Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 388 The Sword Emerges from the Primordial Chaos
Chen Linyuan remained silent, lowering his head to look at the reflection in the stream and into his own eyes.

He was in a daze, lacking any spirit.

Perhaps it has been worn away by the passage of four hundred years.

"How were you during your time at Junshan?" he suddenly asked, but dared not look at the girl's face.

“Great!” Jiang Qingrou blurted out.

"Junshan is a place of ever-changing scenery, like a fairyland on earth. The senior brothers and sisters of the Nine Lineages each have their own unique charm."

"My fellow disciples are harmonious. Whether it's my master or my senior brothers and sisters, they all take good care of me and treat me very well."

She raised her head slightly, as if recalling: "After joining the sect, I met many people, and everyone was very kind."

“Miaohan and I often discuss cultivation together and spar together. We always have each other for everything we do.”

The girl's name is Chen Miaohan, and she is Jiang Qingrou's best friend. Chen Linyuan knows her.

“Cultivation is good too. Although I have average talent and my cultivation is slow, I make steady progress…”

"One day, I will definitely be like Senior Brother Chen."

She stood up from the bluestone and pointed ahead with her small hand with great momentum.

"Hey! Slay the demons and eliminate evil!"

It was as if there was a wicked demonic cultivator right in front of her, whom she had slain.

"whee."

"I will become a cultivator who can stand alone and be a pillar of strength! Then I will return to the State of Chu and rebuild my homeland!"

Her smile was incredibly innocent and full of hope.

Compared to Chen Linyuan, who sat listlessly to the side, she was like a gentle little sun in the sky at seven or eight in the morning.

Just looking at her reflection in the water made Chen Linyuan's heart ache even more.

Jiang Qingrou came to her senses and seemed a little embarrassed by her own bold words.

However, she didn't hesitate at all. Instead, she put her hands on her hips and looked at Chen Linyuan: "Why are you asking this?"

"Then... what about your senior brother Chen? Is he good to you?"

Upon hearing the question, the girl paused for a moment.

However, there was no trace of dissatisfaction, regret, or resentment on her face.

"Senior Brother Chen? He's great too, of course."

The girl chuckled, deliberately changing her tone to sound somewhat "old-fashioned": "My senior brother is good in every way, except for one thing, it seems that he only ever has swordsmanship in his eyes."

"In this... hehe, when it comes to matters of love between men and women, he's like a blockhead, so clumsy."

"..."

Chen Linyuan didn't know what to say and remained silent.

Silence fell over this illusion.

After a moment of silence, Jiang Qingrou suddenly said, "But that's actually a good thing too."

Chen Linyuan was slightly taken aback and looked at her.

“Focusing on one thing and pursuing it throughout one’s life, perhaps that’s why Senior Brother Chen is more powerful than ordinary cultivators.”

"and……"

As she spoke, her smile brightened again, carrying a unique cunning and courage.

“I can follow him around, watch him practice swordsmanship, listen to his teachings, and travel with him all over the country.”

"My affection won't burden him, nor does it require his response."

"As long as he remains true to himself, focused solely on the way of the sword, without any distractions, that is the best version of him in my heart."

"I can also express my feelings without restraint..."

"He won't find out."

Chen Linyuan stared wide-eyed at the girl's smiling face, his heart feeling as if it were being tightly gripped by a hand.

He opened his mouth, as if to say something.

But what should we say?

Is it my fault for being too slow-witted, or for being too arrogant and conceited, which led to her death?
The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't utter a single one.

The gentle moonlight was always behind him, but he never turned around to look at it.

It's too late now; the moonlight has faded.

Just then, the space of the illusion rippled slightly, the surrounding scenery faded, and the edges began to blur.

The sound of the flowing stream gradually faded into the distance, and the emerald green of the bamboo forest turned grayish-white.

The foundation supporting this illusion is beginning to crumble as Chen Linyuan's fortune dissipates.

Jiang Qingrou suddenly raised her head and looked at the changes around her.

A hint of panic flickered in her clear eyes: "What happened?"

Chen Linyuan raised his head, not looking at the fading scenery around him, but only gazing at the woman in front of him.

Four hundred years of regret, guilt, and escapism were magnified infinitely at this moment.

Jiang Qingrou's gaze slowly shifted from the shattered sky back to him.

"Am I going to die?"

For the first time, a violent fluctuation appeared in Chen Linyuan's eyes—it was fear.

He took a step forward, walked to the woman, and embraced her.

His arms were so tight, as if he wanted to keep her inside his body.

Jiang Qingrou's body stiffened at first, then surprisingly softened.

She also wrapped her arms around Chen Linyuan's back, gently patted him on the back, and showed a satisfied smile on her face.

"See, I told you so," the girl suddenly said.

Chen Linyuan was slightly taken aback.

"I can express my feelings without restraint, and you didn't even notice."

