Drawn by a quiet intuition, I stepped forward and reached out. My fingers brushed the surface of the floating crystal encasing the mysterious girl.
In that instant—
Ding!
System Notification: System Update Item Detected. Do you wish to absorb?
I blinked. "System update item? What even is that?"
Ding!
Host, your current system version is 1.0. To initiate an upgrade, Blue Glass Crystals are required. Host must also complete all scenario missions to fully unlock new system features.
I gave a wry smile. "Fine. Absorb it."
The moment the words left my lips, a brilliant light erupted from the crystal. Ethereal strands of energy flowed from it, like rivers of liquid starlight, directly into my body.
The others watched in stunned silence.
The unbreakable crystal—untouched for months by even the mightiest cultivators—was disintegrating before their eyes, being absorbed into me like a candle melting in the sun.
Ding!
System successfully absorbed Blue Glass Crystal.
System Update Initialization in Progress…
With a soft hum, the final remnants of the crystal vanished, and the girl inside gently fell forward.
I caught her instinctively.
Yun Sha rushed to my side. "Is she alright?"
I checked her pulse. "She's fine… for now. Here—take care of her."
I carefully passed the unconscious girl to Yun Sha's arms. Her expression softened as she cradled her. I gave her a nod. "When she wakes up, let me know."
Feng Xuan landed beside me, his gaze shifting between the unconscious girl and the stunned elder. "Brother, what about him?"
I glanced at the trembling elder who had guided us. "He comes with us. I have unfinished business at the core of Aqua Valley."
We moved deeper into the heart of the valley.
After a time, the path opened up into a magnificent basin. A massive lake lay before us, ringed by towering cliffs. Spiritual energy shimmered across the water like heat haze.
I stopped at the edge. "So… this is the true Aqua Valley."
Feng Xuan scratched his head. "I don't know much. Hey, old man—what is this place?"
The elder swallowed. "T-This lake formed centuries ago… Our Sect Master once tried to retrieve a treasure said to lie here. He failed and was gravely injured."
"What kind of treasure?" I asked, stepping forward.
"A sword," he whispered. "They said it looked like a black sword… but none of us ever saw it."
A shiver ran down my spine. A sword? My eyes narrowed.
Could it be… one of my seven swords?
Without a word, I leapt into the lake. The others followed close behind.
As we swam deeper, a strange coldness clutched at us. One by one, Feng Xuan, Mu Lingyao, and Yun Sha froze in place—held by invisible ice.
I stopped, heart thudding. "What? You're all… frozen?"
No response.
This sensation—it was familiar. My eyes widened. "Just like… the Illusionary Mountains."
I clenched my fists. "It must be close."
Ding!
Scenario Mission Activated
Mission: Locate the Fifth Sword
Reward:
• 10,000 XP
• Unknown Token
Hint: The Sword of Aqua lies within 100 meters.
A thrill surged through me. "So it is here."
Without hesitation, I pushed downward, deeper into the freezing abyss.
Suddenly—
The world blinked.
I wasn't in the lake anymore.
I stood alone in a vast, glowing white room. Smooth floors stretched out endlessly. The air was unnaturally still.
Before I could comprehend the shift—
A deep rumble echoed.
From the walls and the mist emerged beasts—twenty Aqua Monsters, their bodies made of roaring water and spiritual energy, each pulsing at 5th Rank Low-Tire Beast.
They snarled, circling.
I drew my blade, black fire dancing along its edge. "Come, then."
I charged.
The Fifth Sword was waiting—and I would earn it with blood and fire.