Immortal of the Ages

"Sword Heart?" Lian Xi blinked her beautiful eyes. "What do you need a Sword Heart for?"

"The Primordial Ruins is brimming with danger, every random person is a master of the Immortal Dao. I need a Sword Heart to protect myself," Yun Xiao explained with a serious tone.

"I can be your shield," Lian Xi insisted, clinging to his arm. "Stay by my side, and no one can touch you."

Her eyes sparkled as she spoke, and for a moment, despite their differences, Yun Xiao couldn't help but see Chen Xi in her. It was a curious feeling, acknowledging they were distinct yet finding their spirits remarkably similar, save for a degree of liveliness.

"What's on your mind?" Lian Xi asked, noticing his silence. With a swift motion, she pinched his nose.

Yun Xiao captured her hand, holding it close. "True, but isn't an extra Sword Heart an extra layer of protection?"

"Fair point!" Lian Xi stepped back, winking. "Wait here."

She bounded into the room like a playful tiger and returned with a wooden box, presenting it to Yun Xiao.

"What's this?" he inquired.

"A Sword Heart," she declared.

"You have one?" For Yun Xiao, this was an unexpected delight. He accepted the box and seated himself beside Lian Xi by the lotus pond, sensing the significance of the Sword Heart in her gaze.

"Did someone close to you leave this behind?" he whispered.

"Yes, it was my grandmother's," Lian Xi caressed the box, her voice laden with nostalgia.

"Your real grandmother?" Yun Xiao asked.

"Not the one by blood, but the grandma who raised me," Lian Xi's eyes filled with a fond remembrance as she spoke to Yun Xiao. "My grandma was something else, known far and wide as the Compassionate Jade Sword Immortal. She spent her life gliding on her Sovereign Sword through countless worlds, slashing demons, banishing devils, and safeguarding the common folk. Her name was legendary among the people. I was a little baby she stumbled upon in a lower world, and she's the one who named me."

"You weren't born in the Primordial Ruins?" Yun Xiao was taken aback.

"Far from it," Lian Xi gazed at the wooden box, her eyes brimming with deep emotion. "As far as I can remember, I roamed the lands with her, fighting off demons, protecting countless villagers, until I was eight. That's when she grew too old to continue, and she brought me to the Primordial Ruins, leaving me in the care of the Liu Family."

"Did she pass away unexpectedly or..."

Yun Xiao's question was cut short by Lian Xi's gentle voice, "Grandma died a peaceful death. She lived through the trials of age, hundreds of years, venturing alone since her youth, only returning to the Ruins with me at the end of her journey... She was content when she passed, claiming she'd fulfilled her life's purpose without a single regret."

Yun Xiao admired the wooden box, his eyes filled with reverence. "To dedicate one's life to a single cause, without a moment's hesitation, bringing blessings to the world, she truly was remarkable."

The Compassionate Jade Sword Immortal!

How many souls lost in turmoil longed for such a savior?

Unknown in the Primordial Ruins, yet her name echoed across the realms.

"The only thing she worried about was me." Lian Xi recalled her grandmother's final moments, her eyes misting over. "She never spoke of the Sword Heart. I never imagined she'd choose to leave in agony for my sake. I wept for ages when Uncle Liu handed it to me. It felt like no deed could ever repay her maternal kindness. All I can do is carry on her legacy, to ease the suffering of those in this world."

Yun Xiao had only inquired about the Sword Heart, not expecting to unearth such a tale. He stared at her, reminded of Chen Xi's proclamation on the throne that day... Was this the incarnation of transcending calamity? Or simply a living, breathing person?

They were so alike, each with their own destinies and aspirations, even the spark in their eyes at this moment was identical.

"It's all in the past. Every memory grandma left me with is a treasure. So, I shouldn't cry at the thought of her, right?" Lian Xi wiped away her tears, offering him a small, brave smile.

"Right you are." Yun Xiao nodded solemnly, his thoughts a whirlwind. He handed the wooden box back to Lian Xi. "This Sword Heart means too much to you. Keep it. I can't accept it."

But Lian Xi shook her head. "No matter its value, time's running out. If unused, it'll just fade away."

"It's fading?" Yun Xiao blinked, taken aback.

"Yes," Lian Xi confirmed. "Grandma's been my shield for years. Now that I've grown strong, it's time to let her rest, free of earthly worries. This Sword Heart has seen me through many a gloomy day, but with you by my side, I know she'd be overjoyed for me."

Yun Xiao held the box, lost in thought.

"Let the Sword Heart protect you in its final moments." Lian Xi guided his hand to accept it.

"But I might use it to strike..." Yun Xiao hesitated.

"It's fine. Grandma lived freely and spoke her mind. She always wished to contribute to the world one last time. She'd be happy to be of use before fading," Lian Xi reassured him.

"Really?" Yun Xiao pondered. Times were tough, and with chaos brewing in the Nine Hells and the Primordial Ruins suffering, no one saw the urgency. Yun Xiao felt the call to action. He needed a bridge to ascend, to fully unleash his Creator Immortal potential. The Sword Heart was that bridge.

So, he ceased his internal struggle, grasping the box firmly, "Grandma, your grandson-in-law sends his regards."

"..." Lian Xi stared at him, speechless at how shamelessly smooth that line came out.

"Was grandma really that powerful?" As Yun Xiao gently opened the box, a white Sword Heart lay inside, cracked and on the verge of vanishing, possibly by nightfall.

"I was too young to know her true might," Lian Xi pondered, "But she was certainly formidable!"

Gazing upon the Sword Heart, Yun Xiao couldn't help but be impressed. "This Sword Heart really speaks to her might," he remarked with a sigh.

Pity it was on the brink of dissipating. After a moment of contemplation, Yun Xiao turned to Lian Xi, "I need to step out, and you're not allowed to follow me."

"Huh?" Lian Xi was taken aback.

"Just do as I say," Yun Xiao commanded with a stern face.

"Why? It's too dangerous," Lian Xi protested softly.

"No choice, grandma's expiration date is nearing. I've got to make her final display a dazzling one!"

With those words, Yun Xiao vanished in a whoosh, leaving Lian Xi speechless. This guy sure had his own style.

"Lian Xi, will you follow him?" a white-robed elder who had just entered asked.

After a brief pause, Lian Xi shook her head. "No need. My grandma will watch over him."

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The night at the Primordial Academy was pitch black!

While the rest of the Ruins was brightly lit and bustling, the Academy was shrouded in darkness, as if light was strictly forbidden.

The darkness and silence made it an ideal place for sneaking around, though any skirmish would stand out unless it happened deep within the secluded halls.

And there was Yun Xiao, threading through the darkness on his own!

Nobody would have guessed that after challenging the Mysterious Sword Manor and Mystic Zenith Temple, he'd dare to wander alone at night.

He crossed a dense forest and a silver palace emerged before him. This building, cold and solemn with a soft silver glow, was unlike anything else in the Academy, bearing more resemblance to the style of the Three Great Ruins.

A signboard hung above the entrance with three characters—

"Silver Swell Residence?" Yun Xiao glanced at the signboard before stepping through the main gate.

"Dharma Crown Qin, I've arrived."

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