Chapter 12: Shock

Ever since Chu Fengmian had entered the Wanqi Pavilion, he had noticed a certain disarray in the Sword Intent emanating from Xuan Jingtai.

Chu Fengmian was very clear about it. This was the sign of some Sword Cultivators who, attempting to forcefully cultivate their Sword Intent with external help, had instead fallen into madness.

That was why Chu Fengmian had deliberately spoken those words to Xuan Jingtai.

"Who are you?"

This time, Xuan Jingtai didn't continue with his questions.

The words Chu Fengmian had just spoken had already proven that he was telling the truth.

Chu Fengmian spoke calmly.

"The Shopkeeper should know, Chu Fengmian, the chief steward of the external residence of the Lin family."

"Good, good, good, indeed, no one from the Chu family is a mediocrity,"

Xuan Jingtai had watched him for a long time before speaking.

"Indeed, everything you did in the Lin residence was hidden; no wonder a useless individual without a Spirit Vein could grow so much in just one day."

Xuan Jingtai chuckled and said.

"Steward Chu, personally coming to my Wanqi Pavilion, what advice do you have?"

"Very simple, I just want to discuss a deal with the Shopkeeper."

Chu Fengmian's tone remained calm as he spoke.

"That high-grade light sword of the Profound Level, I want it."

"Oh?" Xuan Jingtai did not directly refuse this time, but spoke with apparent interest.

"No need for unnecessary words. This high-grade Profound Level light sword, named Qingxuan, is crafted by a Guest Elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect. Left outside, it's worth millions of Bone Tempering Pills. What kind of deal do you, Steward Chu, wish to propose to purchase this Qingxuan Sword?"

Millions of Bone Tempering Pills would also be a crippling blow even for the Lin family to expend.

This Qingxuan Sword had always been a treasure of the Wanqi Pavilion, never considered to be sold.

Xuan Jingtai was curious to see just what capabilities Chu Fengmian had—to have the audacity to consider buying this sword.

"What if I, Chu, can resolve the backlash of Sword Intent in the Shopkeeper's body?"

Chu Fengmian said with a smile.

"To exchange the resolution of the backlash of Sword Intent in your body for this Qingxuan Sword; I wonder, does the Shopkeeper have any interest in this deal?"

"Is that true?"

Xuan Jingtai furrowed his brow and looked at Chu Fengmian, seemingly unable to believe what he was saying.

A backlash of Sword Intent was a severely serious injury for every Sword Cultivator, almost a permanent scar, impossible to resolve in a lifetime.

Resolving the influence of Sword Intent backlash would require a heavenly-grade medicinal pill, the Hua Xuan Pill, along with the aid of countless powerful helpers.

The Hua Xuan Pill, a legendary heavenly-grade medicinal pill, hadn't appeared in Wusheng kingdom for a thousand years and thus made the injury from Sword Intent backlash nearly impossible to heal.

Xuan Jingtai glanced at Chu Fengmian, who spoke in a cold voice.

"If you truly can resolve this backlash of Sword Intent, not to mention this Qingxuan Sword, I, Xuan Jingtai, am willing to do three favors for you."

"Great!"

Hearing Xuan Jingtai speak, Chu Fengmian did not hesitate.

Suddenly, a massive Sword Intent was forcefully imposed upon Xuan Jingtai.

"This is! Such a powerful Sword Intent! Who is it! Which powerful individual!"

Feeling the sudden emergence of Sword Intent, Xuan Jingtai, shocked, looked all around.

In front of this Sword Intent, Xuan Jingtai felt as insignificant as a weak ant. Such a powerful individual was hard to find not just in Linwu City, but perhaps even in the entire Wusheng kingdom.

Only those legendary Sword Dao masters from the Heavenly Sword Sect could possess it.

"Don't panic! Guard your Sword Heart!"

Chu Fengmian roared, quickly calming Xuan Jingtai down.

The vast Sword Intent turned into a giant serpent within Xuan Jingtai.

"Thousand Changes? This is the Sword Intent of Thousand Changes!"

Witnessing this scene, Xuan Jingtai was even more astounded.

This was a realm only achievable at the pinnacle of Sword Intent, and witnessing it firsthand left Xuan Jingtai utterly shocked.

