Marrying Wives and Attaining Immortality in a Chaotic World

Chapter 302: The First Battle

Just as Xu Lian had left the ancestral lands of the Divine Race, he suddenly turned back. He remembered Huo Xin’er, the Sword Servant, and two sword disciples, Yun Conglong and Feng Conghu.

When Xu Lian became an honorary disciple of the Sword Pavilion, the Pavilion assigned Huo Xin’er, Yun Conglong, and Feng Conghu to him as his followers. Their fates were now irrevocably tied to his own.

If Xu Lian defeated the other honorary disciples and reached the Sword Pavilion where he was chosen as the new Sword Emperor, their status within the Sword Pavilion would soar. They would have hitched their wagon to the right star.

But if Xu Lian lost to another honorary disciple or failed to reach the Sword Pavilion-or even if he reached it but wasn’t chosen as the new Sword Emperor-their standing, along with that of their families, would decline.

Thus, Xu Lian felt it necessary to bring the three of them along for this Sword Dao contest. Regardless of the outcome, they deserved to know the results firsthand.

“Master, you will surely defeat the other honorary disciples and become the new Sword Emperor!”

Huo Xin’er looked at Xu Lian with fiery admiration. Over the decades, she had witnessed his meteoric rise from the Transformation Strength rank to his current position as one of the top powers in the Origin Tracing Realm. A cultivator who reached such heights in less than a century was an extremely rare phenomenon in history, like a phoenix feather or a unicorn horn. It was clear how extraordinary Xu Lian’s talent was.

Xu Lian smirked, adopting the demeanor of a “domineering CEO” as he pulled Huo Xin’er close by her slender waist. Even after bearing him two sons and two daughters, she still maintained her youthful figure, resembling the maiden he had first met decades ago. She continued to address him as “Master,” treating every word he spoke as a command. Her eyes, filled with fervent adoration, were always a source of satisfaction to him. What man wouldn’t enjoy being adored by such a beautiful female sword cultivator?

“What if I lose?” Xu Lian asked. “Would you abandon me and return to the Sword Pavilion, or would you stay by my side?”

In the Origin Tracing Realm track, Xu Lian was absolutely confident in his ability to defeat the other honorary disciples and reach the Sword Pavilion. However, whether he would be chosen by the lingering will of the Sword Emperor to become the new Sword Emperor was uncertain. After all, no one could fathom the thoughts of the Sword Emperor during his lifetime.

Huo Xin’er firmly stated, “Master cannot lose. With your cultivation at the seventh stage of Origin Tracing and wielding the Sword of Destruction, Master is already invincible among those in the Origin Tracing Realm.”

Xu Lian chuckled. “I’m talking about the ‘what if’. There’s always a chance, no matter how small.”

Huo Xin’er thought for a moment. “Even if Master were to lose, it would only be due to a momentary lapse in attention, which doesn’t count. Or maybe the opponent has been cultivating for many more years. If they win, it would be an unfair victory. The master could surpass them with just a few more decades of cultivation. Temporary setbacks mean nothing.”

She certainly knew how to make excuses for her master… and Xu Lian loved hearing them. “After this Sword Dao Competition is over, when we return to the ancestral lands of the Divine Race, Xin’er, give me another child. You’re so beautiful – it would be a shame not to have more children with you.”

Huo Xin’er obediently murmured her agreement.

Yun Conglong and Feng Conghu were also full of excitement. Their future – and the future of their families – within the Sword Pavilion depended entirely on their master. After decades of loyalty, they were about to see the fruits of their devotion.

Having reached the pinnacle of the Origin Tracing Realm in less than a century, Xu Lian stood a strong chance of being chosen as the new Sword Emperor-far greater than any of the other honorary disciples. Both men were well aware of this fact.

“May Master triumph in every battle, reach the Sword Pavilion, inherit the Sword Emperor’s legacy, and ascend as the new Sword Emperor!”

“Victory belongs to the master!”

Xu Lian smiled. “For myself and all of you, I will give it my all.”

With that, he took the three of them across space to the location of the first battle.

Tiezhou Prefecture.

Xu Lian arrived, accompanied by Huo Xin’er, Yun Conglong, and Feng Conghu, and hovered in the air above the city.

Built around a mining site, this prefecture capital lacked the vibrant splendor of typical cities. Instead, it exuded a rugged charm. Streets and buildings were constructed of large boulders taken directly from the surrounding area.

It was said that the iron ore mined here was an excellent material for making flying swords – both durable and light. Years of mining had hollowed out the central mountain, leaving a gaping void beneath the surface. From above, the city center resembled a black hole.

“My opponent hasn’t arrived yet?”

Xu Lian swept his senses across the entire Tiezhou Prefecture. There wasn’t a single cultivator at the level of Origin Tracing Realm. The strongest presence belonged to the city lord who was at the Unity Realm and was also the owner of the mine. Obviously, the city lord was not a threat. His opponent had not yet arrived.

“He’s putting on quite the airs, making Master wait like this,” Huo Xin’er huffed disdainfully.

“…” Xu Lian replied, “It’s fine to wait. Perhaps they were delayed by something.”

And so, Xu Lian, along with Huo Xin’er, Yun Conglong, and Feng Conghu, descended into the city and checked into an inn. With no need to cultivate, Xu Lian decided to pass the time by exploring the city with Huo Xin’er. As night fell, intimate moments inevitably followed. Although his progression points were sufficient, this wasn’t about gaining more – it was simply because he cherished Huo Xin’er.

Six days passed like this.

Suddenly, four figures appeared in the sky above Tiezhou Prefecture.

One of them was a young-looking man at the Origin Tracing Realm, though his aura carried a sense of weariness, suggesting that his age was far greater than his appearance implied.

Next to him was a middle-aged woman holding an ancient purple sword. Wrinkles marked the corners of her eyes, but traces of her former beauty remained. Her cultivation was at the Return to Truth Realm.

The other two were elderly men, both at the Return to Void Realm.

The moment these four appeared, Xu Lian sensed their presence. “My opponent has arrived.”

The young-looking man was undoubtedly his opponent. The middle-aged woman was his sword servant, while the two elderly men were his sword disciples. Despite their different appearances, their ages were probably similar; the difference in their appearance was due to the difference in their cultivation levels and life spans.

Xu Lian, accompanied by Huo Xin’er, Yun Conglong, and Feng Conghu, instantly appeared in the air and faced the four newcomers.

Upon seeing Xu Lian and his group, the opposing four were visibly startled. They were far too young.

“Are you my opponent?”

The young man’s gaze flickered with doubt as he scanned Xu Lian and his companions. His eyes finally settled on Xu Lian, recognizing him as the leader of the group.

“Judging by your life force, you can’t be more than a century old. Do you truly possess cultivation at the Origin Tracing Realm?”

Due to Xu Lian’s use of secret techniques to conceal the divine laws of his homeland, others couldn’t identify him as the Holy Son of Nine Heavens based on this characteristic alone.

“That’s right,” Xu Lian replied. “I am your opponent.”

The young man’s expression became serious. An Origin Tracing Realm cultivator under a century old was undoubtedly among the most elite geniuses of all time.