Zu Changdao was stunned.
He never expected that a disciple on the Heavenly Ranking would make such a request.
If it were for cultivation resources or benefits, it would be understandable, but this sword... for Zu Changdao, who had no Dao companion, it was akin to his Dao companion!
Although this sword was a heirloom passed down through generations of the Guiwujian Sect's leaders, it was his Dao companion once it came into his possession. How could he let others touch it casually!
Yun Ze could see Zu Changdao's hesitation and realized he might have said something wrong.
Just as he was about to speak to ease the awkwardness and brush off the request, Wei Huang spoke.
"It's just a sword. You're not even willing to let a disciple touch it?"
Wei Xia glanced at the black sword at Zu Changdao's waist, finding nothing special about it, just an ordinary fifth-tier spirit sword.
She turned to Yun Ze, a slight smile on her lips, "Little Yun, you and Xiao Shu are of similar age. If you are willing to marry into our family and take the Wei surname, joining the Huanggui Valley, I will ask someone to forge a fifth-tier spirit sword for you. How about that?"
Hiss!
Not only did Yun Ze gasp, but even Zu Changdao beside him was stunned.
A fifth-tier spirit sword? Just like that?
What a shame that I was born over a hundred years earlier, otherwise, I would definitely compete with this kid!
No!
It was rare for their sect to produce a dual Heavenly Ranking disciple, even if there were some coincidences involved, they couldn't let him go easily.
At least... they should get a fourth-tier spirit sword as compensation for their sect, shouldn't they?
Just as Zu Changdao was about to speak to refuse on Yun Ze's behalf, Yun Ze spoke first, cupping his hands in a bow towards Wei Huang.
"Thank you for your kindness, senior. However, this junior has already become sworn siblings with Xiao Shu, so it is not appropriate to discuss marriage. I hope you will forgive me!"
Marry into their family?
My Yun family only has a single male descendant left. How could I marry into another family?
Wei Huang did not reply, only narrowing her eyes slightly and looking at Yun Ze with a smile.
"Mother!"
Just then, Xiao Shu also emerged from the cave.
The moment she saw Wei Huang, she exclaimed and rushed forward, throwing herself into Wei Huang's arms.
"Good girl, Xiao Shu~"
The smile on Wei Huang's face instantly bloomed. Although both were smiles, the previous one was far more sinister than this one!
It was as if she was about to kill someone at any moment. This current smile was much more normal.
She raised her hand and stroked Xiao Shu's head, asking intimately, "You've grown taller again. When I saw you last year, you only reached my chest, and now you're at my earlobe. Have you been eating well recently?"
"Yes!"
Xiao Shu replied softly, holding Wei Huang tightly and not letting go, "Mother! Daughter hasn't seen you for so long! I miss you!"
"Mother misses you too."
The mother and daughter embraced, regardless of the onlookers, enjoying their family reunion.
"By the way, Mother."
After about a dozen breaths, Wei Lanshu remembered something and, holding Wei Huang's hand, came before Yun Ze. "Mother, this is the Big Brother Yun that I mentioned in my letter to you. He was the one who dissolved the sword qi around me. Also, I have become sworn siblings with him and we call each other brother and sister. Mother, you will agree, won't you?"
"Mm."
Wei Huang's eyes were only on Wei Lanshu, and she didn't even look at Yun Ze, only continuing to stroke her head. "As long as Xiao Shu is happy, Mother will agree to anything."
"That's great!"
Wei Lanshu exclaimed, a hint of sword qi emanating from her.
She quickly lowered her voice and spoke again, "Mother, then you won't kill Big Brother Yun, right?"
"No."
Wei Huang smiled and shook her head, even lightly tapping Wei Lanshu's head. "Silly girl, your Big Brother Yun is your savior. How could Mother bear to kill him?"
"I knew Mother wouldn't be so bloodthirsty!" Wei Lanshu smiled and hugged Wei Huang, her face filled with joy.
"Oh?"
Wei Huang's eyes narrowed, and she turned to look at Li Po. "Who said your mother was bloodthirsty?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Yun Ze shivered involuntarily and took a step back, creating distance between himself and Wei Huang.
He was standing right beside Wei Huang, and this simple question sounded like the wails of billions of ghosts from the underworld, filled with killing intent!
Not only him, but Li Po's legs were trembling, torn between whether to kneel or not.
Knowing her, Yun Ze's fate was uncertain, but she had definitely made it onto the family head's kill list!
"No, it's just some rumors!"
Wei Lanshu, unaware that her mother was already angry, thought it was a simple inquiry.
She stood up, tugged at Wei Huang's sleeve, and gently swayed it. "Mother, I want Big Brother Yun to help me dissolve the sword qi in my sea of qi. I want to start cultivating."
"Mm, Mother came for this very reason."
Wei Huang's face remained smiling, and she pinched Xiao Shu's cheek again. "Cultivation cannot be rushed, but if the sword qi in your sea of qi can be dissolved, that would be best. Little Yun."
"Yes."
Yun Ze responded immediately when he heard her call him.
"When can you start?"
"Now, anytime!"
"That's good, let's go into the cave."
Wei Huang looked at Zu Changdao, a smile on her face. "Sect Leader Zu, if you wish to observe, you are also welcome to enter the cave dwelling for a chat."
"That would be excellent!"
Zu Changdao had no reason to refuse.
Not only to ensure that their second Heavenly Ranking disciple wouldn't be poached, but also to be the first to accept Wei Lanshu as a disciple once she could cultivate.
He absolutely had to go in.
"Then please come in."
Wei Huang, holding Xiao Shu's hand, walked into the cave. Yun Ze was about to call out to them, suggesting they extract the sword qi outside the cave, but the two had already entered.
