Immortal Sword Drifting Ice
Half an hour earlier.
Yan Jue stood on the great rock in Sword Tomb Valley. After coaxing Drifting Ice for all she was worth, as though soothing a child, she was met only with a long silence.
Drifting Ice: “Then do as you please.”
Then it fell silent again, as if that soul-shaking conversation had never happened.
Yan Jue tightened her right hand around the hilt.
Slowly, she began to draw Drifting Ice upward.
A blinding blue light burst from the rock, so bright that Yan Jue could hardly keep her eyes open.
With every inch Drifting Ice was drawn out, the spiritual energy rippling around them grew stronger.
In an instant, Yan Jue understood.
The conversation just now had only been the prelude.
This was the real act of “raising the sword.”
It was precisely at this moment that Jiang Mengchu had been blasted backward by the immense spiritual energy erupting from the immortal sword Drifting Ice.
That was why Qi Xianqing had told her that day that, although Zhuying had drawn talismans on her palm, everything still had to rely on Yan Jue herself.
The wild wind around her grew fiercer and fiercer; Yan Jue could only lower her body, barely keeping herself from being blown away.
The light around her also grew more intense.
A pale blue halo enveloped the area, preventing everyone on Five Dragons Square who was watching through the image-seeing box from making out what was happening here.
Zhuying spilled out a thread of cold frost.
That frost was terrifyingly destructive; even a single wisp was enough to freeze Yan Jue’s entire arm numb.
A vast surge of cold qi poured from the immortal sword Drifting Ice. Yan Jue gripped the hilt tightly and closed her eyes, entering a silent contest with Drifting Ice.
Coldness, along with the greed hidden deep in the human mind, swept toward her.
Yan Jue could even see, not far away, a faint light calling to her: “Let go... ”
Within that light were blood and mountains of piled-up skeletons...
For her, a fox demon, it was undoubtedly a tremendous temptation.
Yan Jue suddenly noticed something; her pupils contracted sharply.
Qi Xianqing had somehow appeared in front of her.
In the sunlight, the girl’s skin was fair, and faint blue veins showed on the slender line of her neck.
At some point, the scent of an Immortal Spirit Physique drifted into her nose.
Yan Jue swallowed unconsciously.
As long as she opened her mouth, she could bite through Qi Xianqing’s blood vessels in one go.
This was an illusion!
Yan Jue’s expression darkened. Ignoring everything around her, she began to haul upward with all her strength on the immortal sword Drifting Ice.
Drifting Ice was the sword Qi Xianqing had promised to give her.
If she could not take it, would that not mean she had let down Qi Xianqing’s good intentions?
To let the sword Qi Xianqing had meant to give her fall into another’s hands.
Spiritual energy surged within her body; true qi raced wildly through her meridians.
At a time like this, the slightest misstep could shatter her meridians and kill her.
Drifting Ice, like Zhuying, was one of the divine swords said to be able to cut down every evil thing under heaven.
Righteous energy drifted around it.
Yan Jue’s demonic qi was gradually dissolved by that righteous energy, and for a moment she had nowhere to stand.
Victory and defeat hung on a single thought.
Yan Jue’s arm suddenly burst with force as she yanked upward.
In the blink of an eye, spiritual energy scattered in all directions!
-
Sect Master Yan Yue of Watercloud Sect had also come today.
Because the immortal sword Drifting Ice appearing in the world was simply too rare, and the uproar it caused was no less than Zhuying’s back then.
Just as she had finished seclusion and had nothing to do, she came over to watch the excitement.
After watching for quite a while, Yan Yue finally asked, “The disciple in Sword Tomb Valley holding the sword—is she from my Watercloud Sect?”
A nearby disciple hesitated. “S-seems so.”
It looked like Watercloud Sect had produced another fine disciple.
The joy in Yan Yue’s brows and eyes was impossible to hide, and she decided to bring Yan Jue along later and train her properly.
Yan Jue had actually pulled out the immortal sword Drifting Ice.
Everyone knew exactly what that meant.
The one who could subdue Drifting Ice—her ability and talent were easy to imagine.
Suddenly, a young disciple in brown stepped out from the crowd and knelt before Mu Zhongzi, the Five Dragons Sect master. “Sect Master, this disciple... this disciple has discovered something.”
Mu Zhongzi had already crushed the jade pendant in his hand in secret, but he still asked with a genial smile, “And what have you discovered?”
“Yan Jue... Yan Jue cheated!”
Before he even finished speaking, the hall erupted in an uproar.
