Chapter 52: News of the Chaotic Sword Classic

The tremor of the giant ape stepping onto the ground caused the entire volcano to shake.

The expressions of the seven demon clan powerhouses changed drastically. The one-horned demon clan member shouted sternly, "Demonic Ape! How dare you betray the demon clan?"

The giant ape split its blood-red mouth, revealing pearly white fangs. "Betray? When I was hunted down by you lot in the demon clan back then, why didn't I hear anyone saying that?"

Before the words faded, the giant ape leaped into the air, its double fists smashing toward the female serpent demon like meteors.

The female demon dodged in a panic, only to be struck by Gu Chen with a single sword slash that pierced her throat!

"The first." Gu Chen's voice was chillingly devoid of any emotion.

Ye Xiao gripped his broken sword tightly, watching with his own eyes as Gu Chen and the giant ape slaughtered the demon powerhouses as if they were cutting vegetables. With every sword stroke that fell, a wisp of blood energy was absorbed by the broken sword.

The blood veins on the sword body became increasingly distinct, writhing as though they possessed a life of their own.

"Ye Xiao, your sword..."

Han Qi gasped in a low voice.

Ye Xiao looked down to see the broken sword trembling slightly, as if cheering and leaping with joy.

His heart tightened, and he vaguely sensed that his connection with the sword had grown even deeper.

When the last bear demon was torn in half by the giant ape, Gu Chen drifted down gracefully and tossed the broken sword back to Ye Xiao.

"Your sword is not simple."

Gu Chen gave Ye Xiao a meaningful look, though he said nothing more.

Ye Xiao caught the sword, feeling only a chill upon contact as a strange surge of power flowed through his arm into his body.

Just as he was about to speak, Du Mao suddenly cursed, "That bastard Xu Beichen has run away!"

Only then did the others realize that at some unknown point, Xu Beichen had vanished without a trace.

"I'll go after him!" Du Mao turned as if to rush out.

"Stop right there!" Zhuge Lingyun shouted sternly to halt him. "It's too late to chase him now! The most pressing matter is to leave this place first!"

Du Mao stomped his feet in frustration. "Are we just going to let him off like this?"

Zhuge Lingyun said in a deep voice, "The Profound Yellow Sect is powerful; rushing in blindly is nothing more than seeking death. Besides..."

He glanced at the weakened Mu Bai and Han Qi. "Our current condition is not suitable for another battle."

Ye Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing the fury blazing in his heart.

He turned toward Gu Chen, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Senior, I have a favor to ask."

Gu Chen raised an eyebrow. "Speak."

"My younger sister, Ye Yanran, had her immortal bone excavated by Xu Beichen and is now hanging by a thread," Ye Xiao said, his voice trembling. "I wonder if Senior has any way to save her?"

Gu Chen frowned deeply, reaching out to press a hand onto Ye Xiao's shoulder as a wisp of profound energy probed into his body to stabilize his injuries.

After a moment of contemplation, Gu Chen shook his head and sighed, "If you had come to me right when she was injured, there might still have been hope. But now..."

He glanced at the broken sword at Ye Xiao's waist. "Unless you take back her own immortal bone, no medicinal pills in the world can reverse this."

Ye Xiao was struck as if by lightning, stumbling back two steps.

Han Qi hurriedly supported him. "Ye Xiao..."

"I'm fine," Ye Xiao said, gritting his teeth as he stood straight. "Many thanks, Senior, for speaking the truth."

At that moment, the Dao Stele vibrated violently, its surface runes lighting up one by one. A bloody figure drifted out from within the stele, turning out to be none other than the female sword immortal Yue Wuxia.

"Time is up." Yue Wuxia's voice was ethereal and illusory.

She raised her hand in a summon, and the Dao Stele actually transformed into a stream of light, plunging directly into Gu Chen's Dantian!

Gu Chen let out a muffled grunt, his aura surging violently as a bloody sword mark appeared between his eyebrows.

"This..." Zhuge Lingyun gasped in shock. "The Dao Stele no longer needs to be suppressed?"

Yue Wuxia swept a cold glance at him. "Suppression is pointless now. Unless the old master acts personally, the seal will inevitably break within thirty years."

Zhuge Lingyun turned pale as paper. "My master..."

