Chapter 127: The Heartless Blade

Guo Xiaojing sprinted aimlessly, her heart filled with nothing but hatred. She hated her fate, hated the Six Desires, hated Hui Yuan, hated Xie Fangyun, and hated herself. She hated Ge Kai, the Foundation Establishment cultivator who had taken her innocence—though he was likely dead, leaving her with no one to vent her fury upon.

Just as her mind began to unravel, pushing her to the brink of a cultivation deviation, a masked woman with flowing silver hair and a curvaceous, lithe figure suddenly appeared in the air, wielding a long, slender war blade.

With a gentle wave of her hand, a soft breeze swept over, steadying Guo Xiaojing’s crumbling emotions. Recognizing the woman, Guo Xiaojing gasped, "Grandmother Diejue? Is it you?"

"Indeed, it is. Come with me," Diejue said in a measured tone, descending to the ground. Guo Xiaojing hesitated but ultimately followed. In the Vermilion Bird Continent, there were two dominant factions: her master, Tianxuan, and this woman, Grandmother Diejue. They were sworn enemies—one ruling the imperial power, the other seeking to overthrow it.

Grandmother Diejue looked at Guo Xiaojing with a sympathetic gaze. "Poor child, a pawn of the imperial power, a disposable sacrifice. Once you have no value, you know your fate. Your suffering is proof enough of their hideous true faces. Will you swallow your pride and let them toy with you, or will you stand up bravely to protect your own interests? The choice is yours."

Recalling her trauma, a torrent of hatred rose in Guo Xiaojing. She declared with iron resolve, "From this day forward, I, Guo Xiaojing, am the eternal enemy of the imperial power and the Vermilion Bird royal family. I will take back everything I have lost!"

Grandmother Diejue replied, "Your current strength is not enough to challenge them. I wish to take you as my disciple and invite you to join the Diejue Divine Sect. Are you willing?"

Guo Xiaojing, blinded by her current turmoil, did not hesitate. "I, Guo Xiaojing, am willing to join the Diejue Divine Sect and take Grandmother Diejue as my master. I will not rest until the imperial power is toppled!"

Grandmother Diejue nodded with satisfaction. "They valued you for your 'Pure Ice Physique,' which can suppress inner demons and shatter cultivation bottlenecks. Though your essence has been taken, the constitution remains. As long as you remain chaste for a thousand years, you can recover it, which will greatly aid your advancement. Since I have taken you as my disciple, I grant you the Heaven-Reaching Divine Treasure, the 'Heart-Severing Blade.' If you can draw it and claim it as your master, it is yours."

Hearing this, Guo Xiaojing felt a surge of fervor. A Heaven-Reaching Divine Treasure was the most powerful type of artifact in the lower realms; even Divine Transformation cultivators rarely possessed one. Even the colossal Vermilion Bird royal family held only two: the Vermilion Bird Feather and the Li Fire Cauldron.

She knelt, raising her hands above her head. "Thank you, Master, for your guidance. I accept the treasure!"

Grandmother Diejue handed her the slender blade. "Draw it. If it is meant to be, it shall be yours."

Guo Xiaojing gripped the blade with her left hand and the hilt with her right. She rose, trembling, her brows arched in fury. Thinking of her past, her hatred was boundless, her eyes cold and ruthless. The Heart-Severing Blade seemed to sense this immense resentment; it vibrated and slowly slid from its sheath. The pale cyan blade was etched with ancient runes, and an aura of hatred—hating heaven, earth, and the firmament—filled the air around her.

Grandmother Diejue trembled with visible excitement. The Heart-Severing Blade had finally emerged; her sect would no longer fear the Vermilion Bird Feather.

The blade’s glow shimmered, and it spoke with a human voice: "You have earned my recognition, yet you cannot be my master fully. Only a person with a shattered heart can wield the Heart-Severing Blade. If your heart remains intact, your hatred will eventually fade."

Guo Xiaojing revealed a tragic, beautiful smile. She struck her own chest with a palm and spat out a mouthful of blood. Enduring the agony, she whispered, "My heart is now shattered in two. Is this enough to make me your permanent master?"

The blade let out an excited chime and transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into Guo Xiaojing’s chest. It lodged within her heart, keeping the organ shattered yet functional, leaving her with a permanent, unhealable wound.

Only then did Guo Xiaojing truly master the blade. Her gaze became as sharp as a knife—an eerie, intoxicating, and terrifying sight. Even Grandmother Diejue was shocked; she had not realized that the seemingly pure and fragile Guo Xiaojing possessed the courage to shatter her own heart. Hatred truly could drive one to madness.

Suddenly, a fiery trail descended, revealing Hui Yuan’s pale face and guilty eyes. Seeing Grandmother Diejue, he instinctively stepped back before saying coldly, "Grandmother Diejue, I advise you to release Guo Xiaojing. Name your price, and I will pay it, provided you do not harm her." He assumed Guo Xiaojing was being held against her will.

Grandmother Diejue’s eyebrows arched. "Bold junior, you dare address me by name? Do not think that because you are some royal prince, you can be disrespectful to your elders. Others may fear your Vermilion Bird clan, but I do not. Do you believe I would hesitate to strike you dead?"

Hui Yuan offered a strained smile. "Do not forget, we are on the Black Tortoise Continent. Foreign Divine Transformation cultivators are suppressed by the continent's laws; you cannot exert even half your strength. I am here representing the royal family to discuss matters with the Lich King, who granted me a spatial teleportation talisman that can summon a full-scale Dao technique. I suggest you do not disturb the local master."

Grandmother Diejue’s silver hair fluttered as she laughed. "Let me tell you the truth: the Lich King invited not only your clan but also me. I am his guest of honor. Do you really think he would offend a Divine Transformation expert for a mere Nascent Soul brat? Using that to threaten me is naive."

Hui Yuan’s expression turned grim. "Then what do you want? Name your price."

Grandmother Diejue laughed heartily. "Stop your hypocritical posturing. I will not push Xiaojing back into the fire. She no longer has what you crave, and you would only humiliate her further. Xiaojing, tell him your choice."

Guo Xiaojing walked forward calmly, looking at Hui Yuan with total detachment. "I am no longer of the Vermilion Bird royal family. I am Grandmother Diejue’s disciple. We are now enemies. Whatever I owed your clan, I have repaid through years of fighting, risking my life, and completing dangerous missions behind enemy lines. If we meet again, I will kill you."

Her words were like blades slicing through Hui Yuan’s soul. For the first time, he felt regret. *Have I truly lost her?*

"Everything I said, everything you saw—it was all to spite you," he stammered. "I have never been able to let you go. Do not believe that old witch’s manipulation; she means you no good!"

Guo Xiaojing said nothing more. She drew the pale cyan blade and pointed it at his face. "I have made myself clear. If you do not leave, I will slay you now."

"If killing me can atone for my mistakes, then strike," Hui Yuan said, closing his eyes in resignation.

"Very well, Hui Yuan. You brought this upon yourself. I will grant your wish and sacrifice your royal blood to my blade!" Guo Xiaojing’s eyes burned with murderous intent.