One Sword Breaks All Techniques

Bai Qianqiu punched Ye Xuan somewhat angrily, her voice carrying an indescribable sense of bashful indignation:

"Even if that is the case... it is still completely absurd!"

"Sharing a husband with my master..."

Her voice grew softer and her face redder:

"If word gets out, how will I ever face anyone again?"

She could only imagine how the entire cultivation world would view her if this matter became public.

"The Holy Maiden of the Sword God Palace and her master sharing a husband"—such explosive news would probably make her the laughingstock of the entire cultivation world.

Her reputation would be ruined in an instant, and the Sword God Palace would lose all its face.

Ye Xuan looked at her conflicted expression and could not help but laugh.

He pulled Bai Qianqiu into his arms, holding her tightly. His movements were forceful, making Bai Qianqiu feel momentarily breathless.

Then, he planted a soft kiss on her forehead.

The kiss was light and gentle, carrying an indescribable sense of doting and tenderness.

"Silly girl."

His voice was gentle, like a spring breeze brushing against her face:

"Why are you overthinking it?"

He gently stroked Bai Qianqiu's hair, his tone softening even more:

"Those are all matters of a past life."

"Your master might look aloof, but she is actually the most open-minded person."

He paused before continuing:

"She has a new life now, and perhaps she let it go a long time ago."

"The relationship between her and me is, after all, just a romance from a past life."

He looked into Bai Qianqiu's eyes, his own filled with sincerity:

"Rest assured."

"From now on, in this life, I am your Dao companion and yours alone."

"I will handle those messy relationships properly and will absolutely not let you suffer the slightest grievance."

His voice was firm, carrying an unquestionable promise.

Hearing these sweet words, the heavy stone in Bai Qianqiu's heart finally dropped.

She nestled in Ye Xuan's embrace, listening to his strong heartbeat, a happy smile appearing on her face.

"Mhm."

She replied softly, her voice filled with satisfaction and sweetness:

"I believe you."

She closed her eyes, enjoying this rare moment of tranquility.

But soon, she remembered something else.

She opened her eyes and looked up at Ye Xuan, a flash of curiosity in her gaze:

"What exactly happened between you and my master in the past?"

"Why is she still so hung up on you?"

She paused, her voice growing even quieter:

"You seem... to hate my master a little?"

She had always been curious about this question.

From Ye Xuan's tone and expression when mentioning her master, she could sense a complicated emotion. It was not purely love, nor was it purely hate, but rather a complex mixture of love, hatred, and emotional entanglement.

Ye Xuan's expression turned complicated.

He remained silent for a moment, countless complex emotions flashing through his eyes. There was reminiscence, pain, unwillingness, and a trace of inexplicable regret.

"How should I put it..."

His voice carried a hint of helplessness:

"The grievances and entanglements between her and me are hard to explain clearly."

His tone held an unspeakable weariness, showing he did not want to bring up those past events again.

"Then tell me about it in detail."

Bai Qianqiu's interest was piqued. She sat up and turned to face Ye Xuan, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Ye Xuan, however, shook his head:

"I won't talk about it. It is all ancient history."

His tone was resolute, clearly indicating he did not want to discuss it further.

Bai Qianqiu was somewhat dissatisfied. She pouted, a hint of displeasure flashing in her eyes.

But she knew that if Ye Xuan did not want to speak, he definitely had his reasons. She did not want to force him, but she just could not suppress the curiosity in her heart.

She thought for a moment and asked from a different angle:

"Then let me ask you this."

She looked into Ye Xuan's eyes, her voice carrying a probing tone:

"Did my master ever cuckold you?"

The moment this question was asked, Ye Xuan's face instantly turned weird.

He stayed silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

Bai Qianqiu's eyes widened, her face full of shock and disbelief:

"Impossible!"

Her voice rose, filled with incredulity:

"My master is aloof and devoted, how could she possibly cheat?"

She knew her master well. Although her master was aloof, she was extremely single-minded when it came to love. Once she chose someone, she would be wholeheartedly devoted and would never shift her affections to another.

"She didn't cheat, nor did she ever have sexual relations with any man."

Ye Xuan said with a helpless expression.

"She didn't cheat?"

Bai Qianqiu was even more confused:

"Then how did she cuckold you?"

Wasn't this a contradiction? How could she cuckold him without cheating?

