Xiu Guan fell into thought: "Although this Soul Refining Sword has acknowledged Zong Shou, something is still missing; it cannot yet accept him as its Master."

Long Ying frowned upon hearing this: "Why didn't you remind that lad? If he knew that the weapon in his hand was formed from the Spirit of the Soul Refining Sword, things might have been much simpler."

As soon as the words fell, both Xiu Guan and Lin Xuan Shuang shook their heads in unison. It was the latter who spoke: "Absolutely not! The Soul Refining Sword Spirit was formed from a sliver of Xi Zi's remnant soul. No one knows what kind of restraints or shackles Senior Brother Xi Zi placed upon that Sword when he forged it. Deliberately reminding him might ultimately backfire. This is no ordinary weapon, nor is it merely the foremost among the Seven Swords of the Common People. I once heard Xi Zi say himself in the past that this sword can grow. When it reaches its absolute limit, even if it cannot ascend to the level of a Heaven-Opening Supreme Treasure, it will surely surpass the most top-tier Divine Arms. It is no trivial matter—"

Though Xiu Guan said nothing, he nodded slightly in agreement.

Long Ying was momentarily stunned, realizing there were such subtleties involved.

He also sighed inwardly, wondering if, should Zong Shou fail to realize and truly master the Soul Refining Sword one day, the true combat power of the Seven Swords of the Common People would remain dormant?

Truly, he had been too optimistic!

"Unless absolutely necessary, it is best to let nature take its course. If the Soul Refining Sword Spirit has not informed Zong Shou itself, there must be a reason."

Lin Xuan Shuang hesitated before asking, "However, perhaps the integration with the sword formation can stop now?"

Xiu Guan smiled upon hearing this: "That matter is inconsequential! Using this Pseudo Soul Refining Sword to provoke that Sword Spirit is actually quite beneficial. Besides, before Zong Shou truly masters the Soul Refining Sword, he needs this sword formation to defend himself; it cannot stop. Relying on the Soul Refining Sword is not enough. However, Junior Sister, the item you brought back this time truly surprised me—"

Lin Xuan Shuang raised her willow-like eyebrows and let out a soft: "I brought the item back. Whether she can use it depends on herself."

That object could allow Yuan Jing's Dao foundation to become more complete.

Although their relationship was not good, since she was her own blood sister, how could she truly stand idly by?

Xiu Guan appeared slightly awkward and coughed lightly: "Junior Sister Yuan Jing is not so lacking in propriety as to be that unreasonable."

Although he said this, he had little confidence in his heart.

The complex web of karmic affection and grievances between these three sisters and Xi Zi was too tangled and inseparable; it was best avoided.

The three spoke within the void of the outer domain. Although many cultivators were nearby, none could hear, and none could see them.

Zong Shou was also unaware. Only after teasing Chu Xue to the verge of tears did he release her cat ears.

He continued to patrol the spirit array with his World-Burning Blood Pupils divine ability while casually chatting with Shui Lingbo beside him.

"There's no need to worry now! Since the elders value it so highly and show such joy, it must be because my sworn brother can truly assist Martial Aunt Yuan Jing. Otherwise, why the expression? Perhaps when he emerges from this seclusion, he will have truly stepped onto the threshold of the Supreme Realm—"

If it could only be repaired by two or three tenths, the joy of Xiu Guan and Yuan Jing would surely be limited.

They would not have chosen this critical moment to complete it, even at the cost of having Wei Xu delay matters.

If the Dao foundation is completed, even at ninety percent, it should at least place her on the same level as Li Wuque—

Shui Lingbo deeply understood the reason. She pursed her lips, gave Zong Shou a profound look, and then chuckled lightly: "Lingbo will thank Junior Brother for his auspicious words on behalf of Master! I heard that the main reason Ao Kun managed to grasp the complete method of existence annihilation was largely due to Junior Brother? Shui Lingbo will never forget this kindness and debt; I am eternally grateful."

Zong Shou curled his lip, feeling quite disdainful in his heart. If she truly wished to be grateful, she should call him Senior Brother!

It was clear this woman was not sincere, and her words should not be taken seriously.

Shui Lingbo glanced again at the blood-red long sword in Zong Shou's hand and noticed that in all the time they had been walking, this sword had not been wielded or pointed out once more.

Clearly, the fellow beside her was in a much better mood and was no longer venting by tormenting others.

"Junior Brother's sword, is it the one I saw before?"

A strange light flickered in Shui Lingbo's eyes: "It was merely an ordinary Dharma artifact back then. After just a few years, it has become a Mid-Grade Immortal Artifact. It truly inspires astonishment! Judging by its bearing, its innate aura is deep, and it constantly draws in spiritual energy; it should still be far from its limit. In my view, the value of this sword is no less than that of the Seven Swords of the Common People. I truly wonder which Artifact Refining Grandmaster forged it? Looking at this world, there are only a few dozen swords that can grow autonomously. From the Dharma Sword level to the Immortal Sword grade, there are even fewer. In our Dao of the Common People, we have only heard of the Soul Refining Sword growing from the peak of the Immortal Sword to the Divine Sword level. Whether this is true or false remains unknown. Junior Brother Zong Shou is truly fortunate to possess such an item. If Lingbo's speculation is correct, the person who refined this sword must be an expert at the Saint Realm level."

Zong Shou froze. How had he never thought of this?

Shui Lingbo only assumed that his nameless sword's limit was at High-Grade Immortal Artifact or peak Immortal Artifact level.

