Chapter 2795: Dilemma

“There’s something off about that sword...” Firework murmured.

Zu An walked over to draw the sword from the boulder, but it was shockingly heavy.[1]

“You’re right. It’s made out of a special material that contrasts with other weapons in this world.” Zu An remarked.

They had seen many weapons along the way, but the Xuan Metal Sword was made out of an unusual material.

Firework stroked the weapon and soon concluded, “Its material seems to be from another world. No wonder it became a godly weapon in this world.”

“Is it possible for the other universal deities to have tampered with this sword?” Zu An had previously discussed with her why no one had cleared this trial in so many years.

“Unlikely. It’s part of the main storyline of this trial. The Deity of Death would never have become a universal deity if he couldn’t even sense such blatant tampering.” Firework spent a moment in thought before shaking her head.

Zu An was awed.

Given her stature, her judgment is much more reliable.

“Let’s take the sword out first. It’s part of our mission anyway,” Firework said. She clenched her fist and snorted, “That Mongol prince is lucky he escaped fast. Otherwise, I’d have settled the score with him.”

It had been a long time since she last suffered such severe injuries. If not for Zu An, she would have been dead by now. His determination to rescue her, even though it put him in grave danger as well, was part of the reason she was willing to dual cultivate with him.

She suddenly remembered how he had protected her from the Eight Barren Netherworld Suppression Formation, and that spurred some thoughts in her. She looked at him with tender eyes, only to see him whispering intimately with Tingxue. Her expression immediately soured.

Tingxue pulled out two swords from a wooden crate and passed them to Zu An. “Take the Gentleman Sword and Maiden Sword too. These two swords are made out of extraordinary materials as well. Just the Xuan Metal Sword might not be enough for you to craft the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Slaying Saber.”

The Gentleman Sword and the Maiden Sword were godly weapons Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu had obtained from the Loveless Valley, but the two of them had grown so strong that they didn’t need such weapons anymore.

Judging from her words, Zu An understood that she wasn’t planning to travel with them and was startled. “Tingxue, come to Xiangyang as well. This trial is too dangerous. We have to stick together for a better chance to overcome this crisis.”

Tingxue shook her head. “There’s no need for that. I’m accustomed to being alone. This ancient tomb suits me well.”

Firework walked over and asked, “Are you feeling uncomfortable because of what happened earlier?”

Tingxue ignored her and turned away.

Zu An was worried that they would bicker, so he quickly continued, “Our divine senses are sealed in this world, and there’s no effective way for us to communicate over a long distance, either. Let’s head to Xiangyang together and discuss a way to clear this trial.”

Firework harrumphed. “This brat insists on saving everyone from this trial despite its futility. I wouldn’t have wasted my time otherwise.”

Tingxue frowned in hesitation.

Zu An added, “There’s still Isabella. We don’t know her current whereabouts. It’d be easier to gather information about her in a city like Xiangyang. The Xuan Metal Sword belongs to the Ancient Tomb Sect, so it makes sense for you to join us as a representative of the Ancient Tomb Sect.”

“Fine. Let’s find Isabella as soon as possible.” Tingxue finally gave in.

Zu An was overjoyed. It would be easier for them to overcome this trial if they joined forces.

The three of them left the ancient tomb. Firework found a chance to sneak up to Tingxue and asked, “What’s your opinion of our circumstances? Do you think it’s possible for the four of us to survive this trial?”

Tingxue nonchalantly replied, “I don’t like to think about such stuff.”

“It doesn’t matter to you even if you die in the trial?”

“Everything in the universe eventually returns as dust to the nebula. Dying is merely a natural passage of life.”

Tingxue’s calm response made Firework feel as if she had punched cotton.

I nearly forgot this woman is a Nebula worshiper. Of course she doesn’t care!

To get back at Tingxue, Firework intentionally acted intimately with Zu An for the rest of the journey. Even when they stayed at inns at night, she would sneak into his room and cause a huge ruckus.

Zu An initially indulged in it, thinking that Firework was hooked on him. However, he soon realized her intention and was rendered speechless.

She’s trying to cuckold Tingxue by getting together with me? But there’s nothing between me and Tingxue!

But Firework had a reason for doing so. She had heard from Zu An that Tingxue resembled one of his lovers, and she keenly sensed something peculiar between the two of them. That was why she was so enthusiastic about this.

This put Tingxue in a tough spot.

I shouldn’t have agreed to accompany them to Xiangyang.

Zu An also faced a dilemma. Tingxue was clearly irritated with him, but the more he tried to console her, the louder the ruckus Firework made at night.

His ‘days of suffering’ only ended when they returned to Xiangyang.

Guo Jing and Huang Rong were overjoyed when they learned that their children had brought back not just the Xuan Metal Sword, but the Gentleman Sword and the Maiden Sword as well. They were also amazed when they saw Tingxue.

Huang Rong grabbed Tingxue’s hand and exclaimed, “Big brother Jing, they look so alike. Doesn’t this remind you of the first time we met Miss Long?”

“Indeed.” Guo Jing looked wistful, as if he had returned back in time.

Even Guo Fu rushed over to peek at Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu’s daughter. Her lower jaw dropped when she saw Tingxue’s face. There were many words at the tip of her tongue, but they dissipated with an air of melancholy.

Tingxue felt uncomfortable by their amicability. She instinctively shuffled toward Zu An.

Huang Rong noticed her subtle movements and was initially startled before she revealed a heartened smile.

Guo Jing suddenly said, “Tingxue, Polu and Xiang’er can be considered your uncle and aunt.”

Zu An, Firework, and Tingxue were all speechless.

Even Huang Rong rolled her eyes at her husband. “Guo’er called Miss Long ‘little aunt’ back then as well, but there isn’t a big disparity in their ages. There’s no need for such formalities.”

Guo Jing smiled sheepishly as he realized he had misspoken.

Firework couldn’t care less about this farce, so she quickly pulled the topic back on track.

Huang Rong instructed Guo Fu to call her maternal grandfather[2] over, using that as an excuse to send her away. Then, she explained, “We invited your maternal grandfather over. He’s highly knowledgeable, and he has been researching how to forge a godly weapon. He has experimented with other weapons and found two chokepoints.

“One, it’ll take more than an ordinary flame to melt the Xuan Metal Sword. He heard that there’s a mystical man residing near Sichuan’s E’mei Mountain who specializes in crafting Thunderbolt Bombs. That man might have a solution to this issue.

“Two, a fire strong enough to melt the Xuan Metal Sword would easily melt any metal clamps used to hold the weapon in place. We’ll need special tools to craft the godly weapon. The Ming Cult’s Sacred Fire Token is the only thing in the world capable of withstanding such heat.

“Thus, I’ll need you two to make a trip to E’mei Mountain and the Ming Cult. Xiang’er can visit E’mei Mountain, but the trip to the Ming Cult will be treacherous. Cult Leader Shi is a formidable martial artist, and he has many powerful subordinates. The Sacred Fire Token is the Ming Cult’s holy treasure; there’s no way he’ll give it to us, even if it’s a request from us. We’ll have to find a way to steal it.

“Unfortunately, your father and I cannot leave Xiangyang at this juncture, and your grandfather is not young anymore. If only Guo’er were around... I don’t know who I can entrust this task to.”

1. In Return of the Condor Heroes, the Xuan Metal Sword was known to be extremely heavy, weighing 41 kilograms—even top martial artists in this world struggled to effectively wield it as a weapon. ☜

2. Guo Fu’s maternal grandfather is one of the Five Greats, East Heretic Huang Yaoshi. ☜