Chapter 990: Blood of Ye Long

In the Elder Residence of Tai Xu Gate, as the end of the year approached, Xun Ziyou, as usual, discussed some matters regarding the Sword Discussion Assembly with Elder Xun.

These matters were specifically arranged by Elder Xun.

After three rounds of tea, the important matters were almost discussed. Xun Ziyou took a sip of tea, hesitated repeatedly, and finally asked, "Old Ancestor, have you taught Ink Painting the Ink Painting Sword Law yet?"

Elder Xun was somewhat surprised, glanced at Xun Ziyou, and asked lightly, "Why do you ask?"

Xun Ziyou was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Ink Painting seems... to have learned the Tai Xu Divine Thought Transformation Sword True Decree..."

Elder Xun's pupils constricted slightly. "What did you say?!"

Xun Ziyou repeated it silently.

Elder Xun's gaze fixed. "You saw?"

Xun Ziyou nodded slightly. "I saw him use divine thought transformation sword to kill a third-grade pig demon."

Elder Xun was stunned.

After a while, his brows furrowed, and he looked at Xun Ziyou doubtfully, slowly asking,

"Do you... know what you're saying?"

Ink Painting learned the divine thought transformation sword true decree?

Killed a third-grade Gold Core Realm pig demon?

How could these absurd matters be linked together?

Elder Xun thought for a moment and said to Xun Ziyou,

"Stretch out your head, I'll check your sea of consciousness..."

He was now a little worried that Xun Ziyou had been affected by something evil when he was at the Lonely Mountain Divine Hall, and his sea of consciousness was still somewhat muddled and unclear, making him prone to wild imagination and unable to distinguish between random thoughts and reality.

Concern showed in Elder Xun's eyes.

Xun Ziyou smiled bitterly. "Old Ancestor, I'm fine, I really saw it myself..."

Elder Xun paused in his action. Seeing that Xun Ziyou's gaze was clear and he didn't seem to be lying, he asked in a deep voice,

"When did this happen?"

"Just during the day," Xun Ziyou said. "Ink Painting went to Refine Demon Mountain, saying he was cultivating a minor method. I unintentionally saw it."

Xun Ziyou recounted the entire process of the matter.

Elder Xun frowned. "Ink Painting knows you saw him?"

Xun Ziyou pondered and said, "I was far away and restrained my aura. His mind was entirely focused on the pig demon. He shouldn't have detected me..."

General cultivators, even Gold Core cultivators, must be fully concentrated when fighting a third-grade Gold Core pig demon.

They have to exert all their effort and have no leisure to attend to anything else.

Not to mention, Ink Painting was still only in the Foundation Building realm.

Elder Xun was silent and did not speak, his expression becoming serious. Since Xun Ziyou didn't speak.

Then he had to view this seemingly "absurd" matter with a serious attitude.

But Elder Xun furrowed his brows and thought for a long time. He still found it difficult to link these matters together.

Looking at it individually, whether it was learning the divine thought transformation sword or slaying a Gold Core pig demon, both were absolutely impossible matters.

Ink Painting was only in the Foundation Building realm, how could he learn the divine thought transformation sword?

The Tai Xu Divine Thought Transformation Sword True Decree is the supreme sword decree of Tai Xu Gate, the sect's heirloom inheritance, and a forbidden technique of Tai Xu Gate.

Successive generations of astonishingly talented sword path geniuses in Tai Xu Gate all cultivated the sword path diligently from a young age, laying a solid foundation without exception.

They always had to cultivate to the late stage of Gold Core, with a stable divine soul, before they could begin to cultivate. Only upon reaching Feathering, with the divine soul leaving the body, could they achieve minor success.

It was not until they reached Cave Void and could see through the virtual and real that they could slay gods.

Foundation Building cultivators... how could they learn the divine thought transformation sword?

Moreover, Ink Painting, this child, was not a sword cultivator.

He was a rogue cultivator, poor in his childhood, probably never even touched a spirit sword, and had no foundation in the sword path at all.

He didn't even have a life sword, how could his divine thought transform into a sword?

And where did the master come from?

The Tai Xu Divine Thought Transformation Sword has harsh conditions, difficult cultivation, and a closed inheritance, originally not easy to learn.