Mu Zhongzi’s expression darkened instantly. “How dare she cheat in Sword Tomb Valley? And how did you come to that conclusion?”
Qi Xianqing’s brow moved slightly, and she lifted her eyes to look over.
The disciple stammered, “When Yan Jue held the immortal sword Drifting Ice just now, she clearly hesitated for a moment. It was obvious she was having a brief exchange with Drifting Ice!”
The people around them immediately began whispering.
Drifting Ice had been in slumber all this time and, by rights, should not have accepted any communication at all.
Only Zhuying could get Drifting Ice to deign to speak with it.
Could it be...
In an instant, everyone’s gaze landed on Qi Xianqing.
Qi Xianqing sat there with complete composure, her peach blossom eyes half-lidded and the corners of her lips faintly lifted.
Then a voice rang out.
Yun Zhen: “Absurd.”
Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn over.
Yun Zhen sneered. “We old-timers all know Drifting Ice was born with a proud streak. Even with Zhuying’s recommendation, whether one can withstand its icy sword intent is still another matter.”
“Unless one is a person of upright righteousness, with no evil thoughts in heart, it is absolutely impossible to draw the immortal sword Drifting Ice.”
“Among the disciples present, who can endure Drifting Ice’s sword intent? Step forward; I’ll help you open the Sword Tomb entrance, let my disciple put Drifting Ice back, and then you can try drawing it!”
“I, Yun Zhen, as Thunderflame Sect’s Sect Master, keep my word.”
The hall fell silent at once.
No one dared take the risk of losing their minds just to contend with Drifting Ice’s bone-deep sword intent.
Mu Zhongzi’s face darkened as he sat back down.
Originally, he had sent Jiang Mengchu to draw the sword at Sword Tomb precisely because he wanted the girl to draw it first, then take it back under all sorts of pretexts.
After all, this Drifting Ice was Qi Xianqing’s pair sword.
If he held Drifting Ice in his hands, he could naturally make all kinds of trouble with it...
Now it seemed hopeless.
That damned woman—if she had not interrupted, he could have smoothly taken the immortal sword Drifting Ice back.
She had ruined his plan; he would make sure she died horribly.
After hearing Yun Zhen’s words, Yan Yue could not help frowning. “When did that girl become your disciple?”
Yun Zhen smiled. “Junior sister must not forget; that day, you already gave her to me.”
“What?” Yan Yue froze, then flew into a rage. “When did I ever give you such a talented disciple?! ”
Yun Zhen: “When a person has not yet made a name for herself, naturally no one knows her. Since I knew before junior sister did, of course I had to seize the chance first.”
“So clever a little disciple; it’s a pity she was buried for so long in your sect.”
After hearing Yun Zhen out, Yan Yue suddenly remembered something.
It seemed that a few days earlier, Yun Zhen really had come to ask her for a disciple.
But at the time she had been too busy and had not paid much attention to the disciple Yun Zhen wanted, so she had agreed with some reluctance.
What?! The one Yun Zhen had asked for was actually this one? Yan Yue said coldly, “I knew nothing of the details the other day; naturally, I now rescind my word.”
Yun Zhen took a slow sip of tea and said flatly, “Rescinding is invalid.”
Yan Yue slammed the table and was about to rise to go after Yun Zhen, but the disciple beside her hurriedly stopped her.
-
Yan Jue came out of Sword Tomb Valley hugging Drifting Ice.
Jiang Mengchu had been following behind her ever since she climbed out of the stream just now. “Sister Yan Jue.”
Yan Jue turned back to look at her.
Jiang Mengchu asked, “What does it feel like to hold Drifting Ice in your hand? Can I try?”
In the sunlight, Jiang Mengchu’s skin was fair, and her apricot eyes shimmered with light; when she blinked, she looked especially adorable.
Yan Jue did not feel any hostility toward someone like that, so she handed over the sword.
Who would have thought that the moment Drifting Ice entered Jiang Mengchu’s hand, blue light would burst forth at once; massive spiritual energy exploded, and Drifting Ice was flung out.
Jiang Mengchu was blasted several zhang away in an instant.
Yan Jue: “......”
Jiang Mengchu rubbed her waist and came back over. “You’re powerful.”
“Even Uncle-Master the Sect Master said he wanted to give Drifting Ice to me, but I don’t want such an annoying sword.”
Seeing that she was quite easy to talk to, Yan Jue quietly had an idea.
Hugging Drifting Ice, Yan Jue suddenly asked, “In this Five-Dragon Summit competition, were you second place?”
