Chapter Fifty-Seven Imminent

  In the rumbling sound of massive stones, the light that was about to tilt through the stone gate was gradually squeezed into a narrower and narrower line, and the dark tunnel of the forbidden land became dark again. Xuan Zhen turned his head and looked back, slowly raising the Ling Guang Mo Yu in his hand, which was still emitting soft and bright light, illuminating a small path ahead.

  After walking about a dozen steps, suddenly there was a bright light in front of him. Xuán Zhèn slowly stepped into the cave, his eyes scanning the wall, and the scribbled characters on it seemed to have some awareness, responding one by one, lighting up, and for a moment, the dim light flowed and the immortal energy was overwhelming.

  "Big Brother?"

  A faint cry came from the furnace, which seemed to be Xu Xuan's voice. It was thought that since he and Su Yu entered the forbidden land for seclusion, Taichu True Man or some elder had set up a ban as a precaution, so although he hadn't seen Xu Xuan himself, he had already sensed someone breaking into the forbidden land, which was probably also the reason why the stone wall produced such an unusual phenomenon just now.

  Xuan Zhen smiled and replied: "It's me." At the same time, he walked towards the small path on the west side of the rocky cave.

  He walked through the path and entered the flame room, where a wave of heat rushed towards him. Xuanshen's eyebrows slightly raised, and the jade belt on his head gently swayed, causing the clear wind surrounding his body to spread out like a canvas. The flames that burst out from the cracked ground nearby were also knocked back in the opposite direction.

  Xuan Zhen's toes touched the ground, and he slid from the top of the Flame Chamber to the bottom, stopping only when he reached the edge of the Flame Pool. At this time, flames were raging in the pool, and apart from Wang Shu's sword light shining like the moon, there was also a man and a woman - Xuan Xiao and Su Yu.

  The two of them sat cross-legged on a vacant piece of land in the fire, facing each other. From where Xuan Zhen was standing, he could just see Su Yu's face in the fire, her skin as white as snow, her demeanor as elegant as an orchid, and yet despite being surrounded by flames that were burning fiercely, not a single drop of sweat appeared on her face. Her pale complexion reflected the light of the fire, making it seem even more translucent, and with her icy expression, she looked just like a beautiful ice sculpture rather than a real person.

  The sword hung just a foot above her face, its body flashing with a bright blue light in the midst of a red glow, occasionally emitting bursts of cold air that dispersed the surrounding flames. Every time this happened, the sword's clear light flowed even more beautifully.

  Xuan Zhen stood outside the fire pool, slightly appreciatively observing this sword, secretly sighing in admiration. When he first saw it, Wang Shu already had a hint of divine soldier's demeanor, and after acknowledging its master, it became even more majestic. The water spirit power on the sword was also much stronger than before... But when his gaze met Xu Yu's expressionless face, his heart sank slightly.

  This junior sister of mine has become increasingly beautiful with age, and due to her growing cultivation, she now has an even more ethereal quality like a fairy. Her stunning looks and slender figure are unmatched by anyone, and whenever she passes through the Sword Dance Pavilion, she attracts many admiring gazes following her, yet she doesn't give anyone a second glance. If at first, she was just diligently following the teachings of Tai Qing True Person and several elders, later on, even the subtle melancholy in her eyes gradually turned into layers of solid ice, suppressing all emotions beneath those icy layers.

  Others thought it was just Su Yu's natural temperament, but Xuan Zhen sensed that something was off. He had once tried to probe her by mentioning her hometown and her old father, but the result was that he was secretly shocked. His usually filial sister-in-law was now expressionless, even indifferent, which was a big change from her behavior before she practiced with Wang Shu. Sometimes Xuan Zhen couldn't help but think that if he told Su Yu about her uncle's death right now, she might not be as heartbroken as she used to be.

