Chapter Eighty-One: Elder Ma

Chief Zhang was just about to impart the formation technique to Li Sibai when someone coughed.

“Ahem… Chief, please wait!”

“Hm?” Chief Zhang followed the voice and saw that it was Elder Ma.

Among the four elders, Elder Ma was the most senior in age. While the others exchanged glances earlier, he had appeared hesitant. Now, seeing the chief about to pass on the village’s most important formation to Li Sibai, he hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

“Elder Ma, do you have a different opinion?” the chief asked. Though he represented the entire clan as chief, Elder Ma was his uncle by generation, and thus deserved due respect.

“Ahem... Chief, I’ve been observing this young man. His cultivation is only at the sixth level of the Phoenix Initiate Realm, not even at the Heart of the Zither. Can someone at such a level truly save us? Isn’t this too reckless?”

“This…” The other three elders, caught up in the excitement of a sword-bearing youth’s sudden arrival and the seeming fulfillment of prophecy after so many years, hadn’t given much thought to the details or feasibility. Now, hearing Elder Ma’s words, they were momentarily stunned—it did sound reasonable.

Though their own cultivation wasn’t extremely high, they were at least capable of wielding spells, with the lowest among them at the Heart of the Zither realm. If this boy was truly only at the sixth level of the Phoenix Initiate Realm, how could he possibly have the strength to help them, let alone activate the entire formation?

With that realization, the elders’ spirits visibly sank. After waiting sixty years, the long-awaited sword-bearing youth had finally arrived, yet his cultivation was so low.

Chief Zhang himself was at about the same level as Li Sibai—the sixth level of the Phoenix Initiate Realm—so he had felt the youth’s cultivation was not weak, using himself as a measure. But now, hearing Elder Ma’s argument, he furrowed his brow.

“Young Master Li, are you truly only at the sixth level of the Phoenix Initiate Realm?” He couldn’t let go of hope just yet.

Li Sibai’s expression turned awkward.

Indeed, he had not yet broken through; it was something he’d been working on lately. This twist of fate was abrupt—moments ago he’d been lifted high, and now he felt as though he was about to be cast down.

But he had to answer. “Chief Zhang, I am currently at the sixth level of the Phoenix Initiate Realm and seeking to break through.”

At his candid admission, Chief Zhang’s hope was extinguished. He stared blankly, as if struck a heavy blow, aging several years in an instant from extreme joy to deep despair.

Could Elder Ma be right? Had they found the wrong person after all?

Yet, in sixty years, no outsider had ever reached this place. And the youth claimed the sword in his hand was the Xuantian Sword.

Xuantian Sword? Xuantian Sword?

Yes—if the sword was genuine, then even if his cultivation was somewhat low, there was still hope!

With this thought, Chief Zhang’s gaze reignited with fervor.

“Young Master Li, might I examine the Xuantian Sword on your back?”

“This…” Li Sibai hesitated. Though he’d felt slighted, he sensed no ill intent. Besides, he needed their help to find Caiyao, so he didn’t dwell on it. He handed his sword to Chief Zhang without fuss.

“Very well. But the sword is rather heavy, so be careful.”

“Heavy?” Chief Zhang looked bewildered at the wooden sword in Li Sibai’s hand.

“Don’t tell me this is the Xuantian Sword?” He glanced at Elder Yuan.

Elder Yuan had seen the sword before and nodded, though confusion flitted across his face.

He had indeed seen this wooden sword and remembered its surprising weight, having struggled to lift it himself. But how could a wooden sword be so heavy, and what did it have to do with the legendary Xuantian Sword? Wasn’t that said to be forged from celestial iron?

Seeing Elder Yuan nod, Chief Zhang knew Li Sibai spoke the truth. He gathered his energy and took the sword with both hands.

The moment he grasped it, he felt its astonishing weight. Li Sibai warned, “Chief, I’m letting go!”

Chief Zhang strained, his face turning red as he barely managed to lift the wooden sword, but after only a couple of breaths, he could no longer hold it. With a dull thud, the Xuantian Sword struck the ground, echoing through the hall.

The onlookers, save for Elder Yuan and Li Sibai, were all astonished. Was this truly a wooden sword? The chief himself had failed to lift it.

The crowd began to murmur.

“Could this really be the Xuantian Sword? The chief and this young man seem evenly matched—why can’t he lift it?”

“That’s impossible. The Xuantian Sword was forged from celestial iron. How could a wooden sword be the Xuantian Sword?”

“But the sword is so heavy. This youth must have considerable strength. Let’s observe further.”

Elder Ma, seeing Chief Zhang’s embarrassment, frowned. Though the chief wasn’t necessarily the strongest among them, he was the most promising youth. Failing to lift even a wooden sword would surely invite ridicule if word spread.

He stepped forward, took the sword from the chief’s hands, and exerted his strength. His face reddened, but he managed to raise the wooden sword—indeed, it was astonishingly heavy. After five breaths, he quickly set it down.

“Young Master Li, you say this is the Xuantian Sword, but it appears to us as nothing more than a wooden sword, albeit a heavy one. Do you have any other proof?” Chief Zhang asked, still unwilling to give up hope after feeling the sword’s weight.

“Proof? What proof do you need?” Li Sibai’s patience was wearing thin. He had been accommodating, but being constantly questioned tried his temper.

Chief Zhang, rebuffed, didn’t dare escalate matters before things were clear. He turned to Elder Yuan for help, thinking it best for him to mediate.

Elder Yuan caught the chief’s look and understood. He began, “Young Master Li, you cannot remain here forever, can you? Surely you wish to find your friend and leave as soon as possible.

“But your cultivation is still quite low. We would hate to see you risk yourself. Whether you wish to leave once you recover, or to search for your friend in the bamboo forest, you’ll need to improve your strength quickly, or the dangers will be grave.

“As for us, we are responsible for the whole village. If you can prove this wooden sword is truly the Xuantian Sword, then we will believe you are the one from the prophecy sent to save us. The chief will teach you our clan’s formation—this will greatly enhance your power and help you break through. Would that be acceptable?”

Hearing Elder Yuan’s words, Li Sibai’s eyes lit up. Indeed, strength was his greatest need. The offer struck a chord.

A formation for rapid advancement? What kind of formation could that be? His curiosity was piqued; what he’d thought a small village formation suddenly seemed intriguing and full of promise.