Marrying Wives and Attaining Immortality in a Chaotic World

Chapter 304: The Swords Servant’s Duel

Accompanied by his sword servant Huo Xin’er and sword disciples Yun Conglong and Feng Conghu, Xu Lian crossed space and continued onward toward the Sword Pavilion, heading for the location of the second battle.

Qifeng Mountain.

Xu Lian had been here before – during the selection process to become the son-in-law of the Yin Dynasty.

Now that the imperial capital of the Yin Dynasty was no longer here, the area had become desolate. Though “desolate” wasn’t quite accurate; the molten lava flowing from Qifeng Mountain radiated intense heat, bathing half the sky in a fiery red glow. It certainly didn’t feel quiet or cold.

As Xu Lian approached, he spotted two figures.

One was a young man sitting cross-legged in midair, his eyes closed as if meditating. Although his appearance was youthful, his life force revealed an age of over a thousand years.

The other was a middle-aged woman, also with a life span of over a millennium. She stood silently behind the young man, holding a sword case in her hands.

These were most likely the honorary disciple of the Sword Pavilion and his sword servant. There was no sign of any sword disciples-perhaps they had already passed away due to old age?

Yun Conglong and Feng Conghu exchanged glances and felt a sense of relief. Thankfully, their master possessed unparalleled cultivation talents, achieving the pinnacle of the Origin Tracing Realm in less than a century. And fortunately, the Sword Pavilion’s Dao of the Sword competition had started early. If it had been delayed by another millennium or two, they too might have perished before witnessing their master’s participation.

Of course, even if the sword disciples died, their families remained bound to the honorary disciple. If the disciple succeeded in becoming the new Sword Emperor, their families would still benefit from the association.

“Are you also an honorary disciple of the Sword Pavilion? My opponent?”

Sensing the arrival of Xu Lian and his group, the young man opened his eyes. Just like Xu Lian’s first opponent, he was filled with doubt. “An Origin Tracing Realm cultivator with a life force of less than a century?”

Xu Lian held out his hand. “That’s right. I’ve already won my first battle, and now I’m here. I am your opponent.”

Huo Xin’er respectfully handed him the Sword of Destruction before retreating with Yun Conglong and Feng Conghu to watch the battle from a distance.

The middle-aged woman handed the sword case to the young man and also retreated from the battlefield.

The young man rose to his feet, opened the sword case, and drew out his famed sword. Holding it aloft, he pointed it at Xu Lian. As the sword came into his grasp, his entire demeanor transformed, exuding an overwhelming sword intent. “This sword is called Cang Yun!”

“The name of my sword is Destruction!”

With impeccable ceremony, Xu Lian unsheathed the Sword of Destruction and pointed it diagonally toward the heavens. As the sword emerged, the bright sky darkened into night, and terrifying crimson lightning bolts began to crackle across the sky.

The young man’s expression changed dramatically. “Wait!”

He stared at Xu Lian with suspicion and awe. “The wielder of the Sword of Destruction… You’re Xu Lian, the Holy Son of Nine Heavens?”

A person’s reputation precedes them. Xu Lian’s fame was immense, primarily due to three defining characteristics: the divine laws of divine kingdom, the Sword of Destruction, and his achievement of reaching the Origin Tracing Realm in less than a century. Of these, the first two were the most famous. Spotting either of them was enough to confirm his identity as the Holy Son of Nine Heavens.

“That’s right,” Xu Lian replied. “I am Xu Lian, the Holy Son of the Nine Heavens.”

The young man sighed in awe. “I’ve long heard of the Nine Heavens Holy Son’s unparalleled talent, achieving the Origin Tracing Realm in under a century. I assumed that Xu Lian had only reached the twelfth stage of Origin Tracing, but to think that you’ve already ascended to the seventh stage is a truly formidable feat.

“When I was younger, I was considered a peerless genius, taking over sixteen hundred years to reach the seventh stage of Origin Tracing, a remarkably fast pace. But compared to your cultivation speed, I feel utterly ashamed.”