Ye Xuan waved his hand in irritation:

"Anyway, just don't ask so much."

His tone was a bit impatient, evidently not wanting to continue this topic:

"Your master was still very devoted to me emotionally; she never sought out any other men."

He emphasized the words other men, his tone carrying an indescribable complexity.

Bai Qianqiu nodded, but the curiosity in her heart grew even stronger.

She didn't cheat, didn't seek out other men, yet she cuckolded Ye Xuan?

What exactly was going on?

She wanted to keep asking, but seeing Ye Xuan's expression, she held back.

She knew this matter definitely involved some past events he was unwilling to bring up. Since Ye Xuan didn't want to talk about it, she wouldn't force him.

She lay back down in Ye Xuan's embrace, no longer pressing the issue.

However, in her heart, she became even more curious about it.

Over the next few days, conflicts between cultivators became increasingly frequent, some even escalating into life-and-death struggles. Blood stained the soil of the secret realm, and corpses lay scattered everywhere, becoming food for other demonic beasts.

Ye Xuan and Bai Qianqiu traveled together along the way, proving to be unstoppable.

Ye Xuan suddenly stopped in his tracks. He took out from his clothes the spatial ring that Bai Qianqiu had previously thrown back at him, and handed it over.

This spatial ring was a pale gold color all over, engraved with exquisite patterns.

This was a top-grade spatial ring with an enormous internal space, capable of holding a massive amount of items. More importantly, this ring was enchanted with preservation and protection formations, ensuring that the items inside would not decay or be damaged by external forces.

Such a spatial ring was extremely rare in the cultivation world and was invaluable.

"Qianqiu."

Ye Xuan's voice was very gentle, his eyes full of doting:

"Take the resources inside this."

Bai Qianqiu glanced at the spatial ring, her brows instantly furrowing.

She certainly recognized this spatial ring. This was the one given to Ye Xuan by the Empress Wu Lingxiao, filled with all sorts of precious resources. There were top-grade spirit stones, natural heavenly treasures, divine weapons and magical artifacts, and even several precious medicinal pills.

These resources were enough for a large sect to develop for hundreds of years.

But Bai Qianqiu didn't want it.

She knew the origin of these resources. This was the Empress letting Ye Xuan live off her, a method those women used to win Ye Xuan over.

She, Bai Qianqiu, would absolutely never use something given by a romantic rival.

"I know you don't want it."

Ye Xuan continued, his voice becoming even gentler:

"But you are about to return to the Sword God Palace to enter secluded cultivation. How can you manage without some resources on hand?"

He looked into Bai Qianqiu's eyes, his own filled with concern and worry:

"Just treat it as... my betrothal gift to you."

His voice noticeably paused when he said the words betrothal gift, carrying a sense of probing and expectation.

A warm current welled up in Bai Qianqiu's heart. She could feel Ye Xuan's care and his well-intentioned efforts.

But she still shook her head.

"I don't want it."

Bai Qianqiu's voice was firm, devoid of any hesitation.

She raised her head and looked into Ye Xuan's eyes, her own shining with a proud light.

"I told you, I don't care for things given by those women."

Her voice rose slightly, carrying an indescribable stubbornness.

"Although I, Bai Qianqiu, am poor, I still have backbone."

She turned around and looked toward the depths of the canyon, where the radiating treasure light made her eyes brighten.

"Cultivate using resources from a romantic rival?"

She gave a cold snort, her tone bearing an unspeakable arrogance.

"I find it dirty."

Ye Xuan held the storage ring somewhat awkwardly, caught between giving it and taking it back.

"But..."

Ye Xuan wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Bai Qianqiu.

"No buts."

Bai Qianqiu turned back to look at Ye Xuan, her eyes flashing with a resolute light.

She walked up to Ye Xuan and reached out to grasp the hand holding the storage ring. Her hand was small and soft, but she held on tightly and forcefully.

"Since I need resources."

Her voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable resolve.

"Then I will snatch them myself!"

She turned to look deep into the canyon, from which terrifying beast roars and dazzling treasure lights faintly emanated. A blazing fighting spirit burned in her eyes.

"Or..."

She looked back at Ye Xuan, a sly glint flashing in her eyes.

"If you snatch them with your own abilities, I'll take them."

