Elder Wang hadn't let go of his hatred; he simply had no target, no clue!
If his enemy stood before him, he would not hesitate to sacrifice his own life to ensure mutual destruction.
Hatred is more deeply etched in one's bones than love, and far harder to relinquish.
To let go – just simple words, unless one cultivates the Supreme Heartless Sword, who could truly embody these two words?
***
After absorbing the memories of the Compassionate Heart sword, Meng Fan opened his eyes, his face filled with a sigh.
Elder Wang's fate was indeed beyond his expectations.
The massacre of a village was something both Meng Fan and Li Xuerou had experienced.
Although Meng Fan didn't feel it as vividly as his host body's original consciousness, after time-traveling, he still retained those memories.
Thinking back on them, he could deeply empathize!
Once he grew stronger, he would inevitably flatten the Skyhawk Demon Sect to avenge himself.
He believed Li Xuerou would do the same, never forgetting that hatred.
In fact, for Li Xuerou, that hatred was far more profound than what Meng Fan felt.
Even if Meng Fan forgot, she never would!
However, the killer of Compassionate Heart and the villagers wasn't the Skyhawk Demon Sect.
The murderer, whom Elder Wang had searched for years without a trace, was easily identified by Meng Fan through the Sword Wraith Memory of the Compassionate Heart sword.
Of course, "easily" wasn't quite the right word.
In the whole world, probably only Meng Fan possessed this ability.
When Compassionate Heart died, she was clutching the Compassionate Heart sword tightly.
Unfortunately, in her hands, the sword had no power.
She couldn't even block a single strike from the killer and was cut open.
Through the memory of the Compassionate Heart sword, Meng Fan learned that the murderer was from the Blood Blade Sect.
And Meng Fan even "heard" one of their names – Yuan Hao!
The Blood Blade Sect, as the name suggests, was a demonic sect.
Just like the Skyhawk Demon Sect, they were a sect filled with evil deeds.
Sadly, these sects were deeply entrenched and difficult to eradicate.
Since ancient times, there has always been a divide between good and evil!
There were times when good did not suppress evil, and times when evil rose a meters higher than the good.
And no matter the era, even with the rise and fall of each side, it was difficult to completely annihilate one.
After all, where there are people, there is good and evil, righteousness and wickedness.
The Righteous Path endures through the ages, as does the Demonic Path.
"Elder Wang has been good to me; should I tell him this news?" Meng Fan placed the Compassionate Heart sword back on the wooden rack without drawing it.
He deliberately refrained from absorbing the Essence of the Sword!
Elder Wang had been kind to Meng Fan, something he always kept in mind.
Since the sword was extremely important to Elder Wang, Meng Fan felt he shouldn't absorb its Essence of the Sword.
After all, he didn't know if doing so would affect the sword weapon.
There were countless swords in the Sword Pavilion anyway; he didn't lack that bit of Essence of the Sword!
Meng Fan, although he appeared cold and heartless, always distinguished clearly between gratitude and grudges.
He would avenge his enemies and repay his debts of gratitude.
"However, telling Elder Wang might disrupt his current peaceful life."
With this thought, Meng Fan hesitated.
He didn't know if sharing this news would be good or bad for Elder Wang.
After a moment of hesitation, Meng Fan sighed softly.
Putting himself in Elder Wang's shoes, Meng Fan felt that he would want to know the truth.
If someone knew the truth and chose not to tell him under the guise of consideration, Meng Fan believed he would be very dissatisfied.
So he decided to tell Elder Wang the news, and as for how Elder Wang would choose, that was up to him.
After all, it was Elder Wang's affair.
Meng Fan felt he had no right to make decisions for others!
He then calmed his emotions and continued to polish the long swords, absorbing their Essence of the Sword.
The subsequent swords, although occasionally containing Sword Wraith Memories, were not as stimulating as those of the Compassionate Heart sword.
It's worth mentioning that from the Sword Wraith Memory of the Compassionate Heart sword, Meng Fan also learned a profound Sword Technique.
"The Crippled Blood Sword Technique."
This was the technique Elder Wang cultivated after obtaining the Compassionate Heart sword.
Moreover, this technique was a modified version by Elder Wang himself!
The original technique was called "The Waning Sun Sword Technique," a technique from the fifth floor of the Scripture Pavilion.
Undoubtedly, a technique from the fifth floor of the Scripture Pavilion was bound to be powerful.
But Elder Wang, in a unique state of mind, forcefully transformed "The Waning Sun Sword Technique" into "The Crippled Blood Sword Technique."
Thus, Meng Fan suddenly acquired two rather powerful Sword Techniques.
And this "The Crippled Blood Sword Technique," with its intense malevolence and killing intent, was even more lethal than "The Waning Sun Sword Technique."
After absorbing the Essence of the Sword from several sword weapons, Meng Fan returned to his room to continue his cultivation.
***
The next day, Meng Fan visited the Scripture Pavilion.
Seeing Meng Fan after many days, Senior Disciple Jin showed a hint of surprise.
"Didn't you say you had finished reading all the sword scriptures in the Scripture Pavilion? Why are you back?"
Meng Fan smiled and said, "I'm here to see Elder Lin."
Senior Disciple Jin nodded and said no more.
It wasn't about him, so there was nothing to discuss.
Meng Fan glanced at Senior Disciple Jin, thinking since he was here, he might as well chat more with his socially awkward Senior Brother.
After all, besides himself, there probably weren't many who would want to talk to him.
"Senior Brother Jin, any exclusive news lately?" Meng Fan asked casually.
He was simply trying to find a topic to chat about with Senior Disciple Jin.
But when Senior Disciple Jin spoke, it was never trivial.
"The Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect has issued a challenge to our Shu Mountain. In a month, he will ascend Shu Mountain and enter the Demon Locking Tower!"
Meng Fan's face showed surprise.
He was just making casual conversation, and Senior Disciple Jin dropped a bombshell.
The Ghost King Sect, the Clan Master?
This was a figure of demonic prominence, a significant figure in the whole world.
If such a powerhouse was to ascend Shu Mountain…
That was no small matter!
"The Demon Locking Tower? What does he want in the Demon Locking Tower?" Meng Fan asked instinctively.
Such big gossip was too tempting to ignore.
Senior Disciple Jin, expressionless, said, "The Demon Locking Tower not only seals the demon tribe but also some demonic creatures and evil entities. The Clan Master of the Ghost King Sect is after one of those demonic items."
"What demonic item?" Meng Fan asked.
"The Blood Soul Sword!" Senior Disciple Jin said calmly.
"Oh," Meng Fan nodded.
A moment later, Senior Disciple Jin looked at Meng Fan in surprise.
He thought Meng Fan would ask what the Blood Soul Sword was, but Meng Fan's lack of inquiry made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.
Meng Fan wasn't interested in this Blood Soul Sword because he knew, even without thinking too hard, that it was an incredibly terrifying Demon Sword.
If he coveted that sword, it would be like a mouse licking a cat's behind – courting death!
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan