Chapter 8, the axe is split and the sword is broken

Indeed, I was not at ease with you going alone to find that old ghost, so I had my father accompany me to Longgang to look for you. As expected, we found that old ghost and you, who were unconscious, in the secret chamber you mentioned. Upon seeing us, the old ghost sensed danger and fled deeper into the chamber. The secret chamber is filled with traps and is interconnected, allowing him to escape. However, we did find a very important piece of evidence in the chamber, which revealed that he was a spy sent by the Northern Ghost Sect

The person who has arrived is Mu Qing, a pivotal figure among the warriors of the clan, whose status is certainly not inferior to that of the Flood Dragon, and whose martial skills are not in the slightest less than those of the Flood Dragon. However, he is seven or eight years older than the Flood Dragon and Xuan Yuan, and thus does not belong to the same generation as the Flood Dragon. The young woman is none other than Mu Qing's wife, Qing Yue

Are you feeling better? Jiao Meng took a slight breath and asked slowly. He had to reassess Xuanyuan; facing Xuanyuan's bright and unyielding gaze, he truly realized the extraordinary nature of Xuanyuan. In contrast, the Sky Priest and the Human Priest did not seem surprised at all; they appeared to have known about Xuanyuan's remarkable actions long ago

The Sword of Jiao Dream, crafted from Xuan Bamboo, is such that no one can discern the angle from which it is drawn. It appears to have neither a beginning nor an end, and what is even more alarming is its elusive nature, rendering the sword's physical presence imperceptible.

Thank you for your trouble, Qingyue! Aunt Zhu glanced at the young woman, her tone sounding very kind and genuine

Yes, there was a major upheaval yesterday, not only because Mu Ai and Hua Lei were killed, but also due to the disappearance of the 'sacrifice.' At the same time, the Huye faction of the Shaodian clan sent in skilled spies, and those mysterious individuals were killed by the clan leader, leaving only a young man who claimed he wanted to exchange items with Huye. After a pause, Heidou continued: "I said you were injured by the mysterious individuals in the secret chamber, and even the clan leader thought they were the ones who harmed you, so the clan members naturally believed it to be true." Heidou said slyly.

Xuan Yuan was taken aback, glancing at Uncle Ya's concerned gaze, feeling a surge of gratitude in his heart. Among the Qiao ethnic group, this family was the only one that treated him the best; he regarded this mute elder almost as his own father, and Uncle Ya's care for him even surpassed that for Hei Dou.

Shennong had not regained his senses for half a day, but he heard Jiao Meng softly say: "I will not kill you, however, I will use you to exchange for all the slaves with the Qiao tribe in the Shaodian clan! You will obediently come with me..."

So far, Xuanyuan has never participated in a single competition of warriors, nor has he excelled in any hunting contest, which has diminished Jiaomeng's motivation for nurturing him

How should that group of women be dealt with? Xuanyuan asked again

I understand! Xuan Yuan took a deep breath, but his gaze appeared somewhat vacant

Jiao Meng looked at the already awakened lady and gently sighed, saying: "You must take care of your health; You'er will be fine. I have already sent someone to retrieve her from the Divine Pool."

No one understands why Jiao Meng sighs, and perhaps even Jiao Meng himself cannot comprehend his feelings at this moment. Twenty years ago, under these two pieces of harmonious imagery and the axe of literature, the Qiao ethnic group suffered heavy casualties, and Ji Meng was also captured during that incident

Jiao Meng gazed at Xuanyuan, his emotions exceedingly complex. Xuanyuan was once the son of an old friend whom he held in high regard, yet the reality contradicted his wishes

Aunt Zhu let out a soft sigh, but Uncle Ya tightened his grip on Xuanyuan's hand even more; they both understood Xuanyuan's feelings at this moment

Xuanyuan finally revealed a hint of a smile. He had long known that the relationship among the three high priests was far from as calm as it appeared on the surface, and this was one of his bargaining chips. Otherwise, even if he had plotted against the Earth Priest, he would not be able to face his clansmen. However, Xuanyuan absolutely did not want to leave the Qiao clan; his ambitions extended far beyond that. In this moment, he realized that everything had already passed, but he suddenly felt that something was missing, and could not help but ask: "Where is You'er? Why hasn't she come?"

Jiang Yuan's arms trembled as the sword of Jiao Meng blocked the path of the two battle axes.

Xuanyuan suddenly became a celebrity, becoming a well-known figure among the overseas Chinese community

Before Xuanyuan entered the stone hall, the two high priests, Jiaomeng and Tianren, were discussing the selection of the "sacrifice" in a subdued manner. However, the first thing Xuanyuan said upon stepping into the grand hall was to oppose the selection of the "sacrifice," which compelled Jiaomeng to scrutinize Xuanyuan once more. In fact, all the eyes in the hall were somewhat astonished, yet their opinions on Xuanyuan varied.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. The Heavenly Priest was somewhat surprised by Xuan Yuan's sharp words, but he felt an added sense of joy, as if he were meeting Xuan Yuan for the first time.

