Wandering Swordsman |

Odin felt that his dantian was completely empty, as if it had been hollowed out by an invisible hand.

He could clearly feel that there was no more flow of true qi in his body, and even the faintest sense of qi had disappeared.

A hollow chill emanated from my dantian, like a body whose soul had been drained.

However, at this moment all his attention was focused on Alice in mid-air, and he paid no attention to what Shen Mo had done to him.

His once simple and natural appearance aged with the loss of his martial prowess.

But his gaze never left Alice; those eyes, which once looked down upon the world, were now filled with worry and reluctance for his daughter.

He tried to speak, but could only manage a faint whisper, conveying his silent plea through his eyes.

Shen Mo watched this scene quietly, a strange and indescribable feeling stirring within him.

He recalled the rumors he had heard along the way about the Invincible Lord—how ruthless and heartless he was in his pursuit of the ultimate martial arts. Yet now, this once invincible leader of the Seven Stars was completely indifferent to the martial arts he had dedicated his life to, all for the sake of his daughter.

"So," Shen Mo thought to himself, "the highest realm of martial arts is not the ultimate power, but letting go."

He paused for a moment, his gaze sharp: "Odin, as long as you reveal the whereabouts of Hua Shenyong's wife, all the past will be wiped clean."

Odin struggled to lift his head, his eyes filled with pain and struggle. He looked at Alice in mid-air, his voice weak but firm: "I promise you! Release Alice first."

His voice held no hesitation, only concern for his daughter.

At this moment, he was no longer the arrogant and invincible lord, but a father who only wanted to protect his daughter.

Shen Mo nodded slightly, then withdrew his right hand, and Alice slowly fell back to the ground.

She staggered toward her father, knelt beside him, and embraced Odin tightly. Her body trembled slightly, and tears silently streamed down her face, dripping onto Odin's blood-stained clothes.

"Father," she said, choking back tears, "I'm so sorry for making you suffer."

Odin, his hands trembling, raised them and gently stroked his daughter's cheek, his eyes filled with tears: "It's alright, my child. I'd do anything as long as you're safe."

Shen Mo watched this scene quietly, his voice calm yet carrying an undeniable authority: "Where is Hua Tianyou's mother?"

Odin's voice was weak yet clear, each word carrying an indescribable weight: "When I learned of Hua Shenyong's death and Hua Tianyou's disappearance, I did not kill Madam Hua." He breathed heavily, his gaze never leaving Alice. "At that time, she was just a weak woman. Even though she wanted to kill me, she was powerless against me. So I sent her back to her hometown—Marseille, in the southern part of the English Empire."

He paused, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes: "Furthermore, I ordered that Hua Shenyong's body be removed from his simple grave and sent back to Marseille along with Madam Hua. There, I chose a quiet burial site for Hua Shenyong, so that he may rest in peace."

When Hua Tianyou heard the news that his mother was in England, he was struck dumb.

His eyes instantly filled with tears, and his hands gripped his clothes tightly until his knuckles turned white. He remembered his father's face on his deathbed, and his longing for his mother. At that moment, he wished he could grow wings and fly over mountains and rivers to see his mother one last time.

"Mother..." he murmured, his voice trembling, "I...I'll be able to see her soon."

Shen Mo, seeing Hua Tianyou's excited expression, nodded slightly. "Heavenly Demon Lord," his voice was gentle yet firm, "if you wish to go, then go immediately. I have matters to attend to here; I will come to Marseille to find you later."

He slowly turned around, his gaze fixed on the Heavenly Demon Totem standing atop the icy plain in the distance. Shen Mo's eyes deepened, as if he were conversing with some being beyond time and space.

Hua Tianyou knelt before Shen Mo, his eyes filled with gratitude and respect. "Thank you, my lord!" His voice choked with emotion, yet brimming with unwavering resolve.

He stood up, turned to leave, but heard a faint yet clear voice behind him.

"Hua Tianyou," the Invincible Duke's voice, though weak, carried an undeniable authority, "let Knight Commander Thorne accompany you. This way, the journey will be smooth sailing, and you should not refuse. Right now, nothing is more important than seeing your mother as soon as possible."

Hua Tianyou stopped and turned to look at Wudi Gong. He didn't speak. He didn't know what to say to his enemy.

"Mr. Hua," Albert suddenly spoke, his voice firm and unwavering, "then I will go with you." He paused, then added, "After all, the Seven Star status can be quite useful sometimes."

Hua Tianyou was taken aback, then understood Albert's intention. He nodded gratefully, "Thank you."

Watching this scene, Odin's eyes flashed with a hint of relief. "Go," Odin's voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable firmness, "go to see your mother. It was I who wronged your family back then!"

......

Hua Tianyou, Thorne, and Albert have already left, leaving only Shen Mo, Odin, and Alice.

"Odin, why have you come here?" Shen Mo's voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. He stood before Odin, his gaze piercing, as if he could see right through people's hearts.

Odin raised his eyes with difficulty, a complex light flashing within them. "Back then, Hua Shenyong came to the far west in search of the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art,' I learned this from him." His voice was weak, yet filled with deep emotion. "Imagine, if even someone as powerful as Hua Shenyong was pursuing the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art,' how powerful must it be? Therefore, its allure for me was fatal. To become stronger, to advance further on the path of martial arts, I crossed the line of morality."

He paused, his voice filled with unspeakable regret: "Back then, all I thought about was becoming stronger. Now I see how ridiculous and ignorant I was."

Shen Mo was slightly taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He recalled how he had followed Invincible Lord all the way to this place and seen the Heavenly Demon Totem. So Invincible Lord's true purpose was the "Heavenly Demon Divine Skill"—what a coincidence!

At this moment, Shen Mo suddenly recalled the message he had found in the ice cave: "Continue westward! Fate will lead you to the place where I perfected the 'Heavenly Demon Divine Art'." Shen Mo's heart began to beat faster.

"Fate..." he murmured, his voice so soft it was almost inaudible, "Does it really exist?"

He recalled his five years on Demon Refining Mountain, the 108th Heavenly Demon Totem he had never found, and every detail of his journey to becoming a Heavenly Demon God. Was all of this truly just a coincidence? Or had fate already arranged everything in the dark?