Chapter 303: Eyes Turned Soulless, Sitting Like Withered Stone

Chen Changsheng swung his sword once more.

The sword’s energy shot straight towards ‘Yu Xuan’s face.

‘Yu Xuan’ raised the Shangqing Sword to block. A loud clang echoed as the Shangqing Sword was knocked away, clattering to the ground.

“Where is she?!”

‘Yu Xuan’ froze, stumbling backward.

Step by step…

Chen Changsheng advanced relentlessly, his sword humming sharply like a death knell.

‘Yu Xuan’ swallowed hard, her fear fading away.

“Hmm.”

Chen Changsheng thrust his sword forward; this strike seemed to sever both heaven and earth.

‘Yu Xuan’ suddenly cried out, “She’s gone!”

“Clang!”

At the very last moment, the sword suddenly stopped.

The Taiqing Sword also halted. Chen Changsheng felt an invisible force hold him back, preventing him from moving forward.

The red glow in Chen Changsheng’s eyes slowly dimmed. In that instant, clarity seemed to return.

His fury and killing intent vanished completely. The anger faded away, while the murderous aura was forced back into the sword.

Everything fell abruptly silent.

The sword’s hum and all restless sounds vanished, leaving only a few breaths audible.

‘Yu Xuan’ slowly opened her eyes. She flinched upon seeing the blade frozen inches from her face.

Clarity gradually filled Chen Changsheng’s eyes as he withdrew the Taiqing Sword.

He flicked the blade lightly with his fingertip.

“Ding.”

The bloody light shrouding him retracted entirely into the sword.

Chen Changsheng spoke softly and coldly, “Just a mere Sword Spirit. You dare rebel against your master?”

His words held not a trace of warmth.

The Taiqing Sword Spirit stirred restlessly. It didn’t understand—Chen Changsheng was merely an External Incarnation, his soul incomplete! How did he break free from its control?

Chen Changsheng commanded, “Stay still. I’ll deal with you soon.”

A flash of Golden Light fell. The Taiqing Sword Spirit was sealed, vanishing beside Chen Changsheng.

He raised his head, locking eyes with ‘Yu Xuan’ before him.

“You said she’s gone? What do you mean?”

‘Yu Xuan’ snapped out of her daze.

“You lied to me.”

Her eyes widened as she stared at Chen Changsheng, disbelief etched on her face.

Chen Changsheng looked back. “When did I ever lie to you?”

‘Yu Xuan’ retorted, “You weren’t controlled by the Taiqing Sword at all! You just tricked me into revealing the truth!”

Chen Changsheng remained calm. “My rage gave the Sword Spirit its opening. If not for your words, I wouldn’t have woken.”

‘Yu Xuan’ searched his eyes, unable to tell if he spoke the truth.

Chen Changsheng stated, “I am only an External Incarnation. I wouldn’t willingly walk into a trap.”

Doubt remained on ‘Yu Xuan’s face. She now realized Chen Changsheng’s mind was far from simple.

Chen Changsheng waved a hand dismissively. “Tell me more about her. You say she’s gone… Hmm…”

“Passed away? Or something else?”

He fixed his gaze on her. “From what I know, her death… might not be death as we understand it.”

‘Yu Xuan’ stayed silent for a long while, studying him calmly, hesitating.

Seeing her reluctance, Chen Changsheng kept his eyes locked on hers.

He knew he would find an answer here in this Heaven and Earth.

After a prolonged pause,

‘Yu Xuan’ sighed. “This time… it’s different. She truly passed away. She left herself no escape route.”

“No escape route? And what does that mean?” Chen Changsheng pressed.

“The suffering of this world, all its Karmic Retribution… it fell upon her. Under the burden of such immense karma, it was impossible even for the Sutra of Rebirth to cheat the Heavenly Dao for another chance at Rebirth.”

“When she departed, she made preparations for what would follow, leaving the Shangqing Sword behind. This time… she went forth with nothing. Before the Heavenly Dao’s vast judgment, bearing that karma, Reincarnation was likely impossible.”

‘Yu Xuan’ told Chen Changsheng everything she knew now.

She spoke no lies.

This was the choice Yu Xuan made long ago.

Ripples stirred the calm surface of Chen Changsheng’s eyes.

His gaze shifted slightly, searching ‘Yu Xuan’s words for any hint of deception.

‘Yu Xuan’ understood his suspicion instantly. “I swear upon the Great Heaven and Earth! If what I say holds false, let Heaven and Earth crumble!”

Chen Changsheng opened his mouth, but no words came out.

He felt dazed, as if unable to accept this outcome.

Someone like ‘Yu Xuan’… how could she die?

It shouldn’t be possible!

How could this happen?

He had searched so long for an answer, only to receive this?

It made everything feel pointless.

“She shouldn’t have just died…” Chen Changsheng murmured, shaking his head.

‘Yu Xuan’ said, “I thought so too. But it truly is the reality. This Heaven and Earth… is the last thing she left for you.”

Chen Changsheng suddenly looked at her. “Did she leave anything else behind?”

‘Yu Xuan’ seemed to know what he sought.

“You mean the Memory Pearls?”

“Yes,” Chen Changsheng confirmed.

Those contained her memories from every lifetime he lived.

He had seen one before hidden on Tianji Mountain, another sealed within his Yuqing Sword.

‘Yu Xuan’ shook her head. “Nothing was left. At least… nothing with me.”

“Is that so…”

Chen Changsheng asked again, “Then her words? Any last message?”

“She asked me to tell you… ‘I’m sorry. I can no longer accompany you. I hope… you break the Curse someday. Truly live in the present.'”

Chen Changsheng felt a moment shaken.

He sat down, gazing vacantly at an empty space.

His thoughts were tangled now—he had never truly met Yu Xuan. She was a phantom from the past, a guide silently steering him all along.

She existed… yet seemed not to. Important… yet somehow insignificant.

Chen Changsheng’s mind felt frayed again.

He asked once more, voice barely audible, “Is she truly… gone?”

‘Yu Xuan’ looked at the seated man. She didn’t answer, but the silence was confirmation enough.

Chen Changsheng didn’t really understand the weight in his chest. Maybe it was not finding what he sought… but perhaps it was more.

He could never quite figure out where Yu Xuan belonged in his life.

From the first time he heard the name, to the presence of her shadow now woven throughout everything… it felt like he was always being rushed along a path paved with unspeakable horrors long ago—a path cut open just for him.

Doubt flooded Chen Changsheng once more.

That hair… the Soul Spirit… the Divine Edict of the Gods… the Sutra of Rebirth… the Taiqing Sword… the Yuqing Sword… the Shangqing Sword… all these fragments…

Could it be… she laid them out too?

For just a heartbeat, the light vanished from Chen Changsheng’s eyes. He sat motionless as stone.