One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Chapter 385 Seeking a Successor for the Peerless Sword

Nie Lingfeng composed himself.

He turned his gaze from the south to the courtyard wall. The wall was made of gray bricks, with fine moss growing in the cracks between the bricks, and a small, unidentified grass on the top of the wall swayed gently in the wind.

Turn your gaze inside the house.

There, the peerless sword lay quietly in a specially made sword case. The case was black, with fine wood grain on its surface, and bound with a cowhide rope. The cowhide rope was tied with a tight knot, which he had tied himself. The knot was very tight, and the end of the knot was tied with an eight-character knot, which most people would not be able to untie without spending several minutes.

He rarely used this sword after acquiring it, except in a few crucial battles.

It's not because it's not good enough—it's too good. A peerless sword, one of the ten greatest weapons in the world, forged entirely from cold iron, weighing tens of kilograms, its blade as black as ink, capable of absorbing light. Holding it in your hand feels like holding a block of ice, or perhaps a mountain.

It wasn't because he didn't want to use it—he did. But every time he grasped it, he could feel that cold, heavy sword intent, as if it could cut through everything, calling to him. That sword intent was saying: Come, let me draw my sword, let me drink blood. And he was able to restrain that impulse because he knew that the sword intent was not just "power," it had its own will, its own past, its own obsession.

Because it not only carries Bu Jingyun's will and legacy—that taciturn man who bore the weight of the world, that legendary figure known as the "Uncrying Death God"—but also the bond between him and Nie Feng—brothers who shared life and death, destined rivals, and partners who joined forces. Nie Feng already wielded the Snow Drinking Blade, and he always felt that someone else should be more suited to the peerless sword.

He reached out his hand and grasped at the air.

Spread your five fingers, then slowly close them. There is no sound, no fluctuation of Qi, just a simple clench.

The sword case inside the room trembled slightly.

The vibration was slight; the sword case moved less than half an inch off the table, making a soft "click." The knot on the leather rope loosened automatically—not by the rope itself, but because a force inside the sword case pushed against it, loosening the knot.

A flash of dark light appeared.

The dark light didn't "fly" out of the sword case, but rather "overflowed" from a crack in it. It was like a drop of ink falling into clear water, slowly spreading and diffusing in the air.

The peerless sword has already appeared in his hand.

The sword remained as black as ink, heavy and ancient, seemingly absorbing all the surrounding light. Sunlight shone on the blade, but there was no reflection—the light was swallowed up, as if falling into a bottomless pit. A thin blood groove ran along the spine of the sword, extending from the guard to near the tip. Within the groove was a dark red mark, resembling rust but not quite. It was the result of years of battle, indelible and impossible to wash away.

Holding it in his hand, the cold, heavy sword intent, seemingly capable of severing everything, was once again clearly transmitted to his heart. That sword intent didn't seem to "transmit" to him, but rather "surged out"—it flowed from the sword, climbed up his arm, and all the way into his heart.

It's cold, but not the cold of ice; it's a deep, silent cold, like the cold of the ocean floor at night. It's heavy, but not the heavy weight of iron; it's a weight that presses on your heart, making you dare not relax, dare not retreat. It's sharp, but not the sharpness of a knife; it's a sharpness that penetrates and cuts through everything.

"A peerless sword... the legacy of Bu Jingyun..."

Nie Lingfeng gently stroked the sword.

My fingertips began at the guard, gliding slowly along the spine of the blade towards the tip. The blade was smooth, but not the mirror-like smoothness; rather, it had a frosted, finely textured smoothness. The texture was very fine, as if layered upon layered, each layer finer and denser than the one before, like the rings of a tree. These were the marks left by countless forgings, the swordsmith's painstaking efforts, the soul of a peerless sword.

His eyes held a complex expression.

There is reverence—reverence for Bu Jingyun, reverence for that sword. There is responsibility—as the temporary custodian of this sword, he must find it a suitable next master. There is expectation—if that person really appears, what kind of person will they be?

"Maha Boundless... I have one last chance to use it. But where is the person most suitable to inherit Bu Jingyun's 'Uncrying Death God' will and swordsmanship?"

His brow furrowed slightly. Not with worry, but with deep thought. Like he was solving a difficult math problem—you know the answer, but you don't know the path.

A series of figures flashed through his mind.

Chen Duo? Her mind is pure, free of distractions, allowing her to focus intently on any cultivation technique. However, she is better suited to the path of Phoenix True Fire and Gu poison, clashing with Bu Jingyun's domineering, resolute, and all-encompassing swordsmanship. Chen Duo's current path is one of "towards life," not "towards death." Can she wield a peerless sword? Yes. But she won't be happy. She'll find the sword too heavy.

