C38 Pure Tao Heart

After being cast into the Thousand Feet Illusion by the system, there was no further communication. Who was that enigmatic man? The intricate runes on his attire suggested he might be a formidable Talisman Cultivator.

"It's quite peculiar that you're a Sword Cultivator. How did one such as yourself manage to enter my Thousand Feet Illusion?" The mysterious man materialized before Jiang Su again, fixing him with an unblinking gaze.

"Let's put that aside; your Tao Heart has been demonstrated. Possessing such a pure Tao Heart, you're bound to make significant strides as a Talisman Cultivator."

Jiang Su arched an eyebrow. This man was certainly a Talisman Cultivator of great prowess. Yet, it seemed he was ensnared within this illusion. What could have led to his entrapment?

"Senior, greetings. Might you know how I can exit this illusion?"

At the moment, Jiang Su was unable to reach the system. He surmised that something within the illusion was restricting the system's capabilities. Having completed his check-in, he had no choice but to seek this senior's assistance to depart.

"It's quite straightforward. I control this illusion. Should I decide to release you, you're free to go."

Jiang Su offered a respectful bow and pleaded, "Senior, I implore you to let me leave. There are urgent matters I must attend to."

He needed to get back to his reading, or he'd fail to fulfill the task set by Wen Shu and Elder Chiu Yue.

The mysterious man gave Jiang Su a cursory look and responded, "I'm afraid it's not that simple. I can't just let you walk away. However, defeat me, and you'll earn your freedom."

Jiang Su could feel the immense power radiating from the man, whose cultivation level was surely at the Nascent Infant Stage, if not higher.

"Senior, jesting with me is one thing, but to make such an unreasonable demand is quite another."

Upon hearing this, the mysterious man's eyes narrowed. He unleashed a burst of energy, launching a palm strike at Jiang Su.

Jiang Su's senses sharpened as he detected the surge of spiritual energy. With a swift execution of Shadowless Step, he evaded the blow, leaving no trace in the snow.

The man was taken aback, recognizing the demonic Shadowless Step technique.

"You're quite skilled. To have mastered Shadowless Step to such a degree at the Qi Sensing Stage is impressive. I initially thought my Thousand Feet Illusion had erred in allowing you entry, but your aptitude has truly caught my attention."

The mysterious man's hand traced a writing motion in the air, a faint golden glow shimmering into existence. Golden threads spilled forth from his fingertips, weaving a net that rapidly expanded in all directions, solidifying into a golden magical array. It burst forth with a potent force in the blink of an eye. From within the golden array, over a hundred swords sprang forth, hurtling straight toward Jiang Su.

Jiang Su's brow furrowed. This elder was quite the enigma. Moments ago, he had spoken with admiration for Jiang Su, yet he followed it with an immediate and fierce assault.

No longer could Jiang Su afford to conceal his true power. In his mind, he called forth the sword of Senior Chen Pingsheng!

With the twelfth technique of the Taiqing Sword Technique, the Divine Sense Condensed Sword, he took action. In front of Jiang Su, myriad sword shadows coalesced, clashing with the mysterious man's volley, and incredibly, shattered every single one!

The sword of a true master is formidable indeed. Jiang Su's success in breaking the mysterious man's swords was owed to his possession of a Celestial Spiritual Root and the potent spiritual force coursing through him. It was this force that enabled him to execute the strike successfully and fend off the mysterious man's onslaught.

At the unsheathing of Jiang Su's sword, the mysterious man's face turned ashen.

"Who are you in relation to Chen Pingsheng? Where did you obtain this sword? How were you able to draw it?" the mysterious man demanded loudly.

Jiang Su had no ties to Chen Pingsheng. The rapid shift in the mysterious man's demeanor suggested a possible vendetta against the Sword Immortal.

Putting some distance between himself and the mysterious man, Jiang Su clarified, "I have no connection to Chen Pingsheng. My name is Jiang Su, the Head Disciple of Elder Chiu Yue of the First Devil Sect. This sword was a gift from my Martial Uncle. It just so happens that I could draw it."

Jiang Su had a hunch about the peculiar nature of the Thousand Feet Illusion. He surmised that the mysterious man was trapped within it, much like the Golden Dragon. Hence, Jiang Su saw no need to conceal his true identity. His alias, Jiang Hee, was a spur-of-the-moment creation, less fitting than his real name.

Upon hearing Jiang Su's explanation, the mysterious man's expression softened. He studied Jiang Su and inquired, "The sword technique you just employed, was it the twelfth move of the Taiqing Sword Manual, Divine Sense Condensed Sword? You're merely at the Qi Sensing Stage, yet you've managed to wield a technique that only Nascent Infant Stage Experts should be capable of. No wonder you were able to draw that sword."

A gust of snow assailed the two standing atop the illusion, with flakes fluttering down from the heavens, settling on their shoulders and lowering the atmospheric pressure of the entire mirage.

It was clear that the enigmatic man was behind this.

"I recall the Great Elder of the First Devil Sect wasn't named Chiu Yue," he mused, as if piecing together a distant memory. "Pingsheng parting with one of his swords? Unthinkable. He cherished them deeply. Could it be that Pingsheng's life-saver bestowed this blade upon the young man?"

His face was etched with confusion. Though he appeared to be Jiang Su's contemporary, his aura was one of profound maturity, suggesting he had lived for centuries.

Jiang Su's keen hearing picked up the mysterious man's words, stirring a sense of bewilderment within him. Senior Chen Pingsheng had ascended, leaving his swords in the Lower Realm, and now, those with the means could claim them, their success hinging on destiny and fortune.

The mysterious man bowed his head, lost in thought, seemingly oblivious to Jiang Su's presence. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, he looked up sharply and inquired, "Where is Chen Pingsheng? Did the one who gave you the sword share any details about him? By now, he might well be an Immortal Sovereign. I'm eager to glimpse his current form."

It dawned on Jiang Su that this stranger had indeed lived for millennia, his memories frozen in the era just before Senior Chen Pingsheng's eminent rise in the Cultivation World.

Who was this enigmatic figure?

"Senior, it is with regret that I inform you, Senior Chen Pingsheng has ascended, and it has been a millennium since. The Cultivation World you recall has transformed," Jiang Su conveyed with a touch of solemnity.

Upon hearing this, a shadow passed over the man's eyes, and he offered Jiang Su a wistful smile. "I see. I'm the one who's outdated. He has ascended, and that's wonderful. He achieved what he desired, fulfilled his dreams. It seems I'm the sole survivor of our era, still confined to this realm."

He then added, "By the way, I am Shangguan Yue, a Talisman Cultivator. You can simply call me Yue."

Upon hearing his words, Jiang Su felt a jolt of shock.

Shangguan Yue... Wasn't that the lifelong best friend of Senior Chen Pingsheng?