“Just a coincidence.”
Lin Yuhe responded calmly, shifting her gaze to the vast underground space before them…
Even before stepping inside, all three could feel chilling gusts of yin wind seeping into their souls.
In this square-shaped underground space with a circular ceiling, they could see a strange abyss glowing with purple-red light encircling a towering altar, seemingly blocking all probing methods.
Even Chi Ying’s divine sense couldn’t touch the central altar.
“There’s definitely something odd here…”
Sensing the soul-piercing yin aura and unable to probe the altar, Chi Ying’s once-confident demeanor turned solemn.
“What do you think? Should we go check it out?” Shen Mu asked, looking at the two.
“…”
“…”
Both girls fell into silent contemplation.
Finally, Lin Yuhe, having made some preparations, decided, “We’ve come this far. It’d be a pity not to take a look…”
“What if there’s a rare treasure inside? We’d be missing out big time.”
Shen Mu turned to the black-haired girl. “What about you, Sister Chi Ying?”
“…Let’s go in then. As long as we’re prepared, we can handle any unexpected situations.”
Chi Ying felt it was worth taking the risk.
After all, fortune favors the bold, not the timid.
But necessary life-saving precautions were still essential.
“Here, take these Escape Spirit Talismans. Use them when the time’s right—don’t lose your lives carelessly.” Chi Ying handed each of them a talisman for fleeing.
“Thanks.”
After taking the talismans, the three crossed the threshold, stepping into the underground space.
Upon entering, they saw a circular dome adorned with totem carvings of a purple phoenix and a crimson phoenix soaring in circles.
The surrounding walls, forged from crimson gold, were inscribed with obscure, profound golden incantations, radiating ancient mystical light that endured through the ages.
Atop the central altar, isolated by the purple-red abyss light, stood a spiritual sword with a blade etched with eerie black runes and a hilt resembling purple-black phoenix feathers, quietly upright…
Bound and sealed by nine crimson-gold rune chains extending from the altar.
Clearly, this was an untouched sealed place.
And the sealed object was the ancient spiritual sword on the altar.
Lin Yuhe and Shen Mu gazed up at the sealed sword, their pupils widening, both thinking the same three words: Nether Phoenix Sword.
How could it be this sword?
According to the original main storyline, Lin Yuhe obtained the Nether Phoenix Sword during the Spirit Transformation Realm by defeating a possessed demonic cultivator.
She then spent three years refining it with True Phoenix intent to purge its malevolent nature, birthing new spirituality and making it her first Heaven-tier spiritual sword.
Later, she infused it with rare materials like True Phoenix essence and blood, creating an indestructible sword spirit, elevating it to a quasi-immortal weapon.
This sword was undeniably crucial to her cultivation journey, a key to overcoming countless dangers.
Who would’ve thought they’d stumble upon it at this stage?
It seemed this opportunity was tailor-made for her by the heavens.
Shen Mu quietly glanced at Lin Yuhe, already guessing the sword’s destined owner.
Chi Ying circled the altar, studying the sword thoughtfully while rubbing her chin. “So it’s a sealed ominous sword. No wonder its aura carries an untamed ferocity.”
“What do you think?”
She turned to ask the two, reminding them, “This sword is indeed an extraordinary spiritual item, but it’s also an ominous one~”
“If you unseal and draw it, it might bring bloodshed and calamity.”
“I don’t mind either way. It’s up to her.” Shen Mu deferred the decision to Lin Yuhe, letting her choose.
After all, this was fated to be hers, not his.
“…”
Lin Yuhe’s eyes lowered in silence for a moment before she exhaled softly. “…Then let’s leave it.”
Shen Mu’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, blurting out, “Why?”
“It’s an ominous sword. Letting it loose would only bring chaos and disaster to the world. I don’t want to be that sinner,” Lin Yuhe said lightly, giving part of her reasoning.
“Hm… alright.” Shen Mu felt a twinge of regret but respected her decision.
“Sigh~↗ From your regretful tone, Senior Brother, do you want it?” Lin Yuhe teased, her eyes glinting mischievously.
Shen Mu leaned back tactically, rejecting the idea. “Nope, definitely not.”
This sword was too eerie. Before its malevolent nature was purified, it could influence the wielder’s mind.
Perhaps the demonic cultivator who drew it went mad because of it.
He had no desire to become a crazed lunatic.
“Alright then, since neither of you wants it, looks like we’ll have to head back empty-handed.”
With no one coveting the ominous sword, the trio decided to retrace their steps.
But as they discussed, the Golden Toad, unnoticed, hopped to the edge of the strange purple-red abyss light, its frog claws touching the glow.
Buzz!
Instantly, crimson runes began rising from the purple-red light, and the phoenix and phoenix totems on the dome glowed with mysterious fluorescence.
“What the hell did you do?! Get back here!”
Seeing the sudden anomaly, Shen Mu reached out, pulling the seemingly off Golden Toad into his hand.
But the next moment, the palm-sized Crimson Gold Treasure Toad struggled free, reverting to its original form!
Its demonic pupils turned blood-red, as if in a frenzied state, and it leaped onto the altar, wildly clawing at the rune chains!
Clank~
The chains rattled slightly but showed no signs of loosening.
“Damn it… it’s been possessed!”
Realizing the problem, Shen Mu leaped into action!
A strange black substance formed a giant hammer in his hand, which he swung mercilessly at the toad!
Bang!
The over ten-zhang-large spiritual toad was instantly sent flying by Shen Mu’s hammer!
It crashed heavily into the dome and fell, sinking into a deep, peaceful slumber.
“This guy’s always causing me trouble.”
Shen Mu landed beside the toad, stuffing its unconscious body into a pre-prepared spirit pet bag to prevent further chaos.
“Good thing it didn’t cause a major disaster. If this ominous sword broke free because of you, I’d be in deep trouble.”
But just as Shen Mu’s relieved words fell, the Nether Phoenix Sword seemed to sense something akin to itself, trembling violently with a clank clank! sword hum!
“What’s happening now?!” Shen Mu looked around, bewildered.
Clank! Clank!
The crimson-gold rune chains began swaying intensely with the sword’s hum, the surroundings shaking as if on the verge of collapse, causing all three’s expressions to change.
Especially Shen Mu, who felt as if a terrifying aura had locked onto him, his hairs standing on end.
“Run!”
Without hesitation, Lin Yuhe grabbed Shen Mu’s wrist, activated the Escape Spirit Talisman, and triggered the array patterns she’d laid along the way, fleeing like a streak of light.
Whoosh!
In less than three breaths, Lin Yuhe pulled Shen Mu out of the cave, back to the original plaza.
“You two sure escaped fast,” Chi Ying remarked, her figure arriving shortly after, surprised by their speed.
It was her first time seeing Qi Refining cultivators outrun her.
“I had escape preparations set up along the way,” Lin Yuhe explained casually, then looked at Shen Mu with confusion. “Senior Brother, don’t tell me that sword has taken a liking to you?”
“No way!”