Outside Qingce Village.
Jun Bai flapped his flame wings and arrived in front of the demonic shadow. Without a word, he raised Crimson Shadow and slashed.
The demonic shadow shifted form. Crimson Shadow sliced across its waist but caused no damage.
"Phenex, your heart is in chaos."
This familiar tone made Jun Bai feel as though he had returned to a hundred years ago, to the Dream God when he was still alive.
The remnant now was no longer as frenzied as before. It felt more like... the Dream God had awakened.
"A centipede dies but doesn't stiffen." Jun Bai's expression darkened. He raised Crimson Shadow and engaged the demonic shadow in combat. "The monster attack three years ago—that was you too, wasn't it?"
The demonic shadow parried Jun Bai's attacks and spoke in a joking tone: "Three years ago~ Oh—you mean that one? Of course it was me."
"Three years ago was me, and now it's still me. All of this is because you failed to eradicate me completely, leaving behind this one remnant~"
"Phenex, listen to the wails of those mortals—they're all because of you."
"A hundred years ago you had the power to protect the Guili Assembly, but now you are powerless before Qingce Village!"
"Your era has passed. Your rightful place is to return to the leylines together with the foolish mortals beneath you, poor weak god!" The demonic shadow clenched both fists and smashed them down toward Jun Bai.
Jun Bai gripped Crimson Shadow tightly and blocked the punch.
His feet sank deeper and deeper into the ground. Then he suddenly exerted force and pushed the demonic shadow's hands away.
"I could protect the Guili Assembly back then, so naturally I can protect this Qingce Village too! If the monsters outside are being controlled by your authority, then all I need to do is defeat you like I did a hundred years ago."
"I'll show you—I'll protect everything just like before! Even if it means offering my life once again!"
Jun Bai's gaze was resolute. He refused to let the demonic shadow's words shake his heart.
If he truly wavered because of them, it would play right into the demonic shadow's hands.
Attacking the heart was one of the Dream God's favorite tactics in life.
Once the heart was shaken, one would fall under the control of dream authority. This was why, back then, most gods—even those of middling strength—didn't dare provoke the Dream God lightly.
One misstep, and the one holding the pieces could become a piece on the board. Which god would be willing to take that risk?
Unfortunately, he had run into the Phenex of that time. Otherwise the Dream God wouldn't have fallen so early in the Archon War.
The Phenex of back then wouldn't waver at his words and could even turn words into true damage against the Dream God. The Jun Bai of today was the same.
"I hate this side of you. Born a god, yet you treat a swarm of ants as more important than anything!"
The demonic shadow began showing signs of losing control.
"Then just like a hundred years ago, take that hatred and return to the leylines—never appear again!"
Flames wreathed Jun Bai's body. Crimson Shadow moved like a living serpent in his hand, attacking the demonic shadow.
Suddenly, the demonic shadow returned to its state from the start of the battle. A hideous grin appeared—if it had a human face, the corners of that grin would have reached the ears.
"The one returning to the leylines isn't me. It's you!"
"Phenex—you fell for it!"
Jun Bai's sword struck the demonic shadow, yet left not even a scratch.
The demonic shadow reappeared behind Jun Bai. This was a second remnant of the god. The two remnants flanked him from both sides, trapping Jun Bai in a hopeless situation.
"Go to the leylines and say hello to our true self for us."
The two remnants of the god spoke in unison. Their hands transformed into scythes and slashed toward Jun Bai.
Jun Bai reacted and tried to defend.
But a sword could only block one direction. This was also why Phenex had been pierced through the body by the spears of the five Yaksha back then.
In this desperate moment, Jun Bai chose to gamble.
His flame wings spread to guard his back. Crimson Shadow lifted upward to defend the front.
Clang——
Ding——
Two completely different sounds of metal clashing rang out. Jun Bai's eyes widened as he looked behind him.
Jun Mo Li held a blue-and-white long sword, standing behind Jun Bai and blocking the attack from the rear.
"Second brother—you did it?"
"Mm." Jun Mo Li nodded, then said: "Sorry, third brother—I was late."
"No—you arrived—" The corners of Jun Bai's mouth rose. He gripped Crimson Shadow and slowly applied force. "—just in time!"
The scythe was pushed aside. The two brothers stood back-to-back, each facing one remnant of the god.
White hair and red pupils, flame wings on his back, gripping a crimson chain sword.
Black hair and black eyes, tall and slender frame, gripping a blue-and-white immortal sword.
"But he's just a mortal..." ×2
"You think you can change the outcome?!" ×2
The two remnants roared and merged together, transforming into a pitch-black domain that enveloped the pair.
Tidal waves of attacks came from all directions, each carrying the aura of god remnant.
Yet Jun Bai and Jun Mo Li maintained their back-to-back stance without change. They didn't even need to communicate—together they withstood the remnants' assault.
Attacks poured in from every side, yet the two brothers' defense was flawless. No attack could break through.
Their rapport and skill were displayed to perfection in this battle of offense and defense.
...
Not long ago, in the Jun family basement.
Looking at the sword that still refused to draw the final bit, Jun Mo Li suddenly burst out laughing.
When a person reaches the extreme of a certain emotion, they sometimes laugh. Jun Mo Li had now reached the extreme of disappointment.
He let go. The sword slid back into the scabbard on its own.
"When our great-great-grandfather forged you back then, did he ever even think someone would be able to draw you?"
"The greatest swordmaster in the world? Just how far does one have to go to be considered the greatest? Who can claim to be truly the greatest? You?"
Jun Mo Li seemed to be talking to himself, yet also as if speaking to the sword within the scabbard.
"No one can ever become the greatest in the world, because there will always be someone who surpasses them later. Even if someone truly were... the greatest in the world doesn't need a sword to prove it."
"Drawing you was my father's wish, not mine. That's why I couldn't make my father's Vision shine again."
"Likewise, someone whose wish isn't in the way of the sword can't draw you. Because I lack the confidence a swordmaster should have."
"Without the confidence of being the greatest in the world, how can one be called the greatest swordmaster?"
"Honestly, if I didn't need your power, after trying once before, I wouldn't have tried again to draw you. Because I know—I can't do it."
"I don't have the confidence of a swordmaster."
"But now..."
Jun Mo Li's eyes were bloodshot: "My little brother needs my help right now."
"He's fighting a god's remnant, so..."
"I need your power. I'm giving you one last chance—otherwise you'll never have the chance to come into the world!"
"This isn't a request. It's an order!"
Jun Mo Li roared, then pulled on the sword again.
Clang——
Sword light like an autumn stream flashed through the room.
On the blade, the characters "Cheng Xiao" were clearly visible.
The sword that had never been seen by anyone since its forging—the greatest sword in the world, Cheng Xiao Sword—finally came into being.
A light, ethereal female voice rang out: "Lacking the confidence befitting the greatest in the world, yet possessing the spirit to treat ten thousand swords as mere weapons—this too is a form of being the greatest in the world."
Jun Mo Li gave a soft laugh: "A sword is a weapon. A weapon is meant to be held and used."
"Putting too much importance on the sword—even keeping it in your heart—is that the man wielding the sword, or the sword wielding the man?"
"As it should be. Cheng Xiao, greetings to my swordmaster."