Chapter 644: Chapter 278: The Last Glimmer—A Single Sword’s Cold Radiance Shines Across the Nine Heavens (Part 2)
At this moment, even if he was confused, he understood what that figure had just done.
The old man on South Peak, for the sake of the only person he cared about in this world, gave up nurturing his Divine Soul, gave up the chance to live a second life. Countless cultivators were moved, looking at the mentor and student with mixed feelings.
The disciple, in order to secure a glimmer of hope for his master, was willing to die, even if it meant eternal damnation, just to return with the Blood Spirit Pearl and the "Godslaying Sword Technique," merely for a flicker of hope that his mentor might be revived. And the First Generation Sword Saint, to protect his disciple, awakened his Divine Sense through sheer determination, forsaking the chance of a second life, sacrificing the Peak of his hundred days to ensure the disciple’s safety.
Such sentiments between master and disciple, even over the course of endless ages, could become a legendary tale, moving all who hear it.
Hearing Ye Xiaofan’s call, the young Dugu Nan slowly lowered his head, looked toward the familiar figure below who had already entered the ’Realm of Ten Slashes,’ and gradually revealed a gratified, doting smile.
But Ye Xiaofan never expected that this would be the Sword Saint’s final smile to him during his lifetime; master and disciple didn’t even have the chance to properly exchange a word or narrate all that had happened over the years.
Silently gazing at the youth below, now seemingly ’all alone,’ a trace of gratification arose in Dugu Nan’s eyes, yet more so was the unwillingness in his heart.
The difference is that from now on, he will face this vast world alone, face all the enemies in the world alone.
But the gratification comes from the fact that the once weak youth has now risen; though not yet invincible across the seas, he has become capable of standing independently. As long as he survives today’s calamity, relying on his current cultivation, at least he will be able to survive in this cruel world where strength reigns supreme.
Of course, this premise is that he can step out of this world, to enter a realm belonging to him amidst this earth-shattering conflict.
"Child, survive."
The First Generation Sword Saint gazed with reluctance at the figure he thought of day and night, his eyes full of a sentiment he couldn’t let go of.
This call to ’survive’ seemed to be the master’s final hope, a farewell full of warmth.
When the Sword Saint finished speaking, his gentle, doting smile seemed to freeze in Ye Xiaofan’s memory at that moment, and then he slowly turned around, resolutely heading towards the myriad Saint Realm giants.
In the end, master and disciple could not properly say goodbye, not even have a brief reunion.
With powerful enemies surrounding, at the Peak of hundred days, the time left for Dugu Nan was running out; the old man on South Peak wanted to pave a bloody path with his remaining warmth, a path of death for enemies, yet a path of life for his legacy.
"No, no, no—!!!"
Watching the majestic figure slowly flying away from the peak of South Peak, soaring beyond the Divine Sword Sect.
At this moment, the emotions pent up in Ye Xiaofan’s heart finally erupted completely; though not a loud voice, it emerged lightly from deep in his throat, filled with helplessness, despair, and reluctance.
Finally, at a certain moment.
"No—!!!"
The utterly broken youth let out a long howl, suddenly going berserk, soaring into the sky; he knew, that once the Sword Saint left, he would never return.
Yet the moment Ye Xiaofan rose into the sky, Qi Yun made a sweeping motion with his hand, instantly restraining him on South Peak, while his gaze remained fixed on the figure breaking through the sky, seemingly silently bidding farewell.
And at the same time.
A resolute voice also slowly echoed from the vast void, moving the hearts deeply.
"Brother Qi, should there be an opportunity, take him away from the Hundred Broken Mountain Range, never to return."
Dugu Nan’s voice reverberated across the sky, lingering for a long time, Qi Yun heard and did not reply, but his gaze gave a firm answer.
Here, the so-called ’opportunity to take him away,’ naturally didn’t mean Qi Yun should directly send him away; obviously, to send him away, how difficult it was, only by fighting for a glimmer of hope was it possible.
With the fall of this voice, the entire peak of South Peak resonated with the cry of the sorrowful youth, a sound of utmost desolation rippling within the territory of the Divine Sword Sect, countless cultivators of the Divine Sword Sect could not bear to watch.
Especially Luo Qingxian and others, seeing the almost deranged figure, they felt their throats dry infinitely, their noses couldn’t help but sour; no one knew better than them, just how significant the Sword Saint was in his heart, after all, he was the one Ye Xiaofan fought to death to acquire the Blood Spirit Pearl attempting to save.
At this moment, countless cultivators seemed to all feel the other’s collapse.
And as Ye Xiaofan was about to lose consciousness, Qi Yun hurriedly released a trace of spiritual power, instantly calming his emotions, looking at the familiar figure almost lost to madness before him, suddenly.
Swoosh—slap—!!!
A heavy slap landed fiercely on Ye Xiaofan’s face.
Qi Yun’s pair of nearly bloodshot eyes stared intently, roaring like a beast: "Wake up! Didn’t you hear your master’s final words? What he wants is not your despair, your pain; he wants you to live, do you understand?"
This slap finally snapped the youth’s nearly lost spirit back, his entire body still filled with grief and despair, yet instinctively halted.
Seeing this, Qi Yun took the opportunity to stare into the latter’s eyes, speaking each word forcefully: "Live, only by living can he rest in peace, unless you want his blood to be shed in vain?"
Boom—!!!
As these words were spoken, it seemed a string deep within Ye Xiaofan’s heart was plucked, looking at Qi Yun with full sorrow in his eyes, yet gradually a hint of sanity arose in his gaze.
