Ch635 - The Han Xing Sword

Jiang Xu wandered through the Sword Forest for two hours before stopping in front of a three-meter-tall monolith, his gaze fixed on the blade above.

The sword looked quite ordinary; its design was simple and traditional, neither flashy nor ornate, yet it emanated a brilliant golden glow that lent it a sacred, dignified, and an unattainable aura.

“Do you like this sword?” Liu Mufeng asked with a smile as he watched his wife.

At these words, Jiang Xu turned to look at her partner. “Mufeng, I think this sword suits me well. It feels as if it has been waiting for me.”

Liu Mufeng’s mood lifted upon hearing his wife’s words. “There is an introduction of this blade written in ancient script on the stone tablet. Would you like me to read it aloud?”

“Sure.” Nodding, Jiang Xu glanced up at the ancient script he couldn’t decipher, estimating there were many characters altogether. He wondered what information they held.

“My name is Murong Jianfeng, Lord of the Sword Domain and thirty-eighth generation Sword Emperor of the Sword City. Han Xing is my sword. Upon ascending to the God Realm, I have left Han Xing here as a gift to my descendant who shares destiny with it. Han Xing , the frost star, was forged from starshine stones, nourished by the essence of the sun and moon, imbued with immortal spirit, and is truly extraordinary. Throughout my life, I have discovered forty-nine forms of the Stars Sword Art, and Han Xing embodies their quintessence. Should you encounter such a destined one, the 49 charts had been deciphered, Han Xing shall follow them. If within three days, any chart remains unread, you must begin anew. May my descendants treasure Han Xing!” Liu Mufeng translated the words on the stone tablet.

“Han Xing? Is that the name of the sword? So its name is Han Xing?” Jiang Xu asked, looking at Liu Mufeng with delight.

“En, its name is Han Xing, and its Master has already ascended to the God Realm. It’s made from rare starshine stones, imbued with celestial power, possessing great spiritual intelligence. Truly, it seems perfectly suited for you,” Liu Mufeng said with a smile, clearly pleased with this match.

“En, I also think he’s very suitable for me!” Jiang Xu nodded and agreed.

“When the contract is formed, forty-nine star charts will appear. This is Han Xingjian’s test for you. If you pass the test, you can successfully form a bond with it, but the charts only appear for three days. If you break through the first nine charts within the time limit, but fail to decipher the tenth before the three days are up, then you’ll have to start over from the beginning.” Liu Mufeng carefully reminded his lover.

“Uh-huh, I understand. Don’t worry, Mufeng, I’m confident—I definitely can succeed.” Jiang Xu spoke confidently on this matter.

“Very well, give it a try, and I’ll be here to help guide you along.” With that, Liu Mufeng waved his sleeve, creating a translucent barrier around thirty meters of space surrounding the Han Xing Sword.

“Okay.” Nodding, Jiang Xu flew onto the giant rock and stepped closer to the sword.

“Han Xing, I’m here.” As Jiang Xu bent down, he placed a drop of his blood onto the blade.

The golden light absorbed the drop of blood, and soon, a star chart appeared.

Jiang Xu lifted his head to look at the star chart in the sky, squinted slightly, then slowly stood up and flew down from the giant rock onto the ground. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a longsword into his grasp. Jiang Xu soared through the air, unleashing a cold sword glare that slashed toward the star chart.

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“V PnfOv nw’T Pnw UwkMOt aCfOkw’T RMOTMCP Mp Pnw LCgxMO RrgO!”

“snw UwkMOt aCfOkw’T RMOTMCP Mp Pnw LCgxMO RrgO? eM bMOtwC!”

FYEIb tIIQwV aJL MkQvBSN EaI YQbtE tEGb vaGbE LGt taGEEIbIH, tIAIbGS vkSEQAGEJbt LaJ LIbI rQvBQwV tLJbHt YbJh LQEaQw EaI YJbItE akbbQIH JAIb EJ jJQw Qw Jw EaI Ykw. TaI JEaIb tLJbH vkSEQAGEJbt LaJ aGH tIIw EaI tEGb vaGbEt GStJ VGEaIbIH GbJkwH.

However, Liu Mufeng had already erected barriers, so those observing could only stand outside and discuss amongst themselves, unable to approach Liu Mufeng and Jiang Xu or disturb them in any way.

Soon, the second star chart appeared in the sky.

Jiang Xu stood with his longsword in hand, head tilted back as he stared unblinkingly at the star chart spread out before him.

While watching his enraptured lover, Liu Mufeng’s gaze remained fixed on his own partner, protecting him steadfastly.

**********

At the Sword Emperor’s residence, the Emperor and his four Sons were practicing sword techniques within the sword hall.

Suddenly, the Sword Emperor felt someone knocking on his barrier from outside. Frowning slightly, he lowered his stance and looked at his four Sons. “Let us call it a day.”

