Chapter 1321: In Suffering, One Finds One's True Self

I'm not worthy?

Ye Guan was momentarily stunned before he chuckled. "Why do you say that?"

Shi Yu said, "That sword technique was created by the True Saint Hao Ran. Only those with an unshakable will can learn it. Since his time, not a single swordsman in the Other Shore has been able to master it!"

"True Saint Hao Ran?" Zhou Hann exclaimed, visibly shocked.

Ye Guan looked at her, and when she realized that he didn't recognize the name, she quickly explained, "True Saint Hao Ran was a swordsman from tens of thousands of years ago. He was an illegitimate child, so he suffered greatly in his own clan.

"His stepmother, afraid that he would become a threat, poisoned his dantian

and burned his eyes. If it hadn't been for his fiancée, he would have died. Even so, he was left crippled for life..."

Zhou Hann sighed softly before adding, "But no one could have ever imagined that in the depths of his suffering, he would end up being enlightened to an unparalleled Sword Dao.

"Truth be told, even though he received the title "True Saint," he never actually reached that realm. However, his combat power was equivalent to one, making him the only person in history to achieve such a level of strength without reaching the realm itself.

"He was also known as the last great swordsman of the Other Shore. Since then, no swordsman has ever reached the level of a True Saint both in realm and strength."

Ye Guan's curiosity was piqued. "What was his Sword Dao?"

Shi Yu replied, "The Dao of Suffering."

Ye Guan turned to look at him.

Shi Yu opened his palm, and a manual floated into his hands.

Staring at it, Shi Yu's gaze grew complex as he said, "In suffering, one finds one's true self. With one's true self, one could affix one's Sword Dao. Thus, anyone who wishes to follow his path must first understand what suffering is, and what hardship truly means."

Ye Guan thought for a moment before saying, "I don't know if what I've been through counts as suffering or hardship."

Shi Yu said, "Then try it and find out."

Ye Guan nodded. "Alright."

Shi Yu passed the thick sword manual to Ye Guan. The moment his hand landed on it, a surge of overwhelming sword intent erupted from within, enveloping him.

In that instant, it felt as if a mountain was crashing down on him.

He couldn't breathe at all.

Startled, he unleashed his own Order Sword Intent to counter it. Despite that, he was still under immense pressure. The sword intent within the manual was like a relentless tidal wave.

It was boundless, unstoppable, and incomparably powerful.

Shi Yu stood silently to the side, watching him.

Meanwhile, Zhou Hann's face was filled with curiosity.

She was standing right beside Ye Guan, but she couldn't feel any sword intent at all. The sword intent's target was Ye Guan alone!

Ye Guan stood firm, his gaze deep and unwavering. His hands were clenched tightly as his Order Sword Intent fought fiercely against the mysterious sword intent. It was unimaginably strong, yet it couldn't completely suppress him.

After a long standoff, the sword intent suddenly receded, causing him to heave a quiet sigh of relief.

But before he could react, a brilliant sword light erupted from the sword manual. In an instant, the light engulfed him, and the next moment, he found himself standing beneath a vast, boundless starry sky.

Confused, Ye Guan looked up.

A man stood with his back to him in the distance.

The man was wearing a simple, clean robe.

Ye Guan bowed slightly. "Greetings, Senior."

The man turned around. He appeared to be in his early thirties, and his eyes were covered by a piece of cloth.

He was Hao Ran! The greatest swordsman in the history of the Other Shore!

Hao Ran remained silent. His eyes were covered by a piece of cloth, but Ye Guan could feel that he was looking at him.

Hao Ran suddenly smiled. "After so many years, someone is finally here."

Ye Guan said, "Please, Senior, grant me your guidance."

With that, he placed his left hand on his Qingxuan Sword and got ready to spar.

Hao Ran was slightly stunned, and then he chuckled. "Interesting, interesting."

He hadn't expected that the junior before him would challenge him!

Ye Guan stared at him and repeated, "Please guide me, Senior."

"All right." Hao Ran smiled. "Attack as you wish."

Ye Guan stepped forward, and in an instant, he and his sword became one, slashing toward Hao Ran. He dared not be careless, as he was against the strongest swordsman in the history of the Other World.

Ye Guan's attack could decide life or death in an instant, and it was his most powerful attack at the moment.

As his sword descended, the starry skies around them trembled, turning illusory as if unable to withstand the power of Ye Guan's attack. In response, Hao Ran merely smiled faintly and thrust forward with his finger.

Bam!

Ye Guan's sword froze in place.

Immediately afterward, his Order Sword Intent crumbled like sand.

Ye Guan stood there, completely stunned.

Hao Ran looked at his dissipating yet unextinguished sword intent.

"The Path of Order..." he muttered with a smile. Then, he looked at Ye Guan with slight surprise. "You're not from the Other Shore."

