Xu Yi looked into the distance and said softly, "Don't you want to see your Wave-Splitting Slash reinterpreted by swordsmen with different sword arts?"
True Lord Batian's tone paused slightly, "Reinterpreted?"
"Yes, don't you like constant change? An unchanging Wave-Splitting Slash must be quite uninteresting to you. Why not try changing your approach?"
Xu Yi's words were like a flash of inspiration, dispelling the confusion in True Lord Batian's heart.
True Lord Batian's eyes shone brighter and brighter, and her gaze toward Xu Yi was full of admiration, "You always have so many clever ideas."
Xu Yi's serene smile froze for a moment.
Was that a compliment?
Never mind, she would take it as a compliment.
With Xu Yi's suggestion, True Lord Batian was enlightened, and a playful smile appeared on her gentle face.
"Then I must think carefully about who to choose."
There were two swordsmen in this secret realm whom she could choose from, and she needed to make a good selection.
Xu Yi offered no opinion on this matter.
Regardless of whom True Lord Batian chose, she would respect the decision and not interfere, even if one of the candidates was her good friend.
True Lord Canghai and Bei Xinghan were unaware that Xu Yi had, in just a few words, persuaded True Lord Batian to change her mind.
They only felt a chill run down their spines, an inexplicable premonition of something amiss.
Within the Wave-Splitting Secret Realm.
After searching the rocky shore thoroughly, Elder Zui Yue finally had to accept a fact: Xu Yi was gone.
Just moments ago, Xu Yi had been sitting in front of her, but in the next instant, she had vanished from her sight.
Elder Zui Yue hadn't even heard a sound.
She forced herself to remain calm and took out her communication disk to inform the sect leader.
When she heard the voice of the Qinglian Sect Leader, her tone was tinged with panic, "Sect Leader, something terrible has happened. Old Ancestor Xu is gone!"
"What's the situation? Detail it."
"Yes, it's like this..."
Elder Zui Yue recounted everything that had happened from the moment she and Xu Yi entered the Wave-Splitting Secret Realm, slowly and meticulously.
Elder Zui Yue had expected the Qinglian Sect Leader to fly into a rage or even scold her upon hearing of Xu Yi's disappearance.
After all, the Qinglian Sect Leader had entrusted Xu Yi's safety to her.
To her surprise, after hearing the entire story, the Qinglian Sect Leader paused for a moment and simply told her to continue waiting there, offering no further comment.
Elder Zui Yue, bewildered, could only ask, "Sect Leader, should I invite a few more elders to search for Old Ancestor Xu's whereabouts?"
"No, when the time is right, she will appear on her own."
The young sect leader ended the communication with Elder Zui Yue with a smile.
Dean Deng was indeed right.
Xu Yi must have already found Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai.
Now, all that was left was for her to bring them out of the secret realm.
This time, they owed the Xuanji Sect another favor.
The Qinglian Sect Leader pondered how to prepare a gift of gratitude while eagerly awaiting the return of Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai.
...
"I've changed my mind, I don't need you to defeat me."
True Lord Batian stood before Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai, for the first time discarding her branch and taking out her natal magic treasure.
It was an extremely sharp long sword, with a calm hue and an ancient, unpretentious appearance. At first glance, it seemed ordinary.
She said to Bei Xinghan and the other, "I will demonstrate the Wave-Splitting Slash for you now, and then I will give you one year to fully grasp it.
Whichever of you achieves a more satisfactory result, I will choose.
Do you understand?"
True Lord Canghai and Bei Xinghan instinctively exchanged glances, then looked at Xu Yi.
Xu Yi had only arrived a short while ago, and True Lord Batian had already changed her mind. It was hard not to suspect a connection.
Xu Yi offered them a faint smile in return.
Bei Xinghan understood Xu Yi well. Seeing her expression, he knew she wouldn't say more, so he stopped dwelling on it and said loudly, "Please guide us, Old Ancestor!"
True Lord Batian looked at True Lord Canghai.
"Please guide us, Old Ancestor!" True Lord Canghai clasped his hands in a salute.
"Good, then you must watch carefully."
True Lord Batian smiled slightly and walked briskly towards the seaside.
Her steps were unhurried, yet the onlookers couldn't help but quicken their heartbeats, especially Xu Yi.
She had long yearned to witness the legendary Wave-Splitting Sword Skill, and to be able to see it firsthand today was an immense honor.
Although Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai were also very excited, their gazes held more tension and scrutiny than Xu Yi's.
True Lord Batian's choice was a form of validation for them.
And since they both wished to be the one validated, they naturally had to give it their all.
"Watch closely."
As the words fell,
True Lord Batian's sword moved.
In this mysterious space, there was no spiritual energy.
Therefore, True Lord Batian swung her sword without relying on spiritual power.
Yet her single strike caused waves to curl back and the sea to part, leaving everyone dumbfounded.
Effortless mastery, divine skill.
Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai were brought back to their senses by Xu Yi's applause and cheers.
Their expressions were all somewhat solemn.
The Wave-Splitting Sword Skill displayed by True Lord Batian was obscure and profound; they had likely not even comprehended a tenth of it.
However, True Lord Batian gave them no further opportunity.
She sheathed her sword and returned to Xu Yi's side. She pulled Xu Yi down to sit, and began to tell Xu Yi about the places she had visited and some of her cultivation insights.
These were things others would covet, yet True Lord Batian so easily bestowed them upon Xu Yi.
Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai intended to shamelessly approach and ask for some tips, but before they could get too close, they were forced to retreat by True Lord Batian's cold gaze.
Bei Xinghan secretly signaled to Xu Yi. Xu Yi shrugged, returning a look of helplessness, thus retaliating for Bei Xinghan not saving her when she fell into the water.
Bei Xinghan had no choice but to withdraw helplessly.
Without True Lord Batian's guidance, Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai practiced even more diligently.
They practiced day and night, their swords never leaving their hands.
Xu Yi watched as their sharp sword moves gradually became softer, like water.
After a period of time, Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai's sword moves changed again.
Their swordsmanship lost its gentleness, gaining a more majestic aura.
Xu Yi knew this was the change brought about by their contemplation of the Wave-Splitting Slash.
In fact, it wasn't just Bei Xinghan and the other; even Xu Yi was being influenced unconsciously.
This was the magic of water.
Nourishing things silently.
All of this happened under True Lord Batian's watchful eyes.
She said nothing, still chatting with Xu Yi cheerfully every day.
Sometimes, when in the mood, she would even perform a sword dance for Xu Yi.
Whenever this happened, both Bei Xinghan, who was practicing his sword, and True Lord Canghai, who was wholeheartedly contemplating sword intent, would stop their actions and watch True Lord Batian's sword dance with rapt attention.
Xu Yi didn't know what they comprehended from True Lord Batian's sword dance, only that after each dance, their eyes would flash with a look of wonder and surprise.
A year passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, Bei Xinghan and True Lord Canghai arrived together before True Lord Batian.
The year-long period had come to an end; today was the day they would determine the victor.