Chapter 720 - 667: Lu Xingyun

Chapter 720: Chapter 667: Lu Xingyun

As his eyes adjusted to the bright light, Jiang Yuebai gradually saw, amidst the mountains and forests, a scene of devastation, with terrifying deep pits and leveled trees everywhere.

A young girl in green held a sword in one hand, pointing it at the blue-clad boy sitting on the ground.

The boy held a sword sheath in his hand, which matched the style of the sheath for the sword in the young girl’s hand.

Both had youthful faces, not exceeding twenty years old, but Jiang Yuebai couldn’t discern their cultivation levels.

"You, you cheated!" The boy exclaimed in exasperation, his expression somewhat similar to that of Xie Jingshan.

The girl looked lazily, raised her hand to push her glasses up her nose, touching nothing, then glanced at her hand and sighed inexplicably.

"Forgot again... Just take it, and stop bothering me, or next time, I might really kill you."

The girl tossed the sword to the boy and walked past him into the depths of the dense forest.

Jiang Yuebai’s gaze followed the boy from a distance, only able to watch the girl disappear into the dense forest.

Next, the scene shifted, and it wasn’t clear what events transpired in between.

Under the moon atop the mountain, the boy and girl sat on the edge of a cliff, their clothes different than before, appearing older, indicating that much time had passed.

The boy handed a gourd of wine to the girl, "My name is Lin Feng."

The girl took the wine gourd, looking the boy up and down, "Surname Lin, huh? Then you are destined to become a ruler."

Lin Feng was puzzled, "What does becoming a ruler have to do with one’s surname?"

The girl tipped her head back, took a swig of wine, and wiped her mouth, "Even if I tell you, you wouldn’t understand. This wine is really bland. Later, I’ll try purifying it using distillation... uh... never mind, in this unscientific world, distillation isn’t as effective as a spell."

"Why do you always speak in such strange riddles?"

The girl smiled wryly and sighed, "I was kidnapped here, naturally I’m different from you folks."

"You’re so strong, and yet someone managed to kidnap you?" Lin Feng said in disbelief.

The girl took another gulp of wine and began to speak, "There’s this... entity, ignoring my personal wishes, dropped me here to tempt me to cultivate to become immortal. They claim it’s for my good, but how is it different from kidnapping or taming a beast?"

Lin Feng looked baffled, "The one who kidnapped you must be very strong?"

"Yes, as powerful as what you call the Heavenly Dao. Although one can achieve eternal life here, I still want to return home. By the way, thanks for your help earlier. Let me introduce myself again, my name is Lu Xingyun! Pleasure to meet you."

Lu Xingyun extended a hand towards Lin Feng, but seeing his confusion, she smiled and pulled her hand back.

Seeing the bitterness in Lu Xingyun’s eyes, Lin Feng contemplated and said, "You’re peculiar, but righteous, unlike anyone else I know. Don’t worry; I’ll do my best to help you and aid your return home."

The scene changed again. Jiang Yuebai saw the two venturing together, cultivating together, journeying together, delving into secret realms together, facing dangers together, and surviving against the odds together.

As they grew together, their connection deepened, often needing only a glance to understand each other’s thoughts.

No matter the situation, Lu Xingyun carried with her a maturity that didn’t match her appearance, tinged with a bit of lethargy.

And Lin Feng was much like Xie Jingshan, always brimming with spirit, rebellious and wild, constantly attending to Lu Xingyun.

Lu Xingyun rarely smiled, but when Lin Feng was around teasing her, that was when she smiled the most.

These scenes reminded Jiang Yuebai of the times she spent with Xie Jingshan.

Yet, she did not harbor romantic thoughts, for she always saw Xie Jingshan as a foolish little brother, selfishly using him to make up for the brother she lost.

Lu Xingyun possessed many mysteries, and she was remarkably intelligent as well.

After just a glance at Lin Feng’s swordsmanship, she could immediately find its flaws and guide Lin Feng in improving his swordsmanship and even his cultivation technique.

Be it in talisman painting, arraying, alchemy, or artifact refining, Lu Xingyun mastered each in record time, with innovative ideas, always surpassing expectations.

Besides her intelligence and mystery, Lu Xingyun was extraordinarily diligent and focused, possessing a drive that often led her to immerse herself in study without rest, with unwavering concentration and self-discipline. Even Lin Feng couldn’t distract her during these times.