He, however, knew too well the immense potential of this nameless sword. Breaking through the Divine Artifact level was only a matter of time.

But forging a Divine Treasure—could an ordinary Artifact Refiner achieve that?

The one who refined this sword was likely also an expert at the Supreme Realm.

Yet, when he obtained the sword, there were only two Supreme Realm cultivators in the Dao of the Common People.

Yuan Jing couldn't do it, but Xiu Guan didn't seem like the type either.

The divine abilities of this sword were extraordinary. Before ascending to the Immortal Soldier rank, it could absorb and refine remnant souls, converting them into Azure Soul Fire to augment one's magic power.

After entering the Immortal Realm, it could even store the absorbed soul power within the sword.

The amplification for Spiritual Arts and Daoist techniques had already reached a staggering six times!

Even a tiny wisp of flame casually summoned by Zong Shou could possess immeasurable, vast power.

Such sword abilities were unheard of.

The sword possessed inherent formations; every advancement would spontaneously perfect itself without him needing to intervene.

The toughness of the blade and the sharpness of the edge were supreme among its peers—

Come to think of it, why did the topic suddenly shift to his sword?

"Speaking of the Seven Swords of the Common People, a few days ago, I saw Martial Uncle Xuan Shuang arguing with Martial Brother Wei Xu and a few others after returning."

Shui Lingbo continued to shift the topic digressively.

"They were saying that the Pseudo Soul Refining Sword should be discarded. The Seven Swords of the Common People are relics left by Martial Uncle Xi Zi and should not be wasted like this. However, they failed to persuade Martial Brother Wei Xu and were rejected by Martial Brothers Ming Yuji and Shu."

She paused slightly: "Martial Uncle Xiu Guan's expression at the time was very strange. Martial Uncle Xuan Shuang did not insist in the end."

Zong Shou was startled; he hadn't been involved in the discussion recently and was unaware of this matter.

He vaguely heard a faint hum from the artifact spirit within the nameless sword.

The spirit of this sword had been listless for several days, and this reaction was rare.

Just as he was about to delve deeper into his thoughts, Zong Shou's brow suddenly twitched as he looked forward.

In the distant void of the Boundary River, a streak of light and shadow suddenly pierced through.

It was several figures. The one leading was clad in a blood-red brocade robe. His physique was robust, his face handsome and bright, possessing a sunny disposition, yet his eyes carried a hint of malice.

He stopped not far outside the protective array and swept a glance inside with a smile.

"Han Qing of the Heavenly Demon Dome Realm has come to deliver gifts to the esteemed members of the Dao of the Common People!"

After speaking, he flicked his sleeve and gestured to the people behind him. The disciples of the Heavenly Demon Dome Realm, dressed as servants, dutifully took out several Qiankun Bags and inverted them, spilling out a pile of objects.

They vaguely resembled human forms, and a pungent smell of blood washed over the air. Upon closer inspection, they were indeed corpses, their shapes twisted in agony, incomplete and gruesome to behold.

Zong Shou keenly detected that these bodies bore marks of identity from either the Dome Realm of the Common People or the Three Sects and Six Gates beneath the Dao of the Common People.

Some even wore the traditional sect robes of the Dome Realm of the Common People.

"A portion of these individuals were disciples of your Dao of the Common People who infiltrated our Heavenly Demon Dome Realm. The rest were recent kills by me, Han Qing. Han Qing thought it would be too pitiful to let them rot in the wilderness without burial. Therefore, I have specially sent them here—"

Han Qing spoke earnestly, adopting an expression that suggested they should be grateful.

This caused all the cultivators of the Dao of the Common People nearby to have eyes wide with fury, their chests ready to explode.

The anger was also evident in Zong Shou's eyes.

He knew Han Qing had come specifically to provoke.

Those hundred-odd deceased disciples were intensely irritating to his sight.

Han Qing then smiled: "These disciples of your Dao of the Common People mostly died fighting valiantly, none surrendered, which earns respect! But it is truly a pity! The Dao of the Common People, one of the six great sects of the Cloud Realm, cannot even protect its own disciples—how lamentable and pathetic! You may arrange their final rites and burials, but I wonder, in a few days, who will attend to your corpses?"

Several hot-tempered cultivators of the Dao of the Common People nearby could no longer tolerate it.

They shouted words like 'Insolence' and 'Seeking Death,' and several dazzling spiritual lights shot out with lightning speed toward the intruder.

Sword light led the charge, followed by spiritual arts. Their initial attack carried an overwhelming, majestic force!

Han Qing held a folding fan and remained completely unconcerned. The surrounding disciples of the Heavenly Demon Dome Realm also smirked incessantly.

Only when the powerful spiritual force reached him did an invisible barrier block all of it, reflecting it back as if it were a mirror.

As it rebounded, it gathered all the spiritual power into one point, aiming entirely at the closest person.

The combined might of numerous spiritual techniques and sword energies formed a vast torrent, threatening to submerge everything!

Zong Shou's anger intensified. The nameless sword in his hand suddenly swept across horizontally.

A thousand-zhang sword gleam twisted and swept away that 'torrent,' dissipating it.

It was clean and simple, saving the person effortlessly, which caused even Han Qing to look sideways and glance at Zong Shou.

"You are Tan Qiu? The second of the Six Peerless Swords of the Cloud Realm in the past? Indeed, you are extraordinary—"

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