Chapter 1121: Gift

"Humph, you almost sound genuine saying that. In that case, you must be quite along the way of the sword then, being so sincere and all." Long Jianshan's voice dripped with sarcasm.

"Just a little stronger than average."

"That's why you're halfway in the Profound Heaven Stage while we sit at the peak of the Radiant Stage. So that's how. You went and wasted the past century on swordsmanship, crippling your progress in cultivation so much that the juniors overcame you by a mile."

Long Jianshan felt so superior right then, brimming with pride. Qiao'er's eyes were icy, her mind holding nothing but scorn for him.

[Nitwit.]

Luo Sifan's glare bore into him, "Long Jianshan, have you no respect for your elders?"

She then gave a deep bow in apology, "Blind uncle, forgive him. He's been spoiled rotten. I offer my apologies in his place..."

"No need. I've seen this chubby's belligerent and arrogant type these years, more than I could count."

Zhuo Fan waved her off, "I admit that most of the time the past century was focused on understanding the sword and I have stagnated my cultivation. I had no choice but to switch priorities. Having known nothing at all, I had to double my focus to answer that challenge."

"Ha! A Profound Heaven cultivator challenged? Tell me of your adversary and I'll handle it, no problem."

"Long Jianshan, enough!"

Luo Sifan preened, only to have Luo Sifan talk him down. Xie Nianyang was more amazed by the second, "Senior, I'm in complete awe by your glorious insights into the sword after deciding to focus on it, and so late too. I've never seen a more perfect spiritual sword refined even by a grandmaster. They look so alive."

"He-he-he, you got good eyes there, to feel the life inside the blades. Yes, these years were all focused on understanding the sword by refining them. I would go through all 12 grades each time a new insight came. My stores soon grew to millions, while the spiritual swords themselves became more and more alive."

Zhuo Fan took pride in that, "I won't be long now. After my next breakthrough, I will be able to answer the century-old challenge."

Long Jianshan's contempt couldn't be more obvious, "Says the Profound Heaven cultivator wasting his cultivation on looking sharp. How are you going to fight, as a corpse? Spending some little effort on keeping your posture as an elegant and refined man like me is fine. The problem with you is your bland features and being blind. Who are you trying to take in with just a younger face?"

"I've gotten far in my youth and don't need to keep it. I just kept staying like this."

"That's the same as my mom and dad. Unlike Steward Zhuge and Uncle Li, they spent the last century still looking the same." Luo Sifan butted in, to break them up.

Long Jianshan mocked in complete denial, "How is that the same? In this time, Alliance Leader has grown to peak Soul Harmony Stage. This guy used the same time and still not a day over thirty despite Profound Heaven cultivation. I bet he used all his efforts in keeping that lame face all along."

The other two took careful peeks at Zhuo Fan.

The higher the stage, the longer the life, with appearance following this trend over an even longer period. Just like how Luo Yunhai had thousands of years ahead of him as a peak Soul Harmony cultivator and a mere century would feel like going through childhood by comparison, thus keeping those crow's feet and wrinkles at bay.

While Zhuge Changfeng and the others were old to begin with before they received the chance from the Luo clan to bolster their cultivation with the help of sacred stones. They now had a long lifespan as well, but they started off late. They just kept looking the same since they never tried adjusting their appearances.

Most men looked down on using such impractical and useless gimmick only a girl would care about. For women, looks were their life, going to any lengths to keep a pretty face.

This was why most people that kept their youth in their later years proved that they had gotten far in their early years in cultivation, needing no touch up.

As for Zhuo Fan, a Profound Heaven cultivator, he looked nothing like the part of some past great achiever.

Appearances could be deceiving, as Zhuo Fan had been using the True Self Art that regressed his cultivation, while his true level being at peak Soul Harmony Stage. He only got so far and not peak Genesis Stage was due to switching focus on understanding the sword.

"Blind uncle, Long Jianshan has a foul mouth, but he does make sense. Since you have a challenge, you shouldn't have focused on your appearances and having no substance..."

Luo Sifan gave him a bright smile, "Strength grows with cultivation. Dao is reserved for the peak experts. You should be hurrying, oh, here're some sacred stones. Please take them..."

Luo Sifan already took some from her ring and offered.

Zhuo Fan cut her off, looking unphased as ever, "Kids, Dao comes from the heart, not from one's cultivation. Regardless of the path you tread, inspiration and insight comes in a flash. Miss that brief and tiny window and it's never coming back. As for cultivating, that's much easier. With enough resources and time, the sky's the limit. I have spent the last century on the way of the sword and not cultivating all because I knew their value. How far the path lead is how much you can walk it, or you'll be left running in place."

"Tch, what right does a Profound Heaven cultivator have to preach to us?" Long Jianshan scorned, with the other two flinching with lost eyes at the platitudes.

Ding!

Zhuo Fan's hand shone and an azure longsword appeared in his hand. The powerful aura it gave left the three ignorant children gasping.

"T-this..."

"Everblue, 1.88 meters, 4.9 kg, symbolizing the auspicious number nine, the best of its kind. As the head of the alliance, your dad is upright first and foremost. He may have a royal air, but is not forceful. Everblue connects one with the world, broadens one's kingly aura, focusing on grace and benevolence. It will be the best fit for your dad's Dao heart. Take it."

Tracing the blade, Zhuo Fan offered it to Luo Sifan, "After not seeing for so many years, this shall be my gift for his grand-birthday."

The juniors were blown away by the glorious azure the sword was giving. Their hearts were frantic, with even Long Jianshan's antagonistic nature cut short. It was like the sword enchanted them, unable to look away.

Xie Nianyang finally cried out, "A-a 12th grade spiritual weapon, a rarity in all the five lands and the most perfect kind!"

"12th?!" The other two jumped.

"Ha-ha-ha, I told you. I go through the 12 grades when refining after gaining insight. You can just take this one."

Zhuo Fan threw it and Luo Sifan clutched it to her chest. A gentle wind blew at the trio, pushing them out of the shack, "Don't tell your father about me and don't come over again. We're generations apart."

Bam!

The door slammed shut, with the trio shaking all over. Then they turned to the sword with increasing awe.

[Since when could a Profound Heaven cultivator push us three Radiant Stage cultivators? It makes no sense!]

Their hearts sank and then Luo Sifan bowed, "Thank you, senior, for the great gift. I'll never forget it. I shall now take my leave and shall repay you one day for this favor."

The trio walked away.

She finally succeeded in getting a sword. With such a rare treasure, her dad ought to be ecstatic on his birthday.

"Qiao'er, we're leaving."

Zhuo Fan sighed.

Qiao'er asked, "Father, didn't you say..."

"The last of the eight World Wind Tunnels is Sword Star imperial capital's Thunder Pavilion. The five land wide recoil array is almost complete, waiting on the last tunnel to return us to Sacred Domain. Before that, I don't wish to disturb their peace." Zhuo Fan muttered.

Qiao'er nodded in understanding.

Savage energies came out of nowhere, sweeping the entire town.

Qiao'er asked, "Such bloodlust can only come from a killer. What's someone like that doing in these quiet parts?"

"Qiao'er, those ignorant brats showed off their new gift and invited trouble. Go help them." Zhuo Fan spoke.

Qiao'er nodded and flew after the trio. While the blissfully ignorant trio were acting like they were on a field trip, constantly scrambling over who held the sword...