/
An Lin sat in the stone hall and waited for his other team members.
Xu Xiaolan, Xuanyuan Cheng, Yao Mingxi, Hu Guan, and the slow-in-coming Su Qianyun all walked out of their respective spatial passageways and arrived at the stone hall.
Apart from Hu Guan, who looked to be in a fairly miserable state, the others all looked to be in good condition.
However, even though he was injured, Hu Guan was still in a very positive mood.
Judging by their current circumstances, their team was in a very good position right now.
“Hmm, we’re still missing two people—Tang Ximen and Liu Qianhuan
” An Lin rubbed his chin anxiously.
Of these two people, one appeared very reliable, and the other appeared very unreliable. Truthfully speaking, however, they were both unreliable. It wouldn’t be all that surprising if something weird and outlandish happened in their trials.
“Isn’t Sister Liu of the Half-Step Soul Formation Stage? The hard mode should be a breeze for her to handle. Why is she taking so long?” Tian Lingling was a bit puzzled.
An Lin thought back to the events of the past. “It can’t be that she’s playing games with the creatures inside, right?” he suggested uncertainly.
Everyone drew in a sharp breath. They all recalled the scenes that played out during the Battle for the Holy Grails. This was indeed a possibility!


Atop a bone-strewn black mountain.
Tang Ximen was brandishing the sword in his hands and clashing with a gigantic black dragon.
This black dragon was lizard-like in appearance and had a pair of massive wings on its back. It was especially sly and crafty. After realizing that it couldn’t defeat Tang Ximen, it started employing guerrilla tactics and using a hit-and-run strategy.
This black dragon kept running away!
Boom!
A column of scorching flames once again lit the sky red.
Tang Ximen sliced these flames apart, yet found that the black dragon was fleeing into the distance once again.
“If you’ve got the balls, then stop fleeing! You don’t even have the courage to face me head-on, what kind of cowardly dragon are you?!”
He roared loudly and continued chasing after the dragon.
“You have a sword, and I don’t. This isn’t fair!” the black dragon howled.
Tang Ximen grimaced. “Then I’ll give you a sword!”
The black dragon turned around and humphed coldly. “I don’t know how to wield swords.”
“Then what on earth do you want?” Tang Ximen hissed through gritted teeth.
“Put away your sword and brawl with me.”
Tang Ximen: “
”
He looked at the dragon as if it was a f*cktard.
The dragon replied with a blistering breath of flame.


In a realm that appeared distorted with color and bizarre and motley.
Under the effects of the hell-mode difficulty, the sky started to become strange and uncanny.
Viscous, illusory colors started to converge slowly, eventually forming into a semi-transparent skeleton which was shrouded in a green cloak.
A powerful and terrifying aura swept through the surroundings, and a flame sparked to life in the skeleton’s empty and dull eye sockets. The crimson scythe in its hand further emitted waves of sanguinary aura.
In a dimly lit space, a bald male instantly became excited upon seeing this skeleton.
The being formed by the hell-mode Void Spirit Tribe trial was a Void Spirit King which possessed a physical spirit body.
This Void Spirit King was immune to all physical and vital energy attacks, and the only thing that could injure it was the power of divine senses. It was a semi-invincible being.
Even cultivators of the Soul Formation Stage would have great difficulty defeating such a being, let alone cultivators of the Half-Step Soul Formation Stage.
Humph! The trials are too easy? The trials are like a walk through the amusement park?
At least
 At least this trial isn’t like that!
The bald male was extremely moved as he watched the battle on the screen. At least this battle could help him save some face.
Liu Qianhuan gazed at the semi-transparent skeleton before her. She shut her eyes lightly and sucked in a deep breath.
“Such a familiar smell. This is the aura. I hope that you don’t disappoint me
”
She opened her eyes, and the facetiousness and frivolity had already disappeared from them. All that was left was a bone-chilling glare.
Her storage ring flashed, and a blue sword appeared in her hands.
At this moment, her expression was focused and proud. She appeared like a peerless female Sword Immortal.
She never used any swords. Apart from that one time during the battle of true intent at the Dao Exchange Conference of the Four Powers where she didn’t want to drag her teammates down, no one had ever seen her use swords.
No one knew why she resented using swords so much. She was clearly much more powerful when wielding swords, yet she refused to use them. Only she knew of the intense guilt that welled up inside her whenever she used swords

