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Her thoughtful expression, with her eyebrows slightly furrowed, made her look both delicate and otherworldly, yet soft and enchanting. Coupled with her graceful figure and the fullness of her bosom, at this moment, she possessed an unparalleled unique charm.
A fierce glint flickered in the young man's eyes, and there was a hint of fanaticism in his gaze. He fixed his eyes on a certain part of Gu Xi, lingering for a moment before hiding his intentions well, "With my realm and status, as well as my Sword Dao Sword Intent, I would not stoop to such things, would I? As long as Miss Gu releases the seal, the great favor today will surely be repaid in the future!"
His words were forceful and resonant; they seemed convincing enough.
"Moreover, even without the Secret Treasure, now that Family Head Gu's strength has fully recovered, Miss Gu's power is also extremely strong. I've just suffered injuries, and it might not be certain that I can truly contend with you. Also, is Miss Gu's Secret Treasure usable only once, and is there only one Secret Treasure? It's hard to judge. In such circumstances, would I still attack you?"
The young man, seeing Gu Xi seemed swayed, immediately spoke again.
This person, with a tongue as glib as a lotus, was very persuasive. With just a few sentences, he painted himself in a self-deprecating light, leading others to overlook his threat.
Gu Xi nodded thoughtfully, "Hmm, it makes sense. Alright, you answer a few of my questions, and I'll let you go."
Upon hearing this, the young man was slightly impatient but still suppressed his temper, responding hoarsely, "What do you want to know?"
Gu Xi asked, "Who are you? You're not from Tianji City, are you? Where do you come from?"
"My surname is Yang, naturally I'm from Tianji City. As for my name, please, Miss Gu, don't make it difficult for me."
The young man's expression was already somewhat unpleasant and showed it.
"You're lying; you're not from the Yang Family. You're from the Zhou Family of Canglan City, right? Wanting to capture my father to refine a 'material' for a Sword Heart? And want to capture me as a Ding Furnace, don't you?"
Gu Xi spoke leisurely, her demeanor was calm.
However, upon saying this, the young man's face changed dramatically but still forced a smile, "What... Zhou Family's Ding Furnace, I don't understand Miss Gu's words. Perhaps there's truly a misunderstanding."
Gu Xi snorted coldly, "You refuse to admit it, do you? Fine, then I'll tell you something. Earlier when I went out... just last night, when I went out, I killed someone like you masquerading as a Yang Family member and got some information."
Upon hearing this, the person's expression turned to terror, "You, you're actually the special True Disciple Gu Xi of the Cold Ice Sword Sect? You you you—fine, since I've encountered you, then I... I shall..."
As he spoke the word "shall," his face suddenly turned bluish-purple, as if his life energy had abruptly been cut off.
Gu Xi's gaze changed; instinctively, she unleashed a Sword Qi, transforming into Cold Ice but could not seal his rapidly draining life energy.
This man's wolf-like gaze also dimmed swiftly, his eyes rolled over, and his face turned black and purple, yet a bizarre and wicked smile appeared at the corner of his lips. His eyes were as lifeless as dead fish eyes and bulged out.
Even at this stage, he had not yet breathed his last, still glaring at Gu Xi, "The materials for a Ding Furnace chosen by the young master have never been unattainable. I told you, and what can you know? Hahaha—"
His strange laughter, already sounding like the clanging of broken metal, was indescribably hoarse, but everyone present heard these words.
After saying this, he tilted his head and fell to the ground. His body began to disintegrate into fragments like little black tadpoles resembling Sword Bodies, emitting an unidentifiably pungent stench.
Such a stench even tainted the snow-white Cold Ice Sword Qi, making it look sinisterly evil and extraordinarily eerie.
Witnessing this scene, Gu Xi sighed slightly in regret, ultimately unable to coax more information out of him. Especially in front of her Brother Zhou Yan, she couldn't perform better than usual, leaving her with an inexplicable sense of loss.
As for his words, she only took half of them to heart.
In this world, survival often entailed unexpected calamities. If one was disturbed by such words, they wouldn't be worthy of being a cultivator.
However, she still paid some attention to the so-called 'young master' mentioned by this person.
...
Seeing Gu Xi like this, Zhou Yan couldn't help but smile.
"Brother Zhou Yan, are you laughing at me?"
Gu Xi complained coquettishly. If her father, Gu Yan, weren't here, she might have acted more petulantly.
Yet, this behavior, which she only exhibited in front of someone she was closest to, was something Zhou Yan enjoyed immensely. He didn't know why, but when such a cold and elegant girl acted coy, his heart was ignited with warmth.
It seemed, in matters of affection, he found it hard to resist temptation.
"Could this be an instinctive impulse during the body's development?" Zhou Yan thought oddly.
"Of course not; who dares to laugh at you? I would go and give them a good lesson!"
Zhou Yan replied 'earnestly.'
"Exactly; anyone who dares to laugh at the daughter of Gu Yan must be courting trouble!" Gu Yan added with a grin.