She had already sized Jiang Mengchu up from head to toe back then.
Yan Jue noticed the girl had no magical implements at all.
How strange.
Without any magical implements, how had she won at the Five-Dragon Summit?
Jiang Mengchu pouted. “In the first round, I got a bye and went straight to the second round.”
“In the second round, my opponent suddenly fell ill and couldn’t come.”
“In the third round, the annoying guy across from me wasn’t very strong to begin with. I tripped him twice, and he fell off the fighting platform.”
“In the fourth round, my opponent had been injured too badly in the previous round and couldn’t come either.”
Yan Jue: “......”
Jiang Mengchu: “In the fifth round... ”
Yan Jue hurriedly cut in, “Enough, stop talking.”
So that was how it was; she was really a lucky koi.
Yan Jue could not help feeling a little awkward.
Someone like this, without schemes and fairly easy to manipulate...
That Demon Lord sending her here to draw a sword was truly...
meaningful.
-
Yan Jue returned to her room very quickly.
Although she had now been recorded under Yun Zhen’s name, she was still living in the same old place.
That made things much more convenient for her.
Yan Jue sat on the bed and lowered her head to look at the immortal sword Drifting Ice.
The ice-blue Drifting Ice lay quietly across her lap; the translucent white-jade hilt was warm and smooth to the touch.
Drifting Ice was actually a soft sword.
Its blade was slender, the edge extremely thin; in the sunlight, the ice-and-snow patterns on the blade were clearly visible.
Holding Drifting Ice in hand, Yan Jue felt a faint, cool chill spreading from her palm all the way through her limbs and bones.
Yan Jue slashed downward violently; in the next instant, a flash of cold light shot out. Drifting Ice struck like a spirit serpent, twisting and trembling fiercely in midair, letting out bursts of phoenix cries, and a layer of frost power spread outward in all directions.
It was completely different from Qi Xianqing’s Zhuying.
Yan Jue’s expression grew slightly serious.
If... she could seize the male lead’s opportunity... the male lead’s fortune...
Then could she take the male lead’s place and remain at Qi Xianqing’s side?
Yan Jue was dazed for a moment, then came back to herself at once upon realizing how dangerous that thought was and shook her head quickly.
What are you thinking?
You actually have improper thoughts about Qi Xianqing; do you not know Qi Xianqing is a total straight girl?
Besides, this sword was something she had exchanged for one million top-grade spirit stones.
If she could not pay it back, then for this whole lifetime she would have to work like an ox and horse for Qi Xianqing.
-
For the next several days, Yan Jue secluded herself to familiarize herself with Drifting Ice.
When she had previously practiced with an iron sword, she had already gained some understanding of swordsmanship.
Now that the sword in her hand had become Drifting Ice, it was like someone who had always driven a beat-up car suddenly getting a sports car.
It could only be better.
That day, Yan Jue was again familiarizing herself with Drifting Ice in her room when she suddenly heard knocking from outside.
Yan Jue opened the door, and sunlight rushed in eagerly; it was a beautiful day.
Qi Xianqing stood outside the door, her brows and eyes curved, a faint smile in her eyes. “You got the sword?”
Yan Jue cupped her hands. “Thanks to Senior Sister.”
Qi Xianqing: “Junior Sister Yan is very impressive. You did very well.”
Qi Xianqing’s voice was dignified and noble, kept very low; in the quiet room, it sounded especially pleasant.
Yan Jue had one bad habit: if others scolded her, she did not care, but if someone praised her, she would start feeling all kinds of awkward.
Her ears heated up, and she immediately denied it. “I’m not impressive. It was all thanks to Senior Sister’s well-written talismans.”
“And thanks to Zhuying.”
Zhuying seemed to understand, puffing out its chest with considerable pride and giving a tiny tremble.
Qi Xianqing: “Junior Sister Yan should best not praise it. Once you praise it, its tail is going to shoot up to the sky.”
Zhuying behind Qi Xianqing deflated again and shrank back behind her.
Yan Jue laughed heartily; her smile seemed as if it could soak up sunlight.
Qi Xianqing looked at her deeply.
Yan Jue always had the kind of ability where, being with her, everything somehow became happy.
Qi Xianqing suddenly said, “I want to ask Junior Sister something.”
Yan Jue blinked. “What is it?”
Qi Xianqing: “That day, when Junior Sister was speaking with Drifting Ice in Sword Tomb, did you say something?”
“When I looked at Drifting Ice, it seemed as though it was unwilling at first to leave with Junior Sister Yan.”
