Chapter 508: Horses Keep Running, Dances Keep Going

"Lord Shen, no need to look; this is not a trap!"

Watching Shen Yu's cautious and wary demeanor, Qinghan across from him smiled lightly. This smile was like a spring breeze brushing against one's face, like a hundred flowers in full bloom.

"So, the young lady went to such lengths to lure me here?" He guarded himself inwardly; if the other party wanted to use a Beauty Trap, they had miscalculated.

He, Shen Yu, was a man of integrity, unmoved even when sitting with a woman!

It wasn't him bragging, but never mind this woman in front of him just smiling at him. Even if she were dancing in front of him without any clothes on, he would absolutely just smile slightly and remain as steady as a mountain!

It was just that this Miss Qinghan before him gave him a faint feeling of being extremely powerful.

At his level of cultivation, the only ones who could make him feel they were powerful were likely those of the same realm. Could it be that this Miss Qinghan was actually a True Soul Realm expert?

How could a True Soul Realm expert spend so much time acting out a play with the people of Qiaoshan Village? Was she bored out of her mind?

"Lord Shen, you think too highly of yourself. I had only heard of your reputation, so I just happened to lure you here while I was at it. Having one more helper is always better than doing it myself!"

"Are you so sure I will help you?"

"Of course, because I believe no one can resist the temptation!"

Looking toward the inside of the palace, there seemed to be a fire burning in Qinghan's eyes, revealing not greed, but a look of determination.

"Does Lord Shen know what is sealed in here?"

"I have heard the people of Qiaoshan Village mention it; it seems to be an extremely terrifying person. If he were to emerge, it would mean a thousand miles of bloodshed and a million corpses!"

"Is that what the people of Qiaoshan Village told you?"

Unable to help but laugh again, Qinghan then said, "The world often spreads rumors, and by now, even the guardians who protect this place have forgotten what it is they are guarding."

"True, the current Qiaoshan Village is not worthy of being called guardians at all; they are just a group of ordinary villagers who cannot even fill their bellies!"

"Let me tell you, what is sealed inside is not a person at all, but a sword."

"A sword that, as long as anyone knows of its existence, they will risk everything and fight desperately to seize it!"

"A sword?" Frowning, Shen Yu then smiled lightly, "If there were such a good thing, Miss Qinghan would have swallowed it alone long ago; why would you want me to participate?"

"What do you think!" Stretching out her hand fully, Qinghan seemed to press into the void. Suddenly, a terrifying force of counter-shock came through, making her take three steps back before she could stand firm.

"True Soul Realm!" This fleeting aura made Shen Yu narrow his eyes slightly; his guess was indeed correct, she was a True Soul Realm expert.

"Lord Shen has seen it too. It has been two years; I have tried for two years, and with my own strength alone, I simply cannot take it away."

"A precious sword has a spirit; perhaps it feels I am not worthy. After all, it is a sword that once followed Mu Zishan!"

"This is Mu Zishan's sword? Are you talking about that Mu Zishan who entered the Forbidden Land?"

"What kind of look is that? Of course it is him! Who else in this world is named Mu Zishan, and who else is worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as him!"

Mentioning Mu Zishan, Qinghan's face was full of pride, as if knowing Mu Zishan was a matter of great honor. Well, it seemed it was indeed a matter of considerable honor.

"When I saw Mu Zishan for the last time, he was holding this sword in his hand!"

"Have you really seen Mu Zishan? Are you sure you aren't lying to me?"

"What, Lord Shen doesn't believe me? Not only have I seen Mu Zishan, I have even guided him."

"The Mu Zishan of those days was still a green, reckless young lad who knew nothing but dared to practice blindly. If I hadn't found him pleasing to the eye and guided him, he would have been crippled long ago!"

"It's a pity, things have changed and the world has shifted. Later, when he became the best in the world, the new replaced the old!"

"This, Miss Qinghan is truly a person of character. Miss, may I ask, how old are you exactly?"

Shen Yu could feel that she was speaking very sincerely, without a hint of falsehood. It was likely she really had seen Mu Zishan and really had guided him.

Calculating the time, it had been over a hundred years since Mu Zishan voluntarily entered the Forbidden Land.

Before that, Mu Zishan had roamed the martial arts world for several decades, suppressing the entire world until it could barely breathe.

That is to say, this seemingly delicate girl who looked eighteen was actually at least one hundred and some years old, or even two hundred.

By that count, wasn't she older than his grandfather's grandfather? A centenarian old maid—today he had truly seen something new!

"What kind of look is that? Lord Shen, it is not polite to ask a girl's age so recklessly!"

Looking at Shen Yu, Qinghan's aura suddenly erupted, rushing straight toward him as if to drown him in this ten-thousand-foot wave.

