"May I be so bold as to ask, why were you within that sword qi crystal, and why..."
Xun Wuxian extended a hand to Wen Wen, signaling him to cease his questions. "That is a secret of the Xun family, and I cannot disclose it."
He then stretched his body slightly and said to Wen Wen, "I do not have much time to move, but I can spare some to help you resolve some minor troubles, such as him..."
As Xun Wuxian finished speaking, a fiery red fireball descended from the sky, striking the ground and creating a large crater.
From the crater emerged a stout, short figure engulfed in flames, none other than the previously fleeing Redbeard.
Redbeard was now thinner than before, his eyes blazing with hysterical madness.
"Where is the Jester? Where is the sword qi crystal!"
Wen Wen immediately noticed that Redbeard's state was off, as if he had lost his sanity, much like Jiumo when wielding the demonic sword.
In his hand was a ferocious longsword... no, perhaps one could not call it holding.
The hilt of the longsword had vanished, replaced by tentacles of flesh and metal tightly wrapped around Redbeard's right arm.
Even with the sword's changed appearance, Wen Wen could still recognize it as the longsword forged from the sword embryo Redbeard had prepared.
It seemed he was dissatisfied with the Jester taking the sword qi crystal, so he had quickly forged a demonic sword suitable for him using Matilda and that sword embryo, intending to reclaim the sword qi crystal.
However, already severely injured, he was unable to control this hastily crafted demonic sword and was instead being controlled by it.
More tragically, although the sword embryo and materials of this new demonic sword were superior to those of his previous demonic swords,
due to the rushed manufacturing process, this demonic sword had not significantly increased Redbeard's strength. In fact, with his mind being controlled, his strength had even weakened.
Let alone that the Jester had now become Xun Wuxian of the Disaster True Sequence, even if he were still the original Jester, his reappearance would merely be him delivering himself to death.
Others might be intimidated by his ferocious appearance, but Wen Wen, possessing the Mirror Eye, could directly perceive his strength.
"That sword embryo is quite good, but it's a pity it was forged into this object of misunderstanding... What a shame."
Xun Wuxian shook his head regretfully, condensing a pale white longsword in his hand.
With this single strike, the current Redbeard could be slain, but Wen Wen stepped in front of Xun Wuxian.
"He doesn't need Senior's help. I wish to ask Senior for another small favor."
Xun Wuxian frowned and said, "Then you must be quick, I am in a hurry."
Wen Wen revealed a confident smile and said, "Don't worry, it will be very quick."
After speaking, Wen Wen walked towards Redbeard and drew his Frost Longsword.
If Xun Wuxian were to act, Redbeard would surely die, but Wen Wen did not want him to die.
Regardless of how many ordinary people would perish with Redbeard's death, Wen Wen did not want him to die given his value to the Containment Facility.
Furthermore, Wen Wen wanted to try that sword that Xun Ying had taught him!
Wen Wen had attempted that sword countless times but had never successfully executed it. Yet, now, Wen Wen felt he could use it.
Perhaps it was due to comprehending the Heart Sword, or perhaps he had been inspired by seeing Xun Wuxian's sword qi; in any case, Wen Wen now had a strong intuition, and... an impulse!
Seeing Wen Wen approach, Redbeard roared to the sky, then charged at Wen Wen, his footsteps melting the ground beneath him with intense heat.
Wen Wen remained calm, gripping the sword hilt with both hands, taking a deep breath, adopting the stance he had practiced thousands of times, and then closing his eyes.
After closing his eyes, Wen Wen did not lose his perception of his surroundings. Faint sword qi formed a large ring around him, and he could sense everything within the ring.
"This sword... so that's how it is..."
As the sword move took shape, Wen Wen immediately discovered its uniqueness.
It was not about cutting everything in the path of the sword's edge, but about cutting what Wen Wen intended to cut in front of him.
Simply because of this intention, this sword possessed infinite possibilities.
Before Wen Wen could strike, Xun Wuxian, who was observing from the side, raised his eyebrows and exclaimed with surprise,
"The sword is not yet unsheathed, yet it already possesses such power. This sword is extraordinary. Who taught him?"
The now deranged Redbeard was unaware of how dangerous Wen Wen was at this moment. He continued to charge at Wen Wen, leaping high and slashing at Wen Wen when he was ten meters away.
Where Redbeard's sword tip pointed, it was like a volcanic eruption. The sword qi, a fusion of magma and flame, seemed poised to engulf Wen Wen entirely.
"Following one's heart, cutting through all things.
Looking at Wen Wen's back, Xun Wuxian sighed, "As an old fossil like myself, I am truly outdated... Young man, who taught you your sword technique?"
Wen Wen's sword possessed the shadow of Xun family sword techniques, its power likely comparable to some of the Xun family's secret, unpassed techniques. Only a true 'Sword Immortal' could create such a level of swordsmanship.
However, among the few moves Xun Wuxian knew, this sword was not present.
Wen Wen answered without hesitation, "The Punisher, Xun Ying."
"Xun Ying... The Xun family has a new Sword Immortal. I am eager to meet him."
Hundreds of years ago, the titles of superhumans at various levels had not yet been unified. At that time, swordsmen in the 'True Self' realm were called Sword Immortals.