443: The sword has been unsheathed, why should it be sheathed again?

“Buzz!”

After the Old man in linen clothes left, a low hum resonated, and a figure suddenly appeared in the Void Realm, as if an Immortal had descended.

This figure was none other than Xu Qing’s Dao Avatar of the Sword Dao.

“Even the Human Race Holy Temple has appeared. I wonder if it’s to preserve the Human Race’s reputation, or if there’s another motive?”

Leaving behind this seemingly profound murmur, Xu Qing’s Dao Avatar vanished from its spot like an illusion, as if it had never appeared.

Qingming Dao Domain, deep within the Barren Mountain Range.

The night was like ink, and a cold moon hung solitary in the sky, plating the vast mountains with a layer of chilling silver light.

The biting mountain wind howled, making the leaves of ancient trees rustle, as if countless specters were whispering in the dark.

Suddenly, a dark figure stepped out of the Void Realm, landing steadily on the summit of the tallest, heaven-reaching peak.

The newcomer wore a tattered straw rain cape, and his wide black robe flapped in the wind. He seemed to merge with the night, with only a blood-colored jade pendant hanging at his waist, glowing with an eerie light under the moonlight.

“Since you’re all here, why hide?”

The black-robed man’s hoarse voice echoed on the mountaintop. He slowly turned, and from the shadows beneath his straw rain cape, a pair of eyes glowing with a faint green light scanned his surroundings.

Before he finished speaking, a almost imperceptible ripple suddenly appeared in the space behind him, like a water surface gently brushed by a breeze, not even disturbing a fallen leaf.

The gray-robed man’s figure appeared silently, as if he had been standing there all along.

“Venerable Huimo, it’s been thousands of epochs since we last met, but your arrogant nature hasn’t changed a bit.”

The gray-robed man chuckled ominously, his hoarse voice like a dull knife scraping bone, sounding particularly grating on the silent mountaintop.

His hunched figure leaned slightly forward, with only half of a grayish-green chin visible beneath his wide hood, and his withered skin was covered with spiderweb-like black patterns.

Venerable Huimo remained motionless, his black robe flapping in the night wind: “This Venerable is surprised that the Elder Council sent an old ghost like you, who spends all his days with paper figures.”

The identity of this gray-robed man was quite special within the Divine Temple, and he was not favored by some Elders!

“This old man is always an outsider, so it’s only normal to be sent,” the gray-robed man said self-deprecatingly. “Besides, paper figures are so good! Simple and plain, allowing this old man to shape them as he pleases!”

The gray-robed man’s emaciated fingers emerged from his sleeve, and with each step he took, his feet mysteriously cast no shadow.

He paced to a stop three zhang from Venerable Huimo’s side, and a decaying aura permeated the air: “Venerable, how about we make a deal?”

“Heh…” The blood jade at Venerable Huimo’s waist emitted an eerie red light. “You’re here for that old fellow Minghong, aren’t you? Otherwise, even if they sent you, you wouldn’t meet me alone!”

Upon hearing this, the gray-robed man’s eyes lit up with green light, then he suddenly coughed violently, and a blurry figure condensed from the gray mist swirling in his palm.

Seven blood-colored chains were wrapped around the figure’s neck, with the other ends deeply piercing the gray-robed man’s palm: “If it weren’t for his machinations back then, how could this old man have had his seven souls extracted, reduced to this inhuman, ghost-like state!”

“If it weren’t for him, why would this old man have betrayed the Nether Territory back then? Leading to the death of his entire Family! This time, this old man only seeks revenge on him, but this old man needs Venerable to put on a show with me, to fool those old fellows in the Divine Temple!”

“This old man thinks that Venerable, having lain dormant for so long, wouldn’t want to be implicated by this matter…”

Venerable Huimo tapped his knuckles on the blood jade, producing a crisp sound, his green eyes flickering: “You dare to threaten this Venerable?”

“How dare I…” The gray-robed man’s hunched back bent another three fen. “What kind of strength does this old man possess, how could he overestimate himself and threaten Venerable?”

