The frugal sword-cultivator player scrimped and saved until she finally accumulated enough points for a three-day trip for two in the cultivation world.
Mu Anqi had offered to cover some points for her, but supported points would be heavily taxed by the Nirvana Space, and Xia Yun felt it wasn't worth it. Besides, she didn't have high demand for items or equipment lately. Under He Guxia's personal guidance, she'd been diligently practicing sword techniques, improving her own abilities, and focusing all her energy on her life-bound sword. Because the life-bound sword was a skill, Xia Yun didn't need to bankrupt herself forging a treasure sword like the sword cultivators of He Guxia's original world had to. Naturally, she saved a large amount of points.
As for why it was a three-day trip instead of seven, the points restriction was one thing; the other was that He Guxia said she no longer had any deep obsession with that world—she just wanted to return to take a look at how it had developed. Even though worlds created by the Nirvana Space couldn't affect the real world, He Guxia still wanted to fulfill one old wish—and that would only take a single day.
The three-day trip was so the master could take her young disciple to see the plane she once lived in, to let her see the environment and powers of cultivators, and even better if Xia Yun could spar with the cultivators of that world.
The Shattered Mirror Continent had set up many games for players, and they could gain experience in these games as well. If Xia Yun had been born in a cultivation world and become He Guxia's disciple, He Guxia would have taken her to challenge one sect after another: first, to train Xia Yun's combat ability and shape an invincible heart; second, because it conveniently allowed her to silently brag to others that she had taken in a disciple with an innate sword heart. Truly a perfect combination.
And Xia Yun herself? She had long yearned for the cultivation world—especially after witnessing He Guxia in the Bliss Banquet, breaking through the illusion and striking down the thunder dragon. Her curiosity and yearning had reached their peak.
...
After spending an extra amount of points to lock onto a parallel world of the cultivation plane where He Guxia had once lived, Xia Yun excitedly activated the teleportation.
The familiar weightlessness came. When she opened her eyes again, it was an open wilderness. Xia Yun looked at the grassland in mild surprise, then turned to He Guxia.
Master stared coldly at the sky. After sensing the spiritual energy of this world, she sighed softly. "As expected, no one has broken through the barrier yet?"
Xia Yun knew how He Guxia had died. She spoke softly, "Master will be breaking it soon anyway, and we don't know the time here—what if this is… before that?"
He Guxia nodded slightly. She raised her hand and waved. Her longsword appeared and enlarged. Taking Xia Yun with her, she flew on the sword and quickly found a city to land in.
He Guxia was now a ghost, but her sword-cultivator heart had never changed. Her aura was restrained, and with her cold expression as she stepped off the sword, neither passing cultivators nor travelers found anything suspicious.
Xia Yun went to ask about the time. It turned out this was already five hundred years after He Guxia's death.
"Five hundred years…" He Guxia paused in thought. Given the temperaments of the people from her sect in life, many old friends and senior brothers should still be alive. After all, only five hundred years had passed. After her death, none of them would have rashly attempted ascension—they mostly didn't have the talent anyway.
"Come, I'll take you around." He Guxia had already decided that she would meet this world's lightning tribulation and "immortals" on the final day. Yu Chuhan's illusion was good, but still only an illusion. And although this was not the original world, parallel worlds shared the same circumstances—it would allow her to finish things properly. Since she planned to go wild on the last day, she naturally had to let her little disciple have fun during the earlier days.
Sword cultivators flying on swords had no need to waste points on teleportation functions. He Guxia was originally from this world; after a moment of thought, she took Xia Yun straight to several unremarkable deep mountains. Entering without a word, she swung her sword and broke several layers of formations. Xia Yun then saw the "sects" hidden within the mountains.
He Guxia didn't explain anything. She simply defeated the guards who rushed up to block them, strolling in as if through a garden. She raided their storerooms, taking storage rings and spirit stones, and casually knocked down several furious elders who arrived moments later, not even giving them the chance to threaten her, before taking Xia Yun soaring away.
"It's an evil cultivator organization, fond of doing shady things. I came to this base once when I first emerged into the world—didn't expect it to still be here." He Guxia explained with a hint of emotion. She had thought she'd need to travel to several places, yet unexpectedly obtained spirit stones so easily.
