The commotion at the Washing Sword Pond could almost be described as earth-shattering. A streak of faint blue light flew through the air, and a tall figure, like a majestic, cold snow peak, stood with his hands behind his back. The first to arrive was the master of Jiuntun Mountain.
His stern gaze fell upon the ghost infant, who was still stubbornly biting onto the immortal sword. He formed a hand seal, and a sudden gust of wind disrupted the airflow, stirring up the cold currents of the pond. A thin blue sword energy sliced directly towards the ghost infant.
If it weren't for the instinctual alertness honed through life and death that allowed the ghost infant to perceive the danger and twist his body in mid-air to narrowly escape, he would have been decapitated by now.
Gu Junshi's cold eyes swept over the scene. Seeing the ruthless manner in which the Jiuntun Mountain master acted, she was unexpectedly reminded of her first life. When she first entered the cultivation world, she was practically a novice. Driven by a desire to follow the beaten path and be guided by experienced cultivators, she joined a sect with due diligence. However, fate was unpredictable, and she eventually rebelled against the sect, becoming the bloodthirsty, brutal, and malevolent individual described by righteous cultivators for slaughtering her entire sect.
This time, coming back, she knew that her repeated failures in ascension were due to her incomplete cultivation technique. Therefore, she was too lazy to dwell on past grievances or attachments. Her sole focus was to complete the path of emotions, then achieve martial success through killing her husband, and finally ascend smoothly. However, witnessing similar experiences befalling others still chilled her demeanor.
Are those as lowly as grass only fit to have lives like ants?
She refused to believe it.
From another perspective, Gu Junshi and the ghost infant were similar. Both possessed origins and talent that others profoundly disdained and belittled. This was why she treated him with a slight degree of favoritism.
Before her transmigration, she was a successful businesswoman. She believed that investing in talent was as crucial as investing in projects. Every year, she would spend a portion of her private funds to sponsor promising impoverished students whom she identified. This was because she knew that capable individuals were unwilling to settle for mediocrity. They lacked money, and she lacked people. Investments of this nature in nurturing individuals always yielded substantial and long-lasting returns.
The ghost infant crashed heavily onto the ground, his knees spasming and convulsing with pain. He writhed like a squirming worm, unable to get up for a long time. The Jiuntun Mountain master merely glanced at him coldly, clearly unconcerned with the life or death of this presumptuous cripple.
He looked up. His eyes, usually languid and as still as stagnant water, were now burning with excitement as he stared at the immortal sword. "After eleven days, heaven and earth have created an immortal sword! And it's in my Jiuntun Mountain! This is a miracle bestowed by heaven!"
Gu Junshi had already concealed herself in the shadows as soon as the Jiuntun Mountain master appeared. She was cloaked in a black robe, her wide-brimmed hat obscuring most of her face.
She paid no mind to the Jiuntun Mountain master's attempt to seize the immortal sword, for she knew that this fastidious sword would only accept her "little husband." No one else possessed his Pure Lotus Seed Heavenly Spiritual Root. Such an immaculate physique was its greatest preference.
She had been observing the ghost infant. Those red eyes had not appeared during his moment of crisis. This indicated that her previous conjecture was flawed. The timing of their appearance was not dependent on the ghost infant himself. Even if she were to kill him, those red eyes would not care. Perhaps they would simply seek a new vessel to inhabit?
Therefore, it was more beneficial for her if he remained alive. With this thought, Gu Junshi secretly imprinted a dark blue protective mark into the ghost infant's body, shielding his dissipating spiritual core.
Meanwhile, as Gu Junshi had predicted, the Jiuntun Mountain master tried every means to contract with the immortal sword, but its proud head did not bow to him in the slightest. To prevent him from approaching, it unleashed sword energy that caused the surrounding area to freeze three feet deep, exuding an oppressive cold.
The Jiuntun Mountain master was only at the mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation. He rightly believed that he couldn't control the "immortal artifact." However, he was unwilling to let go of such a great opportunity. Thus, even though he was repeatedly forced back by the irritable and violent sword energy, he still refused to give up easily.
He knew that the immortal sword possessed a sentient sword spirit that understood human affairs. He intended to express his sincerity to it. However, he was clumsy with words and could only repeatedly and humbly utter one phrase: "Immortal sword, if you are willing to contract with me, I will give you anything..."
However, the immortal sword disdained his "turbid and defiled" Wind Spirit Root. It could immediately discern the purity of one's spiritual roots.
As the Jiuntun Mountain master's fawning failed to appease the immortal sword, other personnel from the Great Evolution Sect began to arrive. Several mountain masters, along with their prized disciples and sect elders, appeared. The disciples of Jiuntun Mountain, led by Danya, also arrived on their swords, all of them in the Golden Core stage.
Upon seeing the immortal sword suspended in the air above the Washing Sword Pond, their expressions were very similar to that of the Jiuntun Mountain master when he first arrived.
Previously, when the celestial lightning struck and a vast spiritual mist covered the entire Great Evolution Sect, they had already formed some suspicions. However, none of it was as shocking as witnessing the appearance of an immortal artifact firsthand.
Daoist Zhiyang's small eyes widened: "My heavens, is that… is that truly an immortal artifact?"
The Wuwai Mountain Master panted heavily, unable to conceal his excited chest: "It even drew down celestial lightning, how can that be false!"
"What are you waiting for? Everyone fight for it with their own ability!"
A slender and graceful figure was the first to launch an attack. The others, seeing this, followed suit without a second thought. Only Daoist Wumei looked on with surprise and cursed, "Fight for what? You bunch of bumpkins! That's the most overbearing immortal sword among immortal artifacts. Unless it's willing, can you actually snatch it?"
Bang, bang, bang—
Three people, blinded by eagerness, were instantly and embarrassingly thrown to the ground. Their hair was covered in frost, and ice shards fell off their bodies with every movement.
The Jiuntun Mountain master also glanced at them and, mimicking Daoist Wumei's words, cursed, "Bumpkins."
If it could be obtained through force, he would have done so long ago.
The three were embarrassed and indignant, and a breath of cold air escaped their mouths.
"Scram—"
Seeing their seniors return defeated, Danya finally formulated a plan and elegantly stepped forward. He gazed at the immortal sword, the corners of his mouth curving into a gentle smile, like the warm and bright sunlight of a spring morning. "Immortal sword, please quell your anger. We have no ill intentions. We merely wish to befriend you. Perhaps we were too eager and impulsive and frightened you. How about this, I'll give you a gift as an apology."
If Danya did not reveal his cunning and sharp-tongued side, relying solely on his handsome appearance and his low, magnetic voice that could coax people, there was no creature he couldn't deceive.
He took out several exquisitely styled and brightly colored sword tassels from his storage bag and dangled them. "As the saying goes, a good saddle matches a good horse, and a sword tassel matches an immortal sword. I have silver, blue, and purple ones... If you like any, perhaps you'd like to pick one?"