If one wants to master it, it is necessary to have guidance from a senior with high cultivation, otherwise, it is easy to go astray and become mentally deranged.

Now, within the entire Tai Xu Gate, the only person truly proficient in divine thought transformation sword is that senior brother Du Gu.

He himself, this Cave Void Old Ancestor, had never learned the divine thought sword decree because he did not walk the sword path.

But that senior brother... Elder Xun sighed in his heart.

His senior brother was severely injured and had not healed, like rotten wood. Now he was even sealed in the back mountain, his fate unknown. How could he possibly pass the sword decree to Ink Painting?

Even if there had been an opportunity to pass it on before, Ink Painting was an outer disciple and fundamentally could not enter the back mountain.

His senior brother was self-contained in the sword family, extremely proud and extremely solitary in temperament. It was even more impossible for him to lower his status and personally teach Ink Painting, a young disciple with no relatives, no connection, and no understanding of the sword path, to cultivate the divine thought transformation sword.

Furthermore, even if Ink Painting learned it, and even mastered it, to use divine thought transformation sword and cross realms to slay a Gold Core demon beast?

It couldn't even be written in a storybook.

The required attainment in divine thought transformation sword for this was terrifyingly deep.

Divine Thought Transformation Sword is a profound sword decree, further divided into many sword styles.

Transform Sword Style, Shock God Sword, Break God Sword, and even the final Slay God Sword Style, each step is a threshold.

To cross realms and slay a Gold Core, one definitely needed to cultivate to the Slay God Sword.

But to cultivate to the most powerful Slay God Sword Style, who knew how many years of painstaking cultivation it would take, and even more so, how much blood and sweat would need to be poured in.

This required years and blood and sweat to nourish it.

It was true that Ink Painting's divine thought had formed a core, but he was too young. Where did he get the effort to cultivate such a profound attainment in divine thought transformation sword?

Even his senior brother Du Gu, whose sword path talent was astonishing to the world, could not do such a thing at the same realm.

Moreover, Ink Painting's divine thought had just formed a core, its strength was limited.

Even if he cultivated the Slay God Sword and exhausted all his thought power, it would not be easy to slay a Gold Core Realm pig demon.

The room was silent.

The candlelight flickered, the flame burning bit by bit.

Elder Xun did not utter a word, falling into deep thought.

He pondered this matter back and forth, repeatedly, thoroughly, feeling that there were loopholes everywhere.

Xun Ziyou did not dare to disturb him.

After an unknown amount of time, Elder Xun came back to his senses and asked Xun Ziyou, "Are you sure you saw... Ink Painting use a sword?"

Xun Ziyou thought for a moment, then shook his head. "He had no sword in his hand, but he pointed his fingers at his brow, and then in his eyes, there seemed to be sword light..."

"Are you sure it was sword light?"

Xun Ziyou was also not too sure when asked this.

He didn't see the full appearance, only mottled golden threads vaguely forming the shadow of a sword blade.

But whether this was truly sword light was hard to say.

"But there was sword intent."

"Are you sure it was sword intent?"

Xun Ziyou was speechless again.

Sword intent belongs to divine thought and is illusory. He could only rely on his own experience to "feel" it, but he couldn't verify it.

Elder Xun's gaze solidified, then he said definitively, "So, this is not the Tai Xu Gate Divine Thought Transformation Sword True Decree!"

Even if there was a one in ten thousand chance, it was absolutely not possible!

The Tai Xu Divine Thought Transformation Sword is a forbidden technique of Tai Xu Gate.

No matter how outstanding Ink Painting was, or how favored he was, his identity was still only an outer disciple of Tai Xu Gate.

For an outer disciple to secretly learn a sect's forbidden technique is a heinous crime.

Once it spreads, Tai Xu Gate will be fundamentally unable to handle it.

If they punish Ink Painting, he is reluctant from the bottom of his heart.

According to the general sect rules for secretly learning forbidden techniques, at the least, cultivation is abolished and they are expelled from the sect. In severe cases, they are executed.

If they don't punish him, it will give people a handle and they will suffer criticism from other sects.

Even within the sect, it will be impossible to convince the masses.

Everyone will follow suit and think that secretly learning forbidden techniques is an act that corrupts the sect's customs.

