Chapter 203: The Legend of the Rift Clan

“What? Did you call us here because you’re finally ready to tell us what you know?”

Early in the morning, Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing were summoned by Qingqiu Zhaoying.

In the Shen residence’s study, Xiu Qingcheng saw Qingqiu Zhaoying sitting inside and unceremoniously sat herself down on the desk right in front of him.

Her back was to him, and she looked over her shoulder with a peerlessly beautiful profile and a cold smirk.

She didn’t sit in the available chairs; she sat on the desk to make it perfectly clear to him who the boss was here.

Seeing a plate of fruit on the desk, she reached out and helped herself to one, munching on it noisily.

Meng Yingxing stood tall and straight beside her. Although there were two chairs on their side, he wouldn’t sit if his Master didn’t.

Qingqiu Zhaoying watched her arrogant display with a calm expression.

“I still find it somewhat ridiculous that you, as the person involved, actually know nothing of these events.”

He still took every opportunity to mock her.

“I’ve lived too long and have too many memories, so I forgot.”

Xiu Qingcheng didn’t fall for it; she merely lifted her eyelids and gave him a nonchalant retort.

Under her control, the Ting Tian Sword flew from its scabbard and slammed into the floor beside her, serving as a warning—or perhaps a threat.

Qingqiu Zhaoying ignored this, leaning back in his chair as he began to recount the things they wanted to know.

“After Xie Yuguang died back then, I left Yelan City.”

Yes, Xie Zhaoying had left without hesitation, even though he was being hailed as a hero who killed the witch.

He couldn’t accept the fact that Xie Yuguang had asked him to protect a city filled with such sinners.

At that time, his heart was filled with rage, wanting to make those ungrateful citizens of Yelan pay the price.

But when he thought of the foolishly altruistic Xie Yuguang and how she had sacrificed everything for this city, he ultimately restrained himself.

However, his anger and desire for revenge could not be quelled; only by leaving and distancing himself from everything could he find any relief.

That departure lasted for a hundred years.

“During that time, I also found the isolated Qingqiu Fox Clan that I had accidentally been separated from as a child.”

At this point, a trace of bewilderment brewed in his eyes.

He had originally thought that time would wash away all anger, but he hadn’t expected the passage of years to only cause it to swell within his heart.

Until finally, his heart became completely still.

It was an extreme calm where anger and hatred had filled his heart to its limit—an abyss of madness.

“I don’t want to hear your autobiography. Get to the point.”

Xiu Qingcheng’s crisp voice cut through, while the sound of cluttered footsteps echoed from outside, suggesting many people were passing by.

Her cool voice landed heavily on the floor.

Qingqiu Zhaoying gave a faint smile. “My apologies. Once I start talking about the past, I find it hard to stop.”

“During my time away from Yelan City, I traveled far and wide and happened upon a legend concerning the Ancient Era.”

He paused and looked up, seeing that both Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing were focused, waiting for his next words.

‘Fine, it seems these two really don’t know anything.’

“In the Ancient Era of Jintian Kyushu, one day the sky shattered, and the stars, sun, and moon all came falling down.”

“In the rift of the sky, a massive inverted city appeared.”

“From that city, a four-eyed alien race from beyond the borders invaded Jintian Kyushu, driven by a bloodthirsty nature. For a time, the world was in turmoil and life was devastated.”

“Those aliens called themselves the Rift Clan, serving the Soul-Devouring Great Lord to consume Jintian Kyushu. The elite among them, bestowed power by the Monarch of Destruction, called themselves ‘Rift Heaven Generals’.”

“Rift Heaven Generals?”

Hearing this term, Xiu Qingcheng and Meng Yingxing instinctively glanced at each other.

‘Isn’t that the title Hua Bukai claimed back then?’

‘To think that was their origin… but why have they never heard of such a legend?’

“Why has no one ever mentioned such events?” Meng Yingxing pressed.

“The Ancient Era is too far away. Any legend will eventually fade or become distorted.”

Qingqiu Zhaoying remained expressionless.

“Just like the story of the witch currently told by the storytellers in Yelan City; it is no longer anything like the truth of back then.”

“In the end, most of the Rift Heaven Generals were sealed, and the Rift Clan’s Soul-Devouring Great Lord was defeated in the great war against Jintian Kyushu, allowing this world to thrive until today.”

Compared to the detailed beginning, the rest of the story he told was quite pale, feeling somewhat rushed.

Xiu Qingcheng tilted her head in confusion, her brows knitting.

“So, what does this have to do with me?”

In the story he just told, there was absolutely nothing related to a sword.

“Legend has it that during the great war, the Rift Clan was searching everywhere for a sword.”

Qingqiu Zhaoying leaned forward, his gaze landing directly on Xiu Qingcheng.

“That sword is you, the Demon Sword Duan Li.”

“The Super-Invincible Godly Sword Ting Tian, thank you very much.”

Even though the story was shocking, Xiu Qingcheng still expressionlessly corrected his name for her.

Qingqiu Zhaoying gave a light smile and leaned back again.

“Because of the demon sword’s history of bewitching people, I suspect it is a product of the Rift Clan.”

