Chapter 470: One Million Spirit Crystals, Draw the Sword Once?

“Does the famous sword already have an owner?”

The still somewhat bustling crowd instantly fell silent after Shounen’s words.

A moment later, however, the crowd erupted.

“Elder, you must be joking!”

“White Cave is a treasure land where one seeks fortune.”

“Here, treasures go to those who are fated to them.”

“Everyone can feel that this famous sword’s emergence, with its powerful fluctuations, is what drew so many people here.”

“Now that everyone has arrived, you say the famous sword already has an owner?”

“Even if a famous sword chooses its master, it couldn’t happen this quickly, could it?”

“What about the associated phenomena?”

“No one has detected a second wave of phenomena besides the sword’s recent emergence!”

Quite a few swordsmen had rushed to this location.

Clearly, even if they hadn't personally experienced it, they knew how it worked. While they hadn't personally experienced a famous sword choosing its master, everyone understood that the phenomena accompanying a successful recognition were no less grand than the natural phenomena accompanying its emergence.

Therefore,

“Elder Red Cloak, you can't just try to monopolize the treasure just because you're a Red Cloak!”

“Or perhaps...”

The speaker's gaze shifted to the man and woman standing behind Red Cloak.

To be honest, the two individuals standing behind Red Cloak, with their distinctive attire, were truly too eye-catching.

“Or perhaps... a dignified Red Cloak would break the rules for the sake of their own family disciples?”

As soon as that sarcastic voice spoke, everyone's gaze shifted.

Observed, Passive Points +192.

Suspected, Passive Points +162.

Xu Xiaoshou quickly scanned the first wave of newcomers, realizing he knew surprisingly few of them.

Apart from the second and third of the Three Swordsmen, most of the others were people he'd only met once at the City Lord's Mansion.

The rest were all strangers.

Clearly, these were all disciples from other nearby prefectural cities.

“Their cultivation levels are generally ordinary, not many worth noting.”

Among this first wave of people, there were some in the Grandmaster realm.

But there were probably only ten or twenty of them, and most were in the Heavenly Phenomenon realm, posing no real threat.

The only ones who might pose a threat to him were the two swordsmen, plus one individual whose entire face was tightly wrapped.

Xu Xiaoshou's gaze fixed on him.

It was obvious this youth wasn't very old, and while he tried to conceal his identity, he only made himself more conspicuous. This individual's cultivation level was exceptionally solid, far beyond the Heavenly Phenomenon realm. Most importantly, Xu Xiaoshou could sense a faint sword intent from him, no less potent than that of the two swordsmen.

“Another ancient sword cultivator?”

Indeed, the famous sword attracted, apart from those who were close by, everyone else was a fellow practitioner!

Seeing everyone looking at him, Xu Xiaoshou immediately stepped forward, intending to speak.

At that moment, a large hand blocked his way.

Shounen stopped Xu Xiaoshou's movement and shook his head slightly. Then, he cast his gaze upon the individual who had just been the most mocking.

“I said the famous sword has an owner, now disperse.”

His tone was still very light, but at that moment, everyone felt Shounen's concentrated killing intent. Under that invisible deterrence, most of the people in the crowd involuntarily stepped back in shock, their hearts pounding. The individual targeted by Shounen, with a thud, fell directly to the ground, unable to utter a single word.

Xu Xiaoshou clicked his tongue in amazement.

Old man Shounen was simply too domineering. Even when faced with so much questioning, he didn't intend to explain a single word. It was as if telling this group of people to 'disperse,' instead of 'die,' was already an extraordinary act of mercy.

But then again, with Red Cloak's strength, everyone present combined probably wouldn't be enough for him to handle alone.

“Elder, this is going too far.”

Amidst the commotion, a tall, upright figure stood out from the crowd, directly refuting, “I also possess a famous sword; how I acquired it back then is still vivid in my memory.”

“Now that the Fiery Python has emerged, no matter how beautifully you speak, Elder, if you don't give us a chance, I'm afraid none of us will be willing to leave.”

