The spiritual energy was restored, and he became a mortal immortal in two days.

The sword was rusted and mottled, but the moment his fingertips touched the hilt...

"Buzz!"

The rust crumbled away inch by inch, revealing a sword blade as blue as the sea beneath! The blade trembled slightly, emitting a clear, melodious sword cry, as if celebrating its master's return!

The Cangming Sword, silent for seven thousand years, has seen the light of day again today!

Chen Xuan stroked the sword, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes.

"Seven thousand years."

He said softly, "Old friend, long time no see."

The Cangming Sword trembled in response, its cry filled with longing and excitement.

Shen Cangming knelt on the ground, sobbing uncontrollably: "Sword Master... our ancestors have been waiting for you for seven thousand years."

"His last words before he passed away were, 'The Sword Master will definitely return, and return the Cangming Sword to him for me.'"

"Today... our ancestors' last wish has finally... finally been fulfilled!"

Chen Xuan remained silent for a moment, then reached out to help Shen Cangming up:

"Get up. Your Shen family has guarded the seal for generations; you've worked hard."

He looked at the three thousand disciples of the East Sea Sword Sect on Penglai Island, then at the eagerly awaiting cultivators on the Lingxiao Fleet in the distance, and finally looked even further away.

The land along the East China Sea coast, where tens of millions of people live.

"From this day forward, I will personally guard the East Sea Seal. The Shen Clan and the East Sea Sword Sect... can now relinquish this burden."

Shen Cangming kowtowed again: "Thank you, Sword Master!"

Chen Xuan turned around, took a step, and transformed into a stream of blue light, heading towards Qingcheng Mountain.

Behind him, the Cangming Sword flew up on its own, transforming into a streak of azure sword light that followed him closely, like a shadow.

On Penglai Island, three thousand disciples of the Sword Sect knelt on the ground.

On the Lingxiao Fleet, all the cultivators saluted and watched them go.

Shen Cangming knelt on the sea, gazing at the receding streak of blue and green light, and murmured:

"Ancestor...did you see that?"

"The Sword Master... he's really back."

The Lingxiao headquarters was in an uproar.

Wang Mingyuan stood in front of the command platform, watching the last images transmitted back by the satellite. The azure sword light cleaved through the three-thousand-foot-long demonic Kun, and the seawater turned the hundred-mile stretch of ocean black.

In the command center, everyone was silent.

It's not that I don't want to talk, it's that I don't know what to say.

"Nine Abyss Demon Kun... Early Stage of Nascent Soul..."

A Nascent Soul cultivator's voice was hoarse, "He was slain by a single sword strike. With just one strike."

"Moreover, he wasn't using the Xuan Tian Sword, nor the Heaven and Earth Seal."

Another person added, "It's a completely different sword technique—the Azure Sea Sword Technique. This means... his arsenal of supernatural abilities far exceeds our imagination."

"Master of the Xuantian Sword, Venerable Cangming Sword, Holy Master Chen Xiang..."

Wang Mingyuan murmured, "Each identity is a legend spanning thousands of years. Each identity corresponds to a completely different set of supreme supernatural powers."

He took a deep breath: "Update Chen Xuan's file immediately. List all his known aliases on the first page of the file, and add notes."

"There may be many more unknown aliases, each corresponding to an era, a system of supernatural powers, and at least one ancient being that has been sealed away."

"In addition, send a congratulatory telegram to the East Sea Sword Sect, congratulating them on finding their patriarch. The wording should be respectful and the attitude humble."

"Also... notify all coastal provinces that the East China Sea disaster has been quelled, and the people can rest assured."

Commands were passed down through the ranks.

Wang Mingyuan sat back in his chair, watching the receding blue streak on the screen, and suddenly smiled bitterly:

"Nine thousand eight hundred years..."

"How many more surprises does he have in store for us?"

Qingcheng Mountain, three days later.

When Chen Xuan returned to the Taoist temple, the Cangming Sword flew into the backyard on its own and stuck in the blue stone next to the old plum tree. The sword trembled slightly and breathed in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Wu Minghuang and Shangguan Wan'er stood at the courtyard gate, looking at the azure ancient sword, their eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Cangming Sword".

Wu Minghuang said softly, "It is ranked seventh on the list of ancient divine weapons. Legend has it that it was forged from deep-sea mystic crystals. On the day the sword was completed, the tides of the East Sea reversed for three days."

"I never expected... that it would be your sword, sir."

Shangguan Wan'er opened a thick booklet—it was something she had compiled over the past few days.

"I have found records of the four aliases used by the gentleman."

She said softly, "Prime Minister Chen, three hundred years ago, was the Holy Master of Heavenly Wind. Sword Master Xuantian, nine thousand years ago, sealed the Heavenly Abyss. Sword Venerable Cangming, seven thousand years ago, sealed the Demon Kun."

She turned to the next page: "There is a fourth one. Five thousand years ago, there was a 'Primordial Immortal' in the Western Desert who single-handedly suppressed the three great demon caves of the Western Desert and left behind the 'Primordial Seal Technique' legacy."

"And the 'Primordial Sea-Stabilizing Seal' that you used to deal with the Demon Kun has the shadow of the Primordial Seal."

Wu Minghuang took the booklet, looked at the densely packed records on it, and remained silent for a long time:

"Nine thousand eight hundred years... four aliases are just the tip of the iceberg."

"Wan'er, how many secrets does Master still have hidden?"

Shangguan Wan'er looked at the figure in green robes pruning plum branches in the courtyard and said softly:

"Perhaps even he himself...can't remember."

In the courtyard, Chen Xuan trimmed a dead branch and turned to look at the two of them:

"What are you doing standing at the door? Come in."

Wu Minghuang and Shangguan Wan'er exchanged a glance and walked into the courtyard.

"gentlemen."

Wu Minghuang placed the booklet on the stone table. "We've found four aliases for you. Chen Xiang, Xuan Tian Sword Master, Cang Ming Sword Venerable, Hunyuan True Man... right?"

Chen Xuan glanced at the booklet and said indifferently, "More or less."

"Then... how much is left?" Shangguan Wan'er couldn't help but ask.

Chen Xuan put down the scissors and remained silent for a moment:

"I can't remember."

"Some pseudonyms were used for only a few years, while others were used for over a hundred years."

Some remain in ancient books, while others have long been erased by time.

He looked at the two of them, a very faint smile in his eyes:

"If you're interested, you can look into it later. But... don't take it too seriously."

Why?

Wu Minghuang was puzzled.

"Because the people behind those aliases are all 'dead'."

Chen Xuan said softly, "Prime Minister Chen is dead, the Xuan Tian Sword Master is dead, the Cang Ming Sword Venerable is dead, and the Hunyuan True Man is also dead."

"The only one alive now is Chen Xuan."

He picked up his teacup and took a sip:

"A leisurely person who raises birds and drinks tea in Qingcheng Mountain."

A moment of silence followed in the courtyard.

Wu Minghuang suddenly smiled, walked over and sat down next to him:

"I don't care. Whether you're Prime Minister Chen or Chen Xuan, a Holy Master or a nobody... I've made up my mind about you."

Shangguan Wan'er also sat down and said softly, "So does this disciple."

Chen Xuan looked at the two of them and shook his head helplessly:

"Whatever you want."

A mountain breeze rustled through the old plum trees in the courtyard.

The Cangming Sword trembled slightly in the bluestone, emitting a faint sword hum.