Giving Birth But Not Raising, Why Are You Crying Now That I’ve Become an Immortal Emperor? - Chapter 22 - Chapter 22 – The Sword Forest Assembly! A Sword Named Red Melody

Ye Lingyun silently stared at the woman before him, his biological mother, whom he hadn’t seen for twenty years. His thoughts surged, and his emotions were complicated.

When he was still an infant, his parents sent him away for foster care. Had it not been for the timely intervention of Chu Xi, who saved him, he would have already met his end in the belly of the great Teng snake.

Although he did not like to reminisce about the past, this incident had left a deep mark on his heart, one that he couldn’t let go of.

Now, facing Qin Yao again, memories from the past surged in his mind like a tidal wave, causing him to fall silent.

Opposite him, Qin Yao’s expression remained calm and unruffled, but inwardly, her heartbeat gradually quickened, and she felt a subtle emotional stir.

She gazed intently at Ye Lingyun’s youthful and handsome face. Although this was their first meeting since he had grown up, she still felt a strange sense of familiarity. At the same time, she couldn’t help but think of her long-lost child, whom she had never been able to find.

If her child were still alive, they would probably be around the same age as this young friend now.

“Ye Tian… Is his surname Ye too?”

She sighed inwardly, a trace of sorrow flickering in her beautiful eyes.

After a few moments, Ye Lingyun took the initiative to break the silence between them.

“Senior, you’re too kind. If Ruohong and Ruoxue are my good friends, it’s just a small favor on my part.”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yao looked at him deeply once more, suppressing the myriad of thoughts in her heart. She smiled and nodded, then took out a jade pendant that emitted a faint, radiant light and handed it to him.

“Ye Tian, this jade pendant has the effect of calming the mind and aiding in meditation. It can assist in your daily cultivation. I gift it to you today as a token of my gratitude. Please accept it.”

Ye Lingyun looked down at the jade pendant in her hand, his deep eyes flickering slightly. He recalled how Qin Yao had left him with a jade pendant engraved with his name when she sent him to the village for foster care all those years ago.

He thanked her softly, but when he took the pendant, he did not wear it.

He had no intention of forgiving or revisiting those past events.

“Buzz—”

At this moment, a clear and melodious bell rang from the mountaintop.

From the void above the peak, an invisible ripple suddenly appeared. With the breeze, an old man with white hair and a celestial bearing materialized, stepping forward.

“Fellow cultivators, the opening of the Mount Shu Sword Forest is imminent. Please follow the guiding light to the back mountain for the gathering.”

The elder cupped his hands and spoke faintly, then waved his sleeve. A streak of rosy light shot up from the mountaintop, flying toward the distant peaks.

Upon seeing this, the crowd below immediately became restless, and they began to rush toward the back mountain, following the direction of the guiding light.

However, Ye Lingyun and the others did not need to join the crowded group.

With Qin Yao, the Saintess of Yaochi, present, a Mount Shu elder had already come to personally guide them.

Soon, they arrived at the renowned Sword Forest.

The famous Sword Forest was located on a majestic and perilous peak. Countless swords were embedded in the rocky mountainside, extending as far as the eye could see. Under the sunlight, the swords gleamed with a chilling light.

The sword intent was vast as the abyss, and the sword energy surged like a rainbow, filling the air and stunning all who saw it.

“Young master, the rules for finding a sword in the Sword Forest are simple. According to Mount Shu’s rules, cultivators under the age of thirty may participate.”

“You just need to meditate in front of the Sword Forest until you gain the recognition of one of the swords.”

Xue Yi, who was beside Ye Lingyun, spoke softly to explain.

Hearing this, Ye Lingyun raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“Once you gain recognition, can you obtain a spiritual sword?”

Xue Yi nodded gently and continued, “Yes, but once someone obtains a spiritual sword, others who have not yet received a sword can challenge them to fight for ownership of the spiritual sword.”

“The challenged person can choose to refuse, but it would be a loss of face. If they accept, then the winner of the challenge will claim the sword.”

Hearing this, Ye Lingyun couldn’t help but smile, his lips curling slightly.

“Hehe, this challenge rule is quite interesting.”

Boom—!

Before they could finish speaking, the protective array surrounding the Sword Forest emitted a low hum, and the spiritual light on the protective barrier slowly flowed.

Meanwhile, an elder standing in front of the Sword Forest spoke in a deep voice.

“The opening of Mount Shu’s Sword Forest is imminent. Those fellow cultivators who meet the conditions, please step forward and meditate in front of the Sword Forest. When the array opens, focus and perceive the swords, each relying on their own fate.”

“The mountain’s protective array will drive away those who do not meet the conditions. Please, the rest of you, observe safely and do not take unnecessary risks.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd surged forward, and many young figures began to make their way into the Sword Forest, each looking for a place to settle.

Ye Lingyun, along with the sisters Liu Ruohong and Liu Ruoxue, also walked forward and sat down cross-legged.

They scanned their surroundings, observing the young people around them.

Before long, Liu Ruoxue quietly nudged Ye Lingyun and pointed to a distant area.

“Ye Tian, look over there. Those are people from the Demon God Palace. Ranked 78th on the Nine Provinces’ Prodigies List, his name is Li Yang.”

“That girl beside him is his sister, Li Yue.”

“These two siblings belong to the Demon Clan’s Heavenly Dragon lineage, and they hold a high status in the Demon God Palace. They possess the imperial dragon bloodline.”

Ye Lingyun followed her finger and looked toward the two impressive-looking demon youths.

He had heard of the Nine Provinces’ Young Heroes List before. This list, arranged by the Tianji Pavilion, included all the extraordinary young people under the age of one hundred, both human and demon.

Those who made it onto the list before the age of thirty were undoubtedly exceptionally talented individuals.

“People from the Demon God Palace can also participate in the Sword Forest of Mount Shu?” Ye Lingyun asked in confusion.

Liu Ruohong nodded and took over the conversation.

“I’ve heard that in the Sword Forest, there are not only swords of the human race, but also swords left behind by the demon race.”

“Since the human and demon races are generally at peace now, they are naturally allowed to participate.”

Soon, the spiritual light on the protective array finally stabilized, and the sword energy spread throughout the Sword Forest. The grand event had finally begun!

At that moment, on the white jade platforms built around the Sword Forest, senior figures from various factions, including Mount Shu, Yaochi, and Longhu Mountain, arrived to observe.

At the central platform, the elder who had appeared earlier above the mountain gate, with his celestial bearing, sat upright, chatting casually with the surrounding elders and guests.

“Daoist Changmei, with the Sword Forest opening again, I wonder which famous swords will emerge. I’ve heard there’s an immortal-grade spiritual sword in the Sword Forest, one that has not appeared for a thousand years. Do you think we’ll be fortunate enough to see it today?”

A guest stood and asked aloud.

Daoist Changmei stroked his long beard and smiled faintly.

“Hehe, immortal swords have spirits. Whether or not they recognize a master depends on personal fate. Even I cannot predict.”

As the guests conversed, sword energy frequently howled throughout the Sword Forest, and radiant light soared. It was clear that some people were already beginning to receive swords.

Liu Ruoxue had also successfully gained recognition from an excellent spiritual sword and was overjoyed.

In the next moment, the Sword Forest trembled with the sound of ten thousand swords vibrating!

A red glow shot up into the sky and landed directly in Liu Ruohong’s hand.

As the light faded, a finely crafted red-hued sword appeared before her.

Holy-Grade Sword!

Sword Name: Red Melody!