Chapter 206: Second Time Drawing the Sword

"Sword Sovereign?"

On his way to the Spirit Depository Pavilion, Xu Xiaoshou suddenly turned his head, looking towards the inner courtyard's back mountain.

He pressed the restless "Cang Ku" into the Black Fall Scabbard and carried it with him. With the Headmaster's permission, his Black Fall Scabbard could now be openly carried, no longer needing to be hidden.

"Xu Xiaoshou, did someone break through to Grandmaster Sword Intent?" Mu Zixi asked curiously. She now felt a terrible sense of dread towards Grandmaster Sword Intent, which of course stemmed from Lei Shuangxing.

A blind man who could toy with a Throne realm expert and then retreat. Although she didn't know where Ye Xiaotian's "Heavenly Crossing" sent him, if that guy wasn't dead, he would certainly become someone important in the future!

Xu Xiaoshou nodded lightly. The nascent sword intent in the distance, though not comparable to Lei Shuangxing's, already showed the nascent form of a Grandmaster, undoubtedly many times stronger than his own.

"Sword Sovereign... there shouldn't be many in the Spirit Palace who can reach that realm, right?"

"If it's the back mountain, then Su Qianqian?"

Thinking of this, Xu Xiaoshou's heart trembled. Could it really be such a coincidence, breaking through to Sword Sovereign just as the "Holy Slaves" were about to attack?

Impossible! Something must have happened in the back mountain!

He couldn't help but ponder: If he were one of the "Holy Slaves," would he really make such a grand display just to rescue Luo Lei Lei? Perhaps, but wouldn't it be even better if they could kill two birds with one stone?

His eyes narrowed slightly; Xu Xiaoshou had already thought of something. "Tombstone City Snow!"

Judging by the "Masked Man's" goal last time, he was determined to get this famous sword. Since he had to come on this trip, would he let go of another chance to seize the sword?

"Junior Sister Mu, go to the Spirit Depository Pavilion and find that old geezer. If you find him, tell him to hurry to the back mountain."

"If you don't see him, stay there!" Xu Xiaoshou instructed.

"You're going to the back mountain?" Mu Zixi immediately became anxious. "What can you do there? Can you defeat them?"

"Received ridicule, Passive Points +1."

Xu Xiaoshou: "..."

Why was this junior sister so blunt? Couldn't she be a little more subtle?

Although he couldn't defeat them, he wouldn't feel at ease if he didn't go. After all, it was his new home, wasn't it? Besides, there was also a little sister there!

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the information panel:

"Passive Points: 15944."

Although everyone's various exclamations after leaving the Sky Mystic Gate contributed several thousand Passive Points, the majority came from that single sword-qi jade stone. A full ten thousand! However, at this moment, it still felt slightly insufficient.

He then looked at the skills section:

"Fist of Passivity (Charge Value: 3.14)."

This was a spiritual technique whose power he had yet to witness. Given that it was bestowed by the system after absorbing dual innate attribute power, its might should be considerable. He remembered the last time he checked, it was 2.11. That was accumulated from 280,000 sword-qi bursts at the Black Fall Cliff. He hadn't expected just one sword-qi jade stone this time to add more than 1 to it.

"These are probably enough to be a trump card, or even a killing blow, in same-level battles, but against the 'Holy Slaves'..." Xu Xiaoshou hesitated. After a long moment, he steeled his heart and no longer wavered.

Sometimes, one didn't need full gear to fight. People always needed to get hot-blooded at crucial moments. For family, for friends, for what they guarded in their hearts!

"Go find Elder Sang, quickly! This is your mission!"

Mu Zixi opened her mouth but couldn't utter a word. She didn't believe she could be of any help in such major matters. Her previous success in dispelling the Headmaster's illusion was pure luck; she herself didn't even know how it happened. She couldn't just entrust her life to chance!

Helplessly, she could only nod and leave. "Master, only if I find Master can Xu Xiaoshou return alive!" the young girl thought to herself, hurrying quickly.

Xu Xiaoshou watched her leave, finally letting out a sigh of relief, then rushed towards the back mountain.

"I shouldn't be the only one who thought about the Masked Man. Elder Sang, or Elder Xiao, might be secretly protecting Su Qianqian."

"Yes, it must be so!"

"If not..."

"Just observe from a distance; I shouldn't be discovered. Good, I'll do that. Absolutely no impulsiveness!"

"She just called me 'Brother Xiaoshou'; there's no deep connection or anything. It's not worth risking my life."

"Right, just like that. In the very end, if things really go wrong, someone always has to collect the bodies..."

In the back mountain, the night air was slightly cool. Grandmaster Sword Intent filled the sky, tens of thousands of ethereal swords materialized, formidable and unparalleled.

However, just as the breakthrough was complete, the Masked Man flicked a finger onto Su Qianqian's forehead, and blood instantly gushed out. The young girl's surging power abruptly halted, and she fell stiffly to the ground, unconscious.

The Masked Man stood still for a long time, looking down and sighing. "Hatred, indeed, is the greatest driving force for human breakthroughs..."

Bang, bang, bang—

Dust to dust, ashes to ashes. All things suspended by the sword intent ultimately returned to the embrace of the earth, scattering a messy shower of debris. Even Grandmaster Sword Intent, when facing this Masked Man, couldn't escape the fate of instant defeat.

"The great tide is coming. I'll take the sword for now. When you're capable, come and reclaim it!"

However, he had been airborne for less than a few breaths when he suddenly covered his mouth and nose, coughing violently. "Cough, cough, pfft!"

Dark clouds obscured the moonlight. The Masked Man changed his mask in the darkness, casually tearing the blood-stained one into pieces and scattering them into the dust.

"Then there's just one last thing..." He looked up at the bright moon, which had pushed aside the clouds, a flicker of interest in his eyes.

"Wen Ming, where are you now?"

Clang—

The sound of a sharp sword being drawn from its scabbard.

The Masked Man turned and saw a blood-soaked figure standing not far away, vaguely familiar. Only when the figure pointed its sword at him did memories resurface.

"Healed?" The Masked Man's mouth curved into a smirk.

Xiao Qixiu's body seemed to tremble. He hadn't expected the Masked Man to truly return. This sword and the one from that day looked the same, but the state of mind was completely different. Nevertheless, he had to draw it. This sword was not for himself, but only for Su Qianqian!

"It seems you already know my identity. Knowing that, you still dare to draw your sword against me?" The Masked Man chuckled.

"Put the sword down!" Xiao Qixiu roared.

"Heh, a paper tiger."

The Masked Man tilted his head, looking at Su Qianqian on the ground. "I've left the person for you. The sword, impossible." "Tombstone City Snow" hummed slightly on his back. Though seemingly bound by only a common hemp rope, it dared not move.

Xiao Qixiu quickly summoned Su Qianqian with spiritual energy. After checking her breath and finding her unharmed, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, the person was safe! However, the famous sword could not be lost!

"Put the sword down," he repeated again.

A playful amusement grew in the Masked Man's eyes. He finally took a step forward. Xiao Qixiu felt as if struck by lightning, yet he did not retreat an inch.

"You are quite interesting..."

"On my list of weakest enemies, you are the only one who has dared to draw a sword against me twice!"