Chapter 1408 (Raw 1399): Saber Sovereign's Abdication
"What's going on? Why did the Saber Sovereign suddenly start fighting with the Shadowless Saber Sovereign? Could it be that the Shadowless Saber Sovereign is conspiring against him?"
"That does not seem to be so. When they exchanged moves earlier, the Saber Sovereign dealt with the moves as they came along. Eventually, he seemed somewhat unable to manage and used force to break technique. If there really was a conflict, the Saber Sovereign would have used his full force from the start and not just at the end."
"What nonsense! Are you saying that Senior Wu Xiaotian is not comparable to the Shadowless Saber Sovereign?"
"No, no. I was just analyzing the facts. The Saber Sovereign probably never thought of truly attacking this Shadowless Saber Sovereign."
"What are the two of them talking about? Now, there is no sound coming from them at all."
Seeing that Wu Xiaotian had flown into the Cycle War Chariot and not come out for a long time, the many honored guests and cultivators at the Heavenly Saber Mountain Manor started to feel somewhat anxious.
Only Wen Ziran vaguely guessed something. His master said he let go of something. What was it?
What could his master put down that would make his master's hair instantly turn white, aging him significantly?
Could it be… Wen Ziran's heart skipped a beat. As he looked at the Cycle War Chariot, an uncertain answer appeared in his heart.
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Xiao Chen paused for a moment in the Cycle War Chariot before saying, "Senior is right. Actually, I should have thought of that. However, I was just unwilling to face it."
Wu Xiaotian smiled and said, "A true man is able to pick up and let go. There is nothing to regret. What happened back then was beyond you and me. It is also not what you wanted. Why blame yourself?"
After a while, he changed the topic. "While it is easy to say, when it comes to it, it is not that easy to do. The principle is easy to figure out. However, doing it is always the most difficult part. This is the same for me."
Xiao Chen smiled. It was rare for him to smile in the past five years, but Wu Xiaotian now managed to make him smile.
"Senior, I think no one else comforts people like you do."
"I'm speaking the truth. There are some things that I still do not dare to say I have figured out despite living for so long already. What more a young fellow like you? However, everything will turn out for the best. There is no need for you to worry about this. I believe that you will be able to figure a way out sooner or later."
Xiao Chen nodded and said, "Thank you, Senior."
"There's no need for that. I'll be going out first. This place is really stuffy. I wonder how you managed to stay here for three years. Here, a small trinket for you." Wu Xiaotian sighed softly, feeling pity for Xiao Chen. This child's fate was too bitter.
Xiao Chen received the item. It was a small pouch that seemed to contain a medallion.
Wu Xiaotian pushed aside the curtains over the doorway and stood upright after coming out. He looked around the surroundings and said, "I am going to announce something now. I hope that everyone will not be too shocked."
"What?"
Seeing Wu Xiaotian's stern appearance, everyone felt curious. What was Wu Xiaotian going to announce?
Was it the Shadowless Saber Sovereign's true identity? Was he going to accept another disciple? Did he have a conflict with the Shadowless Saber Sovereign?
"I, Wu Xiaotian, announce that from today on, from the moment after I say this, the title of 'Saber Sovereign' no longer belongs to me, Wu Xiaotian, but to the Shadowless Saber Sovereign!"
The moment Wu Xiaotian said that, the noisy place was silent for a long time.
Inside the war chariot, Xiao Chen happened to take out the medallion from the pouch. He saw the "saber" word on it written in an ancient manner filled with murderous intent.
In this quiet place, no one knew beforehand that the Saber Sovereign Wu Xiaotian would suddenly announce this, handing the Saber Sovereign title to the Shadowless Saber Sovereign, a person whose true face no one knew.
The Saber Sovereign title was not just a title. With this title, one would receive the respect of all the bladesmen in the entire Kunlun Realm.
The Luck that it brought also could not be estimated. Several peak bladesmen longed for this title in their dreams.
However, due to the existence of Wu Xiaotian, this dream became just an extravagant hope. Yet now, this title was going to change hands.
"Why?" someone asked, feeling confused.
Wu Xiaotian replied indifferently, "I have no explanation for this. In less than ten years, as long as he walks out of the war chariot, no one will doubt my decision anymore."
Inside the war chariot, Xiao Chen was caught off guard by Wu Xiaotian's decision.
He wanted to say something in rejection; at which point he heard Wu Xiaotian's words in his ears, If you dare to reject, I will expose your identity right now.
Xiao Chen immediately held his tongue. Wu Xiaotian was truly a senior, indeed, able to grab hold of his critical weakness.
