Soul Emperor Martial God

Sky-splitting Sword Sect had long since arranged an excellent residence for Xiao Yi.

And he was to enjoy the treatment of an elder.

At this moment, outside the residence of Xiao Yi.

A woman in white clothing stood at the entrance with the Great Elder, both wearing somewhat ugly expressions.

"How long has that boy been inside?" the woman in white asked gravely.

The Great Elder bitterly smiled and said, "For five full days and nights, he has not eaten or drunk, just staring blankly."

"Did you find the people you were supposed to find for me?" the woman in white asked seriously.

"Yes," nodded the Great Elder.

...

Inside the residence.

Xiao Yi sat quietly by himself; the entire residence was peacefully silent.

The atmosphere was so heavy it was suffocating.

A figure suddenly walked over slowly.

It was, unexpectedly, the Great Elder of the Sky-splitting Sword Sect from Northern Mountain County.

"Young Xiao Yi," the Great Elder called out.

Xiao Yi nodded, silent, his thoughts churning continually.

The Great Elder furrowed his brow and said, "I hear you've been troubled."

"You should know, if a martial artist remains in such an emotional state for too long, it's easy to create mental barriers, even Heart Demons."

"It's very detrimental to a martial artist's cultivation."

"How detrimental?" Xiao Yi finally opened his mouth.

"At the very least, your cultivation will not increase, and your path in the Martial Arts Dao will come to a standstill..." the Great Elder said with a furrowed brow.

"Like what happened to Elder Yi?" Xiao Yi interrupted.

The Great Elder was taken aback and, looking at Xiao Yi's dejected expression and the complexity in his face, was for a moment at a loss for words.

After a long pause, the Great Elder spoke again, "Kid, I know you're blaming yourself."

"But actually..."

"If I hadn't been so headstrong, insisting on forcing Elder Yi to show himself, would this day's events have brewed?" Xiao Yi interrupted.

"And would Elder Yi have become unconscious and critically ill?"

"Alas," sighed the Great Elder, "you've always had a Dao Heart as stable as a rock."

"This sort of thing wouldn't usually confuse you this much, make you this depressed."

"You are just making things difficult for yourself."

"Difficult?" Xiao Yi's expression was somewhat desolate, "I'm just telling it like it is."

"I've always foolishly tried to resolve Elder Yi's troubles, to avenge him."

"But now, not only is his heart knot not untied, but on the contrary..."

The Great Elder shook his head and interrupted gravely, "What if I told you that this was the path Shiyi chose for himself?"

"What if I told you that Shiyi wished for it to be this way?"

"Alas," the Great Elder sighed heavily again, "Originally, there were some things I didn't intend to tell you."

"But now it seems I have to tell you."

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi turned his head to look directly at the Great Elder.

The Great Elder remained silent, contemplative.

After a while, he finally said, "Actually, Shiyi's heart knot was untied a long time ago."

Xiao Yi furrowed his brow and said, "Great Elder, there's no need to lie to me. With Bai Mohan not dead and the great vengeance unfulfilled, how could Elder Yi's heart knot possibly be untied."

"No, you are wrong," the Great Elder said firmly.

"It was untied before you even left for the Eastern Desolate Beast Tide when you were still in Northern Mountain County."

"That heart knot had already come undone."

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi's brow furrowed even more.

The Great Elder nodded and continued, "He told me then that as a master, one should impart knowledge and teach."

"He had already arranged everything."

"He even planned to leave the Sword Sect and go back to the Royal Capital to seek revenge for what happened those years ago, before you returned from the East Desolate Beast Tide."

"However, after you ran into trouble during the East Desolate Beast Tide."

"Everyone thought you had perished, and that's why he left the Sword Sect to find you for a long time, delaying his plans."

"Later, when there was no sign of you for a long time, he gave up."

"He intended to go back to the Royal Capital for good to take his revenge."

The Great Elder spoke, looking deeply into Xiao Yi's eyes, "And then you know what happened next."

"Soon after he returned to the Royal Capital, news came from Northern Mountain County that you were not dead."

"You even activated the Sword Master Token, causing quite a stir within the entire Sky-splitting Sword Sect."

"At that moment, when it became clear you were not dead, he suddenly gave up on the idea of seeking revenge."

"Once you appeared in the Royal Capital, I've been quietly following you."

