Chapter 211: Their Swords

In the absolute time domain, Ning Changjiu and the Sin Sovereign’s struggle lasted only the duration of an incense stick, but nearly half a year had passed in the outside world.

The Sin Sovereign had finally weathered the year. He returned to his divine kingdom, and his projection vanished as the kingdom's gate closed.

Their 'moment' was several long months for the world below.

Lu Jiajia sat by the abyss. A gentle breeze brushed her face, her clothes pooled like snow, and her beautiful face showed signs of weariness. During these months, her cultivation had advanced further, evidently reaching the sixth level of the Purple Court realm. Her sword body cultivation had also progressed, so much so that whenever the breeze lifted her hair, each strand of her dark locks resembled a delicate, fluttering sword qi.

She sat cross-legged by the abyss, like an early-blooming lotus anticipating summer, her expression a mix of gentleness and clarity, her dress seeming to gather cherry blossoms and spring snow.

She gazed absently at the carved wooden figure by the abyss and the ascension array in front of it.

Lu Jiajia always remembered a night last autumn when a meteor seemed to streak across the sky, momentarily illuminating the doorway of her hut.

She ran out of the hut and found that the wooden figure had been moved by some force, twisted around, and the small aerial array was emitting a faint, weak glow. The seven-pointed star pattern felt like a spear piercing her heart, causing her mind to tremble.

This was a sign that the small aerial array had been activated.

Lu Jiajia thought he was about to return, but that night, she waited in vain. The light from the small aerial array, like an unextinguished candle, glowed continuously from late autumn through the cold winter, until the spring streams thawed, never dimming.

Although she didn't wait for him to arrive, that single candlelight was a constant companion.

This candlelight finally extinguished only last night.

Lu Jiajia's graceful silhouette appeared even more slender. She looked at the faded small aerial array, then slowly stood up. When she turned, the mountains were already ablaze with vibrant, colorful flowers.

Another season had passed.

The mountain grass swayed, and a familiar figure approached.

The newcomer wore an elegant white dress with a cinched waist, her dark hair tied into a ponytail. Her eyebrows were fine, and her skin was as white as new porcelain. She was like an exquisite orchid in a secluded valley; her flowing skirt alone could put the world's best painters to shame.

She walked along the mountain path through the forest, the tall tree canopies like umbrellas specially opened for her. Occasional shafts of light filtered through the dense shade, dappling her dress.

She emerged, bathed in sunlight.

Lu Jiajia met her gaze and softly said, "Miss Xiang'er."

Zhao Xiang'er nodded slightly. She walked over to Lu Jiajia's side and looked out at the abyss.

"You're still waiting?" Zhao Xiang'er's voice, usually authoritative and cool, was now soft and clear, like freshly melted water.

Lu Jiajia replied calmly, "I'm cultivating by the hut, and waiting incidentally. Whether he lives or dies, whether he comes or not, I've made peace with it over the past year."

Zhao Xiang'er looked at the extraordinarily beautiful woman, seemingly untouched by worldly concerns. Her thin, upturned lips curved slightly as she chuckled softly, "Peak Master Lu is still not very good at lying."

Lu Jiajia did not reply.

Zhao Xiang'er smoothed her skirt over her slender, taut legs, then bent slightly and sat down by the cliff. Her delicate calves seemed to sway with the wind, as if stirring the spring breeze itself.

"What about you?" Lu Jiajia countered, "Why have you come?"

Zhao Xiang'er said, "I just came to see."

Lu Jiajia asked, "On the last day in Linhe City, when I saw you two, you seemed to be embracing."

Zhao Xiang'er replied coolly, "He was audacious enough to take liberties with me when I was weak. If he dares to return, I will certainly settle that score with him."

"Is that so?" Lu Jiajia sat down beside her.

Zhao Xiang'er tilted her head slightly and said, "Of course. I'm merely honoring the marriage contract my mother gave me. I don't even know if he's truly the fiancé my mother chose, but we've been through a lot together, so it's only right for me to check on him."

Lu Jiajia said, "Then what about the state sacrifice in Zhao last autumn? I remember that was supposedly the day you two first met."

