Chapter 74: Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin

Three days passed in the blink of an eye, and the date of the duel between Jue Wushen and Wuming arrived.

Early in the morning, Wuming headed to Cuilin alone; he was confident in going to the appointment by himself.

He did not care what schemes or tricks Jue Wushen had; in the face of true strength, everything else was just a petty trick, and he could break them with power alone.

After waiting in Cuilin for about the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, Wuming heard the sound of someone approaching.

He mistakenly thought it was Jue Wushen, but just as he was about to speak, he fell silent upon seeing the person who had arrived.

The person who arrived was not Jue Wushen, but Pojun; he had arrived at Cuilin before Jue Wushen.

Pojun looked at Wuming and said:

"Junior brother, long time no see. It seems we haven't seen each other for twenty years, right?"

Wuming replied: "Yes, we haven't seen each other for twenty years. Today is the time for the duel I agreed upon with Jue Wushen. Why have you come here? Could it be that you have defected to Jue Wushen?"

Pojun laughed:

"Don't put it so harshly; Jue Wushen and I are merely in a cooperative relationship.

Twenty years ago, in the competition for the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin Secret Manual, I lost to you.

Over these twenty years, I have studied diligently in Dongying and obtained two peerless fierce weapons—the Heavenly Blade and the Greedy Wolf Sword.

The first thing I did upon returning to Zhongyuan was to have a proper rematch with you, junior brother."

Wuming shook his head and said:

"Twenty years ago, Master gave his life to save yours, yet I never expected that you would still be so stubborn and refuse to change despite repeated teachings."

This remark angered Pojun, and Pojun began to say in a fit of rage:

"If it weren't for my father's favoritism, would I have lost to you?"

As the two exchanged words, their thoughts were pulled back to twenty years ago.

Pojun drew the Heavenly Blade and the Greedy Wolf Sword and said:

"Enough talk, show your moves, Wuming."

Pojun struck first to gain the advantage, his moves fierce and swift, each one attacking Wuming's vital points.

But Wuming was already at the Heavenly Sword realm; dealing with someone like Pojun was a matter of ease for him.

Within a few moves, Pojun fell into a disadvantage.

Pojun said with an unconvinced look:

"Why? Why am I still unable to beat you!"

"Since you are no match for him, then step aside and let this old man have a go with Wuming."

A cunning voice, which they were both extremely familiar with, rang in the ears of Wuming and Pojun.

Jue Wushen, clad in armor, appeared before the two.

Jue Wushen looked at Wuming and said:

"Wuming, ten years ago, you blocked my grand plan. Today, I will make you lose in complete submission."

To Wuming, Pojun was a senior brother who had grown up with him, and also the only son of his master, so Wuming held back in every move, not wanting to hurt Pojun in the slightest.

But Jue Wushen was different; those who are not of our kind must have a different heart. Wuming let out a loud shout and began a great battle with Jue Wushen.

Jue Wushen unleashed a barrage of Killing Fists at Wuming, and Wuming immediately channeled his True Qi to turn his Sword Qi into a protective aura, defending against the Killing Fists.

Then, Wuming formed a finger with one hand, and a sky full of Sword Qi rained down upon Jue Wushen.

Jue Wushen immediately activated his Indestructible Golden Body to defend.

Seeing Wuming was still so powerful, Jue Wushen was very puzzled:

"How can Wuming still be this strong? Could it be that Wuming was not poisoned by the Blood Absolute poison?"

Seeing that Jue Wushen had defended against his attack, Wuming prepared to intensify his offensive.

Suddenly, Wuming felt a sharp pain in his dantian, and immediately, he could not control a mouthful of blood and spat it out.

Seeing this, Jue Wushen laughed wantonly:

"Wuming, you have been poisoned by the unique poison of my Wushen Absolute Palace—Blood Absolute.

This Blood Absolute is colorless and odorless; it will take effect as soon as you exert your True Qi, and it will only dissipate once your cultivation is completely lost.