"Lord Shen, let us reintroduce ourselves. My name is Qing Han, 'Qing' as in 'allure', 'Han' as in 'cold'. The previous 'Qinghan' was my stage name; Lord Shen, do not remember it wrong!"

"Miss Qing Han has such powerful strength!" Responding faintly, Shen Yu similarly revealed his own aura.

Like a sword that tore through the void and severed time, the Sword Intent appeared and instantly crushed the opponent's aura.

"Hum!" Suddenly, a sword hum sounded. It seemed to be trembling, seemed to be cheering, and seemed to be roaring, echoing with Shen Yu's Sword Intent while faintly resisting it.

In an instant, before Shen Yu's eyes, there appeared a thousand miles of corpses and a monstrous sea of blood; an infinite killing intent surged in his heart, as if he could not help but want to slaughter everything.

"That sword is about to emerge. Mu Zishan really did tell Qing Han the location!"

After the sword hum sounded, several people suddenly looked toward the direction of Xiaozhou from afar. On every one of their faces, there was neither sorrow nor joy, as if no expression could be seen at all.

"It is a pity that this sword cannot be used by me!"

"What, are you tempted?"

"Of course I am tempted. That is Mu Zishan's sword; I don't believe you are not tempted!"

"The Mu Zishan of those days relied on this sword to break through his limits. Such a supreme treasure, how could you not be tempted!"

With a cold snort, one of the old men said faintly, "It is just that after Mu Zishan broke through, he sealed this sword back in its original place; we have no chance to see it."

"So what if we are tempted? That sword belongs to Shen Yu, and it can only belong to Shen Yu!"

"In these last few years, the Spirit Qi has been growing slowly; you should be clear about this point. Mu Zishan is about to be unable to hold on!"

"If Mu Zishan cannot hold on, the Spiritual Qi Surge will no longer be suppressed. Once those old monsters wake up one after another, what awaits us will be a catastrophe!"

"Who among you has the confidence to block it, and who can guarantee that you will definitely survive after the Spiritual Qi Surge?"

"Therefore, what we must do is make him, Shen Yu, become the second Mu Zishan!"

"This world must have sacrifices, right? For the sake of the world, someone must die. I believe this Lord Shen Yu will certainly not mind dying for the world, just like Mu Zishan did back then!"

"Hahaha!" Looking at each other, they all laughed out loud. If others do not go to die, how can they survive?

They have lived long enough, enjoying power and status beyond what ordinary people can imagine. They are unwilling to give up this power, and even more unwilling to give up their own lives.

Yet the arrival of the Spiritual Qi Surge would not stop just because they were reluctant; this matter hung over their heads like a sharp blade, never knowing when it might fall.

Especially in these recent years, the slow increase of Spirit Qi has only heightened their sense of crisis.

They are very clear on the consequences if Mu Zishan cannot hold on; once the Spirit Qi becomes dense to a certain degree, those old monsters will awaken from their places of slumber.

The first thing these old monsters do upon waking is hunt for food, as years of slumber leave them weakened to a certain extent, and only through hunting can they rapidly restore their own power.

And they, who were originally at the very top of the martial arts food chain, enjoying supreme power, are the most delicious prey for these old monsters.

Facing these terrifying existences, people like them would be easily plundered of everything and die in painful wails.

If they do not want to die, they must find a way to make others die. During this period, the name of Shen Yu gradually reached their ears, and he was called the second Mu Zishan.

His natural talent is so high, and the speed of his strength improvement is even above that of Mu Zishan. Hearing the latest news, this person has already entered the True Soul Realm, at the same level as them.

The key is that such a genius also has a compassionate heart, killing corrupt officials and eliminating bandits; his actions are so similar to those of Mu Zishan back then, so it is no wonder he is called the second Mu Zishan.

Since he is the second Mu Zishan, shouldn't he do the things Mu Zishan did not finish? Continue to sacrifice himself after Mu Zishan's death to suppress the Forbidden Land.

When the time comes, they will let a few old fellows come out of seclusion, appeal to his emotions and reason with him, and lure him to his death in the name of the greater good.

Just like Mu Zishan back then, wasn't he also tricked into going to his death just like that?

Of course Mu Zishan saw this too, but he was still willing to go to his death, all for the sake of those commoners who were like ants.

These scholars have read books until they are foolish, actually believing in "I will go even if there are thousands of people," preferring to sacrifice themselves to protect the common people.

This sentiment and this will are indeed admirable; although they cannot do it themselves, they can send others to do it.

This sword will lend Shen Yu a helping hand, allowing him to reach a higher level, or even completely break through the realm of the True Soul Realm!

This world is saved, and they can continue to enjoy themselves. The horses will keep running, the dances will keep going, and their comfortable lives will continue as before.