16: The Return of the Genius

As if responding to his call, a clear sword cry suddenly echoed from the distance. The sound was like a dragon's roar, carrying five years of suppressed longing and Battle Intent.

Di Qianjie pushed open the stone door, squinting slightly at the blinding sunlight. Outside, Di Shenglong stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly having waited for a long time. Beside him floated that ancient sword, sealed by seven golden chains. At this moment, the golden chains shattered inch by inch, and the scabbard trembled violently, as if it couldn't wait to return to its master's hand.

"Clan Chief..." Di Qianjie's throat felt tight.

Di Shenglong's lips curled slightly. "It seems it missed you even more than I imagined."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Thousand Tribulations Sword let out a joyful cry and unsheathed itself with a 'clang'. The blade was pitch black as ink, yet it shimmered with dark gold patterns under the sun, resembling dragon scales.

Most miraculous of all was the dragon head at the hilt—the previously closed dragon eyes were now wide open, two ruby-like eyes shining brilliantly.

Swoosh!

The Thousand Tribulations Sword turned into a streak of light, arriving before Di Qianjie in an instant. The hilt rubbed affectionately against his palm before hovering obediently within reach.

Di Qianjie took a deep breath and reached out to grasp the hilt. In an instant, a feeling of Bloodline connection flooded his entire body. The dragon patterns on the blade moved like living creatures, winding up his arm and finally forming a dragon-shaped tattoo on his right arm.

"This is Qian Jie?" Di Chenyuan had arrived at the edge of the field at some unknown point, his eyes wide with shock.

"His Dantian is repaired?"

Di Shenglong nodded slightly. "Yes, Heaven does not fail those who persevere."

Di Qianjie gently stroked the blade, feeling the surging power within. Suddenly, he knelt on one knee, holding the Thousand Tribulations Sword horizontally with both hands and lifting it toward Di Shenglong.

"I will never forget the Clan Chief's grace of Rebirth. Although the Thousand Tribulations Sword is my life-bound item, it would still be a piece of scrap metal without the Nirvana Scripture bestowed by the Clan Chief." His voice was powerful and resonant. "Today, I, Di Qianjie, swear here: in this life, this sword and I will fight only for the Clan Chief and the Di Clan! If I break this oath, may Heaven and Earth destroy me!"

A drop of essence blood seeped from between his eyebrows and fell onto the sword, instantly absorbed. This was a blood oath; once made, there would be no betrayal.

Di Shenglong quietly watched the young man before him. A month ago, he was a waste who spent his days drinking; now, the Battle Intent burning in his eyes was purer and more intense than it had been five years ago.

"Rise, Qianjie." Di Shenglong reached out with a gesture to help him up. "The sword is yours, and your life is yours. I saved you simply because you are my clansman. As the Clan Chief, how could I stand by and watch?"

"But there is one thing you must remember—"

Di Qianjie looked up, a trace of confusion flashing in his eyes.

Di Shenglong looked toward the Di Clan disciples practicing on the distant martial arts field. "The disaster five years ago made me understand a truth—a true powerhouse is not defined by how many people they can kill, but by how many they can protect."

He turned to Di Qianjie. "I want your loyalty not to me personally, but to the Di Clan. Your sword should be swung for protection, not just for revenge."

Di Qianjie's whole body shook as images of the bloody battle five years ago surfaced in his mind—he could have escaped alone, but he chose to stay behind to cover the retreat, buying time for seventeen clansmen. At that time, what he had in mind was indeed 'protection'.

"I will keep the Clan Chief's teachings engraved in my heart." He bowed solemnly, and when he looked up again, there was a newfound clarity in his eyes. "Wherever this sword points, it shall be for the glory of the Di Clan!"

Di Shenglong nodded with satisfaction, then suddenly changed the subject. "Now that your cultivation is restored, do you dare to fight me?"

Di Qianjie was stunned for a moment, then the Battle Intent in his eyes surged. "Nothing would please me more!"