Yan Jue met Qi Xianqing’s deep peach blossom eyes, and her heart gave an inexplicable jolt. “No, I didn’t say anything.”
Drifting Ice was a thousand-year immortal sword; what it hated most were habitual liars.
What Yan Jue had said to Drifting Ice was her true heart.
But those true words, she definitely could not tell Qi Xianqing.
Yan Jue gave an embarrassed laugh.
Qi Xianqing sighed, looking troubled. “I only hope Junior Sister can repay the money she owes me as soon as possible.”
Yan Jue: “......”
Qi Xianqing lifted her head and continued, “Let’s go, Junior Sister Yan. The Sect Master wants the top three of this Five-Dragon Summit individual competition to go to Mystic Escape Sect.”
Yan Jue felt extreme resistance toward this Five Dragons Sect master, transformed from the Demon Lord. Hearing Qi Xianqing say this, she could not help being startled. “Ah? Is something the matter?”
Qi Xianqing walked out slowly. “Does Junior Sister Yan not know? The top three in this competition are required to represent Five Dragons Sect’s face and travel among mortals, gaining the qualification to accept Grade-A missions.”
This was a tremendous honor.
But Yan Jue really could not bring herself to smile.
Still, from the previous situation, Mu Zhongzi probably did not yet know that she had once overheard his conversation with Chu Fu, nor did he know that she and Qi Xianqing had once entered the cave to steal magical treasures.
Qi Xianqing was smart enough not to tell the Five Dragons Sect master about this directly, but instead had informed Yun Zhen.
Yan Jue tidied her thoughts a little, then reluctantly followed Qi Xianqing out the door.
-
Mystic Escape Sect was not far from Watercloud Sect. After Yan Jue and Qi Xianqing left the door, they soon arrived at Mystic Escape Sect, at the great hall where Five Dragons Sect master Mu Zhongzi resided.
By the time Yan Jue entered, many people were already seated inside the hall.
Yan Jue froze slightly.
Mu Zhongzi sat in the middle of the crowd, dressed in a brown Daoist robe. He was as thin as a crane, his face like a child’s, his eyes half-closed.
Beside him were the Sect Masters of the major sects, Thunderflame Sect’s Yun Zhen, Watercloud Sect’s Yan Yue...
Below them sat a scattering of elders.
And Jiang Mengchu, who had taken second place at the Five-Dragon Summit, was already standing at the center.
Although she had failed in the previous contest for the immortal sword, there was no extra emotion on her face; she stood naturally in the center of the hall.
Qi Xianqing walked forward and lightly nodded greetings to the Five Dragons Sect master and the others.
Xingye Daoist, Sect Master of Muyin Sect, stroked his beard and smiled as he looked at the three disciples standing in the hall.
“Brother, these three are the most outstanding disciples of the younger generation in our Five Dragons Sect.”
The elders below also began chattering among themselves. “Truly heroes in the making.”
Mu Zhongzi pointed at Qi Xianqing, a loving smile appearing on his face. “Xianqing, you won first place again this time. What insights do you have in your heart?”
There was not the slightest trace of the anger he had shown a few days ago when Drifting Ice was mentioned.
Qi Xianqing’s expression was solemn; she knelt directly in the great hall. “The path of cultivation is long. This disciple will certainly strive for greater refinement in the days ahead and break through as early as possible, so as not to fail the expectations of my elders.”
Amid a chorus of praise, Mu Zhongzi slowly opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, “The top three from this Five-Dragon Summit are the most outstanding disciples of the new generation; they are worthy of serving as the face of Five Dragons Mountain and traveling among mortals.”
“Right now, the situation in the mortal world is unpredictable; the demonic path is about to return in force, and evil beings are wreaking havoc among humankind. As one of the righteous immortal sects, there are many tasks that require you to complete them.”
Mu Zhongzi delivered a long speech. Yan Jue watched coldly and could not help but marvel at how quickly this man adapted.
Mu Zhongzi smiled at Qi Xianqing. “Xianqing, the northern demonic beast rebellion is no small matter. I urgently need you to suppress it.”
Yan Jue frowned slightly.
Perhaps because they feared public notice would cause panic, the matter was being kept quite confidential.
Perhaps because people of the Demonic Cult had begun to stir more actively recently, or perhaps because human oppression of the demonic beast race had become increasingly severe, the beast race had ultimately thrown itself in with the demons?
Qi Xianqing was going to kill beasts again.
Thinking of this, Yan Jue’s gaze drifted restlessly to the side, and her mood grew complicated.