What shocked him even more was that this giant serpent was devouring all the backlash Sword Intent remaining in his body.

Before long, Xuan Jingtai felt the numbness in his left hand had disappeared.

"This…"

All of this happened in an instant.

By the time Xuan Jingtai came to his senses, his body had completely recovered.

The traces of Sword Intent within his body had already vanished.

"Shopkeeper Xuan, I keep my word, don't I?"

Chu Fengmian smiled and addressed Xuan Jingtai.

"Yes, Mo'er, go fetch the Xuanqing Sword."

Xuan Jingtai quickly reacted, shouting toward the doorway.

Before long, a pretty young girl entered, holding a light blue sword in her hands.

This young girl was merely a common person, not a martial artist, yet she held the light blue Spirit Sword with ease.

"I, Xuan Jingtai, always keep my word. This Blue Xuan Sword now belongs to the great steward Chu."

Xuan Jingtai took the Blue Xuan Sword and handed it to Chu Fengmian.

Chu Fengmian took it; the Blue Xuan Sword was almost weightless, extremely gentle. Such a light sword would be difficult for an ordinary martial artist to wield, given how gentle it was, making it hard to maneuver.

However, for Chu Fengmian, this Blue Xuan Sword was simply perfect.

"Additionally, the three favors I, Xuan Jingtai, have promised—if Steward Chu has any requests, he can find me at the Wanqi Pavilion. I, Xuan Jingtai, will not refuse."

"Good."

Chu Fengmian took the Blue Xuan Sword, gave a slight nod, and walked out of the Wanqi Pavilion.

After Chu Fengmian had left and was far away, the young girl named Mo'er approached Xuan Jingtai and spoke.

"Uncle Xuan, are your injuries truly healed?"

Mo'er, who had been outside during Chu Fengmian's conversation with Xuan Jingtai, had heard everything clearly.

"Indeed."

Xuan Jingtai stretched his limbs, feeling comfortable for the first time in a long while.

The backlash from the Sword Intent had always been present in Xuan Jingtai's body, making him feel unwell all over. This time, having the Sword Intent removed, Xuan Jingtai finally felt relaxed.

"I never thought such miraculous methods existed in the world, capable of Thousand Changes. It seems the rumors are not unfounded."

Xuan Jingtai murmured to himself.

This realm of Thousand Changes had always been something of legends.

Sword Intent, being formless, how could it utilize the art of Thousand Changes?

This time, Xuan Jingtai realized he had only been seeing a fraction of the world; there were countless things he was unaware of.

"Is it really so miraculous? Then why didn't Uncle Xuan simply capture that youngster? I saw that his strength is merely at the fifth level of the Bone Tempering realm, and by capturing him, we could have clarified everything."

Mo'er asked curiously.

"Mo'er, do you really think it was that youngster who resolved my Sword Intent?"

Xuan Jingtai looked at Mo'er with a somewhat amused expression.

"That kid was just a puppet. Behind him, there's a terrifying entity."

"If we offended him, we at the Wanqi Pavilion would be finished."

The Thousand Changes of the Sword Intent.

To say a youngster at the fifth level of Bone Tempering could wield it—who would believe that?

Furthermore, during that display of Sword Intent, Xuan Jingtai had already discerned a few clues.

Sword Bright Heart Technique.

Within that Sword Intent, there were countless techniques from the Heavenly Sword sect, including the aura of the Sword Bright Heart Technique. This meant that the person who had acted was definitely a powerhouse in the Heavenly Sword sect, possibly even an elder.

Such a figure was someone Xuan Jingtai could not hope to meet in his lifetime. If he had not glimpsed the Sword Bright Heart Technique once before, he likely would not have recognized it now.

"The fact that Chu Fengmian has a powerhouse from the Heavenly Sword sect behind him... Could the Chu family have a connection with the Heavenly Sword sect? The Chu family has always been mysterious. However, whatever the case, I must forge a good relationship with this youngster."

Xuan Jingtai thought to himself.

The Wanqi Pavilion already had intricate connections with the Heavenly Sword sect.

Regardless, he needed to foster a good relationship with Chu Fengmian. The three favors he had proactively offered were exactly for this purpose.