Chapter 796: Demanding an Account? The Old Sword Immortal Teaches You to Be a Person

Xiao Wanfeng: ???

In that instant, he felt like he had misheard.

The voice of the Xuan Cang Jianling actually carried a hint of suppressed urgency, along with a fierce determination.

It reminded him of when he was a child, and kids from his family would get beaten by peers and run home to ask their father for revenge...

As soon as Xiao Wanfeng thought of that, he quickly stopped himself, breaking out in a cold sweat.

"Xiao Wanfeng, oh Xiao Wanfeng, you're really daring to think that way. Talking about finding a father—are you just tired of living?"

He scolded himself inwardly.

The fact that the Xuan Cang Shenjian's Jianling had chosen him was something he wouldn't even dare dream of.

Thinking about the Jianling's demands, Xiao Wanfeng vaguely felt he understood something.

That night, Sheng Nu Xu Xiao Shou, as the wielder of the You Si Jian, had suppressed the Xuan Cang Shenjian, which might explain why the divine sword's aura hadn't dissipated even now?

This was an incredibly naive idea.

Xiao Wanfeng reserved judgment on whether it was true.

But judging from the Xuan Cang Jianling's tone...

Suppose it was true!

Just suppose, mind you...

Xiao Wanfeng thought that if it were, then Sheng Nu Xu Xiao Shou was far too powerful—how could he have driven the Xuan Cang Shenjian to such a desperate state?

Everyone has a bit of self-satisfaction in their mindset.

But more importantly, Xiao Wanfeng knew his own limits; he had a clear sense of self.

His own aptitude was barely enough to catch Si Ren xiansheng's eye, so why would the Xuan Cang Shenjian choose him?

Besides, it was currently on the back of Qi Jian Xian Rao Yao Yao.

And right across from them was the elder of the Qi Jian Xian, Si Ren xiansheng.

Why not choose one of them? Why me?

Am I that important?

Suddenly, Xiao Wanfeng recalled what the Xuan Cang Jianling had said earlier, and he asked urgently, "Senior, from what you said, apart from You Tu laoyezi and the Eighth Jianxian, no one in this era can communicate with you?"

Xuan Cang Jianling: "There is."

Xiao Wanfeng was stunned, thinking to himself that it was as expected...

He had been too presumptuous. The Xuan Cang Shenjian was just that desperate, with no story of "me being special" or "the chosen one."

Xuan Cang Jianling: "And you."

It hit like a thunderclap.

Xiao Wanfeng froze on the spot.

Soon, he snapped out of it, his lips twitching, eyelids fluttering wildly, and fingers spasming.

Every part of his body, except for the hand gripping the wooden sword, which remained steady, seemed to convulse as if in a fit.

"Huff."

After a long while, he let out a heavy breath and calmly replied in his mind, "Senior, wait for me."

He didn't say anything more.

Unlike others who might get excited upon being chosen by a divine sword and ask, "Why wait for me to go to Sheng Shan? Can't you acknowledge me now?"

Xiao Wanfeng had always been someone with strong convictions and a good sense of self.

This had been true for over a decade.

He knew that Rao Jianxian still had tasks to complete.

The Xuan Cang Shenjian had been brought out of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang, so it must have its own mission.

Moreover, at this moment, he was utterly insignificant, not even possessing a shred of combat ability while hiding under the sword.

For the Xuan Cang Shenjian to extend an invitation now was already a choice beyond its boundaries.

As the Jianling had said, he was the third person in this era to be invited.

Xiao Wanfeng didn't believe he had You Tu laoyezi's level of formidable cultivation, which allowed him to behead seven Jianxiao before the previous Sheng Shen Dian Tang master.

Nor did he think he had Ba Zun An's extraordinary aptitude, achieving something as miraculous as innate realm in three breaths and Jianxian status in three years.

Just to cultivate his own sword and comprehend the nine great sword techniques, he had spent over a decade.