  If it's said that cultivating the Tao makes one cut off emotions and love, then it wouldn't make a woman become so apathetic in just six short years. Xuan Zhen thought about it repeatedly, and it seemed like Su Yu had lost interest in everything after obtaining the Wang Shu sword. The sword itself emitted a dense icy aura, and Su Yu was someone with a predominantly yin constitution - could it be that she had been invaded by the cold yin energy, planting a demon seed in her heart?

  This thought lingered in his mind, but it was a serious matter and difficult to put into words. Not to mention that even if it were true, the opportunity that comes once every twelve years is right in front of them, and the master and elders would not allow Xu Yu to stop using the Wangshu sword. Xuan Zhen slightly furrowed his brow, and his gaze shifted from Xu Yu to another figure sitting quietly on the side.

  If Wangshu Sword's cold and gloomy aura easily invades the host, Xihesword is also afraid...

  "Big Brother?"

  Su Yu still sat cross-legged in the fire with her eyes tightly closed, apparently having entered a meditative state and was at a critical juncture of her cultivation. Xuan Xiao, on the other hand, was only assisting from the side, so as soon as Xuan Zhen arrived, he sensed it, and now he even opened his eyes to look over.

  Xuan Zhen heard his low voice and came back to his senses, meeting that pair of cold eyes shining like stars on a winter night. He spoke nonchalantly: "You... have been staying in this forbidden land for about a week now. According to Master's estimation, the demon realm will pass through Mount Kunlun in just one or two days. Does Xu Yu have any chance of breaking through the eighth level of the boundary?"

  Xuan Xiao lightly pushed off the ground, and the lower hem of his blue-white Taoist robe fell in a graceful arc as he moved. His expression was calm, and he brushed aside the ribbon that had fallen across his cheek to behind his shoulder. Only then did he speak unhurriedly: "Su Yu has always been clever, not like ordinary women; she will certainly be able to leave before then." As he spoke, he glanced at the woman on the ground whose face was neither sad nor joyful, and a hint of a smile seemed to flash in his eyes.

  Xuan Zhen watched with his eyes, and his mood was even more complicated. He could only nod slightly and remain silent.

  “……Just now I saw that my senior brother's face had a worried look, but I don't know what it is about?” After a while, the low and solemn voice suddenly came from a very close place. Xuan Zhen was shocked and raised his head, his forehead almost rubbing against Xuan Xiao's cold and hard chin. Only then did he realize that his junior brother had unknowingly come to within inches of himself.

  Xuan Zhen's eyes widened slightly as he gazed at the narrow, slightly raised phoenix eyes in front of him. Those eyes were like a thousand-foot-deep pool, calm and unruffled, yet they made people dizzy with just one glance, as if they might fall deeply into them. As he stared at the young face with a hint of panic in those eyes, Xuan Zhen's mind flashed back to the white-clad youth who had wielded his sword six years ago, striding through the sand with his long clothes fluttering across his cheek. That elegant demeanor had already captivated people's hearts, and now he had grown into a man who stood out from the crowd. The scattered black silk on his shoulders back then was now neatly tied up in a jade crown, losing some of its carefree spirit but gaining a more cold and stern air. His eyebrows were even more striking, accumulating an aura of pride that looked down on the world, as well as a hint of indifference towards others...

  A loud crash interrupted the two men's gaze, and also interrupted Xuan Zhen's thoughts. He turned back blankly, and together with Xuan Xiao, looked towards where the sound came from, then they were shocked.

  But then, the Wondersword floated in mid-air, rising higher and higher until it reached the top of Su Yu's head. The sword emitted a faint blue glow that grew brighter and brighter, gradually covering up the surrounding flames, making it hard to look directly at it. A wave of cold air swept out from the center, where Wang Shu and Su Yu stood, in all directions, accompanied by a hissing sound that didn't cease. The flames on the ground were dampened by the cold air, and the usually scorching hot room was suddenly as cold as winter.

  At some unknown time, Su Yu suddenly opened her eyes and stood up. She was standing in the center of the blue light radiating outwards, her clothes fluttering like a white butterfly dancing, the silk-like green threads flowing behind her, creating an extremely beautiful atmosphere. A delicate hand with slender fingers, almost transparent under the reflection of the blue light, suddenly emerged from the sleeves that were swaying back and forth, and tightly grasped that narrow and bright beam of light!

