Snow fell steadily.
Two figures tumbled down into the forest.
"Master, Master, please rest! If you keep going, you'll die!"
Zhuang Chen's choked voice rang out. Both master and disciple were covered in terrifying bloodstains, but the Divine Sword Elder's condition was far worse. The gaping wounds all over his body were enough to make one's scalp tingle. Once a sturdy and imposing old man, he now looked utterly disheveled—it was heartbreaking.
Seeing his master like this, Zhuang Chen sobbed uncontrollably, his heart twisting in pain.
Tonight's upheaval was far too much for his twelve-year-old self—not just emotionally, but physically as well. Amid the chaos, a strand of Qi had nearly shattered his Sword Bone. Even though he survived, his foundation was destroyed, making him a cripple in all but name.
The Divine Sword Elder smiled and gently patted Zhuang Chen's head.
"It's alright. I can still hold on. Once we reach Zhenwu Mountain, you'll be safe."
His eyes held some regret—regret that he wouldn't live to see Zhuang Chen grow up, regret that his final sword strike didn't kill that traitor, only severed an arm.
"Chen'er, you must live."
He chanted silently in his heart.
He hoisted Zhuang Chen onto his back, then pushed the remaining Qi in his body to continue rushing forward, his speed as fast as lightning.
But the cracks in his Core Formation were growing more visible, threatening to collapse at any moment.
After using the Sword Core Shattering Technique, his power had surged. If he had chosen to go all out, he could've taken two or three Core Formation Realm enemies with him. But if he had done that, Zhuang Chen would've fallen into their hands.
So the Divine Sword Elder didn't choose to die fighting. Instead, he faked an opening and broke through the siege with Zhuang Chen. They'd been running for an entire day and night now.
His only remaining obsession was getting Zhuang Chen safely to Zhenwu Mountain. Only then would true safety be assured.
He couldn't entrust him to anyone else.
The Divine Sword Elder's eyes burned with resolve. They were already close to Zhenwu Mountain—he had to hold on.
…
Moments later—
Several powerful auras appeared in the forest. They examined the traces left behind, eyes brimming with killing intent.
"Dmn old bstard, he tricked us and got away!"
"He took my arm—what a shame I didn't get to take his head myself." someone growled through gritted teeth.
Earlier, the Divine Sword Elder's sudden eruption had caught them off guard. If he hadn't been so focused on escaping, a few of them might not have lived to tell the tale. ℞αΝộBÈŜ
The leader snorted coldly.
"But that old guy paid the price. He forced himself to run this far—he's probably hanging by a thread. Not even the gods can save him."
The others looked to him.
"Should we keep chasing?"
The leader's eyes flickered, then he waved his hand.
"No need. Judging by his escape route, he's headed for Zhenwu Mountain. If we get any closer, we might provoke Daoist Longshan. That wouldn't end well for us. And don't forget—Zhenwu Mountain still has that even more terrifying Heavenly Sword True Person. He's a top-tier expert on the Heaven-Man Ranking."
At the mention of Daoist Longshan, the group looked only slightly wary—but when the Heavenly Sword True Person was mentioned, their bodies tensed immediately.
There's a big gap between a regular Heaven-Man Realm cultivator and one ranked on the Heaven-Man Ranking.
"Too bad the old sword geezer won't live. And that chubby kid with the Innate Sword Bone would've been the perfect catalyst..."
The leader sighed.
Someone hesitated before speaking.
"What if Daoist Longshan finds out…"
"Daoist Longshan just entered the Heaven-Man Realm—not a big threat. But that Heavenly Sword True Person… if he sticks his nose in…"
Everyone fell silent.
This entire operation to annihilate the Divine Sword Sect was supposed to bury the truth—yet it now felt like it had stirred up something even worse.
The leader cursed loudly.
"If it weren't for those idiots saying someone was investigating them, we wouldn't have acted. That sword geezer wouldn't have gotten a chance to run!"
After a pause, he continued.
"Let's lay low for now. Word is, the Heavenly Sword True Person doesn't have long to live and keeps to himself. He might not bother with this mess."
"Keep a close eye on Zhenwu Mountain. We'll act based on their reaction."
Everyone nodded in unison.
Then, in a flash, they vanished. Snow kept falling, and the traces they left behind were gradually buried beneath it.
…
Zhenwu Mountain.
So close.
The Divine Sword Elder's legs gave out. His last bit of Essence, Energy, and Spirit drained away. Blood exploded from his wounds, and he collapsed, rolling far downhill. Zhuang Chen tumbled multiple times as well.
Seeing his master barely breathing, Zhuang Chen's eyes turned red.
"Master, we made it to Zhenwu Mountain—we made it! Please hold on!"
With no more pursuers in sight, Zhuang Chen picked up the Divine Sword Elder and charged toward the mountain gate.
A sharp, sorrowful cry echoed—
"Ning Qi, help! Ning Qi, save us!"
The Zhenwu Sect disciples guarding the mountain were startled. Seeing two blood-soaked figures in the distance, they were all shocked.
Soon after, Daoist Longshan arrived, followed by Ning Qi and many True Disciples.
The sight of Zhuang Chen and the Divine Sword Elder in such a tragic state stunned everyone. No one knew what disaster had struck.
"Senior, please save my master!" Zhuang Chen cried. He was a pitiful sight, none of his usual liveliness remained.