He wasn't a genius!

But I have unyielding perseverance.

Perhaps that's why the Xuan Cang Shenjian chose me.

Xiao Wanfeng wasn't like You Tu or Ba Zun An, who chose to refuse the Xuan Cang Shenjian.

—Only a fool would do that!

He didn't know the full story between the divine sword and those two.

But You Tu laoyezi must have refused because he had no need for it; Ba Zun An refused because he already possessed the Xiong Jian You Si Jian.

Xiao Wanfeng didn't think the Xuan Cang Shenjian had invited those two when they were young.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have turned down such a tremendous opportunity.

But I'm different...

Rao Yao Yao had requested the sword from the Sheng Shen Dian Tang, carried it to the highest floor in the heavens, and visited Si Ren xiansheng.

At the same time, his decision to take the night shift was completely impromptu.

All of this was sheer coincidence, without any guidance from the Xuan Cang Shenjian.

And precisely because of these coincidences, the Xuan Cang Shenjian was able to notice him.

Xiao Wanfeng had refused Mei Si Ren's invitation to be his disciple because Si Ren xiansheng wanted him to follow his path.

But a sword is different.

In this world, sword wielders and swords always exist in mutual recognition and support, with no hierarchy, no master-disciple dynamic.

Just like Ba Zun An with Qing Ju, or Xu Xiao Shou with You Si Jian—like me, Xiao Wanfeng with...

At that thought, Xiao Wanfeng's lips curved into a slight smile, and he didn't dwell on it further.

At that moment, he even felt that pairing his name with the divine sword Xuan Cang using "with" would be blasphemous.

But!

"It recognizes me..."

Under the night sky, Xiao Wanfeng's eyes gleamed with intensity as he looked up at the city in the heavens, feeling as though he could already see the path to Feng Sheng Daoji.

The encouragement from Xu Shao and the praise from Si Ren xiansheng—

In the end, none of that meant as much as the Xuan Cang Shenjian's recognition.

Because the former, Xiao Wanfeng still saw as mere words of encouragement, with a hint of skepticism.

Only the Xuan Cang Shenjian truly believed that his path had the potential to reach the heights of Ba Zun An and You Tu laoyezi.

He had already taken a few steps on this path.

As long as the end leads to the lofty, isolated peak, that's what every sword wielder desires.

The evening breeze rustled, and the night grew deeper.

It made the boy's tattered hemp clothes flutter.

At sixteen, his youth still held a vague understanding of the world.

"Can I really do this?"

Xiao Wanfeng hesitated for a long time before reaching up and pinching his cheek hard, giving it a twist.

He felt his face starting to burn.

But it wasn't enough.

So he clenched his fist tightly, until his nails dug into his palm.

He opened his hand.

Bright red blood.

Xiao Wanfeng smiled.

"It hurts..."

In the air above,

The two great Jianxian, holding high positions, were clearly unaware of the secret communication between the Xuan Cang Jianling and Xiao Wanfeng.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they got straight to the point.

"Rao Jianxian, your visit this time isn't just for a simple courtesy call, is it?" Mei Si Ren smiled. "Speak plainly—what does the Sheng Shen Dian Tang want from this old man?"

Rao Yao Yao's face turned serious, and without beating around the bush, she said directly, "That night, Si Ren xiansheng seemed to be trying to help Sheng Nu Xu Xiao Shou?"

"Oh?" Mei Si Ren remained unfazed, pausing his fan for a moment, his lips curving into a smile. "So, you think this old man and You Tu have sided together?"

The conversation escalated quickly, reaching a critical height, and the void suddenly grew tense.

Rao Yao Yao was slightly taken aback.

She didn't rush to deny it but pondered for a moment before going along with it.

"Yes!"

The word settled.

Inside the cultivation room, Xu Xiao Shou, who was sleeping under the covers, and Xiao Wanfeng, standing guard at the main gate below, both sensed that the atmosphere had turned uneasy.

