"No, no, no, no need!"
Yun Ze quickly waved his hands, "Thank you, Sect Master, for your concern, but the sword qi in my Qi Sea has been completely depleted, and I am fine now."
"Oh?"
Zu Changdao asked back, not overly suspicious, but smiled, "As expected of the World-Burning Sword Intent, to be able to completely wear down that kind of sword qi."
Seeing Zu Changdao change the subject, Yun Ze immediately asked, "World-Burning? Sect Master, what are you talking about?"
"World-Burning Sword Intent."
Zu Changdao pointed to Yun Ze's Qi Sea, "That is to say, the sword qi you comprehended. This is actually something Senior Brother Xiao passed down to you, but you have only reached the Qi Refining stage now, so you cannot display its divine properties. That's why your sword qi is no different from ordinary sword qi."
"World-Burning... Sword Intent?"
"Yes."
Zu Changdao raised his hand and slashed out a sword!
Yun Ze instinctively dodged, only to find that the sword qi hung in the air, not moving forward, as if frozen in mid-air!
It could do that!?
He was completely stunned, as if witnessing a miracle.
"This is my sword intent, Zhou Gui."
Zu Changdao smiled and introduced, "Little Yun, try picking up a stone and throwing it over."
Yun Ze casually picked up a small stone from the ground and threw it towards the sword qi suspended in the air.
The small stone instantly turned into fine powder, while the sword qi remained motionless in the air.
"Zhou refers to the meaning of space, and Gui represents the meaning of all things returning to one."
Seeing Yun Ze's eagerness to learn, Zu Changdao felt the urge to teach a student and explained in detail, "Once a sword qi is unleashed, regardless of whether it hits anything or what it hits, it will dissipate upon impact.
But this Zhou Gui Sword Intent can make the sword qi linger in space for a long time, until it is completely depleted."
Yun Ze's pupils trembled as he heard this, and he immediately thought of a possibility!
This sword qi was currently in space, but if it were to enter an enemy's body and remain there without dissipating, wouldn't that mean...
Thinking of this, Yun Ze quickly took a step back.
"It seems you've also thought of it."
Zu Changdao smiled, "If Zhou Gui hits, unless the opponent's cultivation is far higher than mine, they will surely die without any cure. Even those who wield the power of space might not be able to extract the sword qi."
"How terrifying!" Yun Ze exclaimed sincerely.
"This is not the most terrifying part."
Zu Changdao beckoned, and the sword qi in the air instantly scattered throughout the entire space!
Yun Ze's hair stood on end!
He felt as if he was surrounded by sword qi, and any slight movement would cause his body to come into contact with that terrifying sword qi!
"Do you feel it?"
Zu Changdao waved his hand, gathered the scattered sword qi back into a single strand, and channeled it into the void of the black sword. "Zhou Gui can also return to Zhou. Since this sword qi can condense into one strand, it can also disperse into thousands.
This is sword intent."
Yun Ze's throat bobbed. For the first time, he felt the terrifying power of these true cultivators up close!
However, thinking that he also possessed a sword intent, he immediately became excited, "Then, Sect Master, this World-Burning Sword Intent..."
"This is what I'm about to tell you."
Zu Changdao hung the black sword at his waist and stared seriously at Yun Ze, "Yun Ze, I didn't care how you cultivated before, but now that you have inherited the World-Burning Sword Intent.
Then the rise and fall of the Guiwu Sword Sect will have a share of your responsibility!
You must remember what I am about to say!"
Solemn and reverent.
Although there were only the two of them in the cave, Yun Ze felt an unprecedented pressure.
Zu Changdao was serious!
The rise and fall of the entire Guiwu Sword Sect... Yun Ze looked into Zu Changdao's eyes and slowly nodded.
No matter what Senior Brother Xiao thought, since he had introduced him to the path of cultivation and he had joined the Guiwu Sword Sect, he was a part of it.
As long as the Guiwu Sword Sect did not fail him, he would not fail the Guiwu Sword Sect!
"Good! Then I will first tell you about the origin of the Guiwu Sword Sect!"
A smile flashed across Zu Changdao's face, and then he expanded his sword domain, isolating the surrounding sounds, and stared at Yun Ze with extreme solemnity, "Little Yun, do you know of the Guiwu Sect?"
"Guiwu... Sect? Isn't it the Guiwu Sword Sect?" Yun Ze was confused.
"It seems they haven't told you yet."
Zu Changdao frowned, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Fine, since it has come to this point, I can no longer hide it from you!
In any case, after you hear this, pretend you don't know in front of those two."
Yun Ze nodded obediently.
Pretending to be ignorant? That was easy!
"The Guiwu Sect was once a colossal power that ruled the entire Northwest Profound Heaven. Its Sect Master was a cultivator of the Mahayana stage, capable of destroying heaven and earth with a raise of his hand. He was known to the world as the Guiwu Emperor Venerable, and was on par with the master of the Immortal Mansion.
The Guiwu Sword Sect was a small branch of the Guiwu Sect. It was created by the Guiwu Emperor Venerable in his youth. After the Guiwu Sect was established, the Guiwu Sword Sect, due to its remote location, was always placed on a solitary peak as a secondary inheritance, a branch.
Any disciple with sword dao talent in the Guiwu Sect would enter the Guiwu Sword Sect to cultivate. Senior Sister Mu and Senior Brother Xiao, as direct disciples of that person, had also come to the Guiwu Sword Sect for training.
