Chapter 12: Shock

From the moment Chu Fengmian entered the Wanqi Pavilion, he had noticed a certain turbulence in the sword intent within Xuan Jingtai’s body.

Chu Fengmian knew very well that this was the result of a sword cultivator attempting to force the cultivation of sword intent by relying on external forces, leading instead to a deviation in their practice.

It was precisely because of this that Chu Fengmian had deliberately spoken those words to Xuan Jingtai.

"Who are you?"

This time, Xuan Jingtai did not continue to question him further.

Chu Fengmian’s words just now had already proven that what he said was not empty talk.

Chu Fengmian spoke calmly.

"Shopkeeper Xuan should know me—Chu Fengmian, the Chief Steward of the Lin family’s outer estate."

"Good, good, good. Indeed, there are no mediocre people among the Chu family."

Xuan Jingtai stared at him for a long time before speaking.

"So, everything you did in the Lin residence was a facade. No wonder a piece of trash without spiritual meridians could grow to this extent in a single day."

Xuan Jingtai smiled.

"Chief Steward Chu, what brings you to my Wanqi Pavilion?"

"It’s simple. I just want to discuss a business deal with Shopkeeper Xuan."

Chu Fengmian said in a calm tone.

"I want that Profound-grade high-tier light sword."

"Oh?" Xuan Jingtai did not refute him directly this time, but instead said with interest, "Let’s skip the pleasantries. That Profound-grade high-tier light sword is named Qingxuan. It was forged by a guest elder of the Heavenly Sword Sect. On the open market, it would be worth at least ten million Bone Tempering Pills. I wonder what kind of business deal Chief Steward Chu intends to propose to purchase this Qingxuan sword?"

Ten million Bone Tempering Pills—even for the Lin residence, if they were to pay that out, it would be a bone-breaking, tendon-tearing blow.

This Qingxuan sword had always been a treasure of the pavilion, and Xuan Jingtai had never even considered selling it.

He wanted to see exactly what kind of capability Chu Fengmian possessed to have such a massive appetite.

"What if I, Chu, could resolve the backlash of the sword intent within your body, Shopkeeper Xuan?"

Chu Fengmian said with a smile.

"I offer to resolve the backlash of the sword intent in your body in exchange for this Qingxuan sword. I wonder if Shopkeeper Xuan is interested in this deal?"

"Is that true?"

Xuan Jingtai raised an eyebrow and looked at Chu Fengmian, as if he found it hard to believe.

Sword intent backlash was an extremely severe injury for any sword cultivator; it could even be said to be an eternal wound, nearly impossible to resolve in one's lifetime.

To resolve the effects of such a backlash, one would require a Heaven-grade pill—the Hua Xuan Pill—along with the assistance of countless powerful experts.

The Hua Xuan Pill was a legendary Heaven-grade pill that hadn't appeared in the Wusheng Kingdom for a thousand years, making this sword intent backlash an almost impossible injury to heal.

Xuan Jingtai looked at Chu Fengmian and said coldly, "If you can truly resolve this backlash, never mind this Qingxuan sword, I, Xuan Jingtai, am willing to do three things for you."

"Deal!"

Hearing Xuan Jingtai’s words, Chu Fengmian did not hesitate.

Suddenly, a vast sword intent crashed down upon Xuan Jingtai.

"This is! Such powerful sword intent! Who is it! Which expert is this!"

Feeling the sudden surge of sword intent, Xuan Jingtai looked around in shock.

In the face of this sword intent, Xuan Jingtai felt like a tiny ant. Such an expert could not be found in Linwu City, nor perhaps even in the entire Wusheng Kingdom.

Only those legendary sword masters of the Heavenly Sword Sect could possess such power.

"Do not panic! Hold onto your sword heart!"

Chu Fengmian roared, causing Xuan Jingtai to quickly calm down.

The sword intent within Xuan Jingtai’s body transformed into a giant serpent.

"Ever-changing? This is the ever-changing sword intent!"