Well, more than six hundred years had passed, right? Who could have predicted that the sword cultivator who stumbled upon this place six hundred years ago would come again? It was impressive they still existed after so many years.
With enough spirit stones, He Guxia took Xia Yun to the finest cultivator restaurant for a feast. In one meal, they spent half of the stolen spirit stones. Luxurious restaurants like these were places He Guxia had never stepped into during her lifetime. After all, every pure sword cultivator lived with "sleeves emptied by the wind."
After enjoying themselves, He Guxia made a slight disguise, then brought Xia Yun directly back to the sword sect she had originally belonged to. Outside the mountain gate, she immediately sent a strike of sword energy at the sect's special challenge artifact.
A sharp buzzing echoed across the mountain ranges. Within a few breaths, sword sect disciples and protectors quickly arrived.
"Everyone, my disciple possesses the Sword Heart constitution and has now achieved great mastery in cultivation. I hope the sword sect's eldest disciple will not hesitate to offer guidance."
Xia Yun: ?
Still feeling stuffed from the big meal, Xia Yun was dumbfounded. This was what Master meant by "taking her to have some fun"? Ah, well… if sparring with sword techniques counted as entertainment for sword cultivators, it wasn't exactly wrong.
Xia Yun bowed. "I ask all seniors for your guidance!"
"A natural Sword Heart?"
"Someone's come to challenge the sect again, and directly named the eldest disciple?"
"But every peak has an eldest disciple. Which one is she looking to fight…"
"Of course it's Senior Sister! The sect master's personal disciple, leader of the younger generation in all the peaks! If she claims to have a natural Sword Heart, Senior Sister naturally must be the one to educate her."
"…But I can't see her cultivation. Having Senior Sister take action seems like giving her too much face, doesn't it?"
The crowd buzzed with excitement. The protector did not respond immediately—he paused, as if receiving a transmission, then stepped aside and said, "The two of you, please come."
...
Xia Yun couldn't help glancing back at He Guxia, only to see her master calm and expressionless. Xia Yun sighed inwardly. She was a player—she wasn't even a real cultivator—and Master actually had her come and challenge the sect… Though it wasn't like she couldn't fight, but could she really win?
Nervously stepping onto the arena, she watched as a handsome young man leapt up to the platform. Xia Yun froze for a moment. From what she had heard earlier, the strongest of the younger generation should have been the "Senior Sister," a young woman.
"I am Xu Zuosheng, chief disciple of the Reverend Feiyi. I humbly request your guidance, young lady."
"…I am Xia Yun. Please advise." Xia Yun returned the salute properly, her life-bound sword appearing in her hand with a thought. It wasn't that she didn't want to state her sect—judging from He Guxia's disguise, she clearly didn't want to reveal her identity. After all, for someone long dead to reappear—even in a parallel world—would be hard to explain.
Blocking out the chatter below, she swung her sword, focusing her breath.
The instant the match began, the skill "Sword Array" activated instantly. The dense rain of falling swords, when colliding with Senior Brother Xu's sword, would erupt with a shockwave—this was the special effect added to the skill after being enhanced by her life-bound sword's passive "Sword Dao," upgraded through accumulation.
When the shockwave burst forth, the Sword Array's slow effect activated. Xia Yun's movement flickered; her sword shadow swayed like drifting petals—soft and wavering, hiding its sharpness. Only when Xu Zuosheng sensed something wrong and tried to pull away did she abruptly change techniques. Her life-bound sword flew from her hand, striking straight toward his vital point.
With a metallic clang, Xu Zuosheng reversed his grip to block, but the impact forced him back a step. At that momentary opening, Xia Yun instantly unleashed the skill "Heavy Strike." Without any stiffness or pause, the thrust pierced into his chest and abdomen! The stacking of the single-target "Vulnerability" debuff directly made him lose combat capability. Xia Yun did not follow up with another blow; instead, imitating He Guxia's usual manner, she stood calmly at the center of the platform and gave a slight nod. "Thank you for letting me win."
After such an easy victory, Xia Yun couldn't help thinking: So this generation of sword cultivators is only like this? They really are all youngsters.
