209: Chapter 78: Cleansing the Sword, Questioning the Heart 209: Chapter 78: Cleansing the Sword, Questioning the Heart Duan Zhao left the Xuanshui Cave Heaven and settled down in a small courtyard near the foot of Lotus Peak.
This little guy would come every day to ask Xuanyi about swordsmanship.
Instead of saying it was about swords,
it might be more accurate to say it was about fists.
The boxing manual from Wangyou Island had long been imprinted in his heart, and it had to be said that the Island Master had done an excellent job, nurturing this lad into a top-tier martial artist material.
The task Xuanyi had to do was quite simple.
He had to subtly, bit by bit, transform the boxing manual from Wangyou Island deeply embedded in Duan Zhao’s mind into the sword doctrine of Da Sui Sword Palace.
Martial artists and sword cultivators essentially share common ground…
Duan Zhao’s boxing was extremely fierce and aggressive, advancing as a form of retreat, akin to the ways of sword cultivators.
From this small glimpse, one could deduce the character and day-to-day conduct of that Island Master.
Setting aside the personal request from that Yang God martial artist,
Xuanyi also had a bit of fondness for this little fellow.
The young boy was very obedient.
Ever since he began learning swordsmanship from Xie Zhen, he took it upon himself to “hog all the work,” carrying on his shoulder the sundry chores of watering the flowers and sweeping the dust in the courtyard of Lotus Peak.
He reasoned that this minor work should not benefit the servant disciples of Xiao Chong Mountain…
Just from the efficiency of his work on an ordinary day, one could hardly imagine that this young boy was the young master of Wangyou Island.
That’s the way it is.
Not everyone is like Xie Sheng, born into a life of luxury, forever oblivious to the trials and tribulations of the mortal world.
In fact, from the torn and tattered clothes that Duan Zhao wore when he first entered the Sword Palace, one could tell that the young boy had suffered quite a bit on his journey from Wangyou Island to the Sword Palace.
His Yang God father indeed had a strange way of showing love, possessing such wealth yet heartlessly watching his child wander and suffer from behind.
Such days did not last for too long.
…
…
Da Sui Sword Palace welcomed its first snowfall after the onset of winter.
Jiang Huang also faced the first severe outbreak of the Nine Death Forbidden, and the half drop of Undying Spring that Xuanyi had given her was finally powerless to resist the cold that had enveloped her Heart Lake…
The killing intent of the Nine Death Forbidden shrouded the entire Heart Lake, as the young girl’s face turned deathly pale, her whole appearance marked by the aura of death, curled up in a thick cotton robe.
Zhao Chunyang, who had disappeared for more than ten days without a trace of what he had been doing, also reappeared on this day, returning to the small courtyard.
The Sect Leader sealed off the external perception of the courtyard’s Qi, taking Xuanyi and Jiang Huang to Yu Ping Peak.
With the snow sealing the mountain, Yu Ping Peak was desolately empty.
Xuanyi did not see the disciples who usually guarded the mountain gate, and the towering Yu Ping Waterfall had also frozen solid that day, resembling a suspended sword of ice falling from a thousand feet.
On the entire Yu Ping Peak, there was only one person.
Jiang Miaoyin.
After the Sword Qi Decree event came to an end,
Jiang Miaoyin had removed the veil she had worn for ten years, no longer hiding her face.
Her subordinates speculated that it was because the turmoil in the Xuanshui Cave Heaven had settled…
Mistress Miaoyin had let go of the troubles that had burdened her for ten years, choosing to face the regrets from a decade ago with an open heart.
They did not know.
That the knot in their Mistress’s heart stemmed from Xuanyi and only Xuanyi could untie it.
“Mistress.”
Jiang Miaoyin had received the message early and was respectfully waiting in front of the Sword Washing Pool on Yu Ping Peak.
Facing the tall figure in the lotus robe, she showed her reverence with a bow.
Then,
she looked at the black-clothed youth before her with a complex expression.
In front of Jiang Miaoyin,
Xuanyi did not need to disguise himself.
She had removed her veil, and he had cast off his mortal guise.
As their eyes met, Jiang Miaoyin hesitated for a moment before bowing again and softly said, “…Senior brother.”
“Enough, no need for formalities,”
Zhao Chunyang’s eyes were gentle as he extended his palm, and with a surge of robust Primordial Power, he held aloft the unconscious little girl, slowly approaching the Sword Washing Pool.
The Sword Washing Pool was now clear and bright.
The “chronic affliction” that had sunk within it for a decade had been removed.
Because her Lifebound Flying Sword no longer suffered the bombardment of thunderous roars, Jiang Miaoyin’s complexion had improved significantly, no longer pale like before, but rather like mutton-fat jade, with an added touch of rosiness.
The added touch of rosiness
makes Jiang Miaoyin’s features seem as if they’ve “come to life,” no longer coldly beautiful, but instead like a celestial maiden exiled from heaven, possessing both ethereal and worldly charms.