The corners of her mouth curled up into a smile filled with expectation.

Ye Xuan froze.

Looking at the woman before him, an indescribable emotion surged in his heart.

This was the Bai Qianqiu he knew. Proud, confident, with her own bottom line and principles. She would not abandon her pride for love, nor bow her head for resources.

Only such a woman was worthy of him, Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan suddenly laughed.

He laughed incredibly radiantly, incredibly freely.

"Good!"

Ye Xuan said loudly, his voice full of heroic spirit.

He pocketed the storage ring in one swift motion, then grasped Bai Qianqiu's hand. His hand was large and warm, completely enveloping Bai Qianqiu's small hand.

"Since my wife wants a betrothal gift won by sheer ability..."

He looked deep into the canyon, a blazing fighting spirit burning in his eyes.

"Then today, your husband will empty out this entire secret realm for you!!"

As his words fell, Ye Xuan gripped the Sun-Slaying Divine Sword, and the aura on his body erupted explosively.

Golden light radiated from his body like a golden sun. The light grew brighter and more dazzling, eventually enveloping his entire being.

Flawless Dao Body, fully unleashed once again!

A terrifying coercion emanated from Ye Xuan, heavy as a mountain. The surrounding air trembled, and cracks began to appear on the ground.

"Let's go!"

Holding Bai Qianqiu's hand, Ye Xuan strode boldly toward the depths of the canyon.

Inside the canyon was an entirely different scene.

Towering cliffs that pierced the clouds flanked the canyon. The cliffs were a dark red, as if soaked in blood. Various bizarre plants grew all over them.

These plants grew by feeding on flesh and blood, emitting a thick, metallic stench. Some had sharp thorns, with bits of shredded meat and bone still dangling from them.

At the bottom of the canyon was a blood-red river.

It was not a true river, but an accumulation of the blood of countless cultivators and demonic beasts that had died here over the years. The river water was as viscous as syrup, exuding a heavy stench of blood and rot.

Countless corpses floated in the water. Some had already rotted away, leaving only white bones. Others were still fresh, their faces retaining the fear and despair of their final moments.

From deep within the canyon, the sounds of battle occasionally rang out.

Cultivators were fighting demonic beasts, and cultivators were slaughtering each other. Screams, furious roars, and the clash of weapons mingled together like a symphony of hell.

Ye Xuan and Bai Qianqiu walked through the canyon as if strolling through a courtyard.

The terrifying sights around them seemed as though they did not exist at all.

A faint smile hung on Ye Xuan's face, while Bai Qianqiu held his hand tightly, her eyes full of trust.

Suddenly, a furious roar echoed from ahead.

A massive demonic beast leaped out of the river of blood, lunging toward Ye Xuan and Bai Qianqiu.

It was a Blood Fiend Python, a demonic beast at the peak of the Nascent Soul realm. Its body was dozens of meters long and as thick as a water barrel. Its surface was covered in blood-red scales, which were coated in viscous blood.

Its head was enormous, like a millstone. Its gaping maw revealed a mouthful of fangs. Shreds of meat hung from those fangs, clearly indicating it had just devoured a prey.

Bai Qianqiu's expression changed. Just as she was about to strike, Ye Xuan stopped her.

"I'll handle this."

Ye Xuan's voice was very calm, as if speaking of a trivial matter.

He let go of Bai Qianqiu's hand and took a step forward.

With just this one step, his aura completely changed.

The previously gentle and doting presence vanished entirely, replaced by a cold, piercing killing intent.

He raised his right hand, and the Sun-Slaying Divine Sword in his grasp emitted a dazzling golden light.

"Sever!"

He spoke only a single word. His voice was soft, yet it carried an unquestionable majesty.

Before his voice even faded, the sword in his hand slashed out.

The Blood Fiend Python's movements halted.

It maintained its pouncing posture, suspended in mid-air. A trace of confusion and bewilderment flashed through its eyes, as if it didn't understand what had just happened.

The next second.

A bloody line extended from the Blood Fiend Python's head all the way to its tail.

Then, the Blood Fiend Python's body split down the middle, separating into two halves.

Boom!

The two halves crashed heavily to the ground, splashing up a large amount of bloody water. Blood gushed out like a fountain, dyeing the surrounding ground red.

The Blood Fiend Python's inner core rolled out of the corpse, radiating a brilliant red light.

