The two clashed once again, the Heaven-Relying Sword meeting the Hero Sword. The impact jolted the injury on Miejue Shitai’s shoulder, nearly leaving her vulnerable to Gu Han Yuan’s following "Thirteen Swords of Divine Gate," aimed at her Divine Gate acupoint.
Fortunately, just as the attack was about to land, Gu Han Yuan retracted his sword, stepping back a few paces to stand tall and composed.
A gentle breeze swept past, causing the strands of hair he had loosely tied with a white ribbon to flutter.
He exuded an air of effortless grace.
This effortless display of strength, where he had even managed to gain a slight advantage over Miejue Shitai, made the Emei disciples, including Ding Min Jun and Bei Jin Yi, starry-eyed.
They all thought: No wonder Junior Sister Zhiruo spoke of him as if he were unmatched.
"Shitai, perhaps we should stop here?"
Gu Han Yuan didn't show any signs of arrogance or pride, maintaining his humble and gentle demeanor.
Miejue Shitai, impressed by his bearing, couldn't help but exclaim,
"Zhang San Feng has trained a fine disciple indeed. He is truly a hero in his youth. Very well! Today, I will spare Ji Xiaofu's life for your sake."
Miejue Shitai thought to herself that she would consider pursuing Ji Xiaofu once her injuries healed, as Gu Han Yuan couldn't possibly stay with her forever.
Gu Han Yuan, seemingly oblivious to her thoughts, thanked her gratefully.
"Thank you for your magnanimity, Shitai. I will visit Emei again to pay my respects in the future. I shall take my leave."
With those words, he turned and walked away.
"To think that since we parted ways at Wudang, this talented young man has grown so much. Alas, if only Emei had such a disciple, our sect's prosperity would be assured."
Miejue Shitai actually had a favorable opinion of Gu Han Yuan.
As long as it didn't involve the Ming Cult, she wouldn't lose her mind and become prejudiced.
A righteous young disciple with such extraordinary talent, righteous spirit, and a knack for social graces, along with handsome features, was naturally someone she would admire.
She mused that when Zhiruo was older, if she wasn't already married, she would arrange for her to marry him, as a form of investment.
Afterwards, Miejue Shitai led her disciples out of the valley.
As they were walking, a burst of laughter suddenly echoed through the air.
"Miejue Old Nun, I've been searching for you for days."
The Emei disciples, upon hearing this voice, instinctively drew their swords in defense.
A man clad in black robes, wearing a Asura mask and wielding a purple long sword appeared before them. It was Gu Han Yuan, having changed into his Wu Tian attire after leaving and returning.
"Wu Tian!"
Miejue Shitai, her gaze fixed on Wu Tian, whom she had encountered once during his hundredth birthday celebration, was serious.
Miejue Shitai had originally intended to take Wu Tian's Dragon-Slaying Saber, and had been diligently searching for him. She hadn't expected to run into him like this.
However, she was puzzled by the fact that Wu Tian wasn't carrying the Dragon-Slaying Saber, but had instead switched to a purple long sword that emitted a faint glow.
"Miejue Old Nun, hand over the Heaven-Relying Sword, and I will spare your lives."
Gu Han Yuan stated his objective outright.
"Dream on!"
Although Miejue Shitai was injured, recalling their brief exchange during his birthday, she felt that she wasn't completely without a chance.
However, she didn't know that a person could change dramatically in just a few days, let alone Gu Han Yuan, who had the system behind him.
Gu Han Yuan didn't bother engaging in idle chatter with Miejue Shitai. To prevent his Demon Sword from severing the Heaven-Relying Sword, he opted for a sword-qi attack, unleashing "Sword Twenty-One."
He controlled the attack, reducing its power by ninety percent, and directed twenty-one sword-qi toward Miejue Shitai.
"Sword-qi! How is this possible?!"
Miejue Shitai's face was filled with astonishment. As the wielder of the Heaven-Relying Sword, which could emit sword-qi, she understood better than anyone the difficulty and power of such an ability.
She quickly raised the Heaven-Relying Sword to meet the attack, but the disparity in quality was too great. Even the Heaven-Relying Sword could not withstand it, and soon, it was pierced by the "Sword Twenty-One" sword-qi, leaving her covered in blood and falling into a pool of crimson.