Zhao Xiang'er frowned displeasedly, "You're secluded here, how do you know all this?"

"Xiao Ling told me," Lu Jiajia said.

Zhao Xiang'er had specifically invited Ning Xiaoling to that state sacrifice, and she had clearly asked Ning Xiaoling to keep it a secret. That girl was truly unreliable...

Lu Jiajia continued, "I suppose the entire city now knows that Miss Xiang'er has a fiancé?"

Zhao Xiang'er replied indifferently, "The matter of a fiancé is still mostly just a rumor in many places. However, the fact that Peak Master is fond of a disciple significantly younger than herself is now known throughout the land. When I traveled incognito to teahouses and taverns, I heard people discussing it enthusiastically many times. But it's no wonder, the love between a master and disciple is inherently taboo, and coupled with Peak Master's immense reputation and her unparalleled beauty in Nanzhou, it's inevitable that she'd be discussed more."

Lu Jiajia looked at the young woman speaking so calmly. Zhao Xiang'er had grown a little taller, and her figure was even more shapely and curvaceous. Her soft black dress clung to her exquisite lines; even just seeing her through her clothes, her supple, fragrant softness was unparalleled in the world.

Yet, this delicate and exquisite young lady's words were becoming increasingly unpleasant to hear.

"He is just my disciple," Lu Jiajia stated.

Zhao Xiang'er said, "Are we still being dishonest, even when it's just the two of us? Even if I believe you, will others?"

Lu Jiajia's expression remained cool. After a moment, she said, "Then why have you come today? It almost seems like you've come to question me."

Zhao Xiang'er looked at Lu Jiajia. This Sister Lu, in her snow-white robes and with her sword, must be the most perfect female sword immortal in people's hearts. Even she, looking at her for a moment longer, felt captivated and yearned to embrace that generous, snow-capped form.

Zhao Xiang'er was silent for a moment, then said, "You know he's my nominal fiancé. But if he is my fiancé, why are you the only one who has built a hut here for so long? What kind of sense does that make?"

Lu Jiajia calmly replied, "I told you, he is just my disciple."

Zhao Xiang'er said with slight annoyance, "Are you still being stubborn?"

Lu Jiajia said, "If Miss Xiang'er doesn't mind this humble hut, I wouldn't object to you staying with me. At least we'd have company."

Zhao Xiang'er's expression became a little forlorn: "I am not like you. If you leave, Four Peaks will merely lose an exceptional swordswoman. If I leave, the millions of citizens of the State of Zhao will perish."

A large cloud in the sky obscured the light, and the ethereal beauty of both women was veiled in shadow.

They resumed speaking only when the cloud was swept away by the wind.

"What exactly is beneath this abyss?" Zhao Xiang'er murmured to herself.

Lu Jiajia asked, "Even your Nine Feathers can't fly across it?"

Zhao Xiang'er shook her head. She had secretly tried long ago. The entire abyss seemed to resist her presence.

Lu Jiajia said, "Legend has it that the forbidden land of the Southern Wasteland is exceedingly perilous, filled with lingering ancient evil gods."

Zhao Xiang'er said wistfully, "Or perhaps it's full of beauties, making a certain someone reluctant to return."

Lu Jiajia chuckled softly, "If I were him, knowing that such a beautiful fiancée was waiting for me outside, wouldn't all other soft embraces seem like mere common charms?"

"I'm not waiting for him," Zhao Xiang'er gently retorted, then countered sharply, "If I knew there was such an iceberg beauty of a master waiting to be melted by me, I wouldn't be able to bear leaving either."

Lu Jiajia remained unmoved, merely saying, "Fortunately, you are not a disciple of the Sword Hall, otherwise you would have felt the disciplinary rod by now."

Zhao Xiang'er refused to back down, saying, "Fortunately, your cultivation is quite high, otherwise by now, I would have spanked you soundly."

Lu Jiajia seemed to recall something, her slender eyebrows raised slightly, as if in anger. From her cool, jade-like body, sword qi burst forth like a secluded spring from mountain rocks, scattering into a vast white mist in the sunlight.

