The Transmigrator’s Cultivation

Arc 17: Hengwu Small World | Chapter 337: Sword Intent Revived

There was an uproar outside the arena.

What—just happened?

Even the Xiantian experts were shocked. Despite their sharp vision, none of them had caught what transpired!

Just moments ago, everyone had seen Lei Li, the Young Master of Thunder Sect, unleash his twin blades. Some were praising his exquisite martial skills, while others lamented that Yun Tiangang, such a skilled swordsman, was surely going to meet his death.

Who could have expected that although Lei Li’s blades were right at Yun Tiangang’s face, in the next instant, Lei Li suddenly fell backward. No one understood what had just occurred!

The one who died wasn’t Yun Tiangang—it was Lei Li!

Many people immediately stood up, especially those from Thunder Sect, their faces filled with shock.

Lei Li’s fellow disciple, Ren Pingfeng, leaped down and swiftly gathered Lei Li in his arms. Lei Li’s expression was peaceful, but there was a trace of confusion in his eyes, as though he couldn’t understand why things had ended this way, yet he had already lost his life.

On the arena platform, life and death were left to fate. Ren Pingfeng glanced at Yun Tiangang with eyes full of hatred.

Yun Tiangang stood there like an immovable ancient stone, unshaken.

Although many Xiantian experts were confused, Ren Pingfeng did not have the necessary Xuanwu Token to continue fighting Yun Tiangang on the stage.

Soon, many powerful auras were released, forcing Ren Pingfeng to leave the arena.

He carried Lei Li and flew off, followed by the Xiantian experts and masters from Thunder Sect, all leaving the large venue together.

The spectators outside the arena were similarly stirred, their emotions rising and falling like waves.

This turn of events was truly unexpected… As they looked at Yun Tiangang, their gazes grew more complicated, and some who had previously been eager to challenge him now showed signs of fear.

Sitting atop the high tower, Xu Ziqing’s pupils suddenly contracted.

Even though no one else saw it, he had seen it clearly—that was sword intent!

His shixiong’s sword intent had awakened!

So… what about his shixiong’s primordial spirit?

Was it awakened… or not?

Suppressing the tumultuous emotions in his heart, Xu Ziqing calmed himself and continued to watch the arena.

Yun Tiangang had defeated Lei Li and now had to defend the stage for three matches before he could step down. However, after his eerie and ghostly methods in killing Lei Li, no one dared to challenge him for the time being.

The many Xiantian experts exchanged glances. Peng Han, seeing the Thunder Sect Young Master take action and expecting him to win, was shocked by the result. Now, seeing Yun Tiangang standing so imposingly, Peng Han felt that his grandson’s death was even more unjust. His eyes reddened with fury. Gritting his teeth, he made a hand signal.

Besides his cherished grandson Peng Yu, Peng Han also had a few followers whom he had taught a few moves.

Now, despite their wariness, they dared not disobey Peng Han’s command.

With a sigh, one of them leaped into the arena.

Yun Tiangang opened his eyes and saw the man thrusting his spear forward.

The spear tip spun like blooming flowers in spring, each flower filled with killing intent.

Yun Tiangang made a slight movement, and his longsword had already struck the man’s weak spot. The man’s shoulder sagged, signifying his defeat. Forced into the fight with no real malice, his life was spared as he conceded and left the stage.

Immediately after, another person stepped up.

Yun Tiangang still managed to defeat his opponent within three moves.

At this point, Yun Tiangang stepped down from the arena and no longer stayed to defend it.

The rest of the challengers breathed a sigh of relief, and as Yun Tiangang climbed the long ladder again, no one dared mock him anymore.

Xu Ziqing stood up to greet his victorious shixiong.

Yun Tiangang lifted his gaze, and their eyes met.

They both paused briefly.

Xu Ziqing smiled gently, “Tiangang, you…”

Yun Tiangang replied, “The sword intent has awakened. No one here can harm me anymore.”

Xu Ziqing looked intently at him, but Yun Tiangang’s eyes remained as inscrutable as ever, revealing nothing more.

Yun Tiangang’s expression softened, “I remember now—you are my direct disciple-brother.”

Xu Ziqing’s gaze trembled.

Yun Tiangang continued, “But I can only recall up to the moment you became my junior brother. Give me some time to remember everything else.”

Xu Ziqing’s heart tightened at first, then he wasn’t sure whether to feel happy or disappointed. After a long pause, he sighed quietly, but his smile grew even more gentle, “Shixiong remembering me is already enough to make me very happy.”

Yun Tiangang reached out to gently touch Xu Ziqing’s head and said, “I hope you won’t blame me.”

Xu Ziqing shook his head and smiled. “Everything I’ve done was out of my own will.”

After exchanging these few words, the two sat down.

They paid no mind to how others were watching them or what others might be thinking. All that mattered was this pair of shixiong and shidi.

Xu Ziqing already knew that with the awakening of Yun Tiangang’s sword intent, his memories would soon return. Now that this was clear to him, he no longer felt anxious. Only now did he realize that while his shixiong’s sword intent had been dormant, though he seemed unaffected, deep inside, he had always felt some regret. But that regret was no longer necessary. All that was left was to find a quiet place where he could return his shixiong’s true body.

As for Yun Tiangang, his feelings were now different.

Earlier, at the critical moment between life and death, it was as though something in his mind had burst open, and a familiar power spread throughout his body, easily allowing him to control it and eliminate Lei Li.

At the same time, although his expression hadn’t changed, many memories flooded his mind in an instant, shaking his mental state and nearly causing him to faint.

But soon he realized that these memories had always been there, and now that he had accessed them, they naturally merged back into him.

