The flying sword's normal state, its life essence damage, and its self-destruction!
These three great powers of the flying sword become increasingly potent as one proceeds.
However, correspondingly, the side effects of using them also grow greater.
When a flying sword sustains life essence damage, it often requires the sword to slumber for hundreds to thousands of years. For a Sword Cultivator, this is tantamount to spending vast years or even possibly an entire lifetime without the ability to use the flying sword—naturally, this cannot be used lightly.
And as for the self-destruction of a flying sword, it is even more terrifying: not only does it harm others, but it also harms oneself. Unless absolutely necessary, at a life-or-death moment, it must never be used lightly!
The words of Qian Jizi gave Ye Chen and Jiang Yao a deeper understanding of the offensive power of flying swords.
"We now have an idea of how to use these three powers of the flying sword."
Seeing Qian Jizi's solemn instructions, both Ye Chen and Jiang Yao nodded in agreement.
"Good, I have told you the important matters concerning flying swords. As for the rest, you will continue to understand them as you cultivate and use your flying swords."
"I have here a 'Thousand Lotus Sword Scripture' that records the insights Lian Yue and I had from cultivating from the True Qi Realm to the Heavenly Saint Realm, including our experience in nurturing and using flying swords. Take it and have a look."
As Qian Jizi spoke, his finger pointed to the void, and two booklets appeared in the air.
Then, the booklets flew towards Ye Chen and Jiang Yao.
Upon receiving the booklets and looking at them, the words "Thousand Lotus Sword Scripture" were written on the cover.
"Thousand Lotus Sword Scripture!"
"The insights from countless years of cultivating and using flying swords by senior Qian Jizi and senior Lian Yue!"
Qian Jizi gave it casually, but Ye Chen and Jiang Yao, upon obtaining the booklets, exchanged glances and revealed looks of joy in their eyes.
Having just recognized the flying swords "Crimson Fire" and "Ghostly Water" as their own, they had no clue on how to better nurture the flying swords. This "Thousand Lotus Sword Scripture" was just what they needed!
Holding the "Thousand Lotus Sword Scripture," both of them bowed deeply in gratitude to Qian Jizi.
Inside the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode, the two of them received so much. The regard and care Qian Jizi showed them warmed their hearts.
Senior Lian Yue was seriously injured, fell into a coma, and senior Qian Jizi's true body also went to that Minor Spirit Realm they had never heard of to seek healing treasures for senior Lian Yue, leaving only his clone's shadow to guard the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode.
They wished to help the two seniors, yet both were powerless to do so!
Even the thought of confronting Heavenly Saint Tuoshan, the one who had severely injured Lian Yue, was beyond their reach due to the vast difference in strength!
How they wished to be powerful!
Powerful enough to lend a hand when those who were kind to them needed it!
Amidst these inexplicable emotions, Ye Chen's desire to improve his strength grew even stronger.
Being in the sixth-layer of the True Qi Realm was really... far from enough!
In this world, where there are meetings, there are farewells between people.
As Ye Chen and Jiang Yao received the final inheritance of the flying sword and after numerous cautions from Qian Jizi, the affairs within the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode were finally coming to an end.
"Ye Chen, Jiang Yao."
"You both have obtained 'Crimson Fire' and 'Ghostly Water,' and the trial of the Thousand Extremes Cave Abode should also come to an end."
"In a moment, I will send you down Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, where Lian Yue's and my two Spirit Beasts will escort you out of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode."
"I have left a secret technique towards the end of the Thousand Lotus Sword Scripture for re-entering the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode. If one day you manage to capture Tuoshan, you can re-enter the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode using this technique."
Qian Jizi looked at the young man and woman before him with a hint of reluctance in his heart.
But he had to send them away.
Ye Chen and Jiang Yao were still young and needed to venture and cultivate in the outside world, while he had to guard the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode, which also housed the comatose Lian Yue. He could not simply open the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode and could not leave at will.
To meet Ye Chen and Jiang Yao again, it would only be possible if his true body returned and he could freely move the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode, meeting them in the process.
Or it would be when Ye Chen and Jiang Yao fulfilled the only demand of the true body's inheritance by capturing Heavenly Saint Tuoshan and re-entering the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode.
"I hope that in the future, we will have another day to meet!"
Qian Jizi's clone sighed long and said to Ye Chen and Jiang Yao.
Ye Chen, looking at the clone's shadow, said, "We will definitely have another day to meet!"
Jiang Yao, with her beautiful eyes filled with the sorrow of parting, said, "We definitely will, Senior Qian Jizi. Ye Chen and I will certainly come back to the Thousand Extremes Cave Abode!"
"Mhm." Qian Jizi smiled and nodded, "Alright, this matter is finished; you both should go down the mountain!"
As his rolling words came to an end, Ye Chen and Jiang Yao felt a light and airy current wrap around them, and in an instant, they found themselves back at the foot of Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, the place where they had once started to climb it.
