C1356 A Bit Unexpected

To those in the Everlands who had not witnessed it firsthand, it might have seemed that Yu Yuan, whose whereabouts were unknown, was the one invoking the seven streams of sword light. However, the River of Swords was actually the result of Nie Qingtian's residual sword force, which had accumulated extraterrestrial psionic power over time.

Nie Qingtian never took on a disciple. During his lifetime, he did not impart the Nine Celestial Slashes to anyone. Not even the Sword Sect had records of the technique or the intricate sword's will associated with the Nine Celestial Slashes.

It wasn't until Yu Yuan stumbled into the Moonfall Sanctuary and was recognized by the sword spirit of the Titanblade that he was able to imprint the sword spell onto his arm. Later, at the Soulforge Pool, he caught a glimpse of the sword patterns etched into the pool's walls. With the sword spell and the guidance of the sword spirit, Yu Yuan grasped the mysteries of the Nine Celestial Slashes and gained insight into the true essence of the sword spell.

He was the only one, Nie Qingtian's hand-chosen disciple of his generation. If not him, then who else could be behind these occurrences? Besides, it was the allure of the River of Swords that had drawn him from the vanishing Brugeth Astral Domain.

Many Shura warriors, visitors from the Everlands, and Xi Quan, who was on the verge of confronting Alonso, all secretly blamed Yu Yuan. The only exceptions were Alonso, Ciara, Zhou You, and Yu Yuan himself.

"Dire Bear, the Dire Bear actually..." Even Ciara, who had hastily departed after relaying her message, was suddenly privy to this earth-shattering secret. She intuitively realized that the entity with a profound sword's will lurking above the starwall of Wintermaw was not Yu Yuan as she had imagined, but the enigmatic "Dire Bear," deeply connected to the Shura.

The "Dire Bear" did more than just conjure cold fog and wrap the River of Swords within it; it had also mastered the subtleties of swordsmanship, gaining the ability to manipulate part of the sword force of the River of Swords. In the end, Ciara was wholeheartedly convinced and grew to revere the "Dire Bear" even more.

She now understood why the clan's Patriarch and the Grand Commander sought its counsel and regarded its stance so highly. The reverence of the clanspeople for the "Dire Bear" as a divine being was indeed justified.

In the unique Glimmerdrift Nebula, where the Wintermaw exists, one can control a portion of the sword force and naturally resonate with the Star River. Isn't that akin to being divine?

Beside the motionless River of Swords, Ji Ningshuang, ensnared within the Earth-Tethered Cage, had just drawn in a strand of Stardust sword's will into her body. As she contemplated the refining process, she noticed seven distinct sword lights emerge from the trio of River of Swords, targeting the star set in the trap by Du Yuan and Yue Mu.

She witnessed the rending of the Skyfall Net, the fracturing and reformation of Du Yuan's Divine Visage, over and over again. Her slender eyebrows raised ever so slightly, betraying a hint of surprise.

Facing her, the soft-spoken and handsome Alonso let out a light chuckle, his voice as soothing as a spring breeze, "Are you surprised?"

"A bit," Ji Ningshuang admitted with a nod, her composure unshaken.

She didn't resemble a captive in the slightest, her calmness bordering on eerie.

Suddenly, she turned, her luminous eyes narrowing as she spoke softly, "Senior Sister, I don't need your rescue. Please, return from whence you came."

Alonso's gaze drifted beyond the Earth-Tethered Cage, resting on the halted grey and white sword light. He spoke gently, "You've come a long way. Surely you won't just turn back without drawing your sword? Hehe, I know you better. The sword spell you've mastered wouldn't allow it."

Lollar and another platinum Shura cast challenging, icy glares toward the suspended sword light.

Xi Quan, with a cold huff, spurred by Alonso's taunt, chose to advance once more on her sword.

Whoosh!

Her slender white bone sword halted abruptly behind the Earth-Tethered Cage. Standing atop her sword, her tall, gaunt figure radiated an intense aura of deathly sword's will.

As Lollar and the Shura warriors nearby drew closer, their expressions grew solemn.

Xi Quan, a practitioner of the Withered Sword, had been bound by the sword's will for too long and had been absent from the public eye for an extended period.

