Chapter 25: Protagonist of a Power Fantasy (24)

The Saint Venerable was stunned.

Ten thousand years had passed, yet in this world, there was still someone who had entered the Path of Ruthlessness.

No wonder.
No wonder that even at the Golden Core stage, she could unleash the second movement of the Water-Cloud Art.
No wonder her sword intent possessed the momentum of breaking through and then establishing itself.

Sword energy rippled through the air like fine waves, and a deluge of water rushed forth, merging into Su Bai’s sword intent. The Dragon-Chant Sword let out a long, resonant roar. At that moment, the water dragon and the lightning dragon fused; the thunder vanished into the water, and under the searing heat of the lightning, the water vapor evaporated entirely, transforming into masses of white mist.

This white mist was not ordinary vapor, but spirit energy compressed repeatedly under the control of spiritual sense, finally condensing into a physical entity.

The second form of the Heavenly Derivation Sword Technique is "Summoning the Heavenly Dragon." If one is to summon a dragon, there must be clouds and water. What use is mere lightning alone?

The young girl took a few strides, swinging her sword. Spirit energy took form, imbuing the Dragon-Chant Sword as she unleashed her intent. From beyond the dim, twilight sky, it looked as if a true dragon were riding the clouds and mist, commanding the rain. The radiance of the Dragon-Chant Sword flared brilliantly, instantly eclipsing the arrogant, overbearing sword light of the Return-to-One Sword—which shone brighter than all the lanterns in the night.

How could mere fireflies dare to compete with the sun and moon?

The "Summoning the Heavenly Dragon" sword intent was shattered. The Saint Venerable spat out a mouthful of blood and was thrown back several meters by the shockwave of the sword energy.

But the Dragon-Chant Sword did not stop.

She struck hundreds of times in succession. With the Return-to-One Sword’s intent broken and the spirit energy of the Soul-Swapping Technique nearing exhaustion, the girl before him remained full of battle intent, her sword’s edge growing sharper with every strike.

Is this what a Golden Core forged through combat looks like?

Nurturing sword intent through battle, tempering it through strife—even after these several encounters, she showed no signs of fatigue.

For the first time, a trace of fear flickered in the Saint Venerable’s heart.
What kind of peerless talent is this girl?
If—
If only she had been the one to enter the cave dwelling back then…

*Clang.* A crisp sound rang out.
The Saint Venerable’s eyes widened. His wrist went limp, and the Return-to-One Sword was struck down, falling into the water with a splash. Then, a long sword pierced his abdomen without a shred of mercy.

Warm blood gushed out, running down the blade of the Dragon-Chant Sword.

"You…"
The Saint Venerable spat out a mouthful of blood, dark almost to the point of being purple. "…How could you strike a fellow disciple?"

"Why wouldn't I?"
She pushed the Dragon-Chant Sword deeper, forcing sword energy into his body, and countered, "When have you ever shown me even the slightest bit of mercy?"

This strike was aimed directly at Qin Yang’s dantian.

The Dragon-Chant Sword was an indestructible, peerless divine blade that had once slain a Candle Dragon capable of rivaling gods. With the blade embedded in his dantian and imbued with her sword energy—which rivaled that of the Division Spirit stage—what did it matter if his "Division Spirit" dantian was a mere fake?

A constant stream of spirit energy leaked from Qin Yang’s body through that wound, and his cultivation base plummeted rapidly.

The time for the Soul-Swapping Technique had elapsed. The Saint Venerable’s consciousness gradually dissipated from Qin Yang’s body, and a ray of golden light fell into the jade pendant hanging at Qin Yang’s chest.

In a daze, Qin Yang’s consciousness reclaimed his body, and he felt a wave of excruciating pain in his abdomen. A needle-like agony pierced his sea of consciousness. As he slowly opened his eyes, he saw the young girl’s exquisite, beautiful face inches from his own. Her long eyelashes, like butterfly wings, fluttered gently, and the dark shadows beneath her eyelids twitched delicately.

"Jiaojiao?"

As his consciousness returned, in a moment of clarity, Qin Yang could not distinguish between dream and reality. He could not help but call out in surprise and joy.

"I had such a long dream..."

In the dream, they had turned into enemies, pointing swords at each other, drifting apart like strangers.
But how could that be?
She was the younger sister who had grown up with him since they were children.

They would go to the city’s highest pavilion during the Spring Festival every year to watch the fireworks. When the festival ended and the moon rose high, the little girl would pull him along, skipping and jumping down the quiet, moonlit path.

During the Magpie Bridge Festival, they would avoid the crowded streets, and he would take her out onto the vast, empty river. He would carefully, with great tenderness, set down a lotus lamp he had made himself, watching it drift away until it vanished at the boundary where the mountains, river, and sky met.