Therefore, it was absolutely impossible for Ink Painting to have learned the Tai Xu Divine Thought Transformation Sword True Decree.

Elder Xun said, "He's only in the Foundation Building realm and not a sword cultivator, how could he possibly learn the divine thought transformation sword? Moreover, he didn't even have a sword in his hand."

Xun Ziyou was stunned for a moment, feeling that it was very reasonable.

He had just been preconceived and taken some things for granted. Thinking carefully, indeed, these things did not conform to the "rules" of the divine thought transformation sword method.

It was just that Ink Painting was accustomed to being strange, so he didn't think too much about it for a while.

But no matter how strange, he still had to obey the basic laws of cultivation.

In the sect records, the divine thought transformation sword was not cultivated in his way.

Xun Ziyou nodded, then raised his eyes and looked at Elder Xun.

"Then, Old Ancestor... what Dao method did Ink Painting use? Is it a special divine thought technique?"

After all, he could even slay a third-grade pig demon.

Elder Xun was silent and did not speak.

Xun Ziyou observed his words and expressions, feeling a little different in his heart, then said, "Old Ancestor, you don't know?"

Elder Xun raised his head and looked at him silently.

Xun Ziyou immediately realized that he had said too much, immediately behaved himself, lowered his head to drink tea, and dared not ask any more questions.

Elder Xun thought for a moment and said to Xun Ziyou,

"This matter is a bit fishy, but you don't need to be greatly surprised and frightened. A person in the Foundation Building realm slaying a Gold Core demon beast, this matter is more or less absurd... Moreover, Ink Painting, that child, what foundation, what background, you should be clear in your heart."

"His attainment in array methods, among disciples of the same generation, may be considered outstanding."

"But when it comes to frontal combat power, he is far inferior."

"Furthermore, relying on his own strength to slay a third-grade demon beast, this matter is mostly..."

Elder Xun paused for a moment and continued, "It's that he has some protective treasure on his body, which at the critical moment,

Automatically protected its master and killed that third-grade demon beast."

"Protective treasure?" Xun Ziyou was startled, then nodded. "Old Ancestor's words are reasonable."

To be honest, he definitely didn't believe it in his heart.

But he had no other explanation.

Moreover, these were words from the Old Ancestor, and he dared not retort even more.

Seeing that Xun Ziyou was half-believing and half-doubting, Elder Xun simply waved his hand. "Just leave this matter alone. I have it in mind."

"Yes." Xun Ziyou bowed.

Since the Old Ancestor said so, he didn't feel it was appropriate to say more. Xun Ziyou then performed a courtesy. "Then Old Ancestor, I will take my leave first."

Elder Xun nodded slightly, looked at Xun Ziyou, and admonished again, "This matter... don't spread it out, and don't talk about it casually everywhere.

Especially, whether the divine thought transformation sword true decree is true or false, once it spreads and stirs up rumors,

It will invite great trouble!"

Elder Xun's tone was extremely serious.

Xun Ziyou was shocked in his heart.

He almost forgot, this was a forbidden technique.

Forbidden techniques are not to be trifled with.

So-called forbidden techniques are taboo techniques, forbidden cultivation techniques. They are all recorded in the Dao Court and are absolutely not allowed for cultivators of any sect to learn again.

Therefore, Ink Painting absolutely could not have learned the divine thought transformation sword true decree.

Xun Ziyou knew the harm and immediately said with awe in his heart, "Old Ancestor, I will forget this matter."

Elder Xun nodded and waved his hand. "Go down."

"Yes." Xun Ziyou solemnly bowed and then respectfully retreated.

Inside the Elder Residence, it temporarily quieted down.

The candlelight flickered.

Elder Xun still sat in his original place, not moving, but his thoughts were like the candlelight, fluctuating uncertainly.

He was unable to believe this matter.

Even if he wanted to believe it, it was too contrary to common sense, and there were no signs of cause and effect in the matter. He really couldn't give himself an explanation.

Moreover... his senior brother... Elder Xun turned his head, looked deeply at the back mountain, and finally sighed deeply.

"Tai Xu Divine Thought Transformation Sword True Decree..."

These few words were also a pain in his heart.