Everyone looked at the young man with the sword wheel on his back in surprise.

Gu Qing'er showed no fear at all.

Regarding such spectacles, he had witnessed countless scenes far grander than this. Shounen's words alone could stop others. But clearly, they couldn't stop him.

Shounen turned his head. His gaze settled.

He remembered this person. During the City Lord's Mansion banquet, the Three Swordsmen with their two famous swords were truly eye-catching. Similarly, he knew the background of the person before him: Burial Sword Tomb!

One could say that unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't want to get entangled with practitioners from such a force. But having already promised Xu Xiaoshou, it was impossible not to fulfill it.

“I'll repeat one last time: the famous sword has an owner.”

Shounen had no intention of explaining, and chillingly stated, “I'll give you ten breaths. Anyone still here after that, dies!”

The scene immediately erupted in an uproar, with whispers rising and falling.

“Elder, this is too much! A dignified Red Cloak is here to protect us. How can you, for profit, disregard everyone's safety in White Cave, and even intend to attack us?”

“Yes, this is truly disheartening!”

“I went through so much trouble to get a Linglong Stone, hoping that if I encountered danger, even if I offered all my treasures, the Red Cloak elders would save my life.”

“And now...”

“Sigh!”

Because of those words, the entire crowd's attitude toward the Red Cloaks completely changed.

The youth wearing the ugly mask stood in the crowd. He would have originally joined in the complaints, but upon hearing these words, he suddenly became flustered and restless.

“Ten!”

The entire scene went silent.

As Shounen counted, his heavy killing intent pressed down. Everyone was shocked to discover that this Red Cloak before them had no intention of joking.

“Nine!”

“How dare you, Elder?”

“The Red Cloaks' rule is to hunt demonic beasts. When did it become hunting us?”

“Breaking the rules like this, if the higher-ups in the Holy Divine Palace found out, do you know what kind of consequences you'd face...”

“Eight!”

Shounen tilted his head and looked at the speaker, who immediately fell silent.

Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely startled from the side.

This old man Shounen...

I never would have guessed! He didn't display this domineering aura at all when speaking with me normally! Why is he so formidable now that we're on the same side? But he also understood that the Red Cloaks' disdain for explanation might truly stem from their unique and arrogant nature.

However, he certainly couldn't let Shounen bear such infamy just because he wanted the famous sword. Not to mention whether Shounen would face any penalties for forcibly acquiring the sword for him, given his insufficient merits. If news spread that Shounen killed someone here for the famous sword, even if only one person mentioned it, the old man would likely face severe punishment.

The power of human words is terrifying; whispers can kill.

Unless...

Xu Xiaoshou looked around, seeing people continuously descending from the sky, and felt his idea was somewhat unrealistic.

“Three!”

By this time, Shounen's count had reached the final moments. Some people were already unable to bear the anxious atmosphere and chose to strategically retreat and observe. But most people remained steadfastly in place. Clearly, they utterly disbelieved that an organization as strictly regulated as the Red Cloaks, with even its selection process being extremely rigorous, would produce such a villain who would kill for profit.

“Two!”

With a whoosh, eight or nine tenths of the crowd instantly dispersed.

Gu Qingsan looked confusedly at the space beside him, which had just been somewhat crowded, now almost devoid of people. He pursed his lips as if he had a toothache.

“Second Senior Brother, this...”

“This time, the enemy is a bit special!”

Gu Qing'er didn't answer. He looked at Shounen again and spoke.

“Elder, you've gone too far!”

“If the famous sword is yours, pick it up and show us. If it recognizes you as its master, we'll leave without another word.”

“But if it hasn't recognized a master...”

“One!”

Gu Qing'er's words abruptly stopped. He turned to look at Gu Qingsan, who was still unsure whether to retreat or fight.

“Junior Brother, draw your sword!”

