentation of time, still shone brilliantly.

"Sui Xian……"

Yu Zhangsheng's mouth opened slightly, softly reading these two characters aloud.

Sui Xian, that is the name of this broken sword.

The two characters fell, as if triggering some opportunity; a faint breeze blew past, brushing past the starlight and also blowing toward this broken sword Sui Xian.

"How many years has it been, has someone come again?"

"Years are long, this aura, seems familiar……"

A vicissitudinous heavy voice suddenly reverberated in this starlight land, tone faint, as if falling from antiquity into the present, shaking the soul, piercing heart and lungs.

"Hu hu hu……"

A breeze blew past; at first it was just a single point, swaying a point of starlight. As the sound reverberated, it gradually grew larger, slowly transforming from wisps of breeze into something like a violent storm. Thus, the starlight was swept up, rushing toward that Central Sui Xian Sword, and under the ceaseless convergence… gradually, an illusory figure faintly emerged from within this Sui Xian Sword, vividly perching upon this Sui Xian Sword Hilt.

This figure stood with a slightly hunched back, a head of white hair fluttering in the wind. The face appeared to still be that of a youth, gaze profound, as if a sea of stars revolved within. The nose bridge was high, thin lips faint, eyebrows like great dragons undulating, majesty fully possessed.

The only strange thing was the crow's feet at the corners of his eyes, and the mottled, slack state of skin from the passage of years, forming a bizarre harmony that also betrayed his age. The body was illusory, not a physical entity, but a Spirit Body state. "Sword Spirit?"

Yu Zhangsheng was slightly surprised, looking at this Spirit Body, and let out an involuntary cry of alarm.

"Hm?"

At this moment, on the face of the Sui Xian Sword Spirit Gu Jing Yu Bo, only when he turned his head to look at Yu Zhangsheng did he slightly raise an eyebrow. The corners of his mouth revealed a faint smile, and he lightly floated before Yu Zhangsheng. Fingers covered in wrinkles lightly pointed at Yu Zhangsheng.

"You… are very strange."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit spoke lightly, eyebrows also slightly undulating, eyes narrowing slightly. His gaze carried scrutiny, and even more so, curiosity.

"Let me ask you, what cultivation method do you practice?"

Just as Yu Zhangsheng was in a daze, this Sui Xian Sword Spirit took the lead to ask softly. His voice carried vicissitudes mixed with a hint of bewilderment, yet his expression revealed not a shred of it. A pair of profound eyes, like bottomless black holes, stared straight at Yu Zhangsheng.

Yu Zhangsheng returned to his senses, looking at the Sui Xian Sword Spirit before him. He lightly exhaled a breath, and a respectful expression swiftly surfaced on his face. He lowered his head, cupped his fists in a bow, and said:

"Greetings, Qian Sui. This junior cultivates the Myriad Spirits Resolution."

The words had just fallen when this Sui Xian Sword Spirit nodded with an 'as expected' expression. In his gaze upon Yu Zhangsheng, a ghostly light flashed and vanished. He spoke faintly: "Indeed so. The Myriad Spirits Resolution. This cultivation method — unexpected that someone could still cultivate it to success?"

Yu Zhangsheng remained silent, cupping his fists without a word, yet the respect on his face did not diminish in the slightest.

He could sense that this Sui Xian Sword Spirit before him, though a ruined body, possessed remaining power that could pinch him as easily as child's play.

"Where did you cultivate this method from?"

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit lowered his head and glanced at Yu Zhangsheng, brows slightly furrowed, continuing to ask faintly. In the depths of his eyes, a thread of vigilance was deeply concealed.

"It was learned from my Master."

Yu Zhangsheng continued to answer softly, speaking truthfully.

"Your Master?"

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit was stunned for a moment, then shook his head, slowly flying to before Yu Zhangsheng, four eyes meeting.

"What manner of person is your Master?"

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit continued to ask, revealing an interested expression, smiling lightly.

"My Master, he…"

Yu Zhangsheng hesitated for a moment, looking at the Sui Xian Sword Spirit. Ten thousand speculations flashed through his heart, but in the end he still spoke substantively.

