Chapter 50: Shen Yanzhou Must Die
“Command…”
Fu Yuying’s entire delicate body tensed, more solemn than ever before.
For the first time, she stood face-to-face with one of the world’s ultimate existences and dared not show the slightest carelessness.
The spirit medium that had barely stabilized earlier surged once again.
With a flick of her pale wrist, it transformed into a torrent of radiant lights—dense and fierce like bolts of thunder—and crashed forward.
However, Tantai Yuxian did not even glance her way.
That flawless, celestial face remained cold as ice.
Before any of those attacks could even approach her, they collapsed and vanished in an instant.
Forcing the spell took its toll—blood spilled from Fu Yuying’s lips beneath her mask.
Her delicate body trembled, nearly losing balance.
The flower-robed old woman behind her quickly stepped forward to support her, her voice quivering, “Saintess, this… this wasn’t mentioned in the plan. There was no word that she would appear.”
“Unless the Cult Master, or the reclusive Old Cult Master himself comes, we can’t possibly stop her.”
Fu Yuying fell silent.
Beneath her wide sleeves, her slender fingers clenched tightly, unwilling to yield.
They had planned for so long, sacrificed so much.
Was it all to end in failure after all…?
Tantai Yuxian descended unhurriedly.
Behind her, the luminous path she had emerged from faded into the night sky—as though everything from moments ago had been nothing more than an illusion.
All the powerhouses of Luofu Cloud Cavern shuddered, overwhelmed by the crushing pressure.
Even the long-cultivated elders of the Ghost King Realm could not help but tremble.
Clearly, Tantai Yuxian had done nothing—only a single wisp of her soul had descended, standing silently there—and yet no one dared to move.
This was the might of a Sword Immortal.
Beneath the night sky, silence reigned.
Shen Yanzhou’s brows furrowed.
It was also his first time seeing this legendary female Sword Immortal from the original story.
From afar, she wore white robes, cradled a long sword in her arms—ethereal, transcendent, and of peerless grace.
But soon, his fingers brushed over the white jade ring at his hand.
He had prepared so much—he even had Lin Qingcang as his final card.
No matter how powerful Tantai Yuxian was, could she truly stand against a Martial God in his twilight years?
From another perspective, her arrival might actually present Shen Yanzhou with an opportunity.
Though Tantai Yuxian appeared cold as frost and untouchable, without any flaw… there was one exception.
Before he obtained The True Explanation of Primordial Unity, Shen Tian’s existence had indeed been a grave threat to Shen Yanzhou.
But now, as long as he could gather enough negative emotions, both Shen Tian and Shen Jingxiao would soon be left far behind—until they could not even glimpse his shadow.
Even now, without the three strands of protective sword qi, Shen Tian was already no match for him.
Shen Yanzhou’s gaze shifted farther ahead.
“Master, save me.”
While his thoughts churned, the blood-covered, battered Shen Tian appeared from the darkness, his face lighting up with relief as he rushed to Tantai Yuxian’s side.
His entire body seemed to loosen with safety.
Tantai Yuxian stood suspended in the air, white robes fluttering like snow.
Her face was expressionless—beautiful beyond words, untouched by any emotion—like a celestial maiden upon the clouds.
Yet when her gaze fell upon the disheveled and nearly dead Shen Tian, a faint flicker stirred deep within her eyes.
Though she had only just arrived, she already understood most of what had transpired.
“The Great Qian Capital is full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. I’ve warned you before—never grow arrogant.”
Her voice was cool and clear, like jade striking stone, or spring water flowing over rock—imbued with an innate chill that made one’s heart turn cold.
Even though Shen Tian had long grown used to her tone and demeanor, he still instinctively shrank his neck.
But beyond that, there was comfort—a quiet warmth.
No matter how cold or distant his master appeared, she would always protect him.
“Your disciple knows his mistake. My carelessness nearly cost me my life. If not for Master’s arrival, I would already be dead.”
Shen Tian bowed his head, though his eyes flicked toward the depths of the forest, cold and sharp.
He was searching for Shen Yanzhou.
Now that his master was here, he would make sure she personally struck down that wastrel.
Tantai Yuxian’s tone remained indifferent.
“I gave you three strands of sword qi to guard your path. I thought that in this journey of tempering, you would hardly need them. Yet in just this one night, you’ve exhausted them all. You still lack the tempering you need.”
Shen Tian knew he had been too reckless.
His obsession with killing Shen Yanzhou had nearly become a heart demon.
It had almost led him to disaster—and even caused Chuidian’s death.
“Your disciple admits his fault. Whatever punishment Master decides afterward, I shall accept.”
He bowed his head, one hand clutching his bloodied, nearly broken arm.
Tantai Yuxian cast him a glance.