Zhao Xiang'er regarded her with equal coolness. Over the past year, wearing imperial robes and a crown, her demeanor naturally exuded an undeniable majesty and noble pride—a sharpness etched in her eyebrows, a crimson blush on her lips. Beneath her delicate, alluring eyelashes, her stark black and white eyes shone like mirrors.

Of course, they were only intimidating each other, not willing to concede an inch, but certainly not intending to actually fight.

"Have you entered the Purple Court realm?" Lu Jiajia asked, looking at her.

Zhao Xiang'er nodded, "Yes."

Lu Jiajia asked, "Was it during that battle in the Jin State last autumn?"

Zhao Xiang'er smiled and asked, "You know even that?"

"Xiao Ling often tells me your news, not to mention such a widely known event," Lu Jiajia said. "Was that battle smooth?"

Zhao Xiang'er briefly fell into thought, recalling the past.

The battle itself meant little to her.

Last November, in late autumn, on a day heavy with frost and dew, Zhao Xiang'er, unknown to anyone, quietly traveled to the Jin State, carrying her umbrella-sword and accompanied by Nine Feathers.

This idea had appeared in her mind long ago, but after Ning Changjiu's incident, the thought grew stronger and finally became unstoppable by late autumn of that year.

Over the past year, the military strength of the State of Zhao had steadily increased, with its armaments gradually catching up to the standards of the Jin State. Most importantly, the rise of cultivators, where almost every Immortal Realm practitioner could single-handedly contend against a hundred, was a significant factor.

However, a war between two states was never just a simple comparison of ordinary combat power. Battlefields were fraught with too many dangers; unless one was a great cultivator of the Purple Court realm, survival in the midst of chaotic armies was exceedingly difficult. Therefore, even convincing cultivators to join the army was an extremely arduous task.

So, although the Jin State was no longer an unconquerable behemoth in their eyes, after real clashes of swords and spears, they could still only achieve mutual victories and losses.

What increased even faster than Zhao's military strength was Zhao Xiang'er's cultivation realm.

In a year's time, she hadn't actively focused on cultivation, yet her realm continued to rise effortlessly, reaching the peak of the Longevity Realm, ready to break through to the Purple Court at any moment. But she sought a specific opportunity.

It wasn't until the cherry blossoms bloomed in the Jin State that a sudden intuition struck her, and she finally decided to take her sword and journey to the Jin State, to seize that opportunity.

On that day, cold winds swept across the land, and frost killed all vegetation.

Zhao Xiang'er, alone, arrived outside the capital city of Jin State.

The main city of Jin State resembled a gloomy prison. Heavy-armored cavalry patrolled in dense formations, soldiers constantly walked on the city walls, and torches burned even during the day, with archers remaining vigilant. The pedestrians within were all silent, not speaking even when they met, only exchanging glances. Even then, they dared not gaze for too long.

The entire city exuded an incredibly oppressive atmosphere.

This was the capital of the Jin State.

Outside the city, Zhao Xiang'er removed her cloak. She was still in her familiar black, fitted attire, both capable and graceful, with an umbrella on her back and a sword at her side, exuding a striking heroism.

Outside the city walls, she stepped onto Nine Feathers' back, soared into the sky, and landed atop the city wall. And so, that morning, the entire Jin State erupted in an uproar.

The imperial city of Jin State had numerous guards, and they possessed special signal towers that relayed messages incredibly fast.

On the city wall, Zhao Xiang'er stood unhurriedly, deflecting all approaching blades and arrows. She wanted to give the Jin State time to react.

This human dynasty, which had dominated a part of Nanzhou, now appeared frail and insignificant in her eyes.

Though she was naturally intelligent, she disliked military strategies. Now, with just herself and her sword, she could save many lives in both states.

The news spread throughout the Jin State, shocking the imperial family and shaking the entire city.

The twelve Guardian Xuan-Heaven Ghost Generals of Jin State floated one after another into the sky above Jin, like armored Rakshasas. Their hands rested on the city wall, rooted to the entire imperial city, their eyes, as large as gongs, stared intently at the suddenly appearing young woman, and one by one, they revealed their weapons.

These twelve Rakshasas were the protective divine generals of Jin State. Legend had it that, working together, they could slay Purple Court realm immortals.

