Chapter 47: The Ruthless Draw of the Sword, the Star-Shattering Sword Style

Friendship is built over time, but love comes suddenly. Friendship must withstand the test of time, while love often arises in an instant. (Gu Long)
……
After bidding farewell to Li Ling, Liu Yi and the other two rode fast horses toward Luoxue Town……
Along the way, each of them was lost in their own thoughts. Shui Er was clearly conflicted but decided to return the “Qiankun Mirror” to Shenmen first. Da Dao Wang also felt uneasy—although Li Ling had given him the sword for just a few days, he already admired him deeply. As for Liu Yi, his mind was in turmoil. What did the ten-year promise mean? It surely wasn’t just a simple reunion. Moreover, that half piece of red jade seemed to signify something, along with that dream……
With their thoughts weighing on them, the group rode on as dust flew in the wind. Before long, it grew dark. After estimating the time, Liu Yi said, “I think if we keep going for another quarter of an hour, we’ll reach Luoxue Town. There, we can celebrate properly.”
Shui Er and Da Dao Wang had no objections and nodded. The three sped ahead toward Luoxue Town……
Finally, they stopped at the entrance of Luoxue Town. Liu Yi calculated the time—it should be around the hour of You. The town was bustling with activity: vendors selling snacks, stalls everywhere, and crowds of people coming and going. The larger restaurants were brightly lit, adding to the town’s vibrant atmosphere.
Liu Yi looked at the two of them and said, “Haha, this town is really well done. Let’s have a good drink today.”
Da Dao Wang nodded with a smile. The three stopped at a restaurant named “Xinxiyue Restaurant.” After the waiter took the horses away, Liu Yi ordered three rooms and a lavish meal.
They went upstairs and sat by a window. Although the upstairs rooms were more expensive and elegant, they were still crowded, indicating the restaurant’s good business.
After drinking a glass of strong liquor, Liu Yi finally felt much more relaxed. Now, there was nothing left to do. The ordeal with Ah Jiu was over. All he had to do was wait for the Ten Heroes to return, then he could leave this desolate place forever.
Shui Er also took a sip of wine. It was cool and spicy, leaving a burning sensation in her stomach that made her blood surge. Hearing that wine could help forget worries, she poured herself another glass.
As for Da Dao Wang, he filled a bowl with wine and drank it all at once. After months of traveling around with Liu Yi, he suddenly realized he wasn’t useless, and the world wasn’t so dull after all—it was full of novelty and excitement. Perhaps this was the last time they’d drink together. Liu Yi was about to return home. Thinking of this, Da Dao Wang felt sad.
Liu Yi noticed their expressions and said, “Hey, what’s wrong with you two? Didn’t we come here to celebrate? Why do you all look so gloomy? This isn’t celebrating at all!”
Shui Er glanced at Liu Yi and said, “I… I’m not feeling well. I’ll go back and rest first.” With that, she turned and headed back to her room.

Sui suddenly felt that Liu Yi might be more important to her than Li Ling—she hadn’t cried when leaving Li Ling, but now, as she was about to leave Liu Yi, she truly couldn’t control herself; her heart ached. To avoid letting Liu Yi see her tears, she had to make an excuse to go back to her room first.

The Great Sword King watched Sui walk away and said to Liu Yi, “Liu Da, I’ve tied him up too. I’m going back to sleep.” With that, he carried his great sword and headed upstairs.

Liu Yi didn’t understand. Since this troublesome journey was finally over, why were everyone unhappy? Wouldn’t it be better to go home and live a peaceful life? He picked up the wine jar and started drinking heavily.

He didn’t know how long he had been drinking or how much wine he had consumed. In a daze, Liu Yi paid for the food and wine and headed to his room. At that moment, he felt floating, dizzy, with nothing in his mind. With a thud, he fell onto the bed and fell asleep…

Red light covered Liu Yi’s entire body, growing denser and brighter, like dripping blood. If anyone entered Liu Yi’s room at that moment, they would surely see his body being consumed by the red light…

Where was this? Liu Yi explored in the dim darkness, unable to see the sky or the ground. Everything around him was dark, nothing at all. Liu Yi shouted loudly, “Where is this?” But no one answered him.

“‘Sorrowful Four Styles’—‘Sword That Slices the Sky’!”

With a thunderous roar, dark clouds gathered above Liu Yi’s head, and all his energy quickly condensed in the direction of that voice. Liu Yi looked ahead—it was him… it was Nie Ren. So this was… another dream, the same dream.

A green flash appeared briefly, and the black-clothed man’s left hand still held the long sword tightly, as if it hadn’t moved at all…

Liu Yi quickly looked up and saw that the six divine generals falling from the sky vanished into ashes the moment they approached the black-clothed man.

Liu Yi clearly remembered that in the last dream, those six people hadn’t even fallen yet. Could this dream be a continuation of the previous one?

He heard the giant across from him exclaim, “Sword That Slices the Sky? Destroying their souls, killing their bodies. Nie Ren, you’re too cruel.”

The black-clothed man, known as Nie Ren, replied in an excited, trembling voice, “Is that so? Am I cruel? It’s you! You forced me into this! Why? From beginning to end, I just wanted to love sincerely once. Why won’t you even give me one chance? You keep provoking me, Pangu! You dare to become a supreme god!”

Pangu, holding his giant axe, said, “Gods and demons are natural enemies. How can your so-called love exist? This is rebellion in itself.”

Nie Ren became agitated, shaking his head. “Who set this rule? It’s even worse than the worst curses in the world. Love shouldn’t have boundaries. Two people together should be happy. I can give up everything, even leave this planet, but you… why? Why use those cruel curses to separate us?” By the end, Nie Ren was extremely emotional.

Pangu sighed and said, “If you’re to blame someone, blame yourself for loving the wrong person.”

Nie Ren gently shook his head, seemingly calmer now. He said slowly, word by word, “I have no regrets for loving her. I won’t regret loving her.”

His tone shifted abruptly to something cold and merciless as he continued, “But to you so-called true gods, I shall give you the vilest prophecy—even if it means enduring suffering through three lifetimes, I will break your divine laws. I will make you realize that true love exists between anyone.”
Suddenly, one of the knights shouted loudly, “Dare you, Nee Ren! How can true gods allow you to curse them?”
In an instant, the six of them dismounted, drawing their divine swords and controlling them with immense spiritual power, thrusting them in six different directions at Nee Ren.
Facing the six flying swords, Nee Ren laughed loudly at the sky. His laughter was not arrogant or conceited, but rather tinged with sadness and sorrow. After laughing, he knelt on one knee, his right hand covered in black gloves slowly approaching the hilt of the sword. At that moment, dark clouds gathered in the sky even faster and more violently due to his right hand. His cloak fluttered in proportion to the dark clouds. Then, Nee Ren declared loudly, “It’s you who forced me! Don’t blame me, Nee Ren—the sword knows no mercy.”
“‘Broken Star Sword Rise’ of the ‘Four Sorrowful Styles’!” With a thunderous cry, at the moment the six swords merged, Nee Ren suddenly leaped into the air at an invisible speed, soaring upward thirty zhang high.
It was but a flash of time. Immediately afterward, a purple light descended from the sky—fast, no, it shouldn’t be called light; it was even faster than light. As it approached the six swords, it vanished already.
With a flash of black light, Nee Ren appeared beside the six swords, his left hand still on the hilt, as if nothing had happened. But the moment his right hand’s fingers touched the swords, tragedy struck…
“Ah…” A scream tore through the air, pulling Liu Yi out of that strange dream as he sat up abruptly.