Chapter 25: Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Ancestor and Re-entering Lingyun Grotto

Nameless sensed the increasingly tragic and ferocious aura of Po Jun, yet remained entirely unmoved. He grew increasingly ethereal, manifesting the realm of the Heavenly Sword—a state of perfect union with heaven and earth.

What is the Heavenly Sword? The *Sword Odes* state: "The metaphysical sword, unparalleled through the ages, revered by ten thousand swords, worshipped like a celestial deity—this is the Heavenly Sword."

The Heavenly Sword represents the pinnacle where one treats heaven and earth as the sword, and all things as the sword. It is in no way inferior to the four sword realms of Dugu Qiubai; indeed, it arguably surpasses the realm of using grass, trees, bamboo, and stone as weapons. Even though Po Jun’s aura was as tragic and magnificent as an army sweeping across the land, compared to heaven and earth, what significance could even a million soldiers possess?

Under the pressure of Nameless’s presence, Po Jun was forced to strike first, losing the advantage of responding to motion with stillness. As they clashed again, Po Jun’s lethality with blade and sword in hand far exceeded his previous unarmed state, yet Nameless remained in his signature sword-finger stance. Whether Po Jun slashed or hacked, Nameless deflected him with ease. Though Po Jun’s attacks were exceptionally fierce and sharp, Nameless was like the vast heavens and earth; no matter how violent the assault, it could not leave the slightest mark.

With light flicks of his sword-finger, Nameless neutralized Po Jun’s weapons, his fingers subtly pointing toward the flaws in Po Jun’s form and anticipating his next move. Ultimately, the gap in their realms was too great; within two exchanges, Nameless disarmed him. Deprived of his sword, Po Jun attacked even more desperately with his blade. He knew that to stop attacking was to face certain defeat; only a relentless assault could suppress Nameless’s calm yet terrifying sword aura.

With his sword now in hand, Nameless ceased dodging. The clash of steel rang out incessantly, like rain striking banana leaves. In Po Jun’s grip, the blade became a blur of afterimages, his onslaught far exceeding the limits of a normal duel. Yet, no matter how frantic or fierce the attacks became, Nameless’s blade always appeared precisely where the attack would land, its edge meeting the weakest point of Po Jun’s weapon.

Finally, the ringing of steel ceased. The two stood locked, blades crossed, glaring at one another. Decades of grievances between them were too complex to unravel; today, the outcome would be decided by the sword. The next move would determine victory, life, and death.

Simultaneously, they exerted their strength and leaped backward. While suspended in mid-air, both turned and lunged, pouring all their remaining power into one final strike.

"BOOM!"

There was no overflow of sword qi, no rampaging blade aura; only a dull, heavy thud resounded, as if two ten-thousand-pound bronze hammers had collided. All their internal energy was contained within the blades, not a shred leaking out.

In the end, Po Jun was slightly inferior. Under the impact, his Greed-Wolf blade flew from his hand. Stunned by the loss of his weapon, Po Jun slowed for a split second. As he landed, Nameless adjusted his stance and struck Po Jun in the chest with a sword-finger. Po Jun collapsed, wounded. Just as Nameless was about to end his life, a sharp cry rang out.

"Stop!"

Nameless turned to see two figures pinning Jian Chen before him. They were the brothers Jue Xin and Jue Tian. Nameless tossed the Seven-Kill Sword aside and looked at them. The pair immediately pressed their weapons against Jian Chen’s throat.

"Hand over the other half of the key to the Return of Ten Thousand Swords, or Jian Chen dies!" Jue Xin declared. They watched Nameless intensely, ready to execute Jian Chen at the slightest provocation.

Nameless furrowed his brows, confused as to how his disciple had fallen into their hands, but with Jian Chen’s life at stake and the captors so wary, the situation was dire.

"Master, don't worry about me! The Return of Ten Thousand Swords must not fall into their hands!" Jian Chen shouted, despite being held captive. Seeing Nameless’s hesitation and inner turmoil, he cried out in sorrow, "Master!"

At that moment, even Jian Chen could not distinguish how much of his desperation was genuine and how much was a ruse. "Master! Please, don't!"

Nameless took out the other half of the key and stared at it. Jian Chen wailed in agony, struggling against his captors, who held him fast.

"Release him, or I will destroy this key!" Nameless said, his voice cold, his fingers unconsciously tracing the surface of the key.

Jue Tian sneered.

"Master! You mustn't! Master!" Jian Chen cried out in despair. He knew that if his master traded the key for him, he would be the cause of his master’s ruin. He knew his master’s character and his choice, yet he desperately wished for his master to be more ruthless, to give his own treachery a shred of justification.

Neither the Jue brothers nor Nameless seemed to hear his cries.

Nameless tossed the half-key. Jue Tian immediately shoved Jian Chen forward to shield himself from Nameless, then reached out to catch the key. Once they had what they wanted, at a signal from Jue Xin, Jue Tian helped Po Jun up, and the three retreated while keeping their eyes fixed on Nameless. Burdened by the need to protect Jian Chen, Nameless could only watch them leave.

...

At the World Conqueror Clan, Xu Fu wandered about, wearing his ice-sculpted mask. The clan’s tight security was like nothing to him. Moving as if in an empty land, his thousand years of internal cultivation rendered him invisible to all. After wandering for a while and failing to locate the clan’s leadership, a bored Xu Fu chose to depart.

...

Before the Lingyun Grotto, at the Leshan Giant Buddha, Bu Jingyun and Qin Shuang watched as Nie Feng finished paying his respects to his father, Nie Renwang. After packing their belongings, the three entered the cavern.

Qin Shuang produced a strand of Nie Feng’s hair, wound it around his fingertip, and followed the guidance of the bloodline causality as they moved slowly forward.

"Senior Brother, can you really find my late father’s remains?" Nie Feng asked hesitantly. When he was a child, his father had screamed at him never to seek revenge, precisely to keep him from entering the Lingyun Grotto. The image of the Fire Demon had left an indelible mark on his young heart.

"Bloodline causality never lies. Have you ever known me to be untruthful, Junior Brother Feng?" Qin Shuang replied with a faint, confident smile.

"Hmph. I wonder who it was that lied about Kong Ci being critically ill," Bu Jingyun remarked bluntly, referencing an event from two days prior.

Qin Shuang laughed awkwardly, then said, "Perhaps Junior Brother Yun doesn't wish to see Kong Ci? In that case, when we return, I shall set a date to marry her!"

"Hmph!"

At the mention of Kong Ci, an awkward silence fell over the three. Lost in their own thoughts, they followed Qin Shuang through winding tunnels until they reached a vast, open space.

Qin Shuang sensed the unseen karmic connection. "It should be here. Let us search."