Chapter 108: The Moon in the Water and the Moon in the Sky

A burst of wild laughter echoed through the cave.

“Before spouting such reckless words, perhaps you should take a good look at yourself... Even if you are just a possessed form, I can easily crush you!”

The Sword Demon’s laughter twisted into something ferocious.

His face, distorted by excessive slaughter, was a portrait of brutality.

“If you were still alive in this world... if I uttered a second word when you looked down on me, it would be out of your mercy,” Su Ye said calmly with a smile, “But times have changed, and things are no longer as you wish.”

The Sword Demon narrowed his blood-red eyes into a slit, gathering divine light like a demon crawling out of hell.

“You think your skills can threaten me? A half-step Divine Concealment, a mere ant…”

“You only have the form, but not the supreme divine powers of the Demonic Ancestor Saint Master. You’re nothing but a bluffing embroidered pillow, yet you dare to spout nonsense.”

The brighter Su Ye’s smile grew, the greater the damage he inflicted on Ouyang Zhi’s residual soul form.

He was not the Sword Demon’s soul at its peak, but a fragment of the Sword Demon’s spirit accidentally left behind in Zhu Zan’s body during a stage of cultivation.

Compared to the original Sword Demon, it was like comparing clouds to mud.

Using secret Demonic Sect techniques, he could control the loyal followers who once devoted themselves wholeheartedly, but he could not deceive those who stood as his enemies.

A flicker of caution passed through the Sword Demon’s crimson eyes.

“Even as a remnant soul, I can easily crush you.”

“Not necessarily.”

“What kind of abilities beyond the original self’s grasp could possibly make you so arrogant?”

“Swordsmanship…” Su Ye’s tone was indifferent, “Swordsmanship that has reached the pinnacle.”

“Hahaha…”

Another burst of reckless laughter.

“Boy, since you’re young and probably haven’t heard of my name,” the remnant soul of Ouyang Zhi’s voice hardened, “I am the Sword Demon—the strongest swordsman in history across the world! Your trifling skills are better off embarrassing yourself before the King of Hell in the afterlife.”

“Between the two of us, it’s probably you, Sword Demon Senior, who has truly seen the King of Hell.”

“You…”

The ferocity on the Sword Demon’s face grew even more terrifying.

“Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll show some mercy... Before you die, I’ll let you witness what true pinnacle swordsmanship looks like.”

Without hesitation, Su Ye strode through the motionless Demonic Sect disciples.

He stepped onto the stone bridge forged from bluestone and ascended the high platform.

Standing to the Sword Demon’s left, facing Nan Lian and Qi Zheng, he spoke:

“Demonic Ancestor, have you ever heard of the legend of the Three Swords?”

Nan Lian’s right hand gathered black mist, suddenly swinging her jade arm.

The black mist drifted across the serene water’s surface.

The ordinary demon cultivators in the cave all fell unconscious.

—

The Sword Demon cast an appreciative smile toward Nan Lian and softly said:

“I have only heard of Song Yang’s Heavenly Hong Sword and my own Soul Sword.

As for other lesser swords, no matter how famous, they are ultimately mere mortals.”

A golden light flickered from the jade gourd at his waist.

A five-foot-long sword, stark in black and white, fell into Su Ye’s grasp.

“This sword is called Taichu, forged by my Dao Companion with her own hands.

One day, it will echo alongside the name of the Sword Immortal across the three thousand worlds.”

Hearing this, the Sword Demon looked at Su Ye.

A cold sneer appeared.

“You mean to say... you are the third prodigious swordsman in this world?”

“…And the most talented swordsman in the three thousand worlds.”

“You’re quite humorous,” the Sword Demon’s cold sneer warmed slightly, “In this season of growth, you always make me laugh.

But when you fall beneath my sword, you won’t be laughing anymore.”

