Tie Dan looked at the ashes before him, and the sword in his hand, stood up and walked out of the Sword Pavilion.

The world was desolate, and in the Sword Tomb, not a piece of iron remained, only the Giant Watchtower continued to wait silently amidst the weeping Blood Wind for his return.

Above, clouds drifted and changed, rosy glows shone in all directions, rainbows radiated, lasers flashed, and six beams of Immortal Light reached from the earth to the sky, surrounding the Cloud Platform Peak in a contest over treasures.

Tie Dan had no interest in those old looters, he held the Giant Watchtower, digesting the memories of his dreams, and stepped down the stone stairs from the mountain.

As the Sun set and the sky darkened, Tie Dan gradually stepped into the blackness, walking until he reached the foot of Tianshu Peak, standing before a deep, dark Cold Pond.

Sword Casting Pond.

With a thought, Tie Dan manipulated the water and stepped into the pond, traveling an unknown distance, probably directly entering the cave secret realm at the bottom of Nine Yin Mountain.

Suddenly the world turned upside down, revealing the incredibly familiar Sword Furnace.

Shangfang Refining Furnace, which the Emperor Wu had used to create the General of Cavalry's treasure furnace, and was used by Tian Gang to cast the Child Sword.

This item indeed could not be produced by the metaphysics of Taiji, or Earth's technology.

From the inscription-like circuit patterns on the body of the furnace, it seemed to be a lost technology inherited from the Ancient Demon Clan civilization.

And the foundation platform below this sword casting and treasure forging furnace did indeed seem familiar.

Indeed, the Gravity Generator with the Nine Cauldrons, this one, probably Qianzhou's Tripod, was truly buried for use under Nine Yin Mountain.

However, the sword casting furnace in front of Tie Dan had not been activated, likely because it awaited a treasure sword capable of enduring trials.

Tie Dan stood in darkness, gazing at the scene before him, then suddenly flipped and leapt inside the furnace, lying down in the pitch-black Sword Furnace and closing his eyes.

For a moment, the events of the dream seemed to replay vividly before his eyes, clear as day,

In this moment, the lives, memories, and emotions of the two youths, Gou Dan and Tie Dan, collided and intertwined like flame and ice, merging together inseparably.

Who knows how long it was before Tie Dan slowly opened his eyes, looking at the broken sword in his hand.

After a moment of silence, he left the broken sword inside the furnace, walked out, and closed the door of the Sword Casting Workshop.

Coming out of the Sword Pond, he saw Lingxu standing outside, gazing up at the stars in the sky.

The stars were brilliant; the Milky Way sparkled; it was a perfect night.

Indeed, the Cloud Platform Peak was gone.

He wasn't sure where it had flown off to.

Tie Dan looked at Lingxu,

"Are you here to seize Nine Yin Mountain?"

Lingxu seemed taken aback, shaking his head with a bitter smile,

"Young friend, you think too poorly of me. We Mystic Sect People seek the truth of the Great Dao, aim for the inheritance of the Dao, and strive for a chance of survival.

Power and wealth, invincibility in the world—all are as fleeting as clouds to me. Why would I want your mountain? Don't I have my own? Even if I offered it to you, you might not want it."

Tie Dan said blandly,

"So you're here to eliminate the roots, then?"

Lingxu continued shaking his head,

"Our paths are different, so we do not conspire together, but walking the same path, among three people there must be something to learn from each other; we are all Fellow Daoists.

You may have been manipulated as a sword to the forefront, but your perseverance through trials has proven your sincere pursuit of the Dao.

If there were more companions like you to journey together, it would bring us endless joy, why would we wish to harm you?"

Tie Dan remained expressionless,

"Tian Gang also sought the Dao, wasn't it joyful for you to see?"

Lingxu also laughed out,

"He has strayed onto the wrong path, refusing advice; we are all evenly matched, who doesn't know his schemes?

We certainly must strive to turn the tide, or should we allow him to act as he pleases, causing disasters like the Xiaoyao Demon Path of yore?"

Tie Dan frowned,

"Do you think the Child Sword Dao is a misguided Demon Path like the Xiaoyao Sect?"

Lingxu chuckled,

"With a Golden Body, breaking the Void with a Dao Body, traversing the star seas.

Ha ha, tell me who besides you has entered into such refined practices?

Through the ages, besides the Three Venerables, who could accomplish this Great Dao and shatter the Void?

Moreover, if sanctifying the flesh were truly a broad path, why haven't the Three Venerables returned to the human world?

They could shatter the Void and traverse star seas, couldn't they?

Lord Tian Gang may sacrifice for the Dao, offering the nine veins of the Sword Sect to forge your treasure sword.

But we are below that level. How many in this world are willing to sacrifice themselves for the sword?

Thus, only by heading to the Void can the majority gain the Dao, securing the collective support of the nine major sects.

If one drains the world's prosperity, sacrificing all life just for the Dao of some select few, who would follow you on such a path?

This is indeed a predetermined dead end."

Tie Dan was momentarily silent, as this was indeed an obvious dilemma.

Tian Gang sacrificed the entire foundation of Nine Yin Mountain just to forge Tie Dan into a sword, but whether he could break the Void like the Three Venerables of the past remains an unknown. And which of the Three Venerables' paths wasn't laid with bloodshed across the world?

Historically, although it is said the Three Venerables can shatter the Void, the followers in the three great sects today, how many have obtained the Dao?

Still at a deadlock, still looking back to find the path…

"Then what is your path? The Void? Can it be followed?"

Lingxu nodded confidently,

"Indeed, the Taixu Dao is the proper solution, or rather, the only solution in today's era."

Tie Dan pondered but then shook his head,

"The Void is a dead end.

The one who flew out, you couldn't find, but I heard there is still one on the Taiyin Star. If you go and see, you'll realize I'm not speaking falsely."

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