The ghost-catching squad would next face a Heliobus where combat might be unavoidable.
A disturbance had broken out in the Alchemy Commission, involving the Cloud Knights. The commotion was not small.
Although no innocent personnel had been harmed yet, the ghost-catching squad set out immediately, without even having time to ask Cirrus.
They never expected that upon arriving at the Alchemy Commission, they would run straight into the scene of the conflict.
A Cloud Knight whose mind was in chaos was about to deal a fatal blow to his comrade. Fortunately, Stelle acted in time and stopped the disaster from happening.
After seating the person against the wall, Stelle only let out a sigh of relief once she saw Huohuo using the Ten Lords Commission's methods to examine him.
"Brother Cloud Knight, how do you feel?"
"It feels like all my strength has been drained…"
The Cloud Knight spoke weakly and recounted today's encounter.
In simple terms, he had received orders to come to the Alchemy Commission to eliminate a monster. Suddenly, his weapon spoke and began guiding his martial arts.
Afterward, it disliked his mediocre talent and wanted to take on another disciple instead — that is, the passing Yanqing.
Somehow, this Cloud Knight soldier suddenly attacked Yanqing. In the end, he couldn't even see the other party's movements clearly before being knocked down.
After that, the Cloud Knight witnessed an extremely strange scene.
Yanqing seemed to be conversing with the sword in his hand. Without looking back, he left.
As for the weapon in his own hand, it never spoke again.
Stelle: "It seems this time's target is related to weapons."
Without delay, the ghost-catching squad followed the direction provided by the Cloud Knight and chased at full speed.
Not long after, they saw one of Yanqing's accompanying swords.
That frost-blue short sword tore through the air with a hum, like a swallow that had lost its direction.
Sushang remembered something and said uncertainly:
"I heard that little brother Yanqing's weapon is a famous blade forged by the Artisanship Commission. It shares a mutual induction with its master."
"When the master advances, retreats, or dodges, the treasured sword will also move according to his will like it has a spirit, never leaving his side."
"He must have encountered some great danger. That's why this sword ran out to find someone and report, right?"
Huohuo was puzzled: "With that young genius's swordsmanship, what kind of monster could hurt him?"
Sushang: "I don't know. After all, something like a Heliobus can't be cut open even by the sharpest sword."
"There's something I don't know if I should say or not?" Guinaifen half-raised her hand.
Sushang: "If it's unlucky words, then don't say it."
Stelle glanced sideways at Guinaifen. "Let me guess. You want to say that the one in danger is probably not Yanqing, but us?"
"You guessed right…" Guinaifen nodded weakly.
Stelle fell into thought. Just as she was about to make a suggestion, the floating frost-colored short sword suddenly moved and flew off in a certain direction.
Huohuo made a decisive call: "Follow this sword. No matter what, we must find little brother Yanqing before the situation worsens and subdue the Heliobus."
"Ah—"
Seeing the three figures, all shorter than herself, hurrying away, Stelle felt somewhat helpless.
There was no choice. She could only follow them first to see what was going on.
The four arrived at the port, boarded a boat, and chased all the way to Dragonprayer Terrace — the very place where Dan Heng had once manifested the power of the High Elder.
Before they even got close, they saw countless flying swords above Dragonprayer Terrace, constantly circling and emitting a fierce aura.
Sushang: "Why are there so many swords?"
Seeing Yanqing in the center of Dragonprayer Terrace with his back to them, Guinaifen looked toward Huohuo.
"It must be an illusion created by the Heliobus!"
"Shouldn't we ring the bell now and see if we can talk to little brother Yanqing who's trapped in the illusion?"
"Illusion?"
Yanqing slowly turned around. The way he looked at the four girls was filled with indifference.
"Since all of you can see it, doesn't that mean you have also fallen into the illusion?"
"There's no need to panic. In my view, this sword array is a real and tangible armory treasure."
"As long as you look up and observe any sword within it, a thousand kinds of techniques will unfold and perform in my eyes — endless, far surpassing everything Yanqing has known and learned in the past."