In an instant, overwhelming sword intent surged forth, directly counteracting the chilling killing aura in the air. Gu Qingsan was still somewhat hesitant, but upon hearing his Second Senior Brother's words, he knew that a sword cultivator must always press forward!

“Supreme Sword Dao Body, activate!”

Invisible sword dao chains appeared around Gu Qingsan, becoming tangible. After he uttered those words, they directly exploded. At this moment, the overwhelming sword intent in the sky gathered and retracted onto Gu Qingsan's body.

“Heaven's Awareness · Selfless.”

After a soft 'pop,' Gu Qingsan's figure directly vanished.

“Boom!”

However, in the next second, the world disintegrated, and a sky-piercing sword, hundreds of feet long, directly locked onto Shounen's head.

Everyone was stunned. Even Xu Xiaoshou's heart pounded at this. These two brothers were truly too headstrong. Just two Sword Sects, yet they immediately took action. Even when facing a Red Cloak who was at least at the Dao Severing level, they drew their swords right after he spoke?

“Second Senior Brother, I can control it for half a breath. The rest is up to you!”

“Mm.”

Gu Qing'er narrowed his eyes and raised his chin. The eight spirit swords on his back's sword wheel suddenly flew up, followed closely by the exquisitely elegant blood-red sword.

“Nine Swordsmanship · Heaven's Delay.”

Faint echoing ripples spread through this part of the world. Gu Qing'er clasped his hands together, and all nine swords in the sky, except for 'Peerless Enchantress,' unsheathed. The eight swords circulated, taking their positions around Shounen, directly pinning him in place at the eight cardinal directions above his head. Sword lights intertwined, ripple marks forming shadows.

The world, everything, seemed to slow down.

The individuals who had retreated to a distance to observe were collectively stunned. Such methods clearly transcended the spiritual techniques of ordinary Spirit Refiners. The absolute mastery of sword intent left them utterly unable to find a way to break free in that moment. They couldn't even discern the true effects of these two brothers' sword techniques.

Someone turned back, wanting to discuss it. But they suddenly discovered that under the suppression of the sky-piercing sword, hundreds of feet long in the void, this space was not only shattered but also directly fixed in place. Grandmaster powerhouses who had comprehended the Dao of Heaven, since the sky-piercing sword wasn't targeting them, finally broke free from the immobilization after a struggle. However, the moment they took a step, they found that, while their minds were still rapidly processing, everything else...

This entire world had truly slowed down! With that step, their entire being felt as if it had fallen into a quagmire, their movements slowed by dozens of times.

“Heaven's Delay...”

“Time attribute?”

Upon realizing this, everyone's pupils constricted. Their gaze on the figure of the Nine Swordsman shifted from suspicion to horror.

“Such a young person had comprehended the time attribute?”

“This...”

Shounen was equally astonished by the coordination of these two youngsters. However, time and space, while capable of suppressing Grandmasters and even withstanding Sovereigns, were powerless against him, Shounen! Ultimately, these two unparalleled abilities, no matter how powerful, still operated within the rules of the Heavenly Dao.

And he, Shounen, was clearly at the Dao Severing realm!

“Zero.”

As soon as a voice devoid of any fluctuation appeared, Gu Qing'er and Gu Qingsan were both startled. They saw Shounen slowly raise a single finger. No spiritual energy had yet been infused, no spiritual technique had appeared. Yet, the mere raising of a single finger caused heaven and earth to tremble. Even the sky-piercing sword in the void began to crack, its sword energy leaking out.

Shounen was indeed affected. But his movements were slowed by only one percent... less than that!

“Is this Dao Severing?”

Gu Qing'er watched as Shounen's spiritual energy aura instantly shifted, no longer daring to be careless, and vanished from his spot in an instant. When he reappeared, he was already mid-air. His hand had also grasped the famous sword, Peerless Enchantress!

“Finally, is it time for it to be unsheathed...”

The hesitation in Gu Qing'er's brows instantly vanished as Shounen's mouth formed the word 'Break'. He no longer hesitated. His touching index fingers separated, and Peerless Enchantress was about to emerge.

