Ancestor Murong and the arranged match

Cross stood on the stage for his assessment. Basically they had to exchange 7 moves with a 'Senior Brother'. Cross kinda just wanted to go to his room and relax and the 'Senior Brother' named Feng Yue looked to be oozing reluctance and arrogance.

Feng Yue waved and said "Let's get this over with." Cross let out a breath of relief and said

"You want to finish quickly too? That's good." before disappearing, before anybody knew it a loud 'PAH!' sound echoed and Feng Yue was sent spiraling in the air.

Cross looked at Qin Wuyou and said "Am I strong enough to stay now? Honestly, so many trials.. it's really annoying." Qin Wuyou nodded speechlessly, Cross scratched his neck and retreaded to Yun Che's side, looking around cautiously as he said "Yun Che, make it fast before-"

Cross' pupils shrank and he hid behind Yuanba, latching onto his back and appearing like he wasn't there.

Yuanba was stunned and spun around saying "Cross?" Cross shushed him and Yun Che looked over to see a beautiful woman walking over, he was surprised, this was the woman? She was stunning! Yun Che was called to the stage and he left as Hermione walked over and turned Yuanba around before snorting.

Cross chuckled and said "Hermione! Nice to see you again! You're doing well I hope?" Hermione pulled him off Yuanba and pouted "I missed you." Cross sighed and patted her head as he said "Are you okay?" Hermione hugged him and said "Mhm." Cross rubbed her back softly as he said "How is everything? I hope you're being treated well."

Hermione listened to his heartbeat and smiled at his warmth as she said "Yes, I'm doing fine..." she looked up and said "You?" Cross grinned and said "When have you ever had to worry about me?" She smiled and hummed in agreement.

Cross patted her head and said "So what are you doing here? I thought you would travel around and learn new things. Also how's your conversion going?" Hermione replied "Well, I was doing that. Then I found this place and when I asked you use their library they attacked me. I fought back and beat them up then someone else asked me to stay and teach. But teach what? I have no idea..."

Cross hummed and tapped her forehead, his finger lit up and all his medical knowledge flooded into her brain as well as everything he learned from Jasmine about cultivation in general and everything he knew about fighting.

Hermione's eyes glazed over as she digested the information, when she returned she teared up and said "You know, you keep helping me all the time. Do you know how hard it is to stop loving you?" Cross stiffened and he spoke in English "Hermione, I-"

Hermione cut him off in English as she said "I know. I've known for a long time, but even then I won't stop loving you. You saved my life multiple times and protected me. I can't stop feeling like this."

Cross sighed and said ruthlessly "You will die alone." Hermione smiled and said "I know. But this is good enough." Cross shook his head and smiled a bit as he replied "I can wipe myself from your memories you know. One day you might just wake up forgetting I exist."

Hermione jumped back and shook her head frantically with tears in her eyes as she said "Please don't!" Cross sighed and said "Fine." she smiled and said "I'll see you later then." Before leaving, Cross watched her go.

He felt bad, but what was he going to do? He didn't have feelings for her, sure he liked her, she was nice, but love? Forget about it, it was never there and it would never happen. He felt bad but he also felt she was too stubborn, why insist on torturing yourself? That's just dumb.

Cross shook his head and forgot about her as Yun Che returned saying "Nice talk?" Cross sighed and said "Not nice." Yun Che shook his head and there was a shout "Which one of you is Cross and Yun Che!?"

Cross and Yun Che looked over and saw the guy who wasn't as handsome as them with someone who looked similar to him. Someone decided to become an exposition machine for the plot "That's Murong Yi, ranked seventy-third on the Heavenly Profound List!" then he seemed to fizzle away into dust as if he never existed, he didn't even have a name.

A moment of silence for him.

Cross and Yun Che looked at Murong whatever and Murong Jr pointed at the duo as he said "Cousin! That's them they hi-" Murong Jr. was sent flying with a slap for the 5th time, it seemed even his cousin couldn't protect him!

Murong Jr's fourth cousin twice removed said "You've been hitting my cousin eh?" As he looked at Yun Che, who pointed to himself in confusion. Cousin Murong said "You, Yun Che! I shall beat you silly today!" as he shot towards Yun Che, Cross was about to step out when another teenager stepped out and blocked the estranged cousin Murong.

Cousin, and quite possibly uncle, Murong shouted "Sikong Du! What is the meaning of this!?" Sikong Du said "You should let your cousin handle his own affairs no?" Grandpa Murong was about to say something, when Cross cut him off "Yes, you'll never let this go and you'll cripple little Che. We've heard this story 100 times already! Get to the revenge plotting already."

Yun Che chuckled and said directly "Murong whatever your name is, do you dare give me three months?!" Great-Grandpa Murong laughed and said "As if you c-" Cross waved "Yeah, yeah. 'As if you could ever beat me' Blah blah blah. You're very long winded, eh? Stop barking and agree."

Yun Che sneered and said "Unless you don't even have the balls to do it?" Ancestor Murong seethed with rage and said "I agree!" Sikong Du said "Yun Che! What are you doing?!" Yun Che smiled and said "Many thanks, Brother Sikong. Is Sikong Han your father?"

Sikong Du blinked before nodding with a smile as he said "Correct." Qin Wuyou and someone who looked like Qin Wuyou appeared and said "We have witnessed this agreement and the appointed time will be 10am 3 months later! Yun Che, Cross, you will both be sent to the Inner Palace!"