Seeing this, Xuan Jingtai was stunned.

This was a realm that could only be reached at the peak of sword intent. Seeing it with his own eyes left him in disbelief.

What shocked him even more was that the giant serpent began to devour all the residual sword intent left by the backlash within his body.

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

"This..."

It all happened in the blink of an eye.

By the time Xuan Jingtai reacted, his body had fully recovered. The residual sword intent was long gone.

"Shopkeeper Xuan, keep your word."

Chu Fengmian looked at Xuan Jingtai with a smile.

"Yes, Mo'er, go get the Qingxuan sword quickly."

Xuan Jingtai hurriedly reacted and shouted toward the door.

Soon, a pretty young girl walked in holding a cyan light sword.

The girl was an ordinary person, not a martial artist, yet she held the cyan spirit sword with great ease.

"I, Xuan Jingtai, have always kept my word. This Qingxuan sword now belongs to Chief Steward Chu."

Xuan Jingtai took the Qingxuan sword and handed it to Chu Fengmian.

Chu Fengmian took it. The sword had almost no weight and was extremely supple. For an ordinary martial artist, such a light sword would be difficult to use, as it was too soft to channel energy through effectively.

But for Chu Fengmian, this Qingxuan sword was perfect.

"Also, as for the three things I promised, Chief Steward Chu, if you have any requests, you can come to the Wanqi Pavilion to find me. I, Xuan Jingtai, will never refuse."

"Good."

Chu Fengmian took the Qingxuan sword, nodded faintly, and walked out of the Wanqi Pavilion.

Only after Chu Fengmian had walked far away did the girl named Mo'er come to Xuan Jingtai’s side.

"Uncle Xuan, is your injury really healed?"

The girl had heard the entire conversation between Chu Fengmian and Xuan Jingtai from outside.

"Indeed."

Xuan Jingtai stretched his limbs; it had been a long time since he felt this comfortable.

The backlash had always made him feel unwell, but now that the sword intent was removed, he finally felt at ease.

"I never expected that such miraculous methods truly existed in this world. Ever-changing... it seems the legends were not false after all."

Xuan Jingtai muttered to himself.

The realm of "ever-changing" had only ever appeared in rumors. Sword intent was formless; how could one utilize it to change into a thousand forms?

But this time, Xuan Jingtai realized he had been a frog in a well, and there were countless things in this world he did not know.

"Is it really that miraculous? Then why didn't Uncle Xuan capture that brat? I saw his strength was only at the fifth level of the Bone Tempering Realm. If you had captured him, you could have found out everything."

Mo'er asked curiously.

"Mo'er, do you really think that brat was the one who resolved my sword intent?"

Xuan Jingtai looked at her and said with a wry smile.

"That kid is merely a puppet. Behind him stands a terrifying existence."

"If we offend him, our Wanqi Pavilion is finished."

Ever-changing sword intent.

Who would believe that a kid at the fifth level of the Bone Tempering Realm could wield such a thing?

Moreover, within that sword intent, Xuan Jingtai had recognized a few clues.

The *Sword Heart Clarity Manual*.

The sword intent contained the aura of the Heavenly Sword Sect’s countless techniques, specifically the *Sword Heart Clarity Manual*. This meant that the person who had acted was definitely an expert from the Heavenly Sword Sect, perhaps even an elder.

Such a big figure was someone Xuan Jingtai could never hope to meet in his lifetime. If he hadn't seen the *Sword Heart Clarity Manual* once before, he would never have recognized it.

"Chu Fengmian actually has an expert from the Heavenly Sword Sect behind him. Could the Chu family be related to the Heavenly Sword Sect? The Chu family has always been mysterious, but regardless, I must maintain a good relationship with this kid."

Xuan Jingtai thought to himself.

The Wanqi Pavilion had always had intricate ties with the Heavenly Sword Sect.

No matter what, he had to stay on good terms with Chu Fengmian. The three favors he had offered were precisely for this purpose.