Xu Lian had no ill will towards this man, they were just competitors in the Sword Dao competition. Since the man had praised him so highly, Xu Lian felt obligated to return the favor. “You flatter me. My path to the Origin Tracing Realm was expedited, leaving my foundation somewhat unstable. It’s fundamentally different from someone like you who has cultivated steadily and solidly.”

As their masters exchanged compliments, the two sword servants, the middle-aged woman and Huo Xin’er, exchanged glances.

Unlike their masters, the two women weren’t so humble. As the saying goes, “Colleagues are rivals”. Since they were both sword servants, they couldn’t help but look at each other with a hint of disdain.

The middle-aged woman smiled. “Your master is indeed honest, acknowledging that his rapid cultivation has left his foundation weaker than my master’s solid one.”

Huo Xin’er replied coolly. “My master is simply being modest to spare your master’s pride. Don’t mistake his humility for weakness.

“Let me enlighten you. My master has never lost to anyone of his own rank. Even against opponents several minor ranks above him, he often emerges victorious. Clearly, his foundation is both deep and unshakable.

“I almost pity you. A woman over sixteen hundred years old – your youth is long gone, your beauty withered. Your hair is streaked with gray, and your face is lined with wrinkles that no amount of cosmetics can hide. Meanwhile, your master remains youthful and handsome, surrounded by beautiful young women. How long has it been since the last time he favored you?”

The middle-aged woman’s face turned livid with rage, her body trembling as she glared at Huo Xin’er. “You little vixen of the Huo clan! Who are you calling old? Don’t think I don’t know-the Holy Son of Nine Heavens is infamous for his promiscuity. He has dozens, if not hundreds, of wives and concubines. You should pity yourself for receiving only a fraction of his attention,” 

Huo Xin’er sneered. “So what? My master possesses unparalleled talent, achieving the seventh stage of Origin Tracing in under a century. It’s only natural that he has many close companions. Among them, I stand out as particularly unique and memorable to him. His favor toward me is unwavering.

“Moreover, my master treats all his companions equally and kindly. He even risked his life by venturing into the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea to find longevity-enhancing herbs for us. He brought back dozens of King Grade Black Lotus Seeds-one seed alone grants a millennium of youthful vitality.

“My master even gambled with the Black Dragon Princess of the Ten Thousand Peaks Stone Sea for divine herbs. Soon we’ll have elixirs that can extend our lives by ten thousand years. We’ll stay young and beautiful for the rest of our lives.

“As for your master, he doesn’t seem to care much about his companions, does he? Why hasn’t he sought out longevity herbs for you?

“Look at you, old and decrepit. Does your master even look at you without feeling disgusted?

“It is clear that your master lacks both compassion and strength. Not every master knows how to appreciate beauty, and not every master has the power to obtain such treasures.”

The middle-aged woman’s eyes blazed with anger. “You little vixen of the Huo Clan! How dare you speak to me like that? I will tear your mouth apart!”

Although her cultivation had surpassed Huo Xin’er’s, the latter showed no fear. “What’s the matter? Did I hit a nerve? Are you angry because I’m right? Go ahead-try laying a finger on me. Once my master reaches the Sword Pavilion, he’ll destroy your entire family.”

The middle-aged woman clenched her teeth. “Enjoy your arrogance while it lasts, little fox. When your master falls in battle, don’t come crying to me.”

Huo Xin’er replied calmly. “I’ve already told you – my master is invincible among his peers and can even defeat those several ranks above him. Defeat is impossible. But even if he were to lose by some miracle, so what? My master is still young, and so am I. I’ll have plenty of opportunities to see him rise again.

“You, on the other hand – an old woman like you – won’t live long enough to see your master’s resurgence. Once he loses, you’ll return to the Sword Pavilion in disgrace, a shame to your family.

“And then you’ll regret ever becoming a sword servant. Sixteen hundred years of dedication, all for nothing. You’ll spend the rest of your days wallowing in regret, wondering what life might have been like if you’d stayed with your family and married a decent man for a peaceful life. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for regret. This is your destiny.”

The middle-aged woman really began to regret provoking Huo Xin’er. She hadn’t expected the younger woman to be so sharp-tongued. Far from gaining the upper hand, she now found herself psychologically scarred by the exchange.