Chapter Seventy-Four: Ten Thousand Swords Become One

Countless small swords danced in the air, one of which descended and was caught by the man. Instantly, the sword grew in size. Gripping the imposing longsword tightly, the man's hand clenched, and a blinding golden light erupted from the blade.

With a leap, he soared into the air, using his inner energy to hover. He raised the longsword high, his silver-gray hair whipped into wild disarray by the wind. As he lifted the sword overhead, the small swords in the sky seemed summoned, aligning themselves in perfect order as they flew toward him.

Arrayed in formation, the small swords assembled into the shape of a massive sword, radiating golden light. The sky darkened instantly, heavy clouds blocking out the sun until not a single ray broke through.

Suddenly, several deafening bolts of thunder crashed down, transforming into chains of lightning that shackled the stone giant beast’s limbs. A circular seal of lightning formed at its feet, crackling with electric energy.

“Fall back, all of you—get as far away as possible!” the man shouted down. The men who had accompanied Li Hu hastily carried him to the outermost perimeter, and Gibbler retreated with his own group.

The stone giant struggled fiercely, stretching one leg beyond the circle, only to be struck back by a fierce bolt of lightning. Overhead, a swirling thundercloud hovered above its head.

Seeing the moment was right, the man gripped the sword single-handedly, preparing to strike. Sensing his command, the tail of the giant sword curled upward, the point aiming straight at the stone giant below.

“Break!” the man bellowed. As he swung the sword, a surge of sword energy split the dark clouds above. All who witnessed it were stunned, their faces filled with awe.

The clouds parted, and sunlight, long hidden, poured through the rift, casting a single beam to the earth as though the heavens themselves had been cleaved.

Then, the giant golden sword plunged directly into the stone giant’s body. The beast raised its arms to block, but at first contact, its arms shattered as if they were mere twigs.

Now armless, the stone giant roared in anguish as the sword pierced its torso, the blade emerging from its back. In a thunderous explosion, its colossal stone body disintegrated to dust.

“Incredible… he’s so strong.”

“Is this the power of the Demon Sword? Truly formidable!”

“Who on earth is he?”

With the stone giant slain, all eyes turned to the sky, gazing at the terrifyingly powerful man and murmuring amongst themselves.

After the giant exploded, a black bead emerged from within its remains. While everyone wondered what it could be, a crack suddenly split the bead.

“This is bad,” the man in the sky realized first. He swiftly manipulated the small swords, absorbing the destructive energy from the bead and channeling it high above.

It was a surge of immense destructive force; in an instant, it reduced a flock of birds flying by to mere fragments. The residual shockwave below sent the trees quaking violently.

Those on the ground clung to large rocks or huddled together in small groups to withstand the furious wind. When the storm had passed, the man slowly descended, gathering the small swords back into his grasp.

No sooner had he turned to leave than Li Hu called out, stopping him. The man turned back with a puzzled look, unsure what more was required of him.

“Thank you for your help, sir!” Li Hu cupped his fists in gratitude. He had already guessed at the man’s identity and wanted confirmation. “If I’m not mistaken, the sword you wield is the Thunderflame Sword, isn’t it?”

The man was visibly surprised that Li Hu could correctly name the sword. Apart from the older generation, few people now recognized this blade.

What Li Hu said next astonished him even more.

“How is the old Master these days?”

Hearing Li Hu ask after his master, with tears welling in his eyes, the man was taken aback and studied Li Hu closely. Yet he could not recall such a person from his memories.

This only deepened the mystery—how did this man know his master?

“My father was a blacksmith, named Li Qiusheng, though he was better known as Iron Ox Li.”

When Li Hu mentioned the name Iron Ox Li, realization dawned. So this burly man with a square face and a scar across his nose was Iron Ox Li’s son?

At Broken Sword Manor, nearly every disciple’s sword was forged by Iron Ox Li’s hand, and the old master of the manor had been a close friend of his for many years. When the Thunderflame Sword was reforged after being damaged, Iron Ox Li had played a crucial role.

What an extraordinary coincidence!

Recently, the man had broken through to a new realm of cultivation and received permission from his master to descend the mountain to rid the surrounding villages of monsters and evil spirits. On his return journey, he had encountered Li Hu and his group.

Thinking back, the man began to recall fragments of the past. In his memory, there had indeed been an older, tearful boy who had accompanied him for a time.

Back then, Li Hu’s nose was unscarred. Iron Ox Li had left him at Broken Sword Manor to learn swordsmanship from the old master.

Yet Li Hu had scoffed at the seemingly delicate and powerless longsword, obsessed instead with the heavier, more destructive broadswords, though they were much harder to master.

Because of this, he had become an oddity among his peers, often the target of ridicule and bullying. Fortunately, his younger brother, Li Yixiao, had always stood by him.

It was during this time that Li Hu began learning the blade.

At that time, Li Hu’s personality was nothing like it was now; he was more like a girl. So comparing him to the present Li Hu, it was no wonder the man hadn’t recognized him at first.

“There’s someone making a fire over there!”

Just then, one of Li Hu’s men spotted a wisp of white smoke rising steadily to the north. Following his gesture, Li Hu saw it too—it was coming from behind the mountain.

Guessing it might be Li Pingyang, Li Hu didn’t dare delay. He quickly gathered his men, telling his younger brother Li Yixiao that there was another urgent matter to attend to.

Before leaving, Li Yixiao handed Li Hu several bottles of his own medicine and a badge from Broken Sword Manor, saying that if he ever found himself in trouble, he could seek him there.

The manor’s entrance was protected by powerful barriers; it was impossible to force entry. Only those with a manor badge could pass within.

Li Hu distributed the pills to the wounded, keeping none for himself, laughing that a night’s sleep would cure him.

He hurried toward the source of the smoke, fearful that if he tarried, the person he sought would already be gone.

Fortunately, upon arrival, he spotted Li Pingyang at once, leaning against a large tree in the distance, gnawing energetically on a rabbit, full of life.

It seemed his worries had been for nothing. Relieved, Li Hu broke into a smile and ran toward him…

Since the battle with the Flame Tortoise, Li Pingyang had escaped with his life, but the baleful aura had taken root within him, leaving his body frail; even the slightest chill would send him into violent coughing fits.

And it only grew worse—blood had begun to appear in his coughs.