"Senior Brother Chen, hundreds of years have passed, how come you are still so stupid?"

The girl smiled, looked into his eyes, and gently stroked his face with her soft little hand.

"My senior brother is exceptionally handsome and his swordsmanship is unparalleled."

"As long as he remains in this world, the demonic cultivators will not dare to make a single move."

Her figure is gradually dissipating.

Her voice trailed off, and tears welled in her eyes: "I miss you so much..."

I really want to see it with my own eyes again!

"The way Senior Brother Chen drew his sword."

……

"Its fate is sealed."

Outside the boundary, Chen Tianze's eyes were fixed on the man's steadily declining fortune, and he slowly spoke.

The other eight Nascent Soul demon cultivators stared at Chen Linyuan like hyenas that had smelled blood.

This feeling is something they haven't experienced for a long time, even though they have cultivated for thousands of years.

Among the eight demonic cultivators, one of them urged urgently, "Fellow Daoist Yu, please."

"Humph."

Yu Yiming snorted coldly. Of course he knew what these eight people were up to.

They worry about killing someone with great fortune, fearing the wrath of Heaven, yet they also want a share of the spoils when that person falls.

With such a timid and hesitant mindset and attitude, how can one expect to achieve the Transformation of Godhood?
A fool's dream.

Without hesitation, Yu Yiming's black robe billowed, and a mottled, tattered scroll of a map floated in his palm.

The scroll grew longer in the wind and unfolded naturally. In an instant, a cold wind suddenly rose up. When everyone looked up, they saw countless sinister ghosts surging out from the netherworld.

In an instant, demonic shadows loomed everywhere, and evil spirits howled in the sky above the forbidden land.

"Chen Linyuan, then use your past good fortune to sacrifice for my new path!"

Yu Yiming burst into wild laughter, and ghostly figures and demons appeared one after another, shrieking sharply as they pounced on Chen Linyuan.

The other eight Nascent Soul Realm demonic cultivators were secretly gathering their own methods, waiting for the opportunity to strike. They would make their move as soon as this person died and his cultivation dissipated, each relying on their own abilities.

At this time.

A strange spiritual energy suddenly appeared around Chen Linyuan.

The swirling, demonic shadows that were about to completely engulf him suddenly froze. "Hmm?"

Yu Yiming frowned, about to ask Chen Tianze a question, when the next moment...

Om-!
A wisp of clear sword intent soared from Chen Linyuan's crown chakra, piercing a large hole in the demonic clouds above Dongyuan Sect.

At this moment, the clear moonlight shines down.

In this illusion, the previous scenery is gone, and Jiang Qingrou's figure has also disappeared.

The area around Chen Linyuan was chaotic, and amidst the swirling clouds, glimpses of the past faintly appeared.

However, these clouds are gradually dissipating.

A strange voice resonated deep within him.

The voice was initially muffled, but became clearer and clearer as the words were spoken.

It turned out to be him.

"Let's draw the sword one last time."

"Then use it to take the lives of these demonic cultivators, and sever the ancient destiny of this world..."

"Also, let's eliminate that arrogant and conceited Chen Linyuan."

At this moment.

Chen Linyuan, amidst all the scenes of his past memories, turned around.

He looked at the girl who had been following behind him.

Within the Sword Palace, the lotus flower, long since sealed away, thawed like a glacier.

The golden-red aura suddenly reversed, and on the lotus platform, surging killing intent instantly gathered and converged at the golden core. Then, it shattered with a bang, revealing the shape of an infant the size of a ginseng fruit.

In an instant, countless mysteries converged, and a dazzling, iridescent light shone forth.

The oppressive aura of the Nascent Soul Realm cultivators swept across the sky.

At this moment, Chen Linyuan's sword heart condensed once again, and he actually returned to the Nascent Soul realm.

Everyone inside and outside the Dongyuan Sect was astonished.

Beside Li Qingfeng, Liu Tianfang raised his hand, took off the straw hat on his head, and stared wide-eyed.

He murmured to himself, "Today, could it be that I'll finally get to see Senior Brother Chen draw his sword..."

When Liu Tian was sent to Dejun Mountain, Chen Linyuan had already rarely appeared in the sect. In fact, they had only met a few times, but Liu Tian had never seen Chen Linyuan draw his sword.

Lu Xuanling, needless to say, had only heard of this legendary figure but had never actually seen him.

Within the forbidden area.

Yu Yiming looked horrified: "What happened?! Why did he..."

"Fellow Daoists, something strange has happened. Let's quickly join forces and eliminate it!" Chen Tianze said hastily, his heart filled with turmoil.

Even if he didn't say it, the nine people knew.

If we don't act now, some of our fellow cultivators might be dragged down to the underworld by the opponent's final burst of energy.

The Five Ghosts Gourd, the Gray-Black Flying Sword, the Blood-Burning Treasure Fan—in an instant, numerous magical treasures were unleashed one by one.