He remembered every detail of their past.

They were closer than blood kin. How could he bear to draw his sword against her? How could he bear to see even a trace of sadness on her face?

He grabbed Su Bai’s sleeve, but as he moved to stand, blood flowed freely, and the wound tore wider. Qin Yang looked down in horror, only then realizing his hands were soaked in blood.

A look of bewilderment crossed his face. But when he looked up, he met the girl’s eyes—eyes as cold as frost.

The thick frost covering those eyes, like the frozen ice from his dream, shattered his final illusion.

So—
It wasn't a dream after all.

Qin Yang let go of her sleeves, stunned.

Su Bai gripped Qin Yang’s collar and yanked the sword from his abdomen. The blade dripped with blood and still hummed with lingering spirit energy. With a forceful flick, she threw him onto the riverbank.

The Saint Venerable had intended to kill her, and this was the consequence of Qin Yang’s indulgence. Therefore, this strike was what they deserved.

The rocks on the lakeshore shattered with a boom, kicking up clouds of dust and gravel. Qin Yang collapsed among the stones, coughing up blood. The dust clouded his eyes, stinging and choking him, and he couldn't tell if what fell from his eyes was blood or tears. Perhaps it was both.

His hands trembled violently; he had no strength left to wipe the liquid from his temples.

Why did it come to this?

Qin Yang’s entire body shook. He bit his lip, his eyes bloodshot, yet he stubbornly stared at the figure who walked away without ever looking back.

"I have entered the Path of Ruthlessness."

The girl’s cold words echoed in Qin Yang’s ears again and again. The Soul-Swapping Technique had put his consciousness to sleep, but he remembered every memory of the Saint Venerable and Su Bai with perfect clarity.

During the time his consciousness was dormant, it felt as if he had returned to those carefree days with her. In his memories, she called him "Brother Qin" over and over. During the Lantern Festival, he had held her hand tightly in the densest of crowds. She had cooked for him, and she had pulled him along to wear her first green dress of spring, jumping around like a bird on a branch, pestering him to take her out on his sword to fly kites in the countryside.

When the city lord’s enemies tried to kidnap her, he had held a sword; even with a dislocated shoulder and a broken leg, he had refused to let them take his little girl.

How could he forget? He couldn't forget a single thing.

He was so full of regret. Regret that he hadn't recognized his own heart sooner, regret that he had blundered into the secret realm left by the Saint Venerable, regret that in his youthful ignorance, he had mistaken his camaraderie with Yun Zhu for love.

He regretted missing the person he loved just like this.

The Saint Venerable had fallen into a deep slumber, his body was severely wounded, and the girl’s strike had hit his dantian exactly and unerringly. Qin Yang felt his life force slipping away bit by bit.

But what could be done? With his dantian destroyed, he couldn't use spirit energy, nor did he have the strength to call for help. He could only lie there like a cripple, waiting for the sword energy that raged throughout the Sword Tomb to slowly erode his body, grinding his shattered dantian into dust.

Qin Yang’s consciousness grew dim, and he slowly closed his eyes.

He was no hero destined by the Heavenly Dao to slay the Candle Dragon in the future. He was merely a fool, short-sighted and arrogant, unable to see his own heart.

Just as Qin Yang was about to fall into a coma, a notification chimed in his mind.

[Dragon Overlord System loaded.]
[Successfully bound to host.]
[Detected host is severely injured and in a near-death state; does not meet task completion requirements.]
[Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pill used.]
[Due to severe dantian damage and the forced reversal of the Soul-Swapping Technique, the host's cultivation is rapidly declining. Re-evaluating host's strength.]
[Strength downgraded to Foundation Establishment peak. Detection complete.]

A warm current spread through Qin Yang’s internal organs. In the blink of an eye, the intense pain in his sea of consciousness from the Soul-Swapping Technique vanished, and his body felt like withered wood meeting spring, once again filled with vitality and strength.

At the same time, a cursing voice rang out in Qin Yang’s mind.

"Is this the damn male lead? You’re telling me this is the damn male lead?"
"This is the Child of Luck that this little world protected with its life? A complete dud? The moment I arrive, I have to waste a Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pill? And it comes with a broken dantian as a bonus? Good grief, I’m speechless! If I’m stuck with this job, I’m demanding a raise from the Heavenly Dao!"

"Who the hell uses the Soul-Swapping Technique when they're this much of a rookie? Fine! Whatever! You wanted to use the Soul-Swapping Technique, you’re so tough, you have the guts to 'burn your boats,' but you called in external help and still couldn't beat a girl who just reached Golden Core?"

