Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy-Chapter 73 A Look of Disgust
Before he even drew his sword, Xiao Zhan erupted with a formidable aura, astonishing Xia Qian and Xiao Liang.
Xiao Tian, however, was delighted. He boasted, "Third Granduncle, Sister Xia Qian, you’ve been living among common folk for so long that you have yet to see a true master. Today, you are certain to be amazed."
Xia Qian and Xiao Liang furrowed their brows slightly. They were impressed by Xiao Zhan’s aura, but it was hardly shocking. Compared to Wu Tian, Xiao Zhan’s presence seemed to be nothing special.
Xiao Zhan rejoiced inwardly. Sword, oh sword, I have finally found you, and you have finally waited for me. The next moment, he let out a great shout and prepared to draw the sword.
"Third Granduncle, Sister Xia Qian, watch closely! The master of this Divine Sword can only be my teacher!" Xiao Tian proclaimed proudly, as if he were the one drawing the sword, as if Xiao Zhan had already succeeded.
"Open!" Xiao Zhan bellowed, his right hand gripping the hilt tightly. His cry was powerful enough to shake mountains, but the sword remained utterly still, not budging an inch.
"Hmm?" Xiao Zhan’s brows knitted together.
"Teacher, what’s happening?" Xiao Tian asked.
"..." Xiao Zhan was in a foul mood and didn’t wish to speak. He refused to believe that he couldn’t draw this sword.
"Open!" Undeterred, Xiao Zhan shouted once more. He clenched his teeth and exerted all his strength, veins popping on his hand as a terrifying aura emanated from him. Yet, the sword remained in its sheath, showing no sign of being drawn.
His brows knitted tightly, Xiao Zhan placed the sword back into the box. If I can’t draw it, who here possibly could?
Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Liang and declared, "I fear this is a bodiless sword."
Xiao Liang was taken aback. A so-called bodiless sword was one without a blade. It meant the sheath itself was the sword and there was nothing inside it. If that were the case, how could anyone draw it?
"I see," Xiao Tian laughed. "No wonder this young Clan Leader couldn’t draw it, and neither could my teacher. It turns out to be a bodiless sword!"
Xiao Zhan nodded. Since no one can draw this sword, who’s to know if I’m telling the truth or not?
Xia Qian looked toward Wu Tian and said, "It’s up to you."
"Sister Xia Qian, if my teacher and I couldn’t do it, how could he possibly succeed?" Xiao Tian commented, his eyes filled with undisguised ridicule.
Xiao Zhan also nodded indifferently. In his eyes, Wu Tian was a nobody. He didn’t think this somewhat delicate-looking young man could possess any remarkable abilities.
Xiao Liang’s brow furrowed slightly. He suddenly felt that today’s events might bring trouble for Wu Tian. No matter how formidable Wu Tian was, he was still just one person. How could he possibly stand against the Xiao Family of Lanling?
Unconcerned with the others’ thoughts, Wu Tian simply walked up, reached out, and picked up the sword from the box.
"Teacher, do you think he can draw it?" Xiao Tian asked Xiao Zhan in a low voice. He couldn’t bear the thought of a sword he failed to draw being unsheathed by someone his own age; it would prove his own incompetence.
Xiao Zhan surveyed Wu Tian for a moment before shaking his head in disdain. "I see no trace of the Martial Path in him. His footsteps are light and unsteady; he clearly hasn’t spent much time practicing the horse stance, which is the very foundation of the Martial Path. He’s just an ordinary city boy. How could the sword possibly acknowledge him?"
Hearing Xiao Zhan’s reply, Xiao Tian breathed a sigh of relief.
The two of them spoke in hushed tones, which Xia Qian and Xiao Liang couldn’t hear. Wu Tian, however, heard every word. The horse stance is the foundation of the Martial Path? What a worldly view. Worldly methods can only cultivate worldly martial arts; they can never allow one to transcend the mundane.
