Chapter 551: Another Method for Rapid Advancement!

Before Chen Mu left this hidden stronghold, Shen Ge had been deeply entrenched in his inner demons due to the destruction of his sect and the loss of their divine weapon. He had been determined to leave and search for the Moon Shadow Flowing Light Sword, even knowing it was a suicide mission.

In the end, it was Xue Xue Ranran who schemed to become pregnant with Shen Ge’s child, only then managing to forcibly keep him there by using responsibility and attachment as leverage.

However, because of this, Shen Ge’s temperament changed drastically. He became more silent and decadent, locking himself in the depths of the cave to seclude himself. It was less of a cultivation session and more of an escape.

"Someone, go call Shen Ge out!"

Xu Xu Qingyin ordered in a deep voice, her gaze sweeping toward one of the disciples. "Tell him, the 'Moon Shadow Flowing Light Sword' has been retrieved by Young Master Chen!"

Upon hearing this, the disciple’s spirit lifted. He quickly agreed, turned, and ran rapidly toward the depths of the cave where Shen Ge was in seclusion.

Not long after, a series of hurried and slightly stumbling footsteps echoed from the depths of the passage.

A man with disheveled hair, a haggard face, and stubble appeared, stumbling out. His originally neat white robes were now covered in dust, and his eyes were bloodshot.

It was none other than Shen Ge.

He seemed not to see the others in the cave, ignoring even Chen Mu and Xu Xu Qingyin.

The moment he rushed out, his gaze was locked firmly onto the dark blue longsword floating in mid-air, which radiated a familiar and majestic, clear lunar glow.

"Moon Shadow... Flowing Light Sword..."

Shen Ge’s lips trembled as he muttered to himself, his eyes erupting with a complex light interwoven with indescribable fanaticism, agitation, sorrow, and guilt.

He stared fixedly at the longsword, his entire body trembling uncontrollably, as if he were seeing a long-lost loved one, or perhaps his own unbearable past and heavy responsibilities.

Subconsciously, like a sleepwalker, he reached out his trembling right hand and stumbled forward, wanting to touch and grasp the divine weapon that represented everything to his sect.

Whoosh—

A gentle palm wind manifested out of thin air, striking Shen Ge precisely in the chest, sending him stumbling back several steps until he fell onto his backside.

The one who had struck was Xu Xu Qingyin.

"You bastard! Look at yourself now!"

Xu Xu Qingyin scolded sharply, her eyes filled with heartache and disappointment. "With a divine weapon before you, you do not think to thank your benefactor, nor do you reflect upon yourself, yet you act so disgracefully."

"This sword was retrieved from the forbidden grounds of the Nine Nether Sect by Young Master Chen at the risk of his own life, for you and for all of us! Hurry and thank Young Master Chen!"

Shen Ge was jolted awake by the strike and heard Xu Xu Qingyin’s words clearly.

He jerked his head up to look at Chen Mu, who was standing to the side. The fanaticism in his eyes faded slightly, replaced by deep shame, a sense of utter unworthiness, and a trace of indescribable gratitude.

He struggled to climb to his feet but dared not look at Chen Mu again. Instead, he kept his head bowed, his voice hoarse and choked with suppressed sobs.

"Chen... Brother Chen... I... I have no face to see you..."

Chen Mu looked at his state and sighed inwardly.

The Shen Ge of the past, while not a top-tier genius, had been high-spirited and a leader among the younger generation of the Moon Invitation Sect.

With the destruction of his sect, the loss of the divine weapon, and being "schemed" into staying by Xue Xue Ranran in that manner, the multiple blows had caused his mental state to nearly collapse. To be this decadent was truly lamentable.

"Brother Shen, there is no need for this."

Chen Mu spoke calmly, his tone devoid of much fluctuation, yet carrying a strange, stabilizing power. "I risked my life to retrieve this sword, firstly because it should not have been left to gather dust in the Nine Nether, and secondly, because I consider you a friend."

"Friend..."

Shen Ge’s entire body shuddered as he jerked his head up to look at Chen Mu.

Chen Mu’s gaze was clear and calm, holding not a shred of disdain or pity, only his usual indifference and sincerity.

