MTLNOVEL Chapter 330: Where My Heart Rests Is My Home
In the valley, Li Xuanxiao had already changed his appearance the moment he stepped out. He led a swift horse, galloping through the wind and snow. A sudden sense of aimlessness rose in his heart.
Where my heart rests is my home. But now, where could his heart find rest? With Mount Shushan gone, the only place he could think of was Shencao Mountain.
Along the way, Li Xuanxiao transformed the swift horse into a flying sword and ascended higher into the sky.
Above the valley, Yin Lingzi watched the direction Li Xuanxiao had left, making a throat-slitting gesture.
"This man has an unusual relationship with Di Nü Feng. She seems to listen to him. With him around, our plans will be hindered. If he stays by Di Nü Feng's side, it'll be troublesome."
"Yes!"
".........."
Not long after leaving, Li Xuanxiao noticed someone was following him. He slowed his pace.
Four auras closed in around him. Facing the snowstorm, Li Xuanxiao steadied himself on his flying sword. Suddenly, two lightning whips lashed out from the mist.
Two swords pierced through Li Xuanxiao's body. Blood sprayed.
Destroy the flesh, extinguish the soul.
The four assassins worked in perfect sync, leaving swiftly after completing their task.
".........."
A long while later, Li Xuanxiao emerged from the ground. He ignored the four assassins, having already marked them, and continued on his way.
He guessed they were likely sent by Yin Lingzi. Di Nü Feng wouldn't save him only to kill him later. If she had truly disagreed with his departure, she wouldn't have let him leave in the first place. The only suspect left was Yin Lingzi, whom he had encountered earlier.
However, Li Xuanxiao had neither the time nor the inclination to deal with him now. His destination was Shencao Mountain.
The world had truly changed. Li Xuanxiao looked up at the endless snowfall.
Half a month later, in the Great Sui Empire.
Li Xuanxiao descended from the clouds, his flying sword retracting into his sleeve. He gazed at the city in the distance before walking toward it.
At the city gates, Li Xuanxiao entered with the crowd.
During his journey here, the scenes along the way had been bleak—bones littering the wilderness, not a single chicken crowing for miles. The suffering of the people was enough to break one's heart.
He had hoped the city would offer some respite, but as soon as he stepped inside, he was met with the same desolation. A cold wind of despair swept over him. Armored patrols roamed everywhere, dragging corpses from all corners.
Some bodies were tossed aside carelessly, while others were piled up like worthless trash. Li Xuanxiao paid them no mind and ventured deeper into the city, gathering what information he could.
The Great Sui Empire was no longer what it once was. Now, demons and monsters roamed freely. Though the empire's borders hadn't shrunk much, the territory it actually controlled was far less than it appeared. Many regions were either overrun by demons or occupied by other factions.
"Sir, sir, please... buy my child. Just give her some food..."
Along the walls, a long line of ragged figures crouched or crawled, waiting for someone to take pity on them. A little girl turned her head, her eyes meeting Li Xuanxiao's briefly.
The wind swept up the snow on the ground. For a moment, Li Xuanxiao paused, then continued walking, soon disappearing from sight.
He suddenly recalled the saying: "One may read the books of sages, but it does not mean one can mend the world outside."
To feel pity is me;
to stand by and do nothing is also me. To empathize is me;
to be powerless is also me.
This feeling stabbed at Li Xuanxiao's heart like a sharp blade.
Before long, Li Xuanxiao arrived at Shencao Mountain. The moment he set foot on its soil, a gentle breeze brushed past him, coalescing into a human form—the Sword Spirit appeared before him.
To Li Xuanxiao, it felt like he had only been asleep for a short while. But for the Sword Spirit, thirty years had passed.
Though, in the span of her long existence, she had grown accustomed to waiting. Thirty years was but a fleeting moment.
The first thing she said was, "What took you so long?"
Bound to Li Xuanxiao as her master, she had sensed that he was alive. But with her true form anchored here, she couldn't leave Shencao Mountain.
Li Xuanxiao replied, "There were... complications. How are things here?"
"Same as always."
The Sword Spirit studied Li Xuanxiao's silver-white hair.
"Are you... alright?"
Li Xuanxiao nodded. "I'm fine."
She didn't bring up the failed plan—how he had asked her to receive the disciples teleported from Mount Shushan, only for none to arrive. Knowing Mount Shushan had fallen, she understood the plan had failed.
Li Xuanxiao returned to Shencao Mountain.
The Sword Spirit followed behind him and suddenly asked, "Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine," Li Xuanxiao said flatly.
"But you don't seem fine."
Li Xuanxiao looked at her curiously. "Do I seem strange?"
The Sword Spirit studied him for a long moment before finally saying, "You seem normal, but something's off. Like you're missing something."
Li Xuanxiao shook his head. "I've checked myself thoroughly. There's nothing wrong."
The first thing he had done upon waking was examine his condition.
The Sword Spirit hesitated, then asked, "What will you do now?"
"What will I do? Cultivate. Take revenge." There was no hesitation in his voice.
"Only you could say 'revenge' so calmly," the Sword Spirit remarked.
Li Xuanxiao forced a faint smile. "I still need to return to Mount Shushan once more."
Late at night, Li Xuanxiao found himself unable to focus on cultivation. It was as if he were possessed.
He even feared that if he forced himself to continue, he might succumb to demonic influences.
Though he had spoken lightly to the Sword Spirit, only he knew the torment and conflict raging inside him.
Could he truly succeed in his revenge?
The target of his vengeance was the entire world.
What use were schemes and tricks in the face of absolute power?
Only strength mattered...
But he was merely at the Nascent Soul stage, having barely survived the tribulation to break through from Golden Core. If Di Nü Feng hadn't shielded him from the heavenly lightning, he would have been obliterated.
What hope did he have of advancing from Nascent Soul to Transformation Spirit?
The thought of his master dying before his eyes, his fellow disciples, the annihilation of Mount Shushan—it all weighed on him.
To stand against the world...
Who else could help him?
The answer was obvious.
Lost in thought, Li Xuanxiao found himself standing before the hidden location of that artifact in his memory.
Slowly, he undid the seals, his expression grave.
If... if he only used it to kill the wicked...
It suddenly occurred to him—perhaps the old emperor had thought the same thing back then.
As the seals were lifted, it felt like the gates of hell were being opened.
But when the final seal was removed, Li Xuanxiao froze.
The Myriad Soul Banner... was gone!?