# Chapter 42 â The Retreating Corruption
# Eastern Mountains â Ancient Underground Chamber
The entire underground chamber froze.
Not because of the corrupted creature.
Because of the sword in Xu Yuanâs hand.
---
Dark light flowed quietly across the ancient blade while faint black symbols illuminated along its edge one after another.
The weapon itself looked simple at first glance.
No flashy aura.
No overwhelming spiritual pressure.
Yet the moment it appearedâ
the corruption throughout the chamber weakened visibly.
---
Even the giant corrupted creature behind the gate stopped moving entirely.
Its hollow eyes remained fixed on the sword.
Fearfully.
---
Xu Yuan himself frowned slightly.
The weapon felt strangely natural in his hand.
Like it belonged there.
---
The system screen flickered softly.
> Soul weapon synchronization:
>
> 7%
---
Only seven percent?
That already caused this reaction?
---
Then suddenlyâ
the corrupted creature retreated another step backward into the darkness.
Its chains rattled violently while black crystal fragments continuously fell from its body.
---
Several cultivators stared blankly.
One elder spoke unconsciously:
âItâs retreatingâŠâ
Another answered quietly:
âFrom the swordâŠâ
---
Not Xu Yuan.
The sword.
That distinction mattered greatly right now.
---
Good.
Because Xu Yuan preferred fewer terrifying rumors around himself.
---
Zhao Tianhe narrowed his eyes while observing the black blade carefully.
âA soul weapon from the ancient ruinsâŠâ
His voice remained calm.
But inwardlyâ
even the city lord was shocked.
Ancient soul weapons were legendary artifacts.
Most current cultivators had never even seen one.
---
Meanwhileâ
Lin Hao slowly moved beside Xia Yu and whispered:
âI think Xu Yuan collects horrifying things accidentally.â
Xia Yu calmly answered:
âThat stopped being accidental long ago.â
---
The corrupted creature suddenly roared again from beyond the gate.
But this timeâ
the sound carried hesitation.
Not fury.
---
Thenâ
the chains restraining its body illuminated violently once more.
CRAAAAACK!
Ancient sealing symbols spread across the darkness behind the gate while crimson lightning erupted deep underground.
---
Something deeper within the ruins was suppressing the creature again.
---
The giant arm slowly withdrew backward afterward.
The corrupted creature continued staring toward the black sword the entire time.
Thenâ
the darkness swallowed it completely.
---
BOOOOOOM!
The cracked stone gate slammed shut violently.
---
Silence returned.
Only heavy breathing echoed across the chamber now.
---
Several cultivators nearly collapsed from exhaustion immediately afterward.
The pressure earlier had been overwhelming.
---
Xu Yuan slowly lowered the black sword.
The dark glow around the blade weakened gradually afterward.
---
Then suddenlyâ
the weapon trembled once.
And became completely ordinary-looking again.
Like a rusted ancient blade.
---
Lin Hao blinked.
ââŠThat feels suspicious.â
Xu Yuan honestly agreed.
---
Thenâ
the system screen flickered again.
> New item acquired:
>
> Unnamed Soul Sword
>
> Status:
>
> Dormant
>
> Current abilities locked
---
Xu Yuan silently stored the information mentally.
Another mysterious object connected to him somehow.
Wonderful.
---
Meanwhileâ
formation masters quickly reinforced the chamber seals around the gate.
Golden symbols spread across nearby walls while elders inspected the damaged ruins cautiously.
---
One formation elder approached Zhao Tianhe afterward.
âThe gate is unstable.â
âIf that creature forces itself through again, these seals may not hold.â
The city lord nodded grimly.
He already expected that answer.
---
Then Zhao Tianheâs gaze shifted toward Xu Yuan again.
And more specificallyâ
toward the sword.
---
âThe weapon chose you?â
Xu Yuan answered carefully:
âIt reacted when I approached.â
Not entirely false.
---
Several elders exchanged uncertain looks.
Ancient soul weapons choosing cultivators was extremely rare.
Usually such weapons possessed remnants of will or compatibility conditions.
---
One elder quietly muttered:
âPerhaps his physique resonated with the weapon.â
There it was again.
The universal explanation for everything strange involving Xu Yuan lately.
---
At this point Xu Yuan almost appreciated the incomplete physique rumor.
It solved many problems.
---
Then suddenlyâ
Xu Yuanâs Soul Sense activated instinctively again.
And this timeâ
through the sealed gateâ
he sensed something deeper underground.
Far below the corrupted creature.
Far below the ruins themselves.
---
A massive sleeping presence.
Ancient.
Silent.
And incomparably vast.
---
Xu Yuanâs expression changed slightly for the first time.
Because compared to that presenceâ
the corrupted creature felt small.
---
Then the feeling vanished instantly.
---
Xia Yu noticed his expression immediately.
âWhat happened?â
Xu Yuan remained silent briefly before answering:
ââŠNothing good.â
---
Honestlyâ
that description felt increasingly accurate for his entire life lately.