Chapter 24: Qingyu Continent

The Sword Grave is said to be the resting place of two ancient sword cultivators. A radius of 100 miles is saturated with the overwhelming sword intent left by those masters. Because of this, sword cultivators who know their time is running out often come here to leave behind their spiritual swords, which remain in the grave after their owners have passed.

Some of these spiritual swords vanish into the ravages of time, while others wait through the frost and wind of the passing days for their next master.

In other words, the Sword Grave is the holy land for all sword cultivators on the Qingyu Continent. However, this sacred place welcomed two peculiar visitors today.

"AHHH!"

"Luo Xing, why are you dodging?"

"Master! No, please!"

"Where do you think you are running to?"

---

On the wasteland of the Sword Grave, a teenage boy in tattered clothes, his hair as disheveled as a beggar's, stumbled along as he fled for his life. Behind him chased tens of thousands of sharp sword auras, along with a cold, elegant woman standing upon a flying sword.

"Master!" Luo Xing wailed toward Ye Li while running, "Please, just let me go! I really can't take this anymore!"

"Stop running!" Ye Li frowned, her voice deep. "Charge toward the sword auras!"

Luo Xing, busy fighting for his life, almost cursed at Ye Li upon hearing this.

Is that something a human being would even say?

To forge a sword heart exclusive to Luo Xing, Ye Li had conceived of the fastest and most effective method.

She used her "Tyrant Sword" to agitate the tens of thousands of sword intents within the grave, leaving a trace of her "Tyrant Sword" aura on Luo Xing. In doing so, all the spiritual swords in the grave would be triggered to attack him.

Of course, Luo Xing wouldn't be permanently harmed by these auras; at most, it would just be rather painful.

In due time, either Luo Xing would manifest his own unique sword heart, or he would inherit one suitable for him by utilizing the sword intent within the grave. Furthermore, since these auras were stimulated by the "Tyrant Sword," any sword heart Luo Xing inherited would certainly not be inferior to it.

He could even temper his physical body with the auras of these spiritual swords. It was a strategy that served two purposes at once.

However, she hadn't expected Luo Xing to be so cowardly. It was just a few tens of thousands of sword auras chasing him; it wasn't as if they were taking his life.

"Luo Xing." Ye Li caught up to him. "Listen to your master. Stop running and charge at the sword auras."

"Master!" Luo Xing was gasping for air, his face filled with grievance. "I... ah!"

Mid-sentence, a sword aura caught him off guard and pierced directly through his chest.

Although his body bore no external wounds, he still turned deathly pale from the pain and shrieked repeatedly.

Because the spiritual swords in the grave had no owners, they did not kill without specific commands, but the pain that reached straight into the soul was unavoidable.

"Wuwuwu... Master..." Luo Xing didn't even have the chance to wail as he continued his desperate sprint. "I... wuwu... I don't want this sword heart anymore, okay..."

If I could, I wouldn't want to be a sword cultivator either...

"What do you want to be if you don't want to be a sword cultivator?" Ye Li looked at Luo Xing, chiding him for failing to live up to expectations. "Your master is a sword cultivator, your sect uncle is a sword cultivator, and your sect ancestor is a sword cultivator. If you don't become one, do you intend to become a talisman master or a formation master?"

Ye Li's words left Luo Xing without a retort.

Damn it!

It sounds like I wanted to be your disciple!

Isn't this all because you forced me!

In truth, until just now, Luo Xing had been willing to be a sword cultivator. If for no other reason, the ability to fly on a sword alone was enough to entice him.

But no one told him that being a sword cultivator would hurt so much!

Wuwuwu...

Big sister!

I want to go home!

---

One month later...

Xuantian Sect, Yunyan Peak.

Inside the alchemy room, blue smoke curled and medicinal scents filled the air.

Luo Han stood with poise, her face showing a hint of unease and nervousness. In front of her stood a woman who appeared to be in her early 30s.

The woman was dressed in a purple-gold immortal gown, her lush, graceful figure further accentuated by the garment. Her expression was noble and dignified, and a spot of bright red cinnabar between her eyebrows added to her elegant beauty.

"Hmm..." Pei Qingshuang examined a few green pills in her palm, sniffing them before studying them for a long while. Finally, she smiled and said to Luo Han, "Very good, Han'er. These 'Heart-Clearing Pills' of yours have reached the level of grade 1 pills."

Upon hearing this, Luo Han let out a sigh of relief and smiled. "Yes, thank you for your praise, Master."

Pei Qingshuang, the 6th Elder of the Xuantian Sect, known as "Fairy Pei," was at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement Realm. She was skilled in alchemy and possessed a benevolent, gentle nature.

She handed the pills back to Luo Han, her satisfaction and admiration clear in her eyes.

