One Sword

A few days after Xie Lang recovered, he also came to Zhichen. He was familiar with Daoist magic, and the formation also required Daoists to make talismans after it was completed, so he could help a lot.

Even though the strength of the few people was impeccable, it would really take a lot of effort to deal with the heart demons and turn it into a formation that everyone could use.

Xie Lang frowned as he faced his heart demon.

Lu Hongyan asked him, "How does it feel?"

"I can't describe it," Xie Lang pondered for a while, then said, "But the first time I saw it, I knew it was my heart demon."

"When I suddenly encountered it at that time and knew it was coming for my life, I was naturally very panicked. But now that I've calmed down, I feel like it's an old acquaintance."

The young Daoist priest shook his head, then concentrated on studying the talismans. After half a day's work, he sighed wearily, "It's really too difficult."

Ye Jiuya asked him, "Are there any techniques in Daoism that can help people guard their minds?"

"There are, but they can't deal with heart demons," Xie Lang said with a bitter smile. "Sect Leader Ye, your state of mind is firm, so naturally you don't have such worries. But this heart demon is really powerful. When it came towards me, all kinds of mind-guarding and spirit-concentrating techniques were useless. I was already affected, let alone the disciples below."

"The Sword Platform also has many such mind techniques," Lord Lanshan said. "If we help people guard their minds on one hand and block the heart demons on the other, it might be effective."

"That's right." Xie Lang made a note, then looked at the slight fatigue and hidden obsession in his clear eyebrows, and said, "Lord Lanshan, you haven't slept for the past few days. It's time for you to go and rest."

"It's alright." Lord Lanshan smiled slightly, "This matter with the heart demons is important. Since this matter arose because of the Heart Tempering Mirror, it should be resolved by me. It's just that I've implicated you all, and I feel really guilty."

Xie Lang sighed, "If the sky falls, we can only hold it up together. If the Emperor was still here, maybe we wouldn't have to work so hard."

Lu Hongyan's eyes were a little dazed, "Wait until August..."

"August?" Xie Lang didn't understand.

But Lu Hongyan closed her mouth and wouldn't say anything no matter how much he asked.

Instead, Lord Lanshan continued the conversation, "Back then during the Battle of Heavenly River, my master and I were both there. We were fortunate to witness the Emperor's single sword strike, creating a 3,000-mile sword qi barrier across the land of the Central Continent, preventing the demon realm from advancing further. Recently, I often think about what it would be like if he were still in this world."

The young Daoist priest had a kind heart and was also intent on talking to Lu Lanshan to relieve his fatigue, "At that time, he didn't seem to be the Emperor yet."

Lu Lanshan said, "Indeed, the Emperor had no sect or lineage, and it was not heard where he learned from. But that one sword was enough to prove his realm. After the Battle of Heavenly River, he successively defeated three lords and fourteen marquises, ascending the Mount Huandang that no one had been able to climb for over a hundred years. From then on, he was the Emperor. But why he didn't go to climb Mount Huandang before that is a mystery."

Xie Lang, "In my opinion, if the immortal world wasn't really in trouble at that time, it's uncertain whether the Emperor would have appeared. Defeating three lords and fourteen marquises within half a year - it's really unimaginable."

"It wasn't half a year."

"Huh?" Xie Lang was greatly surprised that the information he had was wrong.

"Half a year after the Battle of Heavenly River, he used three days to defeat the three lords and fourteen marquises - plus the time for the round trip."

Xie Lang, "..."

While they were talking, Lu Hongyan brewed some tea and placed a cup in front of Ye Jiuya first, then Kong Ming, and finally Xie Lang and Lord Lanshan.

She returned to Ye Jiuya's side, "Senior Brother Ye, accompany me for a walk outside."

Ye Jiuya got up and followed her out of the hall. The white and red figures were very well-matched.

Lord Lanshan said slowly, "I didn't know before that Sect Leader Ye had a connection with Lord Canlong."

"The two of them were fellow disciples before," Xie Lang knew a lot about their relationship as he had traveled with them before. "Lady Lu has a bad temper, and only Sect Leader Ye can control her."

Lord Lanshan glanced out the window, then fully immersed himself in the formation again.

Ye Jiuya looked at Lu Hongyan, "What's the matter?"

Lu Hongyan pursed her lips and said, "Do you know why he wanted to become the Emperor?"

Before Ye Jiuya could answer, she continued, "He never cared about those things. If you try to fool me with the talk about the Mount Huandang connecting heaven and earth, benefiting cultivation, I won't believe it."

Ye Jiuya looked towards the distant horizon, "I know."

The distant mountains were shrouded in white mist, like snow.

