Wuxia: Become the 100-Victory Sword King at the Beginning

Chapter 290. Two swords dance before the bone formation, two hearts intertwine atop Kunlun Mountain.

The gale-force winds, sharp as knives, cleaved through the millennia-old snows of Kunlun. Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed from the depths of the icy abyss, as if an ancient ferocious beast had broken free of its seal. Thick, asphalt-like black blood shot into the sky, solidifying into a thirty-foot-high pillar of blood. The crimson and inky black intertwined, sketching out a hideous demonic face in the air.

However, with the support of Shi Feiyang's powerful and chilling Mingyu Gong, the roar of the Heavenly Frost Blade instantly tore the demon god apart.

As the pillar of blood collapsed with a deafening roar, the falling fragments of flesh and blood, along with uncorrupted faces, some with wide-open, angry eyes, others with gaping mouths screaming in agony, pierced the very soul with their shrill cries. Blood instantly seeped from the ears and noses of the onlookers, and even the distant snow-capped peaks seemed to shed a thousand-year-old frost and snow, creating a scene of utter desolation between heaven and earth.

In an instant, the sky turned an eerie crimson-purple, the clouds churning like boiling water, and a fierce wind carrying the sweet, pungent smell of blood rushed towards us, feeling as if it were grinding against our faces with sand. The leader of the White Bone Cult was surrounded by swirling blood mist, his black robes fluttering wildly, and the white bone blade in his hand spewed ghostly blue flames. Hundreds of human faces carved on the blade simultaneously emitted sobbing sounds like the cries of infants, echoing through the valley with a chilling resonance.

The ancient pines around the area, corroded by the blood mist, had cracked bark that oozed black sap, and their branches twisted into the shape of withered bones, as if they were wailing for this catastrophe; the once clear stream instantly turned into poisonous slurry, bubbling and gurgling, and the weeds on the bank withered and carbonized at a visible speed, with a nauseating stench filling the air.

"Mystic Ice Dragon Locking Formation!" The four elders of Kunlun roared in unison, slamming their green bamboo staffs heavily into the ground. Four ice dragons, imbued with the chilling aura of ten thousand years of mystic ice, burst forth from the earth. Their bodies were wreathed in a ghostly blue light, and wherever they passed, the air condensed into frost, and the ground cracked with spiderweb-like ice patterns.

The ice dragon, baring its fangs and claws, lunged at the cult leader, its roar echoing through the heavens. The Bone Cult Leader, however, cackled wickedly, his fingers, emerging from beneath his black robes, twisted like snakes, the knuckles grinding together with a teeth-grinding sound: "An ant trying to shake a tree, dares to stop me?"

The white bone blade traced a strange spiral arc, and ripples appeared in the space wherever the blade touched.

The ice dragon shattered instantly into thousands of ice spikes, which shot back towards the four elders.

Before the elders could dodge, their skin was torn apart as if by invisible claws, their flesh peeled off in chunks, revealing their stark white bones swaying in the cold wind.

Before it could even fall to the ground, it turned into scattered white bones. The sap from the broken bamboo staff turned into poisonous smoke upon landing, which, as it rose, condensed into the shape of a skull in the air.

Shi Feiyang stared at the elder, now reduced to bones, his eyes bloodshot with rage. His icy blue true energy erupted suddenly, forming a massive vortex. He unleashed the profound lightness skill of "Concealing One's Name and Body," darting out like an eagle, his robes billowing and whistling through the air: "Kunlun's thousand-year-old reputation cannot be tarnished by you! Today, I will use this righteous energy to sweep away all the demons and monsters under heaven!" He thought to himself: This fiendish technique is strange; I must first break its momentum, then find an opportunity to take its life.

The White Bone Cult Leader grinned and brandished his blade. The eerie blue flames emanating from the blade coalesced into three skeletal hounds, their venom dripping from their teeth and corroding the ground. He cursed, "You snot-nosed brat, how dare you speak so arrogantly? Wait until I drain your blood and use it as nourishment for this White Bone Blade!"

Shi Feiyang felt a chill run down his spine, knowing full well that the opponent's swordsmanship was insidious and that he needed to be cautious.

