Chapter 690: Obtaining the Sword (Part 3)

Chapter 690: Chapter 462: Obtaining the Sword (Part 3)

The Thick Earth Alliance’s Nascent Soul was on defense while the Sharp Gold Alliance’s Nascent Soul led the attack. They coordinated seamlessly. Since all three were early-stage Nascent Souls with no great disparity in their realms, it was difficult for even the exceptionally powerful Nie Xinyuan to defeat them one by one in a short amount of time.

The situation would have remained a stalemate until the Cultivators in the military array were the first to falter, revealing an opening.

But the unexpected development with Cui Taihao and Bear Wind shattered their balance. At Cui Taihao’s cry for help, Nie Xinyuan frowned. He forced back the Thick Earth Alliance’s Nascent Soul with his sword and turned to provide aid.

“How did you manage to offend that Bear Barbarian? Did he have to come after you right now?”

With another slash of his sword, Nie Xinyuan pulled Cui Taihao into his Sword Array. But in the very next moment, Nie Xinyuan’s expression changed dramatically as he struck Cui Taihao, sending him flying.

“You? Why would you do this?”

Nie Xinyuan was overcome with disbelief. A gaping wound at his waist was emitting black vapor.

“Brother Nie, things have already come to this. There’s nothing left to say. Let’s end this with some dignity. If you’re willing, detach yourself from the military array and we can settle this above the clouds. Don’t make things difficult for the juniors below. Otherwise, when our three factions join forces, a great purge will be inevitable. Or, you could just keep this quiet, and the Illusion Sword Alliance will remain the White Mountain Sword Sect’s greatest ally.”

Silence. Bear Wind, who had caught up from behind, felt the unbearable tension. He crouched a short distance away, patiently waiting to see what choice the White Mountain Sword Cultivator would make.

After a few moments, Nie Xinyuan struck his sword, and it rang out as he began to sing:

“A sharp edge hidden, spirit deep within,

Its cold light shines upon a loyal soul.

I walk the mortal path alone,

My sword song shakes the nine heavens.

Gentlemen, come with me!”

With that, Nie Xinyuan voluntarily detached himself from the support of the eight-thousand-strong military array below. Alone with his sword, he soared high into the heavens.

Cui Taihao and the Nascent Souls from the Thick Earth and Sharp Gold alliances exchanged a glance, then followed him up. Bear Wind was the last to go. He hesitated, but finally, he too chose to ascend into the clouds.

The next moment, the sky above erupted with lightning and thunder. The roars of dragons and the screams of swords filled the air, and the sun and moon lost their light.

……

「Two days later.」

Fang Qingyuan and Bear Wind had returned to the Qingyuan Sect. In stark contrast to Fang Qingyuan’s good mood, Bear Wind was sullen. He went back to his Quiet Chamber, activated the Array, and instructed Qiqi not to disturb him for the next ten years unless the very survival of the Qingyuan Sect was at stake.

Though completely bewildered by her patriarch’s command, Qiqi agreed to it. Thus, when Fang Qingyuan came by for his customary visit, she turned him away at the door.

“My patriarch said he won’t be seeing you for the next several years.”

Fang Qingyuan pursed his lips. This was a pain. ‘How can Bear Wind be so proud and difficult?’

Fang Qingyuan knew what was bothering Bear Wind. The beast had his own pride. Though he was one of the Ancient Beasts of the Wilderness, on certain matters, his principles were even stricter than those of humans.

Perhaps Nie Xinyuan’s final, heroic lament had been too much for Bear Wind to accept. He was displeased with the role Fang Qingyuan had played in the affair. Yet, he also understood that the outcome was beneficial to the Qingyuan Sect and to his own descendants. That was why he was so conflicted, and why he wanted nothing to do with Fang Qingyuan for the time being.

‘Fine,’ Fang Qingyuan thought, understanding Bear Wind’s position. ‘But being in White Mountain means adapting to its ways. The most I can promise is not to be the one to actively harm others.’

Fang Qingyuan put the matter with Bear Wind aside for now and entered his Immortal Mansion. There, suppressed under layers upon layers of Arrays, a Magical Artifact thrashed and trembled, letting out a sorrowful wail.

Before this Magic Sword stood the Bee Queen, Fang Ruoxi, constantly recording something with a brush and paper.