Chapter 1575 - 173: The Sword Returned to Its Owner, The True Culprit Revealed

Chapter 1575: Chapter 173: The Sword Returned to Its Owner, The True Culprit Revealed

Zhou Hang saw Ran Xiushu acting like this, yet did not lose his temper. He smiled, cupped his hands in salute, and said apologetically, "It was Zhou who spoke too much. Ran Daoist, please don’t take offense."

After this matter was set aside, he sensibly stopped asking further, turned the topic, and began chatting broadly about lands from Southern Heaven to the South Sea.

After this round of conversation, Ran Xiushu was somewhat surprised.

He found that this man’s knowledge was extensive; on affairs of the Nine Provinces he could speak a thing or two, and even some ancient secrets he stated with convincing certainty. Moreover, when he spoke, it made others feel as if bathed in a spring breeze, unconsciously drawn in, far surpassing any Cultivator he had dealt with before. He could not help secretly thinking, "No wonder they sent this man out—his glib tongue is truly remarkable."

Once he had finished settling the Yuxiao entourage in the Yi Pavilion, he hurried over to Qinghong Palace to report.

Ying Chunqiu saw him enter and said coldly, "I heard that you boasted you would swordfight with the envoy from Yuxiao?"

Ran Xiushu felt slightly embarrassed, lowered his head, and muttered, "If I didn’t, how could I shut his mouth? Master, rest assured, your disciple only meant to scare him a bit. The Yuxiao Envoy certainly wouldn’t dare run wild within our Shaoqing Territory."

Ying Chunqiu’s expression sank. He said, "And you still think you are in the right? Do you know that doing this sets a bad precedent? Is my Shaoqing from now on not to send envoys to Yuxiao?"

Ran Xiushu curled his lips. This master of his always worried too much. Since when did the Shaoqing Sect act while needing to look at others’ faces?

Ying Chunqiu was also just knocking him on the head a bit. All under Shaoqing’s gate have a spirit that refuses to be bound, especially this Disciple who cultivates Extreme Sword, which places utmost importance on acting as the heart desires. If he had been present at the time, he likely would not have spoken up to stop him. Seeing Ran Xiushu fall silent, he softened his tone and said, "If they ask again about the Mingcang Envoy, just brush it off as you see fit. Do your best to soothe people from both sects, and don’t let them come face to face."

Ran Xiushu laughed and said, "Master, rest easy. I doubt they will have the courage to ask further."

Though the envoy from Yuxiao Sect had arrived, it made not the slightest impact on Zhang Yan.

Ever since obtaining the Jade Scroll, he had been in his Cave Mansion every day, deducing the Erosion Text. Unconsciously, more than twenty days had passed.

The full Erosion Text was not long, a little over a thousand characters. At the start, deciphering it went smoothly, but the further he went, the more obscure it became; often he needed a whole day’s effort to unravel barely a dozen characters.

Seeing that only a few days were left, with still a hundred or so characters yet undeduced, he dared not relax at all, throwing his entire Heart Power into it.

In truth, for Cultivators of his current realm, when they view the Erosion Text, most can only read a tenth or so before the time limit is reached and the Daoist Books are taken back by the sect. Those able to read from start to finish and have some understanding are only the Cave Heaven True Masters.

Now, relying on the Broken Jade to deduce, he was just barely able to reach the end.

Another three days passed. When he traced the final stroke, before he had time to look it over once more, the Jade Scroll suddenly snapped shut, turned into a streak of rainbow light, and flew out of the Cave Mansion.

At the very moment it departed, he was startled to discover that no matter how he tried to recall the previously seen Erosion Text, he could not remember it at all, as if he had never seen it.

Only the Daoist Books he had deciphered and the writings left by his predecessors remained clear, with not a single word forgotten.

Inwardly he mused that this must be due to some profound Dao Technique cast by Master Qinghong.

Fortunately, he had long anticipated this. If one could simply use a Mnemonic Technique to memorize it, then the one-month limit would be a joke; thus he had never entertained such a thought.

With his present cultivation and understanding of the Erosion Text, his interpretation of this spell had already reached its limit and could go no further—unless, in the future, his Cultivation stepped into a higher realm and he flipped through this Secret Volume again; only then would he have a deeper grasp.

As he was thinking this, a voice suddenly came from outside the Cave Mansion: "Since I have agreed with Sect Leader Qin to pass you a True Skill, I will not deceive you. If you are fated to achieve Grotto Heaven, I will allow you to view this book once more."

Zhang Yan recognized Yue Xuanxiao’s voice. He immediately rose from his couch, bowed toward the direction of Qinghong Palace, and said sincerely, "My thanks, Sect Leader Yue."

That voice chuckled and said, "When you have reached that step, then come to offer thanks."

Zhang Yan waited a while. When no further sound came from outside, he returned to the couch, reread the Daoist Books on the table once more, then flicked his sleeve, turning them into countless fragments.

This month of forcibly deciphering the Erosion Text had been like ceaselessly engaging in fighting with Dao Techniques, without a moment’s pause. Though his foundation was deep, it had still consumed much of his Heart and Spirit, so he was in no hurry to continue cultivation, but instead went back to the couch to begin breathing and adjusting.

After one night, he awoke from meditation; his exhaustion was completely gone.

He gazed at the sun slowly rising outside the cave, and inwardly thought, "As for the Sword transformation Dao, no one can give guidance; one can only rely on one’s own study and exploration. I have already stayed in the Shaoqing Sect for thirty years; now that I have this scroll of Daoist Books deduced, there is no need for me to linger here any longer."