Before leaving as Sikong Du brought them to the Inner Palace.

Cross looked around at all the things, while Yun Che talked to Sikong Du. Yuanba was sent to the Outer Palace.

Sikong Du brought them to the Sky Weapons Pavillion.

The three walked inside and saw a ton of weapons lying around everywhere Sikong Du said "I recommend you to choose a sword, I use a sword." Yun Che nodded and said "Then I'll use a sword." he walked to the sword rank and there was a huge chunk of iron lying there, collecting dust.

Yun Che asked "What's this?" Sikong Du replied "This is the only remaining Earth Profound weapon here. It's called 'Overlord's Sword', and it was once wielded thousands of years ago by someone from the Blue Wind Empire known as the 'Overlord'. He once used this sword to slaughter countless enemies and made several impressively outstanding military exploits. After his death, this weapon was sent to this Sky Weapon Pavilion, and it has silently lain here for many years. Unfortunately, this Earth Profound weapon is a heavy sword; as profound practitioner, there is simply no one who would pick it."

Yun Che asked "Why not?" Sikong Du cleared his throat and went on a rant once more "

It's very simple. Because it is a heavy sword, with a huge sword body and incredible weight, even though it is classified as a 'sword', it is not as flexible as a sword should be. Also, with its incredible weight, just controlling it is an incredible difficult task, and even if you could control it, after time you wave it, you will consume a considerable amount of profound energy."

Sikong Du looked at the sword and continued "Cumbersome, difficult to control, consumes a lot of energy; these three disadvantages ensure that no profound practitioner will select it. Its greatest advantage, is that once you strike with it, it will generate massive destruction; but with such a cumbersome weapon, it is impossible to swing it with any speed. Hitting the opponent is very difficult, and swinging it will create many opportunities for the opponent to strike back."

He looked at Yun Che and explained "Because of this, this sword is only suitable for the battlefield; if one can control it well, it would definitely be a weapon capable of slaughtering many. But this is definitely not suitable for us profound practitioners; when fighting someone, not only will it not provide assistance, it would even become a burden."

Sikong Du paused for a moment before adding "Also, even though a greatsword is considered a sword, its characteristics are completely different than a regular sword, so all profound techniques involving swords are not suitable for this greatsword. As of now, the Supreme Profound Hall has three hundred forty-seven sword-related profound techniques, but none pertain to greatswords."

Just as the Overlord Sword was about to ascend to the pinnacle of duct collecting and become a master duct collector, Yun Che walked over and picked it up slowly, all the veins in his arm bulging out.

Yun Che lifted it in the air and said excitedly "I'll be taking this sword!" Sikong Du almost slapped him as he said "Moron! Did you not just hear my magnificent speech!?" Cross chuckled and said "Cool. Swords are overrated, I use a Mace."

Sikong Du looked at him with a strange expression and Cross grabbed his pitch black mace out of thin air. Yun Che looked excited and wanted to swing his sword at him but couldn't. The sword disappeared and Cross dropped the mace, it sank into the floor and disappeared.

Cross gave the two a smug look as he said "What do you think? Handsome?" Sikong Du threw his hands up and said "Both of you! Idiots! Let's go!" before storming off, while Cross and Yun Che chuckled and followed him.

Sikong Du brought them to the Supreme Profound Ultimate God Technique Hall. Yun Che took two techniques from a bargain bin and left, much to Sikong Du's frustration! Sikong Du brought them to their residences and said "Here you go, ya damn fools!" before stomping off.

Cross muttered "He's just jealous, because he's not as handsome as me." Sikong Du tripped and left at a faster pace as Yun Che laughed.

A while later

Yun Che was in his room and trying to lift the sword. Cross was to the side watching him, Jasmine was sitting next to him and said "Why did you choose the Heavy sword?" Yun Che smiled and said "Because I feel excited looking at it."

Cross lifted the sword with one hand as he said "It's a good sword." he flipped it in the air and caught it again as he got serious and said "A sword like this, it's used to protect. You understand this right?" Jasmine trembled and Yun Che nodded as he said "I know."

Cross grabbed the tip and pointed the handle at Yun Che as he said "Taking this sword, you must protect your loved ones or else the sword will collapse and become useless. A sword without a purpose isn't a sword at all." Yun Che grabbed the handle seriously and lifted it saying "I understand."

Jasmine looked at Cross in shock and saw a gentle smile as he said "Hopefully, you will do the sword a justice." Jasmine teared up and returned to the Sky Poison Pearl. Yun Che said "You know about swords?"

Cross shook his head and said "I traveled my previous world for my honeymoon, we went everywhere. I soaked up all my knowledge on weapons around the world. That's what I came up with after learning about them all."

Yun Che smirked and said "Plagiarizing?" Cross waved with a smirk as he said "What do you know?" Yun Che chuckled and Jasmine said "I will teach you the 'Great Way of the Buddha'.. Only my brother and I know about it. It's a Divine Profound art."

Yun Che said "You have a brother?" Jasmine gave a soft hum in return and said "He used a heavy sword as well... He fought for the same reasons Cross mentioned.." Yun Che said "I wish I could meet him one day."

Cross sighed and shook his head, he could feel Jasmine's sadness. This brother of hers was probably dead. Jasmine coughed and said "This Divine Art will let you control the heavy sword easily!" Cross and Yun Che gasped in shock, after all who didn't want to be a buff and handsome young man with big aspirations and a cool posture when defeating enemies?!