"How could this be?"
As the closest confidantes to Upper Immortal Qingqing, both Old Lady Jin Hua and Lixin Xianzi knew well that Qingqing had spent centuries trying to awaken the sword spirit of the Lingyu Sword.
Watching the Lingyu Sword spin and dance, emitting its haunting sword-song, they couldn't understand why a perfectly fine sword would suddenly go out of control, nor why its sword spirit would awaken so abruptly.
What puzzled them most was that the Lingyu Sword's sudden mutation was clearly related to this unfamiliar man. But why?
Had this man employed some trick?
Or was there something about him that attracted the Lingyu Sword? Or perhaps there was some connection between this man and the sword itself?
In truth, it wasn't just them who were confused.
Even Gu Qingfeng himself was rather baffled at this moment.
However, he soon felt that this Lingyu Sword seemed familiar—especially the sword-song it emitted and the profound mysteries radiating from its blade. The more he looked, the more familiar it felt. Suddenly remembering something, Gu Qingfeng asked in astonishment, "Are you the Cloud-Water Sword?"
Whoosh!
In an instant, the watery radiance surrounding the Lingyu Sword grew even more dazzling, transforming as if into a flood dragon that coiled around Gu Qingfeng, spiraling upward toward the heavens before descending into his palm, where it slowly rotated. With each rotation, it stirred ripples that spread through the air like tidal waves. Everything around seemed to drift upon a vast ocean, swaying with the undulating ripples.
The Xuantian Vessel was like this; everyone gathered in the air was like this.
No one was exempt.
Watching this scene and sensing the profound mysteries stirred by the Lingyu Sword, Upper Immortal Qingqing, Old Lady Jin Hua, Lixin Xianzi, and the others were utterly shocked. They had never known the Lingyu Sword's power could be so immense and so profoundly mysterious.
Yet beyond shock, their hearts were filled with even greater bewilderment.
For they could see that Gu Qingfeng clearly recognized this Lingyu Sword. Moreover, after he merely uttered the name "Cloud-Water Sword," the Lingyu Sword immediately responded.
What did this mean?
Could it be that Cloud-Water Sword was the Lingyu Sword's former name?
How did this man know?
And what was his relationship with the Lingyu Sword?
They didn't know.
No one understood.
"Well, I'll be! I was wondering why you looked so familiar. So you really are the Cloud-Water Sword!"
Gu Qingfeng seemed rather excited. So excited that he no longer reclined lazily in his chair but stood up, gazing intently at the Cloud-Water Sword rotating in his palm.
Indeed.
He was excited.
He never imagined that in this lifetime, he would encounter a flying sword he had forged so very, very long ago.
That was truly a long, long time ago—roughly when he had first arrived in the Great Desolation. Moreover, he hadn't forged just one sword, but five. Back then, after finding the Essences of the Five Phases in an ancient cave dwelling, he had used the metal, wood, water, fire, and earth essences to forge five Five-Phase Swords.
One was the Purple-Gold Sword.
One was the Vine-Wood Sword.
One was the Cloud-Water Sword.
One was the Crimson-Fire Sword.
And one was the Life-Earth Sword.
Back in those days, it was with these five Five-Phase Swords that he had fought his way out of encirclements by numerous experts, time and again. These five swords had truly contributed greatly to Gu Qingfeng establishing his foothold in the Great Desolation. However, later, when he faced the Great Dao's Judgment—that one trial—not only were the Five-Phase Swords shattered, but his physical body was also judged to ashes.
Although he eventually underwent Nirvana Rebirth and reconstructed his body, he never returned to the original place to search for the Five-Phase Swords.
As so much time had passed, Gu Qingfeng had long since forgotten about them. If not for encountering the Cloud-Water Sword among the Five-Phase Swords today, Gu Qingfeng might have even forgotten that he had once forged these five swords.
"Kid Gu! You... know this immortal sword?"
Huode ran over, eyeing the Lingyu Sword floating and slowly rotating in Gu Qingfeng's palm with secret amazement, asking in confusion.
"Nonsense. I forged this thing back in the day. Of course I know it."
"What!" Huode exclaimed in shock. "You forged this sword?"
"What else did you think?"
Up in the air, when Upper Immortal Qingqing heard Gu Qingfeng say the Lingyu Sword was forged by him, she too was shocked, finding it hard to believe.
She did not doubt Gu Qingfeng's words and believed this Lingyu Sword was indeed forged by him.
The moment the Lingyu Sword shot out from within her, then circled around Gu Qingfeng, its sword spirit awakening and emitting its sword-song, Upper Immortal Qingqing had already guessed that Gu Qingfeng might be the true master of this Lingyu Sword.
After all.
She had reforged the Lingyu Sword and had nurtured it for centuries. She understood clearly that only upon meeting its true master would the Lingyu Sword suddenly go out of control and its sword spirit abruptly awaken. Only upon meeting its long-missed master would the Lingyu Sword be so agitated, so excited.
She simply never imagined that in her lifetime, she would actually meet the true master who had forged the Lingyu Sword all those years ago.
"You! Is the Lingyu Sword truly... forged by... you?"
Lixin Xianzi was also shocked and found it hard to believe. Although she too had guessed the Lingyu Sword might have encountered its true master, her heart still somewhat refused to believe this was real.
"That's right." Gu Qingfeng nodded with a smile. "However, its former name was Cloud-Water Sword."
"This..." Lixin Xianzi stood there stunned, momentarily at a loss for words.
A sudden thought occurred to her.
What if Gu Qingfeng demanded the Lingyu Sword back?
She knew very well how much effort Qingqing had expended trying to awaken the Lingyu Sword, and how much heart, blood, and energy she had poured into this sword. Unfortunately, the Lingyu Sword missed its old master and simply refused to accept Qingqing.
And now, ironically, the old master whom the Lingyu Sword had been longing for and waiting for had truly appeared. Moreover, the Lingyu Sword was clearly very agitated and excited. Needless to say, the Lingyu Sword most likely wished to remain by its old master's side.
In that case, wouldn't Qingqing lose the Lingyu Sword?
Setting aside the immense heart, blood, and energy Qingqing had poured into the Lingyu Sword over the centuries, just the bond cultivated between her and the sword over these years wasn't something one could simply let go of.
But if she didn't let go, what could she do?
Who told her the Lingyu Sword's master had appeared?
If the other party wanted the Lingyu Sword back.
They had no reason not to return it.
Even if they argued till the heavens turned, the Lingyu Sword was forged by him!
If they refused to give it back, word would spread, damaging Qingqing's reputation and the face of the Eternal Life Pavilion. Most importantly, even if they forcibly kept it, now that the Lingyu Sword had met its master, how could it willingly continue to stay by Qingqing's side?
This was truly awful.
Lixin Xianzi didn't know how to comfort Qingqing in this situation.
"You say the Lingyu Sword was forged by you? On what grounds? Just based on your words?"
At this moment, Baize, a disciple of the Eternal Life Pavilion, stepped forward.
Immediately after, Leng Jue also questioned, "You say the Lingyu Sword was forged by you. How can you prove it?"
"Indeed! Who in the Great Desolation doesn't know the Lingyu Sword is Upper Immortal Qingqing's personal sword? How dare you claim you forged it?"
"You have not a trace of cultivation or attainment on your entire body. How could someone like you forge such a powerful and profound Lingyu Sword?"
Following that, Mo Baiyu, Fuying, Yun Zhou, Mu Feng, and others all stepped forward one after another, questioning Gu Qingfeng.