Wang Ye? He's carefree and insightful, adaptable and easygoing, like the wind, going wherever he pleases and leaving nowhere. The arts of divination suit him better; the idea of ​​him learning Bu Jingyun's domineering, "I'm going to defy the heavens" swordsmanship just doesn't fit. Could he master Bu Jingyun's swordsmanship? Yes. But he'd stop halfway through, shake his head, and say, "This stuff is too tiring, forget it," then go drink tea and bask in the sun.

Zhang Lingyu? He is calm, grounded, and resilient. However, he is too rigid, sticking to his principles, lacking the rebellious and decisive spirit of Bu Jingyun who breaks free from all constraints. Bu Jingyun's sword often acts irrationally. Even if there's a wall in front of him, he'll still crash into it; even if there's an abyss ahead, he'll still jump in. Zhang Lingyu wouldn't do such a thing. His sword will stop before the wall and then look for a door. He will find a door, he definitely will—but that's not Bu Jingyun's path.

Zhang Chulan? This kid is quick-witted, clever, and has a strong ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Several times in the underground base, he saved the day thanks to his quick thinking. But he's impulsive and lacks the composure and sense of responsibility of Bu Jingyun, who could remain unmoved even in the face of a collapsing mountain. Can he wield a peerless sword? He can—but not its "soul." He'll feel the sword is too heavy, so heavy it hinders his movements, and then he'll try to lighten the sword's weight instead of making himself stronger. He's a river, not a mountain.

Feng Baobao? She's a special case. Her heart is like a flawless mirror, reflecting whatever it sees. She can receive Bu Jingyun's sword intent unchanged and use it flawlessly. But the problem is—she doesn't need it. She already has her own path, a path that doesn't require a sword. Her blade is her hand, and her hand is her blade. A peerless sword in her hand is little different from a tree branch.

"Neither..."

Nie Lingfeng shook his head slightly and sighed. The sigh was very soft, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.

"Bu Jingyun's Cloud-Dispelling Palm and Overlord Sword, and even the Boundless Ease Technique, all test one's mental fortitude too much. That kind of will to endure despair, bear the burden of the common people, yet never yield and defy the heavens is not something that everyone can comprehend or bear."

He paused for a moment, then tapped the sword lightly twice with his fingers, producing two clear, chime-like sounds.

"I was able to master it because I had Nie Feng's entire legacy as a foundation, plus the assistance of the Ice Heart Technique and the Demon Heart Crossing, as well as the powerful foundation provided by the Qilin True Body. These people... each have their own path, and you can't force them."

Without Nie Feng's Ice Heart Technique, Demon Heart Crossing, and Bu Jingyun's Seeking Ease Technique, he might have been consumed by the sword intent the first time he held the Peerless Sword. Without the Wind God Leg and Cloud Dispelling Palm as a foundation, he might not have even scratched the surface of Bu Jingyun's martial arts.

He got to this point because of "the right time, the right place, and the right conditions." It wouldn't have worked for anyone else, or for any other time.

He put the peerless sword back into its scabbard. The moment his fingers loosened their grip on the hilt, the sword emitted a deep hum, as if saying, "See you next time."

The leather rope was tightened again and tied with two tight knots.

I put that idea aside for now.

"Forget it, let's just take it one step at a time."

Nie Lingfeng stood up.

When he stood up from the stone bench, his knees did not bend, and his whole body seemed to be lifted up from the top of his head by an invisible thread, standing straight and steady.

I looked at the rising sun. It had just peeked out from behind the bamboo grove, its orange-red light not too bright. Sunlight filtered through the bamboo leaves, scattering golden fragments across the ground.

A fighting spirit rekindled in his eyes. It wasn't a flame—flames have heat and can burn. It was more like the morning sun, warm, bright, and gentle.

"The most urgent task is to consolidate the Qilin True Essence as soon as possible and refine the more than ten unique skills to a perfect whole. As for Bu Jingyun's inheritance... when the time is right, he will naturally meet the right person. For now, let's focus on the present."

He turned his head and looked at Chen Duo.

"Let's go see if Xiaoyun has woken up. Then, we should think about our next move. We should have news from the company soon."

Chen Duo nodded obediently.

She nodded very lightly, with a small but earnest gesture. It was like a subordinate confirming something to a superior, or a student responding to a teacher.

I followed him into the house.

Her footsteps were very light, almost making no sound on the bluestone slabs. Nie Lingfeng's footsteps were also light, but each step was firm, as if he was afraid of crushing something.

The morning light shone on the two of them.

Nie Lingfeng's white training uniform was tinged with a light gold, and Chen Duo's long black hair shimmered with a chestnut sheen in the sunlight. The two cast long shadows on the ground, one large and one small, one in front of the other.

Yet they remained steadfast.

His secluded cultivation has come to a temporary end, and a new storm is brewing. Nie Lingfeng is ready to embark on his journey once more. But when, where, and in what way will the next master appear of that peerless sword that carries the will of another legendary powerhouse?

Perhaps, the gears of fate have already begun to turn quietly.