Chapter 1291: Sword God Jian Feidao of the Heavens

In the vast Beidou Xingyu, everything froze in that instant, as if the bustling mortal world had come to a standstill.

The Sheng Wang, Sheng Ren, and Zhun Sheng of Daluo Jian Zong, along with nearly a million cultivators and the countless beings of Beidou Xingyu, all stared in stunned silence, their gazes fixed on that ethereal, transcendent figure.

There, the immortal light faded, revealing a silhouette in the world: a man in white robes untouched by worldly dust, his white hair stirring without wind, his eyes as calm as an ancient well, encompassing the heavens and earth, with the supreme Dao evolving within.

He truly resembled an immortal, like a distant myth that existed beyond the mortal realm, visible but unattainable.

"What immense pressure... Is he a Da Di?" The long silence was finally broken by a Sheng Ren, his voice trembling uncontrollably, though he himself was unaware of it.

"This world actually... actually has such a powerful being." Another Sheng Ren spoke, his eyes filled with awe.

"Jian Shen." The Sheng Wang of Daluo Jian Zong murmured, his lips quivering, his body shaking uncontrollably.

"Jian Shen." The Sheng Ren, Zhun Sheng, and nearly a million cultivators of Daluo Jian Zong felt dizzy, for they had all seen the conscious form of Zhutian Jian Shen's sword intent and naturally recognized him.

"Is he... Zhutian Jian Shen?" A cultivator from Daluo Jian Zong whispered, his voice soft yet resounding like ancient thunder, shaking Beidou Xingyu with a deafening rumble that made every listener's soul tremble.

"The heavens have shown mercy; I have seen a living Zhutian myth."

"After two thousand years of cultivation, I can die without regrets." Too many elder Sheng Ren were moved to tears.

"This junior, Xuan Luo, pays respects to Jian Shen." Amid the excited voices, the Sheng Wang of Daluo Jian Zong knelt on the ground, and with his words, the Sheng Ren, Zhun Sheng, and nearly a million cultivators of Daluo Jian Zong all knelt as well, for it was Jian Shen's single sword intent that had founded Daluo Jian Zong in Beidou Xingyu long ago.

"We pay respects to Zhutian Jian Shen." The countless cultivators of Beidou Xingyu knelt one after another, their voices echoing through the stars.

"Senior, I have finally waited for you." Ye Chen bowed with his hands clasped, the only one still standing in the starry sky. After countless schemes and near-death experiences, he had endured until Jian Shen's arrival.

"Come with me." Jian Shen spoke indifferently, stepping through the starry sky toward a desolate star. Each step seemed to tread upon the Dao itself, imbued with profound and mysterious principles.

Ye Chen wiped the fresh blood from his mouth and hurriedly followed.

Jian Shen's back was desolate, etched with the marks of time, every strand of his white hair carrying the weight of ages. Looking at him evoked both reverence and confusion, for even a Zhutian myth must have his own story.

Jian Shen remained silent, and Ye Chen followed quietly behind. The one whom the Kunlun Shen Nv admired was indeed a heaven-defying existence, at the peak of Zhun Di, a Zhutian myth radiating an aura similar to Tian Mo Di's—the quality of one truly standing at the pinnacle of the Dao.

Behind them, the cultivators of Beidou Xingyu watched Jian Shen and Ye Chen's departing figures and slowly rose to their feet.

"Jian Shen! That is Zhutian Jian Shen!" The once quiet starry sky buzzed with excitement.

"To witness a Zhutian myth is our greatest honor."

"What intrigues me is Ye Chen's relationship with Jian Shen." Many scratched their heads in curiosity.

"Could he be Jian Shen's old friend?" someone ventured.

"That's impossible. Ye Chen is only over a hundred years old; he's from a completely different era than Jian Shen."

"Maybe he's the descendant of Jian Shen's old friend."

"That guess makes sense." Many elder cultivators stroked their chins. "What we can be sure of is that Ye Chen and Jian Shen must have a significant connection, and it's definitely not hostile."

