Chaotic Sword God Chapter 3942: Slipping Away with a Decoy

The Ancestor of the Clear and Cloudy had been disintegrated into nothingness, yet the gloom covering this territory did not vanish immediately. Nevertheless, a significant portion of the oppressive dark was sliced away as the sword Qi from the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star rippled through the air.

Instead of departing, the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star pivoted. It radiated a blinding starlight, appearing to harness the colossal energy of a myriad of celestial bodies. Once more, it tore through the remaining darkness.

The power unleashed by the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star during this strike surpassed the might it used to execute the Ancestor of the Clear and Cloudy. Space crumbled into fragments wherever the blade traveled, and even the very laws of the world seemed to be severed by its edge.

In a mere instant, the void that had been blackened by the Ancestor of the Clear and Cloudy’s secret technique was shattered by the sword's descent. Every object and scrap of energy within that space was utterly annihilated before the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star.

The Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star lingered no longer. It streaked across the sky, flying instantly back into the grasp of Xing Caijian.

By the time it reached her, the artifact had retracted all of its radiance and crushing pressure. It now resembled nothing more than an ordinary weapon.

Xing Caijian used the rough fabric to wrap the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star once more, cradling it in her arms as she had done before. With an indifferent tone, she remarked, “The Seventh Heavenly Layer expert has met his end. Seniors, there is no further need for you to tail me.”

Standing behind her, the assembled Immortal Exalts stared at the sovereign god artifact she held. A collective shiver ran through their souls.

“Princess Caijian, has that Seventh Heavenly Layer expert t-t-truly perished?” A Third Heavenly Layer Immortal Exalt asked, swallowing hard as he gathered his resolve to speak.

Even now, skepticism lingered among them; they found it hard to accept that a pinnacle figure of the Seventh Heavenly Layer had actually manifested within the Skyscraping World.

To these early-stage Immortal Exalts, the Seventh Heavenly Layer was a realm far beyond their reach. In any corner of the world, such individuals were titans who dictated the survival of entire Great Sects.

Had such a supreme entity truly fallen without them even catching a glimpse of his face?

The situation felt entirely hallucinatory to them.

Xing Caijian ignored their presence. Keeping the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star tucked in her arms and the seed of ways gripped in her hand, she walked away without a second glance. Soon, she faded from their sight.

Not a single person followed. Even as Xing Caijian walked off with the seed of ways, no one dared to utter a protest. The peerless dominance displayed by the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star had left them thoroughly intimidated.

Furthermore, they couldn't help but recall how protective Xing Caijian had been toward Yang Yutian since they first arrived in the Skyscraping World.

Initially, many had looked down upon her behavior, doubting she possessed the strength to back up her promises. But now that the truth of the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star was revealed, who would dare challenge her if she chose to shield Yang Yutian with a sovereign god artifact?

......

…

Nearby, at the base of the mountain, an Immortal Monarch sat positioned beneath a stone monument etched with the Way of the Sword. He appeared to be deeply immersed in meditating upon its hidden truths.

Slowly, he opened his eyes. They were deep and vast, resembling the infinite firmament; anyone who looked into them would feel as though their very soul was being pulled into an abyss.

“The Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star possesses terrifying power, just as the legends say. It is, after all, a fully intact sovereign god artifact. Even at my peak, my only option would likely be to retreat in the face of such absolute, destructive might…”

“Fortunately, my Divine Sect of Ancient Souls possesses a formidable heritage. Anyone else in that dire situation would have certainly met their end…” the Immortal Monarch murmured to himself.

A moment later, he scanned his surroundings, a trace of exhaustion visible in the depths of his gaze.

“As the daughter of the Chaotic Star Heavenly Emperor, she can utilize the local formations to scan the Skyscraping World. Among those who entered this realm, few should be able to hide perfectly from such high-level arrays. However, I have already assumed a new identity. So long as I remain in this guise, she will perceive me as a mere Immortal Monarch, even if she uses the formations to search again…”

The Immortal Monarch rose to his feet. Eschewing the use of laws, he traveled using only his cultivation base, walking away with a measured, steady stride.

This man was indeed the Ancestor of the Clear and Cloudy from the Divine Sect of Ancient Souls.

While the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star had pulverized his physical form, he had employed a supreme secret technique at the final moment to allow his soul to escape. He had possessed the body of an Immortal Monarch, leaving his original shell behind as a sacrificial decoy to facilitate his disappearance.

“A sovereign god artifact capable of recovery is simply too valuable. A small sacrifice to obtain it is well worth the price. I cannot face the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star head-on, but it is ultimately a weapon of slaughter. Combat is its only strength. I simply need to stay out of its path for now…”

Simultaneously, on the mountain slope, Jian Chen remained concealed by the Divine Armour of Heavenflight and the mask of the Illusionary Daemon race. He sat on the ground, leaning against a tree trunk, his mind heavy with worry.

Though he had escaped the mysterious powerhouse, the cost had been the loss of his white jade lamp trump card and the seed of ways.

His pursuit of the seed of ways had resulted in a loss far greater than the potential gain.

Nearby, the Source of Life grumbled in dissatisfaction. It had recently endured the combined might of dozens of Immortal Exalts, followed by a prolonged assault from a Seventh Heavenly Layer expert. These consecutive battles had severely drained the Source of Life’s reserves.

While he could find ways to restore the Source of Life and felt confident he could eventually reclaim the seed of ways, a larger problem remained.

The fact that a Seventh Heavenly Layer expert was hunting him from the shadows meant Jian Chen could not risk showing his face at all.

Within the restricted confines of the Skyscraping World, space was limited. If that expert cornered him again, Jian Chen had no certainty of escaping a second time.

“...” Jian Chen could only reach a decision with a heavy heart.

But just as he reached that thought, his pupils contracted. He stared intently toward the end of the mountain trail.

A potent sword intent had suddenly manifested in the distance. It was a sensation Jian Chen knew intimately—the unique power of the seed of ways.

Moments later, a familiar silhouette emerged from the dense fog.

It was Xing Caijian.

With the Divine Sword of the Heavenly Star in her arms and the seed of ways held in her left hand, she stopped near Jian Chen’s position. Scanning the area, she said, “Show yourself. I am aware you are nearby.”

Jian Chen deactivated the Divine Armour of Heavenflight and stepped into view. His wounds had already mended, and he had changed into fresh blue robes, making it impossible to tell he had been on the brink of death moments ago.

“It seems the Divine Armour of Heavenflight’s hiding powers are useless against your eyes,” Jian Chen remarked with a soft sigh.

“I am glad you are alive. I was worried for nothing.” Seeing him standing there healthy, Xing Caijian let out a visible breath of relief. Her concern wasn't for Jian Chen as an individual, but for the significance of his identity.

“Take the seed of ways. Begin refining it here; I will personally stand guard for you.” Without the slightest hesitation, Xing Caijian tossed the seed of ways toward Jian Chen.

Jian Chen was stunned to see the seed of ways return to him. Despite recovering the item, he felt no joy. Instead, a complex wave of emotions washed over him.

There was a vast difference between seizing an opportunity through one's own merit and having it handed over by someone else.

He had paid a staggering price to obtain this item, even exposing the existence of a sovereign god artifact.

And yet, Xing Caijian was simply giving it back to him without demanding anything in return?

“The Seventh Heavenly Layer expert who pursued you was struck down by Senior Heavenly Star. You no longer have anything to fear. Quickly, refine the seed of ways,” Xing Caijian urged.