"My Master, his surname is Wei, given name Zhenggui. Everyone calls him Wei Lao."

"Interesting, interesting."

Hearing this, the smile on the Sui Xian Sword Spirit's face slowly widened.

"Then your Senior Brother?" The Sui Xian Sword Spirit probed, gaze flickering.

"My Senior Brother is called…"

Yu Zhangsheng paused, deeply exhaled a breath, gaze bright and piercing. Meeting the Sui Xian Sword Spirit's gaze, he said word by word: "Cao, Jin, Xian."

The three words fell. The air abruptly stilled, and even the starlight rippling in the Void ceased its shimmering.

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit drew close to Yu Zhangsheng, nearly pressing against Yu Zhangsheng's cheek. A pair of eyes aligned with Yu Zhangsheng's pupils. His complexion returned to calm, as if wanting to read something from Yu Zhangsheng's pupils.

Yu Zhangsheng's face did not change color. He openly met the other's gaze.

"Say it again. Who is your Senior Brother?"

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit maintained this posture without moving. Under the four eyes meeting, he spoke in a deep voice, his tone carrying a thread of gravity, as if this matter was very important to him.

"Senior Brother," Yu Zhangsheng's tone unchanged, said softly, "Cao Jinxian."

Boom—! The Sui Xian Sword trembled. A soaring Sword Qi erupted with a resounding boom, straight inserting into the clouds. Thus, the star sea shook, the myriad stars trembled. Like wave after wave of wind and waves on the earth of a lake surface, under this Sword Qi they all began to surge.

Thus, the Sword Qi like a flood, surged forth, carrying an unstoppable momentum and sharpness, rushing straight at Yu Zhangsheng.

Yu Zhangsheng's complexion remained as before. His feet were as if rooted to the ground. He let the violent storm rage; he himself stood erect and unmoving, calmly facing all the world's shifting winds and clouds.

In the end, this Sword Qi like a flood rushed to before Yu Zhangsheng, yet abruptly halted at a distance of one chi from Yu Zhangsheng's face.

Only wisps of Sword Wind brushed past Yu Zhangsheng's cheeks, severing a few strands of the long hair at his temples.

After a long while, the Sui Xian Sword Spirit slowly floated before Yu Zhangsheng. In his gaze upon Yu Zhangsheng there was a touch of surprise, but in the end he smiled faintly and said:

"Good that you did not lie. Heart of inquiry, no fault. Unexpected that after so many years, Wei Lao actually accepted another disciple. Good."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit spoke, lightly nodding at Yu Zhangsheng, eyes holding deep meaning.

"Is the old man doing well?"

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit asked with a touch of nostalgia.

Yu Zhangsheng lightly bowed, answering softly: "Master has been everything well recently. No need for concern."

"Mm, it has been too long."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit nodded, lightly sighed, then straightened his expression and lightly coughed twice.

"Presumably, you have also guessed. I am the Sui Xian Sui Xian Sword's Sword Spirit, and also the controller of this Yiji Dong Fu. My Master, who is also your Senior Brother, is Cao Jinxian."

After mentioning Cao Jinxian's name, Yu Zhangsheng clearly saw that on this Sui Xian Sword Spirit's face, involuntarily, a thread of self-satisfaction emerged.

"Mm. Guessed it." Yu Zhangsheng nodded. From the start, from the moment he saw the Sui Xian Sword, he understood this was Cao Jinxian's companion sword. After all, the two words 'Sui Xian'… had already revealed much.

Sui Xian… Sui Xian… Does it not mean following an Immortal, or Cao Jinxian…? "Since so, I will not speak more nonsense."

The Sui Xian Sword Spirit thought for a moment, lightly shaking his head:

"Although by seniority you are my Master's Junior Brother, here it is still I who have the final say. If you want to gain the inheritance from within, you must still pass the Trial. After all, only those with sufficient talent gaining the inheritance can avoid besmirching my Master's reputation." (Chapter End)