He lightly touched the ground with his toes, using the momentum of the vicious dog's attack to somersault in mid-air. His left palm rapidly formed a seal in front of his chest, and he roared, "Take this!" His left palm unleashed the Divine Dragon Claw technique, and in an instant, nine ice dragons shot out from his palm. The dragons' bodies were wrapped in a chilling aura, and the air crackled and froze wherever they passed. The ice dragons collided with the vicious dog with a deafening roar, sending ice shards and bone fragments flying. The surrounding ground suddenly sank, forming a huge crater with walls covered in sharp ice spikes and bone spurs.

Shi Feiyang pondered: Although the opponent's swordsmanship was ruthless, each strike consumed a lot of internal energy. As long as he found an opening, he could defeat the enemy in one blow.

He activated the "Supreme Forgetfulness of Emotions: Ice Soul Cold Prison" technique of Mingyu Gong, and the vortex of true energy around his body grew stronger and stronger, with dense ice shards condensing at the edges, gleaming with a ghostly blue deathly light.

Seeing this, the White Bone Cult Leader felt a flicker of panic, but still forced himself to roar, "Child's play! Behold my Nine Forms of Soul Devouring from the White Bone!" Nine illusory white bone figures lunged forward, baring their fangs and claws. Shi Feiyang, instead of retreating, advanced, already having a plan in mind: "Just what I wanted!"

He spun rapidly, transforming into an icy blue whirlwind. His true energy vortex morphed into a massive tornado, engulfing the skeletal phantoms. The phantoms let out a shrill scream as they were absorbed into black mist, which ironically made Shi Feiyang's true energy even stronger.

The two sides clashed fiercely, exchanging blows. Every move Shi Feiyang made was imbued with a steadfast belief in protecting the martial world; while every counterattack from the sect leader was filled with a greedy and insane thirst for power. Under the impact of the powerful energy energies, the surrounding environment continuously collapsed and deformed, and the entire Kunlun Mountains trembled in this fierce battle.

In the midst of the fierce battle, the White Bone Cult Leader grinned as he brandished his bone blade, the blade tracing a bizarre S-shaped trajectory. Ghostly blue flames condensed on the blade, forming a three-headed skeletal hound. Instantly, spiderweb-like cracks appeared on the surrounding rock surfaces, oozing a foul-smelling slime.

Shi Feiyang lightly touched his toes to the ground, using the momentum of the vicious dog's attack to somersault in the air. His left palm quickly formed a seal in front of his chest, and nine ice dragons leaped out from his palm, colliding violently with the vicious dog. Ice shards and bone fragments flew everywhere, and the ground within a ten-zhang radius suddenly collapsed, forming a huge pit with sharp ice spikes and bone spurs covering its walls.

The instant their palms clashed, the resulting shockwave was like a landslide and tsunami, shearing half of the mountainside away.

The flying rubble, mixed with rotting flesh, turned into a crimson rain of blood in the air.

The vegetation, drenched by the blood rain, instantly burst into eerie green flames, emitting a hissing sound.

Shi Feiyang suddenly shouted, "Xue Li, run! I'm going to lose control! Run!" He knew that going all out would affect innocent people, so he used the Mingyu Skill to build three layers of ice shields around himself. The shields were covered with fine runes, which reflected all the residual waves.

Each rebounding gust of air carved deep trenches in the ground, from which white, cold air continuously billowed.

The White Bone Cult Leader sneered repeatedly, believing that Shi Feiyang could no longer withstand his poisonous and evil arts. Xue Li, as Shi Feiyang's wife, naturally understood his intentions. She brandished her jade sword, forcing back the attacking enemies, and shouted loudly, "Heroes, leave quickly! Leave quickly!"

As the heroes of the martial arts world used their lightness skills to quickly retreat, the entire Kunlun Mountains suddenly trembled violently, and distant glaciers broke apart, producing a deafening roar.

In the blink of an eye, only the White Bone Cult Leader and Shi Feiyang remained at the White Bone Cult's headquarters.

Thanks to the triple blessing of the "Kunlun Heart-Questioning Technique", the supreme bloodline of the Sunflower Saintess, and Xu Fu's Immortal Pill, Shi Feiyang has cultivated the Mingyu Skill to the "Limitless Asura's Human Purgatory" realm, and his achievements far surpass those of his predecessors.

