Chapter 53

Lin Chongxiao!

That genius of the Nine Profound Sword Sect, the one who made Tuoba Cheng not take on any direct disciples for ten years.

The elder brother of Instructor Lin, the one who made Lin Chongxiao wield the sword for ten years, only to end up in vain.

"Thank you, Daoist friend, for helping to break through my younger brother's delusions, giving him a chance to turn back."

In his mind, Lin Chongxiao bowed to Han Muye again.

Han Muye had observed thousands of swords, but this was the first time he saw a consciousness within the image.

Looking at the Lin Chongxiao in the image, he didn't know how to respond.

"Are you really Lin Chongxiao?"

He spoke softly, unsure if the Lin Chongxiao in his mind could hear him.

When his words fell, the Lin Chongxiao in his mind nodded, then shook his head.

"I am Lin Chongxiao, yet I am not."

"I am just a thread of Lin Chongxiao's obsession, unwilling to dissipate, hidden within the sword."

"For so many years, I have been able to persist without dissipating, thanks to my younger brother's soul nurturing and the nurturing of my obsession."

At this point, Lin Chongxiao spoke softly, "Daoist friend, you can consider me as the spirit of the sword, or as a remnant of my soul."

"I pose no threat to you, nor do I have the power to threaten you."

"If not for your sword qi stimulating me, I wouldn't even be able to communicate with you."

Lin Chongxiao was quite astute, knowing that for cultivators, the most important thing is their own safety.

If this Lin Chongxiao posed a threat to Han Muye's safety, Han Muye would immediately find a way to annihilate him.

Looking at the image in his mind, Han Muye suddenly loosened his grip on the long sword.

Lin Chongxiao wanted to say more but could only helplessly dissipate.

The image dissipated, leaving nothing behind.

It seemed that Lin Chongxiao was telling the truth; he was just a remnant soul and posed no threat to him.

Holding the sword again, the sword qi probed, and Lin Chongxiao helplessly smiled and bowed.

"Daoist friend, I now exist because of your sword qi. Once the sword qi is withdrawn, I will dissipate."

At this point, he raised his head, his face sincere as he bowed deeply, "Daoist friend, please help guide my younger brother, so he doesn't lose his path of cultivation."

Guide Instructor Lin?

Han Muye pondered for a moment and spoke softly, "How should I guide him?"

"He spent ten years in hard cultivation, but his Dao heart was shattered in a day. He probably won't have the chance to improve his cultivation in this life."

Han Muye was no longer a novice in cultivation.

Cultivation is about the heart; without one's own Dao, even if you spend countless years, it will be in vain.

Lin Shen was in such a state now.

"Daoist friend, wielding the sword a million times to split rocks and crush mountains is not something I fabricated," Lin Chongxiao spoke softly.

"Initially, I and a few fellow disciples explored a secret place and obtained some incomplete cultivation techniques, which included this method."

"I knew my younger brother's talent was insufficient, so before my fall, I instructed him to cultivate this method to make up for his lack of talent through diligence."

"I left a remnant soul in the sword to help him cultivate."

"However," Lin Chongxiao smiled bitterly, "I didn't expect my younger brother to directly cultivate this method, rather than using it as an auxiliary method."

"Without sufficient cultivation, he couldn't stimulate the power of my remnant soul, and I could only helplessly watch him struggle."

This was truly a case of things going awry.

Lin Chongxiao spared no effort to leave his remnant soul in the sword to help Lin Shen.

But Lin Shen, obsessed with the method of wielding the sword a million times, neglected his own cultivation, leading to insufficient cultivation and the inability to stimulate the power of the remnant soul.

"I originally thought that within ten years, I could help my younger brother establish his Dao foundation and become a direct disciple of the Three Stones Hall."

"Then, my wish would be fulfilled."

In the image, Lin Chongxiao's face showed a hint of loneliness, and he bowed, "Daoist friend, you can condense such a thick sword qi, your sword cultivation must be unparalleled."

