“Lin Tian, you are the first to arrive here, it seems you are fated with me. I have decided to bestow the divine skill upon you.”
Longbrow True Man continued to impersonate the Heavenly Phoenix Elder, his aged voice filled with supreme authority.
Lin Tian was overjoyed, “Many thanks, Senior…”
“Don’t be so quick to thank me. Do something for me first.”
Longbrow True Man said, “Kill all the people from the other sects. I do not wish to be disturbed, understand?”
“This junior understands!” Lin Tian agreed readily.
Longbrow True Man added, “After you kill them, go to the peach grove. I have placed the divine skill under a peach tree, named the *Sunflower Manual*!”
“Thank you, Senior.” Lin Tian stood quickly, ready to kill and seek the divine skill.
“Wait,” Longbrow True Man said again. “Lin Tian, are you just going to leave like that?”
Lin Tian paused, confused, and asked, “Does Senior have further instructions?”
“I’ve told you where the divine skill is hidden, and you don’t plan to show your gratitude?”
Lin Tian understood, hurriedly kneeling and respectfully kowtowing to the statue.
Thud, thud, thud!
He knocked his head three times, then said, “Senior’s kindness to this junior is unforgettable. I swear here, once I become a saint, I will erect a memorial shrine for Senior, offering daily incense and prayers for your blessings.”
Longbrow True Man chuckled, “You’re a sensible lad.”
Lin Tian stood, saying, “Senior, this junior will now go kill the others from the sects. Rest well.”
At that moment, behind the statue, Ye Qiu quickly gestured to Longbrow True Man.
Longbrow True Man understood and said, “Lin Tian, that sword in your hand, is it a sacred artefact of the Yin-Yang Sect?”
“Yes,” Lin Tian replied. “This sword is called the Yin-Yang Holy Sword, one of the ten sacred artefacts of the Yin-Yang Sect.”
What a treasure!
Longbrow True Man said, “Leave the sword here.”
What?
Lin Tian froze, looking at the statue in confusion, tempted to ask what Senior meant.
Longbrow True Man explained, “Didn’t you say the others are no match for you? Prove it to me.”
“Leave the sword here, and I’ll keep it safe for now.”
“After you kill the others, return for the sword, and I’ll grant you another opportunity.”
So Senior is testing me.
Without hesitation, Lin Tian removed the scabbard from his back, sheathed the sword, and placed the Yin-Yang Holy Sword on the ground.
“Senior, wait a moment. I’ll return after killing the others.”
With that, Lin Tian dashed out like lightning, eager to eliminate the others.
After a while, confirming Lin Tian had left, laughter erupted from behind the statue.
“Damn, I’m dying of laughter. This holy son of the Yin-Yang Sect is such an idiot!” Longbrow True Man laughed until tears formed, saying, “Not only did he castrate himself, he left his sword here. Utterly foolish.”
Lüluo giggled, “Daoist, Young Master Ye, you two are so naughty.”
“Miss Lüluo, that’s not fair. How is this naughty? It’s clever,” Longbrow True Man said. “If I hadn’t thought fast, we’d have faced a fierce fight. Don’t forget, this holy son of the Yin-Yang Sect is a peak Celestial Cave expert.”
Fairy Hundred Flowers said, “The leaders of the other sects outside are all at the peak of Celestial Cave. Even if Lin Tian manages to kill them, he’ll likely be gravely injured.”
Ye Qiu added, “Luckily, the saint’s grand array hasn’t fully collapsed, or those Transcendent Realm powerhouses would have entered, and we’d be in real trouble.”
Fairy Hundred Flowers said, “For safety’s sake, we should leave quickly.”
“Yes,” Ye Qiu nodded.
The group emerged from behind the statue.
Ye Qiu, walking last, glanced back casually and stopped in his tracks.
“What’s wrong?” Fairy Hundred Flowers noticed his pause and asked.
Ye Qiu didn’t respond. He carefully lifted a floor tile beneath the statue, revealing a black wooden box.
“Another treasure?” Longbrow True Man was stunned.
Ye Qiu picked up the box and opened it, finding a red pill inside.
The pill had no medicinal fragrance, and its grade was unclear.
Beneath it lay a piece of parchment with a few lines written on it.
“In my life, I loved studying alchemy, but I never managed to refine a saint-grade pill. This pill had the best chance of reaching that level, yet after thirty years, it failed, leaving me with regret.”
Longbrow True Man, initially eager for the pill, lost interest upon hearing this.
“I thought it was something good, but it’s just a failed pill,” he said dismissively.
Fairy Hundred Flowers said to Ye Qiu, “Keep the pill. It might be useful to you.”
“Yes,” Ye Qiu stored the pill.
“Little rascal, since you got the pill, don’t fight me for the sword,” Longbrow True Man said, darting forward with a “swish” to grab the Yin-Yang Holy Sword.
“Didn’t expect to get a sacred artefact so easily.”
Longbrow True Man drew the sword.
Clang—
As the sword left its sheath, it rang like a dragon’s cry, its aura filling the cave.
Yin-yang energies swirled on the blade, making it extraordinarily remarkable.
Longbrow True Man swung the sword, and with a “boom,” a crack dozens of metres long appeared on the ground.
“What a sword!” Longbrow True Man couldn’t put it down.
“It’s a fine sword, but Daoist, you can’t fully control it yet,” Fairy Hundred Flowers said.
“Why not?” Longbrow True Man asked, puzzled.
Fairy Hundred Flowers explained, “Sacred artefacts like this are bound to their owners. Only by erasing the owner’s aura can you truly claim it.”
“For example, if you fought Lin Tian with this sword, he could recall it with a single thought, or it might even attack you on its own.”
Longbrow True Man’s expression changed, “Fairy, you mean this sword still carries Lin Tian’s aura?”
Fairy Hundred Flowers nodded, “Yes.”
“Then how can I fully claim this sword?” Longbrow True Man asked.
Fairy Hundred Flowers said, “There are two ways to erase the owner’s aura.”
“The first is to forcibly remove it, like if your cultivation surpassed Lin Tian’s, you could directly erase his aura from the sword.”
Longbrow True Man said, “Fairy, tell me the second way. Lin Tian is a peak Celestial Cave expert, and even if I overcome tribulation, I’d still be a realm below him. Forcibly erasing his aura isn’t realistic.”
Fairy Hundred Flowers said, “The second way is simpler: kill Lin Tian.”
“Once Lin Tian is dead, not only this sword but the entire cultivation world will be free of his aura.”
“The sword will then be ownerless.”
Longbrow True Man stroked his chin, saying, “Killing him sounds like a good plan.”
But at that moment, Lin Tian returned!