When Shi Feiyang activated the tenth level of "Boundless Asura's Human Purgatory", the air within a ten-mile radius suddenly froze.

This is what he meant by "going crazy," but in reality, it was to prevent innocent people from being harmed.

In that instant, the icy blue true energy vortex around Shi Feiyang began to twist and deform, with countless ice shards condensing at the edges, each shimmering with a ghostly blue light of death, like bone spurs forged from the deepest hell.

A mournful wail emanated from the center of the vortex, as if countless wronged souls were weeping within it.

As Mingyu Gong unleashed its full power, spiderweb-like cracks suddenly appeared in the ground. Wherever it passed, flowers and plants withered instantly, and snow turned to dust. The martial arts heroes watching from afar were horrified to discover that their exhaled breath was condensing into tiny ice crystals in the air, and the chill traveled along their meridians straight to their hearts.

At this moment, Shi Feiyang's arms spun rapidly like a windmill, each swing bringing with it shards of ice that wove a deadly net in the void. The surrounding clouds were churned by the powerful energy, forming a huge funnel shape, with flashes of icy blue lightning occasionally appearing within the dark clouds.

The White Bone Cult Leader seemed to sense an ominous sign, and wielded his twin blades, unleashing the "Nine Forms of White Bone Soul Devouring," nine illusory white bone figures lunging forward with bared fangs and claws. Shi Feiyang, instead of retreating, advanced, pivoting on his left foot and sweeping his right, his body spinning rapidly like a top, his true energy vortex transforming into a massive, icy-blue tornado. Wherever it passed, mountain rocks were instantly pulverized, the dust mingling with blood mist and ice shards in the air, forming a bizarre, colorful haze. He bent his elbow into a blade, using the tip as the sharp point, forcefully shattering two of the illusory figures. Amidst the flying ice shards, his right palm shot out like a serpent, aiming for the Cult Leader's Tanzhong acupoint. At this moment, the purple in the sky grew even more intense, as if it were about to drip blood.

Shi Feiyang struck out with both palms alternately, each strike leaving an icy blue palm print afterimage in the air. The afterimage lingered for a long time, confronting the illusory human face in the blood mist of the White Bone Cult Master, forming a bizarre and tragic scene.

For the first time, the leader of the White Bone Cult showed genuine fear on his face.

The ghostly blue flames that his white bone sword originally emitted began to dim under the pressure of Shi Feiyang's true energy.

"What... what kind of evil technique is this? This is not the Mingyu Technique! No! Absolutely not!" He roared and swung his knife. Nine white bone phantoms once again bared their fangs and claws and pounced on Shi Feiyang, but they began to disintegrate three zhang away from the true energy vortex.

The phantoms let out shrill screams and turned into black mist, which was then sucked into the vortex.

A chilling blue light gleamed in Shi Feiyang's eyes, and a cold smile curved his lips. He said in a deep voice, "This is a purgatory on earth, designed to refine evil and redeem justice. The evil aura that clings to you will end here today!"

After speaking, the vortex of true energy suddenly accelerated its rotation, transforming into a massive ice-blue tornado.

Where the tornado passed, the air emitted a sharp whistling sound, the ground rocks were torn apart, and ice fragments and decaying flesh were swept into the air.

The cult leader was horrified to realize that his internal energy was involuntarily flowing with the sword energy towards the vortex of true energy that Shi Feiyang was experiencing.

He tried to withdraw his sword and retreat, only to find his limbs bound by an invisible chill. "No! This is impossible!" His voice was filled with despair. "How could my White Bone Demon Art be no match for..." Shi Feiyang roared, countless ice blades shooting out from his vortex of true energy: "Open your eyes and see clearly! This is the true meaning of hell on earth—all evil spirits will be reduced to dust!"

Where the ice blades sliced ​​through, ripples spread through the space, and countless tiny cracks were cut into the air.

The cult leader's protective blood mist was easily torn apart like paper in front of the ice blade, revealing his terrified and distorted face.

Shi Feiyang felt the vortex of true energy greedily devouring the opponent's sword energy. He laughed loudly and declared, "Today, I will show you the true power of 'Hell on Earth'!"