At this very moment,

“Hold on!”

Xu Xiaoshou felt the recoil from extending a hand nearly make him bleed. Even so, the two, already poised for action, completely ignored his words.

“Clang—”

A sword cry pierced the sky, and myriad blood-red hues descended.

“Break!”

Shounen uttered a single word, and the Dao of Time and Space disintegrated. At that moment, everyone regained their movement, watching in horror as a frenzy of blood mist surged across the sky, gathering onto Gu Qing'er. Red-eyed, Gu Qing'er, clutching his sword, dove down and instantly arrived before Shounen.

Shounen gave a carefree smile.

“Begone!”

With a thunderous explosion, the spiritual energy gathered from his 'golden words and jade pronouncements' instantly blasted towards Gu Qing'er. However, Gu Qing'er seemed to have anticipated it.

“Nine Swordsmanship, Heavenly Nine.”

In an instant, one became three, and three became nine. The nine Gu Qingsans ultimately became one, and in the sky, a massive blood-red greatsword was summoned. The greatsword descended from the sky, piercing the ground in front of the two, blocking the violent attack.

“Bang!”

The wind raged, and the earth disintegrated. Gu Qingsan completely ignored it. With a flip, the Peerless Enchantress in his hand pressed onto the blood-sword phantom.

“Illusionary Swordsmanship, Nine Positions.”

Nine scattered figures suddenly appeared in the world. The next second, the Gu Qingsan in front of Shounen vanished, and another Gu Qingsan, standing behind him, moved his famous sword.

“Die!”

With a downward chop, the enormous blood-red sword phantom, now infused, attached itself. When this sword struck down, it was as if mountains and rivers would crumble, and the world itself would be torn apart.

Shounen was surprised by the young man's techniques. But even if he was momentarily deceived, the reaction speed possessed by a Dao Severing expert was beyond anyone's imagination. Without even turning, a killing-intent-solidified energy shield was about to envelop his entire body. Just then, the sky-piercing sword in the void, which had seemed about to dissipate, suddenly stabilized.

“Suppress!”

As the word settled, Shounen's movement paused. In that mere instant, Peerless Enchantress directly slashed through him, from head to foot!

“Rumble—”

When the blood-red greatsword phantom struck, the ground was directly torn open into a deep trench, groundwater gushed out, as if it would cleave the area into a deep sea.

Xu Xiaoshou was right there. Even though he wasn't participating in the battle, he was truly stunned by the fighting power of the two brothers. This was ancient swordsmanship? This was the path of pure sword intent combat, inherited from true major forces?

Throughout the entire display, Xu Xiaoshou hadn't seen any spiritual energy fluctuations from Gu Qing'er. All of his sword techniques were manifestations of sword intent. However, his application of sword intent, to be honest, even with Xu Xiaoshou's 'Swordsmanship Mastery,' these conceptual breakthroughs had never crossed his mind!

“Time and space, clones, displacement... and illusion?”

Gu Qing'er's final nine-position displacement not only deceived Shounen, but even Xu Xiaoshou, despite his 'Perception,' couldn't react immediately. But he could also conclude, what this guy used wasn't teleportation. Rather, it was an illusion created by manipulating space, set up from the very beginning.

“Illusionary Swordsmanship...”

Xu Xiaoshou knew that among the Nine Great Swordsmanships, this one was the most troublesome, but seeing it for the first time today truly broadened his horizons.

“Not bad, not bad.”

A faint voice sounded from where Shounen had been cleaved. Gu Qing'er's pupils constricted. After that sword strike, he knew it had failed. There was no sensation from that sword.

Which meant...

It missed!

He had clearly gone this far, clearly held nothing back, so why did it feel like he struck something yet there was no sensation of contact?

“Beyond the six realms, not bound by the Heavenly Dao.” Shounen praised him, a rare occurrence. “With your sword intent, to be able to affect a Dao Severing expert is already quite good.” He paused, his expression turning cold. “Of course, daring to attack me proves your courage, but it also verifies your latent attribute...”

