Meng Yifei raised an eyebrow: "Of course I remember."
He instantly understood what Lin Qingling meant.
Five hundred years ago.
The Southern Azure Continent produced an astonishingly talented individual named the Nether Sword Master.
When he was young, his village was massacred by the demon race. Out of 345 villagers, only he survived by a stroke of luck.
After that.
He embarked on the path of cultivation.
This Nether Sword Master, rumored to have ordinary aptitude and bone structure, constantly fought against the demon race to avenge his village. Through incessant battles, his cultivation soared, and he even made it onto the demon race's kill list, being relentlessly pursued by them.
But it was precisely during this pursuit that his cultivation grew higher and higher. Eventually, he even charged into the Monster Beast Forest, slaying as he went, and chanting:
"Cranes invite me to drink with books, drunkenly I make the Milky Way my sword's song. Why seek the secret of eternal life? I am the first immortal of the Netherworld!"
Finally, his sword moved like a flowing ribbon, and he personally severed the head of the former demon race leader.
After that, the Nether Sword Immortal, with a single drink and a single sword, vanished.
After the death of the former demon race leader, the demon race's power waned for a time. If it weren't for the sudden emergence of the Demon King Chiling, the Southern Azure Continent would likely still be embroiled in human infighting.
It could be said that this Nether Sword Master grew up amidst the relentless pursuit of the demon race.
Without those trials, he would most likely have been an unremarkable cultivator.
Of course.
If it were someone else, they might not have survived those endless chases.
That was a matter of individual destiny.
Meng Yifei sighed, his gaze softening.
Lin Qingling was right about one thing.
Everyone has their own path.
Even Jiang Rongyi, whom he had personally nurtured, hadn't he acted impulsively?
Meng Yifei couldn't help but look at his disciple.
Jiang Rongyi was originally cheering with the other disciples.
Caught by Meng Yifei's gaze, his back stiffened, and without daring to look back, he quickly slipped away.
Meng Yifei couldn't help but find it amusing.
His disciple had always been mature and steady. If he hadn't witnessed it himself today, he would never have imagined that Jiang Rongyi had such a side to him.
"See how new bamboo splits old roots, green blood tempers the blade to cut down old banners. A youth has his own lofty ambition, how can he sigh at the passing river in the vast expanse?"
Young people have their own world, and he... might really be getting old.
There were still some follow-up matters to handle for this exchange competition.
But now.
Meng Yifei didn't want to spoil the fun.
Let these children have a thorough and joyful celebration.
The Sword Sect was bustling for an entire day.
The more lively other parts of the Sword Sect were, the colder Lingxu Peak became.
On Lingxu Peak.
True Lord Lingxu had not left the peak's summit for a long time.
His period of confinement had indeed ended.
However.
He had been stripped of his position as peak master and suffered such a punishment.
What would he do if he left here?
Go and make a fool of himself?
But today, the Sword Sect was exceptionally lively.
Lingxu didn't know what was happening, so he summoned a few of his disciples to inquire.
Sheng Yuan and the others stood neatly before him, all somewhat silent for a moment.
Especially Sheng Yuan, he hung his head, unable to lift it at all.
Today.
Li Shuang had won.
This was originally the glory of the entire Sword Sect.
But in his heart, there was not a trace of joy.
The disciples in the artifact refining chamber had already told the others in the Sword Sect about his actions.
He had forced Li Shuang out of seclusion, and by a strange twist of fate, he had indeed upheld the glory of the Sword Sect.
But...
Everyone wasn't foolish.
A good outcome was one thing.
His malicious intent was another.
Although Sheng Yuan tried hard to explain, no one would listen to him.
The few of them were already marginalized within the sect.
Now that Li Shuang had clearly become the spiritual leader of the younger generation, their status became even more awkward.
If before, people merely ignored them.
Now, upon seeing them, Sword Sect disciples would even curse them.
Such a life was truly unbearable.
Sheng Yuan remained silent, while Shen Yue and Chang Le'an briefly explained what had happened.
Thus, the entire Lingxu Peak fell silent.
At this moment.
They all thought simultaneously.
If...
Li Shuang had not left Lingxu Peak.
If...
She was still the head disciple of Lingxu Peak.
Then today's cheers, today's supreme glory, should have had a share for Lingxu Peak!
But now?
They had become like rats crossing the street, reviled by everyone.
After a long while.
True Lord Lingxu waved his hand: "You may withdraw."
He closed his eyes and continued his secluded cultivation.
Sheng Yuan and the others responded and left dispiritedly.
In the center of the plaza.
Meng Yifei had given special permission for the disciples to celebrate freely.
Everyone enthusiastically lit bonfires, and some, moved by inspiration, danced with swords before the fires. If others found it good, they applauded; if they saw room for improvement, they pointed it out directly.
In the Sword Sect.
This was the first time that all disciples, regardless of inner or outer sect, regardless of true or formal disciples, all of them, exchanged their sword techniques without reservation.
Li Shuang also joined in the festivities for a while.
As dawn approached, everyone gradually dispersed.
Li Shuang didn't immediately go to rest; she immediately requested an audience with Lin Qingling.
Lin Qingling chuckled, raising her hand to pat Li Shuang's shoulder: "Good disciple, this time, you've truly brought honor to your master. However, once the news spreads, your ranking on the demon race's kill list will likely skyrocket. You'll need to be even more careful when venturing out in the future."
"Yes," Li Shuang obediently replied, then said, "Master, aren't you going to ask me where I got the Soul Cultivation Method from?"
Lin Qingling raised an eyebrow and smiled: "Do you think that bronze eye was truly the emperor's collection?"
Li Shuang was stunned for a moment: "Master... this bronze eye is..."
Lin Qingling smiled: "It's a collection of the Sword Sect. It was Sect Master Meng himself who personally placed the bronze eye among the materials for you to choose. The bronze eye comes from the Central Continent, and there are only a dozen or so in the entire Southern Azure Continent. Why do you think Yan Fan progressed so quickly? He was given a bronze eye three years ago and successfully resonated with it."
Li Shuang was momentarily dumbfounded.
So the existence of this bronze eye was not a secret at all.
Instead, the sect had actively presented it to her.
"The Sword Sect has obtained two of these bronze eyes in total. One of them already had an owner eight hundred years ago. The other... is yours," Lin Qingling smiled. "This item doesn't necessarily resonate just because one has talent. Moreover, the higher one's cultivation, the harder it is to resonate. If one's cultivation exceeds the Soul Transformation stage, it's basically impossible to resonate successfully. Over the years, many Sword Sect disciples have tried to resonate with this bronze eye, but in the end, only you succeeded."
Li Shuang couldn't help but nod.
The entry requirements for the bronze eye were actually quite strict.
One needed to possess a Soul Golden Core.
However, the Southern Azure Continent lacked soul cultivation methods, and the requirement for a Soul Transformation stage cultivator to condense a Soul Golden Core eliminated most people.
Not to mention the profound and mysterious concept of resonance.
"Master," Li Shuang shook off these thoughts and said earnestly, "I have a breathing technique that I would like to submit to you."