After being reborn, all I want to do is run away.

Chapter 209 Meeting an old friend again

In a private room of a restaurant near the Heavenly Sword Tower, Shen Xu met the Bright Moon Sword Master, who was second only to the leader of the Four Directions Sword Alliance, for the first time.

He was a handsome man whose features resembled Su Jing's. Moonlight flowed slowly over his wide white sword robe. His long, moon-white hair was tied up high with a white jade crown. The long, flowing hair lay smoothly down his back, with tiny silver lights seemingly dancing among it.

"This humble one, Shen Xu, greets the Sword Master!" Shen Xu bowed respectfully.

"I came to see you today because I wanted to have a chat. Don't be nervous, you two sit down and talk!" The voice of the Bright Moon Sword Master was very gentle, making people feel close to him without realizing it.

"Thank you, Sword Master!" After expressing his gratitude, Shen Xu sat down opposite Sword Master Haoyue with Su Jing.

“Shen Xu, we have all seen what you did in the Sword Selection. You are a very capable and talented child. We all think that you are no worse than Qingmu. After entering the Sword Alliance, I believe that you will definitely become a towering tree in the Sword Alliance.”

"Sword Master, you flatter me. My cultivation talent is only at the Human Rank, far from meeting the standard to become a towering tree," Shen Xu replied softly.

Upon hearing this, Su Jing couldn't help but glance at Shen Xu with some surprise.

"Cultivation talent is indeed an important part of the path of cultivation, but it is not the deciding factor. There are many rare and precious materials on the True Origin Continent that can enhance cultivation talent, and even within the Sword Alliance, there are some such items."

"As long as you make enough contributions to the Sword Alliance, your talent for cultivation is not an obstacle for you," Sword Master Haoyue replied with a light laugh.

"I will certainly work harder and live up to the Sword Master's expectations," Shen Xu said, rising to his feet and bowing.

He knew that in any power, rare and precious materials that could enhance cultivation talent were invaluable. The Bright Moon Sword Master's offer was essentially a huge promise, but even this promise was something countless people dreamed of.

"It's good that you have this ambition!" Sword Master Haoyue nodded in satisfaction.

"Besides seeing you, I also want to help you reconcile with Su Jing. Su Jing has been spoiled by us since childhood, so he always likes to get to the bottom of things, which is not a good habit."

You two are the future pillars of the Sword Alliance. I don't want you to become enemies over such a small misunderstanding. I believe he has already apologized to you, so I hope you can forgive him as well.

Shen Xu looked up at Haoyue Sword Master and saw that his eyes were as deep as the night sky, sparkling with the light of wisdom, as if he could see into people's hearts, yet he was still majestic, making people dare not look directly at him.

“I don’t have much of a grudge against Brother Su, it’s just that Brother Su has misunderstood me a lot. As long as Brother Su can clear up his misunderstandings, I would still like to be friends with him,” Shen Xu replied, bowing his head.

"And Su Jing, what's your answer?" Haoyue Sword Master asked coldly.

"Since it's all a misunderstanding, I naturally have no reason to hold a grudge against him. As for being my friend, I think he's not worthy!" Su Jing replied with a cold laugh.

"It seems that placing you with the Seven Luminaries Sect all these years was a mistake." The Moonlit Sword Master's tone grew increasingly cold.

Shen Xu knew he had to leave; the family affairs of the Bright Moon Sword Master were not something he could discuss.

But before he could say goodbye, Su Jing spoke up first, "Shen Xu, do you think you're amazing! You were able to get from the Green Bamboo Mountains to this place, and you even shone brightly in the Sword Selection."

"What's a mere Four Directions Sword Alliance compared to that! Have you ever seen a true genius? I will represent the Seven Luminaries Sect in the Ningzhou Grand Competition a few years from now. That will be your last chance. Don't say I didn't give you time."

After Su Jing finished speaking, he looked directly into Haoyue Sword Master's eyes and then walked straight out of the room.

"The Great Battle for Ningzhou!"

Shen Xu had heard of the Ningzhou Great Competition in his previous life. It was said to contain the opportunity to become a saint, something that countless young geniuses in Ningzhou were eager to participate in and compete for.

However, it seems that the Ningzhou Grand Competition in the previous life was disrupted by the Blood Fiend Palace, and most of the most promising young people in Xingchuan Region were lost in the Ningzhou Grand Competition.

But the Ningzhou battle might be a golden opportunity for him to completely eliminate Su Jing there!

Looking in the direction Su Jing left, Haoyue Sword Master couldn't help but sigh, "I was thinking of helping you resolve your conflict, but it backfired. I will send him back to the Seven Luminaries Sect as he asked, so you don't need to worry about him causing trouble for you in the Four Directions Sword Alliance."

"This outcome is not what I wanted!" Shen Xu breathed a sigh of relief. He didn't want to be constantly targeted by Su Jing in the Sword Alliance.

"He was too willful, and you suffered an undeserved misfortune."

"Let's not talk about him anymore. What do you think of Zuo Chen?" Haoyue Sword Master suddenly asked.

“I can’t see through him, but I’ll trust him for now,” Shen Xu replied slowly.

Hearing this, Sword Master Haoyue asked with some curiosity, "Aren't you afraid he will deceive you?"

“He would definitely lie to me, I have no doubt about that. But when faced with a desperate situation, he was the only one who came up with a practical solution, and since I agree with his solution, I should help him.”

"Perhaps one day he will also send me to the altar, but I am not a lamb to be slaughtered. He needs to be prepared to pay the price with his life when he deceives me," Shen Xu said coldly.