The two who had been chatting amiably just moments ago now faced off sharply.

It seemed the issue of "allegiance" was extremely sensitive.

Mei Si Ren's choice could sway the higher powers' arrangements?

The night sky fell silent for a long time.

After staring at Rao Yao Yao for a brief moment, Mei Si Ren's serious expression finally softened, melting like ice, and he smiled, bringing a spring-like warmth.

He started fanning himself again and sighed, "You Tu is old!"

"This old man has never stood with him. As for where I stand, I believe the Sheng Shen Dian Tang knows better than outsiders."

"And Sheng Nu Xu Xiao Shou—he's just one of my students."

"He's got good talent, but across the five domains of the continent, I have more students like him than I can count."

"If a student asks, a teacher answers—that's all."

Mei Si Ren answered casually.

But Rao Yao Yao's heart tightened, and she narrowed her eyes first, secretly on guard.

Then, she voiced her question: "Si Ren xiansheng, you knew Sheng Nu Xu Xiao Shou's position, so why did you choose to approach him at such a critical moment? Don't you think your attitude toward him was a bit... overly familiar?"

"Overly familiar?"

Mei Si Ren looked up at her, his gaze seeming to pierce straight through heart and soul, and he said gravely, "Now, even when this old man takes an extra step on the earth, does the Sheng Shen Dian Tang have to question it?"

Rao Yao Yao stepped back, withstanding the immense pressure, and replied resolutely, "You said it yourself—you took an extra step!"

"So what?" Mei Si Ren stepped forward.

Rao Yao Yao lowered her head: "That step is a transgression!"

"Hahaha..."

Mei Si Ren laughed heartily. After a while, his laughter faded, and he turned his head to ask, "So, is the Sheng Shen Dian Tang going to impose a ban on this old man? Or maybe not just a combat ban—a house arrest?"

Rao Yao Yao's pores erupted in chills, as if being stalked by a lion or tiger, her scalp tingling.

"I dare not," she answered.

"Dare not?" Mei Si Ren shook his head with a chuckle, his eyes filled with indignant memories: "Over a hundred years ago, you forbade this old man and You Tu from discussing the dao over tea, claiming he was tainted by dark forces. I accepted that and cut off ties with him ever since."

"Fifty years ago, you forbade this old man from discussing swords with Feng Ting Chen, accusing him of links to ghost beasts. Whether true or not, I severed connections with him... even our letters."

"Now, for a teacher to guide and resolve doubts, this old man takes a normal step without even making a move, just exchanging a few words, and you think I've transgressed?"

He took another step forward, his voice heavy, pointing his fan ahead as he thundered, "Tell me, where is the 'boundary,' and how is it a transgression?!"

Rao Yao Yao's scalp numbed, and she retreated repeatedly, her mind shaken by the thunderous words.

She had never seen the usually good-natured Si Ren xiansheng act like this, and her momentum was completely suppressed.

"I..."

"You've touched the Sheng Dao?" Mei Si Ren flicked his fan, cutting her off.

"Not yet..."

"Then has Hua Chang Deng touched the Sheng Dao?" Mei Si Ren advanced another step, fixing his gaze on her.

This time, no response was needed—a deep thunder rumbled from the nine heavens above, invisible to the world but clearly heard by the two Jianxian, who both looked up.

Directly invoking a Sheng's name was disrespectful!

Rao Yao Yao didn't respond yes or no, but the answer was obvious.

"Good!"

Mei Si Ren didn't care about that. With narrowed eyes and a face full of anger, he said, "Go back and tell Hua Chang Deng—if this is his order, he should come find this old man himself. Don't just hide on Gui Zhe Sheng Shan all day, slumped behind that screen with candles, wallowing in self-pity!"

Rao Yao Yao's face turned pale with shock, her expression one of disbelief.

Had Si Ren xiansheng lost his mind?

The first direct mention of the name might have been unintentional.