Once upon a time, this sword decree symbolized the most prosperous glory of Tai Xu Gate.

At that time, divine thought sword cultivators were like clouds in Tai Xu Gate, proving the heavenly path with their hearts, transforming their divine thoughts into true decrees, honing a sword for a hundred years, and slaying demons and evil spirits with a single strike.

Under the Divine Thought Transformation Sword, demons and evil spirits yielded, not daring to face its edge.

But success was also due to the divine thought transformation sword, and defeat was also due to the divine thought transformation sword.

Over the years, countless divine thought sword cultivators fell under this "injure others also injure self" sword decree.

This sword decree was both the supreme dignity of Tai Xu Gate and the most painful scar of Tai Xu Gate.

And now, this sword decree was finally going to perish completely with senior brother Du Gu.

Once senior brother Du Gu's body returned to dust, the divine thought transformation sword would be completely annihilated.

Perhaps in his lifetime, he would not be able to see the Tai Xu Divine Thought Transformation Sword True Decree reappear in daylight.

People in the world would also no longer be able to see the shocking edge of the divine thought transformation sword.

Elder Xun's gaze was dim.

This was something he already "knew in his heart".

The decision to seal and forbid the divine thought transformation sword was also made by him.

This was a destined and inevitable matter, but even now, a deep sense of loss and endless regret surged in Elder Xun's heart.

Just at this time, Xun Ziyou's earlier words floated back into his mind.

Elder Xun's dim eyes suddenly had a glimmer of light again.

"Divine Thought Transformation Sword True Decree... Ink Painting..."

Elder Xun gently recited these two names, his brows gradually furrowing.

"Should... impossible... how could it be possible?"

"But if there is one in ten thousand that it is true..."

Elder Xun was slightly startled and slightly sighed in his heart. Ink Painting didn't know that the scene of him displaying the divine thought transformation sword was seen by the secretly observing Elder Xun Ziyou.

The battle with the third-grade Gold Core Realm pig demon was too dangerous and too tense, and he fundamentally dared not be distracted.

With Foundation Building cultivation, slaying a Gold Core pig demon also almost exhausted all his divine thought.

Therefore, Ink Painting fundamentally didn't detect that he had been "peeped" at by Elder Xun Ziyou.

In the following days, he was still immersed in the joy of slaying the third-grade Gold Core pig demon with the divine thought transformation sword true decree. It was just a pity that this kind of matter was not easy to talk about.

He also couldn't find people everywhere to boast.

His little junior brothers also didn't know that he had completed such an astonishing "feat".

Wearing brocade clothes at night, unknown to the ignorant people.

Ink Painting was very uncomfortable in his heart.

But he still just maintained an ordinary heart and continued to cultivate.

Fortunately, after more than a month passed, this uncomfortable feeling slowly subsided, and the year-end also arrived, and the sect was going to examine again.

Ink Painting finished the exam, and the results were one A, two B, four C.

Array method was "A", Dao method was "B", and one alchemy, for some reason, also gave him a "B".

Usually, he got one A and six C's.

Last year, he got one more B.

This year, he unexpectedly got another B.

Ink Painting couldn't help but frown.

He knew the cause and effect and knew that something unusual meant there was a demon. Without a reason, he couldn't possibly do so well on the exam.

Therefore, Ink Painting always had a vague sense of crisis in his heart.

After the exam, it was New Year again.

Ink Painting was going to Gu Family to freeload on the New Year's banquet again this year.

He specifically went to tell Elder Xun about it.

Because the current situation was special, the matter of the Shen Family was on the surface settled, but the entanglement of interests behind it, the mutual struggles of the major families, really made it unclear how bloody the storm would be.

Ink Painting was also not sure whether it was appropriate for him to go to Gu Family to freeload now.

Elder Xun only thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "It's no harm for you to go."

The matter of Lonely Mountain, Tai Xu Gate and Gu Family, were definitely all held against the Shen Family. They didn't care about whether they were involved or not.

Moreover, it was a good thing for Ink Painting to maintain a good relationship with Gu Family.

Elder Xun also wrote a calligraphy and asked Ink Painting to take it as a congratulatory gift to Gu Family.

Ink Painting thanked him happily.