With a light flick of his wrist, he unleashed the "Severing the Edge of Heaven" technique from the "Hundred Victories Swordplay," his sword strike as powerful as splitting mountains and shattering rocks.

As the blade struck, ripples seemed to spread through the space. The cult leader's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly unleashed the "Nine Forms of Soul Devouring from White Bones" once more.

Nine skeletal phantoms lunged forward, baring their fangs and claws, but the moment they touched the vortex of true energy, they melted away like snow in the sunlight. "How is this possible!" the sect leader staggered back, saying incredulously, "How could your true energy..."

"What is the righteous path?" Shi Feiyang raised his hand slightly, the wind from his palm like a blade, pointing straight to the sky, his icy blue true energy suddenly surging three zhang (approximately 10 meters). "It is the profound ice of Kunlun, the sharp edge of the Xiong Ying sword, and the inviolable righteous energy of all living beings under heaven!" Then, he continuously unleashed a series of icy beams from his palms, each one precisely piercing the major acupoints around the sect leader's body. "And you, you are nothing but a rat in the gutter!"

After eighty moves, the cult leader's figure appeared unsteady, like a candle flickering in the wind, while Shi Feiyang fought with increasing ferocity.

"Can you feel it?" Shi Feiyang's palm trembled slightly, and the sword energy lifted a strand of the sect leader's white hair. "Your power is flowing into my meridians along with the sword energy. This is the consequence of those who play with fire getting burned!"

Xue Li witnessed all of this from a short distance away, her heart filled with horror. She had never seen Shi Feiyang in such a terrifying light. At this moment, he seemed no longer to be the gentle husband, but rather the lord of purgatory who controlled life and death.

However, Xue Li also knew that all of this was to protect the martial arts world and their shared beliefs.

With Shi Feiyang's final roar, the vortex of true energy transformed into a massive ice-blue pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.

The pillar of light vaguely revealed the illusion of the eighteen levels of purgatory, where countless evil spirits wailed and struggled.

"Impossible... My painstakingly built empire..." A hint of fear flashed in the cult leader's eyes as he muttered to himself, his consciousness gradually fading, seemingly unable to express himself clearly anymore.

Shi Feiyang integrated the absorbed power with his own cultivation, his palm gleaming with a blinding blue light. He admonished, "This strike will send you to the eighteenth level of hell! Remember—this martial world will always belong to the righteous!"

"No! I'm not reconciled..." the cult leader roared in despair, but his voice was cut off by the sword energy.

Shi Feiyang's palms emitted an unstoppable blade of energy, piercing through the opponent's chest, and black pus gushed from the wound.

The leader of the White Bone Cult let out a miserable scream in the pillar of light. His body gradually disintegrated from his limbs into countless bone fragments.

Before each bone dissipated, it emitted a mournful cry of resentment.

The moment the White Bone Cult Leader shattered into pieces, Shi Feiyang coldly said, "If there is an afterlife, never do evil again." After the pillar of light dissipated, only a patch of scorched earth and scattered white bones remained.

Shi Feiyang slowly withdrew his technique, the chill emanating from him gradually dissipating, but a palpable pressure still lingered in the air, deterring anyone from making a rash move. This was the power of the tenth level of the Mingyu Gong, "The Limitless Asura's Hell on Earth"—it was not merely a martial art, but also Heaven's judgment on evil.

Xue Li flew lightly over and nestled into Shi Feiyang's arms, her voice trembling with the pain of her ordeal: "I know that as long as you are here, we can overcome anything."

The Jade Void Painting in the distance emitted a soft light, enveloping the lovers. Against the backdrop of blood rain and skeletal remains, it was like a warm splash of color in purgatory.

Xue Li's eyes were filled with the joy and deep affection of surviving a disaster. She spoke weakly, "Husband, thank you..." Shi Feiyang looked at her with tender eyes, gently wiped the blood from her face, and replied, "No need to thank me, we created a miracle together."

After surviving a life-or-death ordeal, Shi Feiyang and Xue Li stared at the Jade Void Map in their hands, damaged yet still radiating a mysterious light, their hearts filled with confusion. This Jade Void Map had not only helped them severely injure the Demon God and repel the White Bone Cult, but its hidden secrets were clearly far more extensive than that. Shi Feiyang gently stroked the mottled patterns on the map, noticing that the golden spots, though slightly dimmed, still emitted a faint glow, seemingly hinting at some kind of guidance.