“Nine Death Forbidden?”
Jiang Miaoyin gazed at the frail body suspended in midair, somewhat puzzled.
Strands of divine soul’s deadly intent radiated from between the brows of this delicate body, causing the dense frost already blanketing Jade Curtain Peak to grow even more intense.
After Xuanyi’s identity had been revealed, she naturally noticed this little girl named Jiang Huang.
The background of this little girl was exceedingly peculiar, but as the deadly intent of the “Nine Death Forbidden” spread, waves of demon aura also began to sweep and ferment above Jade Curtain Peak…
Jiang Miaoyin immediately understood the identity of this little girl—it was the Great Demon of Phoenix Blood hunted by Xuanyi during his Northern Hunt!
She had transformed!
“Indeed, it is the ‘Nine Death Forbidden,'”
Zhao Chunyang said calmly, “This phoenix demon was subjected to a ‘Forbidden Technique’ by the people of the Imperial City, surviving a fate worse than death nine times…
To break through the ‘Nine Death Forbidden,’ one must be placed in dire straits before finding a new lease on life.
At its weakest moment, it must be struck with the most quintessential force.”
Zhao Chunyang did not rush to take Jiang Huang to the Sword Washing Pool.
He was waiting.
For the Nine Death Forbidden to manifest—
Thanks to that half-drop of the Undying Spring, the deadly intent of the Nine Death Forbidden could continuously accumulate, reaching its zenith.
The time was now.
Just then, the little girl hovering above the Sword Washing Pool ignited into pale flames all over her body; she let out a pained whimper as her survival instinct drove her to unleash all of her Phoenix Fire in an attempt to counteract the “Nine Death Forbidden” deeply engraved in her Heart Lake…
This was Jiang Huang’s final resort.
“Rumble rumble rumble!”
Within the dark waters of the Sword Washing Pool, a burst of fierce light and fire was reflected.
A pair of fire wings unfolded.
Jiang Huang, curled up in a ball, painfully spread her arms, resisting the Nine Death Forbidden with her last ounce of strength.
Zhao Chunyang watched silently, not hurrying to intervene, but observing the “fight to the death” between the Nine Death Forbidden and its host.
If a miracle occurred…
that would be the best outcome.
But just after a dozen or so breaths, Jiang Huang was completely overpowered.
The mournful Phoenix Fire withered under the cover of cold frost.
Both the primary and secondary Divine Souls were “frozen,” and the little girl, drained of all her strength, fell into the Sword Washing Pool with a splash.
Seeing this, Zhao Chunyang shook his head.
The Sect Leader looked towards Xuanyi, expressing profoundly, “Jiang Huang is lucky…
If it weren’t for you, she probably would have died a grisly death.”
Zhao Chunyang stretched out his palm, facing it upwards and gently closing his fingers.
The next moment.
Whoosh!
The entire Sword Washing Pool began to boil, splashing water towards the heavens.
Throughout the thousand years since the founding of the Sword Palace, many had attempted to take away the water from the Sword Washing Pool…
but all failed.
Due to the Sword Qi Decree of Jade Curtain Peak, the pool’s water was heavier than darksteel.
Back then, the Da Sui Sword Palace had gifted a bowl of water from the Sword Washing Pool to Nanli’s Fan Yin Temple.
To move this bowl of water, the Fan Yin Temple had exhausted ten cultivators of the Golden Body Realm to the point of exhaustion, yet they could not budge it.
Now.
Zhao Chunyang merely flicked his sleeve and raised his hand.
The entire Sword Washing Pool was emptied, countless waters merging with each other, forming a gigantic water droplet.
Jiang Huang, who had almost fallen into a state of Silent Annihilation, was drowning within it.
“Hum!”
The moment Zhao Chunyang clenched his fist, booming thunderous sounds spread out, exploding in the skies above the Jade Screen Peak’s Daoist platform.
Even standing behind the Sect Leader.
Xie Xuanyi and Jiang Miaoyin still involuntarily took a step back.
In an instant.
The thunderous sound dissipated.
The waters of the Sword Washing Pool plummeted back down, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate, and that slender, small figure slowly levitated in the air, coming before Xie Xuanyi.
The “murderous intent” in Jiang Huang’s brow had been swept away by more than ninety percent.
“To completely remove the Nine Death Forbidden isn’t difficult,”
Zhao Chunyang glanced at Jiang Huang and said calmly, without evasion, “But for now, it’s better to leave a trace of ‘murderous intent’ as a warning.”
After such a violent impact.
Jiang Huang’s human form obtained through transformation was utterly exhausted, and at this moment, she deeply fell into slumber.
But Xie Xuanyi knew that it did not hinder the main Divine Soul from paying attention to the outside world…
The words of the Sect Leader were deliberately spoken for the main Divine Soul to hear.
“Sect Leader, do you intend to keep this phoenix demon within the Sword Palace?”
Jiang Miaoyin had been an observer at the side from the beginning and had not spoken much.
