Chapter Forty-Nine: The Sword God Enters the Martial World, Lin Pingzhi’s Hope

“Uncle is leaving the estate?” Xie Yuan’s face paled with shock. Ever since the battle years ago chasing the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai, Xie Xiaofeng had not stepped outside the mountain estate for over a decade.

Why suddenly leave today?

“Could it be because of the mysterious visitor who appeared at the estate previously?”

“Hmm.”

Xie Xiaofeng did not deny it. This time, he was leaving for two reasons.

One was to fulfill a promise made to that person.

The other...

He gazed toward Shaanxi, faintly perceiving something indistinct—that was the realm beyond swordsmanship, a path he could barely glimpse ahead.

Man and sword as one, sword heart united.

Having reached the pinnacle of the sword path, even when facing the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai, who had entered the realm of earthly immortals, he had stood proud and undiminished.

But today, he sensed the scenery beyond the sword path.

“Uncle, where are you going?” Xie Yuan asked curiously.

“I do not know.”

“You don’t know where you’re headed?”

“My path lies in the northwest.”

Xie Xiaofeng lifted his gaze, eyes fixed firmly toward Jiayuguan.

“Yan Thirteen, your fifteenth sword is formidable.”

“But I have a premonition that this journey into the martial world may allow me to innovate anew.”

“To comprehend my own unique sixteenth sword!”

“A sword that transcends the sword path itself!”

Sharpness gleamed in Xie Xiaofeng’s eyes. After decades, he had refined the fifteenth sword, grasping a divine sword unique to himself, yet it had not broken free from the cage of the deadly fifteen swords.

But in the sword intent of the sword’s master—transcendent as the ancient heavens, overwhelming all life—Xie Xiaofeng saw new hope.

He turned and walked away. For someone as proud as him, losing to Yan Thirteen was not shameful, but as the emperor among swords, revered in the martial world as the Sword God, he could not be defeated forever.

Yet, as Xie Yuan watched the departing figure, an ominous premonition stirred within him.

“No, uncle has not ventured into the martial world for years, but his cultivation has only advanced, reaching the level of an earthly sword immortal. Coupled with the fifteenth sword, feared by countless, even a battle against an earthly immortal holds a good chance.”

“The world’s celestial beings remain hidden; nothing will happen to uncle!”

Xie Yuan kept reassuring himself, but the inexplicable feeling lingered.

…

Jiayuguan, the Tiance Military Headquarters.

Several soldiers clad in silver-white armor, wearing masks with blue faces and fangs, approached Lin Pingzhi, who sought to join the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry.

“You are Lin Pingzhi?”

A low voice came from behind a bronze mask.

Lin Pingzhi was startled but replied, “Yes.”

“Come with us.”

Without further words, the armored soldiers led Lin Pingzhi away from the Tiance Headquarters.

Along the way, Lin Pingzhi hesitated several times, wanting to speak but holding back.

Soon they arrived at the Cangyun camp, stopping outside a splendid room.

“We’re here.”

“Go inside.”

Though confused and bewildered, Lin Pingzhi instinctively stepped inside.

Within the room, a figure clad in armor, face concealed by a bronze mask, neither male nor female discernible, spoke without looking up:

“Lin Pingzhi, from Fuzhou Prefecture. Father Lin Zhennan, mother Wang Xiuzhi, originally from the Luoyang Wang family…”

Listening to the information about his identity and background, Lin Pingzhi nodded occasionally.

After several rounds of verification confirmed no issues, the bronze-masked figure asked:

“Why do you want to join the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry?”

“To save my parents, to avenge my enemies.”

“The prince already knows your background and has specially assigned a secret guard to help you rescue them.”

“Now you face two choices: either go save them yourself, or wait for the secret guard to bring your parents back.”

The bronze-masked voice was deep and resonant, shaking the soul. Lin Pingzhi struggled to remain calm.

“May I ask, what is the difference between choosing to rescue them myself and waiting for the secret guard?”

“And… what exactly is the secret guard?”

“Raise your head,” the bronze-masked figure said, dissatisfied.

“If you wish to join the Great Snow Dragon Cavalry, you must understand that all members are comrades, brothers and sisters alike, with no ranking or distinction. Except for the prince, you owe no deference to anyone.”

“Remember this well.”

“Yes!” Lin Pingzhi’s heart tightened as he replied loudly.

At once, his bent waist straightened, and even his bowed head lifted.

Though still somewhat disheveled, a trace of youthful spirit returned.

“That’s better,” the bronze-masked figure nodded with satisfaction, then continued:

“The secret guard is directly under the prince’s command. You only need to know that although they are similar in nature to the Jinyiwei, the Eastern Depot, the Dragon Guard Estate, and the Six Doors’ Golden Shield secret agents, they are far stronger.”

“The secret guard never fails a mission.”

“As long as your parents are alive and can hold on until the secret guard arrives—”

“Even if the Qingcheng Sect unleashes all forces, and the major sects of the Five Mountains and Three Peaks stand guard, your parents will surely appear before you alive.”

Speaking of the Xuanjia Secret Guard, the bronze-masked figure spoke with utmost admiration.

His words conveyed extraordinary confidence in the secret guard.

Lin Pingzhi was moved by this conviction. Although he did not fully understand the secret guard’s nature, he realized it must be an exceptionally reliable special organization.

Otherwise, this figure before him, as unfathomable as an abyss, far more formidable than the Cangyun army that had slain Mu Gaofeng, who had forced him to acknowledge a thief as master, would not inspire such respect.

This was a realm beyond his comprehension!

“To rescue your parents, the prince has dispatched three Heavenly Stems—who are the great masters of the celestial phenomena, as understood in the martial world—and several Earthly Branch-level Commanders of the Mystical Sect.”

“So, if you choose to wait for the secret guard, simply be patient.”

“Three… three great masters and several commanders?” Lin Pingzhi gasped deeply several times.

Celestial phenomenon great masters could move mountains with their breath, dominate the martial world, and were revered as peerless heroes.

For his parents’ rescue, the solemn prince dispatched three at once?

Moreover, when had the distinguished commanders of the Mystical Sect become so numerous that they could be described as ‘several’?

After speaking, the bronze-masked figure watched Lin Pingzhi closely, seeking any clue from his reaction.

Upon hearing this, Lin Pingzhi merely nodded calmly.

His shock was beyond words. His family ancestor, Yuan Tugong, who had once shaken both the underworld and martial world and earned great renown, had only reached the celestial phenomenon realm, and only barely so in old age.

Now, the solemn prince was willing to send three peerless masters of the same level as his grandfather to intervene.

Such generosity and magnitude shook Lin Pingzhi deeply, moving him profoundly.

Yet, some rationality lingered in his mind. After swallowing hard, he asked:

“May I ask, honored elder, if I choose to save my parents myself, what should I do?”