Chapter 44: Su Hongde’s Astonishment

“Young friend, wait for me!” Su Hongde hurriedly chased after him.

“What is it? Are you planning to snatch it?” Xia Jiuxuan turned around, fixing Su Hongde with a calm gaze.

“Do you take me for such a man?” Su Hongde’s aged face brimmed with pride. “I am the former Head of the Nirvana Institute—how could I possibly lay hands on a mere fledgling like you?”

In truth, it wasn’t that Su Hongde didn’t want to seize it, but that he simply couldn’t. Whoever opened the Supreme Mystery Cave would become the rightful master of all the treasures within; unless the owner willingly bestowed them, no one else could take them by force. Even killing the owner would only cause the treasures to self-destruct.

“Then that’s good,” Xia Jiuxuan replied, turning away impassively.

“Wait a moment.” Su Hongde rushed forward, blocking Xia Jiuxuan’s path. “Young friend, consider this: if you give me the Supreme Mystery Token, I will teach you the true Thirteen Swords of the Supreme Mystery. How about it?”

At this, Xia Jiuxuan laughed. You, with your half-baked skills, want to teach me swordsmanship?

His eyes filled with disdain. “Old man, you think too highly of yourself. That so-called sword technique you practice is worthless in my eyes.”

He spoke the truth. Such a low-level sword art was as worthless as mud to him. If his cultivation and body allowed, any random sword technique he performed would be a thousand times stronger than this rubbish.

Hearing this, Su Hongde’s expression finally darkened. “Boy, I can overlook your arrogance toward me, but I hope you will not utter a single word of disrespect toward the sword techniques left by the Supreme Mystery Patriarch. Otherwise, I will not be so lenient.”

Throughout his life, Su Hongde revered the Supreme Mystery Patriarch above all. This boy’s repeated insults toward the patriarch’s sword arts were truly unbearable.

Xia Jiuxuan shrugged at Su Hongde’s stern gaze. “Fine, fine, I was wrong.”

Su Hongde snorted softly. “That’s more like it. You do have some skill, but you’re far too arrogant. Restrain yourself. If I’m ever in a good mood, perhaps I’ll take you as a personal disciple.”

Xia Jiuxuan rolled his eyes. In his heart, he scoffed: You? Worthy?

“Hey, old man, enough with the nonsense. Send me out of here, and while you’re at it, help me deal with someone.”

He was done debating the Thirteen Swords.

“With that attitude, I don’t feel like helping you,” Su Hongde shot him a glance.

“You just took so many of my techniques, and now you want to go back on your word?” Xia Jiuxuan raised an eyebrow.

Su Hongde started, having forgotten that detail. “Well… uh, I did forget for a moment. But rest assured, I’ll guarantee your safety in the Nirvana Institute. However, there’s one condition…”

“What is it?” Xia Jiuxuan frowned, a sense of foreboding rising within him.

“The condition is, I have to get out of here first. If I can’t leave, how can I protect you?” Su Hongde spread his hands, looking helpless.

“Are you kidding me? You’re a Transcendent, and you’re telling me these chains can hold you?”

Su Hongde shook his head with a wry smile. “These chains, of course, can’t restrain me. I am shackled by my own heart.”

Xia Jiuxuan made a gagging gesture. “Spare me.”

Su Hongde grew serious. “I’m not lying. Twenty years ago, I was defeated by another’s sword. I swore a solemn oath: until I fully comprehend the Thirteen Swords of the Supreme Mystery, I will not take a single step out of this cave. So… you’ll have to wait. It won’t be long—perhaps ten years, or eight, and I’ll have mastered it.”

Xia Jiuxuan immediately retorted, “You useless old man.”

Su Hongde was so angry he pointed at Xia Jiuxuan. “Show some respect, boy. Don’t think you can act without restraint just because I took your things.”

Xia Jiuxuan sneered, “If you can’t comprehend a measly sword technique in twenty years, what are you if not a useless old man?”

No sooner had the words left his lips than Su Hongde’s terrifying aura erupted. Xia Jiuxuan had insulted the Thirteen Swords again—Su Hongde couldn’t bear it and was ready to teach him a lesson.

Sensing the oppressive pressure, Xia Jiuxuan quickly raised a hand. “Don’t get angry, old man. I’ll teach you the Thirteen Swords myself. I guarantee you’ll master it within half an hour.”

He knew the old man was truly enraged, and wanted nothing to do with the wrath of a Transcendent at such close range.

Su Hongde’s fury only grew. This brat dared to use the word “teach”? That was the greatest insult to the Supreme Mystery Patriarch.

With a flick of his finger, Su Hongde sent out a strand of sword intent, transforming into a sword shadow that shot toward Xia Jiuxuan’s shoulder.

Seeing there was no way out, Xia Jiuxuan immediately summoned his black broken sword.

“Return to Origin—Break the One!”

Xia Jiuxuan’s sword collided with the strand of sword intent in front of him.

Bang!

The sword intent exploded, and the black broken sword was sent flying. Xia Jiuxuan himself was knocked back.

At that moment, Su Hongde flicked his finger again, releasing a second strand of sword intent.

Xia Jiuxuan retreated even farther and softly intoned, “Ten Thousand Swords Soar.”

Instantly, the black broken sword spun through the air, tracing flawless arcs of sword shadows. The entire space seemed to become a world of swords.

Clang, clang, clang…

Su Hongde’s sword intent clashed with the myriad sword shadows, the metallic resonance echoing without end.

