"Xuan Huang!"

Yu Ci gritted his teeth, his thoughts drifting back to the two messages from that individual, as well as his own entrapment in Return Village. That Xuan Huang had indeed provided an abundance of reasons to necessitate his finding. Without delay, Yu Ci inquired:

"Where is it?"

The response came in the form of an image. A light flickered before Yu Ci's eyes, a manifestation of Primordial Qi manipulated by the other party, forming a simple diagram with lines indicating directions—north, south, east, west—and a straightforward path, marked by several nodes.

"You are currently in the Boundary River, a pathway pieced together among hundreds of void corners separated by billions of miles. Confused? Imagine the disparate voids as planks of wood, with Void Rifts acting as rivets linking them. Naturally, bringing together spaces that are not adjacent, or even of different natures, such as the Blood Purgatory Ghost Mansion bordering the Cultivation World, would result in chaos. Thus, the Void Rifts serve as buffers. The Boundary River is the trace left behind by joining these pieces of the Void World, or rather, it's an intermediate zone."

The explanation was remarkably lucid, and Yu Ci understood. However, as simple as the principle sounded, the actual undertaking of such a project was unimaginably colossal. The prowess and mastery over Void Magic possessed by Qu Thunderbolt-Free, capable of accomplishing this feat, were indeed awe-inspiring.

"To sever three thousand worlds, to pierce through the endless void... truly, it is immeasurable Divine Power."

With such significance, the object was as if hidden behind layers of void, and without proper advancement, one might not cross this "river" even in a hundred or a thousand years. Yu Ci sighed but did not forget the pressing matter at hand: "You haven't told me where Xuan Huang is now?"

"It first engaged in fierce battle at the Battle Blood Hall, but was ensnared. Now, with its Primordial Spirit clouded, it has plunged into the Boundary River and is trapped at this location..."

As he spoke, a point on the rudimentary map before Yu Ci glowed, pinpointing Xuan Huang's position.

Yu Ci carefully inquired about the corresponding locations and routes on the map, committing them to memory. Yet, he still had some unresolved questions: "How could Xuan Huang, having the upper hand, have been ensnared?"

"It thought itself cunning, unaware that its opponent had been laying plans for thousands of years. That person trapped it on the Sword Sacrifice Platform, and do you think it was merely to assimilate it? Stripping away Primordial Qi ceaselessly for thousands of years, Xuan Huang's Yang Spirit is now but a sliver of Primordial Spirit. Even if it merges with the sword body's Aura, what good is it? Like a toddler wielding a sledgehammer, it cannot possibly end well. Not to mention, it was tainted during the Demonic Cataclysm..."

"What happened?"

"When the Sword Garden was first established, Master Yuan Dao encountered the Demonic Cataclysm. A millennium of cultivation was reduced to naught. Xuan Huang, worn as a sword by its master, was also tainted while resisting the Demonic Cataclysm, contaminated by the Sky Demon's Evil Qi. However, its Bloodthirsty Qi could pierce the heavens, and with the Yang Spirit cultivated, no evil could invade, hence it was not harmed. But once it ventured out, leaving its body on the Sword Sacrifice Platform, it could no longer be so thoroughly protected. The Sky Demon's Evil Qi invaded, and though it could not control the sword body's Bloodthirsty Qi, it could certainly form a trap, lying in wait for its return... That sliver of Primordial Spirit, once tainted, could not possibly fare well."

Yu Ci fell silent.

In his view, it wasn't that Xuan Huang was entirely unaware. In the Heavenly Dome Sword Pool, it had already expressed ominous premonitions, demonstrating at least some awareness of the initial danger. But as for the latter contamination by Sky Demon's Evil Qi, that was truly uncertain.

The intricacies here were tightly interwoven, leaving no room for fault. Yet the more impeccable the narrative, the clearer the accumulating doubts became, until he could no longer restrain himself: "Senior, with such familiarity with these intricacies, why not assist it?"

"Familiar? It's but a half-cooked acquaintance, half-guessed at best. Ultimately, I am now an outsider... Tell me, young man, do you still think I am Qu Thunderbolt-Free?"

"Uh, no."

Yu Ci also discerned the issue at hand. If it were truly Qu Thunderbolt-Free in person, he would never address Yuandao as "My Lord," nor would he have any reason to conceal his identity. But if this was not Qu Thunderbolt-Free, then who could this person be? He noticed that while this individual addressed Yuandao as "My Lord," they referred to Qu Thunderbolt-Free by name, a discrepancy that seemed emotionally charged, adding to the perplexity.

When he didn't understand, he inquired, "Then, senior, you are..."

"We have met once before, though it's not quite appropriate for me to reveal my identity. You're better off feigning ignorance, young man."

Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.

"..."

Yu Ci fell silent again, his mind racing through the faces he'd encountered, yet no matter how hard he thought, no conclusion came to him. After all, he was merely a minor figure who had just stepped into the Golden Elixir Stage. Even with fortunate encounters with remarkable individuals, he could count them on two hands, and none fit the current situation.

He wasn't afraid of this person hiding something; his concern lay in the fear of being duped in this utter darkness, potentially leading to harm for Xuanhuang and Qu Thunderbolt-Free. After all, the world was rife with well-intentioned actions gone awry, and this enigmatic stranger who had appeared out of nowhere was alarmingly mysterious. His knowledge of Guixu, that usually signifies a bottomless valley in the sea, was particularly unsettling. Consider this: besides Xuanhuang, who was the last person to possess profound insights into the Sword Immortal's Secret domain and even Guixu?

