"The only one standing from the Great Supreme Sects' era in this plane."
The night breeze blew gently across the lake, causing faint ripples to spread across the glowing surface.
Even Shen Chu stood frozen, because the man had stood at the peak of the world for more than thousands of years.
The legendary Sword Immortal was nothing more than the final remnant of a sect that had already died four thousand years ago.
After revealing his identity, the Sword Immortal became silent and simply sat there, looking at Riven with calm eyes.
He had already said everything he wished to say, and now he only waited for an answer.
Riven sighed softly before slowly standing up.
"Very well."
Hearing this, the Sword Immortal's eyes lit up.
Riven walked around the stone table and stood beside him. Then, leaning slightly forward, he whispered something into the Sword Immortal's ear.
Shen Chu, who was standing nearby, couldn't hear a single word.
Even though the distance between them wasn't great, it was as though the world itself had isolated those words.
However, he clearly saw the Sword Immortal's expression as the tiredness in his eyes disappeared.
Then, for the first time since arriving at Drifting Mist Pavilion, genuine happiness appeared on his face, and moments later, he burst into laughter.
His laughter echoed throughout the lake, and there was no sadness in it.
No loneliness, only relief.
After laughing for some time, the Sword Immortal stood up and clasped his hands deeply toward Riven.
"As senior wishes."
Shen Chu's heart trembled, wondering what had Riven said.
For someone like the Sword Immortal to reveal such emotions...
It was impossible for Shen Chu to even imagine, but he knew his place. If Riven didn't wish for him to know, then he would not ask.
After some time, Riven looked toward him.
"You may leave now. We will depart tomorrow morning."
Shen Chu nodded respectfully.
"As Immortal Master commands," and without disturbing them any further, he withdrew from the area.
After leaving the lake, Shen Chu suddenly noticed dark clouds gathering in the sky.
The moonlight dimmed and the entire sect gradually darkened.
Seeing this, Shen Chu raised his head in surprise.
Yet he could sense no heavenly tribulation, nor did he sense any danger.
Suppressing his curiosity, he headed toward the main hall.
Inside the hall, the sect master, hall master, and several important elders were already waiting.
The moment they saw Shen Chu enter, everyone immediately rose and bowed.
"Greetings, Ancestor."
Shen Chu sat in the seat at the center and calmly said,
"We will leave tomorrow morning."
"As for when I shall return, I do not know."
Everyone immediately became serious.
Then Shen Chu's gaze turned cold.
"But make sure today's events never happen again. There are many rotten branches within the sect, and they should be cut down."
The pressure released from his words caused the Sect Master's expression to change.
He hurriedly bowed.
"Please rest assured, Ancestor. I will thoroughly investigate everything."
The hall master also bowed.
"Those connected to Elder Han have already been detained, and such matters shall never happen again."
Since Elder Han had secretly built connections with various peak masters and elders, many had become lenient toward him over the years.
But now, with the Sect Ancestor personally intervening, none dared protect him.
Suddenly, the Sect Master hesitated.
Then he asked carefully,
"Ancestor..."
"The cultivator who accompanied you... Who exactly is he?"
"And what did the Sword Immortal wish to discuss with him?"
Immediately, everyone present became alert as this question had troubled them all.
Shen Chu thought for a moment.
Then he slowly answered.
"He is an immortal, just like the Sword Immortal."
"As for their discussion... you don't need to know."
Everyone sucked in a breath of cold air.
An Immortal.
Another Immortal.
Even after hearing the answer, no one could believe it.
All of them were Nascent Soul cultivators.
They knew just how difficult it was to even glimpse Spirit Sovereign.
As it might take them hundreds of years to even get a set half a foot into that realm. Some would spend hundreds of years and still fail.
As for the realm above Spirit Sovereign... none of them knew nor did they dare ask.
Seeing their expressions, Shen Chu simply stood up.
"Focus on your cultivation, and that is enough."
After saying that, he disappeared from the hall.
The elders remained stunned for a long time.
...
By the time the clouds dispersed, dawn had already arrived, and the first rays of sunlight appeared over the horizon.
Shen Chu stood outside his residence and looked toward the spiritual lake. However, his vision became blurry after a certain distance.
He knew that whatever was happening there was beyond his level.
After waiting quietly, he suddenly noticed a figure approaching from afar.
It was Riven, and he was alone. There was no sign of the Sword Immortal, nor could Shen Chu sense his presence.
Seeing the sword, Shen Chu's heart skipped a beat.
It was the Sword Immortal's sword, yet he wisely chose not to ask anything.
He simply bowed.
"Everything is prepared, Immortal Master. We may depart at any time."
Riven nodded and said with a smile, "Let's go."
The next moment, both of them appeared before the main hall. The Skylance Roc was already waiting.
A huge crowd had gathered around the square. Thousands of disciples and elders stood at a respectful distance.
Among them were Alan and Bai Zhou. Ever since hearing of the arrival of the Sect Ancestor and the Sword Immortal, they had rushed over.
After all, such legendary figures only existed in stories. Few had ever seen them personally.
Closer to the Roc stood the sect master, vice sect master, hall master, and several peak masters, as they had been waiting for quite some time.
Seeing the two appear, everyone immediately bowed.
"Greetings, Sect Ancestor!"
As they raised their heads, however, confusion spread through the crowd. Their eyes all landed upon the sword in Riven's hand.
For a moment, silence prevailed.
Then someone shouted excitedly,
"Greetings, Sword Immortal!"
Soon, countless voices joined in.
"Greetings, Sword Immortal!"
"Greetings, Sect Ancestor!"
Many disciples had never actually seen the Sword Immortal before.
Seeing the sword and Riven's extraordinary appearance, they naturally assumed he was the Sword Immortal.
"Doesn't the Sword Immortal look too young?"
"What are you saying? With his cultivation, maintaining his appearance should be easy."
"That's true."
The disciples whispered among themselves as only those who had witnessed yesterday's events knew the truth.
The white-haired young man was not the Sword Immortal, but someone else.
Still, seeing the legendary sword in his hand while the Sword Immortal himself was nowhere to be seen, even they became confused.
The sect master and hall master exchanged strange looks as neither understood what had happened during the night.
And yet... Looking at the sword resting quietly in Riven's hand, a terrifying thought slowly surfaced in their minds.
Could it be...
The Sword Immortal had entrusted his sword to him?
But the moment that thought appeared, both immediately suppressed it.
Because if that speculation were true, then what exactly had happened at the spiritual lake last night?
And where was the Sword Immortal?