"You haven't even entered the Purple Court realm, yet you dare to trespass into this city! Those ignorant commoners of Zhao worship you and praise you as a divine child. I can't believe you, living in such a high position, actually believe such absurd notions!"

A voice, like a grand bell, resonated from the center of the imperial city.

"When a woman becomes emperor, she's prone to such impulsive behavior," remarked a noble prince, riding in his carriage to observe the legendary Empress of Zhao from afar.

It was widely known that the Empress of Zhao possessed a celestial beauty, capable of captivating cities and shaking nations. Many strove for fame and recognition just to catch a glimpse of her from afar.

Zhao Xiang'er remained motionless, standing still, and the forest of blades and iron arrows could not come close to her.

She knew that Jin State still harbored powerful experts.

More and more people gathered below. The immense, armored Rakshasa manifestations clinging to the city wall gazed at her, as if she were a rare but fragile flower.

Yet, several truly powerful figures within the imperial city looked grim.

The sun rose in the sky, illuminating the stern city and clearly reflecting Zhao Xiang'er's features.

The princes who had come to watch in their carriages were all filled with fervent admiration. All the courtesans in Jin State combined seemed unable to compare even slightly to her beauty. Many began to shout, urging the Rakshasas not to harm her, but to capture her alive.

Such cheers ceased when Zhao Xiang'er leaped down from the city wall.

The dark Nine Feathers spread its enormous wings in the sky. Though Nine Feathers had no physical thickness, its silhouette was beautiful, with seagull-like wings and phoenix-like tail feathers. When it spread its wings, each exploding feather seemed like a sharp sword.

The Rakshasas leaped up one by one, moving to confront the young woman.

That day was a nightmare for the Jin State.

Black snow fell upon the city, each snowflake a fragment of the decaying spiritual power of the guardian Rakshasas.

They watched helplessly as the young woman leaped into the sky, attacking the spiritual creatures, dozens of times her size, with bare fists. Then, one after another, those mountain-sized figures shattered, twisted, and collapsed. Rooted in the Jin State, they had drawn upon almost the entire nation's power; each was a Longevity Realm spirit.

But despite being of the same Longevity Realm, Zhao Xiang'er was like a true demon, striking them with punch after punch until their forms and spirits were utterly annihilated.

Winter seemed to have arrived early.

The black snow in the sky fell for a long time before ceasing.

A chill permeated the city.

Besides the twelve Rakshasas, Zhao Xiang'er killed no one. She didn't even pay the slightest attention to the princes who had earlier shouted incredibly vulgar words. She acted like a simple killing machine, her true target only the Jin King, who was hiding deep in the palace like an old tortoise.

"Your Highness, halt."

Outside the imperial palace, all twelve Rakshasas were dead, and not a single arrow from the palace walls could cling to her clothes. A black shadow streaked through the air, entering the imperial palace as if it were an empty façade, where it was finally stopped by two middle-aged men.

The two middle-aged men were remarkably similar in both appearance and attire.

They stood like two mountains before the imperial hall.

"Is there something?" Zhao Xiang'er spoke, a rare occurrence for her.

One of them sighed, "War between two states should be decided on the battlefield. Your Highness entering the city alone and unilaterally altering the human realm's order with celestial power is, to say the least, against the rules."

Zhao Xiang'er said, "You found your territory too small, so you swallowed sixteen smaller nations, even pressuring Zhao with your armies, forcing land cessions, devouring it piecemeal. I am different from you. I detest this city, but I have no intention of occupying or destroying it."

She only wanted to kill the Jin King, to settle the decades of grievances of the Zhao people, and to unleash the bottled-up sword intent within her.

She stepped onto the stairs, ascending.

"What do celestial power and human power have to do with me? I am the Empress of Zhao; I am still in the human realm. Who dares to banish me?" Zhao Xiang'er stopped between them, waiting for them to make a move.

But the two exchanged glances, sighed deeply, and then, instead of attacking, moved aside and bowed to Zhao Xiang'er.

The remaining heavy Xuan-armored troops stood on either side, their long spears like a forest of glinting points, all aimed at her, yet no one made a move.