I really found a treasure, she thought. This disciple not only has the Fairy Spirit Root, but her talent and comprehension are also exceptional. She reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment in just 4 months and successfully refined grade 1 pills.

In comparison, the two disciples I took in early on were...

Sigh...

In the cultivation world, they were no threat to her, but in the alchemy world, they were truly capable of ruining her reputation.

"Right, Master." After putting the pills away, Luo Han said to Pei Qingshuang, "I would like to see my younger brother, may I?"

Counting the days, it had been nearly 2 months since she last saw Luo Xing. She didn't know if his cultivation had improved, or if he had angered Elder Ye, especially since Elder Ye was such a good person...

Upon hearing this, the smile on Pei Qingshuang's face quietly froze.

Go find her brother?

That meant going to the Duantian Peak?

That meant there was a possibility of running into Ye Li...

"This... very well..." Although Pei Qingshuang was worried, she nodded. "Remember to take the protective gear and spiritual artifacts I gave you... Forget it, I will have Anqi see you off."

Chen Anqi, Pei Qingshuang's second personal disciple, was at the early stage of the Golden Core Realm and was a grade 2 alchemist (barely).

"There is no need for that... Master, I can manage on my own."

Luo Han still didn't understand why her master was so worried about her going to Duantian Peak. Last time, she had been told to bring many defensive spiritual artifacts and life-saving pills, and this time, her master even wanted her to bring along her second senior sister.

Luo Han didn't understand, but she didn't ask.

"It is fine..." Pei Qingshuang waved her hand. "Having your second senior sister follow you makes me feel more at ease."

If a critical moment arises, I can use her as a projectile to buy time to escape...

Although she was a bit partial, Luo Han was simply too precious as a disciple. Even if the girl lost a single strand of hair, her heart would ache for a long time, so...

It is fine. As long as there is still a breath left, I am confident I can bring her back.

However, after calling out a few times, no one responded.

Pei Qingshuang frowned. She released her divine sense to scan the entire Yunyan Peak, only to realize that Chen Anqi was not on the peak at all.

"Where has this rebellious disciple run off to again?" Pei Qingshuang scolded softly. "Not focusing on cultivation for a single day, just running around blindly... Forget it, have your eldest senior sister escort you."

Second senior sister isn't on Yunyan Peak?

Luo Han was secretly surprised; she had just been helping her test pills earlier...

Not long after, a woman dressed in plain green robes arrived at the alchemy room.

The woman had a slender but straight posture. Her entire body was surrounded by a cold, icy aura. Her pretty face was youthful yet slightly cold and arrogant, and she exuded a sense of cold, noble dignity.

Dai Zifu, Pei Qingshuang's eldest personal disciple, was at the mid-stage of the Golden Core Realm and a grade 2 alchemist (barely).

Dai Zifu: "Master."

Pei Qingshuang: "Yes, Zifu. Accompany your junior sister to Duantian Peak."

Dai Zifu: "Yes, Master."

After bidding farewell to Pei Qingshuang, Luo Han left the alchemy room with Dai Zifu.

To be fair, although this eldest disciple wasn't great at other things, she was sensible and steady. She was much better than that noisy, rebellious Chen Anqi, which was a blessing in disguise...

"Junior sister." As soon as they stepped out of the room, Dai Zifu said calmly, "Promise me one thing."

"Please speak, Senior Sister." Luo Han nodded quickly. "I will do anything."

"If something happens to me..." Dai Zifu looked back at the alchemy room, "You must remember to burn the box under the bed in my room until nothing is left."

Luo Han paused. "Uh... what?"

---

On the other side, Luoxia Peak.

At the peak, a short-haired girl in a yellow dress was lost in thought while looking at the magnificent palace in front of her.

The girl had skin like lustrous jade, apricot eyes filled with charm, and a round face. She looked particularly gentle and lively, though her eyes were currently filled with confusion and bewilderment.

"Where is this? Where did I end up?" Chen Anqi mumbled to herself in a daze. "I... shouldn't I be at Yunyan Peak?"

She remembered helping her dear junior sister test new Heart-Clearing Pills. After realizing there were no issues, she intended to bring her sister the good news, then walked out of the room, and then...

She was here.

Chen Anqi scratched her head. "No... how did I end up on Luoxia Peak?"

What was she doing coming to Luoxia Peak?

Why couldn't she remember?

Also, why was no one on Luoxia Peak?

Chen Anqi shook her head, then set off to fly back toward Yunyan Peak once more.

One hour later...

Chen Anqi stood on the peak of Xianyun Peak, staring at the red-nosed old man in front of her, once again lost in thought.

"Uh... Junior niece Anqi?" Jun Wujin asked Chen Anqi with confusion. "What... are you doing here?"

What was she doing on Xianyun Peak?

That's right!

Why was she on Xianyun Peak!

How did she end up on Xianyun Peak?

Wasn't she supposed to be returning to Yunyan Peak?