This Blood Absolute is specifically aimed at people like you with deep cultivation; surrender now, Wuming!"

Wuming clutched his chest, feeling his True Essence continuously draining away, and said angrily:

"Jue Wushen, you are too despicable to use poison in secret."

Jue Wushen laughed mockingly:

"The despicable one is not me, it is him!"

As soon as Jue Wushen finished speaking, Juexin walked out, holding a sword and restraining Jian Chen.

Jue Wushen pointed at Jian Chen and said:

"The one who poisoned you is the very disciple you raised since childhood."

Jian Chen cried with an innocent look:

"Master, it's not like that, this wasn't my own will. Juexin placed the Heart-Abandoning Seal on me; I was controlled by him, which is why I did such a thing as poisoning you, Master."

Pojun, who was on the side, saw that Wuming had been defeated and immediately held the Greedy Wolf Sword to Wuming's eyes.

"Wuming, quickly hand over the Ten Thousand Character Key."

Wuming did not expect Pojun to be so insane as to join forces with Jue Wushen to take the Sword Sect's supreme art, Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin.

Wuming shook his head and said:

"Pojun, back then, Master gave the Ten Thousand Character Key to the two of us to keep separately.

It was precisely because of your poor character that he had us keep half of the key each, to prevent you from using Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin to bring disaster to the martial arts world.

You want the key? I will not give it to you; killing me would be useless."

Pojun ignored Wuming's verbal abuse; he knew Wuming was already crippled.

He looked at Wuming, revealing an unfathomable expression, and said:

"Wuming, haven't you been searching for the person who murdered your wife? Haha, your wife's killer is far away at the horizon, yet right before your eyes."

Upon hearing this, Wuming's eyes turned blood-red as he shouted angrily:

"So it was you! A disaster should not involve one's wife and children; why did you kill my beloved wife? I will tell you the truth: I have already destroyed the key to the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin, you will never find it."

Juexin held Jian Chen hostage and walked before Wuming, saying:

"Wuming, I know you have lived for so many years, surely you are not afraid of death.

But think about your disciple; he is still so young and has yet to marry or have children. Can you bear to let him be buried with you?

Wuming, hand over the key quickly, otherwise I will slice Jian Chen to death right in front of you."

When it comes to being a villain, if Juexin claims second place, no one dares claim first.

Jian Chen roared:

"Master, don't listen to him, don't worry about me. My life is not worth mentioning, but the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin must never fall into their hands."

The more Jian Chen said this, the more Wuming could not bear it.

Images of Jian Chen's childhood constantly surfaced in his mind, and in the end, he softened, reaching into his chest to pull out a swastika-shaped key.

He said: "Jue Wushen, Pojun, the key has been given to you, quickly release Jian Chen."

Jue Wushen took the key and laughed loudly:

"Good, Juexin, release him. For someone like him who betrayed his sect, once word spreads in the pugilistic world, he will be like a street rat—everyone will want to beat him. The people of the pugilistic world will not let him go."

Juexin put down the sword in his hand and kicked Jian Chen flying away.

Wuming said: "Chen'er, hurry and leave!"

Jian Chen knew he was weak and alone, so he stumbled away; he had to find help!

"Xin'er, you lead the Ghost Yakshas and take Wuming back. Remember to 'treat' this Martial Arts Myth well."

Jue Wushen laughed sinisterly.

Juexin obediently took the group of Ghost Yakshas and the now-crippled Wuming away from Cuilin.

Now, only Jue Wushen and Pojun remained in the entire Cuilin.

Jue Wushen said to Pojun:

"Let's go, take me to get the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin. Once I have it, I will naturally hand the Sha Po Lang over to you."

Having received Jue Wushen's promise, Pojun immediately led Jue Wushen toward the Sword Sect ice cellar.

Pojun took out his own key and Wuming's; after the two keys merged into one, a book appeared in mid-air above the ice cellar.

