Chapter 26

Outside the waterside residence, on the mountain path, Mu Wan lowered her head.

"Senior Brother, I will try to find more elixirs to extend your lifespan."

Finding elixirs to extend one's lifespan was extremely difficult, almost impossible to come by.

Mu Wan said this, but she herself had no confidence.

Han Muye chuckled lightly and turned to look at her, saying, "Junior Sister, don't worry. It's just a matter of my lifespan being depleted; it's not a big deal."

Mu Wan's alchemy cultivation was naturally not enough to discern how much of his lifespan remained.

Nodding, Mu Wan said softly, "Then, Senior Brother, you go back to the Sword Pavilion, and I'll return to the Alchemy Hall."

Seeing that it was already late, Han Muye nodded and said, "Alright, when I have time, I'll visit the Alchemy Hall again. If you need any help in comprehending something, you can come to the Sword Pavilion to find me."

This little girl, if she grew up, would be even more beautiful.

Moreover, she was a kind-hearted and wealthy young lady.

Old Huang's encouragement made sense.

The two parted ways along the mountain path. After a while, Mu Wan, with a worried expression, returned to the intersection.

She looked in the direction Han Muye had left, then turned and walked toward the waterside residence.

A moment later, Mu Wan, with a pale face, turned back again.

"Senior Brother Han, there are only six or seven days left of his lifespan..."

She muttered to herself, her brows furrowed, her fists clenched, and she ran forward in large strides.

...

Han Muye did not return to the Sword Pavilion.

Using his body-strengthening technique, his figure moved like the wind, covering several yards in a single step. In just a little over a quarter of an hour, he had already reached the Clear Stream Gorge, where the outer disciples lived.

Looking at the wooden house ahead, he took a deep breath and walked over.

The owner of the wooden house seemed to sense his presence and opened the door.

Mo Yuan.

The first among the outer disciples.

"Yesterday, they said someone was looking for me, and I guessed it was you."

Mo Yuan chuckled, raised his hand in a gesture, then turned and walked back into the wooden house, his steps somewhat unsteady.

Han Muye entered the wooden house and saw that the furnishings were simple, even lacking some essentials.

Mo Yuan sat down at a small wooden table and said, "If you had come a day or two later, you might not have found me."

What did he mean?

Han Muye sat cross-legged opposite Mo Yuan and asked in a low voice, "Why?"

Mo Yuan's face showed a mix of loneliness and relief: "Hehe, with my wish fulfilled, why should I stay here?"

As he said this, he looked at Han Muye, his cloudy eyes revealing a glint of clarity.

With the wish fulfilled, did it mean that the Thousand Swords Return to the Source had already been passed on to him?

Han Muye had a moment of realization.

Mo Yuan stayed at the Nine Profound Sword Sect to pass on the Thousand Swords Return to the Source, which he had created in his lifetime.

Now that Han Muye had learned the Thousand Swords Return to the Source, his wish was fulfilled, and he was preparing to leave the Nine Profound Sword Sect, either to retire or return to his hometown.

Mo Yuan raised his head and smiled, "Do you have any questions about practicing the Thousand Swords Return to the Source?"

Han Muye pondered for a moment and then said in a low voice, "Senior, how did you solve the problem of sword qi entering the body?"

Hearing Han Muye's words, Mo Yuan stroked his hand, his face full of joy: "I knew you were a natural at sword practice."

"How long has it been, and you've already grasped the essence of the Thousand Swords Return to the Source!"

A trace of nostalgia flashed across his face, and Mo Yuan seemed to fall into a reverie: "Back then, I decided to create the Thousand Swords Return to the Source, but I made no progress for ten years."

"Later, I sought out the Sword Pavilion elder, who had lost his sword qi and had a limited lifespan due to controlling the Nine Profound Sword. He told me—"

As he spoke, Mo Yuan raised his hand and took out an ancient long sword, placing it on the table in front of him.

"Clang—"

The long sword was drawn, its blade clear and bright.

"Every day, polish the sword you carry, and cultivate sword qi for ten years."

"When the first thread of sword qi enters your body..."

Mo Yuan suddenly grinned, leaning forward and gently sheathing the sword, as if he didn't want the sword to hear what he was saying.

"Have you ever practiced dual cultivation?"

