The Legend

2. Echoes of The Swords Master

Time flew by, and seven years passed in a flash.

In the early morning, Linfen ran through the woods, panting heavily. Cold sweat soaked his back as he stared intently at the figure ahead, trying his best to keep up. Although his feet were covered in fine blisters, he gritted his teeth and focused tightly on the person ahead.

"Linfen, hurry up! Are you a snail? You're way too slow!" Gaiyu shouted coldly.

Linfen didn't answer, but the resolute look in his eyes spoke volumes about his inner thoughts! At that moment, he was like a cheetah, staring intently ahead, resolute and stubborn. In seven years, he had long since learned that whenever his body reached its most exhausted state, that was the moment to push his limits.

Clenching his teeth, he willed his small figure to closely follow Gaiyu's figure ahead, cold sweat pouring down his face. However, he did not utter a sound. His innate perseverance allowed him to grit his teeth and persevere to the end no matter what he encountered.

Gaiyu looked at the small, frail figure behind him, a slight smile appearing on his lips. Even someone as demanding as him couldn't find a single fault. Clearly, the child's performance greatly pleased him. "Linfen, that's enough for today's training. You're still young, so make sure you get some rest." 

Linfen nodded earnestly, but a hint of sadness flickered deep in his eyes. "Uncle Gaiyu, why can't I gather my mental energy? Is it because I haven't been practicing hard enough?"

Gaiyu's breath hitched, and he was momentarily stunned, a bitter expression appearing on his cold face. Gaiyu frowned and sighed softly. Linfen had been exceptionally well-behaved since he was old enough to understand, and he was also very diligent in his cultivation, but for some reason, he was completely unable to sense the potential spiritual power within his body.

For cultivators, mental power was the most basic source of power, but now Linfen was completely cut off from this mental power. Thinking of the facts he had discovered a few days ago, Gaiyu's long-unchanging expression became extremely heavy.

"Linfen, it's not that you don't practice hard. I've seen all the effort you've put in. You must always believe that although hard work doesn't always guarantee a reward, if you don't even try, you'll definitely achieve nothing! So what if you can't use your mental power? I believe that through hard work, you're definitely no weaker than anyone else!"

Linfen nodded emphatically, his young figure casting a long shadow in the sunlight. His small, pink fists clenched tightly, a resolute look flashing in her eyes. He silently proclaimed to himself. "I won't be weaker than anyone else! I still have a body, and even without so-called mental power, I will become stronger!" 

"Linfen, you must remember one thing: if you spend the same amount of time cultivating as others and don't achieve the same results, then you must double your cultivation, even if it's ten times or a hundred times, you must persevere. There is no such thing as instant success on the path of cultivation, never let yourself defeat you! As a cultivator, the greatest enemy you face is yourself. Only by seeing your true self can you move forward without hesitation!" Gaiyu spoke in a deep voice, his expression solemn. His words, like the morning bell and evening drum, resonated in Linfen's heart, bringing Linfen's previously confused mind back to its senses! 

After hearing Gaiyu's words, a determined light flashed in Linfen's eyes.

Gaiyu patted Linfen's shoulder and said softly, "Little Linfen, go back and rest now! You should wait until you're older before increasing the intensity of your training. Right now is the time for you to focus on your growth!"

"Uncle, I'm going to cultivate now, and grow up stronger." The childish voice revealed a determined spirit. Linfen skipped and hopped away into the distance. 

Watching Linfen disappear into the distance, Gaiyu shook his head helplessly. Suddenly, his expression changed, then turned extremely gloomy, and his aura fluctuated violently! Hearing the constant whooshing sounds around him, he suddenly stopped, his face darkening and turning icy cold!

A series of gusts of wind, accompanied by distinctive sonic booms, rang in Gaiyu's ears as twenty or thirty men in black appeared like a swarm of locusts. Gaiyu's eyes narrowed; judging from the aura they exuded, none of them were weaklings, and his expression immediately turned grim.

"Has the once mighty Sword Master fallen to such a state? Haha..." The leader of the men in black said indifferently with a hint of mockery.