Wu Tian now held the sword in his hand. The instant he grasped it, he seemed to transform into a Great Grandmaster of the Sword Dao. His posture, his expression—he was without a doubt a Sword God incarnate.
"Eh? His stance isn’t bad." For the first time, Xiao Zhan’s eyes flickered as he truly looked at Wu Tian.
Xiao Tian’s heart sank. Don’t tell me this kid is also a master?
"Don’t worry, it’s just a good stance," Xiao Zhan said, seeing the anxiety in Xiao Tian’s eyes and offering a word of comfort.
Xiao Tian sighed in relief again. That’s good. Besides, how could Wu Tian possibly draw the sword? My teacher couldn’t even do it. It must be a bodiless sword!
But at that very moment—
CLANG!
With no warning whatsoever, the sharp sword slid from its sheath, finally drawn by Wu Tian.
Xia Qian and Xiao Liang smiled, while Xiao Zhan and Xiao Tian were left in stunned silence.
"It seems this sword has recognized me as its master," Wu Tian sighed helplessly, as if being chosen by such a sword was not a blessing, but a burden.
As the blade was unsheathed, everyone watched as the rust and stains flaked away, revealing the faint pattern of the Big Dipper on the blade. This was, without a doubt, the legendary Seven-Star Dragon Abyss.
Who didn’t know of this sword? It originated in the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Period, making it over 2,600 years old. It was a famous blade of the Dragon Country, known as a sword of integrity and high virtue. Legend told that it was jointly forged by two great swordsmiths, Ou Yezi and Gan Jiang. To create it, they supposedly split open Mount Ciming to release the mountain stream, guiding its waters into seven pools arranged like the Big Dipper, which gave the sword its "Seven-Star" name. When the sword was complete, to gaze down its length was like staring from a high mountain into a deep abyss, so ethereal and profound it seemed a great dragon was coiling within. This gave it the name "Dragon Abyss." Hence, it was called the Seven-Star Dragon Abyss.
"What is wrong with this sword? Why would it acknowledge a common boy as its master and not me?" Xiao Zhan’s eyes widened, a flicker of anger in their depths. He glared daggers at Wu Tian and the Seven-Star Dragon Abyss, his heart filled with resentment. Seven-Star Dragon Abyss, oh, Seven-Star Dragon Abyss, have you gone blind? I, a Great Sword Master who adores swords, am standing right here, yet you acknowledged a boy who knows nothing of swordsmanship as your master?
"Teacher, what is going on?" Xiao Tian asked with a frown. He had been so sure that a sword his teacher couldn’t draw had to be bodiless. But now that it had been drawn, the blade was real. The slap to their faces was deafening. The Xiao Family of Lanling rarely descended from their mountain home, and to be faced with such humiliation right after arriving was more than Xiao Tian could bear.
Xiao Liang laughed, not at all surprised. He had long since grown accustomed to Wu Tian’s miraculous abilities. "Hahaha..." He stepped forward and looked at Wu Tian. "Since ancient times, famous swords have belonged to heroes. This sword is meant for you." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
"This sword..." Wu Tian still seemed hesitant. As sharp as the Seven-Star Dragon Abyss was, it couldn’t compare to his Tian Wu.
"Just take it," Xia Qian said, stepping forward. She thought he was just being polite and encouraged him to accept.
Seeing their earnestness, Wu Tian found it hard to refuse their kindness and reluctantly decided to accept. After all, he did need a weapon right now.
"Hold on!" Xiao Tian interjected with an angry shout.
"What is it? This sword isn’t yours, and it didn’t choose you. What are you planning to do?" Wu Tian asked, completely unintimidated by the Xiao Family of Lanling. He looked at Xiao Tian with great interest. The Xiao Family of Lanling ought to know more of this city’s secrets. Perhaps I should pay them a visit.
Xiao Zhan sighed and stepped forward. "Young man, although the sword has acknowledged you, treasures have always belonged to the virtuous since ancient times, lest the treasures themselves be dishonored. In your hands, this sword has no place to shine. It would be better to give it to me. Name your price; I am willing to buy it."
