Jade Dynasty: I am the master of the Burning Sword, my swordsmanship is unparalleled.

Chapter 21 The Secret of Immortal Slaying
On the mountain path behind the mountain, Dao Xuan Zhenren walked slowly ahead, with Zhang Xiaofan following closely behind.

Nearby, Little Grey rode Big Yellow, occasionally dashing forward and backward, adding a touch of life to the quiet mountain path.

"Do you know why Junior Brother Tian came to see me yesterday?"

Dao Xuan Zhenren looked at the monkey and the dog, not finding them noisy at all. Instead, he smiled and asked softly.

Zhang Xiaofan couldn't help but raise his hand to touch the Ink Snow Sword on his back, a thought suddenly occurring to him.

"Master Uncle, I don't know the details, but I guess Master is worried that I will suffer a backlash from the evil energy of the Burning Sword."

"good."

Dao Xuan Zhenren nodded and stopped in his tracks. Only then did Zhang Xiaofan realize that he had followed Dao Xuan Zhenren to a fork in the road.

If Zhang Xiaofan remembered correctly, one of the two paths ahead led to the forbidden area of ​​Qingyun Sect, the Illusion Moon Cave, while the other led to the Ancestral Hall.

"Do you know what the most precious treasure of my Qingyun Sect is?"

"Replying to my senior master, it is the ancient sword Zhuxian. The prevalence of sword cultivation among the disciples of Qingyun is also greatly influenced by the ancient sword Zhuxian and the Qingye Ancestor."

After hearing Zhang Xiaofan's reply, Dao Xuan Zhenren pointed to one of the mountain paths and said.

"That place is my Qingyun Forbidden Land, the location of the Illusion Moon Cave, where the ancient sword Zhuxian is located."

"Sect Master Uncle, this..."

Zhang Xiaofan was taken aback. Although he had memories of his past life and knew the secrets involved, Dao Xuan Zhenren's initiative to tell him such a secret left Zhang Xiaofan somewhat puzzled.

Dao Xuan Zhenren smiled reassuringly at Zhang Xiaofan, then took the initiative to lead him towards the Ancestral Hall, explaining softly as he did so.

"Don't be nervous. This is not a secret. It's just that most of you disciples are unaware of it."

As he spoke, Dao Xuan Zhenren led Zhang Xiaofan toward the Ancestral Hall. Zhang Xiaofan waved to Xiao Hui, who was quite curious about the other path, and then followed.

Dao Xuan Zhenren slowed his pace and, seeing Zhang Xiaofan catch up, said with a slightly solemn expression.

"However, what I am about to tell you is a secret of Qingyun today. You must swear an oath before the memorial tablets of the ancestors of Qingyun that you will not easily reveal it to outsiders, and you will not tell it to any outsiders, do you understand?"

"Yes, disciple understands!"

Zhang Xiaofan's expression turned serious, and he couldn't help but have some guesses in his heart. He replied in a deep voice.

However, after saying this to Zhang Xiaofan, Dao Xuan Zhenren remained silent and walked forward slowly with a complicated expression.

As we approached the ancestral hall, the mountain path gradually filled with the scent of incense, and faint wisps of smoke could be seen lingering in the dense forest not far away.

Following behind Dao Xuan Zhenren, Zhang Xiaofan turned a corner along the mountain path and saw a large open space suddenly appear in the forest, where a magnificent hall stood tall on the flat ground.

Beneath the antique red pillars and sandalwood lintels, one can glimpse the flickering candlelight that burns day and night, and the ever-burning lamps that sway gently in the wind, hanging under the four corners of the eaves, illuminating all directions.

Dao Xuan Zhenren, who was standing on the mountain path, stopped and stared at the ancestral hall in front of him. After a long while, he spoke softly.

"More than two thousand years ago, our founding patriarch, Qingyunzi, comprehended the Taiji Xuanqing Dao within the Illusionary Moon Cave, thus establishing our Qingyun Sect. Do you know why our Qingyun Sect, despite having the Immortal-Slaying Ancient Sword guarding it, declined for hundreds of years after the passing of Patriarch Qingyunzi, only to rise again with the birth of Patriarch Qingye?" "Replying to Sect Leader Uncle, this disciple does not know. Could it be related to the Immortal-Slaying Ancient Sword?"

Zhang Xiaofan replied softly, a hint of confusion in his heart.

