The grand formations atop Mount Qingdu and nearby peaks flared to life, some bright, some dim, but their lights weaved together to release waves of energy. Li Ximing felt as if blades were cutting across his face, but with Yu Mujian’s sword aimed straight at his brother, how could he back down? He steeled himself, reversed his mana, and caused the Radiant Origin Pass to erupt in brilliance as it descended with increasing force.
Clang!
Golden light exploded skyward, dispersing clouds and mist. The Radiant Origin Pass rang with a sharp sound as the radiance at its center pulsed once, then dimmed. A tidal eruption of golden sword qi burst forth from within the gate, like mountains collapsing and seas roaring.
Boom!
The sword qi howled through the center, causing the plaque atop the gate to tremble violently. Cracks spread across the stone bricks, and the entire gate dimmed, shrinking into a single stream of light that shot back toward Li Ximing.
Pfft!
The Radiant Origin Pass had been harmed. Li Ximing coughed up a mouthful of blood, mingled gold and red. But before the blood even hit the lake, it transformed into golden streaks of light and scattered. He had no time to worry about his injuries; he immediately pulled out talismans and sent them flying to chase after the escaping light.
Li Xijun poured all his cultivation into his sword. The lake beneath his feet had frozen into solid ice. His pupils reflected only the golden sword aura; this was the culmination of the golden Arhat Suxikong’s lifetime of sword cultivation.
He felt the talisman seeds in his qi sea stir and erupt with pure qi. His mind grew sharper than ever before. Countless profound meanings surfaced in his heart, and his consciousness seemed to fall into a mirror, where he beheld a green sword resting on stone.
A man in a bright white robe stood alone atop an ancient, weathered city. His features were radiant and transcendent. A sky-darkening fire phoenix streaked through the heavens like a comet. The man calmly drew his sword, and a wave of cyan-white iridescence burst forth.
That cyan-white sword image gradually appeared in Li Xijun’s eyes. He sheathed his sword with his pale and glowing hand. He summoned another.
Clang!
A sharp screech rang out as a cyan-white sword burst forth from the mountains and soared through the air to land in his hand. The sword tassel swayed in the wind.
It was the Qingche Sword!
The moon-white sword light lit up once more and the gleam across the lake suddenly dimmed.
Golden light erupted from several miles away, accompanied by the rumble of collapsing stone. Yu Mujian stood in midair, staring blankly.
Li Xijun stood silently opposite him. Yu Mujian slowly lowered his sword. After standing for two seconds, his expression shifted and he abruptly said, “I have no regrets.”
Countless cracks spread across his face as the words left his mouth. His body held together for a single moment before shattering into countless fragments that scattered across the sky. The fragments turned to streams of light that turned into ash that drifted down like settling mist.
The dim yellow Copper Cache lost its radiance. It dropped, split into two pieces, and after half a spin, sank swiftly into the lake below.
Li Ximing sensed Li Xijun’s flickering and unstable qi. Without time to hesitate, he rushed to his side, only to see wind and snow churning as blood trailed from Li Xijun’s lips.
He quickly supported Li Xijun into the mountains. It was only when he fed Li Xijun a Wanglin Blossom that his complexion began to shift for the better. A faint red line ran across his waist; he had clearly been pierced by sword qi.
Blood still rising in his throat, Li Xijun rasped, “Earth-View Bloodstone!”
Li Ximing hastily took out the blood-glowing jade stone from his storage pouch and handed it to Li Xijun. Li Xijun used his palm like a blade and sliced off a small portion. He then tore his own abdomen open. His internal organs were broken and mangled.
He placed the bloodstone inside, pressed his palms together, and spat out a mouthful of black blood which pierced the jade with dozens of tiny holes.
After panting for a few moments, life gradually returned to Li Xijun’s face. He asked, “Is Yu Mujian dead?”
Li Ximing took half a second before realizing he needed to respond, "At the very least, that physical body should be dead..."
His face was drenched in sweat as he hastily asked, “How are you?”
“I should be fine with the Earth-View Bloodstone.” Li Xijun’s face was pale as paper. He leaned against a green boulder, using his mana to bind his fragmented organs together.
Yet his eyes were shockingly bright, and he smiled. “Ximing, there should still be a sword immortal’s remnant or inheritance hidden within the Qingche Sword!”
“Inheritance, whatever... Just stop talking first...” Li Ximing had no mind to listen to any more. He rummaged through his storage pouch and piled out several pills, muttering, “Every time I emerge from closed-door cultivation, something has already gone wrong at home... I've been feeling uneasy for days. Focus on your recovery...”
Li Xijun nodded, took a few pills, and sat down cross-legged, closing his eyes to heal.
After more than ten seconds, Li Xuanxuan came rushing over, calling out, “Ximing! Xijun! Are you both alright?”
“Still holding on...” Li Ximing quickly replied, then gradually regained his calm. He followed Li Xuanxuan out to reassure him, and noticed the elder holding two broken halves of the copper sword.
Copper Cache was still dripping wet from the lake. The fracture was smooth as a mirror.
————
Xu State, great void.
Golden clouds swirled auspiciously within the pitch-black great void, white mist curling around them. A massive golden figure sat upright at its center. The figure had three heads, six arms, and countless faces. The golden lacquer adorning it shimmered as it was surrounded by murmuring Sanskrit chants.
Many Merciful Ones stood beneath the golden lotus-like clouds, only a tenth the size of the golden figure. Their expressions varied, with some glaring in fury while others were as cold as frost. However, they were all holding blades, spears, axes, or halberds.
All the Merciful Ones stood frozen, their lotus-formed hands motionless in the golden mist. Their sacred weapons shimmered coldly, drawing the eye irresistibly toward them.
“Hm?”
Suddenly, a Merciful One opened its eyes, three on its face and two more on its chest. They were all glaring wide with faint anger flickering within them. Its arms, arranged in a lotus posture, dropped swiftly as it began divining with measured movements.
Xu Mu is dead!
He felt a flicker of anger. Xu Mu had been one of the few successful converts. He had been an exceptional manifestation of the True Form of Suxikong in the Way of Emptiness. A true Arhat he could rely on.
And that was only part of it. Xu Mu also possessed a profound swordsmanship. He was a cultivator from Jiangnan, and likely at the Sword Essence Realm. He had been the perfect pawn... yet now, he had died so suddenly and uselessly after being sent south to sever his past!
“That Li Family... they possess enough power to prevent even the True Form of Suxikong from reincarnating?!”
The Five-Eyed Merciful One’s three facial eyes flared with fury, while the two on his chest remained icy cold. The lotus dharma artifacts on either side descended from above his head to his sides.
After a brief moment, he murmured inwardly, The few Golden Core Realm cultivators of Jiangnan have already departed for the Outer Heavens. This was not interference. This is the perfect moment to divine fate... Maha is also nearby. I must see what kind of Mandate of Heaven this person carries. Ideally, I can take him for myself...
His regret slightly eased, golden patterns began to form across his face. His five eyes slowly closed as he began calculating with folded fingers.