Chapter 113 ·Ji Xuanjun!

Time ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍flowed on, the mortal world churned endlessly.

Four ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍years of time, to the Spirit Realm, was but the snap of a finger.

In ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍these four years, there were great Tribulation Crossing experts who failed their tribulations and were reduced to ashes.

There ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were mortals who completed their lives and returned to dust.

There ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍were sects that rose and fell, and dynasties that prospered and declined.

But ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍in the long river of history, this stretch of time was no different from any other.

The sun rose and set, flowers bloomed and withered.

Those who should live lived, those who should die died.

That was all.

......

Spirit Realm, Eastern Continent, Azure Wave Sect.

At the cliff behind the mountain, Nether Soul still sat in that same old spot.

He gazed at the sea of clouds in the distance, pondering a very serious question in his heart.

What should he do today?

Play the zither? He was tired of it.

Drink wine? He had had enough.

How about going to find a brothel and stroll around again?

As he was thinking, Nether Soul’s expression suddenly shifted.

Two auras had appeared within the range of his divine sense.

One of them felt somewhat familiar.

Nether Soul raised his brows slightly. A moment later, a smile curved at the corner of his lips.

Interesting.

It was actually him.

......

Thirty li away, two figures were traveling through the air.

The one in front wore white robes, his temperament cold and detached.

It was Ling Wuchen.

The former heaven’s favored son of the Mystic Sword Sect, later reborn through body possession, who joined the Taibai Sword Sect of the Western Wasteland. His cultivation had now reached the late stage of Nascent Soul.

At his side was a middle-aged man.

He wore a green robe, his face handsome, his bearing calm and composed.

The aura around him was perfectly restrained, making it impossible to discern his depth.

But if a Great Ascension cultivator were present, they would certainly be able to tell—this man was at the peak of Great Ascension.

The two traveled side by side, drawing closer and closer to the Azure Wave Sect.

Thirty li.

Twenty li.

Fifteen li.

Ji Xuanjun gazed at the faint outline of the sect in the distance and suddenly smiled.

“Kid Ling, are you sure that the Azure Wave Sect truly has the great divine ability expert you mentioned?”

Ling Wuchen nodded, his expression complicated. “This junior is certain.”

Ji Xuanjun raised a brow. “But along the way, I have not sensed any particularly powerful aura.”

“Within this Azure Wave Sect, the strongest is only at Transformation Spirit. There is not even a Void Refinement.”

“The one you speak of—is he really here?”

Ling Wuchen fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, “Senior, that senior’s cultivation... is unfathomable.”

“If he wishes to conceal his aura, even Tribulation Crossing experts would not be able to detect him.”

Hearing this, a trace of interest flashed through Ji Xuanjun’s eyes.

“Oh? That interesting?”

He smiled. “Then I want to meet him even more.”

Ling Wuchen opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end only sighed.

In truth, he did not want to come to the Azure Wave Sect.

This time, returning to the Eastern Continent, he had only wanted to go back to the Mystic Sword Sect for a look.

But this Ji Xuanjun had insisted on following.

After hearing about his past experiences, after hearing about how he had been annihilated in a single move by that mysterious expert, Ji Xuanjun had developed a strong interest in the Azure Wave Sect.

He insisted on coming to spar.

Ling Wuchen could not refuse him and could only grit his teeth and lead the way.

But in his heart, he knew.

This Ji Xuanjun, although at the peak of Great Ascension, although only one step away from Tribulation Crossing—

was likely still not a match for that senior.

He had personally experienced the terror of that move back then.

That move had left him with no room to resist.

That kind of despair, he would never forget in his lifetime.

As he was thinking, the two had already arrived ten li in front of the Azure Wave Sect’s mountain gate.

Suddenly, a figure appeared out of thin air before them.

Ling Wuchen’s pupils contracted sharply.

It was him!

Still the same appearance.

Standing there with hands behind his back, as though he had long been waiting.

In an instant, the scene from back then surfaced in Ling Wuchen’s mind.

That move.

That streak of light.

The moment death descended.

His entire body stiffened, and he almost instinctively wanted to turn and flee.

But he held it in.

He knew he could not escape.

Taking a deep breath, Ling Wuchen stepped forward and gave a deep bow. “Junior Ling Wuchen greets Senior!”

Nether Soul looked at him and smiled. “Oh? You still remember me?”

Cold sweat poured down Ling Wuchen’s forehead as he hurriedly said:

“Back then, this junior failed to recognize a true immortal and offended Senior. I beg Senior’s forgiveness!”

He paused, then quickly explained his purpose: “Senior, please allow me to report—this junior’s visit today is absolutely not to cause trouble!”

“This junior merely returned to the Eastern Continent to visit my former sect. This... this is Elder Ji Xuanjun of the Taibai Sword Sect of the Western Wasteland.”

“He heard of this junior’s past and developed admiration for Senior, thus specially came... specially came to pay a visit!”

After speaking, he secretly glanced at Nether Soul’s expression.

Nether Soul seemed to smile yet not smile. He did not look at him, but instead turned his gaze toward Ji Xuanjun beside him.

Ji Xuanjun was also observing Nether Soul.

He stepped forward and cupped his fists. “This poor Daoist, Ji Xuanjun, greets fellow Daoist.”

Nether Soul gave a slight nod, returning the greeting.

Ji Xuanjun continued: “Fellow Daoist, this poor Daoist came today after hearing from this junior of the events of the past.”

“There has always been a shadow in his heart, and his sword dao has been obstructed because of it.”

“I thought that if I could spar with fellow Daoist and let him personally witness the profundity of that move back then, perhaps it could resolve the knot in his heart.”

“Rest assured, fellow Daoist—this is merely an exchange of insights. I will suppress my cultivation to the same Transformation Spirit realm as you.”

“It will not affect the Azure Wave Sect, nor will it endanger your life. We will stop at the right point. How about it?”

He spoke very politely.

Very courteously.

A peak Great Ascension cultivator willing to suppress his cultivation to spar, and even taking the initiative to promise restraint—this was already giving tremendous face.

If it were someone else, they would likely already be overwhelmed with honor.

But after hearing this, Nether Soul merely smiled.

“No need to suppress your strength.”

Ji Xuanjun was taken aback.

Nether Soul spoke calmly: “I will only make one move.”

“If you can withstand it, then it will count as my loss.”

“How about it?”

The moment those words were spoken, Ji Xuanjun froze.

Ling Wuchen also froze.

One move?

A peak Great Ascension, withstand one move?

Ji Xuanjun frowned and looked deeply at Nether Soul.

He felt that he was being underestimated.

He admitted that the person before him was indeed not simple, giving him a faint sense of danger.

But no matter what, he was still at the peak of Great Ascension.

Only one step away from Tribulation Crossing.

Looking across the Spirit Realm, aside from Tribulation Crossing experts, there were almost none who could defeat him in a single move.

And the person before him appeared to only have Transformation Spirit cultivation.

Although he knew this must be a disguise, no matter how it was concealed, it could not possibly truly be Tribulation Crossing, right?

If he were truly at Tribulation Crossing, why would he remain in this small Azure Wave Sect?

Ji Xuanjun was silent for a moment, then slowly said: “Fellow Daoist is certain?”

Nether Soul nodded. “Certain.”

Ji Xuanjun’s gaze sharpened. “If this poor Daoist withstands it?”

Nether Soul smiled. “Then it will count as my loss. Whatever you wish to ask, I will answer without concealment.”

Ji Xuanjun took a deep breath. “Good! Then this poor Daoist will experience fellow Daoist’s profound techniques!”

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