“Thank you for your high regard, Sister Chi Ying…”
“But leaving the sect is a significant matter for me. It requires careful consideration, so please forgive me for not being able to decide right away.”
Shen Mu politely declined, unwilling to leave the Wind Spirit Immortal Sect just yet.
In a world where strength reigned supreme, having the protection of a powerful sect versus not having it was like night and day.
Before he was fully developed, choosing to leave a strong sect would be like intentionally cranking up the difficulty.
There was simply no need for that.
“Alright, if you change your mind during our journey together, just let me know.”
“Will do.”
“Senior Brother, what do you plan to do with this thing?” Lin Yuhe asked, closely examining the black “cross.”
“I’ll store it for now and later check if the sealing site is still intact, to see if there’s a way to reseal it.”
This sword was a hot potato for him right now—he couldn’t keep it.
“Senior Brother, haven’t you considered purifying its malevolence to make it your divine weapon?”
“Nope.”
Shen Mu answered decisively, not giving her a chance to set any traps.
“Not even a little tempted?” Lin Yuhe pressed.
“Nah. Extraordinary divine weapons are nice, but you need the fate to wield them…” Shen Mu waved his hand, storing the Nether Phoenix Sword, sealed by the Myriad Transformation Divine Essence, into his storage ring. “I don’t think I have that kind of fate.”
“…Senior Brother, you really have no higher ambitions.”
Grumbling with slight dissatisfaction, Lin Yuhe said no more, already silently planning how to “get rid” of this sword in the future.
Shen Mu returned to the cave where the Nether Phoenix Sword had been sealed.
However, the cave was filled with collapsed rubble, the ground littered with large chunks of stone and cracks, the terrain now rugged, far from the smooth path it had been.
Oddly, the cave’s temperature remained unchanged, still chillingly cold, unlike the outside.
But this cold lacked the bone-piercing edge from their first visit, now carrying a peculiar softness and freshness.
Shen Mu felt less tense than he had the first time.
Without that ominous sword, the place felt entirely different.
This distinct oddity made Shen Mu increasingly certain that the sealing site was still active, playing a special role.
Otherwise, given the unique external environment, this place would’ve long become like the outside.
Soon after.
The trio navigated the rugged original path, returning to the stone door.
But fate was unkind—the door was blocked by massive chunks of altar stone, preventing further progress.
“Ugh, the entrance is blocked. This is gonna be tricky…” Shen Mu stared at the large altar stones, his brows furrowing.
“Just some rocks, right? Step aside, let me try.” Chi Ying cracked her knuckles and stepped up to the stones.
Shen Mu and Lin Yuhe instinctively moved back.
Whoosh!
Chi Ying swung a fierce punch, her seemingly delicate fist carrying immense force, the gust of her strike creating a sonic boom.
But after a loud bang!, the stone only bore a deep fist mark, showing no signs of cracking.
“Hm?” Chi Ying tilted her head, puzzled. “That punch had at least 200,000 jin of force…”
By all accounts, that should’ve been more than enough to shatter ordinary rock.
She touched the altar stone, feeling its texture, a realization dawning in her eyes. “This altar’s material is special. Brute force probably won’t break it.”
Brute force won’t work…
Shen Mu frowned, sinking into silent thought.
“How about trying spiritual fire?” Lin Yuhe suddenly suggested.
“Spiritual fire?” Both turned to her, intrigued.
“Yeah. Since this place is steeped in yin aura, most things here are likely yin-based. Using yang-based power to counter it should work.”
Lin Yuhe explained to the two.
Shen Mu lowered his gaze, thinking of the special existence tied to her, and naturally said, “Sister, give it a try.”
“Alright.”
Chi Ying prepared to use the Dragon Yang True Fire unique to her crimson dragon lineage but paused, as if recalling something. “By the way, I’ve cultivated a rather special fire technique, so my spiritual fire might differ from others. Don’t be shocked.”
“Got it.”
Both nodded in unison, already understanding the reason behind her words with perfect tacit agreement.
“Phew~”
With their acknowledgment, Chi Ying exhaled a scorching breath, a pure, untainted crimson flame igniting in her palm, stirring waves of heat in the void.
“Let’s hope this works…”
Muttering softly, Chi Ying pressed her Dragon Yang True Fire onto the pitch-black stone!
The next moment, the stone sizzled, melting into droplets of ink-like substance that slowly dripped down.
“It’s actually working!”
Chi Ying’s eyes lit up, increasing the flame’s output, speeding up the stone’s melting…
About an hour later.
The altar stones blocking the entrance had mostly melted under the Dragon Yang True Fire, forming a pool of ink-like liquid on the ground.
The trio waded through the black liquid pools, re-entering the underground space.
“Despite the outer passage being so damaged, this place is completely unscathed,” Shen Mu remarked.
Before them, the crimson-gold walls stood intact, the abyss glowed with purple-red light, the dome’s totems remained, and there wasn’t a single sign of damage.
Only the towering sword-sealing altar was gone, replaced by a wide black area.
At its center lay a flawless, glowing white chess piece.
“What’s that?” Lin Yuhe approached the purple-red glowing abyss, staring at the white chess piece.
“Why not take it and find out?” Chi Ying, true to her bold nature, leaped across the purple-red abyss light, picked up the chess piece, and returned to the others.
“It doesn’t seem like anything special…” Chi Ying rubbed the chess piece with her fingertip, examining it closely, finding it no different from an ordinary one.
But at that moment, the chess piece flickered with silver-white light, and a tall, crimson-gold outlined male figure slowly emerged from it.
“It’s been countless years… I never imagined the Nether Phoenix Sword would break its seal by damaging its own origin.”
“Truly an unexpected turn of events.”
The man’s deep, authoritative voice echoed, as if crossing the vast expanse of time, filled with a faint sense of vicissitude.