"Old ancestor." Amid the discussions, a voice called out from Daluo Jian Zong, drawing everyone's attention. They saw a Sheng Ren supporting the Sheng Wang of Daluo Jian Zong.

Just a second earlier, the Sheng Wang had tried to stand, but whether from excitement or fear, he nearly collapsed, saved only by the Sheng Ren's steadying hand.

Now, his face was deathly pale, and even as a Sheng Wang, his aged body trembled incessantly.

If even a Sheng Wang was this shaken, the Sheng Ren, Zhun Sheng, and junior Huang Jing cultivators were even worse off, their faces as white as paper, sweat pouring down, barely able to stand without holding each other up.

Jian Shen's sudden appearance, and his act of saving Ye Chen, made it clear to anyone with sense that Ye Chen and Zhutian Jian Shen shared an unusual bond. If Jian Shen held them accountable, Daluo Jian Zong would vanish into dust, and they would perish with it.

In contrast, among the crowd, Nie Feng was thrilled and astonished, realizing Ye Chen had the extraordinary ability to summon Jian Shen. With Zhutian Jian Shen's protection, who would dare touch him?

"We must go and seek forgiveness." The Sheng Wang of Daluo Jian Zong wiped his cold sweat and took unsteady steps toward the ancient star where Ye Chen and Jian Shen had gone, hoping desperately that Jian Shen would not blame them.

"We must go and seek forgiveness." The Sheng Ren, Zhun Sheng, and nearly a million cultivators of Daluo Jian Zong followed suit.

This scene drew sighs of irony from the surrounding cultivators. Not long ago, Daluo Jian Zong had been eager to kill Ye Chen, full of overwhelming momentum and killing intent. Now, they were like meek lambs.

As they spoke, the other cultivators joined the pursuit.

That was Jian Shen, a Zhutian myth, rarely appearing in Beidou Xingyu—they wanted to catch a few more glimpses, and if luck was on their side, perhaps even hear him expound on the Dao.

By then, Jian Shen had already entered a desolate ancient star and ascended to its mountain peak.

Ye Chen followed closely, reaching the summit, his expression full of respect, maintaining utmost courtesy throughout.

Jian Shen's gaze was calm, devoid of a Zhun Di's *weiyan*. He gently raised his hand and placed it on Ye Chen's shoulder, letting immortal light flow to heal the wounds within Ye Chen's body and dispel the backlash he had suffered.

Ye Chen stood still, allowing Jian Shen to treat him. In just three breaths, the Xian Yan was unsealed.

"Are you a descendant of Liu Dao?" Jian Shen's words were flat and ethereal, like a dream, and as he spoke, he subtly glanced at the Xuan Cang Jade Ring on Ye Chen's finger.

"This junior is ignorant and does not know who Liu Dao is." Ye Chen shook his head lightly.

"Among my peers, I was defeated only once. He is the true Zhutian myth." Jian Shen's expression was serene, his words still faint and dreamlike, recounting an ancient legend. "With the same appearance, the same Xian Yan, the same ring, you must share a deep connection with him."

"The same appearance, the same Xian Yan, the same ring." Ye Chen murmured to himself. The Liu Dao that Jian Shen mentioned was strikingly similar to Hong Chen from the past, and he had even defeated a Zhutian myth.

"Is it me from another future timeline? Has he descended into Zhutian Wanyu?" Ye Chen muttered, his brows furrowing slightly. "Are the figures in those ancient paintings Liu Dao?"

"Why did you summon me to Beidou Xingyu?" Jian Shen withdrew his hand, having healed all of Ye Chen's injuries.

"There is a devoted woman who misses you, senior." Ye Chen took out a sachet, which Donghuang Tai Xin had given him when he left Da Chu, embroidered with the words "Jian Fei Dao."

"She is called Donghuang Tai Xin, on the other side of the starry sky." Ye Chen handed the sachet to Zhutian Jian Shen.

"Xin Er." Jian Shen's heart stirred for the first time, his hand trembling as he took the sachet. The word "Xin Er" carried endless sorrow, and even a Zhutian myth revealed a touch of ancient tenderness. He could no longer remember when he last saw her, only that the years had stretched so long that time itself had blurred.

