Primordial Era: The Holy Maiden Shiji, a woman of exceptional talent and beauty

"That's right, we will definitely be able to break through the traps and obtain the treasure this time!" Qingyangzi said confidently.

Next, the two began to try to crack the mechanism according to the instructions on the pattern.

They moved cautiously, each move triggering a series of traps, but they skillfully dodged them all thanks to their excellent agility and reaction speed.

Time passed second by second, and the attacks from the traps and mechanisms in the palace became increasingly fierce, but the two showed no sign of giving up.

They worked closely together, constantly trying various methods to break through the traps and mechanisms.

Finally, through their persistent efforts, the traps and mechanisms in the palace were successfully broken!

All the attacks ceased, and the entire palace returned to calm.

"Great! We've finally broken through the trap!" Shi Ji and Qing Yangzi cheered at the same time, embracing each other to celebrate their hard-won victory.

Then, the two walked to the stone table and picked up the heavy ancient book and the gleaming sword.

They secretly wondered what the two treasures could do, their faces showing anticipation and curiosity.

Shi Ji opened the first page of the ancient book and saw a line of large characters: "Ancient secret arts, not to be explored by those without the right destiny!"

A thought struck him, and he continued flipping through the pages. As he read, the words in the ancient book gradually surfaced in his mind, and the various profound secret techniques and cultivation methods filled him with awe.

He knew that this ancient book was absolutely priceless!
Qingyangzi then picked up the sword and examined it carefully.

He discovered that the sword was made from a material he had never seen before!

The sword exuded a sharp sword aura, as if it could tear everything apart!
He knew this sword was absolutely extraordinary!
"Brother Shi, this sword seems to contain immense power!" Qingyangzi handed the sword to Shiji and said, "Try to see if you can wield it."

Shi Ji took the sword and immediately felt a powerful sword energy surge into his body!

He was overjoyed and immediately circulated his internal energy to control the sword.

Under his control, the sword seemed to become one with him, and he could command the sword to launch attacks at will!

"What a fine sword!" Shi Ji couldn't help but exclaim. "This sword is definitely our greatest gain from this training!"

“That’s right! With this precious sword and this ancient book, our cultivation and strength will surely reach a new level!” Qingyangzi said excitedly.

In the days that followed, the two began to cultivate in this palace.

While studying the secret techniques and cultivation methods in ancient books, they practiced swordsmanship with precious swords.

As time went by, their cultivation and strength continued to improve.

The palace seemed to have become their blessed place, where they spent a wonderful time.

However, their good fortune didn't last long. Just when the two were cultivating with great enthusiasm, one day, the palace gates were forcibly opened from the outside!
Immediately afterwards, a group of cultivators dressed in black rushed in!
Their eyes were greedily fixed on everything in the palace, especially the sword in Shi Ji's hand and the ancient books beside Qing Yangzi, which made them drool!

"Who are you? How dare you trespass here!" Shi Ji shouted coldly, questioning them.

"Hahaha! It's like finding a needle in a haystack! We never expected that the crystal ball we've been searching for for so long would actually be in your hands! It's truly a stroke of luck!"

The leader of the men in black laughed loudly and said, "If you know what's good for you, hand over the crystal ball right now! Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!"

"So you came here for the crystal ball!" Qingyangzi said with sudden realization. "Let me tell you, even if you get the crystal ball, you won't be able to control it! Because you don't understand the ancient secrets at all!"

"Hmph! Enough nonsense! Since we've found this place, we naturally have a way to control the crystal ball! You'd better hand it over obediently! Otherwise, don't blame us for being ruthless!" The man in black said, then brandished his weapon and launched an attack on Shi Ji and Qing Yangzi.

Despite the attack from the men in black, Shi Ji and Qing Yangzi remained calm. They dodged the attacks with swift movements while simultaneously wielding their swords to counterattack.

In an instant, sword energy crisscrossed the palace, and the sounds of battle shook the heavens!
The two sides engaged in a fierce battle.

However, these men in black were not ordinary cultivators. They seemed to have undergone special training, and their attack methods were extremely strange and fierce!
Although Shiji and Qingyangzi were quite strong, they also felt somewhat overwhelmed. Gradually, they were caught in a fierce battle, and the situation became increasingly unfavorable for them!

