Chapter Two: The Quest for the Sword

The Sword Sect stretched for hundreds of miles, a colossal presence in the world of swordsmanship, renowned and respected by all.

Lin Fei was visiting the Sword Sect for the first time.

His reason for coming was simple: upon awakening from a long slumber, he had heard of the sect’s vastness and the existence of the Sword Tomb within, where countless famed swords were buried.

So, he came to take a look.

Perhaps the mischievous Wood Spirit was here.

Yet, as he entered the sect, the faint familiarity of sword intent stirred within him. A little figure wielding a sword and shouting about roaming the world with it flashed through his mind.

He had once calculated the fates of many.

According to his calculations, that little one should have survived the great battle following the tribulation.

What exactly had transpired in that post-tribulation war?

Lin Fei felt a void of understanding; so many truths needed uncovering.

His immediate priority was to enter the Sword Tomb Mountain and seek out his own sword—the Wood Spirit.

The Sword Sect sat atop the Celestial Severance Mountain Range by the Western Sea, a chain of countless broken peaks stretching for thousands of miles.

From the sect's highest vantage, one could even catch a distant glimpse of the sea.

Dominating the Celestial Severance Mountains, the Sword Sect was a sacred ground for countless sword cultivators, a dream destination for many who flocked to its base to study.

Lin Fei pressed onward, his gaze unshaken by the mountain vistas on either side until he reached the edge of a cliff.

A hundred meters ahead lay the core of the sect—the cliff’s entrance, guarded by the formidable Three Thousand Awe-Inspiring Spirit Sword Formation.

Lin Fei cast a brief glance at the imposing sword formation and halted.

Behind him, a young girl bounced over, her robes fluttering like a lively little rabbit.

She approached Lin Fei’s side with familiarity, patting his shoulder with ease. “Hello, I’m Xia Yi.”

Lin Fei glanced at her silently.

“You…” Xia Yi paid no mind to his cold response. After sizing up the stoic man before her, she extended a hand. “I just passed the assessment and happened to notice you. Hi!”

Lin Fei remained silent.

Pouting, Xia Yi snapped, “Are you mute? Why aren’t you saying a word?”

Lin Fei stared at her, a hint of puzzlement crossing his face. “Have humans and demons not always been sworn enemies? Since when have relations softened enough for demons to study sword cultivation among humans?”

A gentle breeze stirred, rustling fallen leaves at their feet. The cliffside was deathly silent.

Xia Yi’s mouth fell open, her expression one of disbelief.

This was bad.

The second most important secret she had buried deep within her heart had been easily seen through by this man.

“Ah—”

Snapping back to reality, Xia Yi realized this must be a master concealing his strength, capable of seeing through her secret at a glance.

She let out a shout and turned to flee, swift as the wind.

Halfway through her escape, she glanced back to find Lin Fei still standing unmoved, showing no interest in her.

Blinking her large, watery eyes, a flicker of hesitation crossed her gaze before she timidly crept back toward him.

Stopping ten meters behind Lin Fei, she nervously asked, “Why don’t you chase me? I’m a demon, you know.”

Without turning, Lin Fei replied, “You have no connection to me. Why would I capture you?”

“Are you crazy? I’m a demon! Capturing me could earn someone a reward!”

Lin Fei closed his eyes calmly. “There are countless paths in the Dao. Regardless of race, those who walk alongside me are comrades in the Dao.”

Hearing this, waves stirred in Xia Yi’s mind.

Though she didn’t fully understand this man’s background, it was clear he was no ordinary person.

At the very least, he was unlike those scrambling to enter the Sword Sect.

Pulling herself together, Xia Yi looked at Lin Fei again. Despite being exposed, she felt neither anger nor shame. Instead, an inexplicable closeness welled up inside her.

This strange feeling sparked her curiosity.

“What’s your name?”

“Lin Fei.”

“You can see right through me? You must be powerful. What’s your status in the Sword Sect?”

“None.”

“Hmph, you’re lying! My master said even a third-level True Immortal can’t see through my real identity!”

“I was just guessing.”

“...”

“So, why are you here?”

“To find my sword.”

“???”

Xia Yi followed Lin Fei’s deep gaze, but saw nothing but a misty sea of clouds.

After a moment, her eyes brightened. “I heard deep within the Sword Sect lies a mountain called the Sword Tomb Mountain, where thousands of ancient swords are buried.”

Lin Fei said nothing.

In his trance, he had already sensed the overwhelming sword aura gathered from countless ancient blades.

Lin Fei currently had no cultivation, but he possessed the Spirit-Synchronous Sword Heart, allowing him to sense all swords.

He had been able to do so before, and still could now.

Deep within the Sword Tomb’s rugged mountains, wrapped in thick fog, a gentle breeze stirred.

The wind scattered some of the mist, revealing countless swords thrust into the mountainside.

These blades trembled as they sensed a faint, ethereal presence in the void, bowing as officials would before an imperial might.

The immense aura accumulated by the ancient swords in the tomb gradually condensed into a tangible form in the air—a hundred-meter-long dragon of sword energy.

Such a near-miraculous sight went unnoticed and unrecorded by any.

With a faint sigh barely audible in the air, the sword energy dragon shattered with a roar. The swords ceased trembling, and the barren mountain gradually returned to calm, as if nothing had occurred.

...

Lin Fei’s closed eyes slowly opened, releasing an invisible burst of spiritual energy.

Before him, Xia Yi’s large, glistening eyes blinked attentively.

“Have you found the sword you’re looking for?”

Lin Fei shook his head with slight regret. “No. I need to find a chance to go in myself.”

“Okay!”

Xia Yi took this as a simple answer, unaware of the implications behind it.

She tugged at Lin Fei’s sleeve, her soft voice barely above a whisper: “I can help you search for the sword, but please don’t tell anyone my identity.”

Lin Fei looked down at the girl’s delicate face. “Why did you come to the Sword Sect?”

“Uh… I have a sword I really like, but nobody at home knows how to use it, so I came here to learn swordsmanship!” Her tone was earnest.

“Just because of one sword, you risked coming to the human sect to learn?”

Lin Fei drifted into memories. Long ago, he had met a little demoness who had said something very similar...

Looking into the hopeful eyes of the girl, Lin Fei smiled more brightly than he had in ages. He ruffled her hair and said, “Alright.”

Xia Yi didn’t dare move. When Lin Fei withdrew his hand, she pouted softly, “Don’t touch my head! Touching it will stunt my growth!”

Lin Fei paid no heed, only calculating the time. It was about time to return the way they came.

“I should head back.”

“Where are you going?” Xia Yi hurried after him.

“To take the assessment.”