Many young Shura warriors had never encountered her and were unaware of her formidable reputation or the terror of her sword spell.

Lollar had vaguely heard tales of Xi Quan's legend, yet they had never had the opportunity to truly cross swords in the extraterrestrial Star River, leaving them unacquainted.

Now, with a taste of Xi Quan's bloodline talent, Lollar instantly recognized her exceptional nature.

"Why have you come to Glimmerdrift?"

Ji Ningshuang gave her a reproachful look, "You were doing just fine at the Chamber of Commerce. Why get involved in this mess?"

"It's because I knew you were being foolish!" Xi Quan retorted with annoyance.

Ji Ningshuang fell silent at once.

It had been a century since anyone had dared to speak to her in such a manner.

Even the two primordial spirits from the Sword Sect, along with Du Yuan and others, had been nothing but pleasant and mild-mannered in recent years.

Among the vast expanse of stars, only Yu Yuan had ever reprimanded her like this.

This unfamiliar sensation stirred within her, bringing a long-lost warmth.

"You heartless scoundrel! You defied the forbidden area's rules and stormed into Glimmerdrift for someone like him. Was it worth it?" Xi Quan raged. "I've seen that man before, and he's no different from the past! He's always only cared about himself!"

"Look at what he's done! Since his rebirth, has he ever been without a female companion? One after another, endlessly! Are you blind? Can't you see? Can't you hear?"

"And now? You're trapped in the Earth-Tethered Cage, and Du Yuan and Yue Mu are trying to rescue you. What has he done?"

"He chose to draw his sword instead!"

"Why didn't those seven sword lights strike the Earth-Tethered Cage? Why didn't they free you from your bonds? You should be like me, break his arm bone, and forge two Immortal Swords from it!"

Xi Quan's curses against Yu Yuan were filled with righteous fury.

Alonso, Lollar, and many other high-ranking Shura commanders watched the Withered Sword's outburst with bewildered expressions.

The already tense atmosphere took an odd turn.

"It wasn't him."

Inside the Earth-Tethered Cage, Ji Ningshuang gently shook her head, her eyes calm and clear as a mountain spring.

Xi Quan's stream of curses abruptly ceased. She was acutely aware of her junior sister's capabilities, recognizing that from the moment Ji Ningshuang joined the Sword Sect to study swordsmanship, her Sacred Heart had been pristine and untainted, naturally resonating with numerous sword spells. Ji Ningshuang's initial foray into the Sword Cave had even sparked a remarkable phenomenon, eliciting cries from many Immortal Swords.

Convinced of her certainty, Xi Quan instantly trusted Ji Ningshuang's assessment, foregoing any questions about the reasons or specifics of the situation.

Alonso, taken aback, gave Ji Ningshuang a penetrating look and nodded. "It's clear why everyone holds you in such high regard; your exceptional talent is undeniable. How did you determine that the one who summoned the seven sword lights wasn't that youngster from Boulderdawn?" he inquired.

Ji Ningshuang remained silent, evidently uninterested in providing an answer.

"Very well," Alonso said with a light chuckle and nod. "I'm eager to see if you truly possess the skill to safely navigate through the Earth-Tethered Cage. I was initially uncertain about how to compel you..."

"No longer necessary," he interjected, gesturing towards Xi Quan with a glance at the Withered Sword.

Lollar and another platinum Shura caught the signal immediately. They transformed into two dazzling streaks of silver and fiery blood light, soaring towards Xi Quan, who was suspended above the sword.

Alonso, with a crystal ball in one hand, nonchalantly inserted the other into its depths. His wrist turned gently, as though he was rummaging for something within the ball's enigmatic inner realm. In an instant, the crystal ball shone with a golden brilliance, becoming radiant with light.

With a whoosh, a misty veil-like substance, reminiscent of a sheer curtain, was drawn forth and casually flung towards Xi Quan. Upon closer inspection, this 'veil' was revealed to be a wall from the Frozen World.

Xi Quan, wielding her sword and enveloped in a deathly silent sword's will, quickly discovered that her sword light, once captured by Alonso's wall, was unable to penetrate and escape.

​