But the second time, it was outright scolding to his face.

"Boom—"

Thunder roared in the void, and before Rao Yao Yao could stop Mei Si Ren's reckless behavior, she saw the old man point two fingers upward.

"Bang!"

A burst of azure Sheng force shot into the sky, scattering the tribulation clouds on the spot.

Rao Yao Yao's eyes nearly bulged out.

"Sheng force?"

Had Si Ren xiansheng already touched the Sheng Dao?

She could see that this burst of azure light wasn't pure Sheng force—it still mixed with the mundane heavenly dao of the mortal world.

But as one of the Qi Jian Xian, just touching the Sheng Dao and crossing that threshold meant he was not far off!

So, that's why he dared to scold so brazenly—because he had one foot in that door... Rao Yao Yao suddenly realized.

The Sheng tribulation dispersed and didn't reform.

Hua Chang Deng, as a junior, had stepped into that threshold before Mei Si Ren, and though he was in the Central Domain, he had clearly noticed the disturbance here from his distant vantage.

After experiencing Mei Si Ren's finger strike, he chose not to intervene.

Since even the Sheng didn't plan to get involved, the Sheng tribulation naturally wouldn't form again.

Mei Si Ren had taken control of the conversation from the start and never relinquished it. Now, with his emotions calmed, he returned to his serene state and said softly, "Deliver a message to the Sheng Shen Dian Tang..."

"Moderation in all things—know when to stop."

Rao Yao Yao closed her eyes, knowing this visit had come to nothing.

She had come to hold him accountable.

But Mei Si Ren was completely different from the impression she had of him from childhood memories.

After this exchange, plus that display of Sheng force, what could she do, even carrying the Xuan Cang Shenjian on her back?

An old Jianxian is still an old Jianxian.

Even if this wasn't his era anymore, time might leave marks on a person, but it couldn't erase the traces he left on the world.

As a Jianxian from the era before last, if Mei Si Ren wanted to leave, he could; if he didn't, he could stand firm and snap half the gui trees on Sheng Shan.

"Transgression..."

Rao Yao Yao suddenly fell into self-reflection.

She felt Mei Si Ren had a point.

It seemed he hadn't transgressed, but over the past few centuries, had the Sheng Shen Dian Tang pushed neutral figures too far?

Moderation in all things—know when to stop...

"I've learned something." Rao Yao Yao bowed in respect.

Mei Si Ren opened his fan, fanning quickly, his beard fluttering in the breeze, making him look like a grumpy old man trying to suppress his temper.

"Little girl, you can go back now. This isn't your fault! I'm not mad at you—go complain to your bosses. Oh, and..."

Waving his hand as he spoke, Mei Si Ren seemed to remember something and glanced toward the Central Domain.

"Gui Zhe Sheng Shan—I'll pay a personal visit later. Have the older generation there come out to greet me. As for that Dao Qiong Cang or Hua Chang Deng and those juniors, don't bother—they'd just be an eyesore!"

"Got it?"

Rao Yao Yao listened to this, staring blankly at the elder before her.

In that moment, she felt like she was back in her childhood memories.

The person in front of her was still the adult, and she was still the little girl who never grew up.

And indeed,

When an old Jianxian threw a tantrum or acted petulantly, she suddenly realized that all her prepared methods of interrogation were useless.

His status was far above hers.

As a young one coming here, all she could do was visit the elder and end up getting lectured, without even the right to say more.

As for fighting back if words failed... what a joke!

He was called an old Jianxian for a reason—it wasn't something the younger generation could easily challenge.

"You can go. Don't bother this old man again." Mei Si Ren waved his hand, shooing her away like a sheep.

"Oh." Rao Yao Yao shrank back and turned to leave.

"What a fine little girl, but now you've grown up and become an eyesore too. Sigh." Mei Si Ren muttered to himself, full of melancholy.

Rao Yao Yao said nothing, vanishing in the blink of an eye.