I am a female swordsman.

This was the first time Huang Quan had experienced something so novel within the Sword Domain. Normally, a spirit entity would die after its energy is depleted. However, in a hazy state, Huang Quan's spirit entity sensed that it had arrived at a warm place, as alluring as a womb. Deep within that warmth, it saw… an exquisitely beautiful sword!

"woke up."

"Of course, she's that resilient."

Two voices, almost diametrically opposed in nature, came just as Huang Quan's eyelids trembled. When he opened his eyes, he saw a clear blue sky with hardly any clouds.

What happened? I'm not dead? I didn't return to my original body?

Huang Quan sat up abruptly and immediately checked himself. What he saw was shocking! His Thought Form was covered in cracks, as if a piece of broken porcelain had been haphazardly pieced together with glue, deformed and bizarre. Through the cracks, Huang Quan could see an extremely restrained bright blue light shimmering faintly!

Chapter Forty-Four: The New World

Shock! Fear!

If it were the original body in this shattered and pieced-together state, Huang Quan would definitely think that the power in his body had gone berserk and out of balance, causing his body to completely collapse! But the appearance of the Thought Body made Huang Quan think of many things in his astonishment. Obviously, the Thought Body was saved by someone when it was on the verge of breaking apart!

This is really...

It was as if a porcelain doll had been shattered and then forcibly glued back together by an unseen, powerful force.

The ability to achieve such an incredible effect on a thought entity must be something only the power of will and soul could accomplish. This is reminiscent of the magnificent demonic sword I glimpsed in my half-dreaming state, the scene of the sword domain shattering, and the two different voices I heard upon waking.

Huang Quan understood that a new powerful figure had likely emerged within the sword domain of the [Divine Sword]!

"Senior [Divine Sword]?"

The other visitor's purpose and motives were unclear, and he was engaged in a fierce battle with Liang Yue. At least in Huang Quan's view, a battle that shattered the sword domain could no longer be considered a friendly spar but rather a full-blown fight. Having become somewhat familiar with Liang Yue, Huang Quan sought answers from her.

Although I was surrounded by a thick, gray fog.

But Huang Quan believed that her intuition told her that two terrifying individuals were nearby! And not far from her!

This is a pure connection unique to true swordsmen.

Swordsmen, through years of battles and combat, naturally develop an aura that instills terror in those around them. This is because the swordsman's aura attracts external matter, and without conscious effort, this aura transmits danger and fear to any creature that approaches.

Compared to ordinary people whose senses are not so sharp, fellow swordsmen are more able to clearly feel this fear!

Being so close to two top-tier swordsmen, Huang Quan felt an extreme sense of threat from their breathing, gaze, movements, and even changes in their will. In this unknown fear, Huang Quan's courage was being tested like never before, much like facing cannibals for the first time as an ordinary person!

How do I feel right now?

Liang Yue's familiar, refined voice pierced through the thick fog and clearly reached Huang Quan's ears.

"I don't feel anything." Huang Quan subconsciously glanced down at her cracked body, the occasional glimmer of bright blue light emanating from the dark cracks seeming to say something. She felt nothing at all; if she hadn't seen this state, she would have even thought she was still perfectly fine.

"That's because I saved you. Otherwise, your fragile projection of will would have been dead long ago." Another unfamiliar voice interrupted, a voice that Huang Quan had just heard not long ago.

She bowed her head with a reserved and modest expression, neither humble nor arrogant, to express her gratitude.

This stranger's personality was more direct and forthright compared to Liang Yue's. The fact that he remained within Liang Yue's sword domain after a fierce battle left Huang Quan with no doubt about the swordsman's strength. Respect for someone of the level of a natural disaster is respect for strength itself, and has nothing to do with anything else.

"Because my sparring with Liang Yue dragged you into it, you almost died once. Aren't you angry?"

Sordros looked at Huang Quan with great interest; the thick fog of the Sword Domain was meaningless to him.

"A little," Huang Quan answered truthfully. She wasn't a robot devoid of desires; she had almost been killed by Liang Yue and this person once, so naturally she harbored some resentment. Making threats before one has the strength would only make one appear foolish and narrow-minded; doing something productive is far more effective than spouting a hundred empty words.

Well, if he had enough strength, Huang Quan could right now beat Liang Yue and Sordros to a pulp to vent his anger!

"Hahaha! Not bad, you're much more straightforward than Liang Yue, I like that!!"

