340: Three people drink heartily, on the path of the sword.

Di Qianjie's rise was, to them, but a fleeting spray in the long river of time, far less important than a single deep enlightenment.

This disdain and indifference were like undercurrents, quietly surging beneath Di Qianjie's dazzling light.

They prided themselves on being true Geniuses, possessing a loftier vision and a more powerful Legacy. In their eyes, the sudden emergence of the Di Clan and Di Qianjie had merely stirred the shallow waters of a pond, far from touching the True Dragon of the deep sea.

In Tiangong Province, within Sword Forging City under the jurisdiction of the Sword Forging Manor, the bustle gradually subsided, yet the lights remained brilliant.

On the top floor of an elegantly decorated yet grand restaurant in the city, there was a private booth by the window.

Inside, three figures sat around a table. They were the three dazzling stars of this Sword Discussion Assembly: Di Qianjie, Ye Qingtian, and Yu Qingchen.

The table was laden with delicacies and spiritual fruits. Jars of fine wine, exuding rich Spiritual Qi, had their mud seals broken, and a mellow fragrance filled the air. The liquid was a golden amber color, shrouded in Spiritual Qi, clearly of great value.

"Cheers!" Ye Qingtian was the first to raise his cup, a hearty smile on his handsome face, breaking the somewhat heavy atmosphere. "To our Sword Dao, and to this exhilarating battle!"

The corners of Di Qianjie's mouth curled slightly as he raised his cup in response. His eyes were clear, devoid of arrogance.

Yu Qingchen remained silent, picking up his wine cup with his remaining left hand. His movements were slightly awkward but exceptionally steady.

The three of them drained their cups. The strong wine went down their throats, turning into a warm current that seemed to disperse the lingering killing intent and tension from the sword arena.

"Refreshing!"

Ye Qingtian put down his cup, his gaze drifting between Di Qianjie and Yu Qingchen, finally resting on Yu Qingchen's empty right sleeve. A hint of mischief flashed in his eyes.

He leaned forward slightly, speaking in a teasing tone to break the brief silence: "Brother Qingchen, honestly, I still find it hard to believe. You, having an arm forcibly severed by Brother Qianjie... can actually sit here so calmly drinking at the same table as us? This magnanimity, I, Ye, truly admire it to the point of prostration."

His words were blunt but lacked malice, sounding more like the unrestrained banter between brothers, yet they also pointed out the tragic past between the three of them.

The private room fell silent instantly.

Yu Qingchen's left hand, holding the wine cup, tightened slightly, his knuckles turning white from the force. He slowly raised his head, his eyes exceptionally calm and bottomless, as if containing a dead sea after a storm.

He didn't look at Ye Qingtian immediately but instead turned his gaze toward Di Qianjie.

Di Qianjie felt that gaze and looked up to meet it.

Their gazes met in mid-air. No words were spoken, yet it felt as if invisible Sword Qi was silently clashing.

The air in the room suddenly became heavy and viscous. Invisible pressure spread out, and the cups on the table let out a faint hum.

"Brother Ye, you only see that I lost an arm, but have you seen what I gained?"

The storm in his eyes subsided, leaving only a deep calm. "If not for Brother Di's strike, it wouldn't have just been this arm that was severed, but also the chains dragging me into the abyss of destruction. I would have only become a Puppet of that killing intent, exhausting my life in madness and eventually turning into a walking corpse that knows only destruction."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over his empty right sleeve. It was empty, yet it seemed more powerful than any Sharp Weapon.

"As for this arm..." His tone became exceptionally flat, even carrying a strange sense of relief.

"It is a reminder, constantly telling me that there is always someone better, and the peak of the Sword Dao is endless. Rather than obsessing over past wholeness, it is better to see the path ahead clearly."

He raised his cup toward Di Qianjie and toasted solemnly. "This cup is to thank you for the grace of severing my arm."

Di Qianjie met his gaze, nodded slightly, and raised his cup in return.

Everything was understood without words. He understood Yu Qingchen's current state of mind—a profound realization of having struggled back from the brink of destruction and being born again through fire.

Ye Qingtian also put away his joking manner and raised his cup solemnly. "For Brother Qingchen to see through it like this, your heart of the sword is clear. Your future achievements will be limitless. This cup is to your new life!"

The three of them drained their cups once more.

The wine entered their bellies, and a warm current rose, seemingly dispersing the last trace of gloom brought by those heavy memories.

A special bond of mutual respect, forged through shared life-and-death experiences, quietly grew and solidified through the silent clinking of cups and shared gazes.

The conversation naturally turned to the final prize of the Sword Discussion Assembly—the Quasi-Saint Weapon longsword that had made countless people's eyes turn red with envy.