It was the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave!

Yu Ci wasn't one to "think thrice before acting," but the complexity of the current situation necessitated careful deliberation. His silence was also a statement, which the other party clearly understood, yet they had no intention of being forthright:

"Knowing my identity would only cause trouble for both of us. Think of it this way: Xuanhuang is on the brink, the situation is deteriorating, it couldn't get much worse..."

"Where are the Thunderbolt-Free Great Immortals?" Yu Ci replied swiftly, for in such dire circumstances, they were his greatest hope.

"I do not know."

The response was equally succinct.

Yu Ci was taken aback. According to the information he had received from Xuanhuang, Qu Thunderbolt-Free should be recuperating somewhere along the Boundary River. But then again, even if the elder could make a last-minute appearance and turn the tide, what would it change? For Yu Ci, his purpose for entering the Sword Garden was nearly complete, with only Xuanhuang's fate remaining uncertain.

Could Xuanhuang hold on?

With this thought, he gritted his teeth and commanded, "Let's go!"

Having memorized the map, he set off without hesitation, and in less than half a mile, he found a rift leading to the next void and plunged through without a second thought. He dashed through three Void Rifts in succession, the mysterious figure no longer interfering, yet always leaving a trace of their Aura nearby, a reminder of their presence.

Suddenly, upon crossing the fourth Void Rift, Yu Ci traversed the spatial fault line, contemplating his next move when the ground beneath him gave way, and he plummeted downward.

Yu Ci cursed under his breath; this Void Rift was like those in Return Village, opening high above the clouds, with nothing to cling to. Fortunately, he reacted promptly, gathering his energy to lighten his body and quickly deploying the Ghost Yarn Cloud. After a near hundred-zhang fall, he finally managed to arrest his descent.

Standing atop the Ghost Yarn Cloud, Yu Ci spoke irritably, "What a trap! Who would think to place an entrance here..."

"Ah, when charting the course, I forgot that you, young one, have yet to master the art of flying with Manipulating Artifacts."

The speaker didn't even hint at an apology, but then again, Yu Ci was merely speaking in jest. Throughout the journey, within the span of a mere quarter hour, Yu Ci had traversed mountains and forests, crossed deserts, ventured into wastelands, and experienced the capricious shifts of the four seasons—both wondrous and absurd. His resilience had been honed long ago. His complaint was but a whisper against the silence that had grown too prolonged, somewhat unaccustomed.

Yu Ci consulted the map etched in his memory, discerning the direction: "We should head that way..."

"Young one, be cautious."

"Eh?"

No sooner had the warning been issued than Yu Ci also sensed something amiss. In this space where the high and low did not meet, the sky was a clear azure, the horizon boundless, granting an exceptionally wide field of vision. Any disturbance in the distance was instantly visible, and by the same token, so were they to others.

Afar, Sword Light shimmered—a passing Cultivator. Yu Ci's Aura had inadvertently brushed against the stranger's, and a slight chill settled in the air as the other's Aura responded. To discover and be discovered was as simple as that.

"Every realm connected by the Boundary River is sealed off. Beyond the Guixu, it is difficult to gain entry."

Yu Ci understood the implication: the Star Track Sword Realm's barriers could not deter everyone; the core area of the Guixu was already crowded with interlopers. The Sword Light he now observed was one such individual.

This was not unexpected, and Yu Ci was somewhat prepared. He gathered his Qi and reached out with his senses, detecting that the other's Qi was quite formidable, likely at the mid-stage of the Golden Elixir, and their sword control was exceptionally fluid—a clear sign of mastery.

Upon spotting Yu Ci, the Sword Light abruptly altered its course, hurtling towards him like an arrow, swift as lightning, rapidly closing the distance to within ten miles. For a Golden Elixir Cultivator, this was the range at which they could wield Manipulating Artifacts to inflict harm.

Ten miles for a long-range attack, five to gather spirit, three to stabilize form, and one to fight to the death.

This was the general rule of engagement for Golden Elixir Cultivators. It meant that at distances greater than ten miles, one would launch long-range assaults; at five miles, one must fully concentrate, tensing up; within three miles, the tide of victory and defeat becomes clear; and when combat occurs within a one-mile radius, it often escalates into a fight to the bitter end.

The speed of a Golden Elixir Cultivator controlling a sword was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, the distance halved again, with no indication of slowing down.

Yu Ci could distinctly feel the killing intent—a battle was inevitable. At this moment, he pondered, "This is the weightless high sky! Upon the Ghost Yarn Cloud, maneuvers are restricted. How can one advance or retreat?"

With limited ability to move freely, Yu Ci's close-combat sword skills were nearly halved in effectiveness, while the opponent's sword control remained unhindered. This disparity only grew as the opponent, realizing that Yu Ci was relying on the Ghost Yarn Cloud for mobility, closed in to exploit their advantage.

In this moment, Yu Ci's breathing remained steady. He fixed his gaze on the approaching Sword Light, watching as the adversary entered within the one-mile range without signaling any greeting, confirming once more the malevolent intent.

Breath suddenly cut short, but on another level, his authority blazed forth like erupting magma, naturally infusing Yu Ci's blade. As his long sword left its sheath, a sonorous clang resonated.

The Sword Light ahead trembled, then scattered. The Cultivator behind it felt a violent shake of body and spirit, akin to a frog transfixed by a serpent, still bewildered when the sword's gleam swept by, piercing straight into the brain!