Ten Nascent Soul Realm experts erupted from within the forbidden area.

Yu Yiming still took the lead, suddenly activating his demonic power. The broken map shone brightly with yellow light, and three hundred-foot-tall Rakshasa ghosts crawled out of the map, carrying foul air as they pounced down.

Chen Linyuan opened his eyes at that very moment.

Those eyes, which had been covered in dust for four hundred years, were now crystal clear.

Just like when I first encountered the way of the sword as a young boy.

Hatred and arrogance vanished, leaving only a dazzling, world-shaking brilliance that illuminated the heavens and the earth.

Chen Linyuan's body was surrounded by surging sword energy, with the faint sound of a dragon's roar, causing even ghosts and gods to flee.

The moment the ghostly figure touched the sword energy, it was shattered by its sharpness and rolled into the surrounding energy.

The three-headed, hundred-foot-tall demonic shadow screamed as it tried to escape back to the ruined map, but was torn back by the constantly rolling sword energy and crushed to pieces.

Ultimately, it all transformed into part of the sword energy surrounding Chen Linyuan.

Yu Yiming was both shocked and furious. He unleashed his demonic powers once more, shouting, "Everyone!"

The nine Nascent Soul cultivators were terrified, but naturally they also unleashed their respective suicide moves one by one.

One of them manifested an earth-yellow spiritual pearl before him, and he commanded: "In the vast desert, amidst all kinds of defilement, purify your karma and transcend the afflictions of the mortal world!"

In an instant, endless, turbid sand poured out from the spirit pearl, transforming into a giant sphere, intending to bury Chen Linyuan within it.

The rich earth and spiritual treasures conceal the sharpness of the sword's edge.

The thick layers of soil completely buried Chen Linyuan's figure.

"Done?"

Om-!
Before everyone could even rejoice, an ordinary sword light surged forth from the spell formed by the spirit pearl.

The sphere shattered, sending gray clouds and yellow dust billowing into the sky.

Between the two halves of thick earth that had been cut off to the side, Chen Linyuan's gaze was neither sad nor happy.

"These demonic insects dare to tamper with the Ming King's lineage? How laughable."

The Nascent Soul demon cultivator who was using the Earth Technique was completely astonished; this person had seen through his methods at a glance.

However, at this moment, the other eight Nascent Soul cultivators unleashed their killing moves one by one.

In an instant, the earth shook, demonic clouds pressed down overhead, and torrential rain poured down over the forbidden area.

An endless pressure swept towards Chen Linyuan.

He didn't dodge at all; with a casual wave of his hand, the rolling sword energy around him gradually condensed into the shape of a flying sword in his hand.

"..."

Gentle and mild.

Just watch and see.

He slightly raised his eyes, and boundless radiance emanated from the lotus within his body, covering the sword energy in his hand.

The next instant, a sword was swung out.

Om-!
At that moment, the world seemed to daze, time seemed to freeze, and a thin, hair-like bluish-gray sword light stretched across the sky.

The sword energy resembled a reversed Milky Way.

The thousand-mile-long demonic cloud was cleaved in two by this sword!

As the morning sun rose, golden rays poured down on the battlefield of Longshou Mountain, illuminating the corpses scattered on the ground and reflecting every horrified face.

But then a flash of sword light appeared.

The demonic cultivator, who was hanging at the very back of the crowd and furthest from Chen Linyuan, had his Qi Sea pierced through, along with his Nascent Soul.

Even the Nascent Soul cultivator didn't have a chance to escape; he died and his cultivation vanished just like that.

"..."

However, no one turned to look at their dead colleague at that moment, because before them was an endless torrent of sword energy, following closely behind the sword light, surging forth.

Almost instantly, he was in front of Yu Yiming, leaving no room for reaction; all that remained was a flash of gray light.

puff.

Yu Yiming's entire body was instantly turned into a bloody mist. The demonic infant paused for a moment before being swept up in it and crushed into the sword energy.

The demonic infant shattered and merged into the sword energy, causing the tide of sword energy to surge even more violently, instantly sweeping towards the remaining seven people.

escape!
The thought arose in Chen Tianze's mind.

Then, I felt a lightness all over my body as I was swept away by the sword energy and crushed together.

Puff puff……

Explosions echoed all around in the sky.

The rolling sword energy chased after the bluish-gray sword light, sweeping across the sky in the blink of an eye.

The wind, rain, thunder, and lightning vanished in an instant.

The entire Dongyuan Sect fell silent.

With a single sword strike, the demonic clouds dispersed.

All nine Nascent Soul cultivators from the Demonic Ruins perished under this single sword strike.

Nothing was left behind.

The sword energy swept across the sky from the east, traversing the entire Lingyuan Marsh before dissipating into the distant sky.

(End of this chapter)