Chapter 378: Yu Saint

Back when Chi Yao gave the Abyssal Ancient Sword to Zhang Ruochen, he only knew that the sword was made of a special material, exceptionally sharp, and possessed immense power. He never expected that it was actually forged from Creation Divine Iron.

Back then, when Chi Yao obtained the Creation Divine Iron, she must have forged two swords, giving one to Zhang Ruochen and keeping the other for herself.

Why would Chi Yao give him such a precious divine sword?

Was it because of love?

If it was love, then why did she later personally kill Zhang Ruochen?

It was truly baffling.

Instantly, countless thoughts flooded Zhang Ruochen's mind, making him even more confused.

Lu Fantian stared at the broken sword in Lu Xuan's hand, puzzled. "Little sister, are you mistaken? Is this the Blood Drop Sword?"

"Of course it's not the Blood Drop Sword."

Lu Xuan rolled her eyes and continued, "Legend has it that the Blood Drop Sword is entirely white like jade, containing sacred divine energy, capable of absorbing the blood of humans and savage beasts to enhance its rank. Later, stained with the blood of billions, it transformed into a blood-red divine sword. With the Blood Drop Sword's current power, once unsheathed, blood-red clouds would appear in the sky for ten thousand miles around."

Lu Fantian grew even more confused. "You just said that only Empress Chi Yao in the entire Kunlun Realm obtained a piece of Creation Divine Iron and forged it into the Blood Drop Sword. Now, how is there another sword forged from Creation Divine Iron? And it's a broken sword. Could you be mistaken?"

Lu Xuan gently touched her chin with her finger. "I'm a bit doubtful too... but the material of this broken sword matches the description of Creation Divine Iron in the 'Artifact Canon' exactly."

"Legend has it that when Empress Chi Yao forged the Blood Drop Sword, she summoned the ten most powerful artifact refiners in Kunlun Realm at the time to the Sun-Moon Heavenly Pool, where they refined it for eighty-one days before succeeding. At that time, our Divine Sword Sacred Land's ancestor was also one of those ten artifact refiners. Since that's the case, I'll take this broken sword to see Grandfather now. Perhaps he might know some secrets."

Lu Fantian nodded. "Indeed, we should report this to Grandfather."

Then, Lu Fantian's gaze shifted back to Zhang Ruochen, his curiosity growing. Could it be that he was neither a student of the Martial Market Academy nor a disciple of the Taiji Dao, but someone sent by Empress Chi Yao?

Lu Xuan carried the Abyssal Ancient Sword, preparing to return to Divine Sword Sacred Land. Suddenly, she stopped, turned around, and asked, "Hey! What's your name? Also, tell me that poem you recited earlier. I'll ask about it for you."

"Zhang Ruochen."

Zhang Ruochen recited a line of poetry: "In the deep forest, no one knows; the bright moon comes to shine on me. Thank you, miss."

"Just call me Lu Xuan! Hehe!"

A string of wind-chime-like laughter rang out, and then Lu Xuan vanished into the Spirit Mountain with a few flashes.

Lu Fantian remained standing there, staring at Zhang Ruochen with curiosity. "Zhang Ruochen. Why haven't I heard this name before? With your strength, you shouldn't be so unknown. Is this your real name?"

Zhang Ruochen said, "I have no need to use a false name. With the power of Divine Sword Sacred Land, finding out my identity would be easy."

Lu Fantian nodded. "Your strength isn't weak, but your cultivation realm is still somewhat lacking. If we truly fought, you might not withstand ten of my moves."

In front of an expert like Lu Fantian, there was no point in hiding anything, as it couldn't be concealed. From that single exchange of moves, Lu Fantian had roughly gauged Zhang Ruochen's realm level.

At the same time, Zhang Ruochen had also roughly figured out Lu Fantian's strength—he was indeed a formidable opponent.

Earlier, when Lu Xuan said he could rank in the top ten of the Eastern Region's younger generation, it was probably not an exaggeration.

...

Divine Sword Sacred Land, Yu Saint Spirit Mountain.

Yu Saint Spirit Mountain was the foremost among the eighteen Spirit Mountains. The master of the Spirit Mountain was named Lu Huaiyu, known as "Yu Saint."

Yu Saint appeared to be already white-haired, with a face full of wrinkles, looking like an eighty or ninety-year-old man, his body so thin that the shape of his bones was visible. However, his eyes were as bright as two stars, capable of holding infinite wisdom and emitting eternal light.

At this moment, Yu Saint held the Abyssal Ancient Sword, trembling with excitement, his hands shaking uncontrollably as he muttered:

"In the deep forest, no one knows; the bright moon comes to shine on me."

...

After reciting it three times, Yu Saint calmed his inner excitement, placed the Abyssal Ancient Sword on the stone platform beside him, and fixed his gaze on Lu Xuan with an expectant expression. "What is that person's name? How old is he? Besides this poem, what else did he say?"

Lu Xuan knelt properly in the center of the sacred hall, lifting her head slightly. It was the first time she had seen the ancestor so excited.

After all, the ancestor was a saint, someone who had lived over four hundred years.

Why was he so excited?

Beside her, Lu Xuan's grandfather, Lu Jingyuan, and her great-grandfather, Lu Chongyu, were also kneeling in the sacred hall, looking very respectful.

