Checking in for 100,000 Years

"Young ones, you are both still so young, with limitless futures ahead. Won't you consider this carefully?"

The Guardian, donning a silver mask, stood in the void, his eyes profound, as if reflecting the birth and death of stars.

A brilliant Sword Intent surged around him, as dazzling as a pillar of light that shot towards Yun Xiao.

In that moment, he completely unleashed the powerful Sword Intent of an expert at the peak of the Tenth Level of the Destiny Realm.

The white Sword Intent rocketed towards Yun Xiao, shredding the dark clouds for thousands of li around. Its momentum was vast and utterly astounding.

Everyone on Enlightenment Square broke out in a cold sweat, feeling as if the Sword Intent could slice their throats at any moment.

These two outsiders really don't know what's good for them! They've dragged us into their mess too... How inconsiderate!

The cultivators from the Shenfeng Dynasty on Enlightenment Square were all cursing furiously in their hearts.

The powerful Guardian established the Sword King Palace and is a great cultivator of the Heavenly Mandate Realm Tenth Level. How wonderful would it be to join him? Such a rare and wonderful opportunity is hard to come by, even if one searched with a lantern.

Many people wanted to call these two young outsiders idiots.

However, under the suppression of the Sword Intent in the sky, no one could move a muscle, let alone open their mouths to speak.

They could only curse silently in their hearts.

"Elder Guardian, we've considered it, and we will not be joining any sect!" Jun Moxiao declared, cupping his fists, his tone respectful yet firm.

The Guardian suddenly laughed, a booming sound that reverberated, causing the ground to quake.

"Young lady, are you... willing?" His voice was exceedingly gentle as he tried his best to sound like a kind and approachable elder.

Since the young man was obstinate, he hoped the young woman might be intimidated by his display of power and thus agree to join his Sword King Palace.

In his experience, girls were generally more timid.

"Elder Guardian, I'm afraid I will disappoint you. I also will not be joining any sect," Luo Li replied with a faint smile.

I am the current Sect Master of the Dragon God Sect; how could I possibly join another Sect? I wouldn't join even if it meant death.

Luo Li was accustomed to a life of walking on a knife's edge; threats were the last thing that could intimidate her.

"You…" The Guardian was so angered by Luo Li that his face turned ashen. His body quivered slightly, and he was rendered speechless.

He hadn't expected all his painstaking efforts to be for naught.

These two young outsiders were utterly unyielding, impervious to his attempts at both persuasion and pressure. Does this mean that I, a peak expert of the Tenth Level of the Destiny Realm, am not qualified to be their master?

He sighed softly, and the enormous Sword Intent behind him was immediately withdrawn, returning to his body.

Everyone on Enlightenment Square felt the oppressive force dissipate, and they all gasped for breath.

"Elder Guardian, these two fools have no appreciation of your kindness!"

"Elder, please retract the Sword King Stone inheritance you bestowed upon them!"

"This is a fortuitous opportunity belonging to our Shenfeng Dynasty; how can it be taken by outsiders? Elder, please retract the inheritance..."

In an instant, everyone on Enlightenment Square knelt down.

Li Shaobai was also kneeling, his heart in turmoil. After all, he knew Luo Li and Jun Moxiao and couldn't bring himself to say such shameless words.

Why on earth would these two forsake such an incredible opportunity? He couldn't understand it.

Li Shaobai felt a deep sense of exasperation, like one watching potential go to waste.

"Senior Sister…" Jun Moxiao looked at Luo Li, a bitter smile forming on his face.

I never expected things to develop like this.

The ten Sword Lotuses had already integrated into their bodies, and the peerless swordsmanship was rooted in their minds. How could it possibly be retrieved?

Unless they kill us both.

"Don't be afraid," Luo Li said, her eyes firm. "We will confront whatever comes our way." She fixed her gaze on the Guardian in the sky, curious as to his next move.

"I'll ask once more: are you truly not prepared to join my Sword King Palace?" the Guardian, still unreconciled, pressed further.

"Senior, we appreciate your kind intentions, but we will not join any sect!" Luo Li and Jun Moxiao replied almost in unison.

"Alright then!" A look of despair came over the Guardian's face. He extended a trembling hand, slowly lowering it.

In mid-air, his hand transformed into a colossal hand of mana that descended from the sky. It blotted out the sun, its sheer scale and power heralding what seemed like the arrival of doomsday.

Witnessing this spectacle, everyone else on Enlightenment Square was so terrified they collapsed to the ground.

An expert of the Heavenly Mandate Realm Tenth Level was truly terrifying.

The terrifying palm descended slowly, its speed deliberate.

It still seemed to offer the young man and woman below a chance to reconsider.

However, Luo Li and Jun Moxiao stood ramrod straight, their bright eyes fixed on the sky, their expressions devoid of fear.

Seeing that the pair would rather face death than join his Sword King Palace, the Guardian snorted, "HMPH!" His eyes flashed with anger. He pressed his palm downwards, preparing to obliterate the young man and woman beneath him.

Suddenly, his expression changed dramatically.

The massive hand formed of mana froze in mid-air.

A figure in white had appeared above Enlightenment Square, seemingly out of nowhere.

"We pay our respects to the Ancestor!" Luo Li and Jun Moxiao's faces immediately lit up with joy, and they quickly knelt.

"Stand up," Ye Yun said with a calm smile. "You both did well and didn't disappoint me." A wave of mana swept out, gently helping the two to their feet.

Luo Li and Jun Moxiao had comprehended ten golden Sword Lotuses.

This was something Ye Yun had planned one hundred thousand years ago on this very cliff.

Nine was not the limit.

Ten was.

Comprehending ten golden Sword Lotuses would allow them to activate the swordsmanship hidden within the two sword marks.

This swordsmanship was not created by Ye Yun alone; he had developed it together with a cherished female confidante from his past, born from a shared moment of sudden inspiration.

"Who might you be?" The Guardian stared at the white-robed youth on Enlightenment Square, his pupils contracting. He couldn't hide the shock in his heart.

Although his palm strike contained only a tenth of his full power, it was not something an ordinary person could withstand.

Yet this white-robed youth, whose cultivation base he couldn't fathom, had effortlessly neutralized it.

Could it be that this youth's cultivation base is even higher than mine? But how could that be possible? In the Shenfeng Dynasty, let alone the Plough Heaven Dynasty, there are few whose cultivation base surpasses mine...

Ye Yun glanced at the Guardian, his expression impassive.

He took a step forward, crossing the distance in an instant to appear in the void opposite the Guardian.

"Which generation of Guardian are you?" Ye Yun gazed at the two sword marks on the Sword King Stone, now devoid of any Sword Intent. His expression was calm, his voice tinged with a profound weariness as he asked.