As the two heavy axes fell to the ground, Jiang Yuan collapsed backward in a gentle breeze, like a felled dead tree

Thank you for your concern, Uncle Jiao, this minor injury is nothing to worry about Xuanyuan said lightly, pausing for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the faces of everyone in the great hall, he took a breath and continued: The elders are also present, Xuanyuan has something to say, but he is unsure whether it is appropriate to speak

Jiao Meng's gaze towards Xuanyuan became increasingly complex, while the dragon beside him impatiently said: "At this moment, everyone is discussing important matters; who has the leisure to listen to your nonsense? Step aside!"

"What is wrong with you?" The young man squatted down beside Xuanyuan and asked with concern

The sword howls, amidst the cyclone that carries the sound of thunder

Xuanyuan showed no signs of gratitude, his gaze shifted to Jiaomeng, and he inadvertently cast a glance at the furious Jiaolong, whose face was ashen, secretly amused in his heart

Uncle Ya and Aunt Zhu broke into a faint smile and nodded, clearly in agreement with Xuan Yuan's statement. Within the clan, their family undoubtedly supported Xuan Yuan, and this was beyond question

He died, but his eyes did not close. It is unclear whether it was because he could not believe that he would die in such a manner, or because he was unwilling to die like this, or perhaps he still had unfulfilled wishes. In any case, he did not close his eyes, which is a regret, and thus the dragon dream let out a sigh.

As the sword of Shennong approached Jiang Yuan, Jiao Meng had already retreated to a distance of two zhang, standing leisurely and seemingly observing the clouds, with a naturally calm and relaxed demeanor, yet he let out a sigh.

It has been five years; Jiao Meng has not properly paid attention to Xuan Yuan for five years, feeling as if faced with a pile of difficult-to-carve decayed wood, he experiences a sense of abandonment. Xuan Yuan, in turn, resembles a seed that has been forsaken, left to grow and perish on its own

***

Xuanyuan slowly walked to the center of the great hall, directly facing Jiaomeng, and calmly said: "Xuanyuan has made a grave mistake. Although I do not consider it a mistake, for the clansmen, it may be an unforgivable error, because Xuanyuan once again captured the 'sacrifice' at Gulin Ridge, but ultimately let her go..."

Mu Qing looked at Hei Dou and Ya Shu with a hint of unease, unsure of what had actually happened. Finally, his gaze settled on Xuan Yuan. With a sense of understanding, he said: "Once a person dies, they cannot be brought back to life; those who are still alive must continue to live. Please accept my condolences and adapt to the changes." After a pause, he continued: "Get up and have some soup; the clan leader wishes to see you shortly"

Both the people in the hall and in the dream were taken aback

"You have made no progress at all, sigh..." Jiao Meng sighed once again.

"So it turns out that Brother Muqing has arrived, please take a seat quickly," Heidou raised his head and politely said as he looked at the young couple walking towards him.

At that moment, the door was knocked, and then with a "creak," a young couple walked in

But do you know that this 'sacrifice' is meant for the gods, and yet you let her go? Do you think your actions are justified? The High Priest was somewhat angered by Xuanyuan's words; Xuanyuan's previous remarks were tantamount to scolding him as well. Given his esteemed status and position within the clan, how could he tolerate such reproach from a younger generation like Xuanyuan

"Awake." The young man seemed to say with some delight

Jiao Meng turned her head to take a glance and gently instructed, "Uncle Yu, please go and greet them first; I will come shortly."

The black bean raised its head and took a deep breath, then exhaled softly, saying: "She fell from the rooftop into the divine pool, and her bones have not been found!"

Jiang Yuan's axe, like thunder breaking through the sky, sliced directly towards the dream of the dragon with a piercing scream

The Lady of the Dragon was speechless, her tears flowing freely. It seemed she understood the meaning of Jiao Meng's words

When Xuanyuan awoke, he found that his shoulders were already wrapped in bandages and covered with some cooling medicine. The first thing he saw was Hei Dou, Uncle Ya, and Aunt Zhu.