The Great Elder finished telling everything in one breath.

Xiao Yi's face showed some surprise as he muttered to himself, "Imparting the Dao and teaching, arranging everything?"

"Indeed," the Great Elder nodded. "The Sword Qi Shiyi gave you, you never used it, have you?"

"Yes," Xiao Yi answered.

"Release it, let's see," the Great Elder said with a light chuckle.

Xiao Yi frowned, and with a focus of his fingertips, a stream of Sword Qi burst forth suddenly.

It was indeed Elder Yi's Sword Qi.

"Perceive it carefully," the Great Elder suggested.

Following the words, Xiao Yi did just that.

It was the first time he seriously perceived Elder Yi's Sword Qi.

Elder Yi's Sword Qi was indeed powerful.

He remembered Elder Yi's words, "This Sword Qi, no matter when or where, will save your life."

In Xiao Yi's perception, the power of this Sword Qi definitely surpassed the Peak of the Heavenly Origin Realm.

"Hmm?" Xiao Yi's face suddenly changed greatly.

Within the Sword Qi, beyond the immense power it contained, there was something else...

"Great Freedom Sword Dao," Xiao Yi exclaimed in shock.

Indeed, within the Sword Qi, there was also a trace of the Great Freedom Sword Dao's Inheritance.

Of course, this was not a complete inheritance.

It was merely a trace of Sword Dao comprehension belonging to Elder Yi.

In that moment, Xiao Yi understood everything.

So-called imparting of the Dao and teaching,

Imparting the Dao was naturally back when he had not yet Entered the Mysterious Profundity Realm.

At the stage before 'Transcending the Mortal's Path to Enter Dao', when Elder Yi imparted the Dao, guiding his cultivation.

The teaching was the mastery Elder Yi possessed, the Great Freedom Sword Dao.

Even though this sliver of Sword Dao comprehension was just a trace,

It was equivalent to a seed.

Having received it, Xiao Yi could directly comprehend a kind of Sword Dao, the Great Freedom Sword Dao.

Of course, the degree of it was probably still not even one percent of the Sword Dao knowledge Elder Yi possessed.

However, in the future, through his own cultivation, insight, and increased Sword Dao proficiency, he would be able to continuously perfect the Great Freedom Sword Dao.

One day, he would reach Elder Yi's level, or even surpass it.

Given Elder Yi's character, it was always the master who led the way; cultivation depended upon the individual.

Moreover, the Demon Beast Cores and abundant Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures originally prepared by Elder Yi for him in the Sky-Splitting Sword Sect of Northern Mountain County

were actually a 'gift for taking up his mentorship.'

The Eight Dragons Burning Fire Furnace was a 'gift for completing the mentorship.'

Elder Yi had arranged everything long ago.

Xiao Yi's vision suddenly blurred as he murmured faintly, "Elder Yi..."

The Great Elder beside him spoke, "Now, you should understand."

"With Shiyi's ability and methods, he could have taken his revenge in the Royal Capital long ago."

"At worst, kill Bai Mohan, then face the endless retaliation from the powerhouses of the Royal Capital, and die."

"But, a long time ago, he had already resolved his inner conflict."

"No, to be precise, Bai Mohan was no longer his inner demon."

"When he thought you had died in the East Desolate Beast Tide, his heart was cold; when he received news that you had not died..."

"From that moment on, you were his only inner demon."

"Compared to taking revenge, he preferred to quietly watch you grow from the shadows."

The Great Elder continued, rebuking, "Looking at how you are now, if he saw you, he would be very disappointed, wouldn't he?"

"I..." Xiao Yi's voice choked up, then suddenly he smiled, "The Great Elder jests."

"The lad only rested for a few days, reflected for a few days, how could that possibly disappoint Elder Yi."

"The Martial God Realm is nothing." Xiao Yi clenched his fists, his eyes brimming with determination, "I will eventually reach it."

"Furthermore, perhaps I'll even find a way to awaken Elder Yi sooner."

"Upon stepping into the Extreme Realm, there will be even more powerful methods."

"With my ability, I may very well be able to."

Xiao Yi's mouth once again curled into his signature confident smile.

Just at this moment, outside the mansion, Bai Bingxue hurriedly approached.

"Xiao Yi, the Master asks you to go to the bamboo grove."

"Alright," Xiao Yi nodded.

...

Second update.