Saying this, he turned his gaze back to Meng Yingxing.

At this moment, Meng Yingxing looked a bit dazed, likely because the things Zhaoying said were too much of a shock.

What Rift Clan?

What “searching for the Ting Tian Sword”?

It made Meng Yingxing’s head throb.

It turned out that not only were the mysteries surrounding his own body increasing, but the same was true for Xiu Qingcheng.

“Kid, although I don’t know why the demon sword and its spirit haven’t caused you any harm yet, I still hope you can think it through.”

“This is a source of calamity.”

“Those four-eyed demonic beasts are the undying remnants and claws of the Rift Clan. They follow the scent of the Demon Sword Duan Li wherever it goes.”

“Yelan City is a victim. Who will be next?”

“You might be able to protect the sword from me now, but what if those Rift Heaven Generals make a comeback? They will find you sooner or later to snatch the sword from your hand.”

“Even with a sword spirit protecting you, how long can you and she really last?”

His words were sharp and piercing.

“Give me the sword, and you won’t be harmed in the future.”

He still hadn’t forgotten about taking the sword, even saying it right in front of Xiu Qingcheng.

Meng Yingxing lowered his head, staring at the grey floor.

Qingqiu Zhaoying was absolutely correct; in fact, a Rift Heaven General had already come knocking.

Hua Bukai in Zhongyang Town was a living example.

That peerless power she possessed just after breaking the seal was something he couldn’t handle alone no matter what.

But so what?

“You’re full of it. How could I possibly not hold out?”

Xiu Qingcheng pulled the Ting Tian Sword from the floor, sat on the desk with her legs crossed, and leaned over to point the tip of the blade gracefully at Zhaoying’s neck.

“Rift Heaven Generals, Rift Clan… I’ll kill them all when they come.”

Qingqiu Zhaoying looked at her with a slight smile. “Miss Sword Spirit, are you really going to deceive yourself like this?”

“Self-deception? This is called self-confidence!”

Xiu Qingcheng curled her lip and hopped off the desk.

The story was over, and there was no reason to stay here and waste time with him anymore. She signaled for Meng Yingxing to prepare to leave.

Before leaving, she looked back.

“The sword intent seal I placed on you… you broke it?”

Qingqiu Zhaoying nodded without hiding it, a shadow clouding his eyes.

“You have some skill, but not much.”

“In exchange for this story, I’ll let you off the hook for now.”

“If you try anything next time, I’ll be just like before—I won’t hold back.”

Cold light flashed in her eyes.

Before, it was because her spiritual energy hadn’t recovered and her strength was greatly reduced that she hadn’t killed him in one move.

Now that her energy was back, if she used the same technique again, he definitely wouldn’t survive.

Having said her piece, she walked out of the study with Meng Yingxing.

She slammed the door shut, making the whole room tremble slightly.

Qingqiu Zhaoying’s lips twitched, and the shadow in his eyes deepened.

He knew Duguang was a Rift Heaven General, yet he had still made a deal with him.

He also knew the Generals were looking for the demon sword, yet he hadn’t told Duguang about Xiu Qingcheng.

The Demon Sword Duan Li, as one of the sources that killed Xie Yuguang back then, would be ended by his own hands.

Cold purple light flashed in his demonic eyes.

Ever since his contact with Duguang years ago, he had already been manipulated.

Because of this, he ignored the fact that the Rift beasts had attacked the city, forcing Xie Yuguang to use the sword.

His anger and his hatred had been infinitely magnified by Duguang.

He was thus forever trapped in the Yelan City of that year, circling endlessly, unable to find a way out.

In that Yelan City, there was only him and Xie Yuguang.

The Xie Yuguang he admired with all his heart.

The one who fought alongside him against the enemies invading the city.

In a chaotic life with no answers, she was the first ray of light ever granted to him.

The fading of that light was something he could never let go of for the rest of his life.

On the other side, as they walked side-by-side, a carefree and smiling Xiu Qingcheng nudged a pensive-looking Meng Yingxing.

“What? Did Qingqiu Zhaoying’s scaring get to you? Are you afraid?”

She stared at his face, trying to read something from his expression.

“Don’t worry. I am your Master now. As long as I don’t want to, no one can snatch me away from you.”

She put her hands behind her back and spoke with gravitas.

‘My disciple… how can he be so easily scared? He really needs more training!’

“Master, it seems the things we have to face in the future have become much more numerous.”

Meng Yingxing spoke thoughtfully, a faint shadow lingering between his brows.

“Really afraid?” She arched an eyebrow.

Meng Yingxing shook his head.

If he wanted to develop an even closer relationship with Xiu Qingcheng, then all these things they had to face were merely stumbling blocks on that path.

He would never retreat, no matter what.

“I told you not to worry! Whatever happens, your Master is here to back you up!”

“Rift Clan, demons, ghosts… I’ll one-shot them all with a single sword!”

Xiu Qingcheng waved her sleeve with righteous fervor and puffed out her chest.

She felt her posture must look incredibly grand right now, giving her disciple a full sense of security.

Meng Yingxing couldn’t help but smile.

“Mhm. I understand, Master.”

“Whatever happens, we will face it together.”

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