In reality, Gu Han Yuan's sword-qi had avoided any vital points. Miejue Shitai was merely looking worse than she actually was. The wounds were mainly superficial, although if the blood loss continued, it would naturally be fatal.
Ding Min Jun and the other Emei disciples were so terrified by the overwhelming sword-qi that they didn't dare to move.
However, Gu Han Yuan paid them no mind. He merely took the Heaven-Relying Sword from Miejue's grasp.
"Tell Miejue Old Nun that if she wants her Heaven-Relying Sword back, she can come and find me."
After saying this, Gu Han Yuan vanished.
Ding Min Jun and the others, seeing Gu Han Yuan disappear, rushed to Miejue Shitai's side. Finding that she was still alive, they quickly gave her medicine and treated her wounds.
Gu Han Yuan's snatching of the Heaven-Relying Sword was not only for the "Nine Yin Manual" within it but also to spread Wu Tian's name far and wide.
What could be more shocking than the fact that both the Heaven-Relying Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber, legendary weapons for the past twenty years, had fallen into the hands of the same person?
Afterwards, Gu Han Yuan effortlessly severed the Heaven-Relying Sword with his Demon Sword, causing the "Nine Yin Manual" and "Nine Yin Manual Accelerated Learning Method" to fall out.
The original "Nine Yin Manual" had already been destroyed by Zhou Botong.
The "Nine Yin Manual" within the Heaven-Relying Sword was the most complete version available today.
In this world, it had been placed there by Huang Shang, who entrusted it to Yue Fei.
Later, Yue Fei was unjustly executed, and the Heaven-Relying Sword and Dragon-Slaying Saber fell into the hands of Qin Kai.
Qin Si Rong, the founder of the Emei sect, was a descendant of Qin Kai but possessed a sense of justice.
Though she couldn't save Yue Fei back then, she had stolen the Heaven-Relying Sword.
(PS: The above is the setting for this book. Please don't argue with the original work.)
The "Nine Yin Manual Accelerated Learning Method" had no significance for Gu Han Yuan.
He quickly memorized and learned the contents of the "Nine Yin Manual," but had no immediate plans to switch his cultivation method.
At this stage, the most useful techniques were the mental secret art "Soul-Shifting Technique," the light skill "Spiral Nine Shadows," and "Sky-Splitting Displacement."
(PS: The origin of "Spiral Nine Shadows" is a matter of debate. Some say it belongs to Dugu Qiubai, while others say it's from the "Nine Yin." In this book, it's established as part of the "Nine Yin.")
Gu Han Yuan put the "Nine Yin Manual," "Nine Yin Manual Accelerated Learning Method," and the broken Heaven-Relying Sword into his storage space and then chased after Jin Hua Po Po and Yin Li, whom he had located with his spiritual sense.
As he caught up to them, he unexpectedly discovered that they were pursuing Hu Qing Niu and Wang Nan Gu.
At that moment, Hu Qing Niu was already unconscious on the ground, and Wang Nan Gu was clutching her chest, seemingly seriously injured.
Gu Han Yuan immediately jumped into the fray.
"Wu Tian!"
Jin Hua Po Po, wary of Gu Han Yuan's sudden appearance, watched him closely.
She had also intended to seize Wu Tian's Dragon-Slaying Saber but hadn't expected to encounter him under these circumstances.
"Wang Nan Gu, do you need this one to lend a hand?"
Wang Nan Gu had not expected Wu Tian to offer help, but at this point, it was the only lifeline she could grasp.
"I beg of you, Senior, to lend a hand."
"If you want this one to help, there's a price to be paid."
Gu Han Yuan had no intention of working for free.
"What kind of price, Senior? As long as I have it, I'll give it to you."
Wang Nan Gu wasn't surprised by Gu Han Yuan's demand. After all, they were strangers.
"Rest assured, you have it."
Gu Han Yuan's eerie tone gave Wang Nan Gu a bad feeling.
"That price is yourself."
Wang Nan Gu thought she had misheard, and after a moment of stunned silence, she retorted angrily,
"Shameless!"