“Xue Li, observe this spot of light. It has changed since we began practicing the ‘Kunlun Heart-Searching Technique’,” Shi Feiyang said, pointing to the spot of light. “Perhaps this is a new clue that the Jade Void Diagram is revealing to us.”

Xue Li leaned closer to examine it closely and discovered that the runes around the light seemed to come alive, slowly flowing and outlining a rough map. "This... seems to depict a region deep within the Kunlun Mountains." Xue Li frowned slightly. "Could there be some unknown secret hidden there?"

The two decided to follow this clue and explore further.

After several days of arduous trekking through the Kunlun Mountains, they finally arrived at a valley covered in ice and snow.

The valley was filled with a biting wind, as if countless vengeful spirits were wailing.

Xue Li suddenly pointed to the valley wall and cried out in surprise, "Husband, look!" They saw runes carved on the valley wall that resembled the Jade Void Diagram. As they approached, the runes began to emit a faint blue light, resonating with the Jade Void Diagram. Shi Feiyang activated his Bright Jade Skill, channeling his true energy into the Jade Void Diagram.

Instantly, the Jade Void Diagram shone brightly, and a beam of light shot into the depths of the valley wall.

The two followed the beam of light and eventually arrived at a hidden cave. The cave's stone door was tightly closed, and huge Bagua (Eight Trigrams) patterns were carved on it: Qian, Kun, Zhen, Xun, Kan, Li, Gen, and Dui, each exuding an ancient aura.

Xue Li was startled, realizing that this gossip was related to the records in the ancient books of the Kunlun Sect.

She had heard her master mention that there was a strange formation in Kunlun Mountain in ancient times, which was based on the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) and was said to be able to connect the power of heaven and earth.

Shi Feiyang stared at the Jade Void Diagram and noticed that the light spots on the diagram corresponded to the "Qian" trigram on the stone gate.

He understood immediately, and then raised his palm, channeling his true energy into the "Qian" trigram.

The stone door began to tremble slowly, emitting a deep sound. With a creak, a crack appeared in the stone door, and an ancient aura accompanied by a mysterious power rushed out.

The two entered the cave and found that the cave walls were inlaid with countless luminous pearls, illuminating the cave as if it were daytime. In the center of the cave, an ancient book was placed on a stone platform, with the four eye-catching characters "Kunlun Secret Scripture" engraved on its cover.

Just as Shi Feiyang was about to pick up the book, the array within the cave was suddenly triggered, and countless ice spikes surged from the ground. Xue Li swiftly brandished her jade sword to defend against the ice spikes, warning, "Be careful, this is a protective array!"

Shi Feiyang activated the Bright Jade Skill, his body surrounded by a jade-colored shield, and sped towards the stone platform. Just as he was about to touch the scriptures, the formation suddenly shone brightly, and a phantom of a Kunlun divine beast formed from condensed energy appeared, its sharp claws outstretched, pouncing towards them.

Xue Li and Shi Feiyang exchanged glances and simultaneously unleashed the "Kunlun Heart-Questioning Technique." Sword light and blade shadows clashed as they engaged in a fierce battle with the phantom of the divine beast. In the midst of the intense clash, the Jade Void Diagram once again emitted a dazzling light, resonating with the runes within the phantom of the divine beast.

Shi Feiyang noticed that whenever the Jade Void Diagram flashed, the divine beast's attack would slow down.

He immediately relayed this observation to Xue Li, and the two adjusted their attack rhythm. With the help of the Jade Void Diagram, they finally defeated the divine beast phantom and successfully seized the "Kunlun Secret Manual".

Turning to the ancient texts, one finds detailed records of the origins of the Kunlun Sect, its lost martial arts, and a shocking ancient secret: in ancient times, the Kunlun spiritual veins not only nurtured powerful forces but also sealed away an ancient demon god who attempted to destroy the world.

