Breaking the Precept

"Xiaolou, think carefully. Even if you subdue the divine weapon and become its master, what then? Your soul has already left your body, and your physical form is destroyed. From now on, you can only reside within the sword. How is that different from being a sword spirit?"

"This sword is my creation. I will continue to perfect it and will not mistreat you."

"I promise, when the right candidate appears, I will help you seize a new body..."

Trapped within the sword array, cut off from the outside world, Yue Ze's heart was in turmoil, his eyes brimming with fear.

This was truly a case of reaping what he had sown.

Not to mention that Yue Ze, obsessed with forging artifacts since childhood, had little experience with combat. Earlier, to unleash the devastating Sword Shadows Reborn technique and destroy Ruan Mianmian, he had recklessly poured most of his spiritual energy into the sword. Now his dantian was depleted, and the sword array was continuously draining his remaining energy. Even if Jian Xiaolou did nothing, he would be consumed to death.

"Facing death, where did you find the time for so much nonsense?"

Jian Xiaolou's thoughts moved swiftly as her hands formed seals. Radiating light rippled out from her seals, transforming into powerful sword shadows that slashed toward Yue Ze!

The earth trembled and rocks shattered as smoke billowed. Yue Ze's spectacular demise was more dazzling than fireworks.

Even though the sword's spiritual energy came from Yue Ze, Jian Xiaolou still felt an intense satisfaction. So this was what it felt like to dominate, to flip the heavens with a turn of the hand! If Yue Ze, only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, could wield such strength, how powerful must those in the Golden Core stage or Nascent Soul realm be?

No wonder everyone in the cultivation world thirsted for fortune and power!

While the sword array isolated Yue Ze from the outside, the events within were visible to all.

Disheveled, with his robes in tatters, Yue Ze was being relentlessly battered by the famed sword he had forged himself. His once radiant splendor was nowhere to be seen.

Nearby, the Nameless One was casually kneading a lump of mud, clearly enjoying the spectacle.

The onlookers, who had traveled thousands of miles to the Fire Refining Grounds, felt their journey was worth it. First, there was the shocking mud lump, then the birth of a famed sword, and just when the outcome seemed decided, a sword master had unexpectedly appeared.

Frankly, sacrificing a living soul to refine a sword did little to tarnish Yue Ze's reputation. Such practices were commonplace in the Chixiao Realm, and many wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice unrelated individuals if it meant forging a supreme artifact.

But failing to refine the soul into a sword spirit and instead making it the sword master? That was a matter of competence.

Between Yue Ze and the Nameless One, it was clear who held the upper hand.

Yue Ze's ruthless yet ineffective methods would be magnified in infamy, casting a shadow over his master, Elder Xuan Zhen. A disciple who was both inept and cruel reflected poorly on their teacher. Rumors of Elder Xuan Zhen's past betrayal of his sect brothers were now more believable than ever.

Sympathetic glances turned toward Wei Ying.

As the situation spiraled out of control, the Fire Refining Elders grew restless.

With Yue Ze's life hanging by a thread, Elder Xuan Zhen could no longer adhere to decorum. His treasured disciple, raised under his careful guidance, was being humiliated. How could he allow this?

With a wave of his arm, his Golden Core aura surged as he flew down to shatter the sword array and kill the sword master.

The Nameless One smirked. "Ah, a cornered dog finally bites back?"

He tilted his head slightly, casting a meaningful glance at Wei Ying, who stood on the giant eagle's back. "What are you waiting for? If you don't strike now to avenge your past grievances, then when?"

"Haha! A Golden Core elder meddling in a junior's duel? You shameless old dog!" Wei Ying, emboldened by the Nameless One's cue, straightened his hunched back and banged his cane against the eagle's head. "Go!"

With a piercing cry, the eagle flapped its wings, unleashing a blade-like gust of wind toward Elder Xuan Zhen!

Intercepted mid-flight, Xuan Zhen howled in rage. "Traitor! I'll deal with you first!"

Wei Ying guided the eagle into the sky, confronting Elder Xuan Zhen head-on.

"Should we intervene?"

The three Xuanjing Elders looked to Sect Master Xuanwei for guidance.

At this point, the Fire Refining Sect's dignity was in tatters. What else was there to consider?

Huo Ying, covering his mouth with a fan, whispered to Zhan Tianming, "As expected of someone raised by the Li family..."

"What's wrong with being raised by the Li family?!" Livid, Li Jianzhao pointed at Huo Ying and snapped, "The Li family may have its flaws, but at least we're cleaner than the likes of you! Raising a pervert who likes to sleep with demonic beasts!"

Huo Ying's face darkened, his sinister aura almost tangible. "Fine! Let's see how long you can stay arrogant, Li Jianzhao!"

As their quarrel intensified, Sect Master Xuanwei was on the verge of losing his composure when his expression suddenly changed. Casting his divine sense toward Mount Qiu Long, he turned pale. "This is bad! The beasts of Qiu Long Mountain have been fully mobilized and are heading straight for our sect!"

"What?!"

The Xuanjing Elders quickly scanned the area and their faces turned grim.

"Activate the sect's defensive formation!"

Pandemonium ensued as a deafening roar broke the tense silence. Ferocious third-tier beasts charged toward the sect, their eyes blood-red. Behind them, countless second- and first-tier beasts swarmed in a frenzy.

Panic erupted as cultivators scrambled to protect themselves, trapped within the sect's barrier.

In the midst of this chaos, Jian Xiaolou remained focused on killing Yue Ze. Though his reserves were dwindling, his bag of tricks allowed him to hold on.

"Jian Xiaolou! I will never forgive you for this!" Yue Ze roared, his anger igniting a desperate resolve. He couldn't die here—he wouldn't!

But just as Jian Xiaolou prepared to land the final blow, a familiar squawk broke through the din. Turning her head, she saw Xiao Hei, her loyal myna, swoop into the array and slap Yue Ze's head with its wing.

"Xiao Hei!" she exclaimed, thrilled.

With the bird's interference, Yue Ze became increasingly flustered. Taking advantage of his distraction, Jian Xiaolou summoned all her power for one final strike.

With a deafening crash, Yue Ze's spiritual shield shattered. His meridians ruptured, and his body crumbled into dust.

Yet as the array disintegrated, a wisp of white soul mist escaped. Before she could command Xiao Hei to intercept it, a blue porcelain bottle appeared, capturing Yue Ze's soul and vanishing into a dark cloud above.

Who had taken Yue Ze's soul?

Jian Xiaolou frowned. Though she had technically defeated him, the loose end left her uneasy.