He recalled being taken in and raised by his master, training in the way of the sword, refining and sharpening his skills, traveling for years, and separating his celestial soul…

And meeting that plain-clothed youth, who had gentle eyes and a graceful appearance.

From a casual act of assistance to becoming close friends, his divine soul had gone through many experiences with the youth, and their bond grew deeper over time.

During that period, he gave the youth some guidance, and the youth trusted him deeply. Even though he himself was not easily moved by emotions, the youth brought a certain warmth to him.

As the thought arose, he felt the desire to bring the youth back to his sect to become a fellow disciple.

Since they had been friends for over ten years, and now they both pursued the immortal path, why not continue that friendship?

The youth never knew that he was merely a separated divine soul, and Yun Tiangang never felt the need to explain. On the day they met again, Yun Tiangang greeted him with his true body, which naturally surprised the youth.

But even so, the youth still trusted him completely. Yun Tiangang, feeling this trust, reciprocated it with his own.

Later, he merged his divine soul and formed his golden core.

He had separated his divine soul in search of an opportunity to form his core, and while his friendship with the youth had begun by chance, that very chance had become the opportunity.

Once he had resolved to bring the youth back, he had already considered him a close friend. His heart had been moved, which allowed him to invoke the seven emotions, with no room for falsehood.

Thus, he successfully formed his core, and the youth became a disciple.

After forming his core, the sect awarded him a peak to serve as his cultivation ground, and he invited the youth to live with him and train together.

The memories ended there.

Yun Tiangang knew that there were still many memories yet to return, but rushing wouldn’t help. As long as he continued to comprehend the sword intent, he would be able to fully open his Zifu, and the memories would naturally return. However, he had not forgotten the memories of this current life.

Although he didn’t understand why his primordial spirit was reincarnated into a mortal body, Yun Tiangang realized that it must have been because his primordial spirit had been damaged, forcing this course of action.

The bond he shared with Xu Ziqing over many years was also a rare and cherished connection.

Yun Tiangang further realized that he had feelings for Xu Ziqing.

These feelings were not merely the deep friendship of confidants as recalled in his memories, but rather a romantic affection, a desire to dual cultivate and share their lives together.

Despite being reincarnated in this mortal body, where he immediately felt drawn to Xu Ziqing upon meeting him, their few interactions since did not seem sufficient to quickly develop such emotions.

Therefore, this affection must have already been present before his reincarnation, embedded in his primordial spirit and not forgotten.

As for Xu Ziqing’s feelings, Yun Tiangang had just glimpsed them and understood them clearly.

Yun Tiangang knew his own nature—if he had harbored feelings before, he would never have kept them hidden. He would have confessed them to Xu Ziqing. If Xu Ziqing also had feelings for him, they would have made vows and married by now. However, Xu Ziqing’s aura was pure, without any sign of having merged with his own, indicating that they had not dual cultivated, nor had they married. Could something have happened before the marriage? That must be the case.

After thinking for a moment, Yun Tiangang looked at Xu Ziqing and said, “Once my memories return and I regain my cultivation, we will hold our wedding ceremony. What do you think?”

Xu Ziqing had been feeling calm, but upon hearing these words, he couldn’t help but be startled. “Shixiong, you…” His memories shouldn’t have returned yet, so how could they have recovered so quickly?

Yun Tiangang, aware of his confusion, said, “They haven’t returned.”

Xu Ziqing was even more surprised, “Then…?”

Yun Tiangang replied, “Even in this reincarnated body, I have feelings for you. So it must be that these feelings existed before my reincarnation.”

Xu Ziqing suddenly understood, “Shixiong can also clearly see my feelings for you.”

Yun Tiangang nodded, “Exactly.”

Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but smile, “Shixiong is still shixiong, after all.”

Back then, Xu Ziqing had been caught in the turmoil of his feelings, torn between confessing and keeping silent. At times, he thought he would be content just to accompany his shixiong, while other times, the emotions were unbearable, and he didn’t know what to do. But then, Yun Tiangang had first fallen into demonic possession, stirring up Xu Ziqing’s emotions, and after returning to his true self, he remained silent, causing Xu Ziqing even more inner turmoil.

Finally, during their journey in the Tai Gu Desert, Yun Tiangang directly proposed marriage, letting Xu Ziqing know that his true self was no different from when he was under demonic influence. If he had feelings while possessed, then naturally, they should become Dao companions and walk the path of immortality together.

Thinking about those bittersweet and embarrassing memories, Xu Ziqing’s smile grew warmer.

Yun Tiangang saw this and, understanding that Xu Ziqing was reminiscing about the past, felt a strange joy rise in his heart. He said, “I treated you the same way in the past.”

Xu Ziqing nodded lightly, “Yes.”

Yun Tiangang added, “And you naturally agreed to my proposal.”

Xu Ziqing smiled slightly, “…Yes.”

For a moment, warmth flowed between the two of them, and the ongoing martial contests in the arena became irrelevant to them.

Now that Yun Tiangang’s sword intent had awakened, no further practice of martial techniques could provide him with any meaningful training.

Thus, when the final rounds of the competition arrived, Yun Tiangang entered the arena, and it wasn’t long before he had easily defeated his opponents.

At this year’s Xuanwu Conference, Yun Tiangang took the championship without a doubt.

Afterward, the two, in perfect harmony, walked hand in hand, returning to their secluded residence.

Many martial artists stayed in Xuantian City even after the tournament had concluded.

Several outstanding participants had caught the attention of the Xiantian experts, who personally provided them with guidance.

Yun Tiangang, too, received an invitation from one of the Xiantian masters, inviting him to a meeting.

Translator: Lynn

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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