Yue Wuxia ignored him further, turning instead to Ye Xiao. "Boy, your talent is decent, but unfortunately..."

She paused. "I know what you are searching for. Liqing Island in the Eastern Domain might hold the answer you seek."

Ye Xiao's heart shook. "Senior means... the Chaotic Sword Classic?"

Yue Wuxia neither confirmed nor denied, her figure gradually fading away. "Gu Chen, I leave the rest to you."

"Don't worry, Sword Immortal Sister."

Gu Chen grinned widely, a ruffian-like demeanor that clashed strangely with his young and handsome appearance.

Yue Wuxia cast one final glance deep into the volcano before transforming into a streak of red light that sank into Gu Chen's body.

Gu Chen stretched lazily, retrieved a jade bottle from his robes, and tossed it to Ye Xiao. "One pill a day can temporarily suppress your sister's injuries."

He leaped onto the giant ape's shoulder. "Time to go. Until we meet again."

The giant ape turned and strode forward, the ground trembling in its wake.

After walking a few steps, Gu Chen suddenly looked back. "Right, be careful with that sword."

With those words, man and ape quickly vanished from everyone's sight.

"We should leave as well," Zhuge Lingyun said, casting a glance at the sky.

"Let's return to the Mu family to recuperate first, then plan our next move." On the return journey, Han Qi couldn't help asking, "Ye Xiao, your sword... what on earth is going on with it?"

Ye Xiao looked down at the faint blood veins appearing and disappearing on his wrist, shaking his head. "Forgive me, this is a family secret of the Ye clan."

"That is most likely no ordinary spiritual artifact," Zhuge Lingyun said with a solemn expression. "Senior Gu Chen told you to be careful for a reason."

Du Mao scratched his head. "Could it be some kind of evil weapon?"

"Unlikely," Zhuge Lingyun mused. "If it were an evil weapon, it would have backfired on its master long ago. I suspect... it might be some form of bloodline inheritance artifact."

Ye Xiao's heart skipped a beat.

He had not expected Zhuge Lingyun to guess the mystery behind it so quickly!

"Sir, do you know of Liqing Island in the Eastern Domain?"

Ye Xiao shifted the topic.

Zhuge Lingyun nodded. "That is one of the three forbidden zones of the Eastern Domain. Legend has it that there is an ancient sword tomb on the island. But..."

He hesitated for a moment. "For a thousand years, no one has ever walked out of the center of that island alive."

"I must go," Ye Xiao said with unwavering determination.

"I'll accompany you," Mu Bai suddenly stated.

Du Mao patted Ye Xiao's shoulder. "Don't even think about shaking me off!"

Zhuge Lingyun looked at the group of youths and shook his head helplessly. "Return to the Mu family to heal first. We depart in three days."

That night, in the Mu family guest quarters.

Ye Xiao sat cross-legged, the broken sword laid flat across his knees.

Right now, the broken sword contained the vital blood of numerous demon clans and fierce beasts, among which even included the vital blood of a peak Core Formation realm and a half-step Dragon-Fish realm demon.

Just as he was about to begin refining it, a faint sound came from outside the window.

"Who's there?"

Frowning, Ye Xiao walked over to the window and pushed it open, only to find no figure in sight. Just as he was about to close the window in confusion, he noticed a piece of paper resting on the windowsill!

Ye Xiao picked up the slightly yellowed paper and looked around again, confirming once more that no one was there before firmly shutting the window.

Returning to the edge of the bed to sit down, Ye Xiao unfolded the paper. Upon reading its contents, a cold sneer surfaced on his face!

"Xu Beichen! You certainly think highly of me!"

The note stated that upon returning to the Profound Yellow Sect, Xu Beichen had issued a bounty: anyone who killed Ye Xiao would receive one hundred thousand spiritual stones!

Not only that, but Xu Beichen had also leaked the news of Ye Xiao's whereabouts at the Mu family, meaning countless people were likely rushing toward the Mu family at this very moment!

"Who on earth sent me this message?"

Ye Xiao was utterly baffled. However, this was no time to ponder that mystery. He immediately rushed out of the room and came to a halt before Zhuge Lingyun's door.

He knocked firmly.

"Sir! It seems we must set out tonight!"