Pojun leaped into the air to retrieve the book; the book was exactly the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin they had been desperately seeking for so long.

Pojun was about to open the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin with excitement, but was shouted at by Jue Wushen:

"Pojun, have you forgotten the agreement between us?"

Pojun replied:

"Jue Wushen, rest assured, I will not forget. The Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin has now been obtained, you should also keep your promise and give me the Sha Po Lang."

Jue Wushen took the Sha Po Lang Secret Manual from his bosom and threw it to Pojun.

Pojun opened it to check; it was indeed the Sha Po Lang Secret Manual. He immediately threw the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin to Jue Wushen and then laughed loudly:

"Jue Wushen, now that you have what you wanted and I have what I wanted, let us part ways here, hahahaha."

Having said that, Pojun turned and left the ice cellar directly.

Seeing Pojun leave, Jue Wushen excitedly opened the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin.

Upon opening the first page of the Secret Manual, two lines of small characters were visible:

"Ten thousand Qi arise on their own, swords rush into crippled acupoints, returning to the origin of martial arts, the sect is long-lasting."

When Jue Wushen saw these two lines of small characters, he was terrified. Did the meaning of these two lines not imply that one must cripple their own martial arts?

He subsequently flipped through the book several times and discovered that what he held were either blank pages or very simple moves.

Jue Wushen's first reaction was that this Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin was fake!

However, he did not suspect Pojun.

Pojun did not have the ability to swap the Secret Manual right under his nose without being discovered, which meant the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin must have been replaced by someone before this.

Jue Wushen prepared to go back and interrogate Wuming thoroughly to see if he knew the situation.

Jue Wushen took this copy of the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin and returned to the Wushen Absolute Palace.

On the other side, Jian Chen spent the journey inquiring about the whereabouts of Duan Fengyun and the others; now that Wuming had been captured, he only had the option of seeking help from Duan Fengyun and his group.

While Qin Shuang was buying items at the market, he heard the gossip of the people around him and ran back to Yu Family Village in a panic.

He called Duan Fengyun and the others over and said:

"Everyone, I just heard outside that Jue Wushen has captured the leaders and Sect Leaders of the pugilistic sects to the Wushen Absolute Palace, and even Senior Wuming has been captured by them."

Knowing the history, Duan Fengyun did not show any surprise, but Nie Feng and Bu Jingyun said in shock:

"What! Even Senior Wuming is no match for this Jue Wushen?"

Qin Shuang then recounted to the group how Wuming had been defeated by Jue Wushen due to the poison from Jian Chen.

The group did not expect that Wuming had actually been backstabbed by Jian Chen; Bu Jingyun said viciously:

"If I had known, I should have killed him with one sword back then."

Speak of the devil and he shall appear; Jian Chen, having tracked down the group's whereabouts, arrived outside Chuchu's house.

Jian Chen shouted outside the door:

"Is anyone inside? I am Jian Chen. Are Duan Fengyun, Bu Jingyun, Qin Shuang, Nie Feng, and Miss Chuchu here?"

The group, who had just finished discussing Jian Chen, rushed out immediately upon hearing the voice.

Bu Jingyun immediately held his sword horizontally against Jian Chen's neck and said, "You traitor who deceives his master and destroys his ancestors, how dare you come looking for us."

Knowing the truth, Duan Fengyun stopped Bu Jingyun, who wanted to take action, and said:

"Yun, I think there must be some misunderstanding here; let Jian Chen finish speaking first."

Duan Fengyun then fixed his gaze on Jian Chen.

Jian Chen then recounted how Juexin had planted the Heart-Abandoning Seal on him and subsequently controlled him to poison others.

After hearing this, the group could not help but break out in a cold sweat.

To think there is such an evil Cultivation Method in this world.

The group knew that rashly going to the Wushen Peerless Palace to save people would surely be walking into a trap, so they needed to plan carefully.