Watching Liu Zixuan come back to his senses, the old Qing asked, "What exactly happened when you jumped down?"

Leaning against a peach tree, Liu Zixuan murmured with a cigarette between his lips, "When I jumped, I instinctively focused to control how I fell. But as the sword winds swept toward me, my consciousness soon blurred. I remember, just before I completely lost consciousness, the Nameless Sword seemed to appear by my side on its own and held me up."

"The sword winds swept toward you, yet you don’t seem to be injured at all," the old Qing said with a wry smile.

Liu Zixuan shook his head, "I’m not sure either. My consciousness vanished for a moment, then entered a very mystical state. At that time, I felt a voice near my ear, though it was too faint to understand clearly!"

The old Qing pointed to the Nameless Sword beside him, "Do you know the origin of this sword?"

Liu Zixuan shook his head, "I don’t know. I got it at an auction in the Ghost Market of Ghost Wood City, only knowing it’s called the Nameless Sword. Honestly, I don’t even know what material it’s made of."

As he said this, Liu Zixuan suddenly frowned. Could it be the power of the Dragon Vein within the Nameless Sword that saved him?

While thinking this, he quickly picked up the Nameless Sword. But at the moment he held it in his palm, he seemed to establish some kind of connection with it.

"Your sword has birthed a true Sword Spirit, but what puzzles me is that usually, to birth a Sword Spirit, a specific power must be infused into it. That power then nurtures a soul, giving birth to a Sword Spirit after merging with you. Yet, I never noticed any power within your sword before!" the old Qing remarked with confusion.

Hearing this, Liu Zixuan exclaimed in surprise, "Could the connection I just established be with the Sword Spirit?"

Regarding the special power the old Qing mentioned, Liu Zixuan was sure it was the Power of the Dragon Veins. But the Dragon Vein Power was his biggest secret. Though his relationship with the old Qing was good, Liu Zixuan didn’t want to reveal it for now.

"Indeed, the connection between a Sword Spirit and its Sword Master can be quite subtle. In the future, you can control the Nameless Sword with just a thought," the old Qing said with envy, "The entire Profound Sword Sect has been working toward this dream for decades, yet you achieved it overnight. You’re really a freak!"

"After entering that mystical state, I clearly felt a pure inner strength being infused into me. Was it you who helped me break through to the Emperor Realm First Heaven?" Liu Zixuan asked.

The old Qing shook his head, "I did help you, but the power I infused was to stabilize your Sword Spirit. It couldn’t have helped you break through in realm. Your reaching the Emperor Realm First Heaven leaves only two possibilities!"

"First, with the birth of the Sword Spirit, you gained a deeper understanding of the Sword Dao, integrating into the sword, mastering the first Power of the Five Elements, and breaking through to Emperor Realm First Heaven."

"Second, your realm had already reached the perfect state, allowing you to autonomously break through due to an epiphany in the face of life and death."

Liu Zixuan grinned, "Whatever it is, a breakthrough is always a good thing, right?"

"Damn it, if someone else broke through to Emperor Realm First Heaven, they’d be jumping with joy, but look at you, not the least bit excited," the old Qing scolded mockingly, "Alright then, since it’s all good, let’s head up. Ling Xiao and the others are still waiting at the top of the cliff!"

Liu Zixuan, occupied with thinking about his realm, hurriedly asked, "By the way, where’s Xiaoxiao?"

"Taken by people from the Gu Family." A trace of murderous intent flashed in the old Qing’s eyes, "These bastards dare to target my Profound Sword Sect. Truly don’t know the immensity of heaven and earth!"

"Looks like the old Qing is unleashing fury. The Gu Family is in trouble!" Liu Zixuan said with a deep smile, "Now, do you still claim to be just a janitor?"

The old Qing was stunned for a moment, "Then what do you think my true identity is?"

Liu Zixuan stroked his chin, falling silent in thought.

Before, he just felt the old Qing was not a simple person but had no evidence. Now that he’s admitted it, thinking back, there were some inconsistencies.

First, the Qilin is the Sect Guardian Beast, known only to past Sect Leaders. It’s impossible that the old Qing saw it by accident, as he claimed. If he truly saw it accidentally, the Sect Leader would have silenced him long ago. How could he possibly have been allowed to live until now?

Second, he only managed to escape due to the Nameless Sword’s assistance when he jumped off the cliff. Yet the old Qing, seeming like a Martial Artist with no cultivation, also came down unscathed. This can only mean his realm surpasses the Emperor Realm!

From these points, Liu Zixuan confidently stated, "No surprise, you should be the former Sect Leader or an elder, right?"

The old Qing laughed, "You guessed correctly. I am the former Sect Leader, Sword Venerable Qingyi!"

"You seemed to be an ordinary person with no cultivation, have you reached that mysterious state?" Liu Zixuan asked excitedly.

"Just one step away!" the old Qing chuckled, "I told you before, the Innate Emperor Realm Third Heaven unifies the Five Elements. At the Third Heaven, one’s realm and cultivation can be fully restrained."

"Then why did you disguise yourself as a janitor?" Liu Zixuan asked curiously.

The old Qing smiled mysteriously, "When you reach my realm, you’ll naturally understand why I chose to be a janitor!"

"Tsk tsk, still playing mysterious with me!" Liu Zixuan grinned, "Let’s go, let’s head up."

"Before we head up, there’s something you must do first." The old Qing grabbed Liu Zixuan’s arm, pointing to the flat ground beside them, "See those swords?"

"I see them. What about them?" Liu Zixuan asked blankly.

"Those swords originally were all embedded in the peach grove, but because of you, they flew out, so you have to clean them up," the old Qing stated.

Liu Zixuan rubbed his forehead, "No way, there are hundreds of swords. If I return them one by one, how long will it take?"

"Who said you have to use your hands?" The old Qing slapped Liu Zixuan with a hint of irritation, "Your sword has already birthed a Sword Spirit. It should be easier for you to control the swords now. Take this opportunity; let me see how magnificent it is to command a hundred swords!"

Liu Zixuan nodded and understood, immediately walking toward the swords and with a thought, the Nameless Sword soared into the sky.

In no time, hundreds of swords stood upright.

Liu Zixuan shouted, "Rise for me!"

Whoosh!

Hundreds of swords flew up simultaneously, crossing the valley under Liu Zixuan’s control and soon reaching the peach grove!

Seeing this scene, the old Qing was even more astonished. Someone who can birth a Sword Spirit truly is powerful!

Even at his current Innate Emperor Realm Third Heaven, he couldn’t achieve such a feat!

After settling matters at the valley’s bottom, Liu Zixuan and the old Qing moved shoulder to shoulder, swiftly heading up the cliff.

Having broken through to Emperor Realm First Heaven, the sword winds within the cliff no longer posed a threat to Liu Zixuan.