He and Zu Changdao had no choice but to follow, intending to call them out after entering the cave.
As Yun Ze reached the cave entrance, he noticed Li Po standing motionless at the entrance, as if... afraid to go in.
He looked at Li Po with some confusion. "Li Po, aren't you coming in?"
Li Po did not answer, only shaking her head.
Go in?
She was already contemplating whether to flee now! And go in?
Seeing her shake her head, Yun Ze didn't pay much attention to her thoughts. After all, they would have to come out to extract the sword qi later.
He strode into the cave and, seeing Wei Lanshu and the other woman, called out, "Senior, Xiao Shu, shouldn't we go out to extract the sword qi?"
"Mm?"
Wei Huang instinctively asked, "Why?"
"There seems to be another strand of sword qi in this cave. When I extract the sword qi, there might be unexpected occurrences. For safety, it's better to extract the sword qi outside."
Yun Ze answered truthfully.
Wei Huang, who was in the cave, showed no reaction. However, Zu Changdao, who entered later, was stunned and stared at Yun Ze's back, lost in thought.
Sword qi?
He could feel the Lone Peak sword qi!
Lone Peak designed part of its cave dwellings this way precisely to help disciples comprehend sword qi.
In the cave dwellings a thousand meters below, only the thirteen cave dwellings at the 999-meter mark could sense sword qi.
This kid, having only visited this cave dwelling a few times, could sense the presence of that sword qi. He must have extraordinary talent!
If cultivated properly, even if he couldn't reach the Nascent Soul realm, he could at least become a Golden Core cultivator!
If he could survive the Heavenly Barrier Realm, even a three-pattern Golden Core would be possible!
Zu Changdao remained silent, making a mental note to ask more about it after Wei Huang left.
Such a talented seedling could not be easily let go.
"So that's how it is. Then let's go out."
Wei Huang, holding Wei Lanshu's hand, walked towards the cave entrance.
Yun Ze stepped out of the cave first.
As soon as he emerged, he saw Li Po kneeling by the side, head bowed in supplication!
He frowned but didn't say much, only turning to look at Zu Changdao, who had just walked out.
"It's someone else's family affair. Let's not meddle."
Zu Changdao commented nonchalantly and then led Yun Ze further out of the cave.
At this moment, Wei Huang also came out, pulling Wei Lanshu along.
Both of them also saw Li Po kneeling on the ground. Wei Lanshu looked puzzled and was about to speak when Wei Huang spoke first.
"If you wish to die now, then get lost. Don't dirty my eyes, and don't dirty this Lone Peak."
Li Po's body trembled, and she quickly got up, not daring to speak!
This was a Golden Core cultivator!
Was she so pathetic in front of Wei Huang!
"Let's begin."
Wei Huang looked at Yun Ze and spoke again. "Kid, don't disappoint me, otherwise..."
"Mother~"
No matter how inexperienced Wei Lanshu was in social matters, she could hear the killing intent in Wei Huang's words and quickly tugged at her sleeve. "You promised you wouldn't harm Big Brother Yun. If anything happens to me, you're not allowed to kill him! Otherwise... otherwise I'll..."
"Alright~"
Before Xiao Shu could finish, Wei Huang's tone rose, and she instantly transformed into a doting mother, stroking Wei Lanshu's head again. "Our Xiao Shu decides, okay?"
"Mm."
Wei Lanshu responded and then hopped to Yun Ze's side. "Big Brother Yun, you don't need to feel pressured. Just do as we did before. I believe in you!"
"Good!"
Now that the arrow was on the bowstring and there was no turning back, Yun Ze knew what he was doing and was confident that there would be no accidents.
He responded and sat down by the stone table, asking Xiao Shu to stand in front of him.
"Hoo."
Yun Ze let out a long sigh, closed his eyes to calm his mind, circulated the Turtle Martial Art throughout his body, and placed his hand on Xiao Shu's lower abdomen!
Instantly, sword qi penetrated through her clothes and entered her body. The sensation of ten thousand swords piercing his heart returned once more!
Fortunately, the Turtle Martial Art protected him, allowing Yun Ze to feel slightly better.
This time, the main goal was to show Wei Huang that he indeed had the ability to heal Xiao Shu. He couldn't be greedy or rush, at most seven breaths!
After seven breaths, regardless of whether he had fully absorbed the sword qi in her sea of qi, he had to withdraw his hand!
Yun Ze closed his eyes in thought, completely unaware that Zu Changdao's gaze had changed again!
Turtle Martial Art!
Why did this cultivation technique appear here!
He remembered putting away all the cultivation techniques and copies of the Turtle Martial Art. Why did this kid know it!
A drop of cold sweat beaded on Zu Changdao's forehead, and he suddenly remembered something!
More than ten days ago, that person specifically entered the cultivation technique hall!
Was it for this matter?
No! He had to find an opportunity to ask for clarification!
If this kid was someone they wanted to cultivate... he, by himself, probably wouldn't dare to interfere!
Yun Ze counted silently in his heart. By the time he reached three breaths, the sword qi accumulated in his body was comparable to the sword qi he had absorbed last time.
Although the quantity was far less than before, the quality was comparable!
The sword qi in this sea of qi was even more refined than the sword qi absorbed previously!
Yun Ze dared not be careless and ignored the seven-breath limit. As soon as five breaths passed, he prepared to withdraw his hand!
But at this moment, an unforeseen event occurred!
Just as he was about to withdraw his hand, the sword qi within Wei Lanshu's body seemed to sense something. A suction force suddenly emanated, firmly fixing his hand on her lower abdomen!
The sword qi surged in madly!
It felt as if it would explode him.