160: Sword Sect

Gazing at the intersecting and crisscrossing scratches on the stone wall, Zhou Xiuyuan judged in his heart that these were man-made sword marks.

Without needing to say more, Zhou Xiuyuan turned and nodded towards Shen Xuanzhao.

Shen Xuanzhao understood, pulling Yun Qingsi back a few steps.

Seeing their actions, Zhou Xiuyuan closed his eyes, his right hand gripping the hilt of the one heart sword at his waist.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, an illusory figure holding a long sword appeared; the one heart sword vibrated, humming.

Streams of invisible, sharp will, passed through the one heart sword's scabbard, surging towards the stone wall in front of Zhou Xiuyuan.

"Om~"

The stone wall suddenly trembled slightly, and a faint light appeared.

That invisible, sharp will made contact with the sword marks.

The sword marks were stimulated, and a will within them seemed to revive.

The revived will emanated from the sword marks, formless and insubstantial.

Shen Xuanzhao and Yun Qingsi, however, felt as if they were amidst countless sword lights and shadows, with bright, dazzling sword light directly reflecting within their minds.

"Be careful!"

Shen Xuanzhao reminded in a deep voice, pulling Yun Qingsi back a few more steps.

With a flick of his right hand from his waist, a palm-sized green turtle shell appeared in his hand.

"Go."

Shen Xuanzhao tossed the turtle shell in his hand upwards, and the green turtle shell transformed, a light green light barrier enveloping the two of them.

Yun Qingsi had already activated the magic mirror from before; it floated before her chest, slowly rotating, and within the mirror, intersecting sword light was reflected.

"He won't be in trouble, will he?"

Yun Qingsi looked at Zhou Xiuyuan in the center of the sword light in the mirror, who was closing his eyes and gripping his sword, and asked Shen Xuanzhao with a hint of worry.

"No need to worry, I will watch over him."

With the protective light barrier formed by the turtle shell, Shen Xuanzhao felt a slight ease in his heart, his eyes fixed on Zhou Xiuyuan.

If Zhou Xiuyuan couldn't withstand it, he would act and pull him out.

Yun Qingsi's heart was slightly at ease; the magic mirror at her chest shone forward, attempting to discern the changes within.

In the center of the formless sword light.

The one heart sword in Zhou Xiuyuan's hand had already been pushed out by several inches, and the sharp will emanating from his body grew stronger, constantly clashing with the sword light overflowing from the sword marks.

It was like being in a vast ocean, without shelter, with towering waves, invading thunderstorms, and overcast clouds.

Only the sword in his hand was continuously swung out, severing all the countless winds, rains, and thunders.

"Om~"

The stone wall trembled more and more violently, and the will of the sword marks greatly increased.

Zhou Xiuyuan's face turned pale, and sweat beaded on his temples.

"Break!"

Zhou Xiuyuan tightly gripped the one heart sword in his hand, suddenly drawing it out; a white sword light flashed and disappeared, and his sharp will abruptly increased.

Zhou Xiuyuan opened his eyes, and the one heart sword in his hand suddenly unleashed a sword light, which plunged into the stone wall.

The stone wall trembled, its shaking stopped, the light of the sword marks dimmed, and the formless will began to dissipate.

It was like the wind and waves had calmed, the thunder had ceased, and the clouds had parted to reveal the sun.

"Hoo~"

Zhou Xiuyuan let out a long breath, relieved that he had succeeded in one go; if the stalemate had continued, he would have become increasingly passive, until he was defeated by some unknown will left in these sword marks from who knows how many years ago.

Zhou Xiuyuan panted slightly, but his eyes remained fixed on the stone wall in front of him.

The stone wall's trembling stopped, no longer shaking, and faint ripples began to emerge on its surface, like flowing water, creating waves.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, impressive!"

The sword light in the magic mirror disappeared, Shen Xuanzhao dispersed the green light barrier, put the turtle shell back into his Storage Pouch, and walked forward with Yun Qingsi, coming to Zhou Xiuyuan's side, praising him.

Zhou Xiuyuan shook his head, not becoming complacent because of Shen Xuanzhao's praise.

This was the second time Yun Qingsi had seen Zhou Xiuyuan act; although this time was not as direct as the ambush in Tangshan, the danger within was far greater.

"I wonder if Senior Brother could beat him?"

Yun Qingsi was full of interest, her gaze constantly shifting from Shen Xuanzhao to Zhou Xiuyuan.

Zhou Xiuyuan ignored Yun Qingsi and looked towards Shen Xuanzhao.

