For an entire day, Ling Xiao simply held Ye Qingchan, sitting atop the Heavenly Sword Peak, watching the sea of clouds above.
This scene involuntarily reminded Ye Qingchan of the time they spent together in the Northern Wastes.
Back then, she was just a False Spirit realm ant, but the happiness was real.
The Young Master had only her by his side.
For a moment, she missed that simplicity and comfort intensely.
But such is life; happiness is always temporary.
And from the very beginning, Ye Qingchan understood that a peerless young master like Ling Xiao couldn't possibly have only her as the woman by his side.
But it was only after coming to the Sacred Dynasty that she realized understanding was one thing; acceptance was another.
"Young Master, are you leaving again?" Only when a glimmer of light began to brighten the horizon did Ye Qingchan reluctantly turn to look at Ling Xiao, her eyes already slightly reddened.
She hadn't told him about the unease in her heart.
Or perhaps she still refused to believe that anything in this world could separate her from Ling Xiao.
Nian Qingyun couldn't do it, and the other presence within her own body couldn't either.
"Yes, there are many matters to attend to recently. But Qingchan, with your current cultivation speed, I believe you'll soon be able to stay by my side." Ling Xiao smiled faintly, took out a few bottles of medicinal pills from his embrace, and handed them to Ye Qingchan.
"Cultivate diligently. We must all strive with all our might just to live." After speaking, he gently kissed Ye Qingchan's cheek, turned, and walked back the way he came.
"Young Master..." Ye Qingchan clenched her jade-like hands, the tears in her eyes finally flowing unrestrained.
I will. Qingchan will definitely cultivate diligently.
Young Master, I will definitely go to your side. I never want to endure this kind of fear and longing again!
"Let's go, Hua Hua. Let's go see that cheap younger brother of mine." A cold smile curled Ling Xiao's lips. He took a decisive step forward, and Hua Hua's figure instantly materialized in mid-air, carrying him swiftly towards the direction of the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land.
---
Only after his aura completely vanished did the elders of the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Especially Xu Jibo, who wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and turned to the disciples beside him, saying, "Starting tomorrow, your master intends to enter seclusion for cultivation. Do not disturb me, no matter who comes!"
To think that he, the esteemed Grand Elder of the Heavenly Sword Immortal Sect, had been driven to such a state by a mere Breakthrough Realm youngster.
But there was no other way! He only had three jars of that immortal wine left. For a man who loved wine as much as life itself, this was all the joy he had left for the rest of his days!
I used to have lots and lots of happiness, but since meeting Ling Xiao, I became his source of happiness!
Dammit!
---
Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land.
Atop the Sword Peak, a thousand people gathered, their figures flickering and bustling.
The Holy Master of Ten Thousand Swords stood before the main hall, hands behind his back, looking at the tall, straight figure of a young man in white robes before him, a trace of anticipation hidden in his eyes.
When he promised to accept Ling Tian as a true disciple of the Sword Land, it wasn't solely out of consideration for the Ling Clan's reputation.
It was because this Second Young Master of the Ling Clan truly possessed all the qualities of a peerless sword cultivator.
Resolute and unwavering, persistent, regarding the sword as supreme.
Moreover, the Holy Master of Ten Thousand Swords faintly sensed a trace of the Great Dao's aura about him.
Although Ling Tian lacked a Dantian Sea, just as the Holy Master had said before, as long as one has a sword in their heart, they can slay immortals with a wave of their hand.
Therefore, today he ordered Ling Tian to tread the Path of Immortals also to see if his talent truly deserved the title of Holy Land True Disciple.
When the family business is large, people's hearts become complicated.
If Ling Tian was truly as useless as the rumors said, once he assumed the position of True Disciple, it would inevitably provoke much dissatisfaction.
"Heh heh, Junior Sister Xun'er, you've come too." From the end of the square, a figure in dark robes walked over slowly, followed by several attendants, his demeanor clearly that of a stereotypical villainous stepping stone.
"Senior Brother Yu." Ye Xun'er nodded slightly, a trace of faint impatience on her exquisite, pale pretty face.
These past few days, she had heard many rumors that this Senior Brother Yu often bullied Junior Brother Ling Tian, forbidding him from sleeping or eating, even withholding his cultivation resources privately.
Given Yu Yuntian's status within the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land, doing these things naturally came easily to him, without a second thought.
Moreover, Ling Tian himself had no cultivation base, and many disciples within the sect held strong objections to his promotion to True Disciple.
Seeing the bruises on the young man's face and arms, Ye Xun'er had asked him about them, her heart aching.
And guess what?
That fool Ling Tian actually said he fell!!
Seven years of endurance. This Second Young Master of the Ling Clan had lived in constant fear and apprehension.
His life held in someone else's hands, his identity and status unrecognized.
All he could do was endure.
He vowed that one day, when his sword pierced the heavens, he would make all those who had bullied and humiliated him kneel before him and kowtow in apology.
Although that day seemed distant, Ling Tian believed it would come eventually.
"Heh heh, Junior Sister, don't take this the wrong way, but you should really advise Junior Brother Ling Tian properly. He is, after all, the Second Young Master of the Ling Clan's main bloodline. If he were to die here in our Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land, wouldn't that be very troublesome?" Yu Yuntian smiled wryly, a feigned look of regret on his face.
Are you joking?
Although the Path of Ten Thousand Swords contained heaven-defying opportunities, how could someone without any cultivation base possibly covet them?
This Ling Tian was really something. Couldn't he just stay in the Ling Clan and be a useless idler? Why did he have to come to their Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land to show off? Wasn't he just seeking death?
"Hey, Senior Brother Yu, you worry too much. This Ling Tian has no foundation in the Ling Clan. Even his older brother, Ling Xiao, constantly wishes for his death. If he really dies on the Path of Immortals, the Ling Clan might even thank us." Many Holy Land disciples behind Yu Yuntian immediately sneered.
Before coming, Yu Yuntian had already instructed them.
No matter what, they had to make Ye Xun'er realize that the noble Young Master Ling in her eyes was nothing but a useless good-for-nothing with no prestige in his own clan.
That way, she should understand who her destined match truly was.
"Oh? There's such a thing? I always thought Junior Brother Ling Tian held considerable prestige in the Ling Clan. He is, after all, a young master of the main bloodline." Yu Yuntian furrowed his brow and sighed lightly. "Ah, Junior Sister Xun'er, I never expected Ling Tian to be such a vain person. Clearly a, why must he put on the act of a peerless young master? Ah... young people these days will go to any lengths to please girls."
"Yes, Senior Brother! I heard that a few days ago, the young master of the neighboring Iron Hammer Sect, in order to pursue his senior martial sister, went so far as to borrow spirit stones from the Black Tiger Gang to rent a demon beast, the Roaring Black Tiger, to use as a mount. And then..."
"And then what happened?"
"And then, just as that Black Tiger ran up to the Iron Hammer Sect, the sect's protective formation mistook it for a monster and hammered it to death."
"Dammit! So what did he do then?"
"What could he do? Rumor has it that the Iron Hammer young master even sold his life-bound hammer, but it still wasn't enough to cover the spirit stones. He's still working as a menial laborer for the Black Tiger Gang to pay off his debt."
"And what lesson does this story teach us?"
"Don't pretend to be mighty, or you'll get beaten up!"
"Hahahaha!" The group of Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land disciples erupted in laughter, especially Yu Yuntian, whose eyes held a clear trace of mockery and sarcasm.
Not far away, Ling Tian clenched his fists. How could he not hear the sarcasm and ridicule these senior brothers were directing at him?
So be it. Today, I will use this Path of Immortals to prove my peerless sword bearing!!