Ning Qi helped him up, sighing inwardly.
He had spent some time with Zhuang Chen. Though the chubby kid was a chatterbox, he wasn't a bad person.
From the looks of things, the Divine Sword Sect had clearly suffered a catastrophe.
Daoist Longshan looked at his old friend's shut eyes and felt grief surge in his heart. He didn't hesitate—he immediately checked the elder's condition. One look turned his face pale, grief deepening.
Ning Qi quietly released a strand of Qi, then fell silent.
He had developed some healing secret arts, but the Divine Sword Elder's injuries were simply too severe—his Core Formation was shattered, Qi scattered through his limbs and organs. On top of that, he had horrific internal and external wounds. His life force was nearly gone.
It was easy to imagine—
Just how strong his willpower must have been to make it this far.
If the Divine Sword Elder were in slightly better shape, Ning Qi might've had time to stabilize him and explore a cure. But now, time was too short.
All he could do was barely activate the last flicker of the elder's life force using secret techniques.
From everyone's silence, Zhuang Chen could sense something. He kept wiping his tears away with his sleeve, and was about to kneel—when a hand stopped him. The Divine Sword Elder's hoarse voice rang out.
"Chen'er, I know my own condition. As long as you're safe, that's enough."
Zhuang Chen sobbed uncontrollably.
The Divine Sword Elder turned his head toward Daoist Longshan.
"Brother Longshan."
Just those words made Daoist Longshan's heart ache. Right now, he wished his old friend would scold him again like the old days—'Longshan, you ox-nosed old Daoist.'
Daoist Longshan closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them again.
"Brother Divine Sword, what happened? How did you get so severely wounded?"
The elder's expression darkened.
"A tragedy in the sect…"
He began to explain slowly.
Though he didn't know the attackers' motives, he wasn't a fool—he had a rough idea.
When he finished—
Daoist Longshan and Ning Qi exchanged a glance, both instinctively jolted.
"A human blood pool? Dong He's betrayal? Black-clad attackers ambushing the Divine Sword Sect!"
They felt it resembled the destruction of Xue Mei Manor all too closely. Back then, Ning Qi's father had written to Daoist Longshan about something urgent—and was massacred shortly after.
Neither of them could shake the feeling that this human blood pool concealed something sinister. Perhaps Ning Qi's father had discovered something similar.
It was as if an invisible hand was orchestrating everything from behind the scenes.
Ning Qi's gaze sharpened.
Daoist Longshan had the same thought. He asked in a low voice,
"Brother Divine Sword, was it the Blood Rain Pavilion?"
The elder didn't understand why he mentioned the Blood Rain Pavilion. He shook his head.
"It wasn't them. Their fighting style didn't match. It didn't seem like traditional Great Yan martial artists—something about it was strange."
He looked apologetically at Daoist Longshan.
"Brother Longshan, I just hope I haven't caused you trouble."
Daoist Longshan sighed.
"At this point, why be so formal? Don't worry—I'll get to the bottom of this. I won't let the Divine Sword Sect die in vain. These demons who use human blood for whatever foul purposes they have—I will not let them go!"
Suddenly, the Divine Sword Elder burst into laughter—bold, hearty laughter that made him cough up blood, but he didn't care.
"To have a friend like you, Brother Longshan—I've lived enough."
"All these years, only you ever earned my respect. What a pity… I never got to snatch Zhenwu Mountain from your hands. I'll admit it now—you ox-nosed Daoist do have some real skill!"
Daoist Longshan laughed too, eyes a little wet.
Everyone fell silent. Zhuang Chen wept softly.
Ning Qi sighed inwardly—the elder's life force was weakening rapidly.
He pulled Zhuang Chen closer and looked at Daoist Longshan.
"Brother Longshan, I have one last request."
"Say it," said Daoist Longshan without hesitation.
The Divine Sword Elder looked lovingly at Zhuang Chen, placed a withered hand on his head, and smiled.
"The proudest thing I ever did in this life was taking Chen'er as my disciple. Not just because he has the Innate Sword Bone, but because he has a pure heart. He's a good child—but because of me, he's suffered greatly."
"Now, his Sword Bone is shattered, his foundation ruined. I ask you, take him as your disciple."
"If one day, his Sword Bone recovers and he's reborn, he could become one of Zhenwu Sect's top talents. If not… then let him live peacefully on Zhenwu Mountain as an ordinary person."
His eyes pleaded. His voice grew weaker.
Daoist Longshan gripped his hands and said firmly,
"Don't worry. From this day on, he is my tenth True Disciple. Whether his Sword Bone recovers or not—I will protect him for life."
"Chen'er, pay your respects!" the Divine Sword Elder shouted with all his strength.
Zhuang Chen, crying, knelt respectfully before Daoist Longshan and kowtowed.
Daoist Longshan helped him up.
The Divine Sword Elder's eyes were already closing. His voice was barely audible.
"Thank you… thank you."
He leaned close to Daoist Longshan and whispered,
"Chen'er knows about the Sword Saint legacy I once received. Let that be his gift for becoming your disciple."
Ning Qi heard and sighed softly.
Parents love their children and plan far ahead. A master is like a father.
The Divine Sword Elder gave one last smile and wave to Zhuang Chen—then slowly closed his eyes.
His life came to a complete end.
Silence fell.
Only Zhuang Chen's anguished cries echoed.