"This can't go on! We must find a way to break out!" Shi Ji transmitted her voice to Qing Yangzi.

"I'll cover you, you go first!"

"No! We must go together!" Qingyangzi said firmly. "We cannot abandon each other!"

"Stop arguing! If this continues, we'll both die here! You should leave! I have a way to escape!"

As Shi Ji spoke, she launched a fierce attack on the man in black with all her might.

Taking advantage of the moment when the man in black dodged, he pushed Qingyangzi away.

"Run!" he shouted, then turned and continued fighting the man in black.

Although Qingyangzi was unwilling after being pushed out, he knew that Shiji was right. If this continued, the two of them would die here!
So he gritted his teeth, turned around, and fled out of the palace. The man in black tried to chase after Qingyangzi, but was held back by Shiji.

"Want to pursue him? You'll have to get past me first!" Shi Ji said with a sneer, brandishing her sword and engaging in a fierce battle with the man in black!
After a fierce battle, Shi Ji severely injured several men in black, but he himself was also seriously wounded. He felt his strength rapidly draining away, and his body gradually weakening.

"Shiji!" Qingyangzi returned. He did not escape alone, but instead brought reinforcements.

It turned out that after escaping the palace, Qingyangzi quickly contacted his sect's leader and requested assistance.

"Why are you back?" Shi Ji asked, panting, both surprised and touched.

"How could I possibly abandon you!" Qingyangzi said, and he quickly joined the battle with several fellow disciples.

With the arrival of fresh troops, the tide of battle quickly turned. The men in black were forced into retreat and were eventually all subdued.

"Shiji, are you alright?"

After the battle, Qingyangzi immediately ran to Shiji's side and asked her with concern.

"I'm fine, thanks to you for bringing reinforcements in time," Shi Ji said with a smile.

The two smiled at each other, their understanding of each other even stronger than before.

"Who are these men in black? Why are they attacking us?" Qingyangzi asked.

“I’m not sure either, but their target is clearly the crystal ball,” Shi Ji analyzed. “It seems the news of our discovery of the treasure has already leaked out.”

"So what should we do next?" Qingyangzi asked with some concern.

"Let's leave here first and find a safe place to discuss our next move," Shi Ji suggested. So, the two of them, along with the treasure and several fellow disciples, quickly left the palace and found a secluded cave to hide in.

Inside the cave, Shiji and Qingyangzi carefully studied the ancient book and the precious sword.

They discovered that the secret techniques and cultivation methods recorded in ancient books complemented their sect's internal cultivation methods, greatly helping them improve their cultivation.

That sword was incredibly sharp and contained immense power.

“Brother Shi, this sword suits you so well, why not name it ‘Jiyang Sword’?” Qingyangzi suggested.

“What a great name! It includes my name and also symbolizes that our friendship is as unbreakable as this sword,” Shi Ji agreed.

In the days that followed, the two practiced swordsmanship while simultaneously studying the secret techniques and mental cultivation methods found in ancient texts.

Their cultivation and strength are improving at an astonishing rate.

However, their good fortune didn't last long. Just when they were cultivating with great enthusiasm, one day, a group of masked men broke into the cave!
"Who are you? How dare you trespass here!" Shi Ji shouted coldly, questioning them.

But the masked man did not answer; instead, he launched an attack.

Their goal was clear—to seize the Isoyo Sword and the ancient books.

Faced with the sudden attack, Shiji and Qingyangzi remained calm.

They wielded the Isogai sword and engaged in a fierce battle with the masked men.

After a fierce battle, the masked men were finally driven back.

But Shiji and Qingyangzi also realized a cruel truth: their whereabouts had been exposed, and the road ahead would be even more difficult.

For safety reasons, they decided to split up.

Shiji was tasked with drawing the enemy's attention, while Qingyangzi secretly left with the treasure to find a more secluded place to hide. The two agreed to meet at a certain location a month later.

And so, Shiji and Qingyangzi embarked on different paths, beginning their respective journeys of trials, while also looking forward to their reunion a month later...

