Chapter 119: The Sword God Battles Xuan Gong
Mortal Dao Ancestor!
Li Qingqiu looked at the Fate Trait of the Mortal Dao Ancestor, a little surprised.
It seemed that, without him, Yang Xuan would have obtained the opportunity of a low-tier Demon Realm.
Yang Xuan was truly a man of great fortune, even one capable of changing heaven and earth.
Before this, Li Qingqiu had encountered many unique Fate Traits—each appearing immensely powerful.
Yet, if they failed to step onto the path of Immortal Cultivation, those Fate Traits would be meaningless, unable to fulfill their destiny even in death.
Yang Xuan was different.
He could discover the Immortal Cultivation Path by himself.
Throughout the ages, there had always been geniuses capable of cultivation, yet there had never been an Immortal Path in the world.
If Yang Xuan could open such a path, allowing those buried cultivation geniuses to fulfill their Fate Traits, then indeed, he was worthy of the title “Dao Ancestor.”
Talent was important, but so was fortune.
Furthermore, without the Dao Lineage panel, Li Qingqiu would never have recognized those with special Fate Traits standing before him.
This proved that everyone possessed undiscovered potential—just like Ming Guang, who, despite lacking a special Fate Trait, became the first person to create a Spirit Gathering Formation.
Moreover, the opening of the Demon Realm required Spirit Stones.
Didn’t that mean Mount Tianji concealed a Spirit Mine?
Thinking of this, Li Qingqiu felt this fortuitous encounter was far greater than he had imagined.
Yang Xuan walked toward the two of them.
He was not tall, but sturdy, with thick eyebrows and big eyes—his expression honest and simple.
He asked curiously, “When will you come out?”
Li Qingqiu closed the Dao Lineage panel and smiled.
“We should be out by tomorrow morning. You can return first. We’ll find you.”
Yang Xuan gritted his teeth.
“Why don’t I go with you? I’ve never been into Mount Tianji, but I’ve hunted nearby for years—I’ve got some experience.”
“No need. What we’ll be facing isn’t ordinary beasts. You’ll only slow us down. Wait for us outside,” Li Qingqiu said, shaking his head.
After speaking, he turned and walked deeper into the forest.
Li Dongyue said to Yang Xuan, “Don’t worry, we’ll come find you.”
She turned and followed Li Qingqiu.
The two soon disappeared into the forest’s depths.
Yang Xuan stood there, watching the direction they’d gone, feeling a deep sense of loss.
Since his grandfather’s death, he had been so alone.
Yet the outside world was too vast and unfamiliar—he didn’t dare to step into it.
After some thought, Yang Xuan decided to wait right here.
Li Qingqiu and Li Dongyue’s smiles carried a warmth that made him instantly trust them.
He didn’t want to miss his chance with these two.
On the other side—
Li Qingqiu quickened his pace, and Li Dongyue didn’t speak about Yang Xuan.
She simply followed closely behind.
The deeper they went, the darker it became.
Eventually, it felt like walking through the night, with thick mist swirling around them—Li Dongyue dared not stray too far from her Senior Brother.
Li Qingqiu couldn’t help but sigh.
No wonder no one had ever discovered the low-tier Demon Realm.
Forget ordinary people—even martial experts would be terrified to enter this place, let alone find the formation’s location hidden in the darkness.
Yang Xuan truly was a man favored by destiny.
Li Qingqiu couldn’t imagine how he had managed to find the low-tier Demon Realm twenty-five years later.
Or perhaps… there were other Immortal inheritances hidden in this forest?
Half an hour later—
Li Qingqiu arrived before a mountain wall overgrown with weeds.
Pretending to search, he brushed some aside, revealing five unevenly shaped grooves on the rock surface.
“What’s this?” Li Dongyue asked curiously, gazing at the wall.
Li Qingqiu frowned, pretending to ponder.
Then, as if struck by realization, he took five Spirit Stones from his robe and placed them into the grooves one by one.
Li Dongyue blinked, a knowing smile appearing on her face.
She didn’t expose her Senior Brother’s awkward acting but instead watched expectantly.
The Spirit Stones didn’t fit perfectly, yet once in place, they began to glow faintly.
Moments later, the mountain wall burst with dazzling light, illuminating the pitch-black forest.
Li Dongyue tensed instinctively, but Li Qingqiu took hold of her wrist, calming her heart.
She turned her head.
The strong light reflected across her Senior Brother’s face—there was no trace of fear in his expression, only anticipation.
Li Qingqiu led her into the brilliance.
Li Dongyue felt her vision blur and instinctively closed her eyes.
After a few steps, a gust of Spiritual Wind brushed past her, and she suddenly felt as though she had entered a Blessed Land of a Thousand Spirits.
She opened her eyes subconsciously—her pupils widened as a magnificent world unfolded before her: dense forests ahead, mountains encircling the distance, a blue sky above, sunlight streaming down—bright and boundless.
“This place is…”
Li Dongyue murmured in astonishment.
…
Several days passed since Li Qingqiu and Li Dongyue’s departure.
At dusk, Shen Yue, dressed in white, walked along a mountain ridge.
A wooden sword hung at his waist.
His pace was unhurried, eyes admiring the scenery.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long.
Suddenly—
He stopped and turned his head.
Down the slope, several dozen yards away, lay a forest beside the Xi River that cut through the Great Tai Kun Mountain Range.
