Chapter 38

"Fei Xuan has already said it. There is no romantic affection in my heart." Shi Fei Xuan shook her head and said, "Mr. Xiao, in fact, if you truly have Ziling's best interests at heart, you should advise him to withdraw from Guanzhong with Kou Zhong and give up on the attempt to obtain the Yang Gong Treasury. Because the current situation in the world, the second son of the Li family, Prince Qin...”

"Enough, enough, Miss Shi, you don't need to talk about the grand trends of the world. Regarding these matters, I know more clearly than you. Let's stick to the point and not drag things out. Let's stop here."

Seeing that Shi Fei Xuan seemed about to launch into a long discourse on the grand trends of the world, and even seemed to be trying to persuade him to help Prince Qin Li Shimin, Xiao Sheng immediately waved to interrupt her.

After a pause, Xiao Sheng stood up and sighed, "Sigh~ I had good intentions, but since Miss Shi is determined not to, then it's fine. After all, a forced melon is not sweet. However, Miss Shi, if you truly have no feelings for Xu Ziling, then don't harass him anymore, alright?"

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Xiao?" Shi Fei Xuan sensed a change in the atmosphere and became wary, placing her hand on the hilt of the sword hidden under her clothes. However, on the surface, she remained calm and composed, unperturbed even if Mount Tai were to collapse before her.

Xiao Sheng smiled and said, "My meaning is simple. Since Miss Shi considers yourself a nun, then please be a true nun, roaming beyond the mundane world, and not involving yourself in the dust of the world. Isn't the highest goal of the Cihang Jingzhai to seek the secrets of the Heavenly Dao? Then you should return to the Jingzhai and practice diligently. This world is too dirty; if you stay in it for too long, you will inevitably be tainted, and your efforts will be in vain, which would be a loss."

Shi Fei Xuan smiled and said, "Mr. Xiao, I understand your meaning. Although your cultivation is extremely high, in this regard, you are still at a lower level. You must know that leaving the world is also being in the world, and being a nun is also being at home. Gains and losses follow the natural course, and it all depends on the heart. Why be too attached to the physical form and names?"

Xiao Sheng asked coolly, "Confucius said, 'At seventy, one can follow one's heart's desire without overstepping the bounds.' Conversely, if one does not have the realm of Confucius at seventy, then it's better to be attached. Miss Shi, do you think your current cultivation can already be compared to Confucius?"

Shi Fei Xuan smiled and said, "Fei Xuan naturally dares not compare with the Sage Confucius. However, magic tricks are known by all, but the subtleties are different. The Three Thousand Great Dao, though different in approach, all lead to the same destination. The cultivation method of the Jingzhai is to assist a wise ruler in the world and to refine the heart through the mundane. So, Mr. Xiao's good intentions, Fei Xuan can only appreciate in heart."

"What's so great about the Jingzhai's cultivation method?" Xiao Sheng shook his head and laughed, "No matter how much you practice, in the end, it's just a dead end. Miss Shi, while you are still not deeply entrenched, give up early. It's not too late. Either return to secular life and marry, or truly become a nun and practice. Continuing like this, you will be neither here nor there, and it will be a dead end to seek the Heavenly Dao."

Shi Fei Xuan slowly stood up and said firmly, "The Jingzhai has been established for hundreds of years and has a certain reputation in the world. Mr. Xiao, do you not think your words are too disrespectful?"

Xiao Sheng was unconvinced and said, "What's disrespectful about it? My cultivation is high, yours is low. What I see clearly, you cannot. Miss Shi, this is true delusion."

Shi Fei Xuan said coldly, "Although Mr. Xiao's cultivation is high, it may not be higher than the recluse Ning Daoqi. When Ning Daoqi visited our sect to view the 'Cihang Sword Canon,' even with his cultivation, he praised it highly. Mr. Xiao, however, only denigrates it. Isn't that arrogant?"

"It seems there's no point in talking. That's fine." Xiao Sheng smiled and said, "The competition of the Great Dao is not in words. Right and wrong, ultimately, can only be determined through action. Miss Shi, if you don't listen to my advice, then please make your move."