Shen Ge’s nose stung. Unable to hold it back any longer, he lowered his head and covered his face with his hands, suppressed sobs like those of a wounded beast leaking through his fingers.

This weeping contained far, far too much.

The hatred of his sect being destroyed, the humiliation of exile, his own powerlessness, his complex feelings toward Xue Xue Ranran, and his gratitude and guilt toward Chen Mu for setting aside past grievances to risk his life to help.

The cave fell into silence, with only Shen Ge’s suppressed sobs echoing within.

The other disciples were also moved, many of them reddening their eyes as well.

Just then, the floating Moon Shadow Flowing Light Sword suddenly trembled slightly, emitting that cold and ancient voice, carrying undisguised disdain and disappointment.

"Trash! It was a waste for Little Lu to say you were the most outstanding disciple of the Moon Invitation Sect’s younger generation, and that you might inherit his mantle in the future. Look at you now—neither human nor ghost. With such a fragile heart, how can you shoulder the responsibility of the sect’s revival?"

The sword spirit’s voice was like an ice pick, piercing into the depths of Shen Ge’s heart.

His sobbing stopped abruptly. His body stiffened, and his knuckles turned white as he gripped his face.

The other disciples also held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

A flash of pain crossed Xu Xu Qingyin’s eyes, but she did not speak to defend Shen Ge.

What the sword spirit said, though sharp, was the truth.

Chen Mu watched this scene and shook his head slightly.

Shen Ge’s inner demons were not formed in a day, nor could they be resolved by the words of others.

He turned to Xu Xu Qingyin and asked a question that seemed abrupt but struck directly at the core.

"Elder Xu, besides sacrificing oneself to an earth-grade weapon in exchange for a single burst of power comparable to the Myriad Phenomena Realm, only to end up as a 'sword puppet' that is neither human nor weapon, is there any other method for rapid advancement that would allow one to gain enough power for revenge in a short time?"

This question was directed at Xu Xu Qingyin, but to some extent, it was also directed at Shen Ge—or rather, it was testing whether Shen Ge truly possessed such a resolute will to die.

"Him? He wants to sacrifice himself to me?"

The artifact spirit of the Moon Shadow Flowing Light Sword let out another disdainful snort, cutting off any thoughts Shen Ge might have harbored. "With an unsteady will and a weak soul, even if he sacrificed himself, how much power could he exchange for? I fear he would be completely scattered into nothingness before even touching the threshold of the Heavenly Palace Realm, merely dirtying my power for nothing."

Shen Ge’s body shuddered violently once more, and he buried his head even lower.

Xu Xu Qingyin remained silent for a moment, looking at Shen Ge with a complex gaze, then at the floating Moon Shadow Flowing Light Sword. Finally, she nodded slowly, her voice low and clear.

"There is indeed one other way."

The gaze of everyone in the cave instantly focused on Xu Xu Qingyin. Even Shen Ge, with his head bowed, twitched his ears slightly.

"What method?" Chen Mu asked.

"The core secret technique of the 'Sword Worship Sect'," Xu Xu Qingyin said, enunciating each word.

"Sword Worship Sect?" Chen Mu raised an eyebrow.

As one of the six great sword sects, the Sword Worship Sect was known for its frenzied sword techniques and its disciples' paranoid, warlike nature. Their sect-protecting divine weapon was named the "Sun-Chasing Sword."

He had just seen Shi Shi Kuangsheng of the Sword Worship Sect not long ago.

"Correct."

Xu Xu Qingyin explained, "The philosophy of the Sword Worship Sect differs from other sword sects. Other sects generally emphasize the mutual control between person and sword; the sword is a partner, an extension."

"But the Sword Worship Sect tends more toward 'sacrificing the person to the sword,' or rather, 'worshipping the sword'."

"They possess a core secret transmission that allows one to sacrifice a portion of their own soul and essence blood to the sect-protecting divine weapon, the 'Sun-Chasing Sword,' through special rituals and cruel trials, in exchange for the powerful strength and killing sword intent bestowed by the earth-grade weapon."

"This method is rapid and its power is immense, but the consequence is the depletion of one's lifespan!"