Chapter Forty-Seven: The Hidden Eye of the Veiled Lake Formation
The great sword, which had previously held its own against the dragon, now received the blessing of the white-robed woman’s spiritual power, its aura surging by thirty percent in an instant. Suddenly, it completely overshadowed the dragon conjured by the Azure Dragon Sword’s energy. Once her spiritual power had fully infused the sword, what had once been formless became a tangible treasure: a blade of pure white, its surface shimmering with radiant light, exuding a forceful, masculine energy that imparted a sense of boldness and grandeur.
This was utterly astonishing.
The beautiful maiden before him, delicate in appearance, wielded a sword technique that was bold and unrestrained, infused with masculine vigor—a striking contradiction that defied expectation.
But Bai Mu had no time to dwell on this, for the white giant sword, its aura now vastly strengthened, swept toward the dragon’s head at a speed that left no room for reaction. The force behind it was awe-inspiring.
“Damn,” Bai Mu cursed inwardly, realizing that once the blade fell, the sword-energy dragon would be slain on the spot. He would be left at a disadvantage, perhaps with no chance to fight back.
The thought of losing the Azure Dragon Sword—especially to a beautiful maiden of similar age—filled him with indignation. He resolved that if she insisted on taking the sword, he would fight her to the bitter end, never allowing the Azure Dragon Sword to fall into another’s hands.
As Bai Mu weighed his options, the white giant sword spun through the air and struck the dragon’s head with ferocious power.
A mournful roar escaped the dragon, its form—crafted from the Azure Dragon Sword’s energy—breaking apart like steam under sunlight, then vanishing without a trace.
With the dragon shattered, Bai Mu and the sword itself suffered the backlash. Fortunately, Bai Mu was prepared. When the overwhelming force rebounded, he pushed off the ground with his toes, his body soaring like a white crane. He landed ten meters away by the lakeshore, barely escaping the pursuit of the white-robed woman.
Glancing back, he saw that the rebounding sword energy, thanks to his timely retreat, had instead crashed into the tranquil lake behind him.
Such powerful energy should have churned the waters into a tempest. Yet, to his surprise, as the sword energy touched the dead-silent surface, it vanished as if absorbed—without even a ripple.
The lake now resembled a bottomless abyss. No matter how mighty the sword energy, it could not disturb it in the slightest.
---
What was happening?
Bai Mu stood dumbly on the shore, staring at the bizarre scene, questions crowding his mind.
“Have you noticed anything?” the white-robed woman called out, her voice clear as she stood behind a patch of wind-blown orchids.
“That lake…” Bai Mu replied uncertainly, “Is there something wrong?”
She smiled mysteriously, making no move to press her advantage. Instead, she asked with a bright expression, “Have you ever practiced sword techniques?”
“No,” Bai Mu answered truthfully, without the slightest attempt at concealment. He knew that hiding anything now would only work against him; honesty might win him a bit of favor.
Judging from her previous display, she was clearly a master of the sword—her skill far surpassed even the Xuan Yuan Sword Immortal.
“If you’ve never practiced sword techniques, how did you acquire the Azure Dragon Sacred Sword, which vanished thousands of years ago?”
“That’s my fate; do I owe you an explanation?” Bai Mu retorted, neither humble nor arrogant.
This was his strength: although he was weaker, his manner and speech betrayed not a hint of servility. Perhaps it was the natural confidence of one born to privilege.
“You don’t need to explain the sword’s origin, but you insulted me earlier—shouldn’t you apologize?”
The white-robed maiden frowned, glaring at Bai Mu, though her eyes lacked any true anger.
Bai Mu scratched his head awkwardly, momentarily at a loss for words, a rare occurrence for the usually eloquent young man.
Seeing his honest demeanor, the maiden suddenly chuckled, covering her mouth. “Forget it. You acted out of desperation. I’ll treat it as self-defense.”
---
She then grew serious, pressing him: “Why did you venture alone into the Temple of the Ruins? What is your purpose?”
“I’ve come to seek the God of War, Fanxian, for healing!” Bai Mu explained without hesitation. “The Azure Dragon Sword’s energy has invaded me. Every full moon, I suffer from its torment in my core.”
“I’ve heard the God of War, Fanxian, possesses powerful sword techniques that can help me control the energy within. So—”
“No need for further explanation,” the white-robed woman interrupted, her smile vanishing. “You should return at once. You will not see Fanxian on this journey.”
“Why?” Bai Mu was startled, a wave of despair rising within him. After enduring countless hardships and risking universal scorn to come to the Temple of the Ruins, being told he would not meet Fanxian felt like a cruel joke.
“There’s no need for reasons. No one knows the God of War, Fanxian, better than I do!”
“Even if you were lucky enough to meet him, you’d never be taught the Heavenly Sacred Sword Technique!”
“I don’t believe you!” Bai Mu shook his head stubbornly, then pleaded, “Fairy, I bear you no grudge. Could you let me pass this trial? I will repay you someday, if given the chance.”
The white-robed woman sneered, her expression unchanged. “This is the second trial of the Temple of the Ruins, called the Ethereal Illusion Realm. It represents each person’s inner demons. I am not its guardian and will not hinder you.”
“If you have the ability, you may attempt to pass through. I will not interfere!”
“But even if you force your way past the Ethereal Illusion Realm, with your current cultivation, you will not make it through the Grand Hall. There are eighty-one disciples guarding it, each a standout among the temple’s ranks.”
“Even with the Azure Dragon Sacred Sword as protection, if you try to force your way through the Grand Hall alone, you will surely lose your life.”