Don't overthink this. This is a good thing for you as well.
Wu Xiaotian had already dealt with Xiao Chen, but there were still many people with doubts in the crowd. Someone called out, "Does Senior knows the true identity of the Shadowless Saber Sovereign?"
"Of course, I do. He is not a Demon and can inherit my Saber Sovereign title. If there is anyone unconvinced of this, then as long as you can defeat him convincingly, he will hand over the Saber Sovereign title as well," Wu Xiaotian replied calmly. After letting go of certain things, he became much more open-minded about many things.
Wen Ziran's heart skipped a beat. Indeed, it was as he expected. However, it was good that his master could let it go. In this golden age, several people were already eyeing the Saber Sovereign title.
It was good that his master could calmly let go. It was better than getting challenged continuously. He did not ask for much; he just wanted his master to be able to live out his old age in peace.
"To celebrate the birth of the new Saber Sovereign, everyone present with sabers may head for the Saber Washing Pool."
The crowd erupted in a commotion. This was a tangible benefit. Even if one was not a bladesman, as long as they had a saber, by soaking their sabers in the Saber Washing Pool, the value of the saber would soar.
The most mysterious place of this Heavenly Saber Mountain Manor was the Saber Washing Pool. Rumor had it that there was an ancient legendary item at the bottom of the Saber Washing Pool—the Eternal Ice.
According to rumor, the Eternal Ice is a piece of ice that would never melt. It originally drifted about in the Starry Heavens for several tens of thousands of years.
It experienced all sorts of baptism in the Starry Heavens before the first-generation owner of the Eternal Ice obtained it by luck and buried it at the Heavenly Saber Mountain Manor.
It was precisely due to the Eternal Ice's presence that the Saber Washing Pool contained all sorts of mysteries.
"Senior, is that true?"
Wu Xiaotian smiled faintly and said, "Naturally, my—Wu Xiaotian's—words are iron-clad. How can they be false? Ziran, count the number of people and take them to the back mountain."
"Yes, Master."
Wen Ziran immediately started making arrangements after receiving the order.
Wu Xiaotian drifted away. After he left, the crowd burst out in all sorts of discussions. The new Saber Sovereign was born just like that. Wu Xiaotian handed the title over to a person who never got off his war chariot, someone whose face they did not know at all.
"It is really unexpected that Senior Wu Xiaotian would hand over the Saber Sovereign title."
"Hehe, what did I say earlier? I said that Senior Wu Xiaotian made a move to test the Shadowless Saber Sovereign. In regard to Saber Techniques, Senior Wu Xiaotian is already incomparable to the Shadowless Saber Sovereign. Hence, he used force to break technique in the end."
"However, that is not exactly a good thing. I can foresee countless experts seeking out the Shadowless Saber Sovereign to challenge him."
"Right. The Saber Sovereign recognized him, but it does not mean that others will. He still needs to prove himself."
"That's right. Senior Wu Xiaotian already said it. Anyone who can defeat him can be the new Saber Sovereign."
"I think it's not going to be simple. Even now, no one knows the true strength of this Shadowless Saber Sovereign. It is not going to be easy to defeat him."
Bladesmen gathered in groups in every corner of the Heavenly Saber Mountain Manor, all of them discussing the topic of the Saber Sovereign title changing hands.
They had witnessed history. They could easily imagine that in less than a month, this topic would spread throughout the entire Kunlun Realm.
In this golden age, suns, moons, and stars rose and fell. Anything could happen.
Inside the war chariot, Xiao Chen's emotions had already regained an even keel. He put aside the matter of the Saber Sovereign title and looked at the Lunar Shadow Saber in his hand. Wu Xiaotian's words echoed repeatedly in his mind.
Your saber is fine. You are the problem. She can't recognize you. Naturally, she will not let you draw her!
Why was that so? Wu Xiaotian knew the reason, and Xiao Chen did as well. However, Xiao Chen was truly stumped. Do I have to leave this Cycle War Chariot before I can be me again?
However, the moment Xiao Chen closed his eyes, five hundred thousand kilometers of blood clouds appeared in his mind. He saw Blood Crows everywhere, a graveyard sprawling into the horizon, and also all those "Xiao Chen" words outlined with blood.
Blood. It represented rage, hostility, and rage!
Xiao Chen opened his eyes and grasped the saber handle. Then, he pulled gently. However, the Lunar Shadow Saber did not budge at all.
Little Ao Jiao, are you really unable to recognize me anymore?