“Nan Lian, Sword Slave, step aside and do not interfere,” the Sword Demon said calmly, “I will use only swordsmanship to teach this brat what heights and depths truly mean.”

Nan Lian vanished in an instant, leaving the high platform.

She gathered near the stone pillar where a bound sacrificial woman was tied, raised her delicate hand, and sent black mist into the woman’s nostrils.

The terrified woman’s eyes rolled back as she lost consciousness.

Qi Zheng stood by the dark pool, separated by the bottomless water, intently observing the two peerless swordsmen facing each other atop the platform.

The Sword Demon symbolized fear and brutality.

The Sword Immortal represented hope and light.

Like the two sides of a Taiji diagram, the stone throne in the middle divided two completely opposite realms.

The contemptuous arrogance vanished from Ouyang Zhi’s residual soul face.

Forged from soul force, the Soul Sword stretched seven feet in length, as thick as an adult’s palm.

Holding the hilt in his right hand, he entered a state of unity between heaven and man.

“Though I am not at my peak, my understanding of the sword way is incomparable to one like you,” the Sword Demon spoke softly, “I can easily defeat you without using sword qi.”

Su Ye held the sword behind his back.

Heart and intent united, intent and sword merged.

“The theory of the Three Swords came from your daughter, Ouyang Yu,” Su Ye said calmly, like a solitary cloud drifting in the sky, serene and detached. “Senior Song Yang is the Sword Saint, you are the Sword Demon... and I have been honored with the title Sword Immortal by her.”

Ouyang Zhi’s eyes flickered.

Every time Ouyang Yu was mentioned, this reaction followed.

Gradually, through merciful soul guiding, his strength was diluted.

The camel that is dying is still larger than the horse.

—

Even as a remnant soul at a certain stage, Ouyang Zhi was no match for Su Ye, who had already crossed the Heart-Questioning Trial.

The power of words alone elevated him to the same level.

Then, with abundant experience, he could defeat him.

In Yunjing, Su Ye had used this method against Qin Qingyu from the Imperial Observatory.

Now, at the Demonic Sect altar in Youruo City, he employed it once again.

The naturally proud peerless genius, unwilling to take advantage of a junior in a duel, was perfectly manipulated by Su Ye.

After all, the Sword Demon was still a swordsman.

What lies in the bones cannot be changed.

“...Sword Immortal,” Ouyang Zhi’s residual soul gazed at Su Ye with crimson eyes and softly asked, “Are you truly that strong?”

“If I am not strong enough, I’d rather die beneath your Soul Sword,” Su Ye smoothly twirled his sword and adjusted his grip. “If I win by chance... in the new world, your will will no longer exist.”

“Quite arrogant!” Ouyang Zhi’s remnant soul laughed, “Yu’er might not be that outstanding, but her eyes are pretty good.”

“You have committed countless killings in your life, devastating innumerable lives,” Su Ye’s right hand moved lightly, the sword tip tilting toward the ground. “Only in being a father have you earned some respect from me.”

“You are like me,” Ouyang Zhi’s remnant soul laughed heartily, “People like us don’t care about others’ opinions.

Whether it’s me or you,

Even in death and dissolution, we are not comparable to those mundane mortals leading meaningless lives.

No need to utter such trivial words.”

“Many seniors I met on the Heart-Questioning Trial have said I resemble you,” Su Ye smiled. “The more I understand you, the more I agree.”

“You and I, Sword Demon and Sword Immortal, are like the moon reflected in water and the moon in the sky.

Our swords carry everything.”

“I wholeheartedly agree.”

“What style of swordsmanship do you practice?”

“Jinghong Sword Technique,” Su Ye answered honestly, “Also created by my Dao Companion.”

“I have passed through countless flowers, yet you remain steadfast.

Truly interesting.

...

The new world I desire, and the new world you wish to build— which will become reality?

Victory or defeat rests on a single sword.”

Su Ye raised his hand, poised to strike, smiling calmly:

“Exactly so.”