Now that the Nine Death Forbidden was extracted, she finally spoke cautiously.
Jiang Miaoyin looked puzzledly at the elder: “Da Sui Sword Palace has ancient teachings that Sword Cultivators and the Demon Race cannot coexist.
Should the Demon Country invade one day, Da Sui Sword Cultivators, even if they fight to the death, must block them outside the Northern Border Great Wall.”
Da Sui Sword Palace valued rules most strictly.
All Sword Cultivators who entered the Sword Palace would firmly remember this ancient teaching.
Since ancient times, humans and demons have stood opposed.
She found it hard to imagine that the Sect Leader would personally act, using the Sword Washing Pool to save the life of a demon offspring.
“You don’t understand why I would save her, even at the cost of going against the ancient teachings,”
Zhao Chunyang smiled lightly and said, “In fact, saving a demon isn’t much.
This phoenix demon has an extremely strong bloodline and is very young…
To evade the ‘Nine Death Forbidden’, she forcefully opened up a second Divine Soul, this second Divine Soul is no different from a human child, almost devoid of evil thoughts.
Not to save her would mean her shattering alongside it.”
Jiang Miaoyin was somewhat confused by these words.
“If there is a thought to turn towards goodness, why not save her?”
Zhao Chunyang spoke slowly: “The ancient teachings of the Taoist schools are even more severe than those of the Sword Palace, yet among the guardian beasts that sit at the mountain gates, there are several who would be the first to betray should a true war with the Demon Race break out.
What distinguishes humans from demons is not bloodline, but the heart.”
“…”
Jiang Miaoyin was contemplative.
“Those bald monks in the Southern Dynasty say, lay down the butcher knife, and instantly become a Buddha,”
Zhao Chunyang said meaningfully: “Although I do not agree with this view…
In this world, all kinds of wrongdoing, as long as they do not culminate in great disaster, there should always be some room for redemption.”
This statement was as clear a guidance as any.
“Master,”
Jiang Miaoyin took a deep breath and raised her head.
To recover from chronic illness, she had been in deep thought ever since.
Scenes from the past churned above the surface of the Heart Lake.
Ten years of Sealing Mountain, ten years of locking away the heart.
Now…
Jiang Miaoyin sincerely examined herself.
She had waited for many days to say something to her master, waiting for today when she could see her Sect Leader.
Jiang Miaoyin extended her hand and took out the Sword Qi Decree that symbolized the position of Jade Screen Peak’s mountain master.
With both hands, she held up the Decree and said earnestly, “These days, Miao Yin has come to understand…
Ten years of mountain sealing, the Sword Heart tarnished, such waste, I am ashamed of Master’s teachings.”
Zhao Chunyang watched Jiang Miaoyin calmly, without speaking, even less reaching out his hand.
“If possible, Miao Yin would like to continue climbing the Dao, to fulfill that which was left incomplete,”
Jiang Miaoyin raised her face, word by word, earnestly said, “This Decree, please take it back for now, Master.”
“You want to continue your cultivation, so continue it,”
Zhao Chunyang said with a half-smile, “What does it mean to return the Sword Qi Decree for Jade Screen Peak?
Do you not wish to be the mountain master anymore?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to be, but that I am not worthy.”
Jiang Miaoyin self-deprecatingly shook her head and said, “This decade, my Sword Dao cultivation has not improved much.
If I remain confined to Jade Screen Peak, I fear that even after a hundred years, there still won’t be a chance to glimpse the line of the Yang God…”
At this point.
She couldn’t help but glance at Xie Xuanyi.
Decade ago.
Xie Xuanyi had already had one foot on the pinnacle of Sword Dao that everyone admired.
She admired Xie Xuanyi’s swordsmanship talent, unrivaled in the world.
But now, she understood.
This Dao is climbable by millions in the world.
Jiang Miaoyin had made up her mind.
She shifted her gaze and looked directly at Zhao Chunyang, “Miao Yin…
wishes to retreat to the back mountains, to borrow the Sword Intent of the sages of the Thirty-three Cave Heavens, to cultivate both heart and sword.”
“This departure may be for a long time.”
Zhao Chunyang asked calmly, “Have you thought it through?”
“Since I spoke, I have no regrets.”
Jiang Miaoyin smiled and continued to offer the Decree, “Please grant my request, Master.”
Zhao Chunyang shook his head and said, “Take back the Decree…”
Jiang Miaoyin was stunned and stood there, not knowing what to say.
“I will not take back the Sword Qi Decree for Jade Screen Peak,”
Zhao Chunyang’s eyes flickered with complex emotions.
For him.
Ten or twenty years were but a momentary flicker.
Whether it’s Xie Xuanyi or Jiang Miaoyin.
No matter how much they grow.
They are always the youths, the girls under his wing.
“Silly child,”
The Sect Leader extended his hand and gently patted Jiang Miaoyin’s head, saying softly, “No matter how long it takes, when you return, you will still be the mountain master.”