Ye Guan nodded and admitted honestly. "Indeed. I'm from somewhere else."

Before an expert of Hao Ran's level, there was no point in lying.

Hao Ran nodded. "Leave."

Ye Guan asked, "Am I also unworthy of learning your Sword Dao?"

Hao Ran chuckled. "That's not what I meant. Your Sword Dao has already been established, so there is no real need for you to learn another one—"

Ye Guan noticed the strange pause and asked, "What is it?"

"Your Sword Dao is of Order. Since it's Order, it should encompass all things, including suffering..."

Ye Guan nodded. "Senior, your swordsmanship is unparalleled. I would like to gain a deeper understanding of your Sword Dao."

He had to admit that he was truly shocked. Although Hao Ran hadn't been able to completely erase his Order Sword Intent, he still managed to scatter it with just a casual strike. And most importantly, he wasn't even real!

Ye Guan realized that he had underestimated the True Saints of the Other Shore.

Hao Ran pondered for a moment before saying, "You haven't experienced true suffering and hardship, so it will be difficult for you to learn my Sword Dao."

Ye Guan responded seriously, "Senior, I've been through many hardships."

"Really?" Hao Ran smiled. "Pray tell."

Ye Guan nodded and recounted his experiences from beginning to end.

After listening, Hao Ran fell into a deep silence. Then, he shook his head slightly and said, "You call that suffering? That sounds more like a young master inheriting his family business and then going on to dominate the universe..."

Ye Guan and Little Pagoda were both at a loss for words.

Hao Ran thought for a moment before asking, "How about this? If you're willing to take some time to experience the hardships I once endured and persevere through them, I will have my Sword Dao follow your Order."

Huh?

Ye Guan was stunned. "F-Follow... my Order?"

Hao Ran nodded. "Yes."

Ye Guan was puzzled. "W-Why?"

He could hardly believe it. If this True Saint was willing to follow his Order, how powerful would his Sword Order become? Just thinking about it made him excited! Furthermore, Hao Ran was a swordsman as well!

Wouldn't he

ascend

on the spot?

Hao Ran smiled faintly. "If I were to pass my Sword Dao onto you, you'd be my disciple. As my disciple, you're one of my own. Since you're one of my own, wouldn't it be natural for me to follow your order?"

All of a sudden, Ye Guan was struck by a familiar feeling... the familiar feeling of being deceived! After hesitating for a moment, he asked, "Senior, is there some kind of condition to this?"

"There's a small condition," Hao Ran admitted.

Ye Guan stared at Hao Ran.

"For you, it's an extremely minor matter," Hao Ran replied.

"What is it?" Ye Guan asked.

Hao Ran shook his head. "I can't tell you for now, but if fate allows us to meet again in the future, I will let you know. If we're not fated to meet, then you won't have to do anything. How about that?"

Ye Guan thought for a moment before asking, "Senior, if I persevere through the suffering and hardships you mentioned, will it be your true body that follows my order, or just an avatar?"

Hao Ran laughed. "Naturally, my true body will follow your order."

Ye Guan fell silent. This was a very tempting offer!

If this senior really followed his order, he would basically ascend on the spot. He even felt like he would be able to challenge Fan Zhaodi. He probably wouldn't win, but at least, he'd have the confidence to try it.

Hao Ran was the strongest swordsman in the history of the Other Shore, after all! On top of that, he could also learn more about Hao Ran's Sword Dao, which would undoubtedly be of immense help to him right now.

Hao Ran smiled and asked, "Are you worried that I'm setting you up?"

Ye Guan quickly said, "No, no! You aren't that kind of person... right?"

"You and I are both swordsmen. Naturally, we must act with integrity. How could I possibly deceive you? Don't you agree?" Hao Ran said.

Ye Guan fell silent. Why did that line sound strangely familiar?

Hao Ran asked, "Have you made your decision?"

Ye Guan inwardly asked,

"Master Pagoda, what do you think?"

Little Pagoda replied,

"This is a good deal. Didn't he say it himself? If you never meet him again, you won't owe him anything. Honestly, I think you should go for it."

Ye Guan nodded.

"I'll listen to whatever you say!"

Little Pagoda scoffed.

"Damn it, why do I feel like you're up to something again? Can you stop getting me in trouble all the time?"

Ignoring him, Ye Guan looked at Hao Ran and said, "Senior, I'm willing to accept this offer."

"All right." Hao Ran nodded. "This will take some time. Just so you know, what's coming is going to be a bit difficult, so be mentally prepared."

Ye Guan grinned. "Don't worry, Senior. I've been through a fair share of hardships. Ordinary hardships are nothing to me."

"Good," Hao Ran replied. He then opened his palm, revealing a small, palm-sized seal.

Ye Guan saw that and was curious. He was just about to ask about it when the world around him spun, and his consciousness dissipated.