Seeing his injuries, she seemed to want to speak further—but after a moment’s hesitation, she merely shook her head, choosing silence.
Throughout their conversation, neither of them so much as acknowledged the presence of the Luofu Cloud Cavern cultivators before them.
Fu Yuying could clearly feel Tantai Yuxian’s disdain.
Her delicate hands clenched even tighter.
This was the arrogance unique to a Sword Immortal.
Her descent meant that tonight’s attempted encirclement would end here—no further surprises would occur.
No one would be allowed to harm Shen Tian any further.
“I care not for your grudges with Shen Jingxiao, nor do I wish to cause more bloodshed. But Shen Tian is my disciple—you will not harm him.”
“I’ll give you three breaths’ time. Withdraw now, and I’ll overlook your assault on him.”
Tantai Yuxian swept a cold gaze over the Luofu Cloud Cavern cultivators, her tone leaving no room for negotiation.
She had once made a deal with Shen Jingxiao—allowing Shen Tian to become her disciple and grow up under her care.
Hence, she knew exactly why these people had set a trap to kill Shen Tian.
“Saintess…”
Fu Yuying’s hand clenched tighter, her eyes growing sharper with unwillingness.
The flower-robed old woman beside her whispered, “We should retreat. Tonight’s outcome is already decided. With Tantai Yuxian’s arrival, it’s impossible to capture that man.”
“She could slay us all with just a single sword.”
Fu Yuying knew it as well.
Her chest rose and fell violently; after a few deep breaths, she gave a cold order: “Everyone, withdraw with me.”
She had planned everything, even how to counter Shen Tian’s final strand of sword qi.
But she never expected Tantai Yuxian’s wisp of soul to descend.
As the assassins began to retreat, Shen Tian finally let out a sigh of relief.
Thanks to his master, he had escaped death tonight.
His gaze swept over Chuidian’s massive, headless corpse.
His chest ached, rage and grief filling his eyes as he clenched his fists tightly.
“Wait.”
“Who was it that struck just now and killed my companion?”
“Also, hand over Shen Yanzhou.”
His voice was cold and commanding.
If not for that wastrel, how could Chuidian have died here tonight? No matter what, Shen Yanzhou had to be buried alongside him.
Upon hearing this, Tantai Yuxian glanced at Shen Tian, her eyes calm and indifferent—she disliked trouble.
“Master, your disciple has never begged you for anything, but Chuidian had accompanied me since childhood. To me, it was as close as family.”
“Tonight, I must have an explanation for it.”
“Shen Yanzhou must be handed over.”
Shen Tian knew well his master’s temperament.
Without hesitation, he dropped to his knees with a dull thud, eyes reddened, faint tears glimmering within them.
Tantai Yuxian withdrew her gaze and swept it across the crowd ahead.
“Leave that man.”
Her tone remained indifferent—without the slightest room for negotiation.
Fu Yuying’s delicate brows knitted tightly.
If Shen Yanzhou stayed, Shen Tian would never let him go easily—he might very well die here.
But if Shen Yanzhou did not stay, with Tantai Yuxian standing behind Shen Tian, she would never allow them to leave unscathed.
Fu Yuying found herself caught in a dilemma.
“Saintess, for the sake of the sect’s greater good, please consider the larger picture.”
“It seems we must give this Sword Immortal an explanation tonight.”
The flower-robed old woman beside her, seeing Fu Yuying’s hesitation, urged softly.
The other experts of Luofu Cloud Cavern also turned toward Fu Yuying.
After paying such a heavy price, they had now provoked an even greater calamity.
With the Sword Immortal standing behind Shen Tian, if the Demon Suppression King were to investigate afterward, Luofu Cloud Cavern would surely be doomed.
Fu Yuying sighed softly—her decision was made.
However, just as she was about to speak, a calm voice came from not far away.
“No need to say it. I’ll stay of my own accord. After all, the grudge between us has yet to be settled.”
Shen Yanzhou emerged from behind a tree trunk, smiling faintly.
His demeanor remained relaxed and unruffled, completely unaffected by Tantai Yuxian’s arrival.
“Shen Yanzhou…”
From a distance, Shen Tian glared at him.
If looks could kill, Shen Yanzhou’s body would already be riddled with countless bloody holes.
“Lord Shen…”
Fu Yuying looked at Shen Yanzhou with a trace of concern.
But Shen Yanzhou, as if knowing what she intended to say, spoke casually, “What happens will happen. I didn’t expect this fellow to draw out Tantai Yuxian, but you’ve already done well enough. Leave the rest to me.”
His tone was unhurried, his bearing calm.
For some reason, Fu Yuying felt a faint sense of reassurance—could it be that Shen Yanzhou still had a plan?