"Mr. Sordros, please don't say anything that could be misunderstood." Liang Yue subtly stopped Sordros from making some inappropriate remarks, otherwise, it would be a troublesome matter if that demonic sword went berserk.

Sodross!

When Huang Quan learned another person's name from Liang Yue, she couldn't help but feel a sense of both certainty and utter absurdity. In the world of DNF, a swordsman on par with the [Divine Sword], official records described him as a peerless swordsman's loneliness. Huang Quan remembered that Sordros was a Sword Saint.

According to official records, Liang Yue is also a Sword Saint.

However, to think that these two swordsmen will always be just sword saints because of this, and to hold onto such a preconceived notion, is truly incredibly foolish! Who knows what level these two guys are at now!

Why did Sordros come to Liang Yue's sword domain?

Inevitably, a strong sense of curiosity welled up within Huang Quan.

"Liang Yue is slow-paced, and her teaching style is also slow. I was brought here to provide you with a better approach to becoming stronger. So, are you interested in training with me? With your talent, you should be able to fight the two of us after a few decades of training."

Decades...?

Huang Quan hadn't expected Sordros to think so highly of him. Training under his tutelage was practically like being a half-disciple. Previously, Huang Quan had been fantasizing that Liang Yue might take him on as a disciple and impart all her knowledge; now, that fantasy had come true.

“You’re right, Huang Quan. Your resilience is a precious quality. In the future, Mr. Sordros and I will both challenge a very powerful being, and you may have the opportunity to catch up with us before that time comes.”

Liang Yue explained his true intentions.

"...If you really grow to that level, our chances of winning will be much greater."

Sodeross remained silent, seemingly acknowledging Liang Yue's words.

A being so terrifying that both of them acknowledge it must be incredibly powerful. Huang Quan's indomitable resilience might be the spark that creates miracles, which is why Liang Yue felt she could nurture her after the trials. If Huang Quan had grown to a suitable level before that battle, it would undoubtedly be a good thing.

Even without him, the existence of such an extremely tenacious swordsman would still give the two of them another like-minded person.

"If you're worried about the thing residing on you, I can help you with that too." Before Huang Quan could even think, Liang Yue dropped another bombshell. "You can let your true form enter the Sword Domain, and I'll sever your ties with it at the root, guiding you to our world."

His youthful arrogance led him to squander a large number of Sword Domain entry tickets, but now he is receiving unexpected rewards.

"I……"

Huang Quan was already torn between the swordsman system and the mystical system, unsure whether to uphold the way of the sword or climb towards immortality. Now, a new choice has presented itself: a path to sever her connection with the system. Her choice will determine a completely different future for her!

Chapter Forty-Five: Belief

"I think……"

Each word carried immense weight, and Huang Quan could sense their anticipation. A silent struggle within herself caused the bright blue light surging within her to flicker rapidly.

Severing the link with the system, freed from all constraints, he would journey to a world teeming with powerful beings to climb to the top. Had Huang Quan not experienced the world of Divine Melody, he might very well have readily agreed. But now, Huang Quan saw far more.

Huang Quan recalled the ghoul world and the investigators who fought alongside her.

It also brought back memories of the world of Divine Comedy, and the helpless struggle against destruction and apocalypse.

Ask yourself honestly, can you leave any regrets about these two worlds?

Her expression shifted several times, Huang Quan gradually becoming solemn from her initial hesitation and struggle. A voice in her heart kept whispering: Do you regret it? Whether they were the rookies who were just trying to survive or the swordsmen who later witnessed greatness and wanted to become great themselves, their answers were uniform and consistent!

No regrets!!

I do not regret my choices, nor do I regret the principles I have chosen.

"...I'm sorry, I still have unfulfilled obligations." Huang Quan refused. The hesitation and struggle that had been etched on his cracked face were gone. All that remained was an unwavering determination, free from any doubt, after he had decided on the path he truly wanted to take!

got rejected.

Sodross and Liang Yue fell silent simultaneously. Given their status and strength, almost no one in their world would refuse their proposals, let alone give them orders. At their level, it was incredibly easy to tell if someone was lying or had ulterior motives.

Huang Quan refused out of her beliefs; she had no other purpose.

How blatant!

"Liang Yue, you have a good student." After a long while, Sodros finally uttered a soft sigh. Huang Quan didn't hear him say this, because Liang Yue hadn't taken the initiative to confirm their relationship yet, and if he were to bring it up, it would sound like he was pressuring or forcing her.

[Divine Sword] Liang Yue's admission ticket is actually a test.