"The hosts bound to the 'White Lotus Saint' system are raking in points, and the Heavenly Dao tricks me into checking on this 'Child of Luck.' I thought if I just added a little fuel to the fire, he’d soar, but this thing is nothing but a money pit!!"

"A Nine-Turn Soul-Returning Pill cost four million reward points, and now I have to pay to fix his dantian! And this damn dantian won't be fixed anytime soon, it won't! I have to find materials and experts to fix it for him!!"

"And this idiot went to the Sword Tomb and didn't even get a sword. He had two souls in one body, and neither of them could keep the Dragon-Chant Sword! Laughable, hahahaha! Great, now I have to spend money to buy him equipment!"

"Alright, enough, this idiot is busy mourning his lost love. I see he’s waking up, I’m hanging up."

*Click.*

Qin Yang, the rookie, idiot, money-pit, love-struck fool: …

"Hey." The voice said arrogantly: "Stop moping. Your luck is turning around!"
"Your Dragon Overlord Grandpa is here to save you!"

**

The Dragon-Chant Sword floated in the air before the girl.

"Have you decided?" Su Bai asked.

The sword spirit nodded. "I have guarded the Sword Tomb for years. Seeing the Saint Venerable again today has fulfilled my wish."
It was just a pity that the world had changed, and things were no longer what they once were.

The Dragon-Chant Sword didn't feel there was anything worth grieving or regretting. Both he and the Saint Venerable were merely pawns of the Heavenly Dao. And he, he was just a sword that had slowly gained consciousness over tens of thousands of years, yet was still unable to control his own destiny.

Back then, the Heavenly Dao used the lives of the common people as leverage to force the Saint Venerable to sacrifice all his spiritual sense to guard the mountains and rivers. Today, it had used the same reason to force the Dragon-Chant Sword to choose Qin Yang as its master.

The sword spirit sighed and looked into the distance. "Take me away."

When Venerable Qingyan forged the Dragon-Chant Sword, he hoped the wielder would slay demons and uphold justice. Later, when the Saint Venerable entered the Path of Enlightenment at the Mirror Terrace, Venerable Qingyan gifted the sword to him. "I think this is a sword custom-made for you," Qingyan had said.

The Saint Venerable lived up to those expectations, carrying the Dragon-Chant Sword to slay all monsters and demons, carving clear boundaries into the chaotic Three Realms, establishing order and peace.

Venerable Qingyan forged the sword to usher in an era of peace for the world, so the sword intent of the Dragon-Chant Sword could only be unleashed by one with a heart for the greater good—that vast, earth-shaking, world-renewing sword energy.

But that boy was not worthy of the Dragon-Chant Sword.

They had watched her reach the Golden Core stage, wanting to reap the benefits. To force her to hand over the sword, they had stopped at nothing. To enter a contract with them was, in the eyes of the Dragon-Chant Sword, merely an insult to be wielded by a mediocrity.

"Since you have a natural sword heart and have entered the path, you can unleash the sword intent even without a life-bond contract," the Dragon-Chant Sword said quietly. "I can go with you."

"You don't need me to be your life-bond divine sword, and I don't really need a master."

"If it weren't for the Heavenly Dao forcibly extending his life, that boy Qin Yang would have died in the Sword Tomb."

Su Bai smiled. "With that strike, I shattered his dantian. Even if he manages to cling to life, it will be hard for him to cultivate from now on."

"I am different from the real Saint Venerable," she said with a faint, enigmatic smile. "I only do what I want to do."

"And so what?" The Dragon-Chant Sword turned to look at her.

The clouds cleared, and sunlight shone through the mist, landing on Su Bai’s face. She stood there like a peerless treasure sword; no one could break her spine.

*What a willful person,* the Dragon-Chant Sword thought.

"The Saint Venerable never showed you any mercy, did he?" The sword spirit seemed to see through the girl’s thoughts. "The Heavenly Dao does not want me to choose you, but the sword intent you unleashed from the Heavenly Derivation Sword Technique—how could that boy ever hope to reach such a realm?"

"Pursuing the strong is my choice. This time, I want to seize my own destiny."

"Good!" She reached out her hand, a sun-like light burning in her pupils—so vivid and alive that the sword spirit dared not look directly into her eyes.

"I will take you away," she said with absolute certainty. "I will take you to see a wider world."

The Dragon-Chant Sword hesitated for a moment. He looked at her outstretched palm for a long time. The palm was thin and fair, the knuckles distinct. When she opened it, one could see the small calluses and scars of varying depths. For a sword cultivator, these were the medals of honor they were most proud of.

The sword spirit retreated into the sword. Then, the cold scabbard gently pressed against her hand.

*A new life has finally begun,* it thought.

