Chapter 482: Sword Saint's Gift

...

"Evil Spirit!"

Upon hearing Mo Xiao's words, Zeng Yi furrowed his brow. This was the second time he had heard about the Evil Spirit. What exactly was it? Could it be that the father of Mo Xin and Mo Xiao, died at the hands of the Evil Spirit?

Zeng Yi looked at Mo Xiao, who was sitting next to him with his head down and a despondent expression, and asked, "Can you tell me more about the Evil Spirit?"

"The Evil Spirit..." Mo Xiao raised his head, his gaze fixated forward, speaking with a trace of fear in his voice. "To be honest, I'm not quite sure what the Evil Spirit is. But what I do know is that it represents ill fortune, negativity, and is a symbol of calamity."

"According to my sister's description of the Evil Spirit, it has almost always existed in Eastern Continent. It is not a conscious entity but rather an ethereal negative energy, a collection of evil thoughts that will always exist as long as there are people.

When one's beliefs collapse, will and spirit are lost, and the mind is at its emptiest, the Evil Spirit quietly strikes, taking away everything that belongs to you."

Listening to Mo Xiao's explanation, Zeng Yi couldn't help but feel shocked and terrified. Upon careful consideration, it truly was horrifying.

"Always existed? Can't the Evil Spirit be eliminated?" Zeng Yi asked. If the Evil Spirit threatened people's lives, why not eradicate it completely? Everyone here is a spirit master, not to mention the powerful Sword God Palace protecting them. How can the Evil Spirit still infiltrate so wantonly?

Shaking his head, Mo Xiao replied, "It's useless. The Evil Spirit can only find you; you can't find it. Once it appears before you, it means everything is already over. As I mentioned earlier, the Evil Spirit is a collective of evil thoughts. As long as people exist, it will always exist and will never be extinguished."

"When invaded by these evil thoughts, there are generally two outcomes: death or falling into the path of evil, becoming a demon driven by power."

...

With the approaching date of the Spirit Blossom Festival, the town was brimming with a festive atmosphere. This festival was the most important one in Eastern Continent, and on that day, the town would hold a grand and lively ceremony.

Located on the outskirts of Qingping Town was a gigantic Spirit Acacia Tree. Its trunk had a diameter of ten meters, standing approximately a hundred meters tall. This towering tree exuded an ancient aura, as if it were a pillar holding up the sky, making a tremendous impact on anyone who gazed up at it.

Underneath this enormous acacia tree were hundreds of people busy working, transporting and constructing, faintly revealing the outline of a massive altar.

Zeng Yi was among the workers. Since this was a collective effort by the entire town, each family had to send at least one person to help with the preparations for the ceremony.

Due to Mo Xiao's injury and Mo Xin's unwillingness to come, the task fell on Zeng Yi's shoulders. He had been helping here for several days. Not only was there an altar for the ceremony, but there were also numerous stalls set up beneath the vast acacia tree, forming several streets.

The entire Spirit Blossom Festival would last for three days.

There would be swordsmanship competitions between various dojos, a ceremonial gathering presided over by the Sword God Palace, and a fireworks display at night. Zeng Yi had learned all these details after mingling with the locals for a few days. The information filled him with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming Spirit Blossom Festival.

Since everyone participating in the preparations were spirit masters, the progress was quite efficient. It was estimated that the ceremonial grounds would be completed in a few more days.

There was less than half a month remaining until the Spirit Blossom Festival.

When Zeng Yi returned to Mo's Swift Wind Sword Dojo, the sky had already darkened.

"You're back." Mo Xin greeted Zeng Yi as he entered the courtyard, sitting on the hallway, smiling and asking, "How is the progress over there?"

"It's almost finished. It should be completed in a few more days." Zeng Yi replied, looking towards Mo Xin's position, but his eyes narrowed when he saw another person sitting next to her.

The person was a middle-aged man dressed in a gray robe, sitting cross-legged on the corridor, calmly sipping tea from a cup.

Observing this person, Zeng Yi furrowed his brow. When he entered the courtyard, he hadn't noticed his presence. It was only when the person appeared in his field of vision that he realized he was there.

This person was incredibly powerful, beyond normal limits. Zeng Yi stared at him with a solemn gaze. The pressure he exuded was immense.

