Chapter 433: Quite a good match

Next, it was time for them to temper their natal swords.

Tempering a natal sword is no easy task; it requires the sword master to personally take part and be deeply involved.

Only thus can the bond between sword master and spirit sword be strengthened in myriad ways, and a tacit understanding develop where hearts communicate at a single point.

Yuan Yao did not, like ordinary people, eagerly use the Sword Tomb's true fire to temper her Phantom Spirit Sword, because she… knew nothing about this operation!

So she simply stepped aside and quietly watched how the experienced sword cultivators around her tempered their natal swords.

I saw some sword cultivators carefully maneuvering their natal swords slowly toward the cluster of blazing true fire on the central platform; yet even merely drawing a little closer, they were already sweating profusely, their faces as pale as white paper.

"This true fire is too fierce! If I keep forcing myself, my natal sword won't be able to bear it and will shatter outright!" a sword cultivator shouted, voice trembling.

The remaining sword cultivators also tried in turn.

Unfortunately, most of the sword cultivators returned empty-handed, failing to achieve their wish.

What's worse, a few unlucky ones not only failed to successfully temper their natal swords, but due to improper method, their natal swords snapped in two in an instant, a horrifying sight.

Seeing this, Yuan Yao couldn't help but reach out and touch her Phantom Spirit Sword.

"Are you afraid?"

Phantom Spirit Sword: Not afraid.

"I'm afraid." Yuan Yao felt a bit nervous, for she feared that improper handling would break the Phantom Spirit.

The Phantom Spirit Sword sensed her emotion and soothed: Master, even if I break, I can return to my original form. So, master, don't fear that this true fire will harm me.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao's heart eased somewhat.

She gave a soft, solemn "en."

Soon, Feng Xuanji, Bian Chen, Xiao Zhufeng, Dongfangxiu, and others took action in succession.

I saw them employing the profoundly mysterious sword control technique, carefully manipulating their natal swords to hover steadily above the true fire.

As time passed, the true fire's flames grew ever stronger, constantly licking the sword bodies.

Every wisp of flame seemed alive, precisely striking every corner of the natal swords, burning them entirely crimson.

And the areas tempered by the true fire gradually emitted a light even more brilliant and dazzling than before.

At this moment, Qian Yunzhou crossed his arms, turned his head, and looked at Yuan Yao: "You don't know how to temper a natal sword? If you don't, Brother Yunzhou can teach you."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao silently moved two steps to an empty spot nearby.

Qian Yunzhou laughed in exasperation.

"Yuan Xiao Liu, what have I, Qian Yunzhou, done to offend you that you keep avoiding me?"

Yuan Yao looked at him: "You haven't offended me."

Qian Yunzhou raised his brows: "Then why are you avoiding me?"

Yuan Yao said: "Then why do you wear a false mask when dealing with me?"

Upon hearing this, Qian Yunzhou was stunned for a moment.

Immediately, he earnestly said: "Xiao Liu, I am not wearing a false mask."

Yuan Yao corrected: "My name is Yuan Yao."

Qian Yunzhou sighed lightly: "But I like calling you Yuan Xiao Liu."

"Whatever." She said that and then ignored him, focusing intently on learning from the side how they tempered their natal swords.

At the same time, she could hear Xie Zixu's mental transmission.

While tempering his Light Cloud Sword, he transmitted instructions to himself on how to temper a natal sword.

Meanwhile, Qian Yunzhou faintly sensed sound-wave transmissions around him; he glanced at Xie Zixu, then turned his gaze back to Yuan Yao.

The two of them…

…what exactly is their relationship?

Qian Yunzhou unconsciously furrowed his brow, and the smile at the corners of his lips faded.

After Xie Zixu and the others had finished tempering their spirit swords, Yuan Yao took her Phantom Spirit Sword and stepped onto the platform.

She drew a deep breath, steadied her mind.

Next, she channeled her inner spiritual energy into the Phantom Spirit Sword, causing it to hover above the true fire.

The true fire slowly licked every part of the Phantom Spirit Sword until it turned red.

At this moment, Cang Li also arrived inside the Sword Tomb, standing guard beneath the platform to prevent anyone from harming Yuan Yao.

After half an incense stick's time, Yuan Yao's forehead beaded with cold sweat, her lips slightly pallid; she gritted her teeth and pressed on!

Meanwhile, no one noticed a few white points drifting gradually into the Sword Tomb.

The tiny white specks of light were almost invisible.

The white specks of light drifted toward Yuan Yao's direction.

Getting ever closer!

Yuan Yao was fully focused on tempering her Phantom Spirit Sword and utterly failed to notice those few white specks of light.

And just as those white specks of soundlessly drifted to the back of Yuan Yao's head, from afar a slender silver needle shot through the air, so fast that no one could react in time!

The silver needle was about to pierce the back of Yuan Yao's head; she sensed a strong sense of danger, and a momentary lapse of focus almost caused the true fire used to temper her natal sword to backfire on her.

At the critical moment, a white-clad figure flashed by, reached out, and seized the silver needle in one grasp.

The silver needle was less than half an inch from the back of Yuan Yao's head.

And those few white specks of light were also shattered to nothing by a palm strike from the white-clad youth.

Cang Li's face changed in alarm: "Yao Yao!"

The others were also startled, exchanging glances.

"Who is it?!"

Dongfangxiu narrowed his eyes and immediately pursued in the direction from which the silver needle had come.

This time, Xiao Zhufeng and Bian Chen both followed.

At this moment, Yuan Yao still suffered a slight backlash, with thin strands of fresh blood spilling from the corner of her mouth; her gaze remained firm as she continued to temper the Phantom Sword.

Xie Zixu stood behind Yuan Yao, quickly casting a defensive barrier that covered the round platform.

Not far away, Feng Xuanji saw the scene, feeling a sour and dull pain in her chest; she lowered her eyes, forcing herself not to watch.

These past days, Zixu has been far too abnormal.

How could she not see that Zixu harbors feelings for Yuan Yao?

If there were no intention, why does he always appear first to protect?

At this moment, Cang Li, after seeing that Yuan Yao was not seriously injured, relaxed slightly, and also noticed the white‑clothed youth standing behind his own junior sister.

The youth was so handsome he seemed not of this world, bewitchingly gorgeous, his brows and eyes like a painting, his thin lips untainted yet crimson; he was extremely tall, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist…

When he and the junior sister appeared in the same frame, they actually looked quite well‑matched.

With his thoughts there, Cang Li jolted awake, his gaze complex as he stared at Xie Zixu.

Xie Zixu and his own junior sister aren't even that familiar, huh?!

Why does he protect his junior sister so much?

Is it merely because his cultivation is high and his heart kind?

Cang Li's expression instantly turned serious.

He doesn't fear others liking Second Senior Sister, because if Second Senior Sister doesn't like them, they wouldn't dare approach her.

But Yao Yao is different!

Yao Yao is young!

Moreover, over these years Yao Yao has been well protected, making her temperament somewhat naive.

One is the cunning old fox spirit Qian Yunzhou, the other a peerless genius Xie Zixu.

Both of them want to get close to Yao Yao!

Although both have strong talent, appearance, and status, if they intend to deceive Yao Yao's feelings…

Cang Li filled in many details in his mind.