Long ago, the predecessors of the Kunlun Sect, together with numerous martial arts sects in the Central Plains, sacrificed countless heroes to successfully seal the Demon God. The Jade Void Diagram was the key to this seal. Unraveling the secrets of the Jade Void Diagram brought about a fundamental change in the fate of Shi Feiyang and Xue Li. The "Kunlun Heart-Searching Technique" contained within the Jade Void Diagram enabled Shi Feiyang and Xue Li to achieve a qualitative leap in their martial arts cultivation.

Shi Feiyang was originally proficient in many unique skills. The "Kunlun Inquiry Heart Technique" was integrated with his Mingyu Skill, Hundred Victory Knife Technique, Divine Dragon Claw, and Tathagata Palm, making his knife skills more versatile and his true energy flow more smoothly and naturally.

In the fierce battle with the enemy, his explosive power and endurance far exceeded those of the past.

After mastering the lost profound sword techniques of the Kunlun School, Xue Li's swordplay was incredibly powerful. Her moves combined the strength and ferocity of the Kunlun School with her own agility and grace. Her swordsmanship reached an unprecedented level, placing her among the top masters.

After discovering the secret of the ancient demon god's seal contained in the Jade Void Diagram, Shi Feiyang and Xue Li felt a great responsibility on their shoulders.

This is no longer a simple conflict between martial arts practitioners, but a sacred mission concerning the safety and well-being of all people in the world.

Shi Feiyang, who already harbored a heart of justice, was now even more determined to protect the martial world and completely seal the demon god. His mind became more and more composed, and he showed more calmness and responsibility when facing adversity.

Xue Li transforms from a woman obsessed with finding the Jade Void Map into a chivalrous woman with a heart for the world. She comes to understand the close connection between her personal destiny and the martial world and the common people, and her heart becomes stronger and more mature.

Their feat of successfully repelling the White Bone Cult and severely injuring the Demon God quickly became a legendary tale in the martial arts world, and their fame spread far and wide.

The Xiong Ying Society gained great prestige due to Shi Feiyang's heroic deeds, becoming an object of awe and respect from all major sects in the martial arts world. As the leader of the Xiong Ying Society, Shi Feiyang's influence in the martial arts world further expanded.

Xue Li, with her exceptional martial arts skills and courage, won the recognition and respect of the Kunlun Sect and other martial arts schools, thus changing her tragic fate as an outcast of the Kunlun Sect. Many martial arts figures came to her hoping to befriend her.

Led by his second senior brother Bai Mingzi, the disciples of the Kunlun Sect knelt down and pleaded with Xue Li to take on the position of sect leader.

Faced with such a request, Xue Li was caught in a dilemma and struggle.

If she accepts the position of sect leader, it means she must give up the mortal world and say goodbye to Shi Feiyang, whom she loves deeply.

The deep affection between husband and wife is hard to sever; what should she do? If she refuses, the kneeling and worship of hundreds of Kunlun Sect disciples will continue indefinitely.

The morning mist on the summit of Kunlun Mountain had not yet completely dissipated when three hundred Kunlun disciples knelt in a long line, stretching all the way to the Sunrise Viewing Platform.

On the bluestone slab in front of Bai Mingzi, tears had stained it with dark marks. His voice, though choked with sobs, was firm and powerful: "Junior Sister! Since Master's passing, the Kunlun Sect has been leaderless, and the White Bone Sect is eyeing us covetously. Only you can revive the sect!"

Xue Li's fingertips dug deeply into her palm, the coolness of the black iron ring seeping through her skin.

Shi Feiyang stood not far away, the cold light of the Frost Blade reflecting on his tightly furrowed brows.

Last night, they were still nestled by the campfire, and he promised to take her to Jiangnan to enjoy the misty rain of March. But now, they are separated by a courtyard full of kneeling martial arts practitioners, as if separated by the boundary of life and death.

“Feiyang…” Xue Li staggered forward half a step, only to see the elders suddenly bow their heads in unison.

The white-haired Taoist priest, Cangsong, who was at the head of the group, said in the wind: "The position of sect leader has been vacant for three years. The lives of the disciples of the seventy-two peaks of Kunlun and the safety of thousands of people in the martial world all depend on your decision, young lady!" He kowtowed heavily, leaving bloodstains on his forehead.