In the deep imperial palace, the ancient, almost unrecognizable Jin King hid and fled. He tried to blow out all the candelabras but accidentally knocked one over, causing a fire that only illuminated his own body more clearly.

He screamed for help, praying that the prophecy of the Eternal Cherry Blossom count would come true, praying for divine beings to descend and stabilize the chaos.

But there was nothing. Those people, whether killed or simply scared witless, did not attempt to stop her.

He became a truly isolated figure, then watched helplessly as the young woman emerged from the flames.

She was breathtakingly beautiful.

This was the last sight the aging Jin King beheld.

This battle would later be exaggerated and described with immense fervor, as if the entire city had been a clashing battlefield of swords and drums, and the Empress of Zhao and the King of Jin had engaged in a fierce, heaven-shaking, earth-shattering struggle, with various accounts of their legendary combat.

But in the true story, Zhao Xiang'er simply stabbed him to death with a single sword thrust on the steps, then sat alone on the black-gold throne, gazing into the distance.

She found everything utterly boring.

Because the human world was so dull, all those interesting past events seemed particularly vivid.

She casually helped extinguish the fire in the lavish Jin King's palace, then went to the back garden, standing beneath the iron-trunked cherry trees, whose blossoms fell like snow.

With all the necessary items gathered, she entered the Purple Court realm amidst the blooming trees.

She had initially anticipated her inner demon tribulation.

However, the inner demon tribulation was even more uninteresting than she had imagined.

In the realm of the inner demon tribulation, she had seen through the truth of her own being from the very beginning. Then, she traversed her life once more, as if on a fleeting tour.

In this particular lifetime, everyone served her with the utmost diligence and flattery; all manner of earthly splendor adorned her, thousands of intoxicating luxuries overwhelmed her. Yet, once the illusion faded, there was nothing worth remembering.

The Zhao Xiang'er within the inner demon tribulation was incredibly calm. Most of the time, she was simply looking into the distance, in a familiar state, under a familiar banyan tree.

She gazed for over a decade.

Finally, she reached sixteen, searching through the vast crowds for that white-robed figure, but for some reason, she never saw him.

It was as if this was reality, and those memories were merely dreams.

Her inner demon tribulation could hardly be called a tribulation, because in the mental illusion, everyone paved the way for her, eagerly offering gifts and answering every question without any attempt to mislead her.

She didn't meet the young man whose presence stirred undefinable emotions within her in the illusion's version of her sixteenth year, and so she completely lost interest in this inner demon tribulation.

Zhao Xiang'er slew the illusionary, paper-thin Old Man Hongwei and broke free from the tribulation.

As she left the inner demon tribulation, everyone in the illusionary realm behind her knelt in unison, densely packed, as if it were not an inner demon realm but her divine kingdom.

She was a god reigning over all; even the inner demon tribulation dared not show her the slightest disrespect.

The human world remained uninteresting.

Zhao Xiang'er briefly recounted the story of that year to Lu Jiajia, who listened quietly, occasionally interjecting a word.

After their conversation concluded, Zhao Xiang'er bid her farewell.

"Are you leaving?" Lu Jiajia asked.

Zhao Xiang'er knew what she was asking. She said, "If he doesn't come after the three-year period, I will go to the Western State."

Lu Jiajia asked again, "If he returns, will you agree to that marriage contract?"

Zhao Xiang'er replied calmly, "We may be fellow travelers on a path, but not on the same road."

In Duanjie City, this half-year felt particularly long.

Shao Xiaoli sat atop the royal palace every day, staring up at the sky, watching motionlessly for any streaking meteors until her eyes ached unbearably.

Over this year, Duanjie City had begun its reconstruction in phases after its destruction. Though far from its past glory, its flame had finally been rekindled.

Ye Chu had returned to Snow Gorge, while Siming had not come back to the city at all.

Thus, the mere seventeen-year-old Shao Xiaoli took on the great responsibility, while the Blood Feather Lord, as Duanjie City's new divine beast totem, occasionally stood guard on the city walls, basking in the people's reverence.

After half a year of dazed waiting, Shao Xiaoli finally spotted a falling shadow in the distance. The shadow was incredibly far and faint, like a dry-eyed illusion from prolonged staring.

