Chapter 37: An Old Acquaintance

This spiritual sword, carved into the center of this stone door, was merely a statue, yet at a single glance, one could perceive its sheer sharpness.

It was as if everything in the world meant nothing beneath this blade.

Even though only its outward form was depicted, the terrifying edge and sword intent were palpable; the skill of the carver was undoubtedly extreme.

"The Extreme Dao Sword Seal?"

When Chu Fengmian saw the spiritual sword carved upon the stone door, his expression could only be described as pure shock.

He scrutinized it repeatedly before finally confirming that the sword carved on this stone door was indeed it.

"The Extreme Dao Sword Seal... how could it be beneath this pool?"

Chu Fengmian’s brow furrowed deeply; what he was witnessing before him was incomprehensible.

However, there was no time for him to continue contemplating.

The medicinal potency of the Jade Dew Pill he had consumed was nearly exhausted.

"Since it is the Extreme Dao Sword Seal, I should be able to do this," Chu Fengmian thought to himself. Suddenly, a powerful surge of sword intent erupted from his body.

The moment this sword intent burst forth from Chu Fengmian, the spiritual sword carved on the stone door erupted with an equally heaven-shaking sword intent.

The two intents were remarkably similar, and they began to merge with one another.

With a loud *thud*, a gap opened in the stone door.

Seeing this, Chu Fengmian moved instantly, rushing into the stone door. The door quickly slammed shut behind him, blocking the pool water outside, allowing only a small amount to trickle in.

Once inside, Chu Fengmian finally let out a slow breath of relief.

Deep within the pool, he had nearly reached the point of total exhaustion.

Sitting on the ground, Chu Fengmian took a jade bottle from his storage bag, poured out several Qi Gathering Pills, and swallowed them.

As his spiritual energy gradually recovered, a warmth radiated from his body, drying his clothes and leaving him feeling much more refreshed.

"Phew, it's a good thing I preserved most of my sword intent, otherwise I might not have been able to break even this Extreme Dao Sword Seal," Chu Fengmian muttered to himself.

If he had failed to open the Extreme Dao Sword Seal today, it would have truly been a joke—like a man unable to enter his own home.

The Extreme Dao Sword Seal was, in fact, a restriction once created by Chu Fengmian's former master, the Lord of the Sword Dao.

It required an extremely high level of sword intent to open, and one also had to possess the specific method to do so.

The Lord of the Sword Dao had once taught his disciples how to set and open the Extreme Dao Sword Seal, and Chu Fengmian naturally remembered it.

One could say that the Extreme Dao Sword Seal was indeed like Chu Fengmian's home.

But why would the Extreme Dao Sword Seal appear here in the Desolate Mountains?

Chu Fengmian scanned his surroundings, a hint of confusion clouding his mind.

Only the Lord of the Sword Dao and Chu Fengmian's former senior brothers and sisters could have set the Extreme Dao Sword Seal.

Yet, he had no memory of anyone coming to these Desolate Mountains.

The Wusheng Kingdom was merely a remote territory; to the former Chu Fengmian, there would have been no reason to choose such a small place, and the same applied to the Lord of the Sword Dao and his senior disciples.

However, the Extreme Dao Sword Seal was definitely authentic. At the very least, the person who left this cave dwelling must have had a certain connection to Chu Fengmian.

Once his spiritual energy was fully restored, Chu Fengmian stood up, drew the Azure Profound Sword, and began walking slowly toward the depths of the cave.

While most cave dwellings had restrictions at the entrance, it was inevitable that some martial artists would choose to set traps deeper within.

Every one of Chu Fengmian's former senior brothers and sisters had been a peerless genius and a renowned powerhouse on the continent; even a trap they set casually would be lethal to him.

He had to remain vigilant.

He proceeded with extreme caution throughout his journey, but he did not encounter any traps.

The cave was not deep, appearing to end after only a few dozen meters.

The end opened into a vast cavern, a thousand meters in length and width. In the center of this cavern, a massive skeleton caught Chu Fengmian's eye.

The skeleton resembled a giant bird, lying solitary and slumbering in the center of the cave.

Every bone within it shimmered with a cyan-blue hue.

It was unknown how many years this skeleton had been dead, yet it remained as bright as new. The majesty it exuded caused Chu Fengmian to sharpen his gaze, not daring to treat it with any lightness.

In life, this skeleton must have belonged to a true powerhouse; such bones could remain immortal for ten thousand years. Even though the being had fallen ten millennia ago, if Chu Fengmian were to show any disrespect, he would likely face extreme danger.

"Ten thousand years... in these ten thousand years, someone has actually managed to break the Extreme Dao Sword Seal and enter the cave."

An aged voice suddenly rang out. Within the cave, countless cyan-blue flames suddenly appeared, bathing the entire space in a blue light.

Though the voice was extremely weak, one could still sense the majesty of its owner.

*Whoosh!*

As the flames converged before Chu Fengmian, the figure of an old man with cyan eyebrows slowly manifested.

The old man's face was covered in wrinkles, yet every movement he made carried an endless fighting spirit, as if he were a god of war.

"Little fellow, how were you able to break this Extreme Dao Sword Seal? After ten thousand years, I thought no one would be capable of it anymore."

"Qing Luan? Are you Qing Luan?"

Seeing the old man's appearance, a familiar figure suddenly surfaced in Chu Fengmian's mind, causing the name to slip from his lips.

His voice held not just surprise, but a trace of nostalgia. He had not expected to encounter an old acquaintance after ten thousand years.

"Little fellow, you know me?"

A look of strangeness appeared on Qing Luan's face.

After ten thousand years, not only had someone broken the seal, but they had also spoken as if they knew him.

Chu Fengmian's expression and thoughts could not be faked; in front of a powerhouse of this caliber, any lie would be seen through instantly.

Yet, Chu Fengmian's expression held nothing but excitement and nostalgia, as if he were reuniting with an old friend.

"As I thought, seeing me like this, no one recognizes me anymore," Chu Fengmian sighed inwardly.

Ten thousand years had passed; the world had changed, and the past had faded like clouds. Now that he possessed a different body, even an old acquaintance would not recognize him.

Chu Fengmian calmed his emotions and spoke calmly.

"Below Tianjue Peak, two people sparred with swords. You lost, and you served as my mount for a month."