Chapter 14: Seizing the Sword

"Damn it!"

This was the collective thought of everyone present. The Divine Sword had actually fallen?

This meant that the master of the Divine Sword had appeared!

It made sense; Zhang Hongyu had brought over a hundred people with him, making the probability of the sword's master being among them extremely high.

However, with one Divine Sword on the ground and the other two still floating, their boundless sword aura continued to permeate the void. To enter was still a death sentence.

The crowd exchanged glances, but given the shifting circumstances, no one dared to act rashly.

"Haha, Jia Yi, I have arrived!"

A thunderous roar echoed through the air. A figure suddenly tore through the void, striding across the sky.

The display left everyone stunned. Shen Changan clearly saw the man stepping through the air, using his deep, innate internal energy to tread upon the atmosphere as if it were solid ground.

Innate internal energy could be called mana, yet there remained a distinction. This difference lay not in the energy itself, but in the person.

Someone like Shen Changan, who breathed and cultivated to directly absorb the primal energy of heaven and earth, naturally produced innate internal energy. But this burly man who had suddenly appeared possessed innate energy that had been refined from Houtian (acquired) energy, tempered back into its Xiantian (innate) state.

Compared to Shen Changan, this man’s cultivation was far more profound, and his realm was likely several levels higher.

As soon as he touched the ground, the expressions of those present shifted.

"The leader of the rebels, Xue Lie!"

Shen Changan finally realized that this was the leader of the uprising that had been occurring over these past few days. He observed the man closely: broad-shouldered, thick-waisted, and powerfully built. His tiger-like eyes radiated an intimidating authority. Even while facing over a hundred elite soldiers of the Zhennan Army, he wore an expression of utter disdain.

"Big Brother, you're finally here."

Jia Yi breathed a sigh of relief. In terms of pure strength, everyone present combined was no match for Xue Lie. He had immense faith in him.

Li Qingren’s expression also darkened. The Zhennan Army was far away, and he had arrived using secret arts; he knew he would not receive reinforcements. Even if General Sun were to arrive, he would be no match for Xue Lie.

The Zhennan Army had been suppressed by the rebels. If not for the formation he had set up using dark arts, the army would have been scattered long ago. Now that Shen Changan had torn a hole in the formation, while it didn't affect the overall situation, it allowed powerful individuals to break through.

Just then, two sharp "claps" sounded, and the remaining two Divine Swords fell to the ground.

Everyone was stunned. These last two swords had clearly fallen because of Xue Lie's arrival. Was he actually the master of the remaining two swords?

The crowd was shocked, but they quickly snapped out of it. Now that the swords had fallen, regardless of the reason, they finally had a chance to seize them. Even if they couldn't wield them, they couldn't let someone else have them!

Jia Yi, Li Qingren, Shen Changan, and Yuqing Xian all rushed toward the swords. Xue Lie and Zhang Hongyu, having just arrived and unaware of the situation, followed suit a beat behind.

As Shen Changan dived into the fray, a few meters from the blade, he focused his intent, and one of the Divine Swords flew toward his hand.

But before he could grasp it, Jia Yi slammed into him, knocking him aside.

Jia Yi looked like a frail scholar, but the force of his collision was immense. Shen Changan felt as if a wild boar had struck him, sending his body flying.

Jia Yi, clearly lacking the ability to manipulate objects, didn't realize that while Shen Changan had been knocked away, the sword was following him through the air.

Panicked, Jia Yi reached out and grabbed the sword to prevent Shen Changan from snatching it.

Shen Changan felt the resistance on the sword increase; his mental force struggled to pull it away. He didn't know what kind of skill Jia Yi possessed to have such strength.

He snorted, released his hold on the blade, and instead used his mental force to strike at Jia Yi’s wrist, tearing away a chunk of flesh.

Jia Yi cried out in pain and involuntarily let go. Shen Changan immediately guided the sword into his hand.

He gripped the hilt and attempted to draw the blade.

With a surge of effort, Shen Changan felt as if he were trying to pull apart a single, solid object. No matter how hard he tried, the blade would not budge.

Jia Yi laughed, "Daoist Lingxiao, what is destined to be yours will be, but do not force what is not."

Shen Changan spat, "Strategist Jia, that’s easy for you to say. Why are you trying to seize it yourself?"

Jia Yi replied calmly, "That sword belongs to my brother; naturally, I am seizing it for him."

At those words, a chill ran down Shen Changan’s spine. Without thinking, he rolled across the ground to dodge.

Where he had been standing, a massive, thick hand smashed down, cratering the earth!

Shen Changan was horrified; had he stayed, he would have surely been crushed.

Jia Yi laughed heartily and then sprinted toward Li Qingren and Yuqing Xian, who had already claimed the other two swords.

On Shen Changan's side, the owner of that massive hand stood up and held out his palm, saying, "Give it here."

Shen Changan looked at the hulking man and offered a wry smile. "Those two are over there, why bother me?"

Xue Lie grinned. "You were closer."

Shen Changan shook his head helplessly, his expression turning serious. "Though I am not greedy, I am not willing to simply hand it over. I must at least make an effort."

"Good."

As the word left Xue Lie’s lips, he charged forward. His hands, like two ferocious tigers, lunged at Shen Changan from both sides!

Shen Changan flicked his fingers and shouted, "Obey!"

*Bang! Bang!* Two explosions erupted beneath the ground. The earth where Xue Lie stepped gave way, causing him to lose his balance and stumble.

