Chapter 180: Chapter 42: Pre-registration for the Sword-Seeking Operation
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The ancient ancestor of the Guan Family announced the search for the lost Tai Yin Suming Sword, of course not for the young sword immortals present to hear.
He aimed to have the message relayed through them to the Kunlun, Shushan, Penglai, and other major cultivation sects behind them—anyone who could provide valid clues would be rewarded by the Longxi Guan Family and receive the favor of the ancient ancestor.
A favor from a terrestrial immortal… The advertisement could not be called anything less than sensational, and it instantly spread throughout the north and south of the great river.
After the Sword Tomb conference ended, Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu were kept behind for a few words with the immortal.
“Although you’re unwilling to take me as your master, you can still join in my subsequent sword search,” the ancient ancestor of the Guan Family said to Ling Yunpo, “I have already roughly confirmed the escape route of the two last sword masters from ancient times, and will follow the route to search.”
“Normally, you won’t need to do anything. When I need your help, I’ll have Yue’er contact you in advance. How does that sound?”
“I dare not decline the request of my elder,” Ling Yunpo thought carefully for a moment and felt that if it was only to leverage his “Resonate with the Sword” ability, it was indeed doable.
After all, the compensation given by an immortal would likely not be disappointing.
“Very good,” said the ancient ancestor of the Guan Family, satisfied. “Then it’s settled.”
After Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu left, the ancient ancestor of the Guan Family rose on his sword and in an instant arrived at the Shushan Demon Locking Tower.
At the base of the Demon Locking Tower, he met with Long Eyebrow Immortal, who guarded the place.
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“Long Eyebrow,” the Guan Family’s ancient ancestor said directly, “I have ensured that boy Ling Yunpo’s safety.”
Upon hearing this, Long Eyebrow Immortal opened one eye and said indifferently:
“Isn’t he unwilling to join your sect?”
“But he will join my subsequent sword search,” the Guan Family ancestor laughed.
“There have been more than thirty sword searches between the Chan and Jie teaching throughout history,” Long Eyebrow Immortal stated coldly, “Even those that involved greater forces and resources than you, seven or eight times, all returned empty-handed. What makes you think you will be any different?”
“Did they have cultivators with Innate Sword Bone?” the Guan Family ancestor retorted with disdain.
“Innate Sword Bone, although capable of resonating with a sword, cannot ignore spatial distance,” Long Eyebrow Immortal remained unmoved, “If it’s within a resonating distance, how could it escape the divine perception of immortals?”
“It’s also possible that formations are shielding it. We will never know unless we try,” the Guan Family ancestor sighed, “Long Eyebrow, don’t deceive me. What do you think of the divination results from Wan Xiang? What are the chances of them coming true?”
“I do not know,” Long Eyebrow Immortal replied indifferently, “You may ask him yourself.”
“If in the future demons attack the Mortal Realm, then retrieving the Sun and Tai Yin swords will be our most critical move,” the Guan Family ancestor said with hair and beard bristling, “The Sun True Obscure Sword is at the Eastern Emperor Boundary Gate. To retrieve the sword, we must pass through the burn zone of the Sun True Fire. We just need to wait for Wan Xiang to complete his Absolute Fire True Spirit Orb.”
“The Tai Yin Suming Sword, on the other hand, its whereabouts are unknown. I will search along the escape route of the two last sword masters from ancient times. Ling Yunpo’s Innate Sword Bone may very well be the key to success or failure in this endeavor, so this time, do not interfere with me.”
“Boring,” Long Eyebrow Immortal closed his eyes again.
“Has your disciple, Qi Sha True Person, left his seclusion yet?” the Guan Family ancestor changed the subject.
“Not yet,” Long Eyebrow Immortal said softly, “If he’s lucky to be alive, it won’t be too long now.”
“If he comes out of seclusion and learns about the treatment his two disciples have endured over the years, he is certain to go mad,” the Guan Family ancestor sneered, “Though the Various Peaks had long been at odds with the Qingluo lineage, if it wasn’t for your consent as an immortal, who would dare make a move against them?”