Shi Feiyang suddenly spoke, his voice deep and resonant, as if coming from the depths of his chest: "Xue Li, look at this sea of ​​clouds." He raised his hand and pointed to the rolling sea of ​​clouds on the horizon, then his gaze swept over the kneeling crowd. "Kunlun needs you now, just as the martial world needs someone to slay all the demons."

Tears welled up in Xue Li's eyes, washing away the rouge on her face and leaving mottled marks. "I have no intention of taking on the responsibility of sect leader!" She suddenly lost control of her emotions and threw herself into Shi Feiyang's arms, sobbing.

Her fingers gripped his lapel tightly. "I only long to be with you, to travel the world together! You promised to teach me swordsmanship and take me to the Tianshan Mountains to see the snow lotus..."

Shi Feiyang's whole body tensed, his Adam's apple bobbing as he tried to suppress the bitterness in his heart.

He gently released her fingers one by one, each separation feeling as if his blood was being torn apart: "Do you still remember the vow we made on the snowy cliffs of Kunlun? We swore to protect this land."

He placed her trembling hand on his chest. "Listen, this is our shared heart beating here."

Master Cangsong held the sect leader's seal in his hands, his fingers trembling slightly: "Sect Leader, the time has come..."

Xue Li suddenly straightened up, and although tears were still glistening on her cheeks, she had regained the solemnity of a Kunlun disciple.

She turned and took the black iron ring. The moment the cold metal band fastened to her ring finger, she seemed to hear the sound of her own heart breaking. "Feiyang," her voice seemed to come from a distant shore.

"No need for further words." Shi Feiyang turned around abruptly, the cold light of the unsheathed Frost Blade startling the crows filling the courtyard.

He feared that if he looked at her any longer, he would abandon this world and flee to a distant land with her.

The mountain breeze ruffled the hems of their clothes, but it failed to bring their fingertips together again.

The sound of Kunlun bells and drums echoed in the clouds, and the new sect leader's Dharma name resounded among the mountains.

Xue Li stood on the viewing platform, gazing at Shi Feiyang's receding figure until it merged into the sea of ​​clouds.

The Kunlun imprint on the black iron ring hurt his palm, but the pain was nothing compared to the pain in his heart.

She finally realized that some love can only achieve eternity when placed between heaven and earth.

The setting sun bathed the Kunlun Mountains in a poignant crimson hue. Shi Feiyang, dragging his weary body, slowly descended the mountain path covered in shattered ice.

His robes were covered with glistening frost flowers that shimmered faintly in the twilight, and the Heavenly Frost Blade in his hand gleamed with a cold, eerie light, still carrying the chill of his fierce battle with the White Bone Cult.

At the end of the mountain path, the sound of orderly footsteps suddenly rang out, as awe-inspiring as war drums. Three thousand disciples of the Xiong Ying Society, clad in dark armor and wielding weapons, formed an impregnable black Great Wall, arrayed along the winding mountain path.

Liao Pei, a burly man known as "Tongbei Quan," stood at the front of the line, his eyes filled with reverence and excitement: "Grandmaster! The three thousand disciples of the Ningxia branch have been eagerly awaiting your return!"

Lie Quan slowly drew his "Qiankun Blade," its blade gleaming in the sunset: "Chief, your trip to Kunlun has truly shown the martial world what true heroism is. 'One blade can shatter ten thousand evils'—that's you for you!"

"Iron Palm" Wu Zhong crossed his palms, his movements powerful and forceful: "We heard that the Grand Master used the Bright Jade Skill to defeat the White Bone Sect. We were all on tenterhooks down the mountain. Now that we see you return safely, we can finally breathe a sigh of relief!"

Xiao Lingling, wielding the "Mandarin Duck Blades," lightly waved her jade-like hand, her twin blades tracing graceful arcs: "Rumor has it that the Grand Master and Miss Xue of Kunlun fight side by side. Just imagining that scene is enough to make one's blood boil. But seeing the Grand Master in person today, I realize that the rumors are nothing compared to your brilliance!"