"Good!" Di Shenglong laughed. "Let me see just how much the Di Clan's sword Genius has improved after his Nirvana Rebirth!"

The two arrived at the ancestral martial arts field. News spread quickly, and before long, the field was surrounded by Di Clan disciples. Everyone wanted to witness the duel between the former Genius and the now-ascendant Clan Chief.

Di Shenglong suppressed his cultivation to the tenth level of the Profound Core Realm, the same level as Di Qianjie.

Di Qianjie stood with his sword. The Thousand Tribulations Sword seemed to feel its master's Battle Intent, its blade vibrating slightly and letting out a clear cry. In contrast, Di Shenglong just stood there casually, with not a single ripple of true essence around him.

"Clan Chief, please guide me!"

Before his voice finished echoing, Di Qianjie had already turned into an afterimage. The Thousand Tribulations Sword drew a perfect arc in the air, and a three-inch sword glow erupted from the tip, piercing straight toward Di Shenglong's throat.

This strike was fast as lightning, yet it carried an air of ease, already reaching the sword Dao Concept of 'handling the heavy as if it were light, and the light as if it were heavy'.

The crowd at the edge didn't even see the sword's path clearly; they only felt a blur before their eyes, and the sword tip was already three inches from the Clan Chief's throat!

Clang!

A crisp sound rang out. Di Shenglong simply extended two fingers and firmly caught the sword tip. That sword glow, which was enough to pierce through refined gold, couldn't even break his skin.

"The speed is good, but the Killing Intent is too heavy," Di Shenglong commented. "Remember, a sword is an extension of the arm, not a tool for slaughter."

Di Qianjie's pupils constricted as he withdrew his sword and attacked again. This time, he performed the 'Nine Heavens Sword Technique' he had once cultivated. Nine streaks of Sword Qi, like the Milky Way hanging upside down, attacked Di Shenglong from different angles. Each streak of Sword Qi contained the full power of a Peak Profound Core Realm strike; even someone in the Divine Mansion Realm wouldn't dare take it head-on.

Di Shenglong simply raised his hand and opened his five fingers. The nine streaks of Sword Qi were like they had hit an invisible wall, collapsing violently three feet away from him.

"Too much flash, not enough substance." Di Shenglong shook his head. "The way of the sword is simplicity. Why pursue complexity?"

Di Qianjie took a deep breath, suddenly sheathed his sword, and stood with his eyes closed. The crowd looked at each other, not knowing what he was doing. Only Di Shenglong's eyes flashed with a hint of appreciation.

Three breaths later, Di Qianjie snapped his eyes open.

Clang!

The moment the Thousand Tribulations Sword left its sheath, a sword light condensed to the extreme sliced through the sky. This strike had no flash, only the purest speed and power, as if only this single streak of sword light remained in the world.

"Good!" Di Shenglong finally moved. He formed a sword with his right hand and made a light chopping motion toward the sword light.

Boom!

Air currents billowed, and the ground of the martial arts field cracked. When the dust settled, everyone saw Di Qianjie's sword stopped half a foot from Di Shenglong's chest, unable to advance any further.

"I lost." Di Qianjie sheathed his sword, completely convinced of his defeat.

Even at the same Realm, he could not defeat the Clan Chief.

Di Shenglong patted his shoulder. "To be able to comprehend the 'Return to Simplicity' Sword Intent in such a short time, you are already very good." He looked around at the Di Clan disciples. "Did you all see that? This is the sword Genius of our Di Clan!"

The crowd cheered joyfully, and Di Chenyuan and the other Elders were moved to tears. The sword Genius from five years ago had finally returned!

Now the Family not only had the Clan Chief but also a Genius of the younger generation like Di Qianjie; the rise of the Di Clan was within reach!

Many of the clan's Elders even offered sacrifices to their ancestors. They had experienced too many wars, and after the incident five years ago, the Family was on the brink of collapse. But the Clan Chief had turned the tide, leading to the current situation; the Di Clan's flame would not be extinguished!