Xu Zuosheng was helped off the stage for treatment, embarrassment burning across his face. He had underestimated her because she looked so young and hadn't used his full strength at first. Who knew that one slip would lead to outright defeat, not even half of his ability displayed? The sword in her hand was strange as well—he couldn't determine its grade, yet it was terrifyingly sharp. Every time his sword crossed hers, he was shaken back… And that Sword Array—he never saw her separate her sword! After being struck by the array, his body felt heavier, and his movement less agile—
As he was pondering this, another senior brother from a different peak stepped onto the platform. He could only watch as Xia Yun used the same sword techniques, the same method, and defeated that senior brother just as cleanly.
—Truly uncanny.
"No need to keep probing. Let the most outstanding disciple of this generation come," He Guxia said calmly. "For sword cultivators, sparring with the strong is only beneficial." She looked toward an elder seated on a high platform. The elder met her gaze, then waved his hand. "Call Chu Dongyu."
"Master!" Before the words had fully fallen, a young girl hurried over. It was rare to have someone challenge the sect. Though she was obsessed with sword practice, she had heard the commotion. Now that the senior brothers of other peaks had fallen one after another, how could she remain still?
"I cannot discern Miss' cultivation level, but judging from your swordsmanship, you must have had a brilliant teacher. To spar with you today is truly a blessing." Landing lightly onto the platform, she saluted with her sword. "I am Chu Dongyu. Please."
"Please!"
Sword force surged like a storm. At the very start, the sharp aura swept toward her. Xia Yun dodged on instinct, yet still lost a strand of hair. She didn't even have time to react before the next slash of sword energy followed.
As swift as wind, as relentless as the sea—her sword strikes were rapid, fierce, and unending. From the moment the first sword aura appeared, Xia Yun was forced into a panicked dodge. By the second and third auras, she could only defend passively. Chu Dongyu's sword techniques entangled their opponent mercilessly—each slash faster and sharper than the last, like waves crashing one after another. Block one, and a dozen followed.
This was sword force and sword technique. It was also what Xia Yun had never managed to comprehend.
She was forced into constant defense. Without the strength of her life-bound sword, she might have already been knocked from the stage. Just as Xia Yun began doubting if she could win, an image flashed through her mind—her master, bloodied all over, charging into the sky to face heavenly tribulation head-on. Perhaps she didn't know how to shape her own sword force yet, but that strike that slayed the "dragon" on that day was deeply carved into her mind.
Another blade of sword aura tore her clothing, but instead of growing more anxious, Xia Yun suddenly calmed.
"…" A slash cut her arm. Xia Yun barely dodged the strike aimed at her throat. Her life-bound sword flew from her hand, guided by her will, darting forward like a roaming dragon, threading through gaps in Chu Dongyu's sword aura.
Chu Dongyu's sword technique shifted. She had watched the earlier matches and knew how dangerous Xia Yun's life-bound sword was. She hadn't intended to take it head-on, but Xia Yun was managing to control her sword even under such fierce pressure. With no choice, Chu Dongyu raised her sword to block—
Shockwave Passive!
A player's skills were just that domineering. It didn't matter whether the opponent was a cultivator or what grade their artifact was—whatever effect the skill description stated, it would trigger 100%!
Chu Dongyu was already on guard, yet under the shockwave she still staggered back several steps! Having avoided the sword aura, Xia Yun immediately cast Sword Array.
Another combo of slow plus shockwave! Xia Yun moved in instantly, stepping into the Sword Array's area. Her life-bound sword flew back into her hand; she tossed it aside, and with a thought, the sword hovered in the air and split—one into two, two into four—this was He Guxia's signature sword formation technique!
"Go!" Xia Yun's ability was limited, and she could only split her sword shadows into fewer than a hundred, but it didn't matter. She had already trapped Chu Dongyu using the skill, and Chu Dongyu naturally could not escape the range. As the Sword Array descended, Xia Yun activated Heavy Strike—the life-bound sword shot forward, clashing heavily with Chu Dongyu's weapon. A wave of energy rippled outward; the life-bound sword was completely unharmed, while Chu Dongyu's longsword—under her full-force defense—now bore several cracks.
"This sword—" Her exclamation hadn't yet fully left her lips when she was swallowed by the Sword Array. Xia Yun stepped forward in a flash; with a shift of intention, her life-bound sword moved like her own heart and hand. In an instant, she seized Chu Dongyu's opening and flicked the weapon from her grasp—
"Thank you for letting me win."
