Chapter 34 Young Master, I Was Wrong

Effortlessly killing the seven sword spirits, the Slaughter Arena did not imprison them. Since they were already souls, and had been dispersed, there was nothing to confine.

Immediately, Xia Jiuxuan beckoned, and seven dark azure sword cores floated above his palm.

“Fuse for me!”

With Xia Jiuxuan’s will surging, the seven sword cores began to spin, colliding against each other, finally bursting forth with a brilliant rainbow light. When the radiance faded, the seven sword cores had merged into one.

“My heavens, even soul sword cores can fuse into one!” Li Luoyan’s eyes widened.

Thankfully, she'd witnessed too many miracles today and was somewhat used to it; otherwise, the shock might have made her faint.

“The Young Master’s supreme abilities are truly beyond my imagination,” Li Luoyan murmured in awe.

“Don’t call me ‘senior’; from now on, address me as ‘Young Master’,” Xia Jiuxuan said, grasping the sword core in his hand.

“Yes, Young Master,” Li Luoyan replied, her heart leaping with joy. For such a legendary figure to allow her to address him as ‘Young Master’—that elevated her status by many generations. If she ever saw her own ancestor again, wouldn’t they be equals? The thought was thrilling. Throughout history, perhaps no Sword Emperor had ever served as a maid with such delight.

“What do you think of this sword core?” Xia Jiuxuan indicated the rainbow sword core for Li Luoyan to inspect.

What more could be said? The sword cores of seven sword spirits fused into one—what sword core in the world could rival this?

“Good, good, very good!” Li Luoyan nodded like a pecking chick.

She’d struck it rich! This sword core was far superior to her previous one.

“Indeed, I find it satisfactory as well.” Calmly, Xia Jiuxuan stowed the sword core away under Li Luoyan’s gaze.

“Hey, Young Master, isn’t that sword core meant for me?”

Xia Jiuxuan’s expression seemed to say, “I can’t believe you,” as he replied, “You want everything, but not your dignity, is that it?”

“Huh? I—I didn’t…” Li Luoyan was dumbfounded. So the sword core wasn’t for her after all. Her joy had been in vain. Why didn’t he follow the usual script? What should she do now?

“Stop standing there like a fool.”

With that, Xia Jiuxuan sat cross-legged, brushing dust from his thigh. “Sit down.”

Li Luoyan, out of sorts, mumbled an “Oh,” and promptly sat right on Xia Jiuxuan’s thigh.

“???”

Turning, she saw Xia Jiuxuan’s face dark as thunder.

Her heart fluttered with anxiety—hadn’t he patted his thigh for her to sit? Did she misunderstand again?

“Young Master, I—I was wrong…” Li Luoyan, reading the coldness in his eyes, slunk away to squat beside him.

“Sigh, Luoyan, you’ve been lonely for a hundred years; it’s not easy. I understand your urgency. But you must know, no matter how strong your desires, you must learn restraint. Many things pass if you endure them—do you understand?” Xia Jiuxuan’s words were earnest, and he secretly sighed, perhaps this is just charisma.

???

What am I supposed to endure? Nothing happened! I’m not that kind of person! Li Luoyan wanted to defend herself, but dared not. Senior, I’m really not what you think.

“Sit cross-legged, properly, and keep a little distance from me.”

!!!

Li Luoyan was numb—forget it, she needed his help.

A sword core was like a martial artist’s dantian; once shattered, there was almost no way to repair it. Yet, Li Luoyan had luck on her side, encountering Xia Jiuxuan.

Xia Jiuxuan’s will enveloped the ninth floor of the Sword Tower. Sword inscriptions surged from all directions. These inscriptions recorded the sword path of the tower’s master; once condensed, they formed a sword core.

Of course, not every sword cultivator could condense a sword core. In this martial region, even sword cultivators who reached the Saint realm were few and far between who could condense one. It showed that the tower’s master, in life, was a top expert even among Saints.

Xia Jiuxuan knew this well; otherwise, he wouldn’t have agreed to remake Li Luoyan’s sword core.

Countless sword inscriptions gathered into Xia Jiuxuan’s outstretched palm. In just half an hour, a sword core was formed.

