Chapter 386 - 220: [Floating Light and Shadow Sword: (???/???)]

Chapter 386: Chapter 220: [Floating Light and Shadow Sword: (???/???)]

"Yes, sir!"

Xie Yuan answered loudly.

Li Xingtuo nodded. He seemed to want to say more, but after a moment’s hesitation, he just said:

"Do you have any other questions? If not, go back and prepare. Time is of the essence. You’ll descend the mountain tomorrow."

Xie Yuan shook his head, bowed to Li Xingtuo, and took his leave.

After Xie Yuan left, Li Xingtuo gently tapped his index finger on the desk, producing a rhythmic tapping sound.

Qin Zhenyang, who had been silent the whole time, saw his master’s expression and knew he was deep in thought. After waiting for a while, he saw Li Xingtuo stop and say to him:

"Zhenyang, you are to assist him with the investigation, but don’t get too involved. Let the boy play to his strengths! Your primary objective is still the Jianzhen Lake ruins."

Qin Zhenyang nodded. He hesitated for a moment before asking:

"Regarding the Jianzhen Lake ruins, do you think Junior Brother Zhang could also give it a try?"

Li Xingtuo shook his head.

"That’s what I was just thinking about, but I couldn’t come up with a way for him. If he wants to secure a spot, he’d likely have to reveal his full strength at the Little Hidden Dragon Assembly. But he probably doesn’t want to expose himself, especially after provoking those two families. It’s even more important that he remains hidden now."

Qin Zhenyang nodded as well. After some thought, he said:

"With Junior Brother Zhang’s luck, he might just find a way on his own."

"But that might not necessarily be a good thing."

Li Xingtuo said slowly.

...

Xie Yuan returned to his small courtyard, quickly locked the door, and took out the small sword.

The small sword had a simple, ancient design. An ethereal Sword Intent, so faint it was almost non-existent, echoed within it, making it extremely difficult to perceive.

It wasn’t that the Sword Intent was weak. On the contrary, in the moments he could feel it, Xie Yuan felt the small sword in his hand held infinite power.

But... this Sword Intent had a strange quality, feeling both here and not here, half-real and half-illusory, faint and indistinct. It left Xie Yuan completely baffled.

Still, Xie Yuan persisted in trying to comprehend it for a long time. Then, he stared at the panel in front of him, observing it carefully.

Unfortunately, after a good while, the panel remained unchanged.

[Floating Light and Shadow Sword: (???/???)]

He sighed. ’Looks like this isn’t something I can comprehend just by wanting to.’

This was only the second time he had seen question marks after a Cultivation Technique, the first being the Black Celestial Book when he initially activated it.

And from the time the Black Celestial Book first appeared on the panel until its actual activation, a very long time had passed, and it had required a special opportunity.

’It seems a peerless Swordsmanship technique like this can’t be comprehended from just a wisp of Sword Intent,’ he thought. ’It probably needs a special trigger, too.’

Xie Yuan nodded to himself, his excitement tempering slightly.

Just a moment ago, he had thought he could master the incredibly powerful, peerless Swordsmanship of the Floating Light and Shadow Sword overnight, all thanks to the strand of Sword Intent from Li Xingtuo. But reality proved it wasn’t that simple.

’Even with my current strength, I probably wouldn’t be able to use it even if I did manage to comprehend it.’

However, this was undoubtedly a good omen!

’There’s never been anything that appeared on my panel that I didn’t eventually master!’

’It doesn’t matter when these question marks disappear; it’s bound to happen sooner or later. I’ll learn this peerless Swordsmanship eventually!’

At this thought, Xie Yuan felt a surge of joy. He gently caressed the small sword Li Xingtuo had given him, his eyes filled with longing.

Fortunately, Li Xingtuo wasn’t spying on him. If he had seen this, he probably would have expelled Xie Yuan from Cloud Mountain that very night.

Xie Yuan savored the anticipation for a while before his thoughts turned to the mission down the mountain, and his expression grew solemn.

’Going up against the great families is never a simple matter.’

’But you should never avoid doing something just because it’s difficult.’

Xie Yuan looked at the panel before him and once again meticulously assessed his abilities, thinking carefully and running through various scenarios in his mind.

Then, he packed his bags, carefully organizing and stowing every useful item.

Small Returning Pills, Great Strength Vajra Pills, and various other medicinal pills and injury salves;

His Hundred-Change Profound Weapon sword, and the emerald jade Buddha pendant—the previous one had been destroyed, but then Situ Qin had taken an identical one out of the storehouse...

Xie Yuan could only marvel at it. A top-tier magic treasure like this, capable of withstanding several attacks from a Third Transformation Realm expert, actually came in a pair.

However, Situ Qin only had two such jade Buddhas, and she had given both to Xie Yuan.

He also packed away his weapons and magic treasures. The last item was the small sword from Li Xingtuo.

Xie Yuan touched it, feeling a bit more confident, and carefully placed it close to his body for safekeeping.

「The next morning.」

"Junior Brother Zhang, it’s time to go down the mountaiiiiin!"

Ning Zi pounded on Xie Yuan’s courtyard gate, but when no one answered, she crossed her arms in annoyance.

That single movement caused quite a stir.

"Is he always this late? We’re all waiting for him!"

"Senior Sister Ning, you’re a full hour early..."

Huang Zifeng whispered.

Qin Zhenyang and Lin Zhen couldn’t help but nod in agreement. Ning Zi had woken them all up, and they had come together to Xie Yuan’s courtyard to get him.

"Why sleep so long? Aren’t you excited about going down the mountain?!"

Ning Zi chattered. Just as she was about to knock again, a voice came from the side:

"Good morning, Senior Brothers and Sister."

They all looked over and saw Xie Yuan, sword in hand, revealing himself from behind a large boulder to the east.

His forehead was beaded with sweat, his face was slightly flushed, and he was breathing lightly. He had clearly just finished his morning training.

"So early..."

Ning Zi said in surprise, then suddenly trailed off mid-sentence.

The first rays of dawn were just appearing on the horizon. The youth stood atop the great boulder, the crimson sun just half-risen behind him, perfectly enveloping him in its glow as if he were standing within the sun itself.

He looked... as if he would rise along with the morning sun.

The others were all a little stunned by the sight. The honest and simple-looking youth’s face was calm and resolute, showing no hint of anything unusual. He simply leaped down from the huge rock, walked to his courtyard gate, and bowed to them with cupped hands.