It now lay quietly in a corner of the table inside a simple sword box. The lid was half-open, revealing a section of the blade that flowed with a restrained yet terrifying cold light. A sharp aura faintly emanated from it, slicing through the surrounding air.

"This sword," Di Qianjie began, his voice flat and calm. His gaze swept over the shimmering blade without a hint of attachment, as if he were speaking of something unrelated to himself.

"To me, it is already redundant."

He turned his gaze toward Ye Qingtian.

Ye Qingtian felt his gaze and laughed freely, waving his hand in a fluid motion. "Brother Qianjie, don't look at me. Although the Heavenly Sword Pavilion isn't a Holy Land, it's not so lacking that I don't have a handy sword of my own."

His tone was relaxed, carrying the confidence and pride of a Core Disciple from a great sect. With the Nine Revolutions Sword Body being infinitely mysterious, he focused more on the tempering and transformation of his own Sword Intent; external objects were merely supplementary.

Both of their gazes finally landed on Yu Qingchen.

Yu Qingchen was slightly taken aback.

He hadn't expected this hot potato to fall into his lap so easily.

After losing his arm, he had lost his accustomed right hand, and his path of the Sword Dao was nearly severed.

Although he had relied on his Destruction Sword Intent and sheer willpower to switch to left-handed swordplay and regain his footing, he truly needed a high-grade divine weapon that perfectly suited his current path of destruction and could withstand his violent Sword Intent.

This Quasi-Saint Weapon, whether in terms of material or the sharp Laws it contained, perfectly matched his current path.

He didn't offer any hypocritical refusals. Instead, he took a deep breath, reached out with his intact left hand, and steadily pressed it onto the cold sword box.

It was cold to the touch, yet it felt as if a scalding power was flowing from his palm into his heart.

"Good."

Yu Qingchen uttered only a single word. His voice was low and powerful, like the clashing of metal and stone.

This single word carried a thousand meanings—it was acceptance, a promise, and a mark that etched this friendship into his heart.

He closed the sword box. The restrained cold light was sealed away, and the oppressive sharp aura in the room dissipated.

With his concerns settled, his desire for wine grew stronger.

Ye Qingtian broke open another jar of new wine. The rich aroma of wine mixed with the fragrance of spiritual fruits was intoxicating.

His interest in talking blossomed, and he began to vividly describe the details of the final matches of the Sword Discussion Assembly, especially the battle where Di Qianjie made a shocking comeback against Qu Hua.

After several rounds of drinks, the topic shifted from intense battles to their future paths.

All three knew that the glory of the Sword Discussion Assembly was just the starting point. The Eastern Region was vast, surrounded by powerful enemies, and those ancient gazes hidden in the shadows would not truly recognize them just because of one victory.

"What are your plans next?"

Ye Qingtian put down his cup and looked at Di Qianjie. Yu Qingchen also cast an inquiring gaze.

Di Qianjie looked out at the brilliant galaxy of stars, his eyes deep. "The Eternal Night Merchant Guild is newly founded and its Foundation is still shallow. For the Family's rise, resources are fundamental. Gaining fame at the assembly is just the first step. Next, it's time to pave the way for the merchant guild."

His tone was steady, carrying an unquestionable determination. Fame was fleeting, but resources were the solid Foundation.

The Clan Chief's goal was the rise of the entire Di Clan. As a Genius of the Saint Lineage, he bore an inescapable responsibility.

Ye Qingtian nodded. "I need to return to the Heavenly Sword Pavilion in Yuxu Province to report. I've gained much from this assembly, especially that final battle with Brother Qianjie, which gave me new insights. I need to go into secluded cultivation. If there's ever a time you need the Heavenly Sword Pavilion's help in the future, I, Qingtian, will certainly do my best."

This was a promise from the head Disciple of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, and it carried significant weight.

Yu Qingchen A moment of silence， Opening the mouth："I... will take this sword and seek out a desolate land to temper myself. Destruction Sword Intent needs to be Reborn through destruction."

The three of them raised their cups again. The wine in their cups reflected the eternal starlight outside and the determined light in each other's eyes.

"The road ahead is long, but the Sword Dao endures forever!"

"Cheers!"

The wine cups clinked with a crisp sound. Under the starry sky of Sword Forging City, they declared the friendship of the Three Swordsmen of the Eastern Region and the beginning of their respective journeys.

The galaxy of stars outside continued to flow brilliantly, as if silently witnessing the quiet beginning of a new legend.

Inside the room, the aroma of wine, Sword Qi, heroism, and promises intertwined, lingering for a long time.