Wandering Swordsman |

He gently raised his hand, his fingertips tracing the air, and could sense the most subtle changes in the airflow between heaven and earth; with a thought, his inner strength surged like a river, yet was as gentle as a stream, without a trace of violence. He felt as if he had formed some kind of secret connection with this world—the breathing of grass and trees, the whisper of the mountain wind, the dripping of morning dew... all were clearly discernible in his heart.

He stood up, his posture as upright as a pine tree, his aura restrained yet as profound as the sea.

Just then, the Green Ox Sword that had been circling around him slowly stopped, its hilt lightly touching his palm, as if seeking praise.

Shen Mo looked at the ancient sword, which possessed extraordinary spirituality, and was slightly surprised, but not alarmed. He recalled the past in the Demon Refining Mountain, when the Green Ox transformed into a sword and helped him slay the black flame figure, and a bitter smile appeared on his lips: "Green Ox, you're becoming more and more human-like."

He reached out and grasped the hilt of the sword.

Just as the sword entered his palm—

"Moo—!"

A deep, resonant bellow of a blue ox echoed from the depths of the sword, as if from ancient times, or as if whispered in one's ear. The sound was not deafening, but it penetrated the very soul, carrying a hint of relief and a hint of entrustment.

Shen Mo was startled, but then felt relieved.

With a thought, the demonic energy dormant within the Green Ox Sword flowed back into the body like rivers flowing into the sea.

However, this time—

When the demonic energy entered his body, he became as docile as a wanderer returning home!

Instead of becoming violent, it subtly resonated with his newly formed Buddhist power, like yin following yang, or water moving with the wind.

With a slight movement, the demonic energy flowed effortlessly, without the slightest stagnation.

What shocked him even more was that the Heavenly Demon Qi at this moment was more than ten times stronger than before! It could summon a black tide with a single thought and condense a baleful wind with a single breath. It was as if he had never truly understood how to use this power since he obtained the Heavenly Demon Qi.

"So the demonic energy couldn't suppress the Buddha's power in the relic... It's not that the demonic energy wasn't strong, but that I was too weak." Shen Mo gripped the Green Ox Sword tightly, his eyes flashing like lightning, as if he had already reached the realm of invincibility.

He slowly sheathed the Green Ox Sword.

The moment the sword was sheathed, the blue light disappeared, and the world returned to calm.

......

Deep in the Cangshan Mountains, clouds and mist swirl around.

Inside a training room of the Righteous Alliance, there were no windows on the four walls, only the dim yellow light of an ancient bronze lamp illuminating the figure of Situ Changkong sitting cross-legged on a futon.

His face was pale, sweat beaded on his forehead, and three faint auras flowed around him—one was clear and ethereal, which was the "Heavenly Void True Qi"; another was like a cold spring under the moon, which was the "Formless Scripture"; and the third was like a spring breeze and rain, which was the "Great Method of Eliminating Power".

The three practices should be cultivated simultaneously, complementing each other and jointly forming the foundation of the "Divine Martial Return to Truth Technique".

Half a month later, Situ Changkong not only failed to make a breakthrough, but his internal energy became stagnant and his true qi became mixed. Whenever he circulated his qi to the point where the three rivers converged, it was like three rivers vying for control, each refusing to give way, and even faintly clashing with each other.

He originally thought that after abandoning his martial arts, his foundation was cleansed and he could rebuild his divine skills. However, he did not expect that he could not even recover 30% of his former strength, let alone surpass it.

"Why...why is there no progress?" He suddenly opened his eyes, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails dug deep into his palms, his eyes filled with anxiety and resentment. "Cultivating all three skills simultaneously, day and night without ceasing...could it be that the 'Divine Martial Return to Truth Technique' is just a scam? Or...am I simply not talented enough?"

He looked down at his trembling hands—hands that had once rendered countless merits to the Martial Alliance, now unable to even maintain the internal energy needed for a cup of tea.

Just then, a faint fragrance quietly wafted through the air, like a blood lotus just beginning to bloom, or like whispers under the moon.