With a casual wave of his hand, Ye Xuan beckoned the inner core into his grasp. Without even looking at it, he handed it directly to Bai Qianqiu.

"For you."

Bai Qianqiu took the inner core. Looking at Ye Xuan's back, her eyes sparkled with adoration.

A peak Nascent Soul realm Blood Fiend Python couldn't even withstand a single strike from Ye Xuan.

This was her man.

This was the Dao Companion she had chosen.

"Let's go."

Ye Xuan gently grasped Bai Qianqiu's soft hand, their fingers intertwining, and continued walking deeper into the secret realm.

His palm was warm and strong, giving off an incredibly reassuring feeling. Feeling the warmth transmitting from his palm, the corners of Bai Qianqiu's mouth involuntarily turned up, and a sweet, warm current surged in her heart.

The ensuing journey was like a one-sided massacre.

A massive Crimson Flame Demonic Tiger leaped out from the dense forest. It was fully thirty feet tall, its entire body burning with crimson flames. Its eyes were like two blood moons, exuding a bloodthirsty, ferocious light. It was a late Nascent Soul stage demonic beast; a single roar from it could shatter a cultivator's divine soul.

But Ye Xuan didn't even spare it a glance.

He merely raised his right hand casually and made a light swipe with his sword fingers.

A dazzling stream of sword qi burst forth from his fingertips. The sword qi was a pale gold, seemingly containing the purest power in the world. As it slashed through the void, it tore a faint rift in space itself, emitting a sharp cracking sound.

In the next instant, the massive body of the Red Flame Demon Tiger froze in mid-air.

A look of disbelief flashed through its eyes. Immediately after, a bloody line extended from the center of its brow all the way down to its tail.

Boom!

The Red Flame Demon Tiger's body was split perfectly in two, crashing heavily onto the ground. Blood sprayed out like a fountain, dyeing a large patch of earth red. The burning flames upon its body were extinguished with it, leaving only two halves of a corpse still twitching slightly in the dirt.

One sword, an instant kill.

Bai Qianqiu's pupils shrank slightly, her heart beating fiercely. Although she had seen Ye Xuan make a move many times, she was still shaken to the core every single time.

But this was only the beginning.

An early-stage Soul Formation realm Profound Ice Giant Python drilled out from underground. Its body was as thick as a water barrel and hundreds of feet long, covered in hard ice crystal scales that each flashed with a deep blue, chilling light. It opened its bloody maw and spewed out a bone-biting frost. Wherever the frost passed, even the air was frozen into ice crystals, emitting cracking sounds.

Ye Xuan's expression remained unchanged.

He did not even stop his footsteps, merely raising his sword fingers again and casually swiping through the air.

The same sword qi, the same trajectory, the same result.

The massive body of the Profound Ice Giant Python was instantly chopped into two segments. Those incredibly hard ice crystal scales were as fragile as paper before his sword qi. The giant python's body crashed heavily, kicking up a sky full of dust.

One sword, and then another.

Next, one powerful demonic beast after another appeared. There were Nascent Soul realm beasts, Soul Formation realm beasts, and even several mid-stage Soul Formation demonic beasts joining forces to besiege him.

But the result was always the same.

Ye Xuan's sword technique became simpler and purer. Every strike was a guaranteed kill. There were no superfluous movements, no flashy techniques; he did not even need to draw his sword.

He simply raised his hand, swiped his sword fingers, and continued forward.

It was just that simple.

He only used one move, and that was the Grand Luo Limitless Sword Qi.

That pale golden sword qi seemed to contain the most primal power of heaven and earth, indestructible and all-conquering. Whether it was tough scales or powerful demonic energy shields, everything was practically nonexistent before this sword qi.

Bai Qianqiu followed behind Ye Xuan, watching him strike time and time again, the shock in her heart growing ever stronger.

She realized that every one of Ye Xuan's strikes seemed the same, but in reality, they were all different. Facing different enemies, the angle, force, and speed of the sword qi would undergo subtle changes. Sometimes it was as fast as lightning, sometimes as slow as flowing water; sometimes it was fierce and overbearing, sometimes soft and enduring.

This was a realm of simplifying the complex and returning to the true origin of martial arts.

Bai Qianqiu stopped her footsteps, her beautiful eyes holding curiosity and confusion, her voice crisp and melodious: "Husband, I have a question to ask you."