This is also why their seniority is that of Grand Elders."
As Zu Changdao spoke, he observed Yun Ze's reaction.
When he heard of the Guiwu Sect, there was no reaction. When he heard of the Guiwu Emperor Venerable, there was no reaction. Only when he heard of Senior Sister Mu and Senior Brother Xiao did he react.
This meant... he had never heard of the Guiwu Emperor Venerable?
Was he not that newly accepted disciple? Then why did he call Senior Sister Mu "Senior Sister"?
Zu Changdao was puzzled but did not intend to continue introducing the Guiwu Sect. He changed the subject to sword intent.
"The Guiwu Sect has been passed down for many years, accumulating a total of twelve sword intents. These twelve sword intents were all transformed from sword spirits. Only those recognized by the sword spirits can obtain the inheritance of sword intent.
Your World-Burning Sword Intent was transformed from a seventh-tier sword spirit.
At its peak, it once extinguished an ice storm that covered the entire Northwest Profound Heaven with a single sword!
Burning like the sun in the sky, it burns all things without end; blazing like a magnificent fire, it shines for eternity without extinguishing!
The fact that the Northwest Heaven now has normal seasons, without ice and cold coverage, is thanks to that sword a thousand years ago, and this is the origin of the World-Burning Sword Intent."
"World-Burning..."
Yun Ze never imagined that he would unknowingly owe Senior Brother Xiao such a great debt.
A debt of life-saving, a debt of revenge, a debt of guidance, and now a debt of inheritance...
He truly didn't know how to repay this favor.
"The World-Burning Sword Intent ranks fourth among the twelve sword intents."
Zu Changdao continued, "Zhou Gui ranks sixth, and Senior Sister Mu's Moon Shadow ranks seventh. Of the twelve sword intents of the Guiwu Sect, only these three likely remain."
"Ah?"
Yun Ze was stunned, "Sect Master, what about the remaining nine sword intents?"
"Gone, gone along with the Guiwu Sect."
A hint of indifference flashed in Zu Changdao's eyes, "The Guiwu Sect was destroyed four hundred and eighty years ago."
"Then what about the Guiwu Emperor Venerable? Wasn't he said to be a Mahayana stage expert? Did he also..."
"I don't know, no one knows."
Zu Changdao shook his head, placed his hand on Yun Ze's shoulder, and stared intently at Yun Ze, "Little Yun, although it may be a bit rushed to tell you this now, since you are trusted by Senior Brother Xiao and Senior Sister Mu, I will not hide it from you.
The destruction of the Guiwu Sect is problematic. There are traces of the Immortal Mansion, and also clues left by the Demonic Caves."
Immortal Sect? Demonic Caves?
What exactly did the Guiwu Sect do back then? To provoke these two behemoths to attack together!?
"It's a pity that my cultivation was too shallow back then, and I could only guard the Guiwu Sword Sect, not knowing what exactly happened to the Guiwu Sect. I only know that after the Guiwu Sect was destroyed, the entire sect was purged.
Among the twelve Grand Elders, only Elder Mi has remained true to his original intentions. The remaining eleven... I'm afraid they have long since surrendered to various forces, with the Immortal Mansion being the most eager. Half of the eleven elders are likely their people!
The current Guiwu Sword Sect is like a sieve. I can't do anything about it, so I can only steer this rickety old ship to continue sailing, all for the sake of maintaining a single inheritance of the Guiwu Sect!"
Yun Ze's forehead was covered in sweat as he listened to Zu Changdao.
These words were being told to him!?
He was also an undercover agent for the Immortal Mansion!
If these words were heard by the Sect Master, and if the Sect Master were to find out about his identity in the Immortal Mansion, wouldn't that mean...
"Little Yun..."
"Sect Master, I'm here." Yun Ze quickly replied.
"I'm telling you this not because I want you to do anything for me, but simply because I want someone to talk to."
Zu Changdao sighed and patted Yun Ze on the shoulder, "You don't need to be too nervous. In fact, I know you also have an identity within the Immortal Mansion."
"You... you know!?"
Then why are you telling me all this!!
"Yes, how could I not know?
I also know that your senior brother and elder are both from the demonic path, but what can be done? We can only watch, can't we?"
Zu Changdao smiled at Yun Ze, seemingly unconcerned, "I just don't know if you can help the Guiwu Sword Sect, and also help the Guiwu Sect, to investigate what exactly happened back then.
As a person from the Immortal Mansion."
Yun Ze's mind raced, analyzing the current situation.
Before he could fully analyze it, Zu Changdao spoke first.
"As a reward, I can promise you the position of Sect Master!"
Yun Ze tilted his head, unable to hold back, and retorted, "Sect Master..."
"You agree?" Zu Changdao raised an eyebrow.
"No! Who wants your damn Sect Master position!"
"Although I owe Senior Brother Xiao a great debt, but... but I don't want to carry such a heavy burden!"
"At most! At most, at most! I'll at most help you investigate what happened back then. As for the position of Sect Master, whoever wants it can have it!"
"And let's be clear, I'll only help you investigate. If you want me to go to my death, I won't go!"
"A great debt of gratitude is not as important as one's own life!"
Zu Changdao listened to Yun Ze's rapid-fire speech and simply watched silently.
"Hey? Sect Master, are you listening!"
"I heard."
Zu Changdao's face still held a smile, "If that's the case, then I'll trouble you, young friend, to help me with the first matter."
Yun Ze subconsciously asked.
"What matter?"