“Foolishness!”

As his words settled, Shounen raised his mystic palm, and vast spiritual energy surged forth, transforming into Nine Nether light patterns covering his right arm. There was no discernible terrifying power fluctuation. Yet everyone was absolutely certain. This display didn't mean that this spiritual technique wasn't strong. On the contrary, it was an extreme demonstration of Shounen's mastery over spiritual energy compression and control, perfected to the minutest detail.

Still as a mountain, moving like thunder!

“Senior Brother, be careful!”

At Gu Qingsan's cry, the sky-piercing sword was about to descend from mid-air.

“No need.” Gu Qing'er hastily spoke, dissuading his Junior Brother from getting involved. He knew that with his current Supreme Sword Dao Body, he still couldn't withstand a single attack from a Dao Severing expert. Immediately after, Gu Qing'er gripped the hilt of Peerless Enchantress with both hands, his clothes and hair beginning to billow.

“Stop!”

Xu Xiaoshou spoke again, his shout this time cutting in front of their impending attacks. The two seemed calm, merely glancing at him. The next second, their gazes shifted back.

Ignored, Passive Points +2.

Xu Xiaoshou was enraged.

Again and again. What's wrong with constantly ignoring advice? There was absolutely no need for this battle to happen. He believed that no matter who died, he wouldn't be able to escape responsibility!

He, Xu Xiaoshou, was no scapegoat.

“Nine-Pattern Wilderness!”

“Heaven's Release!”

Ignoring Xu Xiaoshou's two shouts, which rang out almost simultaneously, Xu Xiaoshou, with a large grab, shouted, “Freeze them!”

Two towering sword energies directly restrained Shounen, who was about to strike with his palm. At the same time, it stopped Gu Qingsan's sword intent, which was gathering and furiously flowing into Peerless Enchantress.

“Mm.”

“Pfft!”

Shounen was fine. Even though he had no idea his teammate would do something like this from behind, he could instantly stop the chaotic spiritual energy within his body. Gu Qing'er, on the other hand, immediately spat out a mouthful of blood. Famous Sword, Heaven's Release. That was an unparalleled infusion of sword intent. Everyone tacitly allowed their opponent to complete their ultimate move, never even thinking of a sneak attack. This was what a righteous duel was, a display of martial virtue.

As a result, Xu Xiaoshou jumped in without a word, mid-fight. Who could withstand that?

“What are you doing!” Gu Qing'er wiped the blood from the corner of his lips, glaring fiercely. “This is our fight; what are you meddling for?”

“Meddling?” Xu Xiaoshou smiled. “The famous sword is mine. I don't even know what the point of you two fighting is.”

“Huh?”

At this, not only were Gu Qing'er and Gu Qingsan stunned, but the hundreds of spectators behind them were also collectively bewildered. Red Cloak has been fighting all this time, and now you come out and tell us the famous sword is yours?

Suspected, Passive Points +226.

Everyone simultaneously looked at Shounen.

Shounen took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his qi sea, and softly said, “It's his.”

“Hiss!”

The entire crowd gasped. Gu Qing'er was bewildered for a moment, then finally composed himself and asked in astonishment, “If it's his famous sword, why were you fighting me?”

“The famous sword is his.” Shounen paused. “The words were mine.”

Good heavens!

At this, everyone's gaze toward Xu Xiaoshou immediately changed. What kind of background must he have! To be able to have a Red Cloak openly support him like this. Just who exactly was this unknown youngster?

Suspected, Passive Points +210.

Awed, Passive Points +185.

Blessed, Passive Points +1.

The youth in the crowd wearing the large mask froze. He couldn't understand when Uncle Shounen had become like this. He was clearly a fair, righteous, and upright role model! When did he start saying such things for personal gain? Was it because there were no other Red Cloaks here? Was he trying to force him to take off his mask? No. If he took it off, his fate might truly be sealed. Acting alone and separating from the main group was no laughing matter according to the Red Cloaks' rules.