“Aren’t you afraid that Su Jian would sever his ties with you completely after he comes out of seclusion?”
Long Eyebrow Immortal was silent for a moment and then said:
“If he continues to be obstinate, I will pretend he is not my disciple.”
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“Very good, very good.” the Guan Family elder gave a thumbs up, “Impressive! Full of guts!”
“The Demon Locking Tower is an important place in the Shushan, and it’s not convenient for outsiders to stay long. Please leave!” Long Eyebrow Immortal said furiously, swinging his sleeve vigorously.
Therefore, the Guan Family elder burst into a hearty laugh, turned around and left, and for a time, the entire space at the base of the tower was filled with his mocking and unrestrained laughter.
After a long while, the sound faded into silence.
In the center of the hall, on the Eight Trigrams Purple Gold Platform, Long Eyebrow Immortal remained silent for a long while before taking out a stone from his sleeve.
The stone seemed ordinary, but if someone used their Divine Sense to carefully perceive it, they would find that it was still just as ordinary.
How could something that the immortal kept specially on him be just an ordinary stone?
“The great calamity…” Long Eyebrow Immortal muttered in a low voice, “The great calamity…”
If the divination results of the Wan Xiang Immortal were to come true, then the apocalyptic calamity looming in the future would indeed be inevitable.
Therefore, the key to protecting the entire Shushan Shangqing Faction rested on the ordinary stone he held in his hand.
At that time, the person capable of assuming the heavy responsibility of the Sect Leader, other than Qi Sha True Person Su Jian, would not be anyone else.
However, to take up this position, one must abandon the Seven Emotions and Six Desires of a mortal, or else how could they command respect after the precedents set by Ouyang Zhao and Yin Xiaojing, and the last Sect Leader from the Sentiment Inquiry Path?
Long Eyebrow Immortal slowly caressed the surface of the stone, then slowly closed his eyes again.
No matter what form the apocalyptic calamity would take—whether it be an invasion by the Demon Race, descent of the Heavenly Demon, manifestation of Nether Ghosts, or some other natural disaster…
At least the Shushan Shangqing Faction could not be destroyed on his watch!
……
Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu returned to Qingluo Peak, arriving at the backyard of the Taoist temple.
The discourse on swordsmanship by the Guan Family elder was indeed exquisite, so much so that even Senior Sister An, with her powerful sword techniques, gained many insights and realizations from it.
Therefore, upon returning to the backyard, she stretched out her hand to summon the Harsh Cold Sword from behind her back and began to practice according to her new understandings.
Ling Yunpo sat leisurely in the pavilion by the stream, watching Senior Sister An gracefully control her sword, as if a beautiful dancer were whirling with fish and dragons.
Although Senior Sister had been quite disheartened for a time because her Life-bound Sword Artifact had been destroyed, seeing so many distinguished swordsmanship displays today and receiving guidance from the earthly immortal had evidently revived her spirits somewhat.
After I find her the Flying Smoke Sword, she will surely return to her peak condition!
He watched as the sun set and the moon rose, night fell, the cicadas began to chirp, and the water continued to flow.
An Zhisu suddenly stopped the sword light and turned around, smiling as she said,
“Junior Brother, why are you still sitting there? Won’t you practice with me for a while?”
“Since Senior Sister has invited me, Junior Brother naturally obeys!” Ling Yunpo immediately hopped off the stone stool, with his right hand forming a seal to summon Qing Ping and his left hand calling out Thunderbane; both Immortal Swords were now aimed at An Zhisu.
“What, trying to bully me with numbers?” An Zhisu said laughing, obviously in a good mood.
“Senior Sister is more advanced in cultivation than I am, it’s only fair that you allow me one sword,” Ling Yunpo shamelessly said.
Beneath the moonlight, the three Immortal Swords clashed, sparks flying with each strike of metal on metal, as if phoenixes were singing and dragons were chanting.