“Yes, Father.” Though they weren’t quite ready to give up, the Brothers wanted one more demonstration of their Father’s skills, yet seeing him lower his stance and even put away his weapon, they knew better than to protest. They could only sheath their own swords.

With a wave of his sleeve, the Sword Emperor opened the barrier, and the old housekeeper hurriedly entered. “Your Majesty!”

“What is it?” The Sword Emperor knew that the housekeeper was not the type to disrupt his practice without cause, so something must be seriously wrong.

“Your Majesty, the Second Prince Consort Jiang Xu of the Dragon Clan has gone to the Sword Forest for a star contract with Han Xing. In six hours, he has broken through four star charts.” As he watched his Master, the housekeeper hurriedly described the situation.

“What?! Four star charts in six hours? Impossible!” The Eldest Prince said, staring incredulously at his Father as he shook his head.

“The four star charts were to be completed within twelve days; my best time was eight days. On average, I broke one every two days. I never thought that Jiang Xu would accomplish it in only six hours.” The Second Prince frowned at this.

“This old servant heard from the overseer of the Sword Forest that Jiang Xu took only ten minutes to break through the first star chart. He used half an incense stick’s worth of time for the second, and forty-five minutes for the third. If not for wasting some time on the fourth star chart, he wouldn’t have needed six hours at all.” At these words, the old housekeeper also furrowed his brow.

The Father and Sons stared speechlessly at him.

“In other words, he solved the fourth star chart in just over three hours?” The Eldest Prince’s expression grew dark upon realizing this. He had once attempted to contract Han Xing himself, but it had taken him fully two days to break the fourth star chart.To think that Jiang Xu…that Jiang Xu could do it in merely three hours?!

“Yes, yes!” The old housekeeper nodded in agreement.

“Three hours to break four star charts—looks like Jiang Xu’s going to take Han Xing for himself.” The Second Prince sighed softly. In truth, their five Brothers and even their Emperor Father had all tried to contract Han Xing, but none of them succeeded.

“Second Brother, you’re being awfully pessimistic. It’s only four star charts, after all; it’s not over yet.” After some thought, the Third Prince felt that this might not be as easy.

“You’re right, though the early star charts were simpler, they become increasingly difficult as one progresses through the series. If even our Father couldn’t contract the sword, how could a mere child like Jiang Xu succeed?” The Eldest Prince scoffed at the notion.

“No, don’t underestimate Jiang Xu. He broke open four star charts within six hours. He truly has talent.”

Although the Sword Emperor himself could have accomplished such a feat, he understood that Jiang Xu was much younger than him, and his strength paled in comparison. Compared to the Emperor, Jiang Xu naturally possessed greater innate skill.

“Father, what do we do now? Will Jiang Xu really take Han Xing away? That sword belonged to my Great-Grandfather.” As the Fifth Prince watched his Father, he anxiously asked, “What will we do?”

The Emperor frowned slightly, then led his four Sons out of the sword hall.

**********

Sword Forest,

By now, some sixty to seventy cultivators had gathered around Han Xing Sword’s location. These sword cultivators came from all over the land seeking famous swords within the forest. The reason they’d come together was because of Jiang Xu’s breakthrough with the star chart, and thankfully, the environment here in Sword Forest kept outsiders from seeing it. Otherwise, even more cultivators would have flocked to witness this spectacle.

Landing outside of Liu Mufeng’s barrier, the Father-and-Son quintet stood among the crowd watching the proceedings.

“Paying respect to His Majesty the Sword Emperor.” As soon as they saw the newcomer, the other cultivators quickly bowed their greetings.

“No need for such formalities.” The Sword Emperor waved them off and summoned the manager of the sword forest.

“Your Majesty!” The manager, who possessed the strength of an Immortal King, respectfully approached the Sword Emperor.

“What is going on?” The emperor looked at him expectantly.

“Your Majesty, the Dragon Clan’s Second Prince and his Consort arrived five hours ago. After wandering the Sword Forest for two hours, the consort selected Han Xing and began contracting it.” As he watched his Master, the manager promptly answered.

“The first star chart was broken within ten minutes?”

“Yes!”

“Another within fifteen minutes?”

“Yes!”

“And yet another within an hour?”

“Yes!”

The manager’s repeated affirmations made the Sword Emperor frown.

“Four hours and ten minutes later, the fourth star chart was broken?” The Eldest Prince asked as he gazed at the Manager.

“Ah, no, not quite, Your Highness,” the Manager replied carefully while shaking his head. “It took only one hour for the Second Princess to break through the fourth star chart. The remaining time was spent eating some grilled meat and three immortal fruits.”

“What?” The Eldest Prince’s eyes were furious with this answer.One hour—just one hour?!

The other three Princes were equally stunned by these words.One hour, just one hour, to break through the fourth star chart! How had Jiang Xu managed it so quickly?