Luo Mingyue’s sword slipped downward.
The withered branch in her hand was instantly shattered into powder by the fierce sword qi.
It was simply incapable of containing any sword intent.
Normally, this would be expected.
Because when sword cultivators execute sword techniques, they need to release a massive amount of sword intent.
And swords.
The reason why material quality matters and why swords need to be nurtured is precisely so that the sword can bear that sword intent.
Clearly, the withered branch she had casually snapped off just now was completely unable to bear such sword intent.
That was why it had disintegrated instantly.
Yet Luo Mingyue sank into a deep silence because of the casual remark Jiang Chengan had just uttered.
A blade of grass!
Naturally, it would also be unable to bear sword intent.
Yet why had Senior Sword Spirit said that once one's swordsmanship reached the ultimate realm, even a single blade of grass could sever the sun, moon, and stars? Did that mean.
There was some way to make even grass bear sword intent.
Or perhaps, could she walk a different path?
Sword intent control.
To control sword intent to a degree where not a trace leaked out and it obeyed her every whim—would that make it possible for grass to endure it?
Luo Mingyue fell into deep contemplation.
The sword.
Sword intent.
Grass.
Did there seem to be some invisible thread in her mind suddenly connecting them all together? Seeing Luo Mingyue suddenly standing there looking dazed.
Jiang Chengan was somewhat surprised. He had merely spoken off the cuff, yet had this Luo Mingyue actually comprehended something from it? Was the Inborn Sword Body truly this terrifying? "Senior Sword Spirit."
Luo Mingyue finally snapped out of her daze.
She looked toward the iron sword and hurriedly dropped to her knees again, saying,
"Thank you, Senior Sword Spirit, for your guidance. Mingyue is endlessly grateful."
She had actually comprehended something? Just as he was about to offer a polite remark, another sword talisman shot into the cave.
The iron sword flashed as it re-inserted itself into the scabbard. The sword talisman burned, and within it came the voice of Spirit Sword Peak Master Bai Yue, "Luo Mingyue, since your sword selection is now complete, descend the mountain today."
"Your family has been sending frequent letters for the past half year."
"Urging you to return home."
"This Peak Master grants you a one-month leave. Return immediately before the inner sect grand competition."
The sword talisman burned to ashes.
Inside the cave, a profound silence descended once more.
Luo Mingyue’s brows knitted tightly together.
Why? This matter had been brought forward.
In her previous life, she later learned that her family had indeed sent numerous letters urging her back.
However, Peak Master Bai Yue had always blocked them.
It was not until she broke through to the Golden Core stage that she was finally allowed to descend the mountain and return home.
Then why was she being allowed to return so early in this lifetime?
Jiang Chengan was similarly puzzled.
As a transmigrator, he knew the original plot.
He knew that even in this lifetime, Luo Mingyue was supposed to receive the message to return to her family only after reaching the Golden Core stage.
So why had things turned out like this now?
Could it really be that because of him, the trajectory of the plot had been altered?
"It must be that bitch Bai Nishang meddling behind the scenes," Luo Mingyue said through gritted teeth.
She knew what she had experienced after returning to her family in her previous life.
It had to be Bai Nishang.
Harboring a grudge because her sword manual had been destroyed, she must have orchestrated this so that Luo Mingyue would be forced to return while still in the Foundation Establishment stage.
In her previous life.
Even as a Golden Core cultivator, she had barely managed to escape.
If she went back now at the Foundation Establishment stage, could she possibly expect any favorable outcome?
"Senior Sword Spirit, Mingyue..."
Luo Mingyue had barely begun when Jiang Chengan interrupted her, "You don't want to go back?"
In the original novel.
Luo Mingyue, having learned from her past life after her Rebirth, had chosen not to return to her family.
Yet in the end, she still failed to escape her fate.
Naturally, that was because of Bai Nishang.
Must it be the same now? Furthermore.
He had merely destroyed that sword manual, which counted as twisting the plot.
What if Luo Mingyue returned when she was not supposed to? Would that, too, be considered twisting the plot?