It was getting late, so Ink Painting performed a courtesy and took his leave from Elder Xun. However, after finishing the courtesy, he looked up and met Elder Xun's extremely deep and complex gaze, momentarily a little startled.

"Old Mister, is there something?" Ink Painting said doubtfully.

Elder Xun looked deeply at Ink Painting.

This one glance made Ink Painting feel as if Elder Xun was guessing something in his heart, but due to certain cause and effect, he didn't dare to say it out loud.

Elder Xun had heavy matters on his mind and originally wanted to ask something, but looking at Ink Painting, who had unknowingly grown quite a bit and had a teenage appearance, he suddenly felt a little regretful again.

His gaze, which had grown quite a bit, was gentle and clear, deep and firm. Although his face still had a bit of childishness, his demeanor seemed much more composed.

Some things, he could already rely on himself to bear.

Or rather, from childhood, he had always "carried" them over himself.

Elder Xun sighed slightly. "Nothing..."

He looked at Ink Painting, patted his shoulder, and said in a warm voice, "Have a happy New Year."

Ink Painting nodded and said with a smile, "Old Mister, peaceful New Year, I will go back first."

"Um, good."

Ink Painting performed a courtesy, then respectfully took his leave.

After Ink Painting left, Elder Xun continued to flip through the jade slip.

Inside the jade slip, the line "Tai Xu Gate Forbidden Technique Catalog" was written.

Elder Xun looked at the forbidden technique catalog and fell into thought.

Qing State City, Gu Family.

Lanterns and colorful streamers hung everywhere, the backyard was brightly lit.

Ink Painting brought Yu Er to release lanterns.

Yu Er's small face was flushed and puffy. He looked up at Ink Painting, who was making him a red fish-dragon lantern, his expression joyful. But then he turned his head and glanced at Ink Painting, and Yu Er's expression suddenly became lonely again, his eyes drooped, and he didn't say a word.

He looked very pitiful.

Ink Painting noticed that his mood was not right, so he gently asked, "What's wrong?"

Yu Er was silent for a moment, then softly asked, "Brother Ink, are you about to leave?"

Ink Painting was startled. "Who told you?"

Yu Er shook his head, then raised his head to look at Ink Painting. "The big guys all said that after graduation, they are about to leave Tai Xu Gate and leave Qian State. Are you also going, Brother Ink?"

The "big guys" in Yu Er's mouth were referring to the big clumsy guy Cheng Mo.

Ink Painting looked at Yu Er.

In Yu Er's eyes, reflected in the sky lanterns, were bright and clear, revealing deep reluctance.

Ink Painting didn't want to deceive him too much, he just said lightly, "Possibly."

Yu Er was even more lost.

Ink Painting rubbed his hair. "People have sorrows and joys of parting, this is the most normal thing. Yu Er will also grow up in the future, need to learn to rely on himself, strengthen his nature, and constantly become stronger..."

Ink Painting's voice was gentle, slowly seeping into Yu Er's heart.

Yu Er gradually gained courage in his heart, seriously nodded, then he was a little reluctant again, and asked,

"Then later, can I still see Brother Ink again?"

Ink Painting smiled and nodded. "Yes, if I have time, I will come to see you. Or wait until one day, Yu Er, your cultivation is powerful enough to travel the Nine Provinces, we will definitely meet again one day."

"Wait until I'm powerful... then I can meet again..."

In Yu Er's eyes, longing suddenly appeared, then he nodded repeatedly. "Brother Ink, I will definitely cultivate well, and I will go find you in the future!"

Ink Painting smiled gently. "Good!"

Yu Er also laughed. The sky lanterns reflected on his face, making it look innocent and bright.

Ink Painting was gratified in his heart, but in the next instant, his divine soul trembled, his dragon soul resonated, and everything in front of him turned blood red.

The sky lanterns, reflected on Yu Er's face, were momentarily as fresh and red as blood.

And this blood-red color vaguely formed a dragon shadow.

This blood-colored dragon shadow, outlined by the red firelight, just swam on Yu Er's face, then coiled up, merging into Yu Er's forehead, merging into his divine soul.

Ink Painting's heart trembled.

"...Dragon?"

"Does Yu Er's body flow with the blood of a karma dragon?"