Lu Xingyun often questioned whether immortal cultivation was scientific or theological.

As time passed, they walked through countless seasons together, everything falling into place naturally, both in their cultivation and their feelings.

In this memory from Zhufeng’s perspective, there were no great waves or crises; they naturally held hands and became a pair of Daoist companions.

Yet they kept it low-key and didn’t hold a grand ceremony, with few knowing about it.

The rumors of changing Daoist names and making Lu Xingyun a servant came from that period.

During that time, on Qingyun Peak in the Ninefold Mountain Range, a small sect was spared from annihilation thanks to Lu Xingyun’s intervention, leading them to worship her as an ancestor.

Perhaps it was due to Lu Xingyun’s nomadic life beforehand, becoming Daoist companions with Lin Feng, and not finding a way home after traversing the Three Mountains and Five Peaks, she thought of settling down to recuperate.

Lu Xingyun founded the Heavenly Interence Sect in the Ninefold Mountain.

During that time, Lin Feng busily helped Lu Xingyun organize the sect’s affairs, adopting many sect rules from the Guiyuan Sword Sect.

Perhaps, in Lin Feng’s eyes, he and Lu Xingyun were meant to walk hand in hand to the pinnacle of the Great Dao.

But, Lu Xingyun was evidently different from others.

The shifting of memory scenes left Jiang Yuebai unable to tell how long had passed, only seeing the Ninefold Mountain develop from a barren land to buildings standing tall, from deserted to bustling with people.

At the edge of Feifeng Forest below the mountain, Lu Xingyun and Lin Feng, now a renowned Sword Monarch Zhufeng, stood facing each other.

Zhufeng looked disbelieving, "What did you just say?"

Lu Xingyun, dressed in a loose blue robe with long black hair flowing behind her, bore an air of laziness and wildness.

"I said, I want to cultivate the Emotionless Dao."

Zhufeng clenched his fists, his gaze full of pain, "Why do you insist on cultivating the Emotionless Dao?"

Lu Xingyun lowered her eyes, perhaps thinking of something, and laughed mockingly, "The Heavenly Dao is emotionless, and I want to take its place, so naturally, I must cultivate the Emotionless Dao."

Rumble!

At Lu Xingyun’s casual words, the heavens roared with fury, and Zhufeng looked up startled, seeing the sudden change in weather, knowing she was serious.

"Why?" Zhufeng asked again, eyes filled with confusion.

Lu Xingyun frowned, "There’s no need for a reason. I want to do it, so I’ll do it. I won’t let anyone or anything stand in my way."

"Even me?"

"Even you!"

Zhufeng was shaken to his core, seeing Lu Xingyun turn to leave, he attempted to stop her.

In that instant, Lu Xingyun turned back and swept her sleeve decisively.

That sword, handcrafted by Lu Xingyun and always carried by Zhufeng, broke in response.

In ancient times, people cut their robes to sever ties; now, cutting the sword severs all emotions.

Lu Xingyun looked at Zhufeng indifferently and said calmly.

"You and I were never from the same world. I’m grateful for your companionship in the first half of my life, but in the second half, I want to walk alone."

The memory scenes flashed once more.

Lu Xingyun disappeared, leaving Zhufeng devastated, returning to the Lingfeng Valley in Guiyuan Sword Sect to seclude himself.

From then on, Zhufeng became taciturn, yet he did not descend into despair; instead, he strived harder, diligently training in the Sword Dao.

He would thereafter perpetually pursue Lu Xingyun, wherever she went, there he would be.

Lu Xingyun’s reputation spread far and wide, and he too gained fame, sparking many rumors.

Lu Xingyun never responded, nor did he explain.

Until the Heavenly Calamity occurred, splitting the Spiritual Realm into the Earth Spiritual Realm and Heavenly Spirit Realm; Zhufeng left his broken sword in Lingfeng Valley, following Lu Xingyun’s trail, departing resolutely.

The memory scenes abruptly ended as Zhufeng left Lingfeng Valley, and Jiang Yuebai’s divine sense was forcibly pushed away by a great power.

The howling of wind and snow re-entered her ears. Jiang Yuebai opened her eyes, gazing at the broken sword, the candlestick, and the painting.

From these memories, Lu Xingyun indeed seemed heartless.

However, this was only Zhufeng’s side of the story. Are his memories accurate and true?