A month later, Shiji and Qingyangzi arrived at the meeting point as agreed.

The location is in a secluded valley, where the mountains are clear and the water is beautiful, and the birds sing and the flowers are fragrant, like a paradise on earth.

The two embraced tightly upon meeting, sharing their experiences and longing for each other since their separation.

"Brother Shi, I've finally found a safe place to hide," Qingyangzi said excitedly.

“I hid the ancient books and the Isoyo sword there, and no one can find them.”

"Great! We can finally cultivate in peace."

Shi Ji also said excitedly.

"For the past month, I've been hunted by the enemy and have narrowly escaped death several times. Now, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"Yes, I've been on tenterhooks for the past month, afraid that the treasure will be stolen," Qingyangzi sighed.

"But now it's all good, we can finally cultivate in peace."

“Yes, we must work hard to cultivate and improve our strength. Only in this way can we better protect the treasures and the people around us,” Shi Ji said firmly.

Thus began their life of training in the valley. Every day, they studied ancient texts, constantly absorbing profound knowledge of cultivation and the essence of swordsmanship. At the same time, they also practiced with the Isoyo sword, honing their swordsmanship skills.

Looking at Shi Ji's increasingly refined swordsmanship, Qing Yangzi couldn't help but exclaim, "Brother Shi, your swordsmanship is truly divinely inspired. Such a rapid pace of progress is truly astonishing."

Shi Ji smiled and replied, "This is all thanks to the guidance of the ancient books and the Ji Yang Sword, as well as your company and sparring."

"Haha, we've helped each other succeed," Qingyangzi said with a hearty laugh.

As time went by, their swordsmanship became increasingly sharp, and their cultivation steadily improved. However, they also understood that this peace would not last long. The pursuit and competition from the outside world would sooner or later shatter the tranquility of this valley.

One morning, as sunlight bathed the valley, Shiji and Qingyangzi were practicing their swordsmanship. Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from the valley entrance in the distance.

"It seems our peaceful life is coming to an end." Shi Ji sighed softly and sheathed the Ji Yang sword in her hand.

Qingyangzi also stopped what he was doing, looked towards the entrance of the valley, and frowned: "Brother Shi, what should we do?"

"We'll meet force with force, and we'll dam water with earth." A resolute glint flashed in Shi Ji's eyes. "We are no longer who we were before. With the ancient books and the Ji Yang Sword, we have enough strength to face any challenge."

A short while later, a group of cultivators dressed in black burst into the valley. Their eyes were fixed greedily on Shi Ji and Qing Yangzi, especially on the Ji Yang Sword in Shi Ji's hand, which made them drool.

"Hand over the Jiyang Sword and the ancient book, and we may spare your lives," the leader of the men in black said coldly.

Shi Ji and Qing Yangzi exchanged a smile; such a threat was no longer worth mentioning to them.

"Want the Jiyang Sword and the ancient books? Let's see if you have the ability," Shiji said disdainfully.

The group of men in black were completely enraged and drew their weapons, launching a frenzied attack on Shi Ji and Qing Yangzi.

However, after this period of dedicated training, Shiji and Qingyangzi's strength is now vastly different from what it used to be.

Their figures flickered and moved like ghosts, easily dodging every attack from the men in black. At the same time, the Xiaoyang Sword in their hands transformed into a sky full of sword light, slashing sharply at the men in black.

After a fierce exchange, the men in black fell to the ground one after another.

The leader of the men in black stared at Shi Ji and Qing Yangzi with eyes full of terror, asking incredulously, "You... how did you become so powerful?"

"We have to thank you for forcing us," Shi Ji sneered. "It is you who have made us grow stronger and stronger. Now, it is time for you to pay the price."

Before he finished speaking, he swung his Xiaoyang sword again, and a sharp sword light flashed, causing the leading man in black to fall to the ground.

Upon seeing this, the other men in black were so frightened that they fled in panic and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

After the battle, Shiji and Qingyangzi looked at each other and smiled.

They knew in their hearts that this was not the end, but merely the beginning. The road ahead was long and destined to be full of difficulties and obstacles.

But they also firmly believe that as long as they work together, there is no obstacle they cannot overcome. (End of Chapter)