It is difficult to describe this sword strike in words. The Sword Technique was the same, yet when wielded by two different hands, it created a completely different spectacle.
This strike was more powerful, more pure. The intent it contained could only be described as the pinnacle of perfection.
As the sword struck, the entire ruin trembled. Fissures spiderwebbed across the heavens, the earth roiled, and space itself warped, tearing open a massive gash. An endless torrent of power erupted from it, drowning the pool of tribulation lightning.
RUMBLE!
Thunderbolt flashed, but it was all futile before the Heaven-Opening Sword. The tribulation cloud was rent asunder, revealing the sky’s light for the first time in an age. Muffled thunder rumbled on—nothing more than roars of indignation. In the end, its power spent, the cloud vanished without a trace, transforming into specks of milky-white light that drifted down from the heavens and settled upon Yu Changsheng.
"Senior..."
Yu Changsheng stared blankly at the scene. Once all was calm, the sense of crisis that had been weighing on his heart vanished completely. His Realm, which had been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Peak, broke through in that instant.
The Sui Xian Sword bobbed in the center of the sky, bathed in heavenly light. It radiated a divine, gentle glow, but as Yu Changsheng watched, it trembled faintly...
CRACK... CRACKLE...
Accompanied by a series of crisp sounds, new cracks suddenly appeared on the already damaged body of the Sui Xian Sword, spreading from its tip to the hilt.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
The figure of the Sui Xian Sword Spirit appeared. His face was deathly pale, and half his body had faded into near-complete transparency. He grabbed the Sui Xian Sword and, with a light flourish, landed softly on the ground.
"Senior, you..."
Yu Changsheng stepped forward, the rims of his eyes turning red. Sensing the Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s status, he hesitated, faltering in his approach.
"It’s nothing. You’ve committed the splendor of that strike to heart, haven’t you?"
The Sui Xian Sword Spirit shook his head, a faint smile slowly gracing his serene face. He patted Yu Changsheng on the shoulder with feigned ease, but his body quietly grew a little more transparent.
"I’ve remembered. Changsheng has committed it to memory," Yu Changsheng nodded lightly and exhaled a long breath. He then bowed respectfully, his hands clasped in a formal salute to the Sui Xian Sword Spirit.
"Changsheng will forever remember this kindness."
The bow was solemn and formal, but Yu Changsheng’s heart was filled with bitterness.
"Haha." The Sui Xian Sword Spirit laughed heartily. "Since you are my master’s junior brother, I couldn’t possibly let anything happen to you. I’m just a bag of old bones who doesn’t have much time left anyway. Unleashing that strike can be considered a final resolution."
The Sui Xian Sword Spirit smiled gently, his tone light and relieved.
"..." Yu Changsheng opened his mouth, but he didn’t know what to say. He wanted to speak, but held his tongue, and could only remain silent. Watching the Sui Xian Sword Spirit, his eyes reddened, and a complex, bitter feeling churned in his heart.
"If I can, I’d like to take Senior Brother’s body back to the sect for burial."
After a long moment, Yu Changsheng took a deep breath and spoke in a low voice.
’This was probably the only thing he could do for the Sui Xian Sword Spirit.’
"Your senior brother’s body?"
The Sui Xian Sword Spirit paused, stunned. He gave Yu Changsheng a surprised look and then smiled, shaking his head. "I don’t know where he is either."
"Huh?" Now it was Yu Changsheng’s turn to be stunned, and he stared at the Sui Xian Sword Spirit in confusion.
A nostalgic look appeared in the Sui Xian Sword Spirit’s eyes. He glanced down at his body, which had almost completely vanished, but paid it no mind. He began to speak slowly. "Back then, your senior brother was gravely wounded because of the matter with the Profound Turtle, but that wasn’t the only reason for his injuries."
"It was because countless experts used that opportunity to hunt him down, wanting to eliminate him completely. Your senior brother’s talent was just too astonishing. In less than sixty years, he was on the verge of Divinity Transformation with peerless combat strength. Naturally, there were countless people who were jealous or harbored ill intentions..."
"In the end, with no other choice, we were passing this place and I stayed behind to cover his retreat. But because of that, I was beaten into a near-death state by several Divinity Transformation Great Powers, and have just been clinging to life ever since. As for your senior brother... I truly don’t know."
The Sui Xian Sword Spirit heaved a heavy sigh and slowly closed his eyes. When he opened them again, he gave Yu Changsheng a meaningful smile and said:
"Besides, with your senior brother’s capabilities, do you really think he would have perished so easily?"
Yu Changsheng was speechless. After a long moment, he looked at the Sui Xian Sword Spirit, slowly nodded, and chuckled softly.
"As it happens, I too would like to see for myself just how magnificent this senior brother I’ve never met truly is."
"Senior, is there... anything else you need to entrust to me?" Yu Changsheng paused before asking, his hesitation palpable.
The Sui Xian Sword Spirit fell silent. After a long while, he spoke. "If you get the chance... if one day you meet your senior brother, tell him I said hello."
"Just tell him..." The Sui Xian Sword Spirit swallowed, glancing at his body, now more than half gone. His smile was brilliant, free of any bitterness or regret—only open-hearted magnanimity. His tone was gentle, his gaze filled with reminiscence, as if he were once again seeing that scene from long ago...
...
"Sword Spirit? Since you are a Sword Spirit born from me, and we share a connection like blood... how about I call you Sui Xian?"
The memory showed a young man of peerless grace. Dressed in white robes, his face was bewitchingly handsome, as transcendent as an immortal’s. Within his shifting gaze, it seemed as if a thousand stars were being born and extinguished. He was smiling brightly, gently stroking the Long Sword in his hand.
The Long Sword trembled faintly, a nascent will stirring within it, as if in delight.
One name: Sui Xian. A lifetime of following the Immortal.
...
His thoughts returned to the present. The Sui Xian Sword Spirit gently shook his head, his tone growing low and his voice weaker, until his words were nearly an inaudible murmur.