Seeing that Lu Xuan hadn't answered the ancestor's question for a while, Lu Jingyuan shot her a glare and said in a low voice, "Xuan'er, the ancestor is asking you a question. What are you spacing out for?"

Lu Xuan shuddered, immediately snapped back to reality, kowtowed on the ground, and quickly replied, "Reporting to the ancestor, that person's name is Zhang Ruochen, about twenty years old."

When Yu Saint heard the name "Zhang Ruochen," his brow furrowed slightly, and a contemplative expression appeared on his face. After a moment, as if he had thought of something, his expression changed. "How could it be this name? How could it..."

Yu Saint's eyes gleamed with wisdom. He asked again, "Where is he now?"

"At the Sword Stele," Lu Xuan said.

Yu Saint said, "Immediately invite him to Yu Saint Spirit Mountain. He must be treated well and not slighted."

As if still uneasy, he added, "Lu Chongyu, go fetch him. Remember, try not to let outsiders see him. Bring him directly to me."

After Lu Chongyu left, Lu Xuan and Lu Jingyuan also walked out of the sacred hall.

Lu Xuan stuck out her tongue, somewhat puzzled, and whispered, "Grandfather, who is that kid really? The ancestor actually sent Great-Grandfather to fetch him in person. That's too much face, isn't it?"

Lu Jingyuan's expression was serious. "Xuan'er, this person's background is probably bigger than we imagine. The ancestor just sent me a secret sound transmission, telling me not to breathe a word of this to anyone."

Lu Xuan's mouth fell open, showing an expression of disbelief. Her mind recalled Zhang Ruochen's figure, and she muttered quietly to herself, "Besides being a bit handsome, he doesn't seem that remarkable."

...

A short while later, led by Lu Chongyu, Zhang Ruochen arrived at the sacred hall of Yu Saint Spirit Mountain and met Yu Saint, Lu Huaiyu.

Lu Chongyu withdrew, leaving only Zhang Ruochen and Yu Saint in the sacred hall.

Yu Saint carefully examined Zhang Ruochen for a long while before asking, "Were you sent by the Bright Hall?"

The Bright Hall was a force founded by the remnants of Ming Emperor's old subordinates. Like the Moon Worship Demon Sect, it had always been active in the Kunlun Realm, resisting Empress Chi Yao's rule.

However, the Bright Hall's power was mainly concentrated in the Central Earth Nine Provinces, with relatively weaker influence in the four domains of East, South, West, and North.

That was why the Bright Hall's influence in the Eastern Region wasn't that strong.

Although Zhang Ruochen had never interacted with the Bright Hall, he knew of its existence. He wasn't surprised when Yu Saint asked this question.

Zhang Ruochen said, "I am not from the Bright Hall."

Yu Saint said, "If you're not from the Bright Hall, then how do you know that line of poetry?"

Zhang Ruochen looked upward. The old man sitting above was not his sixth senior brother, Lu Yuanzhi, so he remained cautious and was unwilling to reveal his identity easily.

Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then slightly cupped his hands. "Junior has some unspeakable difficulties. There are some things I will only answer after seeing Senior Lu Yuanzhi."

Yu Saint frowned slightly. "Lu Yuanzhi was my grandfather. Don't you know that he passed away three hundred years ago?"

"What? He... has already passed away..."

Although Zhang Ruochen had long anticipated this outcome, hearing it from Yu Saint's own mouth still filled him with deep sorrow.

Eight hundred years had passed, and indeed, time had changed everything. Even saints could die of old age.

Yu Saint continued, "Now, I am the master of Divine Sword Sacred Land. If you have any matters or words, tell me directly. Perhaps I can help you as well."

Zhang Ruochen naturally couldn't tell Yu Saint the truth, because he only trusted his sixth senior brother, Lu Yuanzhi.

Could he trust anyone else?

The events of that year were too strange. Even the person he loved most had personally struck him down with a sword. Who else could he trust?

Now, Chi Yao had been on the throne for five hundred years. The imperial court's power was at its peak, sweeping through all obstacles and ruling over all directions. How could Zhang Ruochen dare to casually reveal his identity?

Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath, cupped his hands again, and bowed. "Junior has only come to repair a sword. There is nothing else."

A hint of disappointment appeared in Yu Saint's eyes. His gaze fell on the broken sword, and then he smiled. "May I ask bluntly, where did you obtain this broken sword?"

Zhang Ruochen calmly replied, "Junior found it in the Martial Market of Yunwu Commandery. At the time, I thought its material was special, so I purchased it. Later, I asked many artifact refining masters, but none could repair it. I heard that Divine Sword Sacred Land is a sacred land of artifact refining, so I presumptuously came to visit Master Lu, hoping to ask him to help repair the sword. I never expected that Master Lu had already passed away three hundred years ago."

Yu Saint said, "So, before this, you didn't know this sword was forged from Creation Divine Iron?"

"That's correct," Zhang Ruochen said.

Yu Saint smiled. "Back then, Divine Sword Sacred Land also participated in forging the sword. I know some secrets about the Creation Divine Iron and this sword. Are you interested in knowing?"

Zhang Ruochen knew that Yu Saint was deliberately testing him.