Chapter 468

Chapter 468: Smooth Return

Ao Jianzi’s face turned green with rage at Fang Lie’s words. As a sword cultivator, his creed was "with a sword in hand, the world is mine." Apart from his life-bound flying sword, he possessed no other treasures.

Forbidding a sword cultivator from using their sword was like crippling them. How could he fight Fang Lie bare-handed?

After plundering the Ghost Realm Sect, Fang Lie’s wealth had become extraordinary. Even without thunder pearls, he still had plenty of treasures. This battle was blatantly unfair.

"Have you no shame?" Ao Jianzi spat bitterly. "My life-bound flying sword was forged by my own hands—proof of my skill! Your thunder pearls were just handed to you by elders. How are they comparable? I once thought you heroic, Fang Lie, but you’re nothing but a petty man relying on your elders’ handouts!"

"Exactly! Shameless!"

"If you’re scared, just say so! Stop making excuses!" The other East Kunlun disciples chimed in.

Fang Lie snorted coldly. "You lot are the real shameless ones. Claiming your life-bound swords are earned through personal skill? Ridiculous! Without your elders’ help, could any of you have tamed an Eighth-Rank Flying Sword? Admit it—who here isn’t a spoiled brat coasting on their seniors’ efforts?"

The crowd fell silent, their arguments crumbling.

Most disciples had their life-bound swords implanted by elders in infancy, using secret techniques to gradually refine them. Without such aid, even mastering a Seventh-rank sword would be impossible—let alone an Eighth-Rank.

"You—" Ao Jianzi trembled, teeth grinding, but found no rebuttal.

During the Little Demon Chamber incident, he’d schemed to claim top honors in demon-slaying, only to elevate Fang Lie’s fame while meeting an unexplained death.

Though revived through sect secrets, Ao Jianzi’s strength had diminished by ten percent, requiring at least a year to recover. His spiritual root talent had dulled too—still notable, but no longer extraordinary.

Fang Lie was the prime culprit. Ao Jianzi had hoped to publicly slay him today, earning his juniors’ awe. Instead, their grand interception ended in humiliation—a whole group cowed by mere thunder pearls, reduced to petty arguments.

Outmatched in both logic and combat, Ao Jianzi burned with helpless fury, wishing the ground would swallow him.

As the tension peaked, Sword God’s voice thundered: "Enough foolishness! Return to your training!"

The disciples scattered like startled birds.

Seizing the escape route, Ao Jianzi shouted, "This isn’t over, Fang Lie! I’ll destroy you someday!" before fleeing on his sword.

Watching his retreat, Fang Lie taunted: "Why wait? Fight now! The runner’s a coward!"

Ao Jianzi accelerated without looking back.

Fang Lie’s laughter echoed as he continued his journey.

Once out of sight, Ao Jianzi felt an irresistible force whisk him to a secluded cave where Sword God awaited, face stormy.

"I, Li Qingtian, carried myself with pride—how did my line produce such disgrace?" Sword God’s voice trembled with anger. "Your father murdered Fang Gang out of jealousy, then basked in undeserved glory. That fool cost us our sect treasure—the Star Gold Element Core!"

"You’re worse!" He glared at Ao Jianzi. "Gifting treasures then ambushing the recipient? Is East Kunlun a Righteous Sect or common bandits? I surrendered the Star Gold Element Core to preserve our honor—which you’ve now shattered!"

"But should we let him keep our treasure?" Ao Jianzi protested.

"Fool!" Sword God snapped. "Must Kunlun resort to theft? If he took it openly, we’ll reclaim it openly! Where’s your dignity as Young Master? I gave you the Proud Heaven Divine Sword not for arrogance, but to forge unyielding resolve! Understand?"

"Got it!" Ao Jianzi immediately raised his head and shouted, "I’ll defeat Fang Lie openly and take back the Star Gold Element Core!"

"Good!" The Sword God nodded with satisfaction. "In three years, the Celestial Platform Sword Contest will gather young heroes competing for the title of strongest in our generation. Can you defeat all Talents and claim first place?"

"Yes!" Ao Jianzi declared. "The top spot is mine!"

"Good!" The Sword God said. "Fang Lie will join. Use this treasure to wager against his Star Gold Element Core. With his stubbornness, he’ll accept. Win fairly, and we reclaim what’s ours."

"Understood!" Ao Jianzi took the offered item—a three-inch crimson cauldron shimmering like flowing fire.

After examining it, he frowned. "Grandfather, what is this? Is it worth the Star Gold Element Core? If not, Fang Lie might refuse."

"He’ll accept," the Sword God said lightly. "This Ninth-Rank Treasure Pill Furnace is irresistible to any alchemist."

"A Ninth-Rank Pill Furnace?" Ao Jianzi gasped. "Aren’t those exclusive to Xuan Sect?"

"Nonsense!" The Sword God scowled. "This was the treasured relic of an ancient sect. After their destruction, it self-sealed its spiritual awareness, becoming like this. It has no ties to Xuan Sect."

"Self-sealed?" Ao Jianzi frowned. "That’s incurable. It’s worthless! Why would Fang Lie gamble his treasure for this?"

"Not necessarily," the Sword God sighed. "Fang Lei possesses Nirvana True Fire from the ancient Divine Phoenix lineage. This Phoenix Furnace shares their bloodline. Only he can unseal it—that’s why he’ll take the bet."

"I see!" Ao Jianzi clenched the cauldron. "I’ll never let him have it! He’ll never use this for alchemy!"

"Fool!" The Sword God snapped. "Fang Lie’s rise is unstoppable. Our goal isn’t suppression but reducing enmity. Even as a Thunder Tribulation Immortal, his unkillable nature could cripple us!"

"Win or lose, we’ll gift this to him," the Sword God continued. "Accepting it nullifies his father’s vendetta. But you must win first!"

"I will!" Ao Jianzi insisted. "In three years, my Qi Sea will surpass thirteen thousand miles!"

"Good." The Sword God’s expression darkened. "But don’t underestimate him. His Qi Sea grew from a hundred zhang to a thousand miles in a year. With such talent, who knows his limits? Stay here for closed-door training—no distractions. Clean up your foolish father’s mess!"

The Sword God vanished.

Gritting his teeth, Ao Jianzi began cultivating fiercely.

Later meetings resumed normality without Fang Lie’s disruptions. The first agenda addressed Ao Jianzi’s Little Demon Chamber crimes—using forbidden True Demon Blood and sacrificing allies when overwhelmed. Even the Sword God flushed with shame during the accusations.

Forced to apologize publicly, the Sword God compensated sects with star gold. Though still valuable, its worth had plummeted since Fang Lie revealed East Kunlun’s Star Gold Element Core and massive deposits.

As rarity dictates value, East Kunlun’s mountain-sized mines caused prices to crash. The Sword God shrewdly offloaded star gold before market collapse.

Victims reluctantly accepted, knowing protesting was futile—no rules were technically broken. They departed with devalued metal and simmering resentment.