“I wouldn’t expect you to!” Venerable Huimo’s gaze receded, then he said: “This Venerable agrees, but all actions will be led by this Venerable. I don’t want to be implicated because of you!”

The gray-robed man suddenly let out a hooting laugh, his withered hand clenching to disperse the gray mist, and he laughed: “Don’t worry, this old man only wants Minghong’s life.”

He began to fade like a piece of paper.

“As for those fools who are monitoring me, they’re perfect as a pledge of allegiance for you! But before that, please meet with those people, it can be considered an explanation to those old fellows in the Divine Temple.”

“This old man is here to congratulate Venerable in advance on his promotion…”

As soon as his voice fell, the gray-robed man’s body had turned into a pale paper skin, which spontaneously combusted in the moonlight without wind, turning into ash in an instant.

The night wind carried the paper ash spiraling upwards, eventually dissipating into nothingness.

“Old fox…”

“However, this benefits this Venerable!”

Venerable Huimo snorted coldly, and his black robe surged like a living thing, devouring all residual Qi.

The mountain wind whimpered, and the moonlight remained cold and clear.

Everything that had just happened seemed to have never occurred.

Cangwu Dao Academy, Sun Moon Peak Summit

Amidst the surging sea of clouds, two figures sat opposite each other.

Xu Liang lightly tapped the stone table with his fingertips, and nine golden runes intertwined in the Void Realm to form a barrier, enveloping the entire peak. Inside the barrier, even the wind was still.

“Yuan’er,” Xu Liang’s brows were tightly furrowed, and he heavily placed his teacup down. “Do you know how many pairs of eyes are watching you now?”

He waved his sleeve, and dozens of imprints appeared in the Void Realm: “The myriad races, the Yao Race, the Nether Race are all watching you… Even some Human Race forces probably have other ideas!”

Xu Yuan listened quietly, his slender fingers gently caressing the Qingming Sword placed across his lap. The sword hummed, sending out a circle of green ripples.

When he looked up, there seemed to be stars flowing in his eyes: “Second Uncle, my Revered Master once told me something!”

Without waiting for a reply, Xu Yuan had already risen and walked to the edge of the cliff.

The mountain wind suddenly picked up, making his robes flap. He suddenly pointed his fingers like a sword, and a Sword Qi shot up into the sky, cleaving a ten-thousand-zhang chasm in the sea of clouds.

“The Dao of a Sword Cultivator should be like this heaven-opening sword…” Xu Yuan turned around, his eyes filled with sharp resolve. “Rather break than bend, live by facing death!”

Xu Liang’s eyebrows twitched. He knew who Xu Yuan was referring to, it was Jin Yi, that person from Cangwu Academy in the Lower Realm.

How could he not understand? A Sword Cultivator must be like this, but the dangers involved were too great.

However… “Heh, you brat!”

Xu Liang walked up to Xu Yuan and gently patted Xu Yuan’s shoulder, “Go ahead and do it boldly, the Family will always be your strong backing!”

“Second Uncle!” Xu Yuan suddenly chuckled, like a flower blooming in spring, “You don’t have to be so nervous, Big Brother left me many rare treasures, and besides, I think Big Brother will be protecting me in the dark.”

“You’re the clever one!”

A voice like a great bell suddenly rang out.

The Void Realm slowly unfolded like a scroll, and a figure, as if reigning over the world, gradually appeared. It was Xu Qing’s Dao Avatar of the Sword Dao.

“Big Brother (Clan Chief)”

Seeing Xu Qing, both Xu Yuan’s eyes showed joy!

Xu Qing smiled slightly, like a spring breeze caressing his face, patted Xu Yuan’s shoulder, and said: “The sword is already unsheathed, why should it be sheathed? Go and do what you desire in your heart! Big Brother will support you in everything!”

“Yes! Big Brother!”

Xu Yuan was overjoyed!

Xu Liang looked at this scene, a satisfied light in his eyes.

If Father and Big Brother and Big Sister-in-law were still alive, how wonderful that would be…