A thought stirred in Jiang Chengan's heart.
That piece of Mica Stone from last night had increased his cultivation quite a bit.
He was not far from breaking through to the Nascent Soul early stage either.
What if a few more pieces came his way? "Yes," Luo Mingyue said with an ugly expression. "Senior, to tell you the truth, if Mingyue returns to the family this time, I am afraid I will never be able to leave again."
With that, Luo Mingyue began to explain to Jiang Chengan, "Mingyue comes from a mortal official's family; my father is an official in the Dawei Dynasty."
"However, Mingyue is merely a concubine-born daughter, and my mother died early, so I receive no regard within the family."
"Moreover, I can more or less guess the purpose behind the family's letter this time."
"What purpose?"
Jiang Chengan asked with a chuckle.
He was quite curious about how Luo Mingyue viewed this matter.
"Zhao Feng, the crown prince of the Dawei Dynasty, has always wanted to take a female immortal as his wife. To be honest, Mingyue even suspects that when the family originally agreed to send me into the immortal cultivation world, it was partly out of a desire to curry favor with Zhao Feng."
"Now that they have suddenly written to summon me back, I am afraid the family..."
At this point, Luo Mingyue took a deep breath.
"I am afraid the family has already promised Mingyue to that Zhao Feng."
"They are just waiting for me to return."
"You are already a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Do they not know this?"
Jiang Chengan was quite surprised.
This was truly something he had never been able to figure out.
A Foundation Establishment cultivator! In the eyes of ordinary mortals, they were practically indistinguishable from immortals.
Yet Luo Mingyue's family was single-mindedly intent on offering her to the crown prince of a mortal dynasty. What kind of logic was that?
"Senior Sword Spirit, you do not understand..."
A flash of sorrow crossed Luo Mingyue's eyes.
"Mingyue is a concubined-born child of the family; I was born lower than them from the start."
"Stop, stop, stop..."
Jiang Chengan interrupted.
"What is your cultivation level?"
"Foundation Establishment," Luo Mingyue replied.
"And what cultivation level do these so-called family members of yours have?"
Jiang Chengan asked again.
"They have no cultivation," Luo Mingyue answered. "At most, the estate might have one or two Qi Condensation retainers."
"Then you tell me, who should be considered lower than whom?"
Jiang Chengan countered.
Luo Mingyue instantly fell silent.
"Go back!"
Jiang Chengan sneered. "I want to see how they plan to bully a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Absolutely laughable."
Luo Mingyue hesitated, wanting to speak further, but Jiang Chengan directly cut her off,
"Don't forget our three-chapter pact."
"You have to listen to me in everything."
Luo Mingyue finally stopped talking.
...
Spirit Sword Hall.
Bai Yue sat upon the throne, leafing through the roster of the peak's members.
"You are saying that Lu Yan has been unreachable all day?"
After closing the roster, Bai Yue looked toward a female disciple in the hall and asked.
"Yes," the female disciple nodded. "This disciple called out outside Junior Brother Lu Yan's cave for a long time, but there was no response at all. He must have already left."
"I also went to inquire at the mountain gate."
"Yet there was no record of Junior Brother Lu Yan leaving."
"It is very strange."
"Very well, I understand."
Bai Yue’s eyes flickered. "By the way, what about Luo Mingyue? Has she left?"
"Senior Sister Mingyue has already left Spirit Sword Peak," the female disciple hurriedly nodded.
"When this disciple was returning to Spirit Sword Peak, I happened to run into Senior Sister Mingyue."
"She had already left with her sword on her back."
"Alright, I know."
"You may withdraw first. Remember to keep this matter confidential."
Bai Yue nodded.
Knowing that the female disciple had already departed, Bai Nishang, who was also sitting in the hall, frowned and spoke, "Mother, do you think it could be Lu Yan?"
"Unclear."
"But for now, the probability of it being him is the highest."
"Of course, everything will have to wait until tonight to be sure."
If that senior did not absorb any sword intent tonight.
Then it would prove that he had truly left.
And it was also highly possible...
That it was Lu Yan.