“Just who is this guy...”

Conjectured, Passive Points +1.

Gu Qing'er finally managed to shift his gaze back to Xu Xiaoshou. He couldn't believe that he had fought tooth and nail, even almost using Heaven's Release. Only to find he wasn't even fighting the true owner.

“Your famous sword?” He sneered, “Where's the proof? How do you prove it's yours?”

Xu Xiaoshou paused, then chuckled. “Are you sick? Why do you always need proof? Are you a spokesperson for proving things?”

“I also really like that famous sword in your hand. Why don't you prove to me it's yours?”

“You...” Gu Qing'er froze, then immediately infused sword intent, making the famous sword in his hand hum. Sword Sect's artistic conception, ten thousand swords singing in unison.

“Well?” He raised his head. “I've proven it; now it's your turn.”

“Oh, you proved it? That's great then.” Xu Xiaoshou clapped his hands symbolically. “But why would I compete with you? Are you a child? Do you need to compete at everything?”

“How about we squat down and see who can finish their homework faster?”

“You!” Gu Qing'er was once again choked by this guy's quick wit, angrily shouting, “You have no martial virtue!”

“Martial virtue?” Xu Xiaoshou paused, pondered for a moment, then smiled. “What is martial virtue? Can you prove it to me?”

Gu Qing'er's eyes instantly went wide, and he couldn't utter another word.

“Pfft.” Yu Zhiwen beside him finally couldn't hold back. She had always felt that even after barely witnessing an earth-shattering battle, Xu Xiaoshou's quick tongue was still more entertaining.

Everyone in the crowd held their breath. At this point, not a single person dared to speak up for Gu Qing'er. Just from Xu Xiaoshou's verbal onslaught, they knew that even if everyone's combined efforts could slightly anger or morally condemn Shounen, they probably wouldn't be able to defeat this guy who fought with his mouth, even if they teamed up.

Awed, Passive Points +121.

“Second Senior Brother, don't argue with Xu Xiaoshou. You can't win against him.” Gu Qingsan released the sky-piercing sword stance, landed on the ground, and advised, “Since the sword doesn't belong to the Red Cloak, why don't we just seize it directly?”

“Want to seize the sword?” Xu Xiaoshou immediately guessed their intentions and waved his hand. “Elder Red Cloak is right in front of me. Even if I gave you ten famous swords, you probably still couldn't defeat him.”

“You know about Dao Severing, right? You're only Grandmasters, not even Sovereigns.”

“Too weak. You can't beat this old man.”

Shounen glared at him.

Threatened, Passive Points +1.

The others collectively fell silent. Looking at the relationship between these two, clearly, even if they tried to seize it, Shounen would help block them. In that case, the famous sword was out of their grasp!

“You want the famous sword? You can have it! Why must you seize it?” Xu Xiaoshou spoke when they were in despair. “I just don't understand why you're all so crude. I'm a businessman; we can negotiate.”

“And this famous sword, I don't necessarily have to have it.”

“Huh?” Everyone froze in unison.

Gu Qing'er, however, was intrigued. Shounen was like a massive mountain standing before Xu Xiaoshou. He wasn't the Foolish Old Man who moved mountains, nor did he have the time or energy; he truly couldn't move him!

Negotiate... Would Xu Xiaoshou be that magnanimous? But, should he try?

“How do we negotiate?” he asked.

“It's a very simple deal!” Xu Xiaoshou clapped his hands and pointed at the famous sword. “Everyone can come and try to pull the sword. It's one million spirit crystals per attempt, and if you pull it out, the famous sword is yours.”

“One million for a famous sword, that's not a loss, is it? Everyone can give it a try.”

“Of course, each person only gets one chance.”

“But I also realize you might be too weak to pull out the famous sword, and you might not be reconciled to that.” Xu Xiaoshou mused, then a lightbulb went off. “How about this: for every additional chance you want to try pulling the sword, you add another zero to the one million?”