Chapter 235: Three Thousand Tribulations, Sealed Within This Sword |
Chapter 235: Three Thousand Tribulations, Sealed Within This Sword
The Sword Pavilion disciples finally snapped out of their shock after hearing Chen Huai’an declare his departure from the sect.
“Patriarch, you mustn’t! The Sword Pavilion can’t lose you!”
“Patriarch, there must be some misunderstanding. Let’s wait for the Pavilion Master and the elders to return and discuss this properly!”
Chen Huai’an cast a sidelong glance toward the Sword Pavilion’s grounds. “So, you all think my disciple is a sinner who harbors demon cultivators?”
“No, Patriarch! We believe in Junior Sister!”
“We’ve all seen how Junior Sister treats us. I believe her.”
“The Three Great Holy Lands are indeed suspicious. We still have no news of our senior brothers and sisters. They were likely captured by the Holy Lands!”
Among all the gathered cultivators, only the disciples of the Sword Pavilion still trusted Li Qingran’s words.
Simply put, the Sword Pavilion might be poor, but they would sacrifice everything for their disciples. No exploitation, no scheming—only a singular goal: to walk further along the path of the sword.
Chen Huai’an’s gaze softened. “Good. I didn’t train you all for nothing. Tell that brat Su Qinian—”
“I have great love for the Sword Pavilion.”
“With disciples like you, the Sword Pavilion shall endure for eternity.”
He withdrew his gaze.
It was precisely because the Sword Pavilion was so precious that he had to protect it.
By publicly severing ties, he ensured that Burning Purity Holy Land wouldn’t openly retaliate against the sect.
And besides—
He was about to kill someone.
Master Burning Heart saw the murderous glint in Chen Huai’an’s eyes and felt a chill crawl up his spine.
“Since you insist on this course of action, then let’s wait until the Great Secret Realm closes. The Holy Lands’ True Lords will personally decide—”
“Wait?”
The sword hummed. Azure light split the sky.
“You dared to imprison my disciple with Buddhist Light—then today, I shall cleanse my sword in your light!”
At the sound of his voice, Chen Huai’an vanished.
Only a sword formation remained, shielding the two girls within.
Master Burning Heart’s forehead burned with heat. He looked up—
The black-clad swordsman was already upon him.
The killing intent in those eyes burned like twin cold stars, hidden beneath the shadow of silvered hair.
“Prajna Buddha! Great Mighty Heavenly Dragon Seal!”
Without hesitation, Burning Heart unleashed his strongest divine technique, hoping to counter the incoming strike.
Though he was only at the first stage of Void Refinement, he could tell at a glance—this man far outclassed him.
He had to go all out.
But before his Arhat Golden Body could fully manifest, a thin red line bloomed at his throat.
“The endless heavens—reduced to a single scar.”
Chen Huai’an stood upon the Arhat’s shoulder, spinning his sword in a graceful flourish.
The Arhat Golden Body shattered into dust.
In the midst of crumbling Sanskrit, Burning Heart’s true form was revealed—standing atop the head of a massive ox-headed beast, his body radiating Glazed Buddhist Light.
A deep gash marred his neck.
As Chen Huai’an’s gaze fell upon him, blood trickled from the corner of Burning Heart’s lips.
“Many incarnations… yet all of them worthless.”
“Worthless or not—why don’t we let your disciple test that?”
Knowing he was no match for Chen Huai’an, Burning Heart lunged toward the sword formation, hoping to seize Li Qingran as a hostage.
But the sword was faster than his hand.
With a piercing shhk—
His Buddhist Hand was severed.
Chen Huai’an’s expression turned frigid. “Is this what Burning Purity Holy Land’s so-called high monks resort to?”
His killing intent surged even further.
“Three thousand tribulations—all within this sword.”
—Green Lotus Sword Manual, Ninth Sword Form—Joy’s End.
At those words, the world warped.
Burning Heart felt killing intent closing in from all directions. Everything around him faded—
The sky and earth drained of color.
