37: Chapter 37: The Demon Sword 37: Chapter 37: The Demon Sword “You surely haven’t forgotten this incident,” said Chu Fengmian, his words seemingly taking him back ten thousand years.
At that time, Chu Fengmian had already reached the pinnacle of the Sword Dao, even the Sword Dao Master himself felt inferior to Chu Fengmian’s Sword Intent.
However strong Chu Fengmian’s Sword Intent was, he had no Spiritual Power, which left him idle before Heavenly Extinction Peak, wandering aimlessly.
Qing Luan, at that time, came seeking a master because of her reputation, wishing to become a disciple of the Sword Dao Master.
The two met at the foot of Heavenly Extinction Peak, vowing to compare their Sword Intents.
Chu Fengmian won, and Qing Luan thus agreed to serve as his mount for one month.
If Chu Fengmian lost, he would take Qing Luan to see the Sword Dao Master.
Back then, Qing Luan was full of youthful vigor, thinking it impossible to lose to a cripple without even a Spirit Vein, but in the end, Chu Fengmian won.
So, he spent a month wandering the continent with Qing Luan.
This incident was known only to Chu Fengmian, and perhaps just to Qing Luan.
After all, for the offspring of a mythical creature to be reduced to a mount was not a matter of pride, and Chu Fengmian had never spoken of it, nor would Qing Luan likely bring it up herself.
“A sword duel beneath Heavenly Extinction Peak?”
Qing Luan’s eyes showed a hint of surprise, and upon hearing the continuation, his face was left in shock.
The young man who defeated me back then?”
“If not Chu himself, who else would know of this incident?” Chu Fengmian looked at Qing Luan and sighed.
“However, the Chu Jianbai of the past has perished, fallen at the foot of Heavenly Extinction Peak.
Now, I am known as Chu Fengmian.”
Upon hearing Chu Fengmian’s words, Qing Luan suddenly realized that the Chu Fengmian of today bore no resemblance to the Chu Jianbai in his memory.
What was left, perhaps only the sharp Sword Intent.
“A dream of ten thousand years, one can’t say if it’s good or bad.
The sea has changed into mulberry fields, friends of the past are all gone, leaving only me behind.”
Chu Fengmian sighed deeply.
He too wished to have perished alongside his master and fellow disciples.
Now in this world, only Chu Fengmian remained.
Seeing Qing Luan again filled him with indescribable joy, for the old friend made him involuntarily reminisce about the bygone ten thousand years.
“Reincarnation, it seems you have reincarnated…” Qing Luan muttered, looking at Chu Fengmian.
“The cycle of reincarnation is indeed elusive; even your master, the Sword Dao Master, could not touch the Dao of reincarnation.”
“Even if it’s reincarnation, it shouldn’t carry memories.
A reincarnation bearing memories is unheard of in this world.”
Qing Luan spoke slowly.
He himself was an invincible being, but the notion of reincarnation seemed incredibly vague to him.
Had he not seen Chu Fengmian once more, he might never have believed it.
“The fate of heaven and earth is truly wondrous, far beyond human comprehension,” Qing Luan sighed.
“Who would have thought that among the countless disciples of the Sword Dao Master, only you survived.”
Among the disciples of the Sword Dao Master were numerous outstanding talents, many of Chu Fengmian’s brothers and sisters were super-powerful beings famous across the continent, yet they all perished under the siege of the seven major sects.
On the contrary, Chu Fengmian, the youngest disciple, lacked a Spirit Vein but instead was the return of a reincarnation, which did cause people to sigh in amazement.
“Qing Luan, how have you perished, too?”
Chu Fengmian looked at Qing Luan in some surprise and said.
Chu Fengmian clearly knew the strength of Qing Luan, who ranked among the pinnacle of the continent.
Among Chu Fengmian’s senior and junior sect brothers and sisters, no more than three could defeat Qing Luan.
Especially since Qing Luan possessed the bloodline of the ancient mythical beast, the Phoenix clan, and had a long life.
Ten thousand years, though long, were not enough to lead to their fall,
but now it seemed that Qing Luan had indeed perished, his current form nothing but a spectral image condensed from the Spiritual Power he once left behind.
“Of course, it was the people from the seven major sects.”
In Qing Luan’s eyes, an endless resentment was revealed.
Even someone as invincible as he had been cornered and eventually killed, his resentment naturally knew no bounds.
“The people from the seven major sects, while pursuing the countless disciples of the Sword Dao Master, found me and demanded the numerous magical formulas and swordsmanship techniques left behind by the Sword Dao Master.”
Qing Luan’s voice was cold as he spoke.
Though Qing Luan was not a disciple of the Sword Dao Master, he had followed the Sword Dao Master for a considerable length of time and was naturally aware of some of the Master’s magical formulas and swordsmanship.
It seemed that, after failing to obtain these techniques from the more senior disciples of Chu Fengmian, the people from the seven major sects turned their attention towards Qing Luan.
Qing Luan spoke with a seriousness.
“However, I had already burned those ancient sword techniques to ashes long ago.
If the people from the seven major sects wanted to kill me, they would have to pay a price for it!”
”If it weren’t for that monster from Jiumo City intervening at the last moment, perhaps I wouldn’t have perished.
However, I managed to slay that monster as well.”
”A monster from Jiumo City?
The Slaughter Blood Sword Demon?”
In Jiumo City, only he could be considered a monster.
Only now did Chu Fengmian suddenly see that beneath the giant skeleton, there also lay a long sword.
This sword, almost two meters in length, was adorned with purple patterns along the blade.
These purple patterns looked eerily grotesque, and even after being sealed for ten thousand years, one could easily recognize the malevolent energy within.
“The Blood Slaughter Demon Sword?
Your remains, they were used to suppress this demonic sword?”
Chu Fengmian was shocked.
The Blood Slaughter Demon Sword was once a renowned Spiritual Artifact on the continent, its grade surpassing even the finest heavenly-grade Spiritual Artifacts.
Yet, its reputation was not solely because of its power but for its terror.
Every owner of the Blood Slaughter Demon Sword would eventually be corrupted by it, turning into a Sword Demon who knew only the lust for battle.
It is no wonder that there had been no rumors about the Blood Slaughter Demon Sword in the current era.
Now it appeared that the Blood Slaughter Demon Sword had been suppressed in this cavern by Qing Luan’s very body for an entire ten thousand years.
“Indeed, my soul has persisted, for the very purpose of suppressing the Blood Slaughter Demon Sword.”
Qing Luan, looking at the Blood Slaughter Demon Sword, said.
“Had I ignored it, the sword’s re-emergence on the continent would have certainly unleashed carnage and bloodshed.
So I waited for ten thousand years, always awaiting someone fated to come into this cave and take the Blood Slaughter Demon Sword from me.”
”Now, to my surprise, I’ve encountered you.”
Qing Luan said with a voice that was already extremely weak.
It seemed his soul couldn’t hold on much longer.
Had Qing Luan’s soul remained in slumber, it might have persisted for a hundred years, a thousand years, but this awakening had depleted what little strength he had left.