After the breakthrough, just to be safe, Chu Xinghui spent several more days in the cave, stabilizing his energy until everything settled.

Finally, when his spiritual energy was fully stabilized, he left the cave.

The mountain had already become much colder, and a thick layer of fallen leaves covered the ground outside his cave.

When he first entered seclusion, it had still been summer, but now it was late autumn.

Outside the cave, only the autumn wind stirred the yellow leaves, but there was no sign of Xie Liufeng.

Though he knew this was perfectly normal, Chu Xinghui couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

*

Meanwhile, deep in Changyang Mountain, Xie Liufeng was using the black bird to lure out a strange cloud of black mist that had appeared from who knows where.

He was preparing to investigate what the mist was when he suddenly sensed something. He casually tossed the black bird in front of the mist to hold it off, then took out a communication talisman to send a message to Chu Xinghui.

Chu Xinghui, still a bit disappointed, received the talisman and immediately responded: “Xie Liufeng.”

Xie Liufeng asked: “How is it? You’ve finished your retreat?”

Chu Xinghui replied: “I’ve finished my retreat, but I didn’t see you.”

His emphasis on the last part was obvious, and Xie Liufeng immediately apologized: “Sorry, I miscalculated. I wasn’t able to be here when you finished.”

He had already dealt with the nearby seal and was planning to wait for Chu Xinghui in front of the cave, but the black bird had suddenly gone mad and insisted on flying into the mountains. He had no choice but to follow it to investigate.

… And that’s when he found this strange creature.

Chu Xinghui, sounding calm and reasonable, replied: “It’s fine. I didn’t need to see you right away.”

After all, it was perfectly natural for people not to be constantly together. Everyone needed their own life, and even though Xie Liufeng seemed free most of the time, he, too, had his own matters to attend to.

His breakthrough wasn’t exactly a big deal either. Xie Liufeng didn’t have to wait for him.

Xie Liufeng, amused by his tone, replied teasingly: “Well, how about a gift when you return to celebrate your breakthrough?”

Chu Xinghui asked: “Did you make it?”

Xie Liufeng nodded, smiling: “Mm, I made it myself.”

Chu Xinghui was immediately cheered up, responding with a soft “Mm.”

As they chatted, the black bird struggled against the black mist, its tail feathers scorched by the mist. The bird flapped frantically, screeching in panic.

Hearing the chaos on the other end, Chu Xinghui couldn’t help but ask: “What are you doing?”

Xie Liufeng turned around to check on the scene and casually grabbed the black bird, holding it still: “Nothing. I’m just nearby. Come find me directly.”

Having been tricked by Xie Liufeng so many times, Chu Xinghui was well aware of his tone when he was trying to deceive someone.

He could tell that Xie Liufeng was probably up to something.

But still, he quickly mounted his sword and headed in that direction.

*

By the time Chu Xinghui arrived, Xie Liufeng was trying to force the black bird to face the mist again.

The bird, half its feathers singed, refused to cooperate, and they were locked in a tug-of-war.

Seeing Chu Xinghui approach, Xie Liufeng naturally stepped back behind him: “Just in time. Go fight it.”

Chu Xinghui had just broken through, so this would be a perfect opportunity to familiarize himself with his new abilities in a battle with some pressure. The black mist was perfect for that.

The black bird, seeing that Xie Liufeng finally decided to target someone else, immediately scrambled behind Chu Xinghui.

Chu Xinghui glanced at the black mist, which clearly looked too much for someone in the Golden Core stage to handle. He looked back at the pair of them, puzzled: “Me?”

Xie Liufeng nodded confidently: “Yes, after all, I’m just a normal person without spiritual power.”

The black bird also chirped in agreement, as though emphasizing that it, too, was just an ordinary bird without any spiritual power.

Chu Xinghui: “…”

He couldn’t help but wonder if the desire to see Xie Liufeng during his heart demon trial had all been some sort of illusion.

Xie Liufeng, with an innocent expression, gazed at him.

Chu Xinghui had no choice but to draw his sword and meet the attack.

The black mist, Chu Xinghui had no idea how it had formed, was about two stories high. Inside it, spiritual power and evil energy were mixed, along with some blood and flesh fragments of demon beasts. The strong smell of blood could be smelled from a distance. It moved like some kind of sentient soft-bodied creature, writhing in all directions, attempting to attack every living being nearby.

Just one encounter, and Chu Xinghui immediately felt an intense sense of oppression.

He did not retreat but instead took the initiative to strike out with his sword.

Upon being attacked, the black mist immediately shifted its focus to Chu Xinghui.

After several exchanges, Chu Xinghui inevitably fell into a disadvantageous position.

The strength of the black mist was far greater than he had imagined, at least on the level of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

Xie Liufeng observed the battle for a while before quietly moving his hands.

The black mist was indeed something Chu Xinghui couldn’t handle on his own. Training and familiarizing himself with his new realm was one thing, but he could not leave everything for Chu Xinghui to deal with.

Chu Xinghui suddenly felt the pressure lighten considerably, and he couldn’t help but glance back at Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng had already predicted his movement and smiled, saying: “Don’t look at me, focus.”

