The sky above Xuanling Sect darkened without warning.
Clouds gathered—not thick, not violent—but sharp, layered, like blades stacked upon one another.
Xuán Wèi felt it instantly.
"Sword intent."
Pure.
Uncompromising.
Arrogant.
The Arrival
A young man stood at the foot of the mountain path.
White robes. Simple sword at his waist.
No aura leaked from him—yet every stone within ten steps of his feet carried faint sword marks, as if reality itself had been cut and healed repeatedly.
He did not look up.
He did not bow.
He spoke calmly.
"I am here to confirm something."
Ling Wei frowned.
Yin Yue, still weak, instinctively shivered.
The Immortal Fox narrowed her eyes.
The Cosmic Tortoise rumbled once.
"This one," it said slowly,
"has lived before."
System Insight (MC-Only, Never Spoken)
Xuán Wèi already knew.
Reincarnated Sword Sovereign
Dao Heart: Unbroken
Pride Level: Extreme
Talent Rank: Golden+ (Sealed by arrogance)
Note:
Will never kneel to strength.
Can only submit to meaning.
Xuán Wèi smiled inwardly.
Good.
I don't need kneeling dogs.
The Sword Sovereign Speaks
The young man finally raised his head.
His eyes were calm—but behind them was a battlefield soaked in blood.
"They say Xuanling Sect shelters the discarded."
"They say Immortals teach here."
"They say the Sect Master remembers what the world forgets."
His gaze locked onto Xuán Wèi.
"I want to know which of those is a lie."
A Normal Master Would Fail Here
Any other sect master would do one of three things:
Show strength ❌
Threaten ❌
Beg ❌
Xuán Wèi did none of them.
He sat down.
On a broken stone step.
Casually.
The Oldest Trick
"Tell me," Xuán Wèi said lightly,
"what was your last name… before you died?"
The sword cultivator's pupils contracted.
The mountain wind froze.
"…You shouldn't know that."
Xuán Wèi nodded.
"I know."
"That's why you're here."
Bullshitting at Sovereign Level
Xuán Wèi continued, voice calm.
"You died standing."
"You were betrayed after winning."
"Your sword was flawless."
"Your heart wasn't."
Silence.
The sword cultivator's hand trembled—just slightly.
"If I wanted to humiliate you," Xuán Wèi said,
"I would talk about your defeat."
"If I wanted to control you,"
"I would talk about your power."
He looked up.
"Instead, I'll talk about your mistake."
The Pride Is Crushed (Not Broken)
"You thought the sword was everything."
"You let it define you."
"So when the world turned on you—"
"You had nothing left."
The sword cultivator clenched his jaw.
"…Enough."
Xuán Wèi nodded.
"Good."
"That means your Dao Heart is still alive."
The Choice
Xuán Wèi stood.
"Xuanling Sect does not ask you to kneel."
"It does not ask you to swear."
"It does not ask you to forget who you were."
He gestured toward the sect.
"It asks only one thing."
"Cut again."
"But this time—cut for something that won't abandon you."
The Lie That Hits Deepest
"Your sword path was never wrong."
"You just walked it alone."
The words landed.
Harder than any strike.
The sword cultivator inhaled.
Then—
He drew his sword halfway.
Not in challenge.
In respect.
"…What do you call this sect?"
Xuán Wèi answered without hesitation.
"Xuanling."
"Because even broken things still have echoes."
Submission Without Kneeling
The sword cultivator sheathed his blade.
He bowed—not deeply, not humbly.
But sincerely.
"My name in this life is Jian Chen."
"I will take one of your seats."
The Immortal Fox smiled.
The Cosmic Tortoise rumbled approval.
Ling Wei felt his Dao resonate.
Aftermath
Xuán Wèi turned away.
"You will not be taught by me."
Jian Chen stiffened.
"Good," Xuán Wèi continued.
"Your sword does not need a master."
"It needs a mirror."
The wind shifted.
Far away, an unseen Immortal Sword stirred.