187: Blood Curse

Southern Region, Chess Sword Pavilion, Grand Elder Hall.

"Finally, I can be free. Three thousand years! Trapped in this godforsaken place for three thousand years, my bones are about to fall apart."

"Ha, the agreement with the Sword Emperor expires today. Now it's time to hand over the contract!"

Xiao Chen and Wu Aozhou's faces were filled with the joy of regaining their freedom.

Three thousand years ago, the three of them had challenged the Sword Emperor Sima Zhou, but they were defeated by the Sword Emperor's Afterimage and forced to sign a promise to guard the Chess Sword Pavilion for three thousand years.

Now, the contract had expired, and Xiao Chen and Wu Aozhou only wanted to hand over the contract and then properly travel the vast landscape of the Primordial Continent.

While Xiao Chen and Wu Aozhou were laughing and joking, they noticed that Clear Moon's face did not show the same relief. Instead, she looked troubled, so they stepped forward and asked, "Senior Sister, what is wrong? We are about to leave this godforsaken place; aren't you happy?"

Clear Moon shook her head. "It's nothing. I just don't know why, but I feel inexplicably uneasy in my heart. I always feel that things are not that simple."

Xiao Chen laughed. "Senior Sister, you are just overthinking. Have you already gotten used to being bound by shackles? Don't worry, once we submit the contract and regain our freedom, I will take you to see the outside world."

Clear Moon sighed softly. "I just want to find a quiet place and do some things I like."

Xiao Chen scratched his head. "Alright, stop overthinking. The Sword Tomb has already opened. Hand over the contract, and then you can do whatever you want. Let's hurry."

Clear Moon thought for a moment and conjured a brown scroll.

"This is the contract that has bound my freedom for thousands of years. Now, I can finally be free."

Her tone was full of emotion. Thinking back to a mistake made in her youth that resulted in thousands of years of imprisonment, she felt a sense of inexplicable melancholy.

Now, she cherished this hard-won freedom very much.

"Hey, I'm talking to you two. How much longer are you going to dawdle? Hurry up and bid farewell to the Sword Emperor."

Wu Aozhou had a fiery and straightforward personality. Seeing that the two of them still hadn't made a move, he couldn't help but complain.

"We're coming! Why are you rushing us!"

Xiao Chen immediately followed.

Clear Moon frowned and quietly followed as well.

However, as she walked towards the Sword Tomb, her heart grew more and more uneasy, as if something terrible was waiting for her ahead.

"Is it really that easy?"

For some reason, Clear Moon remembered the words Shen Lian had said to her that day.

"Perhaps I am overthinking it. The Sword Emperor's character and swordsmanship are both top-tier in the Southern Region, and he has the reputation of a gentleman. How could he break his promise? Moreover, I am no longer the ignorant female cultivator who just entered the path of cultivation and thought she could look down on everything upon reaching the Primordial Chaos Realm."

After trying hard to convince herself, Clear Moon's emotions stabilized, and she stepped into the Sword Tomb.

Inside the Sword Tomb, all that met the eye were Broken Swords, still emitting a faint Sword Qi.

These were the swords left behind by the Sword Emperor when he sought the Dao of the sword. Even after tens of thousands of years, one could still find traces of Sima Zhou's enlightenment on each sword.

In the center of the Sword Tomb stood a lifelike statue—it was the statue of the Sword Emperor himself.

Below the statue was a stone platform, the very place where the three of them had signed the contract.

Everything had returned to the starting point.

After three thousand years of baptism, the cultivation and minds of the three were no longer as naive as before. Nothing was more important than freedom.

The three stood before the statue, placed the old contract on the stone platform, and knelt down simultaneously.

"Sword Emperor, we have fulfilled the promise we made to you back then. Today is the day we terminate the contract. As for the future Grand Elder of the Chess Sword Pavilion, you will have to trouble yourself to find someone else."

Wu Aozhou bowed to the Sword Emperor's statue in a carefree manner.

"Sword Emperor, although you bound us for three thousand years, I don't blame you at all. After all, I have learned quite a lot in these three thousand years. Now, at the time of parting, I just want to bid you a proper farewell. Don't worry, I, Xiao Chen, will never do anything brainless again."

Xiao Chen had a cynical look on his face, and while speaking, he didn't forget to flick the lock of silver hair hanging in front of his forehead.

Clear Moon said calmly, "Sword Emperor, now that the contract has expired, it is time for us to leave."

Just as the three stood up to leave, the Sword Tomb suddenly erupted with Spiritual Qi, and the surrounding Broken Swords emitted continuous buzzing sounds.

The three stopped at the same time. This familiar aura caused their expressions to change in unison.

The next moment, a light and shadow appeared on the statue.

The light and shadow slowly solidified, and a young figure walked down.

"Greetings, Sword Emperor."

Seeing the young man, the three knelt and saluted.

This Clone before them was none other than the young Sword Emperor Sima Zhou.

"The three of you, do you intend to leave just like this?"

Sima Zhou looked at the three, and it was impossible to tell what kind of expression was hidden in his deep pupils.

Clear Moon replied, "Sword Emperor, we three have fulfilled the contract we made with you back then. Now that the contract period has expired, it is time to leave."

"Sigh..."

Sima Zhou sighed softly.

"Are you really unwilling to stay? For these three thousand years, although I used the contract to limit you from leaving the territory of the Chess Sword Pavilion, I did not limit any of your actions, and I even gave you unprecedented power. Although the contract has expired, I still want you to consider it carefully. After all, with you guarding the Chess Sword Pavilion, I can concentrate on comprehending the Dao of the sword."

Clear Moon shook her head. "Thank you for your kindness, Sword Emperor, but over the years, I have grown tired of the endless disputes between Sects. I only want to find a secluded place to spend the rest of my life. I hope the Sword Emperor will forgive me."

Sima Zhou looked at Xiao Chen and Wu Aozhou. "What about you two? Do you also want to leave?"

"Sword Emperor, please don't be offended. I, Old Wu, was born without the fate to enjoy such blessings. Life in the Jianghu is more suitable for me."

"We appreciate your good intentions, Sword Emperor. Now, I just want to travel and see the beautiful scenery across the Primordial Continent. As for the position of Grand Elder, please ask someone else who is suitable."

Hearing this, Sima Zhou felt a wave of regret. "That is truly a pity. Very well, everyone has their own aspirations. Since you have all decided, I will not force you to stay."

Clear Moon bowed to Sima Zhou. "Sword Emperor, farewell!"

After speaking, the three turned around and were about to step out of the Sword Tomb.

But just as their feet were about to step out of the entrance of the Sword Tomb's Immortal Cave...

"Ugh..."

The three of them felt a sharp pain in their hearts at the same time.

"What is going on? My heart feels like it is burning with pain."

"Me too, what is going on?"

Xiao Chen and Wu Aozhou were sweating profusely from the pain, and no matter how they channeled their Spiritual Qi to resist, it had no effect.

Clear Moon held her heart and slowly turned back.

She saw that Sima Zhou's face at this moment had no Grandmaster demeanor, and his eyes only held the keen gleam of someone looking at ants struggling.

"Sword Emperor, is it you?"

Facing Clear Moon's question, Sima Zhou raised his hand directly.

Instantly, three blood-colored spiritual threads condensed from Sword Qi appeared in his palm.

"That's right. From the moment you signed the contract back then, you were infected with the Blood Curse I placed on the contract. How is it? The taste of the Blood Curse backlashing on your heart is not pleasant, is it?"

At this moment, Sima Zhou's face was filled with malice; there was no trace of his righteous appearance left.