With a resounding "Clang," Yu Feng tossed Heng Chen and Pofeng Sword before Ye Xiu. He said nothing more; without the protective barrier of the Jue Jing Mai, every second of his body was aging at a terrifying speed, leaving him withered and skeletal in mere moments.

Ye Xiu took a deep, shuddering breath, bent low, and picked up the Heng Chen Sword. At this moment, the sword felt heavier than ever before. He raised it, holding it against his chest, as a gentle breeze swept past, causing him to slowly close his eyes. In that instant of darkness, the demonic glare of Gu Du Bing Chen flashed across his mind—the crimson, malevolent swastika sword qi from the Half-Moon Saber and Bu Luo Shuang pressed down on him, suffocating him. He could not die here; no matter how many twists fate threw at him, he would fight until the very end.

"Aah..." Ye Xiu swept the sword past Yu Feng's body with a sudden burst of speed. This single thrust carried the destiny of both himself and Yu Feng, and it would determine the very survival of the Three Swords Realm.

A gasp hung in the air. On Ten Thousand Sword Peak, there was no discernible sunset, yet one could sense the waning of the sunlight. The blade of Heng Chen in Ye Xiu's hand bore no trace of blood. Instead, a brilliant radiance erupted from it, overshadowing the sun itself. Then, a light breeze drifted by, unexpectedly sweeping up the slender Pofeng Sword lying on the ground. Involuntarily, Ye Xiu lifted the Heng Chen above his head. In a single moment, the Pofeng Sword was gently drawn by the breeze toward the position of the Heng Chen. After a flash of lightning and a clap of thunder, the entire Pofeng Sword shimmered with a cold light and merged into the renowned Heng Chen, the two blades becoming one.

"I never expected the Heng Chen Sword would absorb the Pofeng Sword entirely!" Ye Xiu steadily held the newly unified sword before him. At that moment, the previously dull avian pattern etched on the Heng Chen's surface suddenly sparked with vibrant color; an eagle's eye glared fiercely back at him. Ye Xiu couldn't resist; he brandished the sword and leaped into the air, feeling a rush of wind pass beneath him—his body was impossibly light. He unleashed a flurry of chops and thrusts, watching as the surrounding winds and clouds churned violently, nearly all the airflow converging onto the Heng Chen.

"Do you feel any difference?" Chen Ying tilted her head back, genuinely happy for Ye Xiu. "With this sword and the Jue Jing Mai, you are surely able to save Ten Thousand Sword City."

Ye Xiu nodded, slowly descending. Although he still didn't grasp the full mystery of the Jue Jing Mai, the sensation throughout his entire body was exhilarating. Every move, every stance seemed to be aided by the Wind God; even the normally heavy Heng Chen felt significantly lighter.

"We should bury Elder Yu Feng first," Ye Xiu said, sheathing his sword, his expression immediately darkening. However, when he turned toward Yu Feng's remains, he saw that the body had already dissolved without him realizing it, turning into a wisp of dust that drifted away with the high clouds above Ten Thousand Sword Peak, vanishing without a trace.

Chen Ying had never seen Ye Xiu so profoundly despondent. She walked up and embraced him from behind, pressing her face against his back. "We could actually live happily right here on Ten Thousand Sword Peak. I know what I'm saying is selfish, and I know you'll choose to return to the Three Swords Realm. But... but could you stay with me here for a little while longer?"

Ye Xiu understood her meaning. He turned and gently kissed her, pulling her close. "Silly girl, aren't we together right now? We still have so many things to accomplish together. For this time, we'll stay right here and go nowhere."

"I know you need this time to cultivate the Ten Thousand Sword Art, but I am still incredibly happy, at least here, it's just the two of us." Chen Ying possessed the willfulness of a young girl blended with the clear understanding of a mature woman. She closed her eyes, kissing Ye Xiu's cheek, then his lips, and then moving across his entire body, dedicating all her youthful tenderness to him. In that moment, Ten Thousand Sword Peak filled with an intensity of emotion it had never known before.

Across Ten Thousand Sword City, the Second City Lord, Wan Jian Xuan Hu, had finalized his military administration, purging the remaining Beast race elements within the city. Leveraging the overwhelming combat capability of the Red and Black Sword Guards, the Human race had successfully forced the Beast and Wing races back toward the borders, where three massive armies faced off against each other across the dividing waters.

"Still no news of Big Brother or Third Brother?" Xuan Hu sat high upon the throne in the main hall, his imposing aura dominating the ages. "What kind of work are you all doing? It’s this difficult just to find a couple of people."

Zuo Wencheng paced back and forth, his face etched with anxiety. "The First City Lord has been missing for so many days, and the Third City Lord remains unfound. With the armies of two races pressing the border, what are we to do?"

"Nonsense! Am I not still here?" Xuan Hu slammed the table and rose, looming over Zuo Wencheng. "Big Brother is absent, so all matters of Ten Thousand Sword City fall under my jurisdiction. Currently, the three sides are in a standoff; none of the armies dare to make a rash move. Send word: dispatch riders to seek aid from the Water Race. If we can ally with them, we can certainly break this siege."

"It's just that..." Zuo Wencheng harbored reservations but dared not challenge Xuan Hu's resolve. With no other option, he stepped back to find others and confer regarding the alliance with the Water Race.

Just then, a squadron of men rushed breathlessly into the hall to report, "Reporting to the Second City Lord, we... we have found the First City Lord!"

"Oh? Where is he?" Xuan Hu feigned tension, taking a great stride forward and gripping the messenger's uniform. "Where is my elder brother? Where is he right now?"

"Second City Lord, the First City Lord he... he..."

"What is it?"

The Sword Guard lowered his head and cleared a path. It was true; they had found Wan Jian Cang Long, but tragically, they had found only his blood-soaked corpse.

"Ah, Big Brother!" Xuan Hu cried out in sorrow, falling to his knees and collapsing upon Cang Long's body. "Big Brother, how could you leave us like this? You..."

"Second City Lord." Everyone moved forward, intending to help Xuan Hu up, but he waved them away.

"This wound must have been inflicted by Gu Du Bing Chen." The sound of Xuan Hu's sobbing had not yet ceased, yet the joy bubbling within him was almost impossible to contain. He stood abruptly and commanded the Sword Guards, "You must all find Gu Du Bing Chen's whereabouts as swiftly as possible. I swear I will personally slay him to avenge Big Brother."

"Yes!" The men, grieving the loss of their old master, were naturally filled with righteous indignation. The resolve to kill Gu Du Bing Chen was secretly cemented. The most formidable force in the world is not hardship, but a collective spirit united in shared purpose; with such momentum, they were unstoppable.

"You are all dismissed. Arrange a grand burial for the First City Lord on an auspicious day." Xuan Hu turned his back, dismissing everyone. The vast hall was suddenly empty, and he no longer needed to hide his true feelings. He threw his head back and burst into loud laughter. The world would soon be his; it would be the doom of the other three races. "You two, come out now. There's no need to hide anymore."

As Wan Jian Xuan Hu finished speaking, two figures, sparkling like distant stars, materialized instantly on either side of him. "Your subordinate pays respects to the Second City Lord—no! It should be, City Lord!"