086. The Innocent Victim of Misfortune

In the same darkness, Fu Yuanqing’s languid voice sounded, “Finally, we’re getting to the point.”

The longsword on his back left its sheath, sweeping forth with brilliant sword light and stirring a cold wind as he struck fiercely ahead!

The astonishing momentum was far beyond what should belong to the Qi Refining stage; it was as if the curtain of darkness had been torn open, letting in a spill of light.

In the dim, gray world, countless fist-sized clusters of gray mist drifted and swirled, roaming everywhere. When they encountered a living person, they would swarm forward in a rush.

“Wandering souls…” Fu Yuanqing laughed. “How interesting—so this is where they are!”

He withdrew his flying sword, casually striking down the souls as he walked in a certain direction.

As Fu Yuanqing shattered the darkness, Lingyu sensed light gradually appearing before her. An unfamiliar world unfolded at her feet.

It was a vast space, without sun or day, all shrouded in grayness like the moment the sun sets and night is about to fall, allowing one to barely make out the shapes ahead.

Countless gray mist clusters floated through this world; those nearby surged toward her.

“What is this?” she exclaimed in shock. As the mist drew closer, she saw faces within—men and women, young and old, so lifelike it was uncanny. These were what she had just slain?

Lingyu looked up at the thousands upon thousands of mist clusters swirling above, a chill creeping up her spine.

How revolting—why so many faces? And all contained within mist, each expression rigid and numb, both real and grotesque.

There was no time to ponder; the souls attacked relentlessly. She raised her sword, releasing sword energy to cut them down one by one.

Whatever these things were, she could sense their malice. Since that was so, she would kill them.

When struck by sword light, the mist clusters dissolved into gray fog, vanishing as if they had never existed.

Lingyu was puzzled. How odd—these things weren’t strong. She could slay them with a flick of her sword. Was this really the third trial? It couldn’t be; their strength was so feeble…

But that wasn’t the whole story. Though weak, their numbers were terrifying, and their aura was so strange—who would dare let them get close? Earlier, when there was no light, she felt immense pressure. But now she knew what they were. As long as she kept cutting them down, she could endure.

……

A quarter of an hour later, Fu Yuanqing finally left the realm of wandering souls and entered a narrow gorge. Jagged, bizarre rocks lined its sides, crisscrossing in complexity. He advanced slowly, more cautious than he had been among the souls.

At last, he stepped through the gorge, about to enter a stone pathway.

“Senior Brother Yuan, where do you think you’re going?” A stern-faced youth in purple stood above the sloping stone path, sword case on his back, looking coldly down at Fu Yuanqing below.

Fu Yuanqing started, slowly raising his head. He gazed at the youth for a long moment without speaking.

“What’s wrong—are you too shocked?” The youth’s eyes were icy, though his tone was calm.

Fu Yuanqing let out a breath and laughed, “Junior Brother Xu, after all these years, you’re still so handsome and elegant, your charm unparalleled.”

The youth in purple snorted, “If we’re speaking of appearances, Senior Brother Yuan used to be quite good too. Pity your looks have taken such a hit.”

“Oh?” Fu Yuanqing teased with a wink. “Junior Brother Xu’s so concerned with my appearance—could it be you fancy me? Sorry to disappoint, but women are my love; I can’t join you in dual cultivation.”

Though teased, the youth was neither annoyed nor angry, his tone still indifferent, “No matter. Just come back with me, Senior Brother.”

Fu Yuanqing laughed heartily, “So, Junior Brother Xu, is this an abduction?”

“Interpret it as you wish.” The youth replied coolly, shaking his arm. A sword light shot from his back, hovering at his side. Like all disciples of the Violet Sky Sword Sect, the light was purple, but lightning seemed to entwine it, crackling incessantly.

“Purple Thunder Sword!” Fu Yuanqing’s pupils contracted. “Sword Lord actually passed the Purple Thunder Sword to you!”

“What’s so surprising? If I wish, the entire Violet Sky Sword Sect will one day be mine. The Purple Thunder Sword is hardly worth mentioning.” His tone was flat, as if stating a trivial fact.

Fu Yuanqing’s expression turned peculiar, “Do you truly believe that, Junior Brother Xu?” Without waiting for a reply, he continued, “Are you pretending to be ignorant, or are you really so?”

The youth’s eyes narrowed, sharp as arrows as he stared at Fu Yuanqing.

Fu Yuanqing burst out laughing, “So, you’re only pretending! I pity you. People say you’re gifted—a genius among sword cultivators—but I know how much you sacrificed to hone your sword skills since childhood. And for what? All you’ve done is tailor a suit for someone else! Why bother? Junior Brother, all your efforts only fool yourself.”

The youth waited in silence until Fu Yuanqing finished, then suddenly smiled faintly, “Senior Brother Yuan seems to think he knows some hidden truth. Strange, isn’t it? I, Xu Zheng, am the Sword Lord’s sole heir, his true disciple, destined to inherit his position. What’s so shocking about that?”

Fu Yuanqing’s smile vanished, his voice oddly toned, “You’re Xu Zheng?”

The youth raised his eyebrows, continuing that contemptuous gaze, “Senior Brother Yuan, you’re not old—how are you so muddled? If I’m not Xu Zheng, who am I?”

That familiar disdainful look left Fu Yuanqing bewildered, “The Sword Lord let you come to Xingluo Sea? How can that be…”

“Hmph! Just because I accidentally injured a disciple, the Sword Lord made a fuss, nothing more!” Xu Zheng said indifferently. “I thought this assignment would be tedious, but meeting you, Senior Brother Yuan, has made things much less boring.”