  Wang Shu's sword let out a final loud roar, and in an instant, the ground was covered with a layer of frost. Su Yu slowly lowered her hand, holding Wang Shu in her palm, the cold air dissipated, and the wind also stopped, only then did she lift her head, seeing his face pale, but his eyes were shining brightly with a fierce light.

  Xuan Zhen was stunned on the spot, and all he heard was his junior sister saying coldly: "Senior brother, Su Yu has not disappointed Master and several elders after all."

  But in a moment, the Taichu True Man and three elders from the Forbidden Land arrived, having sensed the unusual movement. Upon hearing that Su Yu had also reached the Ninth Realm, they were overjoyed beyond control.

  "Good, it's really great!" Zong Lian Chang Lao was the first to rejoice. He said as he took Wang Shu into his hands and examined her for a while, the smile on his face growing more and more radiant, with wrinkles becoming more pronounced. "The mutual cultivation of man and sword is indeed beneficial, when the sword is strong, the master is strong, and when the master is strong, the sword is also strong. When Su Yu reaches the ninth level, she can certainly bring out another layer of Wang Shu Sword's power, and grasping the web to bind the demon realm will be even more secure!"

  "Zong Lian is right." Chong Guang also nodded, his face looking young and innocent, but with a serious expression that made him look somewhat eccentric. However, the people present were already accustomed to his cold and arrogant demeanor. "Previously, I was worried that Xuan Xiao had reached the ninth level of cultivation, while Su Yu was not as strong as him, making it difficult for them to coordinate when riding their swords together. Now that they have similar levels of power, I can finally feel at ease."

  Tai Qing Zhen Ren stroked his beard and nodded, looking at Xuan Xiao and Su Yu with eyes full of satisfaction, and even revealed a rare smile: "Xuan Xiao, Su Yu, I will give you two the Xihe and Wangshu double swords. It seems that I didn't choose the wrong people! If the Qionghua Sect's thousand-year-old wish can be fulfilled in one move, you two will be the meritorious officials of my sect, haha, haha!"

  Xuan Xiao and Su Yu exchanged a glance, and in unison bowed their heads to say: "Your disciples will not betray the trust of our master!"

  Xuan Zhen stood by, his eyebrows furrowed tightly. He pursed his lips, about to speak, when Qing Yang elder subtly shook his head at him and smiled: "Could it be that the Master has forgotten the main event in his excitement? Xu Yu has already completed her cultivation, and the demon realm will soon pass over our sect's airspace; now is also the time for them to ascend to Yun Chui Platform."

  Tai Qing Zhen Ren was taken aback, and nodded immediately: "Dragon Ya's words are not wrong, I have indeed forgotten this matter. The Double Sword Net binding the demon realm is no trivial matter, you two must go to a very safe location to jointly cast the secret spell to summon the double swords. The location has been chosen by me and several elders, it is on a secret platform above the Rolling Cloud Platform. At that time, all disciples of the sect will gather below the platform, and when you two bind the demon realm, we can launch a surprise attack into the secret realm and capture the demon realm's spiritual energy!"

  P.S. I saw some friends saying that there's too little emotional drama, so I'd like to explain a bit here. Firstly, I'm actually a bit weak in writing emotional scenes. Secondly, we're still at the stage where Xuan Xiao has feelings for Su Yu in the original story. Previously, I made an effort to write some subtle hints about Xuan Xiao's different behavior towards Da Shixiong and others, but the timing of the explosion isn't now - it's not when the demon realm is about to descend, and the Qinghua Sect is facing a huge upheaval. Da Shixiong will also face a shock, and Xuan Xiao will have to confront a low point in his life. However, I can guarantee that this volume will resolve the first love issue. This fanfic is definitely danmei (boys' love). So, friends, please look forward to the next development!