"Moreover, it seems to welcome all who come. It welcomes anyone who wishes to pursue a higher realm to come and take a look."
Although Yanqing appeared very normal, Stelle still detected something abnormal.
In Yanqing's tone, the youthful vigor unique to a young man had completely disappeared. In its place was an arrogance that did not belong to him.
The Heliobus was definitely causing trouble.
"Yanqing, the General asked us to bring you back." Stelle tried.
"You're lying. My mission in the Alchemy Commission has already been completed. I haven't received any other orders."
Yanqing's tone sank slightly as he raised his head to look at the countless flying swords above.
"This is currently time that Yanqing can freely use. Taking advantage of this good opportunity, I want to seek guidance from 'Molten Torch' teacher within this sword array."
"Molten Torch?"
Sushang frowned.
"Is that Heliobus's name Molten Torch?"
Yanqing nodded. "Yes. Teacher Molten Torch has agreed to demonstrate here the flaws in my swordsmanship and the method to take it to the next level."
"Therefore, I brought Teacher Molten Torch to Dragonprayer Terrace. This was once the place where Yanqing suffered heavy setbacks."
As he spoke, a dignified voice rang out from within the sword array.
"Young man, with me here, everything will be different."
"Whether it is the Imbibitor Lunae Dragon Lord or that Stellaron Hunter, or the woman who taught you sword techniques — your achievements will far surpass theirs, limitless."
"Far surpass theirs, limitless…"
Yanqing gripped the weapon in his hand tightly and muttered in a low voice. He then raised his head and looked straight ahead.
"You all came at the perfect time. I just gained some insights from the sword array. Why don't I use the few of you as a whetstone and test its edge?"
Stelle was the first to summon her lance and stood in front of Huohuo and Guinaifen.
The next second, the attack arrived instantly.
"Eh? Why did it suddenly turn into a fight?"
Knowing that she couldn't help much in direct combat, Huohuo quickly pulled Guinaifen backward to avoid becoming a burden.
"Yanqing's studies are lacking. He has been defeated repeatedly… With Teacher Molten Torch's guidance, I will definitely be able to make progress!"
Sushang grew anxious. "Stop it, Yanqing the Xiaowei! Don't let the Heliobus control your mind."
"Control my mind? You're overthinking it. A sword duel requires sincerity and righteousness. Please go all out."
"..."
However, Sushang did not fight with full strength. Even the lance in Stelle's hand was not enchanted with flames.
Sensing that several flying swords were actually attacking Huohuo and Guinaifen, the latter's expression instantly turned gloomy.
Her figure shot off the ground like a cannonball. In the blink of an eye, she appeared in front of them and blocked the attack.
"Have you gone mad?!"
Not only did the Ten Lords Commission Judge Huohuo get targeted, but they even attacked an ordinary person like Guinaifen?
Of course, Stelle was mainly cursing the Heliobus.
Sushang shouted: "Wake up, Yanqing the Xiaowei! We don't want to fight you!"
"Please forgive Yanqing's willfulness. Please accompany me for a few exchanges!"
The ear-piercing sound of weapons clashing rang out continuously. Sushang's figure was forced back to the edge of Dragonprayer Terrace and nearly fell off.
She gripped the Xuanyuan Sword tightly. Her tiger's mouth was somewhat numb.
"Since these people have no fighting spirit, why not just cut them down?" Molten Torch let out a cold shout.
"Cut them down…?"
Yanqing was stunned.
"It's just a sparring match."
It hasn't come to that, has it?
Molten Torch: "Victory brings life, defeat brings death. The law of the battlefield is no different from the law of the universe."
"Swordsmanship is the art of victory. Only the victorious sword can be passed down. All defeated swords are buried between desolate graves."
Yanqing hesitated: "But…"
Molten Torch: "Are you resisting me? Pointless mercy! If you cannot cast aside these distracting thoughts, how can you advance further? Raise your sword!"