Chapter 286: Chapter 3 The Whereabouts of the Sun True Obscure Sword
Shushan, Southern Expedition Team.
As the miasma from the Hundred Thousand Mountains was about to disperse, all the Sword Immortals also began to take action.
Among them, the most noticeable within the disciples of the Foundation Establishment Realm were naturally the four powerhouses.
Duan Shan, Fenhai, Sui Yue, Po Yun, and that one “you know who,” were going to join forces unprecedentedly this time, forming an exceptionally rare golden lineup, enough to scare any Demon Cult disciple out of their wits.
Of course, the reason many Shushan disciples were so sure was that just hearing some of those names gave them a fear that split their liver and gallbladder.
Speaking of which, that woman whose name was bad luck to mention, had killed more fellow Shushan sect members than probably any Demon Cult disciple.
Finally!
That freak was no longer plaguing us but went to massacre the Demon Cult!
Everyone felt the urge to celebrate, frequently exclaiming in relief as they traveled south.
An Zhisu’s expression remained calm as she just listened to Ling Yunpo and the other three converse, never taking her eyes off her junior brother.
“This time the five paths of the Demon Cult are uniting to ambush us deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains,” Lin Duanshan began, “If we were to fight one on one, the average level of the Demon Cult disciples isn’t as good as ours at Shushan, but they have us beaten in number. Moreover, their tactics are vicious and merciless, stooping to any means necessary.”
“Therefore, we must stick together as much as possible to avoid being isolated and ambushed by Demon Cult cultivators.”
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Ling Yunpo remained indifferent, thinking that the Demon Cult side was the one getting annihilated, and the disciples used as bait were nearly wiped out.
“If it’s just Foundation Establishment disciples, no matter how many come, they are useless,” Guan Shanyue said with a smile, “I’m only worried about encountering Golden Core True Persons, or even Nascent Soul Cultivators. The difference in realms is like a chasm, hard to cross.”
Ling Yunpo secretly scoffed, thinking that the high-rank cultivators had all run to the East Sea, and now the Hundred Thousand Mountains were filled with nothing but trash.
“It’s said that Kunlun has also sent several Nascent Soul Elders to assist,” Duan Fenhai frowned, “but it’s unclear how they plan to provide support.”
Ling Yunpo silently smirked, figuring there was no need to consider this, for the moment the news of the Hundred Thousand Demons attacking Penglai came out, these Kunlun Elders would immediately turn around and head for the East Sea.
“Junior Brother Ling,” Lin Duanshan suddenly asked, “what are your thoughts?”
“I don’t have any particular thoughts,” Ling Yunpo shook his head, “I’ll just follow Senior Sister.”
“Heh,” Guan Shanyue revealed an amused expression and teased, “If your Senior Sister accidentally breaks into a Demon Cult encirclement and gets surrounded by dozens of Nascent Soul Cultivators, would you follow her in too?”
“Don’t even mention the Demon Cult encirclement,” Ling Yunpo said resolutely, “Even if it were the Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, for Senior Sister, I’d dare to charge through it!”
His righteous words caused his Synchronization Value of the unyielding character to skyrocket.
“Stop talking nonsense,” An Zhisu gave Guan Shanyue a glare, signaling her to be quiet, then took her junior brother’s arm gently and said, “That Immortal Slaying Sword Formation, even an immortal would fall if they entered. Why would you foolishly rush into it?”
Ling Yunpo then let out an awkward laugh.
Senior Sister, you don’t know that not only is the Immortal Slaying Sword Array incomplete, but the person controlling the Formation is also not skilled enough. Most importantly, my Qing Ping is too familiar with it; walking through it is like strolling in my own courtyard…
Of course, his thoughts had no outward broadcasting feature, so everyone just chuckled, dismissing his words as the bravado of a “newborn calf that is not afraid of a tiger,” putting the conversation behind them.
The Sword Immortals traveled swiftly with their Sword Control, quickly arriving at Lixi.
This place was a small town inhabited by various groups, situated right at the entrance to the northern part of the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Deeper south from there, one would encounter the miasma.
The Shushan Sword Immortals paused there to wait for the miasma to completely disperse the next day.
Ling Yunpo silently recalled the timeline, calculating that Wei Dongliu should be in the Eastern Emperor Divine Palace right now, witnessing Ai Zhenzhi slapping Jiang Liyan across the face.
Tsk tsk, who would have known that in just a few days, Ai Zhenzhi would turn around and be outwitted and slain by Jiang the Witch?
For cultivators, strength is not the decisive factor for survival; wisdom and luck are…
Ling Yunpo left his room, intending to seek a heartfelt late-night conversation with Senior Sister An, when suddenly a streak of Sword Light flashed by, the divine presence of the Guan Family ancestor making an abrupt arrival.
“Young Ling,” he said, his feet atop the Sword Light as he hovered outside the balustrade, “Since we are here at the Hundred Thousand Mountains, you should follow us to the Eastern Emperor Boundary Gate afterwards.”