Dao Xuan Zhenren nodded slightly upon hearing this, and the scenes that had occurred in front of the Ancestral Hall a hundred years ago seemed to reappear before his eyes.

Dao Xuan Zhenren let out a long sigh, his eyes lowered slightly, and after hesitating for a few breaths, he finally mustered his strength to lift his feet and slowly walked towards the Ancestral Hall, muttering to himself.

"The Immortal-Slaying Sword, the Immortal-Slaying Sword, alas!"

Upon entering the ancestral hall, Dao Xuan Zhenren took out three incense sticks from the side, lit them on the candle flame, and placed them in Zhang Xiaofan's hand.

After Zhang Xiaofan reached out and took it, he knelt down in front of the prayer mat, respectfully kowtowed nine times, and then solemnly swore an oath.

"Disciple Zhang Xiaofan swears that the secrets of Qingyun will never be lightly revealed to anyone, nor will they be shared with others. If I break this oath, may my soul be forever scattered across the heavens and earth, and I will never enter the cycle of reincarnation."

As he spoke, Zhang Xiaofan bowed three times again. Dao Xuan Zhenren took the incense stick from Zhang Xiaofan's hand, placed it in the incense burner, and then turned to the side, finding a futon to sit down.

"Since we just mentioned the Zhuxian Ancient Sword, let's start with the Zhuxian Ancient Sword."

After Zhang Xiaofan got up, he followed Dao Xuan Zhenren to the side, found a futon in front of him, knelt down, and responded softly.

"Disciple is willing to hear the details."

"Everyone knows the name of the Zhuxian Ancient Sword, but they don't know that this sword is also an unparalleled ferocious weapon in the world, far surpassing the Bloodthirsty Pearl of the Demonic Sect. As for whether it is stronger or weaker than your Fenji Sword, it is hard to say."

Dao Xuan Zhenren looked at the Fenji Sword behind Zhang Xiaofan and said softly.

The ferocity of the Burning Sword was unparalleled in Dao Xuanzhen's life. Although the Zhuxian Ancient Sword was even more ferocious, it relied on the Zhuxian Sword Formation and the earthly evil spiritual power accumulated over millions of years by the seven peaks of Qingyun Mountain.

But the Burning Sword is different. More than three years ago, Dao Xuan Zhenren was still wary of its fierce aura, and now its ferocity seems to be even greater.

More importantly, the Burning Sword is different from the Immortal Slaughtering Sword. It is not subject to the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Formation and the earthly evil spiritual power of Qingyun Mountain, and can be used at will.

Once outside Qingyun, the Zhuxian Ancient Sword is merely a rare treasure, but the Fenji Sword remains the same.

"The Zhuxian Ancient Sword is extremely fierce. Although Ancestor Qingyunzi created the Zhuxian Ancient Formation, at that time, the spiritual energy of the earth's evil spirits on the peaks of Qingyun Mountain was abundant and not suitable for cultivation. As a result, my Qingyun Sect declined for hundreds of years until Ancestor Qingye appeared out of nowhere, comprehended it for a hundred years, perfected the Zhuxian Sword Formation, and sealed the strange evil spiritual energy in the earth veins of Qingyun Mountain. Only then did my Qingyun Sect have such a prosperous scene of pure Taoist spirit."

When it comes to Ancestor Qingye, even Dao Xuan Zhenren, one of the leaders of the righteous path, can't help but show a hint of admiration and respect.

Zhang Xiaofan's eyes also gleamed. Such a person with extraordinary cultivation might be comparable to his former mentor, the peerless sword immortal Ziyin Zhenren, who was famous throughout the world.

"The secret method for sealing the strange and evil spiritual power of the earth veins is called the Heavenly Secret Seal, which has the divine effect of sealing the energy of heaven and earth."

Dao Xuan Zhenren said softly, "These secrets, which are known only to the heads of each peak, are now being made an exception and told to Zhang Xiaofan."

While Dao Xuan Zhenren and Zhang Xiaofan were having a long talk, a shadowy figure hidden in the Ancestral Hall appeared not far away, its eyes, weathered and lifeless, staring at their backs.

Suddenly, the figure in the shadows fixed its gaze on the dark sword behind Zhang Xiaofan. A hint of reminiscence appeared in its eyes, bringing a touch of life to those otherwise lifeless eyes.

(End of this chapter)