Mu Zhongzi: “This trip—”
He had not even finished speaking when Yun Zhen interrupted the next second!
Leaning lazily on her chin, Yun Zhen drawled, “Senior Brother Sect Master, with such a dangerous task, it’s better not to send my disciple.”
The Sect Master was abruptly interrupted and could not help choking a little.
Yun Zhen’s attire today was even more gorgeous and ethereal. She wore a water-red robe woven with multicolored phoenix patterns in rainflower brocade; her long hair was arranged in a qiu-yun bun, a touch of cinnabar adorned her fair forehead, and the narrow sweep of her phoenix eyes held a naturally seductive charm.
Mu Zhongzi frowned. “Yun Zhen, what are you saying?”
Yun Zhen: “Senior Brother, why do you clearly know my disciple is a once-in-a-thousand-lifetimes Immortal Spirit Physique, and that approaching demonic beasts is like sending a sheep into a wolf pack, yet you still want her to go to the Northern Frontier to exterminate beasts?”
Mu Zhongzi: “Xianqing’s abilities are exceptional; naturally she is not afraid in such circumstances. Besides, she has the immortal sword Zhuying for self-defense!”
Yun Zhen: “I wonder if Senior Brother simply doesn’t know how to feel sorry for his own disciple.”
If this had been the old Mu Zhongzi, he would naturally have been very familiar with this junior sister’s temperament and, when met with her sharp words, could have responded calmly with a few lines of his own.
But the current Mu Zhongzi was the Soul-severing Mountain Demon Lord, and with only a few words from Yun Zhen, his face had already gone dark with fury.
Qi Xianqing saw it all and frowned slightly, instinctively looking toward Yan Jue.
Yan Jue stared fixedly at the Five Dragons Sect master.
Yun Zhen: “In short, I absolutely cannot bear to have my own disciple risk herself. For this kind of task, I am willing to send my own sect disciples. Please assign other important tasks to Xianqing.”
The hall fell silent in an instant.
Everyone knew Yun Zhen doted on her disciple, but no one expected her to protect her so brazenly.
Sect Master Mu Zhongzi’s face instantly worsened. “Do not let personal feelings ruin the bigger picture.”
This woman had been picking a fight with him repeatedly for some reason lately!
Yun Zhen thumped her chest. “Senior Brother is joking. Yun Zhen is at least an old woman of several thousand years; how could I ruin the bigger picture over such a small matter? If Senior Brother insists, I am willing to go personally to the Northern Frontier to exterminate beasts!”
When she finished speaking, the hall once again sank into silence.
Although Watercloud Sect’s Yan Yue usually had some friction with Yun Zhen, Yun Zhen was after all her only close friend on Five Dragons Mountain. In a tense moment like this, of course she had to help Yun Zhen speak: “Senior Brother Sect Master, I am also willing to send my sect disciples to the Northern Frontier to exterminate beasts. We all know Xianqing has a special physique, and she is also the most outstanding disciple of Five Dragons Sect. If anything were to happen to her, I fear it would not be good.”
After a long silence, under everyone’s gaze, Mu Zhongzi slowly nodded. “In that case, there is still one Grade-A mission here. Xianqing, Mengchu, and Yan Jue can carry it out together.”
Seeing the Sect Master finally give way, everyone could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Mu Zhongzi: “Master has recently been refining an elixir of immortality. If I truly manage to research it, it will be a blessing for the cultivation world.”
Immortality was the lifelong pursuit of every cultivator, yet unfortunately, no one had been able to achieve it to this day.
There were countless cultivators in the world researching how to refine an immortality pill. If Five Dragons Sect could be the first to develop the elixir, it would greatly elevate Five Dragons Sect’s status in the cultivation world.
For the current Five Dragons Sect, aside from making efforts regarding the demonic beast rebellion, they also could not neglect the matter of strengthening the sect’s standing.
Mu Zhongzi: “Your mission is to go out and gather the materials needed to refine the elixir of immortality.”
Xingye Daoist beside him smiled and asked, “May I ask, Master-Uncle Sect Master, have you already developed a new recipe for the elixir of immortality? Which medicinal ingredients need to be gathered?”
Mu Zhongzi: “The materials for this elixir of immortality are merfolk pearls, Xiangjing grass, Bixian grass, and phoenix fetuses.”
Mu Zhongzi licked his lips and said in a deep voice, “The last ingredient is also the hardest to collect.”
“Fox demon heart of nine tails.”
His voice was not loud, but in Yan Jue’s ears it was like a thunderclap.
Nine-tailed fox demon heart.!