"You people are really persistent. If I hadn't been harmed by your treacherous schemes, I wouldn't have been able to let you lowly minions spout such nonsense here, humph!"

The leader of the men in black couldn't help but smirk, then his eyes turned cold, and a ripple of psychic energy suddenly erupted from his body. A low growl quietly rang out, and the muffled sonic boom made his face look ferocious and terrifying. "No matter what, you cannot escape your fate today. Let us send you to the afterlife."

The smile on the man in black's face gradually widened, but at that moment, his smile froze, as if he had seen a ghost. His eyes were filled with disbelief, and at the same time, the deepest fear hidden in his heart also emerged!

"No, this can't be, this can't be real!" The man in black suddenly yelled, his throat dry, as if someone were choking him, his face already flushed red. His body trembled slightly, and a chill suddenly rose from the soles of his feet and shot straight to his head.

"Even if my soul is restricted, have you forgotten my other identity?" Gaiyu's lips curled into a cold smile, which the men in black saw as the smile of a devil, a death knell that would bring them death.

The thirty-odd people surrounding Gaiyu couldn't help but take a few steps back. Even though his cultivation was restricted, the person in front of them was still the same ancient sword master who used to strike fear into everyone's hearts. He could move through the army with his three swords, as if he were in an empty field.

"The enforcement officers are really getting more and more arrogant, actually here to find me? Here I am now, so why are you afraid?" Gaiyu, dressed in snow-white robe, had sword-like eyebrows that radiated endless light. 

A vast and powerful mental force slowly erupted from his body, its immense intensity causing the black-clad man opposite him to change his expression drastically. He immediately retreated, signaled others, ahd a black light burst forth from their bodies. The black lines intertwined to form a massive black net, completely blocking Gaiyu's escape route. 

Killing intent filled the sky, and the combined mental power of more than thirty people caused a terrifying shockwave to rise into the sky. The wind and clouds changed color, and even the clouds seemed to weaken. The black net spread across the sky, pressing down on Gaiyu with its powerful aura.

"The Heavenly Net, is it? Too bad, with your cultivation level alone, how much power can you unleash? This level of attack poses no threat to me whatsoever!" A brilliant sword light suddenly burst forth from Gaiyu's hand, and a sharp sword intent filled the sky. "I hope you'll learn something wise in your afterlife. Never forget who I am."

Behind Gaiyu, it was as if there was a world of swords, with sword energy bursting out from a barrier behind him.

A rain of swords instantly enveloped the men in black, their screams echoing. They hadn't even had time to react before being overwhelmed by the sword barrage. The gushing blood formed a swirling, bloody mist, truly resembling a hellish inferno. 

The Chaotic Profound Sword Domain was indeed terrifying...

Screams echoed continuously, and dazzling sword light attacked from who-knows-where. The sword energy could be clearly seen moving in and out of the black-clad man, leaving trails of blood mist.

The sword intent surged forth, and the thirty-odd men in black were powerless to resist. In an instant, they were engulfed by the sword intent and pierced by the sword energy. The sharp sword light, carrying an unparalleled momentum, instantly filled the sky. The dim yellow night, with a few bright stars, made this place seem somewhat eerie and strange.

In a corner unnoticed by Gaiyu, Linfen's eyes flashed with fear. His body trembled, and his face was as pale as flint. He had just returned, and felt an overwhelming sense of nausea upon seeing this bloody scene. Trembling, he revealed himself from his hiding place and looked at Gaiyu, whose snow-white robes were stained with blood. He couldn't help but feel a trace of fear. At this moment, Gaiyu felt so unfamiliar to him.

"Uncle Gaiyu?" His icy expression carried an otherworldly indifference, and his snow-white robes, stained crimson, appeared somewhat eerie in the twilight sunlight. Beneath the sword tip, dripping blood created a series of piercing sounds, so jarring in the quiet night. 

The timid voice interrupted Gaiyu's thoughts as he stood there. Looking at Linfen, whose face was as pale as paper, he sighed softly, a complex expression appearing in his eyes.