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nTranslator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

nA man was not quite a sword. The unsubstantiated idea could only be a conjecture.

nSo the concept of the Sword Body could merely be treated as a hypothesis.

n“If that wasn’t the Sword Body, what could it be?”

nThe Peak Master of Bihu, Cheng Youtian, spoke, breaking his silence.

nThough the regular disciples couldn’t understand what they saw, how could these experienced swordsmen not be shocked?

n“What about his hands?”

nThe Peak Master of Shiyue frowned. “Guo Nanshan’s sword wasn’t a normal flying sword.”

nAs the principal disciple of the Sect Master, Guo Nanshan’s sword was far from a normal sword. It was named “The Blue Ocean” and was a magic sword of the second class.

nA story was often told about this sword.

nIt was said that in order for Guo Nanshan, a sword washing disciple at the time, to obtain this sword, an elder of the Gu family returned the sword back to the Green Mountain… earlier than expected.

nGuo Nanshan had spent two years to get the acceptance of “The Blue Ocean”, taking a much longer time than Zhuo Rusui and Zhao Layue.

nThis famous sword was broken. It would take many years to temper it back to its original condition, so the peak masters felt it was a pity to have the sword destroyed.

n“Even if Jing Jiu knows how to employ the Benevolent Hands of the Fruit Formation Temple, it would be still impossible for him to handle that sword.”

nNormally, anyone who tried to grab “The Blue Ocean”, like Jing Jiu did, would have his fingers cut off, then his both hands.

n“Unless…that guy has actually practiced the Gold-Steel Shield,” said the Peak Master of Shiyue, frowning slightly.

n“Shangde Peak suspected this three years ago,” said the Peak Master of Xilai.

nBack when Shenmo Peak reopened, Chi Yan had mentioned that Jing Jiu might have practiced the Gold-Steel Shield.

nThe Green Mountain Sect didn’t believe this conjecture and treated it as a joke. But they couldn’t figure out why the normally-serious Shangde Peak would tell a joke either.

nIt looked like Shangde Peak was too serious to tell jokes.

nThey all gazed at the Three-Foot Sword.

nThe peak masters knew that the cold-hearted old man was listening to their conversation.

n“A Fruit Body with the Gold-Steel Shield, along with the Sword Way of our Green Mountain, might actually eventually lead to the Sword Body,” said the Peak Master of Xilai in a gentle voice.

n“What are those monks thinking?” asked the Peak Master of Qingrong. “If he had already achieved the Fruit Body before leaving the temple, he must be a true genius. How could they let this kind of disciple leave? Jing Jiu has already been at our Green Mountain Sect, and it’s beneficial for us, even if he is a monk seeking different experiences in the outside world.”

nIf this guesswork turned out to be true, according to their rules regarding experiences in the outside world, Jing Jiu had to come back to help out if needed by the Green Mountain, even after he had returned to the Fruit Formation Temple in the future.

n“Not enough.” After some careful thought, the Peak Master of Xilai spoke. “If he stayed in the Fruit Formation Temple for ten years, he has to stay here for ten years. At least the staying time should be equal on both sides. I’ll discuss this matter with the Sect Master. I’d like to ask my brothers and sisters not to let this information get out, and not to question the Fruit Formation Temple. We should simply pretend we don’t know anything about it.”

nThey thought this was probably what Jing Jiu meant by splitting the sword into two.

nThe other peak masters agreed in unison.

nThough Jing Jiu had a low Cultivation state and it was rather a lucky incident for him to break Guo Nanshan’s sword, who could anticipate what he might achieve in the future?!

nIf the guesswork turned out to be true, just as the Fruit Formation Temple helped the Windy Broadsword Sect gain a Broadsword King, the Green Mountain Sect might gain a Sword King a hundred years later.

n…

n…

nBack on Shenmo Peak, Zhao Layue took out the glowing orb from her sleeve and gave it to Gu Qing and youth Yuan.

nGu Qing took it with great care, and then led youth Yuan back to their manor cave. Back in the manor cave, Gu Qing cast the Will of Sword upon the orb.

nThe orb projected countless light rays onto the cliff wall, forming blurry images, but those images were clear enough for them to see what had happened at the Sword Trial earlier.

nThis was the Reversed Orb, which could record images. It was rumored that the Center Sect had a magic treasure called the Returned Heaven Orb, which could vividly replay scenes that had happened before, and could even record sounds. But the Returned Heaven Orb was too precious, so it was always locked in the Mended Heaven Hall of the Center Sect. Nobody had actually seen it.

nThe twilight had faded away and the night had fallen. The stars twinkled and the teapot lay still.

nSitting by the cliff edge and looking at a mountain peak in the distance, Jing Jiu remained reticent, pondering over something.

nZhao Layue walked up beside him. “Do you want to chat?” she asked quietly.

nAfter a moment of silence, Jing Jiu spoke. “I didn’t talk much before, but I talk a lot more now. Everything in the world changes, and everything has its cause. However, I still don’t understand why they take life so seriously, and are willing to live for others. Even though I know the motivation, I just can’t accept it.”

nZhao Layue knew he was talking about Liangwang Peak, or Liu Shisui to be specific, but she didn’t know how to respond.

n“My Cultivation progress is too slow,” Jing Jiu continued,

nZhao Layue thought this remark wasn’t fitting for his temperament. Had he lost his mind?

n“I know what the path is like ahead of me, but I still have to march forward. It’s really boring to see the scenes I have seen before. So I wasn’t in a hurry.”

n“But today I have felt the pressure for the first time,” Jing Jiu said.

n“Why?” prompted Zhao Layue.

n“If I entered the State of Broken Sea, I would be able to beat up Bai Rujing today,” said Jing Jiu in a serious tone, looking at Zhao Layue.

nZhao Layue was speechless. He had beaten up three most important disciples of Liangwang Peak, and he still wasn’t satisfied?

nIt looked like this wasn’t the end of matters regarding Liu Shisui.

n…

n…

nDozens of light rays returned to the Reversed Orb.

nThe glowing orb began emitting light again, brightening the manor cave as if it were in daytime.

nQu Qing remained somber, and youth Yuan’s face turned ashen.

nThe images projected by the Reversed Orb were blurry, and without sound, but they learned what had happened that day.

nLiu Shisui had been relieved of his Cultivation and expelled from the Green Mountain.

nJing Jiu had challenged three disciples of Liangwang Peak one after another, and even made the principal disciple of the Sect Master throw up blood.

nEyeing each other, they could see the shocked expression in each other’s eyes.

nPatting youth Yuan on his shoulder, Gu Qing reassured him. “It’ll be okay.”

nGu Qing felt something might happen even before today’s Sword Trial, but he could never have imagined such an outcome.

nIt was lucky that Liu Shisui didn’t lose his life and the two masters were safe and sound.

nYouth Yuan really admired Gu Qing. He hadn’t shown any sign of panic and fear as he had stayed on Shenmo Peak for three years. “Big Brother is really composed,” he remarked.

n“Your master is the Peak Master,” said Gu Qing, “so you are the principal disciple of Shenmo Peak. I have to call you Big Brother.”

nYouth Yuan didn’t want to accept the title. “It should be decided by the order of arrival.”

nGu Qing shook his head. “If it’s decided by the order of arrival, I’m still not the Big Brother.”

nYouth Yuan felt a bit confused. “Then who is the Big Brother?”

nGu Qing looked at the night sky outside the peak and remained silent for a long time. “I don’t know if our Big Brother…can come back or not.”

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