"What calamity has bfallen Da Chu, and why has contact with Zhutian Wanyu been severed?" Jian Shen gripped the sachet tightly, his voice turning hoarse, for he had long known of Da Chu's existence.

"The invasion of Tian Mo." Ye Chen smiled wearily and waved his hand to summon a water curtain, within which were imprinted scenes of the Tian Mo invasion and Da Chu's resistance—images drenched in blood.

Even Jian Shen, with his unwavering resolve, changed expression upon seeing the water curtain.

The once prosperous mountains and rivers were devoured by darkness, filled with blood as far as the eye could see, like an endless hell.

Da Chu's ninety million heroic souls fought valiantly, and Tianxuan Gate's ninety million cultivators battled to their last breath. One figure after another fell in pools of blood, each vibrant life perishing on the city walls, forging a blood-red great wall for the beings of Wanyu with their bones and flesh, fighting nearly to total annihilation.

Suddenly, Jian Shen seemed to hear mournful roars—the souls of the fallen howling from their spirits.

The Zhutian myth trembled, tears welling in his eyes, unaware that a hundred years ago, Da Chu had fought so fiercely against the Tian Mo invasion. He could not imagine the hardships Da Chu's ninety million cultivators endured to protect Zhutian Gate and the beings behind them.

Zheng!

A world-shaking sword cry echoed through the heavens, its ancient pressure suppressing all of Zhutian. The entire Beidou Xingyu quaked, with the sky, earth, stars, and void freezing into ice, visible to the naked eye.

A breeze blew, dispersing the water curtain, leaving only the blood-stained shadows of Da Chu's ninety million heroic souls in the void.

Zhutian Jian Shen fell silent, like a stone statue standing on the mountain peak.

A Zhutian myth must have regrets—to not have been by her side in her most difficult times, to not have stood before the desperate masses. This legendary figure smiled self-mockingly.

Ye Chen stood like a statue as well, enduring the cold wind.

After a long while, Jian Shen turned back and looked quietly at Ye Chen. It was this young man who had led Da Chu's cultivators in the charge, slaughtering a Da Di and holding Zhutian Gate for Wanyu.

Ye Chen smiled tiredly and produced a token—it was the Kunlun Shen Nv Jian Ling from Donghuang Tai Xin. "Senior, you must know where Kunlun Xu is. Da Chu's origin is destroyed and cannot last another five hundred years."

"How did you come here when contact between Da Chu and Zhutian Wanyu has been cut off?"

"Through a space black hole."

"So, you can return via the space black hole as well." Jian Shen looked at Ye Chen with hope.

"I cannot go back." Ye Chen sighed. "I encountered an incident in the space black hole and no longer remember the way. For a hundred years, I have used Zhou Tian evolution multiple times to deduce Da Chu's location. I only know it has drifted to the western region of Zhutian Wanyu—this is the general direction."

"Having a general direction is enough." Jian Shen took a deep breath. "With the combined forces of Zhutian Wanyu, we can find Da Chu. It will take time, but five hundred years should be sufficient."

"This junior believes that day will come even sooner."

"Little one, you've been exhausted for a hundred years—it's time for you to rest." Jian Shen rarely smiled. "Come back with me to Kunlun Xu. As for finding Da Chu, leave it to us."

"This junior still needs to search for Da Chu's reincarnated souls and cannot rest yet." Ye Chen chuckled. "Da Chu's wheel of reincarnation is damaged, and too many have been reborn in Zhutian Wanyu. Along my journey, I've found quite a few, but compared to the ninety million heroic souls of Da Chu, it's still far from enough. This junior only hopes to find them all in this lifetime and bring them back to our homeland together."

"In that case, take my Dao body with you." Jian Shen waved his hand, sending out a wisp of green smoke that transformed into another Jian Fei Dao—this was a Dao body, worlds apart from his true self.

"Thank you, senior." Ye Chen was overjoyed, for with Jian Shen's Dao body by his side, many troubles would be avoided.