"Chu Feng, run! Even if you can't rely on anyone else, you can't just stand there waiting to die — that's suicide!"
At that moment, the Queen was practically on the verge of panic.
After all, with Chu Feng standing there motionless, the Death Sword would reach him in the next instant. What Chu Feng was doing was nothing short of throwing his life away.
Clang clang clang—
Sure enough, the Death Sword came hurtling in close behind, trailing dazzling golden light and boundless killing intent, thrusting straight toward Chu Feng's back in the blink of an eye.
Swish—
Yet, just as the Death Sword was about to pierce Chu Feng, his figure flickered and he dodged.
"He dodged it?"
Seeing Chu Feng evade, a flicker of relief surfaced within the Queen's panicked eyes.
But the very next moment, that relief vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Because the Queen realized in astonishment that Chu Feng had actually reached out his hand — and grabbed for the Death Sword.
Crack—
Chu Feng seized the hilt of the Death Sword.
Seeing this, the Queen was just about to scold Chu Feng.
But at that very moment, a voice suddenly rang out.
"You actually did it."
It was the Ancient War Sword — the voice of the Ancient War Sword.
Chu Feng had not only touched the Death Sword, but had gripped its hilt — and yet he hadn't died.
"I see — so that's how it is! Chu Feng, you're absolutely brilliant. What a way to figure it out!"
Now the worry and tension that had been written all over the Queen's face finally swept away, replaced by that captivating, sweet smile. She was so excited that she bounced and jumped around inside the Spirit World, absolutely overjoyed.
And at that moment, the nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine swords below began to vanish.
So that was it — the Life Sword was the Death Sword, and the Death Sword was the Life Sword.
To obtain the Life Sword, one had to grasp the Death Sword.
"Tell me — how did you figure out that the Death Sword was the Life Sword?" the Ancient War Sword asked, curious.
"First of all, the Death Sword was far too fast. Searching through those nine hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine swords for the Life Sword — I simply wouldn't have had the time. That didn't make sense, unless you, Senior, never intended to let me pass this trial in the first place."
"But I didn't believe you were that kind of person," Chu Feng said.
"Good. Flattery like that puts me in a fine mood, boy. Go on," the Ancient War Sword said.
"Furthermore, you are a powerful offensive Secret Technique. If the Life Sword is your true form, then the Death Sword — radiating such tremendous power — most closely resembles you, and should be you."
"But all of that was merely analysis. Before I actually gripped the Death Sword, my heart was racing with unease and doubt," Chu Feng said.
"Oh? That's interesting. You analyzed it so thoroughly — why were you still uneasy? You seemed perfectly confident the entire time," the Ancient War Sword asked.
Chu Feng let out a bitter chuckle before answering, "I won't laugh, and I'll speak honestly — I'm afraid of death too. And just now, it truly was a matter of life and death."
"Ha ha! Good — 'I'm afraid of death,' what a fine thing to say!"
"Everyone fears death. But only those who are willing to risk their lives and press forward regardless can achieve greatness."
"The path of martial cultivation should be exactly like that — rowing against the current. If you're not advancing, you're falling back."
"The people of the Ancient War Clan who were once here possessed fine bloodlines. Yet because they lacked the will to strive, they fell to the state they are in today."