"Chongxiao begs you to guide my younger brother."

Looking at the Lin Chongxiao in the image, Han Muye remained silent.

Although he wasn't as skilled in sword cultivation as Lin Chongxiao thought, with his full-level insight, guiding Lin Shen wouldn't be difficult.

But today, stimulating the remnant soul in the sword was unexpected.

The Sword Pavilion contained tens of thousands of swords; how many of them had remnant souls residing in them?

If all these remnant souls had obsessions and asked him to fulfill them, he would be overwhelmed.

"Daoist friend, the secret place where I discovered the incomplete cultivation techniques is quite mysterious. If you can help my younger brother, I am willing to tell you the location of this secret place."

In the image, Lin Chongxiao spoke again.

"The only thing I can offer is this secret."

The secret place where he discovered the cultivation techniques.

The method of wielding the sword a million times was not ordinary; such a secret place might have other valuable things.

Even if it didn't, since Lin Chongxiao was willing to pay a price, helping him wouldn't be in vain.

"Alright."

Han Muye nodded, reached out to grip the long sword, and turned to leave.

At the door, Lu Gao was slightly surprised to see him come out with the sword.

"I'm going for a walk."

Han Muye walked down the nine-layer stone steps.

Watching his back, Lu Gao turned to look at the Sword Pavilion, his face showing a hint of confusion.

"I'm just the gatekeeper of the Sword Pavilion, not a sword observer..."

——

At the entrance of the Nine Profound Sword Sect, a green wooden carriage stopped under the mountain gate sign.

Lin Yuxia, dressed in a pink long dress, stood beside the carriage, looking at Lin Shen, who was sitting in the carriage.

"Second Brother, are you really willing to leave the mountain?"

Lin Yuxia looked at the emaciated Lin Shen, her voice filled with pain.

"Hehe, what's wrong with leaving the mountain?" Lin Shen laughed, turned his head to look at the grand gate behind him, his eyes flashing with a hint of pain.

"Never mind, I'll live a good life. Maybe when you come home next time, you'll be able to hold your nephew."

Lin Shen smiled, but his eyes were slightly moist.

"Remember, you said it. When my son grows up, you'll take him to cultivate."

Lin Yuxia bit her lip, tears welling up in her eyes, and nodded lightly.

For anyone, having their path of cultivation cut off is a great pain.

"Then, Second Brother, are you really not going to say goodbye to Uncle Tuoba and the others?" Lin Yuxia looked around at the desolate surroundings and spoke softly.

Lin Shen left quietly without notifying anyone, not even his master.

"I'm not like my elder brother; my master won't care about me." Lin Shen shook his head, raised his hand, and pulled the reins tight.

"Girl, do well in the Nine Profound Sword Sect's gathering. This is a good opportunity to gain fame."

"Don't be like me and tarnish the reputation of the Three Stones Green Tiger of the past."

Lin Yuxia nodded, and tears finally rolled down her cheeks.

"Ha ha, we, sword cultivators, are invincible at the same level."

"Wielding the sword a million times, splitting rocks and crushing mountains."

"Ten years of folly, the dream is over..."

With a flick of the reins, the carriage slowly moved forward.

The wheels pressed on the green stone slabs, creaking.

Lin Shen's eyes, filled with large tears, rolled down as he gently turned his head to look at the grand gate behind him.

The Nine Profound Sword Sect.

This might be the last time he would see it in his life.

"Teacher Lin."

At this moment, a voice sounded.

Wearing a white robe and holding a large sword, Han Muye quickly walked through the gate and came to the carriage.

Lin Shen pulled the reins and smiled, "It's rare. I thought no one would come to see me off."

"I'm not here to see you off."

Han Muye shook his head and raised the long sword in his hand.

"Your elder brother said that wielding the sword a million times to split rocks and crush mountains is true."

"Do you still want to cultivate it?"