He flicked his finger, the crackling of the Purple Thunder Sword ever-present, and said lazily, “Tell me—how do you want to die? Or you could come back with me willingly, that’s always an option.”

Fu Yuanqing’s gaze grew calm; before, his words were mocking but wary, now he relaxed, “Junior Brother Xu, you’ve only been in the Foundation Establishment stage three years, your cultivation just stabilized, while I’m a level above—already in mid-stage Foundation Establishment. What makes you think you can challenge me?”

Xu Zheng glanced at him with contempt, “Because I am Xu Zheng.” Without waiting for a retort, he swept his sleeve, and the Purple Thunder Sword turned into a streak of violet lightning, attacking Fu Yuanqing.

Facing the sword light, Fu Yuanqing dared not be careless. He formed a sign with his fingers, and the flying sword at his side also transformed into sword light, meeting the attack.

Fu Yuanqing’s sword was also purple, but brimming with vitality, quite unlike the Purple Thunder Sword. The two purple sword lights touched and separated instantly, each returning to its master’s hand.

Fu Yuanqing’s expression was grave, “Purple Thunder Sword—truly worthy of its name!”

Xu Zheng snorted coldly, “Is it only the Purple Thunder Sword?” With that, the sword light flew out again, its radiance swelling and suddenly splitting into three—upper, middle, and lower paths. The upper path struck straight for the face, the middle cut off retreat, the lower pressed toward the legs; each move was exquisitely executed.

Fu Yuanqing was shocked. Though his cultivation was higher, sword cultivation demands quick action and thunderous momentum. The Purple Thunder Sword was the Sword Lord’s cherished weapon, far superior to ordinary sword cultivators’ swords.

At this critical moment, his natal spirit sword spun rapidly, spreading sword light to encircle himself. When the Purple Thunder Sword arrived, its light formed armor around him.

“Puff! Puff! Puff!” Three sounds rang out—three strikes, all on target.

Fu Yuanqing’s whole body went numb, seeing the sword light return to Xu Zheng’s side. He moved his body slowly, realizing the sword energy had only grazed him. He let out a breath—he knew it: although Xu Zheng held the Purple Thunder Sword, his strength was insufficient to wield its full power. What was there to fear?

Thinking this, he chuckled, “Apologies, Junior Brother Xu. If we meet again, I’ll be sure to make amends—if, that is, we ever meet again!”

Before he finished, his flying sword was already attacking Xu Zheng, and at the same time, he darted like lightning toward the stone path.

To kill Xu Zheng was unthinkable; after all, he was only a Foundation Establishment cultivator. If he was still alive, it was because the Violet Sky Sword Sect didn’t care about a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. If he killed Xu Zheng, he would provoke the Sword Lord’s wrath, and a few Core Formation experts could easily deal with him. So he only needed to drive Xu Zheng back…

But then, he heard a cry—a voice not belonging to himself or Xu Zheng.

Distracted for a moment, a sharp sword energy sliced through, passing his shoulder with a “puff,” spilling fresh blood as he tumbled heavily to the ground.

Fu Yuanqing felt a piercing pain in his back, but didn’t dare hesitate. Sword light whirled around him, forming a tight shield as he retreated to his original position.

“Heh!” Xu Zheng said lazily, “I thought Senior Brother Yuan was formidable, but it turns out you’re no more than this!”

Fu Yuanqing had no time for verbal sparring. Turning, he saw a female cultivator with the appearance of a youth nearby. His brow furrowed, “So it’s you.” He had thought Xu Zheng had brought reinforcements, but it was just a small cultivator; taking that sword strike was truly undeserved!

Lingyu looked warily at him, then at Xu Zheng, forcing a smile, “Just passing by by chance, sirs, please continue!”

Fu Yuanqing suddenly recalled something and shouted, “Stop!” At the same time, his figure flashed, sending a strand of sword light to press against Lingyu’s throat.

Feeling the chill at her neck, Lingyu gasped, “I say, Senior Fu…even if I failed to recognize your greatness and offended you, we at least know each other, don’t we?”

Fu Yuanqing ignored her, looking at Xu Zheng, “Junior Brother Xu, surely you won’t stand by and watch her die?”

Xu Zheng’s brows drew together slightly as he glanced at Lingyu, “Senior Brother Yuan, have you lost your mind? Trying to threaten me with some random person?”

“Random? Not at all!” Fu Yuanqing’s gaze swept Lingyu’s face, “She still carries your sword energy. If you claim you have no connection, I won’t believe it!”

Sword energy? Xu Zheng’s eyes shifted, looking at Lingyu’s cheek, where a faded scar ran from cheekbone to chin.

“Oh…” He recalled that night, when he had casually swept out a sword energy and struck a youth, but his junior had said it was a female cultivator. He hadn’t cared and left.

“There’s a bit of a connection, but it’s irrelevant. Kill her if you like.” His tone was nonchalant.

Lingyu listened to their exchange, instantly realizing that the youth in purple was the real culprit who ruined her appearance. Seeing the murderous gleam in Fu Yuanqing’s eyes, she hurriedly cried out, “Senior Fu!” Facing the sword energy, she spoke cautiously, “Perhaps there’s been a misunderstanding? If this scar was left by that senior, it was because I offended him. If you threaten him with my life, isn’t that backwards…? It’s odd, this should be easy to understand—why can’t someone as clever as Senior Fu see it?”

Fu Yuanqing snorted, “No need to explain! I know Xu Zheng’s character well. Though he acts recklessly, he would never ruin a female cultivator’s appearance. If you truly offended him, he would not punish you this way. If you did not, then—he owes you compensation!”