All that remained was the lone swordsman above, standing vibrant amidst the monochrome void.
Silver light rained beneath the dark clouds.
The swordsman swayed, his image fracturing into countless afterimages, an endless cascade of dancing blades.
“When the wine pot tips, candlelight scatters—
Before the sword moves, frost has already fallen.
An autumn storm casts reflections on the mirror—
Revealing a drunken madman, eyes full of stars.”
At the final word, Chen Huai’an stepped forward.
The moonlight beneath his feet shattered.
The infinite sword shadows collapsed into one.
He gripped his sword in reverse—
As the wind lifted his silver hair, his eyes snapped open.
CLANG!
A pale serpent of sword light tore through the heavens.
Unstoppable.
Inescapable.
Burning Heart’s eyes widened.
A breeze passed—
A thin red line split his brow.
His Golden Body crumbled. His broken form fell.
Even his soul was shredded by sword qi.
As Chen Huai’an sheathed his sword—
Only then did the surrounding cultivators hear the sound of his strike.
To them, it seemed as though Chen Huai’an had merely walked past Burning Heart.
That was all.
“A lifetime of reckless abandon, joy now spent—
Half a heart’s courage, cast into the sword’s cold edge.”
Chen Huai’an murmured, his fingers tracing his sword hilt.
The elders of Burning Purity Holy Land, who had intended to join Burning Heart, immediately retreated three steps.
What a joke.
A Holy Land elder—slain.
His incarnation within the secret realm—also slain.
At least the resources had been secured by three other Burning Purity disciples, hidden away safely.
They only had to wait—one of them would become the next Holy Son.
There was no need to fight this terrifying sword immortal.
And why should they?
Once the Great Secret Realm opened, Master Burning Karma would emerge to deal with this arrogant swordsman.
Under Chen Huai’an’s suffocating presence, the entrance to the secret realm fell into absolute silence.
Li Qingran remained within the sword formation, eyes fixed on her master, afraid he might be harmed.
Then—
The communication talisman at her waist flickered.
“Senior Sister!”
Had Yue Qianchi already rescued the three Sword Pavilion disciples?
She hurriedly took out the talisman—
Only to see five words:
【Kill Song Chiyue. Now!】
Kill Song Chiyue?!
Li Qingran scanned the crowd but saw no sign of her.
But if the demonic array was the handiwork of the Three Holy Lands, then the Holy Maiden of Jade Pool Holy Land was undoubtedly involved.
The three missing Sword Pavilion disciples had likely died by her hands.
“Master! Kill Song Chiyue!” Li Qingran cupped her hands around her mouth, channeling her spiritual energy to amplify her voice.
“Understood.”
Chen Huai’an’s eyes narrowed.
Back when he entered the secret realm, he had memorized Song Chiyue’s aura.
Finding her now was effortless with his Void Refinement Fifth Stage divine sense.
Yet, after scanning the area—
She was nowhere in sight.
Just as he was about to use Fate Divination to locate her—
A teleportation formation flickered near Burning Heart’s corpse.
Song Chiyue emerged, flanked by three Jade Pool disciples, her expression momentarily dazed from the teleportation.
In the next instant—
A chilling wave of killing intent descended upon her.
“You dare?!”
On the Jade Pool Holy Land platform, three Void Refinement elders roared in fury, striking out simultaneously.
Slaying Burning Heart was one thing—the Burning Purity and Jade Pool Holy Lands were both allies and rivals.
His death benefited them.
But to target their Holy Maiden?
Unforgivable!
Chen Huai’an said nothing.
Three swords flashed—forcing the elders back.
The fourth descended.
—Eleventh Sword Form—Galaxy Falls.
Like a river of stars reversed—
Plunging from the heavens.
BOOM!
A silver-white sword curtain swept across the land.
In the wake of its passage—
A bottomless abyss opened in the Ten Thousand Mountains.
The Holy Maiden of Jade Pool and her three disciples—reduced to dust.
…
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