I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

Ji Tian stood with his hands behind his back, silently making hand seals to summon the night wind, which made his white robes flutter, giving him the appearance of a highly accomplished Taoist master.

After all, since you're actively inviting someone to be your apprentice, you still need to be mindful of your image.

Alex knelt on the scorched earth, still clutching the broken sword in his hand, his gray hair visibly turning golden in the moonlight.

His memories had returned, and his magic circuits had been rebuilt, but the confusion in his heart was like ashes on a wasteland, swirling everywhere.

He raised his head, looked at the white-clad figure before him, and spoke in a hoarse voice: "Before answering your question, I have four questions."

"Feel free to ask."

"First, why did you abduct...take away the Demon King's bloodline?" After all, the other party had just saved his life, and there might have been some misunderstandings in their previous exchanges, so it was not appropriate to speak ill of him.

"A major incident occurred in the Demon King's Castle half a year ago. The Demon King was replaced. She was the daughter of the former Demon King, who fled here... and eventually became my disciple."

"I'm very sorry, I misunderstood you." Alex was shocked, not expecting that the Demon King had changed.

He stood up, bowed deeply, and didn't question why the other party had made a prior announcement before the battle began. After all, he was the one who had made the unfounded assumptions, and he couldn't blame anyone else.

"Secondly, how were you able to break the Holy Sword? As far as I know, the Holy Sword cannot be broken intentionally; at most, it will only break after the hero has burned out. Even the Demon King cannot destroy it."

Ji Tian looked down at the broken sword. The runes on the blade were still flickering faintly, like a dying heart making its last struggle.

"Unbreakable? Perhaps the Demon King himself is countered by the Holy Sword, and there's no reason for other beings capable of breaking the Holy Sword to do so!"

He chuckled, extended his right hand, pinched the blade of the broken sword with two fingers, and gently snapped it—another small fragment shattered and clattered to the ground. "During my fight with you, I discovered that while the Holy Sword is indeed powerful, it is merely a vessel that holds certain powers. Its greatest strength lies in the power of holy light, which is a special attack against demons, but it is useless against me."

He loosened his fingers, and the remaining fragments turned into specks of light and dissipated.

"Moreover, what you are using is merely a holy sword enhanced by both the power of faith and the sacrificial technique."

My technique for breaking the Holy Sword is a martial arts masterpiece that was popularized by the Martial Ancestor.

The difference in quality is immediately apparent!

Alex clearly didn't understand what the other person was saying at the end, but he felt that the other person's expression was so confident that what he said must be true.

After all, the other party clearly had the ability to break the sword and the person in one blow, but instead saved my life. Could he be lying to me?

After digesting the previous content, Alex asked again, "Third, I clearly burned my memories, so why didn't they burn out completely? Why did I survive instead? I'm sorry, I know you saved me, but I want to understand the principle behind it."

If the cost isn't too high, it might prevent future heroes from ever being born again...

Ji Tian glanced at him, his gaze carrying a "what good thing are you thinking?" implication.

"Because I severed your contract with the Holy Sword and paid the penalty for breach of contract." He added, just in case the other person didn't understand, "The Holy Sword was burning your memories and life force, like a fire burning down your house. What I did was simple—I put out the fire and then put the burned wood back in."

He raised his right hand, and a warm, golden light appeared in his palm.

"The life force of the Nascent Soul stage can repair a few fragments of memory and mend a few magic circuits without much effort. Of course, if you continue to burn it until even your 'existence' begins to dissipate, then even a god would be unable to save you."

Alex looked down at his hands. The crack between his thumb and forefinger had healed, and although his skin was still a little pale, it no longer looked as aged as before.

He clenched his fist and felt the power slowly flowing back.

"One last question." He raised his head, looking directly into Ji Tian's eyes, "Why did you choose to take me as your disciple?"

Ji Tian's lips curled up slightly. Since the other party could ask this question, it was highly likely that the deal was done.

"Your sword intent is pure, and your harmony with the sword far surpasses that of ordinary people. You can be considered a 'natural sword body.' Moreover, your mind is pure and you are a good candidate for cultivation. If you were born in the cultivation world, once you grow up, you would definitely be the leader of the righteous path." He paused and added, "Moreover, even I think it would be a pity if you died."

Alex froze, the broken sword slipped from his hand and stuck in the soil. He hadn't quite understood what had been said before, but he roughly understood that the other person was praising his talent.

I understood the last part: "So, you acknowledge my will, it's that simple?"

"It's that simple."

Ji Tian turned around and walked towards the direction of Kolde City. After a few steps, he stopped and turned his head to look at him.

"Now, what's your answer? Become my apprentice, or continue being your hero?" He glanced at the broken sword. "Your sword is broken, but surely the church has new ones?"

Ji Tian even felt that the so-called holy sword grew from a tree and could be used as soon as it was picked.

Of course, this is just speculation and remains to be verified.

I'll visit the sacred mountain when I have time in the future.

Alex stood on the wasteland, looking down at the broken sword. The runes on the sword were fading away one by one, like a star reaching the end of its life.

He remembered Mason's smiling face, Anna's prayers, Bruno's greatsword, the oak tree in the village, and the dream of "protecting all those who are worth protecting."

He crouched down and pulled the broken sword out of the soil. The blade had lost its luster, leaving only a cold piece of metal.

He sheathed the broken sword back into its scabbard at his waist, raised his head, and looked at the white-clad figure who had saved him.

"I'll go with you, but I have two conditions—wait for reinforcements to arrive, and in the meantime, let me say goodbye to everyone."

Farewell? Ji Tian hadn't expected the other party to be so determined in his pursuit of the Dao, actually intending to sever all ties with the world.

You should know that his "Wind Spirit Moon Shadow Sect" emphasizes freedom. As long as it doesn't interfere with cultivation, no one will care if you bring your family along or even run a zoo in the sect.

No wonder he has a "natural sword body"!

He nodded and exclaimed, "Of course!"

He then took a step and disappeared into the void.

Alex stood on the wasteland, the night wind howling, ashes falling like snow.

He reached out and touched the broken sword at his waist, a bitter smile appearing on his lips.

"That Mason guy is probably going to cry."

……

At the very moment the holy sword was broken.

Demon King's Castle, Abyss Palace.

Marbaz leaned back on the throne, his crimson eyes half-closed, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest.

He is waiting.

When that sharp edge that spanned a thousand miles was extinguished.

The hero unleashes the holy sword, burning himself, and will turn to ashes in no more than two days—this has been the case throughout history.

He only needs to sit here, wait for the light to slowly dissipate, and then give the order for a general attack.

With Kolde City within easy reach, the western borders will be wide open, and the heartland of the human kingdoms will be left defenseless.

He has already begun to plan his next move.

Suddenly, his fingers stopped.

A strange feeling welled up in my chest, as if something that had been taut had suddenly snapped.

Like a snapped string, like shattered chains, like an echo that had lasted for a thousand years coming to an abrupt end at this moment.

Malbaz suddenly opened his eyes.

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

He rose from his throne with such speed that even the ghostly flames beside him were violently shaken by the wind he stirred up.

His hand was pressed against his chest, feeling the disappearance of that fateful connection.

The hero's dissipation upon burning out should not be like this.

According to the records of the demon kings who have defeated heroes throughout history, the burning is slow and gradual, like the final flicker of a candle flame before it is blown out by the wind.

And this is... an instantaneous break.

It felt like something had severed it completely!

Did the hero get instantly killed by some being?!

Could it be that my Demon Clan's High Priest has made a move?!