Shen Changan had planted two repulsion talismans while dodging. Though their power was modest, the small craters were enough to throw Xue Lie off.

Shen Changan raised the Divine Sword and brought it crashing down toward Xue Lie.

Xue Lie merely snorted, let out a thunderous shout, and a surge of immense mana erupted from his body. It stopped his momentum instantly, and a counter-force pushed him back into an upright position!

Shen Changan was stunned. He had used his telekinetic powers to push or pull things before, but never anything so heavy. Xue Lie weighed at least two hundred pounds, yet he had stabilized himself with a single shout. His mana was vastly superior to Shen Changan’s.

As Shen Changan swung down, Xue Lie dodged and grabbed the scabbard.

Shen Changan’s expression changed. He felt the hilt vibrating; sword aura was bleeding out, ready to sever his hand.

He quickly let go, and the sword fell into Xue Lie’s grasp.

Xue Lie twisted his wrist, gripped the hilt, and drew the blade.

*Hum!*

A low sword-song resonated, and a wave of sword aura sliced a meter-long gash into the ground.

If the act of drawing the blade possessed such power, how terrifying would it be if wielded with full force?

Xue Lie grinned at Shen Changan.

Shen Changan smiled bitterly. "Patron Xue, how about you spare this priest?"

"No."

Xue Lie spoke one word, and the blade descended. Shen Changan reacted instantly, using his mental force to pull something from the ground into his palm and block the strike.

It wasn't that he hadn't tried to use his mental force to attack Xue Lie’s flesh, but the moment the scabbard had entered Xue Lie’s hand, the sword aura had intercepted and severed his intangible mental force!

With no other choice, he had pulled at the debris from the meteor shower, hoping it might provide some defense.

As the object landed in his palm, it felt like a gnarled wooden staff. Before he could even see what it was, Xue Lie’s blade struck!

*Clang!*

A crisp sound echoed. The impact sent a massive shockwave, and Xue Lie was knocked backward, stumbling a dozen steps before finding his footing.

Shen Changan was stunned. He had hoped to merely block the attack, but he hadn't expected his weapon to repel Xue Lie.

He looked down to see he was holding something resembling a withered tree branch.

No, it wasn't just wood; it was two pieces of wood intertwined, constantly shifting between withered bark and fresh green shoots. The ends twisted into a spiral, forming a hilt, while the tips curved and met like a blade.

Seeing this shape, realization struck Shen Changan like a thunderbolt.

"There were four Divine Swords from the start, and one belonged to me. It fell when I arrived, but because it was shaped like wood and landed in the meteor pile, it was obscured by the dim light."

Xue Lie, having been repelled, stared at the wooden sword in Shen Changan’s hand, stunned, before reaching the same conclusion.

"Heh, it seems the Daoist has also obtained a Divine Sword. Well? Shall we spar?"

Shen Changan waved his hand and laughed softly. "This priest has taken advantage of the situation and intends to slip away now. If Patron Xue wishes to spar, perhaps try the two over there."

Xue Lie glanced over. Jia Yi was hiding on the side, nursing his wounds, while Zhang Hongyu and Yuqing Xian each held a sword.

Ignoring Zhang Hongyu, Yuqing Xian had actually managed to draw her blade!

This surprised everyone. When Zhang Hongyu arrived, a sword had fallen for him, so that was expected. But when Yuqing Xian arrived, no sword had fallen—the one in her hand should have been Xue Lie's.

Xue Lie stared at her, puzzled. "Why were you able to pick up that sword?"

Yuqing Xian felt it was a strange question. "The Divine Sword chooses its master. What is wrong with it choosing me?"

Xue Lie wore a playful expression. "So that’s how it is. Good, very good!"

The others found his words baffling. They didn't know that the moment Xue Lie gripped his own sword, he had learned the origin of these blades. Among those present, only he was qualified to know.

Seeing Yuqing Xian claim the sword, he wasn't annoyed, merely smiling. "Little girl, since you have taken the sword, go and do great things! We shall surely meet again!"

With that, Xue Lie swung his blade. A dense, brilliant light erupted, and a massive wave of sword aura swept outward, surging toward the crowd!

Shen Changan’s expression shifted, and he raised his wooden sword to meet it. *Clang!* The aura was blocked by his blade, but the force sent him skidding back a dozen steps, his arm numb.

"Such overbearing sword aura..."

Shen Changan realized that the only reason he had survived those few exchanges earlier was that Xue Lie had been arrogant and underestimated him.

Though the Divine Sword certainly amplified the power, even with it, Shen Changan knew he couldn't replicate such a formidable strike.

After that single slash, Xue Lie grabbed Jia Yi, stepped into the void, and vanished into the distance within a few strides.

"All troops, give chase!" Zhang Hongyu, eager for merit, didn't bother seeking revenge on Shen Changan and led his soldiers in the direction Xue Lie had taken.

Li Qingren wanted to stop him and ask for help in seizing Shen Changan’s sword, but knowing Yuqing Xian wouldn't stand idly by, he sighed and followed. He didn't expect to catch Xue Lie; he was merely worried that Zhang Hongyu might be ambushed and lose his own sword in the process.

Once they were gone, only Shen Changan and Yuqing Xian remained.

Shen Changan felt a bit awkward and was about to speak, but Yuqing Xian said, "The matter here is settled. I must go to complete my mission. Daoist Lingxiao, until we meet again."

With that, she retrieved her horse and left.

Shen Changan sighed, brushed the dust from his robes, chose a direction, and headed toward the east.