**

The speed of leaping from the mid-stage of Heart-Moving to the Golden Core stage in a few days was too shocking. To avoid drawing attention, Su Bai stayed in the Sword Tomb for another half month to consolidate her cultivation before strolling out.

Since the Sword Tomb was nourished by sword energy year-round, it was not uncommon for disciples to go into seclusion there.

As soon as Su Bai stepped out of the tomb, she saw Elder You and Ling Su waiting nearby, their eyes burning with intense light.

"Young friend!"
"Junior Sister!"

The two called out warmly. Elder You had a silly smile on his face, scratching his head in embarrassment, while Ling Su’s eyes were frighteningly bright, his eagerness as if he wanted to devour her whole.

Su Bai: ?

The Supreme Elder coughed a few times from the side, signaling them to mind their image. However, since the divine sword ranked first on the Divine Weapon List was likely with this girl, these two sword fanatics were willing to lose their dignity, let alone their reputation.

That was the Dragon-Chant Sword!

Even though they had entered the Sword Tomb hundreds of years ago, they hadn't even been able to find where the sword was, let alone see it!

*Curses on that brat Xiaoyao,* they thought in unison.

The chance to spar with the Dragon-Chant Sword every day—that was a blessing most people couldn't even dream of!

Elder You chuckled a few times and rubbed his hands together, quite nervously. "Young friend, a natural sword heart—that is a one-in-ten-thousand talent!"

Ling Su quickly agreed. "Ancient texts say that natural sword hearts are divided into grades. Since you can summon the sword-hum of the Dragon-Chant Sword, it must be the legendary top-tier natural sword heart!"

"Yes, yes, wait... why have you reached the Golden Core stage?"

Elder You had just taken up the thread to flatter her when he suddenly frowned, startled into a shiver. "You... you reached... reached Golden Core??"

"Reached Golden Core!?"

Hearing this, Ling Su couldn't help but release his spiritual sense to probe her cultivation.

It was truly a solid Golden Core!

Ling Su’s pupils dilated, and his hands began to shake. From the time she entered the Sword Tomb to the time she left, it had only been a month.

Qin Yang had leaped three small realms in two years and was already called a peerless genius. By that measure, this girl had leaped three small realms in a month!?

"The Dragon-Chant Sword’s intent resonated with my Dao heart. I had some fortuitous encounters in the Sword Tomb, and with the aid of the sword, I suddenly had an epiphany and reached the threshold of the Golden Core."

The girl didn't even raise an eyebrow, speaking in a flat, calm tone, as if forming a Golden Core was just an ordinary matter.

The Supreme Elder’s beard twitched.
An epiphany?
A sudden epiphany of three small realms?
An epiphany leading to the Golden Core lightning tribulation?

"Could it be that the commotion from the Golden Core lightning tribulation half a month ago was caused by you?" Elder You asked, unable to believe it.

But... that was half a month ago!

"You... did you reach the Golden Core half a month ago?" Elder You took a step back in shock.

"What if I did, and what if I didn't?" Su Bai replied. "Do I have to explain every single thing I do to you?"

People in this world were always unable to understand things that exceeded their capabilities. It was better to say nothing; they would always find a way to justify it within their own logic anyway.

"It is time for my sword practice."

Leaving those words behind, she summoned the Lone-Wild Goose Sword.

"Wait!"

Seeing her displeasure, Ling Su didn't want to press the matter of her cultivation, so he quickly called out, "Junior Sister, could you let us see the true appearance of the Dragon-Chant Sword?"

Elder You was afraid of upsetting her, so he nodded frantically on the side. "Yes, yes, fellow Daoist, even just one look would be enough!"

"The Dragon-Chant Sword?"

Su Bai stopped and turned her head to look at them. She suddenly couldn't help but laugh. "Senior Brother Qin is a heaven-favored son, a one-in-ten-thousand genius with a lightning spirit root. Why not go ask him for the Dragon-Chant Sword instead of waiting here for me?"

"I am merely a water spirit root. How could I have the qualifications?"

They knew full well who Senior Brother Qin was.

But as the former darling of the Heavenly Dao was mentioned, a strange look flashed in the eyes of all three people present.

Ling Su’s eyes were full of regret, and Elder You shook his head, his lips moving without being able to utter a complete sentence.

After a long time, the Supreme Elder stepped forward, stroking his beard, and sighed deeply. "In order to forcibly contract the Jinghong Sword, the second-ranked divine sword on the list, Qin Yang suffered a backlash, developed a heart demon, his dantian was shattered, and his cultivation regressed to the peak of Foundation Establishment."

His expression was complex, filled with deep pity. "In this life, he may only be able to remain at the Foundation Establishment stage, unable to cultivate ever again."