In Shennong's eyes, an infinite shock flashed through him. He had always possessed an unparalleled confidence in his swordsmanship, yet at this moment, he realized what it meant to have realms beyond realms and people beyond people. In his view, he had only seen his father's sword capable of rivaling this strike from Jiaomeng, but his father's swordsmanship was fundamentally different in its two distinct auras from this ethereal and elusive strike. It exuded a dominating and murderous aura, as if it could command the heavens and the earth, and all living beings, while Jiaomeng's sword intent seemed to drift like idle clouds and wild cranes beyond the Nine Heavens and Three Realms. In his eyes, he had only seen his father's sword capable of rivaling this strike from Jiaomeng, but his father's swordsmanship was fundamentally different in its two distinct auras from this ethereal and elusive strike. It exuded a dominating and murderous aura, as if it could command the heavens and the earth, and all living beings, while Jiaomeng's sword intent seemed to drift like idle clouds and wild cranes beyond the Nine Heavens and Three Realms. This represented two incomparable realms of swordsmanship, yet Shennong had to admit that Jiaomeng's strike was nearly perfect.

Uncle Ya tightly grasped Xuanyuan's arm, a hint of warmth flickering in his gaze

"How can you say that my problem is not a big deal? How do you know that my problem is unnecessary and not worth the time?" Xuan Yuan questioned with a hint of indignation

If this is truly the case, the outcome is evident. Shennong could not bear to watch Jiang Yuan being killed, thus he disregarded his own safety and swiftly drew his sword

Two muffled sounds of "puff puff".

Xuan Yuan felt a buzzing sound in his mind, as if he had entered a hazy and indistinct nightmare

Uncle Ya did not make any statement, but there was a hint of elusive emotion in his gaze, while Aunt Zhu nodded sadly.

Today, I once again behold these two axes. Jiao Meng is unaware of the myriad emotions within him, thus he does not understand the reason for his sighs. Perhaps it is a lament for the passage of time, perhaps it is sorrow for the departure of old friends, perhaps it is heartache for a poignant feeling, perhaps it is for these two axes of Jiang Yuan... Or perhaps it is nothing at all

"Has something happened to her?" Xuanyuan took a deep breath and asked

"Why did you let her go? Is it because you like her, or is it because you had no choice?" Jiao Meng asked, making an effort to calm her tone.

Xuan Yuan Wei Wei came back to her senses, somewhat dazed as she looked up at the crowd, and said with a hint of desolation: "I am fine, thank you, Brother Mu Qing and Sister-in-law for your concern"

A glimmer of hope arose in Shennong's heart. In the face of the Jiao Dream, he harbored no illusions, for the Jiao Dream was indeed terrifyingly formidable

"How do you speak to your clansmen?" Xuanyuan asked Heidou

This seems to be a kind of fate, a sense of helplessness, as no one can change their destiny, for it is the arrangement of heaven

What time is it now? How long have I been asleep? Xuanyuan could not help but ask, feeling that his entire arm still ached, but it was undeniable that his left arm had regained sensation

The Celestial Priest, the Human Priest, and Jiao Meng seemed to be confused by Xuan Yuan's words. After a long pause, Jiao Meng finally gazed deeply at Xuan Yuan and asked softly, "Do you know what mistake you have made?"

"Child, you must take care of your health!" Aunt Zhu gently reached out to stroke Xuanyuan's forehead, speaking with a hint of sadness. Xuanyuan's heart felt as if it were sinking, seemingly falling into an abyss that would never be seen again.

Xuanyuan and the Jiaolong have always been adversaries, thus Xuanyuan responded without any courtesy.

Jiao Meng remained motionless, not even blinking, as he watched Jiang Yuan's double axes transform into two dark clouds at two different levels, and he let out another sigh.

At the moment Jiang Yuan raised his arms, he immediately took a misstep. He felt that Jiao Meng's sword seemed to be aimed directly at his brow, forcing him to change his tactics. With a twist of his waist, he swiftly swung two axes, almost consolidating all the strength in his body. However, at this moment, he no longer possessed the confidence he had twenty years ago. He knew that the invincible momentum he had in terms of strength two decades ago held no advantage whatsoever against Jiao Meng today.

If you do not like her, then what does her life or death matter to you? She is merely your prey. The dragon was extremely displeased with Xuanyuan's self-righteous attitude

"You have slept for a day," Aunt Zhu said kindly and with satisfaction

"Suspicious person?" Xuanyuan asked in surprise

The precision of the angle chosen by Shennong and the swiftness of his strike have already surpassed the limits of his age, yet he was still a step too late

The patriarch, Elder Yu of the Guo clan, is seeking an audience outside with two spirit children

Jiang Yuan stood motionless, his two axes still held aloft, but the expression in his eyes had become somewhat vacant, the divine light completely faded, and a hint of crimson had appeared at the center of his brow

Indeed, a sigh is merely a sigh, devoid of any meaning. If one insists on imbuing this sigh with significance, then it can only represent the sound of a sword's whistle.

Xuanyuan could fully understand the meaning behind Uncle Ya's gaze, and he knew exactly what to do

Uncle Ya and Heidou's faces drained of color, as they could never have imagined that what Xuanyuan spoke of was such a matter. They were even more aware that the truth of the situation was not at all as Xuanyuan had described. But why would Xuanyuan say such a thing?

