Wang Shan shook his head, "Even if you find the Heavenly Sword, so what? Do you really think someone of your aptitude can inherit the legacy within the Heavenly Sword?"

"Stop dreaming. Your father was the Sect Master's illegitimate son, disfavored in his lifetime, and you are his illegitimate son, equally disdained by him."

"Now that you've been reduced to a menial servant in the Sword Sect, have you seen any favor from the Sect Master?"

"If you obtain the Heavenly Sword, you'll not only face pressure from the Su Family but also the Sect Master's wrath."

"Listen to me, stay obediently with the Su Family, and you may live out your life in relative peace."

"The Su Family's daughter may be arrogant and domineering, but she's taken a liking to your good looks. You should seize the opportunity and win her favor—wouldn't that be much more practical than chasing after the illusory Heavenly Sword?"

Ning Xian gritted his teeth, "I, Ning Xian, am a man of dignity. Expect me to flatter that tigress? Dream on!"

"Today, I must find the Heavenly Sword. Succeed or die trying—I'd rather die than live like this!"

He knew in his heart that his so-called "grandfather" made the decision for him to marry into the Su Family.

The Su Family wielded tremendous power within the Sword Sect, even boasting a formidable Holy Artifact Master.

He was merely someone with utterly ordinary talent for cultivation, with no hope of ever reaching the Realm of a Spiritual Artifact Master, and a scandalous illegitimate son at that. With only his handsome face enabling him to marry into the Su Family, this was already the most comfortable life that Ning Bufan could secure for him.

Of course, on the Heavenly Artifact Continent, someone like Ning Bufan, a Holy Artifact Master, had countless descendants of exceptional talent. Ning Xian was merely one of those with extremely mediocre aptitude, destined to be overlooked.

If not for a faint trace of emotional attachment, Ning Bufan would never have paid attention to such an insignificant and shameful grandson, leaving him to fend for himself to avoid disgrace.

So, Ning Xian had long understood that he could only rely on the Heavenly Sword left behind by his deceased father in the Sword Tomb if he wanted to change his fate!

Seeing Ning Xian's obstinate refusal to listen, Wang Shan sighed deeply.

"It seems there's no persuading you. Very well, I, Wang Shan, am a man of my word. I'll break your limbs and carry you back to the Su Family; at least my task will be done."

As he spoke, he gestured slightly, and the men behind him cracked their knuckles, grinning as they advanced menacingly.

When Ning Xian married into the Su Family, they were filled with jealousy. Who would have thought this brat would be so ungrateful, dissatisfied with marrying into the Su Family, and still delusional enough to seek the Heavenly Sword?

Why?

He was just a low-talent illegitimate son!

"Brothers, go!"

"Beat him!"

The men circulated their meager Primordial Energy, raising their fists as they charged at Ning Xian.

Ning Xian also gathered the scant Primordial Energy within him, gritting his teeth as he swung his fists in defiance.

After all, they wouldn't dare kill him. What was there to fear?

"Bam!!"

With just a single exchange, Ning Xian took several punches, his face bruised and swollen as he was sent flying several meters, crashing to the ground with a dull groan, and then going limp.

Seeing this, the group sneered coldly.

"Heh, playing dead? Do you think you can fool us...?"

Before the man could finish, they noticed blood streaming down from the back of Ning Xian's head in alarming amounts.

"This..."

Their faces turned pale as they hurried to Ning Xian's side. His eyes were rolled back, and a sharp tree branch had pierced the back of his skull. His body twitched occasionally, clearly no longer alive.

Wang Shan shoved the others aside. Seeing this, his expression darkened.

"Leave. Go report back to the Su Family and say we couldn't find Ning Xian today!"

"But Brother Wang—what about the body? What if the Su Family finds out?" one man asked, his face pale.

Wang Shan shook his head, "No need to deal with it. The more we do, the more we risk making mistakes. Later, we'll lure a few Devil Beasts to this spot and let them devour Ning Xian's body."

Upon hearing this, the others couldn't help but praise Wang Shan's composure and resourcefulness.

They fled in panic, while Wang Shan lingered at the rear. Watching their retreating figures, a cold, murderous gleam surfaced in his eyes.

Only the dead can keep secrets!

...

Not long after, two six-meter-long wolf beasts were lured to the area and tossed forward. The instant they smelled blood, their eyes turned red as they pounced unhesitatingly at Ning Xian's "corpse."

"Awooo!!"

"Whoosh whoosh!"

Suddenly, two faint traces of light, imperceptible to the naked eye, flashed by. The two wolf beasts froze mid-attack and abruptly disintegrated into Light Particles in midair.

The Void shimmered, and Qin Shou's figure slowly emerged.

He approached Ning Xian's side, sensing that the boy's ice-cold body still retained a faint breath of life and could be saved.

Qin Shou stroked his chin, a grin spreading across his face.

"Not bad, not bad. A fusion of Ning Yi and Fan Xian—this must be the mark of a protagonist. You're the one!"

Qin Shou waved his hand, unleashing a cascade of Light Energy that poured into Ning Xian's body, transforming into Life Energy to nourish the frozen body.

As Ning Xian's pale face gradually regained a healthy flush, Qin Shou casually threw a green Crystal Stone-inlaid Arm Guard into the bloodstained ground before merging back into the Void...

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