Ye Xuan turned his head, looking at her with a smile: "Please speak, my wife."

Bai Qianqiu bit her lower lip, organizing her words: "Husband, why do you only use this one move, the Grand Luo Limitless Sword Qi, and completely ignore all other sword techniques?"

She paused, a glimmer of expectation flashing in her eyes: "I am the Holy Maiden of the Sword God Palace. There are countless top-tier sword techniques in our palace, such as the Nine Heavens Profound Sword Art, the Great Void Sword Canon, Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Origin, and so on. Each one is a world-shocking ultimate skill. I can impart them to you, making your sword arts richer and more varied."

Hearing this, a gentle smile appeared on Ye Xuan's face. He raised his hand and gently rubbed Bai Qianqiu's hair, his actions doting and tender: "I appreciate your good intentions, my wife."

His eyes grew profound: "But when it comes to sword moves, one truly doesn't need too many."

Bai Qianqiu froze slightly, not quite understanding his meaning.

Ye Xuan turned around, gazing into the distance, his voice calm and distant: "Too many sword moves will only make things complicated. For every extra move you learn, you divide a portion of your mental energy. In the end, you will know a bit of everything, but master nothing."

He raised his right hand, gently swiping his sword fingers, and a pale golden sword qi surfaced once more. This time, he did not attack any target, but let the sword qi slowly roam through the air.

The sword qi sometimes transformed into a wandering dragon, spiraling and dancing in the sky; sometimes it turned into tens of thousands of sword shadows, covering the heavens and the earth; and sometimes it condensed into a single point, dazzling like a star.

"The Grand Luo Limitless Sword Qi is a supreme miraculous method that leads straight to the realm of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal."

Ye Xuan's voice carried an indescribable charm: "Although it is just one move, it possesses endless transformations and encompasses everything. It can be the most fierce killing strike, or the gentlest defense; it can be the absolute peak of speed, or it can weave into the most terrifying net."

He turned his head, looking at Bai Qianqiu, his eyes calm and deep: "Practicing one move to the extreme surpasses a thousand mediocre moves. Rather than dividing your energy to learn countless sword techniques, it is better to practice one move to the very pinnacle."

"Moves do not need to be numerous; they only need to be mastered."

His words were light, yet they exploded like a clap of thunder in Bai Qianqiu's heart.

Bai Qianqiu was stunned. Her pupils shrank slightly, and it felt as if something in her mind had been shattered.

She remembered the words her master had once said: "In sword techniques, true value lies in refinement, not quantity."

At the time, she had not quite understood, feeling that learning a few more moves was always a good thing. But now, looking at Ye Xuan's endlessly transforming sword qi, she finally understood the true meaning of those words.

A single move, as long as it is practiced to the absolute extreme, can derive infinite variations.

This was the true Dao of the Sword.

Bai Qianqiu lowered her head thoughtfully. Her eyes became hazy, as if she had fallen into some mysterious state of enlightenment.

In her mind, the sword moves she had learned in the past began to surface one by one, and then dissipated one by one.

Those complex moves, those exquisite variations, all became unimportant in this moment.

In her heart, only one thought remained—simple, pure, direct.

When one sword strikes, it severs everything.

She closed her eyes, feeling the sword intent surging within her body. Those sword intents began to fuse spontaneously. Her originally complicated sword techniques began to simplify, ultimately condensing into the purest sword intent.

A sharp sword qi began to emanate from her body. That sword qi grew stronger and stronger, ultimately soaring into the sky and forming a dazzling pillar of sword light in the air.

Boom!

A powerful aura erupted from Bai Qianqiu's body. At this moment, her cultivation broke through its bottleneck, reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul realm!

She opened her eyes, an unprecedented light flashing within them. She felt that her sword dao realm had elevated to an entirely new level, and her understanding of the sword had become even more profound.

She looked at Ye Xuan, her eyes brimming with gratitude and admiration: "Husband, thank you."

Ye Xuan smiled, a very gentle smile: "Silly girl, we are husband and wife. There's no need to say thank you."

He once again took Bai Qianqiu's hand: "Let's go, we'll continue moving forward."

Bai Qianqiu nodded vigorously, tightly holding Ye Xuan's hand.

With this man by her side, she feared nothing.