Those who pass the test are naturally exceptional in a certain aspect of swordsmanship. If such a person satisfies Liang Yue in all aspects, then it's acceptable to casually mentor them and make them a nominal disciple. Liang Yue has given Huang Quan quite a bit of guidance, but he also realizes that this tenacious swordsman has his own sky to soar in.

"What a pity." Liang Yue seemed to have anticipated Huang Quan's choice, and while she said it was a pity, she also showed a look of relief. It's just unknown what Liang Yue truly regretted.

Is it Huang Quan's rejection, or something else?

Because their voices were deliberately blocked, Huang Quan could neither hear nor see their expressions or actions. While remaining resolute, he couldn't help but feel a little relieved, jokingly wondering if Liang Yue and Sordros would get angry. Of course, this was mostly a joke; Huang Quan didn't think he had reached the point where he could anger them.

"Let's drop this matter."

In the end, Liang Yue took the initiative to announce the end of the matter. No need for many words. Since she had made up her mind, she should go all out.

“However, this trip will be your last visit to my Sword Domain.” Liang Yue did not explain why; he simply told Huang Quan this fact.

"Ah."

Huang Quan was somewhat surprised, but it was also somewhat expected. After Sordros appeared, she realized that the situation had changed, and it was normal for this change to affect her. To say she deeply respected him would be an exaggeration, but Huang Quan still admired and respected Liang Yue's inherent strength.

I hope that one day I can be as strong and invincible as you!

"Before leaving, I was still a little worried about the basic structure of your sword intent sequence. So I specially invited Mr. Sodross to come and talk. His expertise in sword intent sequence far surpasses mine, and I believe he can give you some guidance."

Every inch has its advantages, and every foot has its disadvantages.

Sordros has wielded a wide variety of weapons: lightsabers, short swords, greatswords, standard-issue swords, and even blunt weapons. Unlike Liang Yue, who is not confined to any particular type of sword, Sordros's talent allows him to handle swords with extraordinary ease. Therefore, in the sequence of sword intent, Sordros has experienced a similarly complex and arduous journey as Huang Quan in the path from sword soul to sword saint.

On the other side, Sordros' white beard twitched upon hearing this, and he gave Liang Yue a cold snort.

"Thank you, Your Excellency Sodros!"

Everyone was about to leave, and if she didn't seize the opportunity now, it would slip away in vain. Huang Quan, being quick-witted, immediately understood that this was Liang Yue's good intention. A sense of gratitude rose in her heart for [Divine Sword], this senior who showed no arrogance whatsoever.

………………

Sordros was slightly annoyed by the trap Liang Yue had set for him. However, he wasn't about to take his anger out on his junior; he'd have plenty of time in the Tower of Death later.

"Release your sword intent."

As the clouds dispersed and the fog lifted, Sordros, who walked on the water as if it were flat ground, made his request to the underworld.

Because it was the final match, Liang Yue had dispelled the previous fog. Therefore, Huang Quan could clearly see Liang Yue and Sordros's faces.

Liang Yue was tall and slender, with a refined and elegant demeanor. Although her face bore sword scars, she possessed no ferocity that inspired fear. Sordros, on the other hand, was burly and imposing, carrying multiple weapons and exuding an air of authority. What they had in common was that, before their true natures were revealed, they both appeared quite ordinary.

Once they blend into the crowd, they become so ordinary that it's hard to spot them.

Faced with Sordros's demands, Huang Quan held her breath and quickly entered a state of intense mental concentration. From the depths of her slender figure, it was as if some ferocious beast had torn apart the chains, its silent, soaring roar sweeping outwards from her center. The resounding, sharp intent instantly created immense pressure in the air, as if a sword were about to annihilate everything in its path!

Soderlos was naturally the first to be affected!

The intense and surging sword intent crashed through the blank space left by the automatically dodging sword domain, thoroughly washing over the space where Sordros was located.

Sordros had no defense, or rather, the concentration of sword intent couldn't harm him at all. Like a gust of wind, it slightly ruffled Sordros's hair; this was the result of the ordinary sword intent bombardment from the Yellow Springs Thoughts Body.

"A very good [Mindset] sequence ability. I'm suddenly looking forward to seeing what kind of sword style you'll display when you awaken." Savoring the resounding essence of the Yellow Springs Sword Intent, Sodros's originally unremarkable eyes suddenly flashed with tiny, shimmering lights, as if thousands of stars had gathered in them!

Awakening—that's a very distant concept.