Wandering Sword Seller's Life in the Qin Dynasty

However, Xu Qing's sword-forging still caused quite a stir.

Xiaoyaozi had expected it to last a day and a night, just like the time at Louguan.

Unexpectedly, it ended so quickly this time.

The sword-making failed?

Xiaoyaozi thought to himself, it's not surprising that he would think this way, because for an ordinary swordsmith, forging a sword requires countless hammerings and refinements, and it cannot be accomplished in a short time.

Not much time has passed since Xu Qing started.

Of course, Xiaoyaozi still witnessed Xu Qing's extraordinary qualities.

It wasn't just the huge commotion caused by Xu Qing forging the sword, but also the fact that he assembled a sword-forging furnace out of thin air.

Xiaoyaozi really couldn't figure out where those things were hidden.

Even within Taoism, there exist some techniques of escape, such as "Dream Butterfly Escape," which can achieve spatial transfer. However, such transfer actually creates an illusion for the eyes, confusing reality with illusion, thereby concealing one's own form and making the transfer.

However, Xiaoyaozi couldn't understand the principle behind Xu Qing's ability to conceal huge objects on his person.

As his thoughts raced, upon hearing Xu Qing's words, Xiaoyaozi did not hesitate for long and immediately used his movement technique to head towards Xu Qing's location.

"Mr. Xu!"

Upon seeing Xu Qing, Xiaoyaozi greeted him humbly.

Xu Qing flipped his palm, and a sword that looked quite similar to the sword that Xiaoyaozi always carried appeared in his hand.

"This is the sword I forged for you!"

He didn't keep anyone in suspense and went straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, Xiaoyaozi was slightly taken aback.

Xu Qing explained, "Because I didn't know what kind of sword you preferred, I didn't design the sword's shape much."

"If you have any complaints, I can make some adjustments."

Xiaoyaozi quickly said, "No need."

The series of unusual phenomena in the past demonstrate Xu Qing's exceptional skills. Of course, this does not necessarily mean that the sword is particularly powerful; it may very well be all show and no substance.

Even if it were just a piece of scrap metal, Xiaoyaozi wouldn't care.

"That's good!"

Therefore, Xu Qing didn't say much about this issue.

He then spoke of other matters, "This sword is named—Dust World!"

"As for its abilities..."

For some unknown reason, a strange smile appeared on Xu Qing's lips.

Xiaoyaozi was stunned again.

Immediately afterwards, he heard Xu Qing say, "Come with me!"

Holding the newly forged sword, Xu Qing lightly touched the ground with his toes and used his movement technique to quickly leave the place.

Seeing this, Xiaoyaozi also used his movement technique to follow behind Xu Qing.

A few days ago, Xiaoyaozi led Xu Qing on a tour of the Human Sect, but now the roles have reversed, with Xu Qing leading the way as he roams freely within the Human Sect's territory.

Xu Qing's movements were exquisite and remarkable.

Even though Xiaoyaozi had mastered the "Xiaoyao You" movement technique, the most advanced movement technique in Taoism, he could only barely keep up with Xu Qing. He could only sigh at this, saying that extraordinary people are hard to fathom.

"arrive!"

After traversing the vast bamboo forest and hiking through a stretch of mountains, we finally arrived at a hillside.

Beside the hillside stands an ancient pine tree, its trunk extremely thick, having weathered countless years.

Under the tree, a young Taoist was practicing his swordsmanship.

Upon seeing the other person, Xiaoyaozi's eyes revealed a strange light.

The young Taoist was none other than Qingxuan, whom he had met before.

Qingxuan often practices his sword here; this place can be considered one of his secret bases.

Two figures arrived at this place and were immediately noticed by him. He couldn't help but turn his head to look and found that it was Mr. Xu and the sect leader from before.

They appeared before him once again.

Before Qingxuan could say anything...

Xu Qing spoke first, saying to Xiaoyaozi beside him, "Look carefully!"

Xiaoyaozi's gaze hardened.

Under his gaze, Xu Qing raised the long sword in his hand, and an invisible sword aura flew out and instantly landed on Qingxuan.

"!!!"

Xiaoyaozi's expression changed slightly, and he instinctively wanted to make a move.

However, in the next instant, he restrained himself.

He discovered that although the sword energy was sharp, it did not harm Qingxuan, nor did it kill him.

Under this sword strike, Qingxuan, who was about to speak, suddenly became dazed, and his eyes lost their focus.

What did you do to him?

Xiaoyaozi asked Xu Qing curiously.

Xu Qing explained, "I gave him a dream!"

"In this mortal world, there are seven emotions and six desires, and the myriad worldly affairs!"

"This sword is not a sword of killing, but a phantom sword, a sword of the Dao!"

As he spoke, he handed over the sword in his hand.

"Place your palm on the sword!"

Although Xiaoyaozi did not understand what he meant, he still obediently did as he was told.

