Chapter 69: Xiadie and Ji Juechen

In the afternoon, sunlight spilled through the window, casting mottled light and shadows in the room.

Ji Juechen responded with a sound, allowing Xiadie to enter the room.

He still kept his Heavenly Meteor Iron on his person, eyes slightly closed, existing in a mysterious and profound state.

Xiadie was not in a hurry; she found a spot in the corner and just watched quietly.

Observing Ji Juechen's cultivation—perhaps this was the same sense of déjà vu Laigushi felt when observing the Emperor's Scepter back then!

Watching her own masterpiece slowly take shape, turning into the situation she wanted to see.

Xiadie's thoughts drifted away; a "rustling" sound arose, seemingly indicating the end of the cultivation session.

Ji Juechen's half-closed eyelids opened, his gaze landing on Xiadie, and he frowned slightly.

"What is it, Excellency?"

"You are a bit different from last time." Ji Juechen pondered for a moment, organizing his words.

"I can't put my finger on it, but your aura has changed."

A flash of surprise crossed Xiadie's eyes, then she smiled lightly: "Is this the keenness of a swordsman?"

By unleashing the third soul skill, Moon Cocoon Protection, she had pulled Zhang Peng back from the Death Inscription.

Reversing the boundary between life and death, Xiadie had indeed paid a price.

The authority manifested in the form of soul power and Spirit Power was restricted to a certain degree; she would be unable to use her power normally for about a month.

Of course, her body was fine; as the vessel for the Ash-Extinguishing Golden Blood, her bloodline power was bound to be extraordinary.

Against an ordinary thousand-year soul beast, she could still smash it to death with her sand-pot-sized fist.

A martial soul is the manifestation of fragments of rules.

Ordinary Soul Masters should be unable to perceive changes at this level, nor could they discover her abnormality.

Yet Ji Juechen could vaguely sense it.

Is this what it means to sharpen a sword for ten years?

Xiadie reined in her thoughts and smiled: "A small matter happened on my end that caused a slight change in myself; it's of no consequence."

Xiadie sized up Ji Juechen and evaluated: "You are almost at the point of Unity of Man and Sword!"

The Douluo series' understanding of Sword Dao is actually quite broad; when needed, it is brought out to say how powerful it is.

When not needed, it is a useless thing.

"I always feel like something is missing." Ji Juechen's tone was slightly puzzled.

Ji Juechen could vaguely see some of Xiadie's changes, but he was not a curious person; other than the sword, he did not care much about anything else.

Otherwise, he would not have nodded and agreed without much thought when Jing Hongchen said he wanted him to exchange for two spirit herbs.

It could also be considered repaying the favor of Jing Hongchen recruiting him into the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy!

"Miss Xiadie, can you spar with me again?" The moment Ji Juechen's voice appeared, the entire room went quiet.

"I am not a swordsman; you should be able to tell by now."

Xiadie neither agreed nor refused.

Ji Juechen was silent.

He had guessed as much before, but this time it was confirmed from Xiadie's own mouth.

Xiadie's Sword Intent was very strange; it was completely inconsistent with her own aura, as if it were deliberately imitated.

The scythe Xiadie had let him observe and the black longsword Xiadie simulated were not just worlds apart; they were two different paths.

"I know what you are thinking; that is the Sword Intent of a friend of mine," Xiadie said calmly. "To keep up with his footsteps, I learned many things from him."

"He is the type of person who, even when bearing everything, can still forge ahead regardless of the cost."

"And I—" Xiadie's deep gaze looked out the window; the gentle breeze blew through her silver-purple hair, and the stirred strands appeared somewhat chaotic.

She shook her head, tidied her hair, and did not offer further explanation.

"Ji Juechen, the first time I saw you, I felt you were somewhat similar to that friend of mine."

"I am referring to that quality of staking everything on one throw."

"I don't quite understand, and I haven't met the friend you speak of, so I cannot judge." Ji Juechen's voice was slightly silent.

Regarding the cultivation of Sword Intent, Ji Juechen had walked very far on this path, and it was precisely because of this that he felt Xiadie's simulation of Sword Intent was extremely absurd.