Shen Xuanzhao understood, stepped forward, and came about a foot away from the stone wall, his magic power circulating, the turtle shell in his right hand gripped once more.

His left hand slowly extended, reaching out to touch the stone wall.

Zhou Xiuyuan's re-sheathed one heart sword was gripped tightly again, and Yun Qingsi no longer let her mind wander, staring intently at the stone wall, alert for any changes.

"Om~"

The ripples on the stone wall spread out in waves, and Shen Xuanzhao's left hand actually plunged directly into the stone wall.

A moment later, Shen Xuanzhao withdrew his left hand and nodded to Zhou Xiuyuan and Yun Qingsi.

"Enter?"

Shen Xuanzhao asked softly.

Zhou Xiuyuan nodded, his expression solemn; having already arrived here, how could they not enter?

Yun Qingsi had no objections; she always listened to her Senior Brother.

"Let's go."

Shen Xuanzhao dared not relax his vigilance, his magic power already poised for action, and he stepped into the stone wall before the other two.

The stone wall shimmered with light, engulfing Shen Xuanzhao.

Zhou Xiuyuan followed second, gripping his sword, and stepped in.

Yun Qingsi held the magic mirror in her hand, following behind Zhou Xiuyuan, disappearing into the stone wall.

As soon as the three entered, a figure arrived before the stone wall.

"How reckless."

Zhou Liyue watched their actions, shaking her head.

Along the way, her slight suspicions about this Senior Brother and Junior Sister had somewhat subsided, but the unknown dangers in this ruin were even more likely to exist.

Zhou Liyue stepped forward, about to follow.

"Hmm?"

Zhou Liyue's expression changed.

The ripples on this stone wall actually blocked her entry.

Zhou Liyue circulated her magic power, pressing against the stone wall.

The stone wall remained motionless, the ripples still present, but she could not enter it like Zhou Xiuyuan and the other two.

"Uncle Xuan."

Zhou Liyue tried several more times; even after dispersing her own magic power, she couldn't enter, and worry involuntarily rose in her heart—this was an unforeseen turn of events.

As her voice fell, a precious bead flew out from Zhou Liyue's body, and a black snake shadow appeared.

His Divine Sense probed the stone wall in front of him, but was blocked by it, unable to proceed further.

"Go."

Mo Xuan's mind stirred slightly, and a water droplet condensed, floating towards the stone wall.

"Pa~"

The water droplet likewise could not penetrate the stone wall.

"Uncle Xuan, what should we do?"

Zhou Liyue's expression changed, her tone worried.

"This stone wall should have a restriction; even I cannot enter."

"If we want to enter, we can only forcibly break through this stone wall."

"However, if external force is used to break it, unpredictable changes might occur inside, and they might be in even greater danger."

Mo Xuan pondered for a moment.

"Wait here first."

"That pair of Senior Brother and Junior Sister come from extraordinary backgrounds, and with the treasures each of them possesses, if they encounter danger, they should also have a chance to escape."

After Mo Xuan finished speaking, he calmed his mind, sensing the scale carried by Zhou Xiuyuan.

Zhou Liyue nodded, sat down cross-legged not far from the stone wall, and continuously extended her Divine Sense towards the stone wall.

"No movement?"

Blocked by the stone wall, Mo Xuan's senses became blurry, only able to determine that the scale had not moved.

Inside the stone wall.

"Kill, kill, kill!"

"External Cultivators, eat this grandpa's sword!"

"Sword Sect immortal, Sword Dao eternal!"

"..."

A cacophony of chaotic sounds poured into his mind.

Zhou Xiuyuan's will transformed into a sword; the consciousness-figure drew its sword and swung it repeatedly, severing the chaos, and the sounds dissipated.

Focus gathered in his eyes, Zhou Xiuyuan regained his senses, looking ahead.

At this moment, Shen Xuanzhao had also awakened, though his face was slightly pale.

"Junior Sister, quickly wake up!"

Shen Xuanzhao's magic power surged out, and his voice boomed in Yun Qingsi's mind.

Yun Qingsi's eyes slowly regained their clarity, and she looked at Shen Xuanzhao and Zhou Xiuyuan in front of her, nodding slowly.

Seeing that Yun Qingsi was unharmed, Zhou Xiuyuan turned and looked into the distance.

All around was vast and boundless, covered in mist, with only a stone gate standing in front.

On the stone gate were more than ten seal characters engraved:

"The Wan Fa (Ten Thousand Laws) of Heaven and Earth, broken by one sword!"

"Great Snow Mountain Sword Sect..."

Zhou Xiuyuan murmured aloud.