The old man's eyes were full of lewdness.

Han Muye nodded; he had experienced what Mo Yuan described.

Seeing him nod, Mo Yuan's lewdness became even more pronounced, and he waved his hand: "Yes, that's the feeling. Once you've experienced it, you'll know..."

"I know the feeling of sword qi entering the body." Han Muye said in a low voice.

"Ha ha, that's good, then—what!" Mo Yuan, who had been laughing, suddenly overturned the wooden table in front of him, ignoring the long sword that fell to the ground.

He pounced in front of Han Muye, grabbing his arm.

"Sword qi entering the body, sword qi entering the body..."

His hand moved inch by inch along Han Muye's arm, feeling it, his face pale.

"You were too hasty, too hasty. It took you three years to condense the first thread of sword qi. At that time, your body and bones would have adapted to the sword qi, which would have been the best time."

"By doing it this way, you will damage your vital energy, and your lifespan will be consumed by the sword qi..."

"Ah, it's all my fault, all my fault for not explaining the taboos of cultivation to you properly." Mo Yuan's face was full of self-reproach.

"I am the Sword Pavilion's sword observer. The sword qi entering my body has nothing to do with practicing the Thousand Swords Return to the Source." Han Muye said softly, looking at the old man's expression.

"Observer?" Mo Yuan was taken aback.

He slowly sat back in his seat, muttering, "Right, observer, observers are the easiest to obtain sword qi. How could I not have thought of that..."

He paused, then looked at Han Muye, "How long do you think your vital energy can last?"

How long can it last?

Han Muye sighed inwardly. If he could last much longer, he wouldn't have come to seek the old man for elixirs.

Seeing Han Muye's silence, Mo Yuan nodded and said, "I understand."

He fumbled around, took out a small wooden box, and opened it, revealing a small jade bottle inside.

"Boy, I have an elixir that can help you extend your lifespan a little."

He casually handed the elixir to Han Muye.

Looking at the elixir in front of him, Han Muye fell silent again.

This elixir was worth thirty thousand spirit stones.

With thirty thousand spirit stones, one could do many things.

For an outer disciple like Mo Yuan, thirty thousand spirit stones should be a lifetime's savings.

Moreover, this elixir was for Mo Yuan to extend his own lifespan.

His own lifespan was also coming to an end.

"Senior, this elixir is precious and useful to you." Han Muye said in a low voice.

Originally, he had planned to come to seek Mo Yuan to buy this elixir.

But seeing Mo Yuan, and seeing him pack up all his things, Han Muye already understood.

Mo Yuan's lifespan was also coming to an end, and he wanted to leave the sect before his time was up.

Now, Mo Yuan was offering the elixir to Han Muye, and he felt reluctant to take it.

He needed the elixir to extend his life, and wasn't Mo Yuan the same?

"Hehe, what difference does it make for these old bones whether I have this elixir or not?" Mo Yuan shook his head and looked at Han Muye.

"This elixir is not given to you for free."

"You must agree to two conditions."

As he spoke, he raised his hand: "First, accompany me down the mountain tomorrow and visit my hometown."

"Second, if, in the future, do not let the Thousand Swords Return to the Source be lost."

Mo Yuan meant that if one day Han Muye's lifespan was also coming to an end, he must pass on the Thousand Swords Return to the Source, ensuring its continuation.

He just didn't say it so clearly.

"If I don't come, Senior, were you planning to return to your hometown alone?" Han Muye looked at Mo Yuan.

"Seven or eight friends came together, but after two hundred years, only I remain..." Mo Yuan nodded.

Cultivation was like this; after a hundred years, old friends would be gone.

"Then, how far is your hometown, Senior?" Han Muye asked in a low voice.

He wanted to accompany Mo Yuan on his journey, but he didn't want to be away from the Sword Pavilion for too long.

"Hehe, not far, a thousand miles down the mountain. By the sect's carriage, it would take only four or five days round trip." Mo Yuan looked at Han Muye, his eyes filled with a hint of expectation.

"Alright, I'll wait for you at the mountain gate tomorrow." Han Muye bowed, then bent down to pick up Mo Yuan's long sword, placed it on the wooden table, and turned to leave.

Watching his departing back, and then the elixir still on the table, Mo Yuan's face showed a hint of satisfaction.