"Since that's the case, please forgive Fei Xuan for being impolite." Shi Fei Xuan nodded calmly and suddenly drew her sword with a "clang." She thrust it straight at Xiao Sheng's throat, a move that was simple yet profound, with a concentrated and invincible sword aura. The hidden changes in the sword's momentum sealed off the entire space within a seven-foot radius.

No matter how the enemy dodged, avoided, blocked, or counterattacked, the momentum of the Se Kong sword could adapt and intercept all of the enemy's escape routes. No matter how the enemy struggled, they would ultimately be defeated by the sword, with no chance of survival.

Such swordsmanship, divine and skillful, was beyond description, reaching the highest realm of the Cihang Sword Canon—Ming Sword Heart! Even if the Evil King, Yin Empress, and the three great masters of the world were present, they would not dare to face it head-on and would retreat first.

However, unexpectedly, Xiao Sheng, facing the fierce thrust of the Se Kong sword, did not dodge at all. He simply raised his head and smiled at Shi Fei Xuan.

Before the smile faded, a sudden change occurred! In an instant, a strange metallic glow burst forth and quickly enveloped Xiao Sheng's body. Then, a clear metallic clanging sound echoed throughout the room, and sparks flew. Shi Fei Xuan was stunned to see her Se Kong sword, which was pressing against Xiao Sheng's throat, unable to penetrate, even as she increased her strength, only bending the blade into an arch.

The sword pressed against his throat, making a harsh "squeaking" sound. Xiao Sheng seemed completely unconcerned and said calmly, "Although I am far from being invincible, Miss Shi, with your skills, no matter how hard you try, it will be in vain."

Shi Fei Xuan quickly calmed her mind, let out a sharp cry, and leaped to the ceiling, about two zhang high. She performed a graceful flip, and a burst of sword light erupted from her hand, raining down.

In a flash, the entire meditation room was filled with sword shadows and auras, overwhelming from all directions. The interplay of reality and illusion was indistinguishable, far surpassing the previously concentrated sword intent, creating a marvelously sharp and incomparable scene.

The sword heart is the heart of heaven, and the heart of heaven is the heart of man. The human heart has a thousand changes, and the sword heart has a thousand illusions. At this level of swordsmanship, it has transcended the realm of technique and reached the realm of Dao. Such profound sword Dao, who in the world could withstand it?

"Useless, useless, useless, useless, useless, useless, useless, useless!"

A thousand fist shadows, like thunder, accompanied by a series of short, sharp shouts, erupted. Immediately, a series of metallic clanging sounds, "clang clang clang clang clang," exploded, each sound representing a fierce clash between the fist and the Se Kong sword. The speed was so fast that the sounds overlapped, creating a continuous, endless sequence.

Even the beautiful young man in white, who used what technique, was unclear. In mid-air, Shi Fei Xuan felt a sharp pain in her wrist, and the Se Kong sword, passed down through generations of the Jingzhai, shattered into thousands of pieces.

Knowing that the Jingzhai's descendants had already reached the realm of oneness with the sword, the sword's destruction caused a backlash, causing her internal organs to ache intensely.

She let out a cry, her true qi failing, and she slid down the wall. As soon as her feet touched the ground, a fierce wind rushed toward her. In a fleeting glance, she saw a fist, a powerful and domineering fist, capable of shattering the stars, heading straight for her face.

Shi Fei Xuan's heart sank, and she slowly closed her eyes.

However, an unexpected turn of events occurred. The violent hurricane suddenly turned into a gentle breeze. The terrifying metallic glow on the fist disappeared. The beautiful young man in white changed his fist to a palm and lightly tapped the wall, just missing her long black hair. His breath approached, and she could hear it clearly.

The Jingzhai's descendant's heart raced, but she couldn't determine whether it was due to her internal injuries or some other reason. Before she could figure it out, Xiao Sheng leaned in, picked up a strand of her hair, and twirled it between his fingers, smiling, "Miss Shi, see, I told you it was useless. How about it, are you willing to change your mind now?"

Shi Fei Xuan gasped for breath, her voice trembling in disbelief, "You... you... are you even human? Just now, just now, why?"

"Because... Armored Color Ripple Walk—Steel!" He softly uttered words that Shi Fe