In the end, Xia Jiuxuan’s black broken sword was struck away.

“Impossible…”

Seeing this, Su Hongde’s face flushed with excitement.

He was overwhelmed.

“Return to Origin—Break the One, how can it be like this? Ten Thousand Swords Soar, how can it wield such power…”

He muttered to himself.

He sensed that the youth’s sword intent was faint, but the swordplay itself was flawless—so flawless it defied imagination.

The first two forms of the Supreme Mystery’s Thirteen Swords had been executed to perfection by this youth.

If this boy were of the same level as himself, he would probably be slain in the blink of an eye!

Xia Jiuxuan sheathed his sword with a faint smile. “Well? Do you still think I’ve insulted your Supreme Mystery Patriarch?”

Su Hongde shuddered violently, a chill running through him. “How did you do it?” he demanded.

He simply couldn’t fathom it. The boy had easily broken into the inheritance cave, and then casually mastered the Thirteen Swords?

Who would believe it?

But the facts were before his eyes. He, Su Hongde, had seen it with his own eyes.

“You’d best not ask what you shouldn’t. All you need to tell me is: do you wish to learn the sword technique or not?” Xia Jiuxuan said calmly.

“Yes, yes, yes! Young friend, I am convinced. I want to learn!” Su Hongde nodded repeatedly.

“But I won’t teach you for nothing. What will you give me in return?” asked Xia Jiuxuan.

“What?” Su Hongde was taken aback. Why did this boy want to trade for everything? Did he not care for sentiment? “What do you want? As long as I can offer it, it’s yours.”

Xia Jiuxuan pondered for a moment, then said, “It’s quite simple. From now on, you’ll be my servant. If you behave, perhaps I’ll promote you to a registered disciple in the future.”

Su Hongde was dumbstruck.

He, the former Head of the Nirvana Institute, to be this boy’s servant? What an insult!

And then—if he performed well, he might be promoted to a registered disciple? This was outrageous…

Su Hongde wanted to curse, but suppressed the urge. He thought to himself, Heh, you’ve got some skills, but I’m not stupid. I’ll pretend to agree, and once I master the Thirteen Swords, I can renege any time. What could you possibly do to me?

With this in mind, Su Hongde agreed readily. “Fine. If you can help me fully comprehend the Thirteen Swords of the Supreme Mystery, I’ll accept your terms.”

Xia Jiuxuan could guess what Su Hongde was thinking—agreeing on the surface, but not in his heart.

But what did it matter?

So long as he kept his promise for now, the Nirvana Institute would soon pose no threat to him at all. What need would he have for such a servant? If Su Hongde refused to leave, he could simply drive him away.

“A teachable man. Sword, come—watch closely!” Xia Jiuxuan called out, the black broken sword flying into his grasp once more.

He leapt into the air, brandishing his sword, and performed the Thirteen Swords of the Supreme Mystery flawlessly.

Of course, he demonstrated only the forms, not the sword intent—his body could not withstand it otherwise.

As the perfect sword shadows danced in the air, Su Hongde was nearly beside himself with excitement.

So this was the true profundity of the Thirteen Swords!

After a hundred breaths, Su Hongde fell silent, his mind repeatedly replaying Xia Jiuxuan’s demonstration.

Within half an hour, Su Hongde suddenly opened his eyes and looked skyward.

“I finally understand, ha ha ha, wuu wuu wuu…”

Laughing and weeping, a surge of sword intent burst from him, shattering the chains that bound him.

He straightened, his figure rising, the wrinkles on his face fading until he looked twenty or thirty years younger.

A sword hum split the air, and a scarlet sword flew from the distance into his hand.

In that moment, he hovered aloft, sword in hand, as if a Sword Saint had descended to the mortal realm.

“Thank you, Master.” Su Hongde embraced his sword and bowed deeply to Xia Jiuxuan.

“You do have some aptitude,” Xia Jiuxuan nodded.

“Thank you for your praise, Master,” Su Hongde said sincerely.

“I have nothing more to say. From now on, just assist me from the shadows. Unless necessary, do not reveal our connection; let all proceed as normal,” Xia Jiuxuan instructed.

“Understood.” Su Hongde nodded.

Xia Jiuxuan intended to keep Su Hongde hidden as a trump card for critical moments.

“You can leave now. Take me with you, and grant me unrestricted access to the Nirvana Institute. As for the reason, make something up yourself,” Xia Jiuxuan said.

“No problem at all.”

Su Hongde was now a different man, the decrepitude gone, his aura greatly transformed.

“Very well. I have nothing further. But let me remind you: some opportunities, once lost, will be regretted for a lifetime.”

With that, Xia Jiuxuan turned away. Behind him, the black broken sword soared into the air.

Shua shua shua…

The broken sword spun in the air, as if an invisible Sword God were performing the most mysterious techniques.

“What… what sword art is this? It’s far mightier than the Thirteen Swords!” Su Hongde stared intently. At just a glance, he felt as if his very soul was about to be pierced by that supreme sword technique.

He hurriedly shut his eyes, not daring to look further, his heart shaken beyond measure.

This sword art could only be performed by someone surpassing the Sword Emperor.

Yet Xia Jiuxuan had only simulated it to leave Su Hongde with a vision—a dream of becoming the ultimate sword cultivator.

“So this is opportunity…”

Lost in thought, Su Hongde opened his eyes and murmured to himself.

That sword art had left an indelible impression on him, so much so that, for the first time, he made a decision he’d never dared imagine—he would follow his master in earnest, not just in pretense.