“The Eastern Emperor Boundary Gate?” Ling Yunpo was momentarily startled, then quickly caught on, “Elder, are you referring to the place where the last Sun Sword Master, Ouyang Zhao, perished in battle?”
“Correct,” the Guan Family Ancestor said with a smile. “Ouyang Zhao’s corpse, propped up by his sword, stands before the Eastern Emperor Boundary Gate, countering and suppressing the Sun True Obscure Sword.”
“With the power of the Sun True Fire, the entrance of the Eastern Emperor Boundary Gate is sealed, preventing Human Race cultivators from entering and Demon Race cultivators from leaving. Thus, the two realms have been isolated for more than a hundred thousand years.”
“Every year when the Hundred Thousand Mountains open, Shushan organizes an expedition to attempt to retrieve the True Obscure Sword from the Eastern Emperor Boundary Gate, but no one has ever succeeded.”
Ling Yunpo listened silently, stifling a laugh inwardly.
To retrieve the Sun True Obscure Sword, one must first extinguish the Sun True Fire; and to extinguish the Sun True Fire, one must first retrieve the Sun True Obscure Sword… Isn’t this just a logical deadlock?
Wait, hold on, could it be?
“Indeed,” seeing the look of recognition on his face, the Guan Family Ancestor earnestly said, “Although Ouyang Zhao has passed away, a remnant of his True Spirit lingers, attached to his corpse, suppressing the Sun True Obscure Sword with the identity of its Sword Master.”
“If he could be persuaded to relinquish the True Obscure Sword, taking away the Sun True Fire would be as easy as turning one’s hand over.”
“Has anyone tried to persuade him?” Ling Yunpo asked curiously.
“Of course, there have been attempts,” the Guan Family Ancestor sighed. “No matter how they scolded or pleaded with him for repentance, or negotiated, or expressed their affection, no matter the method, he remained completely silent.”
“Only Sword Immortals of the Forgetting Love Path gain some words from him, but those are merely idle chats. When it comes to the True Obscure Sword, there is no response at all.”
“That’s quite strange,” Ling Yunpo said in astonishment. “Whether it’s the Sentiment Inquiry Path or the Forgetting Love Path, aren’t they both inquiries into the Daoist Heart? How can Ouyang Zhao’s Soul Spirit discern these?”
“I do not know,” the Guan Family Ancestor shook his head. “Perhaps some kind of technique… In any case, since you and your Senior Sister An intend to follow the Sentiment Inquiry Path, why not give it a try? Maybe Ouyang Zhao will take a liking to you and willingly hand over the True Obscure Sword?”
“Elder’s command, how dare your junior disobey?” Ling Yunpo replied with a smile.
“You’re a smooth talker,” the Guan Family Ancestor laughed heartily. “A completely different temperament from that of your Senior Sister.”
“Ouyang Zhao’s Soul Spirit lingers to this day, which shows his obsession is exceptionally deep. However, it’s unclear what he’s longing for in this world that he stubbornly refuses to enter the cycle of reincarnation.”
“I don’t expect you to persuade him, just get on good terms with him, and get him to propose the corresponding conditions for returning the Sun True Obscure Sword.”
Ling Yunpo naturally agreed and, after thinking for a moment, curiously asked:
“Elder, I’ve noticed you’re rather lenient when it comes to Ouyang Zhao, quite different from the resentful seniors of Shushan. May I ask why?”
Upon hearing this, the Guan Family Ancestor was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter:
“Who do you think is the rightful owner of that Immortal Sword, by law?”
“Of course, the Human Race,” Ling Yunpo replied without hesitation.
“The Human Race?” the Guan Family Ancestor chuckled, asking back, “And who should represent the Human Race in possessing that Sun True Obscure Sword? You, me, or that stubborn old Long Eyebrow?”
Ling Yunpo fell silent, an image instantly forming in his mind:
He saw himself enduring countless hardships, completing ninety-nine tasks, and finally exchanging the Sun True Obscure Sword from Ouyang Zhao’s possession, only to have a large number of Shushan cultivators suddenly appear, declaring, “Ling Yunpo, this Sun True Obscure Sword is a treasure of the Human Race. Your cultivation is too shallow to control it; you should entrust it to us to wield”…
Damn it, it might as well stay with Ouyang Zhao!
“It’s normal for a young man to be full of passion,” the Guan Family Ancestor said with a smile, seeing him deep in thought. “But the longer you live, the more you see through things, the less easily you’re moved.”
“Let me tell you something, and whether you believe it is entirely up to you,” he continued.
“If someone is full of righteousness for the Human Race, demanding your full effort and even personal sacrifice, yet when it comes to specific benefits, they are unwilling to promise you even a copper coin’s worth… It’s better to run away as early as possible.”
Ling Yunpo was slightly taken aback, feeling like the Guan Family Ancestor’s words were indirect criticism of those from Shushan, yet he couldn’t connect them to anyone in particular due to the lack of context.
“I will remember that,” he said earnestly.