Theoretically, unless one is killed many times and experiences it through extremely close-range contact, it is impossible to simulate another person's Sword Intent.

Ji Juechen pulled the topic back again: "Miss Xiadie, may I ask you to spar with me?"

Xiadie was silent for a long time, then finally shook her head lightly: "Apologies, let's do it next month."

"Fine."

Ji Juechen did not ask for the reason and watched as Xiadie pushed open the door and left.

At the doorway, Xiadie's footsteps paused.

She turned her head back.

"Ji Juechen."

"Sword Intent has never been a single type of energy; it is an individual's realization of their faith and will."

Xiadie's voice was very soft, yet it was as if a thunderclap had fallen into Ji Juechen's ears.

"Because everyone's experiences are different and their Daos are different, the Sword Intent of different sword cultivators varies wildly."

"Do not think about what Spirit Power is, and do not deliberately pursue what Sword Intent is."

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"What you should truly be thinking about—"

"Is why you hold the sword? What do you want to achieve with the sword in your hand?"

The voice fell.

Ji Juechen was suddenly stunned.

Why hold a sword?

This question.

He had never seriously thought about it.

The next moment.

An extremely subtle ripple spread out from within his body.

As if a sword blade that had been silent for a long time finally showed signs of being unsheathed.

A hint of a smile appeared in Xiadie's eyes.

She gently closed the room door and turned to leave.

The corridor was completely quiet.

Xiadie walked forward slowly.

So-called Sword Intent.

So-called unity of person and sword.

It was actually not the same as her; she herself was a part of the rules of death, measuring the boundaries of death with the footsteps of life, witnessing the cycle of life and death.

She could simulate a Fire-Stealing Walker, surpassing the current Bai E in certain aspects.

But in the end, she could never truly understand them, just as an Emanator could never truly understand an Aeon.

Even if the power was similar and the paths were close.

What was imitated was, in the end, only the form.

And not the essence.

Thinking of this, Xiadie shook her head gently and continued walking toward the hall.

Just as she arrived at the hall, two familiar figures came into view.

Zhang Peng.

And Wang Xian'er.

Seeing Zhang Peng standing there, Xiadie could not help but be slightly taken aback.

"Huh?

"Why is Your Excellency Zhang Peng out of bed?"

Hearing this, Wang Xian'er revealed a look of helplessness.

"He has recovered almost completely; don't you know your own soul skill?"

Sometimes, Wang Xian'er felt that Xiadie seemed a bit naturally airheaded.

"I suppose that's true."

Xiadie reacted belatedly.

After a moment of silence.

Xiadie spoke first, breaking the silence.

"What are your plans for the future, Your Excellency?"

As soon as Xiadie finished speaking, Zhang Peng did not hesitate at all, stepped forward directly, and bowed deeply.

"From now on."

"This life of mine belongs to you."

Zhang Peng's voice was not loud, but it was incomparably firm.

Wang Xian'er also quieted down; she knew the weight of these words.

In that battle at Xiemo Senlin, who would dare say they had the confidence to retreat unscathed?

Xiadie not only charged in, but also forcibly brought the person out.

She severely wounded Feng Ling and killed Wuyun.

Later, Wang Xian'er learned from Xiadie's mouth that Zhongli Wu was nearby and had also been wounded by her.

Such a battle record was enough to shock the entire continent.

Zhang Peng slowly raised his head, his eyes full of gratitude and respect, and said: "I know."

"To save me, you completely exposed yourself to the Holy Spirit Cult."

"This time, I'm afraid they will not let it go easily."

The atmosphere in the hall gradually became heavy, but Xiadie only smiled lightly.

That smile was so calm that it seemed as if she did not care at all about the coming storm.

"Since I chose to act."

"Then I will naturally bear the consequences."

"Your Excellency, there is no need to think too much; things will work out when the time comes."

The sunlight outside the window was bright.

The shadows in the distance seemed to be quietly approaching as well.

"But, so what?"

As someone who could barely be considered a child of the Destruction Aeon Hui Mie Xing Shen Nanuke, she did not fear challenges.

"Huh? Someone is here." Xiadie sensed that the magic array placed outside the villa had been triggered.

Familiar energy fluctuations, and it was three people again.

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