As soon as they returned to the foot of Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, Ye Chen spotted the Three-Eyed Giant Ape and a giant feathered bird flying towards them.
The thunderous voice of the Three-Eyed Giant Ape boomed as it instantly arrived in front of the two.
"Congratulations to you both, for having obtained the flying sword inheritance! That flying sword is a shocking treasure acquired by your two masters back in the day. With them, your path in the martial world will be far more certain!"
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape said cheerfully.
When Ye Chen and Jiang Yao allowed the Twin Swords, "Crimson Fire" and "Ghostly Water," to successfully recognize their masters, the two great Spirit Beasts below the mountain sensed a change in the aura of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode.
Clearly, the inheritance trial of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode had come to a complete end, and there would be no further tests in the future.
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape even retracted all the spirit weapon fragments filled with sword intent that still lingered in the Heavenly Wind Kingdom!
"Ye Chen, Jiang Yao, congratulations."
The voice of the colossal feathered sparrow also reached the ears of Ye Chen and Jiang Yao.
Its voice, previously indifferent, had vanished entirely, replaced by a rare warmth.
Ye Chen and Jiang Yao had received the inheritance of the flying swords, an inheritance left by the colossal feathered sparrow's master, Heavenly Saint Lian Yue. It naturally felt a sense of closeness to the new masters of the flying swords.
"Feathered Sparrow senior!"
Seeing the Three-Eyed Giant Ape and the colossal feathered sparrow, Ye Chen and Jiang Yao felt the same warmth.
These two great Spirit Beasts had accompanied them through their adventures outside and inside the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode. To say they hadn't formed a bond was simply impossible.
In particular, upon seeing the colossal feathered sparrow and learning about its master Heavenly Saint Lian Yue's condition, Ye Chen and Jiang Yao felt an even greater sense of compassion.
Their master had been severely injured and lain in a coma. It was unavoidable for the Ape to blame Heavenly Saint Qian Ji. Its indifference and even alienation were only natural.
"Feathered Sparrow senior, Heavenly Saint Lian Yue will surely get better."
Jiang Yao walked to the side of the colossal feathered sparrow, looking into its divine eyes, her delicate face incredibly serious as she spoke.
"You all know already..."
A trace of sadness flickered in the divine eyes of the colossal feathered sparrow, but seeing Jiang Yao's earnest expression, it very rarely smiled.
"She will get better."
"I also believe that my master will have the day of awakening again!"
"Ye Chen, Jiang Yao, after we leave the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode, who knows when we will meet again."
After catching up with the two demons, the moment for Ye Chen and Jiang Yao to part with them had also come.
Even the Three-Eyed Giant Ape, previously so excited, now had a much deeper voice.
The colossal feathered sparrow stopped speaking altogether, falling silent.
Without candidates to be tested, their days in the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode would be even lonelier.
"Ape senior, Feathered Sparrow senior."
"I believe it won't be long before we meet again."
"By then, Heavenly Saint Qian Ji will have returned from the Minor Spirit Realm, and Heavenly Saint Lian Yue will have awakened. At that time, your forays into the Barbaric Wilderness Continent will be utterly thrilling!"
Ye Chen spoke of his hopes.
"The old Feathered Sparrow and I are demon king-level existences, equivalent to the Rotating Pill Realm experts among you humans. We have long lifespans; we can wait this out."
"Both masters will get better, and we will meet again!"
Ye Chen's words swept away the Three-Eyed Giant Ape's sorrow of parting, for it believed what Ye Chen said would truly come to pass.
"Ye Chen, Jiang Yao, looking at your sect garments, it seems you aren't from the same sect. After you go out, don't forget about each other! The Twin Swords, having recognized you both as masters at the same time, that's an enormous fate."
At this moment, the colossal feathered sparrow suddenly spoke.
Hearing the words of the colossal feathered sparrow, Ye Chen and Jiang Yao looked at each other.
They had traveled and tackled obstacles together, and feelings had developed between them. Although they knew this time of separation was inevitable, neither had wanted to think about it.
Now, the words of the colossal feathered sparrow made them realize it was time to part.
With her waterfall-like hair streaming down to her waist, a blush crept onto Jiang Yao's exquisite face as her clear eyes gazed at Ye Chen, "You won't forget me, like the Feathered Sparrow senior said, will you?"
After saying this, the girl felt a hint of shyness warming her heart.
Ye Chen grasped the girl's soft hand, "The thirty-six sects are all in the eastern domain of the Heavenly Wind Kingdom, not far from each other. You, a Spirit Sea Realm expert with the great supernatural powers to fly and escape, how could you be challenged by such a distance?"
"Won't you come looking for me?" Jiang Yao's teeth gently bit her red lips, glancing at Ye Chen.
"Taixuan Sect is the foremost among the thirty-six sects in the eastern domain, and I've long wanted to see it!"
"What's more, there's someone I want to meet there, someone named Jiang Yao!"
Ye Chen looked at Jiang Yao and said with a smile.