Master of Strange Dao

"If you've drawn this sword, doesn't it mean the over a thousand years of nurturing are all but spent?"

Han Dong glanced at Yu Ziqing with a hint of curiosity, wondering why he would ask such a silly question.

Realizing that Yu Ziqing was not a Sword Cultivator and the last time he drew the sword, all its power erupted at once, he suddenly understood and patiently explained.

"As a Sword Cultivator, controlling your sword is a fundamental skill. How could it exhaust all its power in one go?

For someone who's not a Sword Cultivator, exhausting it all in one go is actually quite normal.

I reckon it cost about three hundred years of nurturing. Afterward, it can slowly be nurtured again.

When my realm is sufficient, I won't even need to rely on the sword to nurture the Sword Domain."

"..."

Yu Ziqing smacked his lips, unsure of what to say.

He used to think that Han Dong was nurturing a single Sword Qi within the sword, and it would just be exceedingly powerful due to the extensive nurturing time.

After all, Han Dong had previously been quite willing to hand over the Black Sword for his protection...

Little did he expect that over a thousand years ago, Han Dong had to start nurturing the Sword Domain within the sword because his realm was too low to withstand it.

Who could imagine someone's talent in Sword Dao would be so overwhelming that they couldn't bear it themselves?

It's beyond belief.

Moreover, this Domain felt so potent that even he felt suppressed, as if it could crush him at any moment.

Is a truly strong Domain really this powerful?

Seeing Han Dong's somewhat self-assured demeanor, Yu Ziqing abandoned the thought of further arguing with him on this matter.

"Now that Qingping is dead, what next?"

"If he's unwilling to speak, no one can force him. Now, let's see what he left behind in the Qingping Sword."

Han Dong waved his hand, and the Qingping Sword fell into his grasp.

Holding the sword in one hand, he gently caressed the blade with the other, his expression complex.

This was the sword he had most coveted in his youth.

Yet he obtained it in such a way, at a time when he could no longer make use of it.

The sword emitted a soft hum as Han Dong closed his eyes, feeling that hum like Qingping's whisper.

"You know my identity, I must do one last thing for the true self, to block your strongest strike.

I've always thought talent was most crucial, and your talent in Sword Dao is exceedingly strong.

Now, however, I feel that it's your Sword Heart that's truly strong.

I cannot compare to you.

Dying by your hand, ending my life, is the most fitting outcome.

Your father, the emperor, is exceedingly ambitious and deeply secretive.

Female Ba was once an important tool, as were you, your mother, and myself.

Your performance, however, has surpassed expectations.

When you come to understand everything, someday you will draw your sword against him because I understand Sword Cultivators.

Train well, and when you can sever everything, then you'll have a chance to draw your sword against him.

Before that, at least before the Tenth Tier Peak, you lack the qualification.

He is far stronger than any of you imagine.

Not only is he at the Qi Refining Peak, but also at the Refining God Peak, and he remains the peak even after retraining Refining God.

He is still cultivating the Dao, and I don't know in detail how.

When you genuinely have sufficient power, you will come to know it all."

Han Dong frowned slightly, a bit perplexed. He sought Yu Ziqing's advice.

Yu Ziqing translated.

"Listening to your words is like listening to your words."

"Hmm?"

"It means you should focus on leveling up. Before becoming invincible, it's best to pretend you understand nothing."

"Oh."

"Brother Dong, you'd better head back first, someone's coming."

"I will return with the Qingping Sword and contemplate further." Han Dong nodded, transforming into a streak of sword light and vanished.

In Yu Ziqing's eyes, runes and Daoist Patterns flickered as if peering into the Void. He waited quietly for a moment, then contacted Yang to confirm that things were progressing smoothly without surprises.

With one step, he disappeared.

Starting from the northern ice fields of Dazhen, Yu Ziqing traversed through the Gang Wind Layer all the way.

Soon, he reached the junction of Dazhen, Dali, and the Wilderness.

The power within him had not yet dissipated; he concealed his power, hiding above the clouds, his gaze observing a small town below.

Soon, he sensed a faint imprint fragment on a three-year-old child, an imprint he had casually left when everything about Qingping shattered.

But the imprint was fragmented too.

At this instant, a minute trace of imprint fragments, barely detectable, entered the child, was sensed by him, and then disappeared without a trace.

Even with the Dayan Preface's peering calculations, there was no trace, as the imprint vanished.

A roughly three-year-old child drooled with vacant eyes, putting everything into his mouth.

Not long after, a haggard woman stepped out from a house, picked up the child and took him inside, cleaned him, and gave him a small piece of bread to gnaw on.

Yu Ziqing watched quietly, finally coming to understand Qingping's intention.

He sought humanity. Exactly what it meant, he hadn't said.

However, for an incarnation with a sword as its core, what outweighs truly transforming into an independent, complete person?

Qingping was not only hiding from them but most importantly, from Old Emperor Qian.

Only if Han Dong acted, and the Qingping Sword fell into Han Dong's hands, would Old Emperor Qian believe Qingping truly dead.

Otherwise, no matter the evidence, Old Emperor Qian might not believe it.

It appears Qingping has quietly progressed far along in his human Dao cultivation.