Chapter 35 – Jianghai Sword God!

Meanwhile, online discussions about Lishui Lake continued to intensify.

In this era of advanced internet connectivity, even trivial matters could trend, let alone a divine spectacle witnessed by countless netizens.

Thus, Qin Yang’s title as “Sword Dao Expert” once again exploded across the internet.

Within an hour, videos of the flying sword piercing through the sky and slaying the Blood Demon spread throughout social media, dominating the top search rankings nationwide.

Marketing accounts, sensing the trend, frenziedly edited and processed the footage, flooding the internet with various popular videos set to background music.

Beneath these videos, countless netizens eagerly discussed, each with different focuses.

“That sword is just too cool! The purple aura arriving from the east, vanquishing the enemy with a single strike—it’s simply a stroke of genius!”

“What a pity we didn’t get to see the shadow of that Sword Dao master.”

“With such formidable strength, he must be an elder, probably even older than Old Man Li!”

“Hey, don’t say that! He might be a rare genius! How can you assume his age?”

Following the incident, the public sentiment department of the Star Martial Police Department issued a notice, urging everyone to avoid approaching Lishui Lake in the short term, especially prohibiting unauthorized swimming or recreational activities in the water.

However, this still couldn’t curb the netizens’ enthusiasm for visiting the site.

Some even coined a nickname for Qin Yang, who hadn’t appeared that day, honoring him as the “Jianghai Sword God,” guardian of the peace and safety of countless households!

From then on, the title of Jianghai Sword God spread by word of mouth, gradually becoming a new symbol of Jianghai City.

………………

Beside Lishui Lake.

Personnel from the Star Martial Police Department were wrapping up their work. Dressed in hazmat suits, they used nets to collect scattered debris from the lake.

They gathered everything from severed limbs with pale, exposed bone fragments to rotting, foul-smelling dead fish, along with numerous tiny leech corpses…

The scene was one of busy, relentless activity.

Three Innate Experts stood by the lakeside, observing the scene.

“Curator, how long do you think it will take for this lake to reopen?” the Police Inspector Commander asked, his hands clasped behind his back.

At that moment, the Curator was seated cross-legged on the grass, his aura restrained. The sleeve on his right arm was torn off, revealing a sturdy shoulder as he circulated his True Essence to resist the Blood Demon’s poison invasion within his body.

Beside him, Elder Li applied medicinal ointment to his body, helping to expel the residual toxic blood.

“It will take at least ten days to half a month before it can reopen. This toxic blood is truly terrifying,” the Curator rasped, his condition clearly somewhat recovered but not as feeble as before.

Yet, he still felt lingering fear.

The post-battle Lishui Lake, ravaged and devastated, had effectively become a fearsome toxic pool.

Even an Innate Expert like himself, upon contact with the toxic blood, could only end up in such a wretched state.

As for ordinary citizens, the consequences would be even more dire.

A single touch would mean certain death!

“In my opinion, to be safe, no one should approach this area for at least half a year,” Elder Li sighed, applying the ointment while gazing at the blackened lake water. “That would be more prudent.”

“Elder Li and Curator, rest assured, I will handle this properly,” the Commander said, turning to look at Lishui Lake.

The lake surface was littered with dead fish, and faintly visible were one or two corpses—all unfortunate Acquired Realm Star Warriors who had sacrificed their lives.

What was once a popular tourist spot had transformed into such a grim and brutal scene, truly heartbreaking.

But…

This was already the best outcome in an unfortunate situation.Elder Li and the others still felt a lingering fear when recalling the previous might of the Bloodthirsty Leech, as if they had just narrowly escaped from hell.

The opponent was practically an overwhelming, crushing-level existence.

If it weren’t for the Sword God stepping in to help this time…

The entire Jianghai City would likely have fallen because of it.

“What a stroke of luck, truly a stroke of luck…”

The Curator sighed, then suddenly noticed Li Zixuan standing by the lakeside.

Her gaze was dazed, as if lost in thought, staring intently at the foul-smelling lake water.

He turned and pointed her out to Elder Li, saying, “Elder Li, isn’t that your student over there? What is she doing there?”

“Xuan Xuan must have been frightened.”

Elder Li stroked his beard and shook his head.

“Don’t disturb her; let her calm down quietly. After all, this is the first time the silly girl has witnessed such a scene…”

The faint murmurs of their discussion drifted over.

Carried by the wind rustling through the willow branches.

Li Zixuan paid no attention to the surrounding conversation, focusing solely on her thoughts as she gazed at the center of Lishui Lake.

By now, the leech’s corpse at the lake’s center had long been shattered to pieces, devoid of any trace of life.

“Is this my teacher’s strength?”

Li Zixuan pondered silently, an involuntary flicker of regret passing through her heart.

She hadn’t expected that even such a commotion hadn’t drawn her teacher out—he had merely ended the Bloodthirsty Leech with a single sword strike.

“I really wish I could hear my teacher’s guidance again.”

The more Li Zixuan thought about it, the more regretful she felt.

Her performance this time had been utterly disappointing.

Reckless, impulsive.

Why hadn’t she assessed the situation more carefully before acting?

Why had she charged forward so rashly, putting herself in unnecessary danger?

Why…

So many mistakes, like an exam paper covered in red crosses.

“My teacher must have been very disappointed to see it.”

At this thought, Li Zixuan bit her lip lightly, her eyes misty with tears, yet she seemed to have made a firm resolution.

She was not one to give up easily.

The path of the Sword Dao was long and arduous.

All her problems ultimately stemmed from her own lack of strength.

“Because I am weak, I nearly lost my life here.”

“But if I master ‘One Sword Opens Heaven’s Gate’ to perfection and can unleash its full power, my teacher will surely be satisfied and come out to see me.”

With this thought,

Li Zixuan tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her gaze resolute, and strode toward the Martial Arts Hall.

…………

The next day.

Library.

“Beep~”

The time clock at the entrance emitted a monotonous, drawn-out sound.

“Punched in, Qin Yang, work time: 07:59 a.m.”

Qin Yang, a fried dough stick clamped between his lips and a cup of sweet soy milk in his right hand, deftly pressed the time clock and slowly stepped into the library.

He hadn’t taken more than a few steps

when Xia He smoothly sidled up to him.

“Tch, cutting it close again, huh, Old Qin.”

Xia He held a sandwich in one hand, glancing down at his phone as he said, “Did you hear about what happened at Lishui Lake yesterday?”

“What happened?”

Qin Yang feigned a yawn and replied, “You mean that Bloodthirsty Demon Worm?”

“Yeah, that’s the one! I should’ve skipped work and gone there myself.”

Xia He sighed with regret. “Damn, what a shame! By the way, since you left early yesterday, did you happen to pass by the lake?”

“No, I was far away from it.”

Qin Yang brushed him off casually.

“Good, good, that makes me feel better. You’re a real pal, Old Qin.”Upon hearing this, Xia He immediately grinned and said, handing his phone to Qin Yang, “Take a look at this live video. It’s not easy to get such a close-up shot, so cherish it while you watch.”

Qin Yang glanced at the video. The footage was blurry, and the person filming had hands shaking like a sieve, yet the scene of a dazzling sword formation annihilating leeches was still visible.

“Pretty impressive, right?”

Xia He leaned back tactically, speaking with admiration, “As expected of my idol! Slashing insects with a single sword—the three Innate Realm experts are nothing compared to him!”

“I knew it. Sooner or later, people would hype me up into a god.”

Qin Yang shook his head, having long anticipated this outcome.

Such is the nature of social media.

Rumors spread like wildfire, and public opinion can melt metal.

It is a place where gods are forged.

(End of Chapter)