"A very good answer, crazy yet clear-headed."

"One last question for you: why don't you go to the fifth Kunyuan Palace?"

"Can I say I have no interest in being given a title?" Shen Xu replied with a smile.

"Haha, if they heard your answer, they'd probably all say you're too arrogant," said Haoyue Sword Master with a light laugh.

"Everyone believes that being granted a title is the path to heaven, but everything comes at a price. Most people are proud to join the Four Directions Sword Alliance, but I hope that one day the Sword Alliance can be proud of you."

After speaking, the Moonlit Sword Master transformed into a ray of moonlight and disappeared from the room.

"What a qualified leader! The promises he makes are all too big!" Shen Xu couldn't help but sigh as he looked at the spot where Haoyue Sword Master had disappeared, but unfortunately, he didn't take any of them.

As for how Haoyue Sword Master knew about his conflict with Su Jing, Shen Xu guessed that it must have been Tianhe Sword Master who informed him. If that was the case, then he would need to fulfill his promise to Bailu.

Tianjian Mountain may seem to be very close to Tianjian City, but in reality, even riding a fast horse, it would take several hours to reach the foot of Tianjian Mountain from Tianjian City. Therefore, there is a teleportation array in Tianjian City that leads to Tianjian Mountain.

However, the teleportation array leading to Tianjian Mountain is not accessible to just anyone. If one is not an internal member of the Four Directions Sword Alliance, an official pass from Tianjian City is required.

Shen Xu doesn't have this problem for the time being. All the sword selectors on the list of a thousand people can use the jade token in their hands to go to Tianjian Mountain to report for duty through the teleportation array of Tianjian City.

Several months later, Shen Xu returned to the teleportation plaza of Tianjian City. The plaza was still packed with people, and most of those standing there were still young sword cadets.

However, their feelings were quite different now compared to the novelty and excitement they felt when they first arrived in Tianjian City.

However, most people did not show much sadness on their faces. Instead, they were more relieved and regretful. After all, only a thousand out of eighty thousand people could stay in Tianjian City. The fact that many people had the same experience would help to reduce their pessimism.

After the list of 1,000 people was released, some fifth-rank sects were already gathering their subordinate sects. It is estimated that all the eliminated swordsmen will leave Tianjian City in less than two days.

After the swordsmen from all over have left, the Four Directions Sword Selection, which has been in preparation for nearly a year, will come to a complete end, and Tianjian City will return to its former tranquility until the next sword selection arrives.

Although the Sword Selection has ended, the story of this selection will not end. Aoki's title and deeds will spread throughout the Four Directions Sword Alliance as many Sword Selection participants return.

Perhaps a few tales of evil spirits will be interspersed among them, but they will ultimately not become the focus of everyone's stories.

But all of this had nothing to do with Shen Xu, who was currently searching for the teleportation array leading to Tianjian Mountain in the vast teleportation plaza.

"Shen Xu, why are you still alone?" A familiar voice reached Shen Xu's ears.

"Situ Deng, Yang Kong, what a coincidence!" Ever since he tricked Fang Heng on the Flying Cloud Boat, these two have rarely had any dealings with him.

"The teleportation array to the Heavenly River Sword Sect is in that direction. We saw you went the wrong way, so we came to remind you. After all, if you miss this opportunity, who knows when you'll get another chance!" Yang Kong said with a smile.

Hearing their words, Shen Xu felt a warmth in his heart. Although the two had chosen to stay away from him to avoid suspicion, it was only natural. He knew that the two had no ill intentions, and now that they had come to remind him, they were truly good people.

"Thank you for reminding me, but I don't plan to leave Tianjian City right now. Do you know where the teleportation array to Tianjian Mountain is?"

"Ah! You're going to Tianjian Mountain? Could it be that Shen Xu really is you?!" Situ Deng exclaimed in utter shock.

"If you're talking about Shen Xu, then it is indeed me," Shen Xu said with a smile.

"When I first saw your name, I didn't believe it at all. I just thought it was someone with the same name. Plus, you never mentioned your sect... It turns out that it really was you." Yang Kong couldn't help but sigh.

"I never imagined that the person I've eaten with so many times on the Flying Cloud Boat would be such an important figure." Situ Deng looked at Shen Xu as if he were looking at a rare treasure.

"Let me ask you something quietly. They all say you're an evil spirit. Are you really an evil spirit? Also, is Qingmu beautiful? Is the Golden-Faced Goddess truly stunning? Are the Glazed Fire Phoenix and the Black and White Fiend really having an affair? Is the Starry Face the mastermind behind everything? Did the Mountain Fist give up the position of leader of the Five Mountains Society without hesitation just to join the Qingmu Society?" Yang Kong asked all the questions without taking a breath.

"Your voice isn't exactly quiet, and these aren't just one thing. Besides, I can't answer any of these questions." Shen Xu looked helplessly at the people around him who were quietly pricking up their ears, but he couldn't help but admire that most of Yang Kong's guesses were correct. Indeed, the power of the masses is great.

"Haha, I thought so too!" Yang Kong smiled a little embarrassedly.

"The teleportation array to Tianjian Mountain is over there!" Yang Kong pointed in a direction for Shen Xu.

After Shen Xu left, Situ Deng said with some regret, "He never said whether he was an evil spirit or not."

"Actually, he already told us," Yang Kong replied softly.

Both of them looked at Shen Xu's retreating figure with some emotion, knowing that this was probably the last time they would see him.

However, being able to have meals with someone like Shen Xu for a few days is enough for them to have something to talk about over tea.