This sword core was far inferior to the rainbow core he’d just fused, but since it wasn’t for himself, it would suffice.

“Channel your sword intent, attack the remnants of your old sword core until they are utterly destroyed.”

Li Luoyan’s sword core had merely exploded and fractured; some remnants still lingered in her body. She had to shatter them all to accept a new sword core.

Li Luoyan complied, directing her sword intent to assault the fragments within. It felt as if needles were being stabbed into her soul—a pain beyond description.

Grinding her teeth, sweat poured from her exquisite face, soaking her gauzy dress.

“Ah!”

At last, with a heart-rending cry, Li Luoyan collapsed, the remnants in her body completely purged.

“Bear with it, it’ll be over soon.”

Xia Jiuxuan understood all too well the agony of a shattered sword core—even he could barely endure it.

Li Luoyan, however, showed remarkable fortitude; apart from that final moment, she hadn’t uttered a sound.

So, Xia Jiuxuan regarded her a little more highly.

Next, with a strange technique, Xia Jiuxuan pushed the sword core toward Li Luoyan’s abdomen.

“Snap!”

With a forceful thrust, the sword core pierced her belly and entered her lower abdomen.

If an ordinary person tried such a thing, the sword core would inevitably backlash, shattering their internal organs.

Xia Jiuxuan employed a secret method, using his soul to simulate a thread of slaughter sword intent, fiercely suppressing the newly entered sword core.

In a brief span, the sword was completely subdued, taking root in Li Luoyan’s abdomen and sprouting a network of sword roots.

“Ha!”

Xia Jiuxuan let out a shout, his head aching as if it would explode, sweat streaming from his body.

It was a tremendous drain on his soul; his mind could hardly bear it.

Fortunately, the sword core was now fully stabilized, bonded with Li Luoyan’s flesh and blood.

“It’s done.” Xia Jiuxuan exhaled deeply, exhausted, collapsing with his head landing right on Li Luoyan’s chest.

“Hm? She actually has more than I thought. I underestimated her.”

Whatever. Too tired—might as well rest a moment.

…

“Second Father, Second Father, wake up!”

Xia Jiuxuan was roused by pain, opening his eyes to see Xia Ran’s chubby little hand striking his face.

“Me!!”

He sprang up, rubbing his cheek. This little one was no longer ordinary—did she need to use so much force?

Xia Jiuxuan’s face was swollen from the blows.

She had no sense of moderation.

“Boohoo, Second Father, I thought you were dead.”

“……”

Xia Jiuxuan was speechless, lifting Xia Ran up.

“I wasn’t going to die, but you nearly killed me—look, now I’m a pig’s head.”

“Giggle, Second Father, you’re so chubby!”

Xia Ran laughed through her tears, a bubble popping from her nose.

“Sigh.”

Xia Jiuxuan sighed quietly—only this little one dared slap his face.

Before long, Li Luoyan awoke as well.

Feeling the presence of the sword core, Li Luoyan was overwhelmed with joy, bowing repeatedly to Xia Jiuxuan.

“I’ve spent such effort to save you—be sure to honor our agreement, or else…” Xia Jiuxuan’s gaze grew cold. “You may sense it—I left a trace of sword intent in your core. It can save you, or it can kill you.”

In truth, Xia Jiuxuan had no ability to leave sword intent; he was merely intimidating her.

“Rest assured, Young Master, your kindness is as great as rebirth. Luoyan is grateful and will faithfully fulfill her promise, caring for the young miss and never daring to disobey.”

Li Luoyan spoke solemnly. To follow such a great figure—even as a beast of burden—was worthwhile.

“Good. Take some healing medicine and prepare to leave the tower with me shortly,” Xia Jiuxuan said.

“Yes, Young Master,” Li Luoyan replied, bowing.

“Ahem, change your clothes; they’re soaked—hardly proper.”

Xia Jiuxuan glanced her over, taking in everything.

“Ah!!! Young Master, I didn’t mean to—I was wrong, I…”

Caught so thoroughly, Li Luoyan wasn’t angry; instead, she instinctively began to apologize.