But she knew it was their master.

She didn't even have time to change into her prettiest clothes before running towards the city gate.

But she wasn't the first to arrive.

That day, for this outcome, Ye Chu and Siming had also waited for a very long time.

In Snow Gorge, Su Yanshu embraced Ye Chu.

Without Ning Changjiu's rescue, Ye Chu should have died on the day he collided with the Sin Sovereign.

His body was deteriorating rapidly. He could only fall asleep in Su Yanshu's arms each day, and the time he could manifest his divinely handsome appearance grew shorter and shorter. Most of the time, he was a broken body pieced together from burnt wood.

Su Yanshu knew he was about to die.

But today, Ye Chu, contrary to his usual state, got up. He somehow produced a spiritual elixir, and after swallowing it, he regained some strength as if in a final burst of vitality.

He straightened his flag and left Snow Gorge.

Su Yanshu knew he wouldn't be coming back this time. She embraced him from behind and asked, "You actually never liked me, did you?"

Ye Chu smiled and shook his head, "No."

Su Yanshu's gaze was sorrowful, "But you clearly don't love me. Who do you love, then? Is it that woman named Siming? Or do you love no one at all?"

Ye Chu felt no deep affection for Siming, at most a mutual respect. What he and this junior could never overcome was, from beginning to end, their conflict over the Great Dao.

But today, he was indeed going to see her off for the last time.

Following a certain direction, Ye Chu quickly found Ning Changjiu's broken, falling body in a sandy area.

Ning Changjiu's body was almost completely incinerated, barely recognizable as flesh and blood. He lay on the ground, his breath imperceptible. In his shattered body, all his bones were broken, and it was unclear what power or will sustained the beating of his heart.

Siming arrived almost simultaneously with Ye Chu.

They exchanged glances.

"Kill him, and we'll divide the authority, then fight to the death," Siming said.

Ye Chu smiled and asked, "Do you truly want to kill him?"

Siming said, "I came here to kill him; your Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart should be able to discern the truth in my words."

Ye Chu smiled, nodded, and said, "Then let's do it. Seven hundred years of entanglement ends now."

Siming nodded, "Let's begin."

They approached Ning Changjiu's body and simultaneously raised their swords.

Shao Xiaoli was still frantically running, and the Sword Spirit remained dormant within Ning Changjiu's body; no one could save him.

The sound of a sword piercing flesh rang out.

But it was not Ning Changjiu's chest that was pierced, but Ye Chu's.

Siming used the strike from the Heavenly Oracle Sword Scripture, a move she had completely comprehended over the past six months.

She held the sword, looking at Ye Chu, still unable to suppress a surge of doubt. She asked, "Why are you so weak? Why are you so weak and still dared to come see me?"

Ye Chu looked at the sword piercing his chest and smiled, "You finally fooled me."

Siming gently shook her head, "I didn't lie. My intention to kill him was real, and my intention to kill you was also real."

Ye Chu sighed, "If our authorities were reversed, I would have killed you long ago."

His power was indeed far inferior to Siming's. If Siming had been a little smarter all these years, their struggle wouldn't have dragged on for seven centuries.

Siming calmly stated, "That was the me of yesterday, not the me of today."

Saying this, she pushed the dark sword in her hand, severing that Seven-Orifice Exquisite Heart.

Ye Chu fell with a smile still on his face.

He loved snow, but here was a vast desert. This was not the fate he desired, yet fate was like sand slipping through one's fingers; even if he had once held an entire desert, it would eventually run out. This was the end he would inevitably face.

Ye Chu died, but the authority of fate did not scatter, because what little authority he had was completely used up in the divine war with the Sin Sovereign. What died now was merely an empty puppet shell. It was precisely because of this that he truly reached the end of his life.

Siming had killed her centuries-old nemesis, yet she could not feel true joy.

She did not continue killing but sat cross-legged, resting the black sword on her lap, her gaze fixed quietly on the dying young man.

She would wait for Ning Changjiu to awaken, then engage him in their final decisive battle.

Regardless of victory or defeat, this would be the most important battle of her life.