The Sword Pavilion had snow all year round. During the Battle of Heavenly River, the crimson blood dyed the white snow deep red.

When the old Pavilion Master was about to descend the mountain, he solemnly handed the Sword Pavilion's token to him, "This trip has a ninety percent chance of death. Master also knows you are young, but the heavy responsibility of the Sword Pavilion cannot be entrusted to anyone else. Remember, if something happens to you, there will be no time for the Sword Pavilion to revive. Even if the entire sect dies in battle, you are not allowed to take a single step down the mountain."

He then watched his master take his sword and descend Mount Liuxue.

News of deaths came from the Heavenly River day after day—one letter after another delivered to his hands, each listing fallen fellow disciples and friends.

He then circled the names with ink on the register and sent other fellow disciples and friends to the Heavenly River battlefield.

From the top of Mount Liuxue, it seemed the sound of clashing weapons could be heard in the distance.

The immortal way exhausted all its strength, yet still struggled to move forward.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps beside him. Someone walked up to him and stood by the white stone railing, also looking into the distance.

He turned his head to look and recognized it was the black-robed man who had crossed paths with him a few days ago and pointed out his confusion with his sword.

The man looked into the distance, his voice having a kind of aloof and casual coldness, "Do you have a sword?"

He handed over his bamboo sword.

A long, crystal-clear, and thoroughly cold white sword.

The man's fingertips slowly stroked the sword's edge, "It needs to be one without an owner."

Ye Jiuya went to the sword pool and looked at the hundreds of long and short divine weapons for a long time. Finally, he returned to his room and took out a heavy, thoroughly black long sword from a black long box.

"Although the Breaking Bamboo is a divine weapon seen only once in a hundred years, it cannot accompany you for a lifetime," the old Pavilion Master once said. "If you want to cultivate the highest level of swordsmanship, you must go to the deepest part of the Ice River to find the most renowned swordsmith, and use your heart's blood to nurture it day by day. After ten years, when you grow up, this peerless sword will be complete. Then, it can acknowledge its master - there will be no divine weapon in the world that can compare to it."

"Willing to part with it?" That person's eyes held a hint of amused interest, perhaps seeing the sword's origin at a glance.

"Since you are worthy of it, why bother asking if I'm willing to part with it."

That person didn't say much more. He used the sword's edge to cut his finger, and the blood traces instantly merged into the sword's body, causing it to hum.

His countenance was unforgettably cold and handsome. After acknowledging the sword, he gazed towards the Heavenly River and said, "The highest level of swordsmanship doesn't necessarily require a sword. It's just that my realm is still a bit lacking compared to that, so I'll have to borrow your sword for now."

"What do you want to do?"

"I originally planned to go after reaching that realm," his voice was indifferent, "but seeing that you are still young, dying like this would inevitably give rise to heart demons."

That person soared into the sky, casually drawing his sword.

The wind and snow across the sky paused for a moment, and the winding mountain ranges trembled.

A three-thousand-mile sword qi barrier extended, its magnificent radiance covering the sky and earth.

Someone used a single sword to pull back the Heavenly River, and from then on, his name was known throughout the world.

Thus, the Battle of the Heavenly River ended.

He turned around and landed back in his original spot, sheathing his sword.

Ye Jiuya finally asked him, "Who are you?"

But that person didn't answer him. Instead, he asked, "How old are you this year?"

After Ye Jiuya answered his age, he calmly said, "I'll give you thirty years."

No matter how calm his tone was, it couldn't conceal the near-arrogant pride inherent in those words.

Thirty years was too long a time.

Even with the preceding sword that caused the world to lose its luster, the unyielding spirit of youth still resided in the boy's bones. He asked, "Which lord or marquis are you?"

"I'm not a lord or marquis."

"If you're not a lord or marquis, then what gives you the right to assert that I won't catch up to you until thirty years later?"

"I originally thought," that person's voice was still calm, "that even after three hundred years, there still wouldn't be anyone in the world who could match me."

—It turned out that those "thirty years" weren't a belittlement, but rather praise.

"You don't believe me." There was a trace of puzzlement in that person's eyes. Only after a moment did his slightly furrowed brows relax. "Give me three days."

As that black-robed figure was about to leave, Ye Jiuya asked, "What's your name?"

That person didn't answer.

—Ye Jiuya learned this person's name half a year later when he heard the title of the Emperor.

He used half a year to wait for the Three Lords and Fourteen Marquises of the Immortal Dao, who were severely wounded from the Battle of the Heavenly River, to recover their strength. He then used three days to defeat them one by one.

The news that reached snowy mountain said that the Emperor defeated these seventeen people using only seventeen sword strikes.