The Crimson Lotus Demon slowly emerged from the shadows, her red robe trailing on the ground, her crimson eyes like flames, yet she possessed no trace of demonic aura, instead exuding a gentle warmth.

She held a cup of hot tea in her hand and gently placed it on the table beside Situ Changkong.

"Brother Changkong," she said softly, like a gentle breeze rustling a willow branch, "you're pushing yourself again."

Situ Changkong did not answer, but said in a low voice, "I have destroyed all my martial arts, including the Taiyi True Skill, and severed the martial arts foundation of the Jingtian Pavilion. If I cannot master the Divine Martial Return to Truth Technique, how can I take back everything I have lost?"

The Crimson Lotus Demon crouched down, looking him in the eye, her gaze clear as a mirror: "But you've forgotten, how can divine skills be mastered overnight? You've only been here half a month, yet you can already simultaneously circulate three internal cultivation techniques without dissipating your energy or collapsing your meridians—this is already a prodigy!"

She paused, her fingertips gently tracing the back of his tense hand, and said softly, "Brother Changkong, it's alright. It's only been a short time. You've already done a remarkable job with this level of skill."

Situ Changkong raised his eyes and looked into the depths of her crimson pupils—there was no mockery, no scheming, only an almost devout trust.

"You... really believe I can master it?" Situ Changkong's voice was hoarse, like withered leaves rubbing against stone steps, but a faint yet stubborn flame burned in his eyes—an ambition and resentment that refused to be extinguished even after being repeatedly crushed by reality.

"Of course I believe you." She replied without hesitation, a slight smile playing on her lips, like a datura quietly blooming under the moonlight, exuding a captivating warmth amidst its allure. "I believe that one day you will completely master the three martial arts and complete the 'Divine Martial Return to Truth Technique'—at that time, I will accompany you to conquer the plains and reclaim everything that is rightfully yours. Situ Meng, the Martial Alliance, and even the entire Central Plains... will all grovel at your feet."

Her fingertips gently brushed against his brow bone, the movement almost devout: "Brother Changkong, you are just a true dragon whose potential has been delayed by fate. You are just a little bit of time, a little bit of opportunity... I'm waiting for you."

Situ Changkong felt a surge of warmth in his heart, as if his parched and cracked soul had been nourished by sweet rain. His throat bobbed, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, it only turned into a low sigh. He slowly nodded, closed his eyes again, and once more sank into the inner energy intertwined with the three streams of true qi.

The Crimson Lotus Demon rose and quietly retreated to the door, her gaze suddenly turning cold.

—Just an hour ago, in the council hall of the Righteous Alliance. Oda stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, his black robe as black as ink, his face cold and stern.

Honglian knelt on one knee, bowing her head to report: "Leader, Situ Changkong has been practicing martial arts for half a month. He has made some progress in cultivating the three secret manuals, but his true energy is mixed and has not yet been integrated. He cultivates diligently every day, but his mind is in turmoil, yet he still refuses to give up."

Upon hearing this, Oda clapped his hands and laughed, his deep laughter like muffled thunder rolling across the stone steps in front of the hall.

"Red Lotus, I will be away from the alliance when I go to the East Sea to welcome the Divine Emperor. You gave him the copies of the three secret manuals. You did a good job." He stepped forward, bent down and lifted Red Lotus's chin, his gaze sharp as a knife. "To make him willingly abandon his martial arts and willingly cultivate that ethereal 'Divine Martial Return to Truth Technique'... It is a brilliant plan to pave the way for us to cultivate the 'Divine Martial Return to Truth Technique' in the future."

He paused, his eyes flashing with a cold light like an ice blade being drawn from its sheath: "Continue to monitor him. If he can truly integrate the three skills and master the 'Divine Martial Return to Truth Technique,' I will personally introduce him to the Divine Emperor—the Divine Emperor is in dire need of a sharp blade that can sever the backbone of the righteous path in the Central Plains. If not…" He sneered, his fingertips lightly tracing the side of Honglian's neck, "then let him spend the rest of his life as your dual cultivation tool."

Honglian lowered her eyes, concealing the complex expression that flashed across them, and whispered, "Thank you, Chief. Your subordinate... obeys."

......