As his palm landed on the sword, Xu Qing immediately channeled his inner energy, activating the sword's power.

In an instant, Xiaoyaozi was pulled into a special world.

In this world, he saw a bright mirror, with Xu Qing standing beside him.

What he cared about most was the figure reflected in the mirror.

That was... Qingxuan's figure.

……

Under the watchful eyes of Xiaoyaozi and Xu Qing, Qingxuan had changed into a brocade robe embroidered with dark patterns.

Qingxuan's appearance also carried a touch of nobility.

Now, he is the real him, no longer the Daoist Qingxuan, but—Wei Wushang!

In an instant, the majestic palace walls of Daliang City, the bustling traffic outside the vermilion palace gates, and the sounds of bells and cauldrons seemed to transcend time, echoing in Xiaoyaozi's ears. He saw Qingxuan's past with unparalleled clarity.

Wei Wushang's father was from a collateral branch of the Wei royal family. Although he did not have the extraordinary talent and fame of Wei Wuji, he still had a considerable amount of property in Daliang City thanks to the protection of the royal family.

In the year Wei Wushang was born, the story of Lord Xinling stealing the tally to save Zhao had already spread throughout the six states. Children in the streets and alleys could recite the heroic deeds of "Prince Wuji". The name Wei Wushang was just an inconspicuous footnote in the royal family's genealogy.

The name "Wu Shang" (meaning "no harm") was taken from his father's expectations for him: not to seek great achievements, but only peace and tranquility. After all, among the talented Wei clan, mediocrity was the safest way to survive.

He spent his childhood in the prosperity and hustle and bustle of Daliang City, where he was accustomed to the singing and dancing in the mansions of the wealthy and powerful, as well as the open and covert struggles among the sons of noble families.

In terms of talent, he was inferior to his cousins ​​who were expected to achieve great things; in terms of family background, his status as a member of a collateral branch made it difficult for him to enter the core of the family.

Over time, Wei Wushang became an insignificant figure in everyone's eyes, spending his days reading and walking his birds in the mansion, living a muddled and aimless life.

When he was fifteen, he accidentally found a tattered copy of "Zhuangzi" in his father's study.

It was a bamboo scroll forgotten in a corner, the writing was somewhat blurred, but every word was precious.

"In the Northern Darkness there is a fish, its name is Kun," and "Riding the righteousness of Heaven and Earth, and controlling the changes of the six qi, to roam the boundless realm," Zhuangzi's world of carefree wandering was like a thunderclap, splitting the gloom of his mediocre life.

For the first time, he realized that there was such a way of life, unbound by fame and fortune, unburdened by status, with heaven and earth as his dwelling and all things as his friends.

At that moment, Wei Wushang felt an unprecedented surge of emotion. He was tired of the formalities of Daliang City, tired of the hypocritical social interactions of the noblemen, and even more tired of the mediocre fate that his name, Wei Wushang, carried.

Three months later, he left a letter and quietly departed from Daliang.

Without disturbing anyone, he took only the scroll of Zhuangzi and some travel money and headed west to Mount Taiyi, the home of the Daoists.

Although Taoism is divided into two schools, Heaven and Man, and has always been about reclusive cultivation, its temples are still open to those who sincerely seek the Tao.

He knelt outside the mountain gate for three days and three nights. Rain soaked his brocade robe and mud covered his shoes, but he never moved an inch.

In the end, an elder of the Human Sect, seeing his sincerity, made an exception and accepted him as a disciple, bestowing upon him the Daoist name "Qingxuan".

Time flies in the mountains, and the years pass unnoticed as the cold winter ends.

Qingxuan took off his brocade robe and put on a plain Taoist robe. Every day he followed the elder to practice Taoist mental techniques and study the classics. In his spare time, he practiced swordsmanship in the bamboo forest.

Without the hustle and bustle of Daliang City, and without the constraints of his identity, his heart gradually calmed down.

Here, he was no longer the mediocre Wei Wushang, but Qingxuan, a disciple of the Human Sect with great potential.

He never mentioned his past to anyone, as if everything in Daliang City was just a distant dream.

"Is this Qingxuan's past?"

Upon seeing this, Xiaoyaozi turned his head to look at the person beside him, a hint of displeasure appearing on his face.

"What exactly is your intention in using these methods to forcibly probe into Qingxuan's past?"

Xiaoyaozi respected Xu Qing, after all, Xu Qing's strength was extremely profound, and if possible, Xiaoyaozi would not want to make an enemy of such a person.

The problem is that Xu Qing's actions crossed Xiaoyaozi's bottom line.

When the Human Sect accepts disciples, it does not ask about their background, but only about their true intentions, to see if they have a heart that seeks the Way.

Because if you trace their origins, many people have an embarrassing past.

Xu Qing forcibly pried into Qing Xuan's past without Qing Xuan's permission, which displeased Xiaoyaozi.