Chu Xinghui pursed his lips and refocused on dealing with the enemy.

Half an hour later, the black mist suddenly dissipated.

Chu Xinghui’s spiritual power was almost completely drained, and his body was on the verge of collapsing, nearly falling to his knees.

After this battle, the stagnation in his spiritual power from his recent breakthrough had completely disappeared.

Xie Liufeng moved quickly and caught him.

At the same time, a stone block that had been enveloped by the black mist exploded with the wave of residual energy, revealing an entrance to a cave.

Inside the cave, a dense mixture of ice-element spiritual power and intense evil energy swirled together, emitting a disturbing aura.

The black bird excitedly flew forward, circling the cave entrance, then turned back to Chu Xinghui, chirping and gesturing.

It seemed to be urging Chu Xinghui to enter quickly.

Chu Xinghui sheathed his sword and looked back at Xie Liufeng.

Xie Liufeng nodded and helped him up: “Since we’re here, let’s take a look.”

Chu Xinghui had already recovered, but when he glanced at Xie Liufeng’s hand supporting him, he didn’t speak and subtly leaned a little closer to Xie Liufeng.

The black bird had already darted into the cave.

The two followed the bird inside.

The cave was far larger than they had imagined, filled with all kinds of weapons brimming with evil energy. It was impossible to see the end.

The scene before them was undeniably shocking.

Chu Xinghui released his divine sense to scan.

The entire area of the cave was almost as large as the entire Changyang Mountain.

After walking for a while, Chu Xinghui accidentally kicked something.

He looked down and saw a half-broken stone tablet with some fragmented and faint characters engraved on it.

The characters weren’t the current script used in the cultivation world; they appeared to be ancient characters that had been in use long ago.

Xie Liufeng, who had casually studied these ancient characters, recognized a few and briefly deciphered them.

[…Deceived by greed… The Book of Fate… deeply feeling the weight of their sins, they collected nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine cursed blades, seeking this divine sword to seal them here, hoping to dispel the evil energy and slightly alleviate their sins…]

It seemed that the entire cave had been created by someone seeking atonement.

Xie Liufeng clicked his tongue: “Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine cursed blades, he probably gathered every cursed weapon in the entire cultivation world.”

Chu Xinghui noticed another unfamiliar term: “What is the ‘Book of Fate’?”

Xie Liufeng briefly explained: “It’s an artifact that records the paths of everyone in this world, both those already walked and those yet to come. It doesn’t belong to this world, but because of some past events, a few people here are aware of its existence.”

Chu Xinghui didn’t ask further.

While they were talking, the black bird had already shot like an arrow to the altar at the center of the cave.

The inscription on the stone tablet clearly indicated that the black bird’s true form was not a cursed blade. Instead, this sword was likely the guardian item that sealed the cursed blades.

Chu Xinghui lifted his gaze and saw a frost-white long sword standing silently on the altar.

The black bird was overjoyed, immediately swooping down and circling around its own form before happily rubbing its head against the sword.

The stark contrast between the black and white was striking.

Chu Xinghui fell into deep thought.

He found it hard to imagine why a spirit born from such a beautiful sword would manifest itself as a black bird.

Xie Liufeng pulled Chu Xinghui to the altar and gestured toward the sword: “Take it.”

Chu Xinghui stood still and did not move.

Xie Liufeng asked: “What’s wrong?”

Chu Xinghui replied: “This sword is the guardian item of this place.”

If he took the sword away directly, without the guardian item, the cursed blades sealed here might be released… It would likely bring about even more trouble.

Xie Liufeng seriously analyzed: “This sword has a high rank and is very compatible with your spiritual power. It would be a powerful asset for you. You should think carefully—if you abandon this sword, you might never find a sword more suited to your soul’s destiny.”

It was indeed a very regrettable matter.

But Chu Xinghui still said: “Let’s go back.”

If they could find a replacement for this sword’s guardian item or a way to destroy all the cursed blades in the cave, they could return later.

Suddenly, Xie Liufeng called out to him: “Wait.”

Chu Xinghui turned back, puzzled.

Xie Liufeng smiled at him: “Look.”

In the next instant, an incredibly powerful ice-element spiritual force spread throughout the cave, and the cursed blades hidden within it hummed for a moment before all shattered, turning to dust in the spiritual power.

It was just some cursed blades that had been suppressed for who knows how many years, their power already greatly diminished. They could be destroyed directly, no need for any guardian item.

Xie Liufeng checked around, making sure none were left, then turned to Chu Xinghui: “See? It’s all taken care of.”

Chu Xinghui paused, his breath momentarily halted: “Some people were just saying they’re still ordinary people without spiritual power.”

Xie Liufeng pretended not to understand and, with a serious expression, said: “Is it possible that these cursed blades had been worn down over years of suppression, and just reached their limit, thus shattering into powder?”

His long hair and sleeves still fluttered in the wind stirred by the spiritual power, making it hard to take him seriously.

Chu Xinghui stared at him, not knowing what to say. He could only reply: “What a coincidence.”

Xie Liufeng smiled brightly at him, clearly amused: “Yes, truly a coincidence.”

 

Support translation: