Wu Buxu dispersed with his sword.
When Chen Yi struck with that sword, Wu Buxu was already destined for death. Yet, in the fleeting monts before his demise, he summoned two more "Wu Buxu"s — united the Three Pure Ones, gathered his Qi anew, and unleashed the final sword strike of his life.
One sword mirrors heaven and earth.
Closing his eyes, the overwhelming sight of that sword still lingered.
Chen Yi drew upon his Qi, sat cross-legged, his blood flowing in streams, leaving crimson spots upon the ground.
It's all over...
The once number one under heaven had perished, his Dao extinguished. The sword that encompassed heaven and earth was but a final, fleeting brilliance, destined to beco a disappearing legend of the martial arts world — no longer lasting than the Sword Immortals he once slew.
The Jianghu ages swiftly, a thousand autumns are unreachable.
Clouds disperse, the wind fades, and the heavens return to emptiness; a deep, ink-like indigo mist converged into a circle, expanding outward. Fallen leaves fluttered to the ground without the touch of wind. Chen Yi's vision stretched far, beholding the distant mountaintops covered in swaying, vast reeds and rows of sword graves humming to the heavens, seemingly on the verge of resurrection. With the elder's death, the restraint had unexpectedly vanished, unleashing a cacophony of chaotic sword intent and streaks of white currents darting across the heavens and earth.
"One sword mirrors heaven and earth..."
Chen Yi spread his arms wide, then drew them back in.
The free-floating sword intent, epheral and boundless in the cosmos, hesitated mid-air. White windlines shifted in unison, grandly converging from all directions — countless in number.
They all entered Chen Yi's sword.
Within the Hou Kang Sword lay a world, where the disorderly sword intent was now gathered, resembling streams of fish weaving through intersecting currents.
Chen Yi rested his sword upon his knees and closed his eyes.
In the far sky,
The azure was pristine, untouched by ti; over a thousand years, the transformation of all things adhered to the cycle of one begetting two, two begetting three, and three begetting ten thousand.
Fire ascends in flas, stone sinks into earth, the expanse of heaven and earth remains boundless.
Lu Ying seed to sense sothing, silently gazing into the distance.
A solitary figure, a lone sword, a shadow against the horizon.
Perhaps it was not over yet...
His journey had only just begun.
...…
Even though Chen Yi had thoroughly cleansed himself upon his return, Yin Weiyin could still detect the thick scent of blood lingering on him, and it startled her.
She cautiously scrutinized his face, smoothing out his disheveled brows as she did.
Chen Yi disregarded the female crown's actions, focusing unflinchingly on the slumbering Min Ning, his gaze unwavering.
Though no one present knew that Zhou Yitang had transford into Zhu Yu and attached herself to Min Ning's body, everyone had clearly observed how Zhou Yitang had used Min Ning as a vessel to fight on her behalf.
Chen Yi was aware of Zhou Yitang's tendency to avoid discussing many matters, deliberately keeping secrets. This ti, however, after a reminder from the Tushan Clan, he realized he could no longer allow her to continue concealing the truth — he was determined to confront Zhou Yitang.
Should Zhou Yitang appear in her true form, a duel between her and Chen Yi would likely end evenly matched; the outco remained uncertain. However, facing just a wisp of her fragnted soul, Chen Yi felt no trepidation.
Min Ning's lashes trembled lightly.
Chen Yi leaned in closer.
"Uh…"
She propped herself up slightly, raising her head to et Chen Yi's gaze,
"Chen… Chen Zunming… Where am I?"
Chen Yi froze — prepared for a confrontation, yet it was Min Ning, not Zhou Yitang, who awakened.
Yin Weiyin also realized this and muttered, "Seems Master Tongxuan has hidden herself sowhere again."
Chen Yi asked aloud, "Do you have a way to find her?"
The female crown considered it carefully, pinched her fingers slightly in calculation, but ultimately shook her head.
Min Ning naturally understood what had transpired. Pressing her right hand against the ground, she managed to sit upright, her bones crackling audibly as her body moved. She exhaled through her lips, seemingly ready to speak, but instead coughed up blood.
Chen Yi hurriedly turned his face toward her and said, "Don't move."
Even before finishing his sentence, he supported Min Ning's shoulders, urging her to lie back down. Her features, though valiant, revealed a hint of fragility, striking a chord deep within Chen Yi's heart.
Through the passing seasons, he suddenly realized — it had been far too long since he felt such concern for Min Ning.
Back in the Capital City, Chen Yi's care for Min Ning had been neither excessive nor insufficient. She was always resilient, full of heroic spirit, seemingly impervious to the need for anyone's sympathy.
Now reunited at the Sword Pool, Min Ning's temperant remained unchanged, but the trials of the Jianghu had propelled her to new heights of mastery, her unyielding determination now sharper and more pronounced.
As he montarily hesitated, he saw Min Ning smiling at him:
"What's this? You pity ?"
Chen Yi chuckled lightly, "Can't I?"
"Shoo, shoo, shoo. I don't need your pity." Min Ning waved her hand to push him away, her tone cold as she said, "Don't look at like this. If we truly exchanged blows, you'd still be the one begging for rcy."
In martial arts parlance, "exchanging blows" referred to duels fought purely with techniques, devoid of inner strength, akin to sparring. These contests were more controlled than staged matches, reducing the risk of injury. As a result, they were particularly popular among martial halls and escort agencies in trade-oriented areas. However, they were rarely heard of in places like the Capital City.
Chen Yi did not let go; instead, he pressed her arm gently, assessing its condition as he said, "Your ridians are quite damaged. You'll need ample rest. Do you have dicine? If not, I'll ask Luanhuang to craft so pills for you."
Yin Weiyin pursed her lips, annoyed that she had to offer Min Ning dicine herself and uncertain of how to feel about the situation.
Feeling sowhat perturbed and unable to tolerate their closeness, she retrieved a small jade bottle from the Square Land and said plainly, "Purple Moon Clearing Pill. Three days of nourishnt will suffice."
Chen Yi took the bottle and placed it in Min Ning's hand. He could easily discern the female crown's subtle jealousy, yet he chose to ignore it.
Min Ning casually poured out a pill and swallowed it. Only then did she ask about the previous battle, "What of Wu Buxu?"
"Dead," Chen Yi replied matter-of-factly.
Min Ning's eyes quivered, shocked. "Dead?"
This revelation was a monuntal blow to anyone — many towering figures in the Sword Dao had fallen in that battle. Even though Min Ning believed her future achievents would rival Zhou Yitang's, her only ambition had been to survive. Now, hearing that Wu Buxu had died, her heart could not help but be struck with disbelief.
Chen Yi nodded slightly, pausing in thought before saying, "He claid the Sword Dao was naught but dry grass. In truth, he reached the realm of Unity of Heaven and Man. The reason martial arts qualify as 'Dao' is their resonance with the heavens and earth — the insights gained are reflections of the greater universe. Zhou Yitang comprehended selflessness and the rging of sword and nature, recognizing her as half-worthy of being called a formidable successor. She ranks ninth in the world, fully deserving of the title. Wu Buxu's understanding ran deeper—viewing the Sword Dao as dry grass, nearing nirvana itself. Such heights in the martial realm are akin to ordinary mortals realizing their mortality before awakening to enlightennt and achieving nirvana."
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