"You... aren't you admitting that I made a fool of myself? How terrible!"
Gu Xi stomped her foot in frustration, still a bit unwilling.
...
The green wine was poured into porcelain-white cups, looking as refreshing as jade.
Twin moons like emerald accessories hung high in the sky, emitting a gentle, soft glow.
Under the moonlit night, by the pine pavilion, Gu Xi's cheeks glowed red as her father was still muttering something, though she could no longer pay attention.
Nearby, Clear Spring flowed, the pine breeze blew, rippling the pool of spring water.
"Sigh... Yan'er merely observed your swordsmanship and immediately pointed out your shortcomings. Earlier, you said how extraordinary your Cold Ice Sword Qi was, drinking too much and wanting to show off to him, but ended up embarrassing yourself, right?"
Gu Yan said with a teasing smile.
"Father, you keep saying that; it's all your fault for letting me drink too much! Watching your daughter make a fool of herself, are you happy now?"
The flush on Gu Xi's cheeks didn't fade; instead, it deepened, like two ripe red apples.
"As a girl, you should learn to play a little dumb in front of a man, you know? Most men don't like overly assertive women, and you, you might not have much guile, although that's one of your virtues."
Gu Yan spoke with a hint of doting.
"Father... I only want to be genuine, to give Brother Zhou Yan peace of mind. A woman who doesn't offer peace of mind cannot be a proper woman."
Gu Xi held her ground firmly.
"Alright then, let's say your father was overthinking... Yan'er's talents are truly unparalleled. Earlier, when you performed your sword techniques while drunk, it seemed exceptional to me, yet he spotted eight flaws at a glance, even falling into Sudden Enlightenment... Such talent is astounding!
Xi'er, I still stand by what I said before. If you want something, you must have your own abilities and freedom. You've told me about Yan'er's situation, and I understand he carries a lot on his shoulders. So, be a considerate and supportive good girl by his side."
"Father, I haven't forgotten the plight we once faced; without Uncle Wang Chen, how could we have gotten here? So, I will!" Gu Xi said earnestly.
"Hmm, I'm very pleased that you think this way."
Gu Yan nodded in satisfaction.
...
Gu Family's secret chamber.
Returning here wasn't because Gu Yan's injuries relapsed or to heal anyone in the Gu family. Rather, it was because earlier when Gu Xi had too much to drink and insisted on teaching him the top-notch swordsmanship of the Cold Ice Sword Sect, he immediately noticed many flaws.
But at the same time, Zhou Yan realized that some of the sword techniques' methods could be integrated into the Xingyi Dragon Form Swordsmanship.
This idea struck Zhou Yan like an instantaneous Enlightenment.
However, he wasn't pleased, for this Sudden Enlightenment might cause disturbances in Heaven and Earth's energy, leading to a large absorption of such energy, and the Qi Column undergoing Transformation, advancing his Realm further.
Yet he had not comprehended Sword Intent, and he didn't want to advance in this way.
Thus, what others would eagerly anticipate as a Transformation and progression, Zhou Yan found somewhat reluctance and disdain in his situation.
When this expression was noticed by Gu Yan and Gu Xi, for a brief moment, they indeed sighed and were amazed, feeling somewhat disheartened...
He snapped out of it, calming his mind, starting to ponder the first form of the Xingyi Fist, which was said to break the Void in another world, as brought by that Grandmaster on Earth—the Xingyi Dragon Form.
"Mixed Yuan Qi results in the fulfillment of my Tao, when the Tao is accomplished, the True Form is attained.
The True Form is like a dragon soaring through the clouds, the flying dragon in the sky transforms into a sword chant..."
"Silver Snow, tell me, what truly is Sword Intent? Is it the forge of one's will, or the power of the soul?"
Zhou Yan muttered to himself.
He pondered for a long time, finally stepping out of these thoughts with some anxiety. Afterward, he didn't continue to comprehend or practice the sword but instead consulted the Silver Snow Sword.
The Silver Snow Sword suddenly "buzzed" from Zhou Yan's voice and flew out.
It danced by Zhou Yan's side, swirling around him, finally transforming into the image of a girl exactly resembling Feng Lingqing, only this projection looked very young.
However, Zhou Yan could only sense her presence, his gaze unable to see a solid form.
It was a very peculiar feeling.
"Brother Zhou Yan, Little Xue also doesn't know what Sword Intent is, but Little Xue can show it to Brother Zhou Yan."
The Sword Spirit of the Silver Snow Sword was like a little girl of thirteen or fourteen years old, her big eyes looked very adorable.
Sensing such a feminine form, Zhou Yan wondered if most Sword Spirits were forged from the pure souls of peerless young maidens, causing a tremor in his heart.
Could it be that this Little Xue was also the soul of a little girl captured and forged into this form?
He dared not ask, fearing it would pierce Little Xue's possibly painful past—maybe, having been forged into a Sword Spirit, her past life had been entirely forgotten?
Zhou Yan didn't dare unveil her potentially tragic past memories either.
"""