He seemed plain and unremarkable, just like an ordinary person. But every movement and action he made felt harmonious and perfect. Vaguely, it seemed like he was stirring the power of heaven and earth.

[Unity of Heaven and Man]

Such a powerful existence existed in the Sword God Palace, along with eight others!

"Shifu, this is the sword genius I told you about, Mo Lang." Mo Xin introduced Zeng Yi to the Sword Saint with a playful smile.

"Greetings, Sword Saint." Zeng Yi bowed respectfully, showing neither fear nor timidity due to the Sword Saint's identity and strength, but rather a respectful attitude due to his age.

At this moment, the Sword Saint turned his head, calmly appraising Zeng Yi. His gaze was as calm as a still pool, as if he could see through Zeng Yi's every move.

Being stared at by him with such penetrating eyes made Zeng Yi feel uncomfortable, causing him to furrow his brow.

Just then, the Sword Saint moved his gaze away.

"So, you're the sword genius that Mo Xin has been marveling at, Mo Lang! I heard that you lost your previous memories. Do you remember anything now?"

Shaking his head, Zeng Yi replied, "I'm sorry, but I still can't recall anything from before, not my name or where I came from. However, I recently had a dream."

"A dream? What kind of dream? Tell us!" Mo Xin eagerly asked, hoping that this would be the catalyst for his memory recovery.

After pondering for a moment, Zeng Yi looked a bit puzzled, his eyes filled with a sense of confusion.

"I can't remember it clearly, but I do remember being in a vast, icy, and cold world."

"Icy world?" Mo Xin was puzzled upon hearing Zeng Yi's words. She couldn't associate this information with anything.

The Sword Saint furrowed his brow as he carefully observed every movement and change in Zeng Yi's expression. From surprise to confusion and bewilderment, he did not detect any signs of lies.

If what he said was true, then the icy world in his dream might be that place.

"Young man, take this!" The Sword Saint suddenly took out an object and threw it to Zeng Yi.

Surprised, Zeng Yi hurriedly reached out and caught it. Opening his palm, he saw a pendant made of white jade, carved into the shape of a sword.

"What is this?" Zeng Yi looked at the Sword Saint with confusion.

"It's a simple talisman for protection. You can carry it with you. It might bring you good luck and ward off disaster."

Disaster?

Upon hearing the Sword Saint's words, Zeng Yi couldn't help but tremble. In Eastern Continent, the only thing he associated with disaster was the Evil Spirit. Did the Sword Saint think it would come after him?

"Thank you, Sword Saint, for your gift." Zeng Yi expressed his gratitude regardless of whether it was intentional or not. Even if the Evil Spirit did come after him, he had no fear. Nevertheless, he accepted the gift as a gesture of goodwill.

"Ah Lang, you should go to the kitchen. Since the Sword Saint is here today, we should properly entertain him. I'll leave the cooking to you!" Mo Xin quickly instructed.

"To me? What about you?" Zeng Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at her.

Mo Xin said matter-of-factly, "Naturally, I'll accompany the Sword Saint and have a chat!"

Upon hearing her words, Zeng Yi rolled his eyes and headed towards the kitchen.

After Zeng Yi left, the Sword Saint placed his tea cup down and looked at Mo Xin with a solemn expression. "Mo Xin, the person you found is not simple."

"Why do you say that?" Mo Xin's expression also became serious.

"He is dangerous!"

"Dangerous?" Mo Xin was startled, glancing in the direction of the kitchen before looking back at the Sword Saint. "But he hasn't done anything extreme in the past six months, and he has been living well with us. Why is he suddenly dangerous?"

Shaking his head, the Sword Saint replied, "I believe you, and I believe what he said. He has not lied and truly lost his memories, not recovering them until now. However, there is a terrifying power within him, an evil power filled with immense resentment."

"Currently, he's like a balloon with only a thin protective layer. With just a small stimulus, he could explode.

Then, a terrifying demon will be born."

Upon hearing the Sword Saint's words, Mo Xin widened her eyes, her heart in turmoil. She looked at the Sword Saint, trembling slightly as she uttered a question.

"Are you suggesting that the Evil Spirit will come after him?"

"For the next few days, I will stay here. After the Spirit Blossom Festival is over, let's all go to the Sword God Palace." the Sword Saint proposed.