We must not allow that old ghost to roam too freely; he must be made to remain forever outside the clan. Therefore, I propose that we claim we discovered a group of mysterious individuals entering the underground chamber of Longgang, and we pursued them inside, where you were injured by them. With those women as witnesses, even if that old ghost had a hundred mouths, he would be unable to argue his case. Moreover, the Sky Priest and the Human Priest have long sought to marginalize that old ghost; as soon as they have any leverage, they will make a big deal out of it, leaving the Earth Priest with no choice but to accept his misfortune.

I know that I have committed a grave offense against my clan, but at the moment she escaped, I found my heart to be even more at peace, so I do not regret it. If the clan leader and the elders wish to impose punishment, I have nothing to say

"You may speak," Jiao Meng seemed to understand what Xuan Yuan wanted to say and what he wished to express

"Tell me, what exactly happened to Heidou?" Xuanyuan asked, gripping Heidou's arm with some agitation. ... At that moment, he deeply realized just how important Jiao You was to him

Everyone was taken aback, and the Dragon was so enraged that his face turned pale. He did not understand why he always found Xuanyuan displeasing; perhaps it was because he vaguely sensed that Xuanyuan was his potential rival, or it could be that Xuanyuan's unyielding demeanor infuriated him.

Shennong felt a chill in his heart, accompanied by an inexplicable sense of fear

Jiao Meng did not know whether what he did that time was right or wrong, but he was certain that he had not been happy since that year, not at all. After returning to the tribe, Ji Meng gave birth to another son, but she insisted on living alone until her death. Jiao Meng knew that Ji Meng had also never been happy since that year.

Uncle Ya and Aunt Zhu's expressions suddenly changed, and Hei Dou's expression was also somewhat peculiar

The three of them all wore expressions of concern

Xuan Yuan was momentarily taken aback, then let out a long sigh of relief, and said with a hint of resentment: "It seems that even heaven is helping me"

The patriarch and his wife should take care to grieve. The old man sighed softly and withdrew.

No, none of them. However, at that time, I did not know that someone had died because of her. I let her go simply because I did not wish to see a life being destroyed and cut short

Xuanyuan was taken aback for a moment, fell silent for a while, and gazed at the three individuals before him, his expression appearing somewhat complex

On the day before five years later, Xuanyuan finally accomplished a significant feat for the Youqiao tribe. Unfortunately, this turned out to be a great irony, an irony directed at the Youqiao tribe— the priest, revered as inviolable, was actually a spy for the Northern Ghost Clan, which seemed like a joke

She is also a human being, a person with flesh and blood. If only those who like her care about her, then isn't this world overwhelmingly indifferent? God created humans for us to live well, to develop this world. If we are so cruel to our own kind, how can we face God's boundless love? If we destroy the lives of our fellow beings, how can we confront God's mercy? And how is this different from beasts?

The sword of Jiao Meng had not been shaken off for even a moment, despite Jiang Yuan changing his body technique three hundred seventy-four times in an instant and altering the angles of his double axes one thousand two hundred forty-six times. Yet, he still could not rid himself of that sword, which seemed to have no beginning or end and appeared to be shadowless. At this moment, Jiang Yuan already felt that he was expending too much energy

Seventeen years ago, it was also under these two axes that Jiao Meng finally made Jiang Yuan taste the pain of failure, and three years later, he rescued Ji Meng. At this time, Ji Meng was no longer the pure and beautiful girl he once loved, but a mother of a child and a young woman who was expecting another child. Yet, Jiao Meng still brought her back.

Shennong came to a halt, and in the end, he cast a glance at Jiang Yuan. However, the faint glimmer of hope he had harbored dissipated entirely in that one look.

"Xuanyuan, I have prepared a pot of mountain chicken soup for you; drink it while it's hot," the young woman said softly, gently placing the chicken soup she was holding on a table.

What? Everyone in the grand hall was taken aback, and their gazes towards Xuanyuan became even more peculiar

"Are you the ones who rescued me?" Xuanyuan asked

Black Bean smiled excitedly and said, "I told them that you were seriously injured while pursuing a group of suspicious individuals, and they didn't suspect anything at all"

"Awake, awake." Upon seeing Xuanyuan wake up, Heidou revealed a hint of excitement and joyfully said

Jiang Yuan truly felt horrified and shocked. Under the dual assault of his axes, Jiao Meng was still able to speak, which at least indicated that Jiao Meng's skill level was a notch above his own. At this moment, he also sensed the presence of Jiao Meng's long sword.

Heita obviously understood Xuanyuan's thoughts and said in a low voice: "Rest assured, Hanru and Hanlang are both dead, and the local priest was originally a spy. No one knows about your release of the 'sacrifice' and the killing of Shui Ai and the others. Even if they were to guess, they would never suspect you."