From within, silhouettes emerged.
Those figures noticed Shen Yue as well—but they didn’t stop.
At their front walked the Deputy Sect Master of Taiwu Sect, Liu Dai, leading over a hundred martial experts.
Alongside them came two more sects—Li Yin Sect and Sword Extremity Sect, both of the Three Founding Sects of the Great Dynasty—each bringing over a hundred members.
Behind them followed a group of black-clad men wearing Evil Ghost Masks—none other than the Forbidden Martial Guards.
The leader of the Sword Extremity Sect was a tall, white-haired elder with a stern face.
Upon seeing Shen Yue, he frowned deeply.
That white-haired elder was Song Kejian, an Elder of the Sword Extremity Sect.
Song Kejian raised his hand, signaling everyone to stop.
Seeing this, Liu Dai and the leader of Li Yin Sect also gestured for their people to halt.
“Senior Brother, after losing to the Clear Sky Sect Master, why would you join Clear Sky Sect? Where is the dignity of the Sword God?”
Song Kejian’s voice was loud and commanding, prompting murmurs among the gathered martial experts.
The title “Sword God” was one of immense renown—many of these veterans had lived through the days when Shen Yue had swept across the martial world.
Standing on the slope, Shen Yue looked down at Song Kejian and said, “Junior Brother, you’ve brought so many men. Has the Sword Extremity Sect truly lost its heart, becoming a blade for imperial power?”
Song Kejian’s expression darkened.
“This is the will of Heaven itself. Unlike you—lonely, destitute. No matter how strong your sword, it couldn’t protect your wife and children!”
Hearing his past dragged up, Shen Yue didn’t grow angry.
“No matter one’s power, walking the martial world breeds enmity. You can’t block every hatred. But we, who wield the sword, must not only pursue vengeance and joy—we must use our swords to protect the weak. Have you forgotten Master’s teachings?”
“Don’t mention Master! He was as much a failure as you. Only our Senior Brother was right! What, are you going to stop us for the sake of Clear Sky Sect?” Song Kejian hissed coldly, drawing his sword.
The experts of the Sword Extremity Sect unsheathed theirs as well—the sound of hundreds of blades humming together was piercingly sharp.
Liu Dai of Taiwu Sect watched the scene with amusement.
The Li Yin Sect experts too looked on coldly, while the Forbidden Martial Guards remained motionless, their masked faces unreadable.
Shen Yue drew his wooden sword and lightly slashed forward.
Instantly, a five-zhang-long sword mark appeared on the slope—an act that turned every onlooker pale.
His movement had been utterly casual—without even releasing Sword Energy.
Expressionless, Shen Yue lifted his chin, his gaze cold and commanding as he declared, “Whoever crosses this line… dies.”
All three sects’ experts froze in fear.
The name “Sword God” still carried immense weight.
“Hmph, arrogant!” Liu Dai snorted, stepping forward—but before he could, a figure leapt across the shoulders of several martial experts and landed at the front.
It was a black-robed man wearing an Evil Ghost Mask.
Xuan Gong!
Seeing Xuan Gong appear, Liu Dai immediately halted and even stepped back.
Xuan Gong looked up, his eyes cold.
“Shen Yue, do you insist on defying Heaven’s decree?”
Shen Yue’s gaze locked onto him, examining closely.
“So, you are the rumored Xuan Gong—the shadow of the Emperor?”
“The Emperor commands that the Clear Sky Sect be eradicated. Sword God, do not stray from the path,” Xuan Gong replied, ignoring his question and instead issuing a threat.
Shen Yue shook his head slightly.
“I, Shen Yue, have walked this world for decades. The Emperor? When I made my name, Zhao Zhi wasn’t even born yet.”
“Impudence!”
Xuan Gong roared.
In the next instant, his figure blurred like a ghost, charging up the slope—reaching Shen Yue in the blink of an eye.
Boom—
Two terrifying forces collided, kicking up dust and weeds.
The martial experts and Forbidden Martial Guards were forced to channel their inner strength to withstand the shockwave.
Song Kejian, Liu Dai, and the others stared.
They saw Xuan Gong’s palm strike stop inches before Shen Yue, whose wooden sword blocked it perfectly.
The sword’s tip hovered just three inches from Xuan Gong’s palm, both forces clashing visibly in midair, neither side yielding an inch.
Narrowing his eyes, Shen Yue said, “Such domineering strength, Xuan Gong. Who exactly are you, hiding behind that mask?”
Behind the mask, Xuan Gong’s eyes glowed like those of a vengeful ghost—filled with killing intent.
“Sword God, your fame is indeed deserved. You have not disappointed me. It seems sparing your life back then was the right choice. If the martial world had lost a man like you, it would’ve been a pity.”
Shen Yue’s face changed slightly, though his grip on the wooden sword remained steady.
He asked, “You’re that musician from back then?”
“Didn’t expect you to remember. You must have been just over twenty then, right?” Xuan Gong’s tone carried mocking amusement—sending shock through the assembled martial experts below.
Shen Yue was now over eighty years old.
Judging by Xuan Gong’s words, he was far older—and had defeated the young Sword God in the past.
Hearing that taunting tone, Shen Yue did not rage.
His expression returned to calm indifference as he said evenly, “All the better. Back then, I was just a youth—you gave me my first defeat. Today, I’ll erase that loss.”