“I was actually about to say that I’ll stay here with you,” she said softly.
With that, Fu Yuying gave no further explanation.
She waved her hand, signaling for the Luofu Cloud Cavern members to withdraw.
The flower-robed old woman hesitated but finally clenched her teeth and said, “Saintess, why put yourself through this? You hold such a noble status—”
Fu Yuying cut her off with a gesture.
“No need for more words. Everyone withdraw. The Bureau of Immortal Inspection and the Chilin Guards of the Great Qian are on their way. We can’t delay.”
Though tonight’s operation had failed, Fu Yuying’s authority within Luofu Cloud Cavern still carried weight.
In no time, the surrounding shadows receded into the forest like the ebbing tide.
Only she remained, standing beside Shen Yanzhou.
This surprised Shen Yanzhou somewhat.
She could have escaped unscathed—yet she chose to stay and “share in his suffering” and “face life and death” with him?
“Saintess, why bother?”
“The backlash of the Shewu Gu isn’t that significant for you. At most, you’ll lose a little of your essence. There’s no need to stay here and die with me,” Shen Yanzhou said with a light smile.
Fu Yuying froze for a moment.
So, Shen Yanzhou knew that the Shewu Gu’s restraint on her wasn’t as severe as imagined—yet he still trusted her this much?
“I cannot betray Lord Shen’s trust. Besides, two people together have more strength than one,” Fu Yuying replied softly.
Shen Yanzhou rubbed his brow.
“Looks like I was overthinking it. I thought you were reluctant to leave me alone out of a day’s affection for a hundred days of companionship.”
Fu Yuying couldn’t help glaring at him.
At a time like this, he still had the nerve to tease her?
In the distance, Shen Tian’s expression turned colder than ever.
To think that even now, on the brink of death, Shen Yanzhou could remain fearless—chatting leisurely with that masked woman at his side.
Everyone in the capital had been deceived by this wastrel’s façade.
Even he himself had once been the same.
“Was it you who killed my companion just now?”
Shen Tian stared coldly at Fu Yuying, the killing intent in his eyes entirely unconcealed.
Fu Yuying said nothing.
“It was I who killed that beast.”
Shen Yanzhou spoke first, smiling faintly.
“You?”
Shen Tian froze, then let out a furious laugh.
“You, a useless waste?”
He refused to believe it.
For Shen Yanzhou to slay Chuidian with a single strike—what kind of cultivation would that require?
After years of indulgence and idleness, a man who had never practiced properly could not possibly possess such strength.
At that moment, Tantai Yuxian’s gaze swept across the massive, headless corpse of the roc.
With her vision and sword cultivation, she could instantly discern the method used.
“The Art of the Heart Sword…”
A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes.
The Art of the Heart Sword was extremely difficult to cultivate.
Even sword masters who had immersed themselves in the Way of the Sword for decades might never grasp its essence.
Yet, if it was that technique, it indeed did not require a lofty realm to execute.
“That wastrel… knows the Art of the Heart Sword?”
Shen Tian froze again, disbelief washing over him.
He even doubted his own hearing.
He had once studied many sword manuals within the Ten-Thousand-Mile Sword Court and knew well how arduous it was to cultivate the Heart Sword.
That threshold had barred countless sword prodigies from advancing further…
Even now, he had to admit—he felt a pang of jealousy.
Why did this wastrel possess such luck and talent?
Negative emotions from Shen Tian +34 +37 +41…
“So it was the Art of the Heart Sword,” Fu Yuying murmured in sudden realization.
“Even if you’ve mastered the Heart Sword, tonight—you must die here.”
Shen Tian drew a deep breath, steadying his mind, though his eyes remained deathly cold.
No matter how powerful the sword technique, it still required sufficient cultivation to wield true might.
Could Shen Yanzhou really stand against his master?
A trace of regret flickered in Tantai Yuxian’s heart.
In other times, if she had encountered such a promising seedling capable of cultivating the Heart Sword, she would have offered him a chance—bringing him into the Ten-Thousand-Mile Sword Court to study under the Wuwei Peak.
In today’s world, the number of known sword cultivators proficient in the Heart Sword could be counted on one hand.
And Wuwei Peak had gone many years without a successor.
“I truly can’t understand why you hate me so deeply.”
“Although I am indeed a false heir—not Shen Jingxiao’s real bloodline—these years in the capital, how many assassination attempts and schemes have I taken in your stead? How much suspicion have I deflected for you? Because of me, you could cultivate freely outside, temper yourself in the southern border army, and grow safely to this day.”
“In some sense, shouldn’t I be considered your benefactor?”
Shen Yanzhou’s faint smile disappeared.
His expression turned solemn as he looked seriously at Shen Tian, as though genuinely seeking an answer.