"…Yes, Miss, you are formidable." Chu Dongyu still looked stunned. Seeing the cracks in her weapon, she walked down the stage in frustration.
"Wait—Miss Xia Yun, who taught you this sword technique?" the sect master asked, face solemn as he stepped forward. He then looked at He Guxia standing beside her. "This senior… may I know how to address you?"
He Guxia only let out a soft laugh, flicked two storage rings into Chu Dongyu's arms, grabbed Xia Yun by the collar, and vanished. The sect master, elders, and protectors couldn't even react before she disappeared from the sword sect—leaving behind only that fleeting, airy laugh.
"…Master, I only won because of my skills and the life-bound sword's traits. I must have embarrassed you." Xia Yun had won, but she didn't feel particularly excited.
"That is still your ability. Practice your sword moves more in the future." He Guxia didn't mind at all. After all, how long had Xia Yun been practicing sword techniques since becoming a player? Cultivators in a sect trained from childhood. If one sought absolute fairness, there would be no comparison at all.
Xia Yun let out a breath of relief and secretly vowed to practice diligently once they returned! She glanced at the direction they were flying and couldn't help asking, "Where are we going now?"
"To challenge the Music Sect." He Guxia's tone was exceptionally calm.
Xia Yun: "…?!"
For a moment, Xia Yun truly felt she was nothing but an ordinary, disposable sect-challenging tool.
...
For three full days, the master and disciple stirred up a frenzy across the cultivation world with their nonstop sect challenges. Everyone speculated about their origins, wondered who their teachers were. Some even offered hundreds of thousands of spirit stones as a bounty—yet still, no information surfaced. The two seemed to have appeared out of thin air!
But Xia Yun and He Guxia didn't think that much about it. Xia Yun was tired at first, but after discovering that every sect and every cultivator fought differently, she gained a massive amount of experience. And with the tour voucher being so expensive—only three days total—and who knew when she'd have enough points for another visit, she naturally cherished this opportunity even more.
As the trip time ticked into its final countdown, He Guxia brought Xia Yun to the peak of a sealed-off mountain within the sword sect. This mountain had once been her cultivation domain. But after her death, the sword sect seemed to have sealed it away.
Looking at the familiar yet unfamiliar place, He Guxia didn't feel much emotion. She brought Xia Yun here simply to let her see the place where she once cultivated, and also… to revisit an old haunt.
——"Who dares trespass on Sky-Sword Peak!"
The mountain-protecting formation was not just for show. Since He Guxia brought Xia Yun here, they were naturally detected. But He Guxia ignored all of it. She looked up at the sky, her aura surging, her long robe fluttering without wind. Suddenly, the winds changed and clouds shifted!
The Heavenly Stair appeared, and the tribulation lightning descended!
All the elders and guardians who rushed over stopped at once. They stared in shock at the scene before them. In the cultivation world—how many years had it been since such a sight appeared?
The Heavenly Stair actually reappeared!
What happened next shocked them even more. The sword cultivator who had previously brought her disciple to challenge the sect suddenly leapt up. She did not dodge the lightning crashing straight down on her—instead—she slashed her sword directly at the Heavenly Stair!
Climb the Heavenly Stair? Hah.
He Guxia stood in midair, stepping on nothingness as she continued flying upward. The Heavenly Stair of the Immortal Realm could not withstand her sword aura, and under the barrage of sword shadows, it dissipated. The tribulation lightning halted for a moment, then became even more violent. After a brief pause, the nine-stripe, nine-stage tribulation intertwined into one and struck down at once!
"Boom—"
The thunder dragon roared, electricity surging across her body. But He Guxia only laughed and slashed upward. "I am no longer who I once was."
"If the gate of the Immortal Realm will not open, then I shall cut it open!"
The thunder dragon was slain, the tribulation clouds scattered. A golden portal appeared in the sky, though still tightly shut. This time, He Guxia did not die, nor did she hear any immortal voices behind the door. Instead, she did the very thing she had rehearsed thousands of times—
A sword cultivator must always move forward without hesitation.
Whoever blocks my path—shall be cut down.
As the countdown to returning to the Shattered Mirror Continent reached its end, Xia Yun saw the golden door shatter with a roar. Countless droplets formed from rich spiritual energy and golden light rained down together. And her master stood in the air opposite the imm