"Divine Archer" Miao Menlong drew his bow and nocked an arrow, pointing straight to the sky: "With the Grand Master here, the Xiong Ying Society will surely make a name for itself in the martial world!" "Plum Blossom Dart" Shan Zhi opened his dart pouch, its cold light flashing: "Wherever the Grand Master points, I will go; I will go through fire and water without hesitation!" "Flying Eagle Detective" Xie Wen gently stroked the eagle on his shoulder, his gaze resolute: "Grand Master, please give the order!"

The young pageboy Shi Xiong pushed through the crowd, his eyes red and brimming with tears, and rushed to Shi Feiyang's feet, his voice trembling with sobs: "Young Master, you're finally back! I've been worried about you every day, afraid that something might have happened to you..."

Just then, a clear, melodious neighing of a horse pierced the sky.

Guo Xiangyu rode a snow-white steed, galloping towards them like a beautiful flash of lightning.

She dismounted gracefully, her flowing skirt billowing, like a crabapple blossom in full bloom, exuding fragrance and tenderness, and lightly nestled into Shi Feiyang's arms. She clung tightly to him, her arms seemingly using all her strength, as if afraid that if she let go, he would disappear from her sight.

"Feiyang, do you know how I've been these past few days?" Guo Xiangyu's voice choked with sobs, tears streaming down her face, soaking Shi Feiyang's clothes. "Every moment, I've been thinking of you, worrying about you. At night, I dream of you fighting the enemy on Kunlun Mountain. I often wake up from nightmares and then can't fall back asleep. I'm scared, so scared, scared that you'll get hurt, scared that you..."

She could no longer speak, and simply buried her face in Shi Feiyang's chest, sobbing incessantly.

Shi Feiyang gently stroked her long hair, feeling the trembling and unease of the girl in his arms, his heart filled with heartache. "Xiangyu, don't cry, I'm back safe and sound, aren't I?"

Guo Xiangyu raised her head, her face, streaked with tears, filled with deep affection and longing: "Feiyang, promise me that no matter what danger you encounter in the future, you will think of me first, and remember that I am waiting for you. I don't want any martial arts world domination, I don't want to be the supreme martial arts master, I just want you to be safe and sound, and I just want you to always be by my side."

She tiptoed and pressed her face against Shi Feiyang's, saying gently, "You are my everything, my life. Without you, nothing in this world has any meaning for me. Wherever you go, I will follow you. Through life and death, I will be with you." Looking into Guo Xiangyu's affectionate eyes, Shi Feiyang felt a surge of warmth in his heart.

He gripped Guo Xiangyu's hand tightly, his gaze sweeping firmly over the three thousand disciples before him, and declared in a loud voice: "Brothers and sisters! Although we have won the battle of Kunlun, the situation remains precarious. Although the White Bone Sect has been defeated, the chaos in Bozhou is not yet quelled, and countless people are still suffering. From the very beginning, the Xiong Ying Society has upheld the principle that 'the greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people.' Today, I swear here: I will not return to Jiangnan until I have destroyed Yang Yinglong's rebel army and eliminated the wicked!"

He raised the Heavenly Frost Blade, its blade pointing straight to the sky: "I raise the majestic cherry blossom not to dominate the martial world, but to protect this vast land and all living beings! From this day forward, we swear an oath of blood, working together to bring back the bright blue sky to this martial world! And Xiangyu, rest assured, I will live well, not only for the greater good of the martial world, but also to protect you forever."

Guo Xiangyu nestled beside Shi Feiyang, her eyes filled with admiration and love: "Feiyang, I knew you were the most upright hero in the world. No matter how many difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, I will always be with you and be your strongest support."

Upon hearing this, the three thousand disciples shouted in unison, "The Grand Master is mighty! The Grand Master is mighty! With his majestic presence, he is invincible under heaven, protecting all living beings for a thousand autumns and ten thousand years!" The sound shook the heavens and startled birds all over the mountain, which circled in the blood-red sky, also cheering for this lofty ambition and deep affection.

Shi Feiyang drew his Heavenly Frost Blade, raised it high, and roared, "Let's go! Target: Bozhou!"

The three thousand disciples turned their horses around and rode away, raising dust in the procession.

Shi Feiyang carried Guo Xiangyu onto his horse, and together they rode swiftly, their horses flying past each other. They nestled happily together on their way to Bozhou to quell the rebellion.

(End of this chapter)