This feeling of intense guilt could only be slightly diminished when she slaughtered members of the Void Spirit Tribe.
The Void Spirit King’s body suddenly distorted and disappeared. In the next instant, it materialized behind Liu Qianhuan. Its crimson scythe drew out a deadly red arc and sliced toward Liu Qianhuan’s slender neck.
“Too slow
” Liu Qianhuan whispered softly.
Golden symbols shimmered under her feet, and her body instantly flashed to the Void Spirit King’s side. Her blue sword traveled even faster as it slashed down toward the Void Spirit King!
Rip!
Her sword was like a shadow, and it instantly ripped a large gash into the Void Spirit King’s body.
“Ahhh!” The Void Spirit King, who had remained silent this entire time, suddenly started howling in agony.
The area where it had been wounded was evaporating like mist!
The bald male’s eyes bulged in disbelief.
The Void Spirit King got wounded? How is this possible?!
This female clearly didn’t utilize the power of her divine sense! Why is she able to injure spirit bodies?
For some reason, his shocked gaze drifted to the faint blue sword in Liu Qianhuan’s hands. Then, his pupils contracted.
Could it be because of this sword
?
Liu Qianhuan walked toward the Void Spirit King slowly. As if sensing a long-forgotten battle intent, her faint blue sword became excited and started quivering slightly.
Her sword was called the Great Ice Sword, and it could slay all demons and monsters.


“Mommy, mommy
 Look, I can already release sword intent!”
Amid an ancient sword forest, a little girl with short black hair shouted excitedly as she tugged on a female’s hand.
The female rubbed the little girl’s head lovingly. “Huan Huan, nicely done. But remember, don’t become too conceited! Right now, you’ve only broken the Kingdom of the Nine States’ record for being the youngest to release sword intent. You have to realize that there’s always someone better than you
”
“M-hm
 Mommy, I know that I’m the best in the Kingdom of the Nine States. I won’t become conceited.” She nodded her head like a little chick pecking at rice. Her large purple eyes blinked rapidly, and she appeared extremely adorable.
Female: “
”
The female felt that something was amiss. However, that didn’t matter. Everything was fine as long as her daughter was happy.
Huan Huan possessed an Ancient Sword Dao Physique, and she was a one-in-ten-thousand-year prodigy of the sect. Even though she was still young, her name had already spread throughout the entire sect. Some disciples even joked that she was the small sect leader. M-hm, her father was the real sect leader.
“Mommy
 practice sword techniques with me!” the little girl shouted enthusiastically. “I want you to witness my sword intent which is number one in the Kingdom of the Nine States!”
“Okay
 Fine, I’ll check out Huan Huan’s sword intent,” the female chuckled warmly. The little girl’s sweet and adorable smile was reflected in her beautiful eyes.


Time flew by.
Huan Huan had already turned ten.
She could enter the sect’s sword forest to seek her destined weapon now.
“Huan Huan, remember to maintain a clear mind after you enter. Only by doing so will an ancient sword choose you,” the female held onto the little girl’s hand and reminded her gently.
“Mommy, I know.” The little girl was smiling broadly as she walked to the center of the sword forest. She sliced open her soft and tender fingertip and let a drop of her blood essence into the air. Then, she shut her eyes.
Instantly, countless swords resonated together, and a brilliant light burst forth from the sword monument.
All the swords started quivering, and it was as though they were screaming: “Choose me! Choose me!”
The female was a bit dazed as she looked at the scene before her. “This is the effect of the Ancient Sword Dao Physique?” she murmured softly. “No
 I should say, this is Huan Huan’s natural endowment?”
“Hmm, this sword is too big

“This sword is too slender! Is it a toothpick?
“This sword is too ugly, I don’t like it.
“Hmm? This is one of the sect’s ten most famous swords! It’s too old-fashioned

“Sob
 Are there any pink swords?”


Just like that, it turned into Huan Huan casually looking for a destined weapon when it should’ve been the swords acknowledging and choosing Huan Huan.
As she strolled through the sword forest, every single sword was quivering lightly. Whenever she gestured with her small hands, a sword would fly before her excitedly and obediently.
However, to the female’s shocked surprise, the little girl wasn’t satisfied with a single one of the swords.
“Huan Huan
 why don’t you have another look? The Ten Famed Swords of our sect are made out of the most top-notch materials of this entire continent. If they’re nurtured properly, they can ascend to become immortal weapons! In fact, under the nurturing of your Ancient Sword Dao Physique, perhaps they can ascend to the level of the legendary divine weapons!”
“Mommy, I don’t want them!” the little girl sobbed. “They’re all too ugly! I saw a sword in the Divine Sword Register that I really like. It also suits my physique very well. Why don’t we go and refine that sword
”
“Are you referring to the Great Ice Sword? But it’s at
”
“I’ve decided on that sword already! I’m the number one swordsman in the Kingdom of the Nine States! Only this sword can match my disposition! Mommy, you’re the best, please help me get this sword!”
“Ah
 fine. Let’s head to the Void Spirit Realm then.”
[0] Nickname for Liu Qianhuan.