Shen Chu didn't mention anything regarding Sword Immortal. However, seeing the ancient sword resting quietly in Riven's hand, the gathered disciples and elders simply could not think of any other possibility.
To them, the answer was obvious that the Sword Immortal had entrusted his sword to this mysterious young man.
No one dared ask questions and speculate aloud.
Still, countless thoughts churned within their minds.
Riven and Shen Chu ignored the gazes around them and slowly walked toward the Skylance Roc. But just as they were about to board it, Riven's footsteps halted.
His gaze swept across the crowd before stopping on a particular disciple. Immediately, the elders and disciples who had been present in the Law Enforcement Hall yesterday became nervous.
However, others became excited wondering if someone had caught the eye of the Sword Immortal.
Riven raised a finger and pointed towards the group of disciples and said, "You there, come forward."
The disciple who had suddenly been singled out froze. He instinctively looked around, wondering whether someone else had been called.
Seeing Riven still looking at him, his heart jumped.
At the same time, discussions erupted among the crowd.
"It's Bai Zhou!"
"Do you think the Sword Immortal has noticed his talent?"
"He practices the sword. Maybe his sword intent is extraordinary."
"It is normal. A figure like the Sword Immortal can probably see through the talent of others with a single glance."
"I heard Bai Zhou ranked among the top disciples in sword arts even among the inner sect."
Many disciples looked at Bai Zhou with envy. Even Alan, standing nearby, widened his eyes. He had not expected his friend to suddenly attract the attention of such an existence.
Bai Zhou himself was confused. Still, he steadied his breathing and walked forward and stopped before the two; he respectfully bowed.
"Greetings, Sword Immortal."
"Greetings, Sect Ancestor."
Riven looked at him quietly. His eyes lingered on the sword hanging from Bai Zhou's waist, and after a moment, he smiled.
"You practice the sword?"
Bai Zhou immediately nodded.
"Yes, Sword Immortal."
Riven nodded.
"Good."
Without another word, he raised the ancient sword in his hand and extended it toward Bai Zhou.
"Take it."
He then handed the Sword Immortal's ancient sword to Bai Zhou and said, "From now on this sword is yours. Take good care of it."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Bai Zhou's eyes widened as his brain completely stopped functioning.
Not just him, everyone present stood frozen, including the Sect Master, the Hall Master, the Vice Sect Master, and Shen Chu; even the elders who had lived for centuries became dumbfounded.
No one had expected such a development.
This was the sword of the Sword Immortal, the weapon that had accompanied the strongest being of the plane for countless years. Yet it had just been handed to a disciple who was practically unknown.
And not by the Sword Immortal himself but by Riven.
For a moment, even the Sect Master felt his scalp become numb. They didn't know what happened yesterday, and Riven got his hands on the sword of Sword Immortal, and he wanted to stop this.
He wanted to ask questions, but he couldn't because the sword no longer belonged to the Sword Immortal, as it had been left in Riven's possession, and if Riven wished to gift it away, who among them had the qualifications to object?
Still, everyone felt uneasy. If the news spread outside, other sects would surely go mad, as many would believe Bai Zhou had inherited the Sword Immortal's legacy.
The Heavenly Sword Sect itself might come personally.
The Sect Master silently made a decision that no matter what happened, today's events had to remain a secret.
Meanwhile, Bai Zhou remained standing foolishly, his mouth opening and closing several times. He didn't even dare touch the sword.
Seeing his expression, Riven chuckled.
"What?"
"You don't want it?"
Bai Zhou immediately shook his head.
"No! I-I mean—"
"This disciple is unworthy..."
Riven simply placed the sword into his hands.
"Then become worthy."
"Since I gave it to you, keep it."
The weight of the sword entered Bai Zhou's arms. The young disciple felt as though his soul had left his body.
This was happening too suddenly.
He had originally come merely to witness the Sect Ancestor and the Sword Immortal.
Yet somehow...
He had ended up holding the Sword Immortal's sword. Even Alan beside the crowd looked at him with disbelief.
'Brother Bai...'
'What kind of heavenly fortune have you stumbled upon?'
Riven no longer paid attention to everyone's expressions. Instead, he turned toward Shen Chu.
"Let's go."
Shen Chu recovered from his shock and hurriedly nodded.
"Yes, Immortal Master."
The two stepped onto the back of the Skylance Roc, and with a powerful flap of its wings, the enormous beast rose into the sky.
Everyone below watched respectfully, but before the Roc could even leave their sight, the surrounding space distorted and the Roc simply vanished.
The crowd erupted.
"They disappeared!"
"What technique was that?"
"So fast!"
"As expected of immortals!"
Meanwhile, Bai Zhou stood rooted to the ground.
He still held the ancient sword in his trembling hands. His mind was completely blank.
...
High above the endless forests, the Skylance Roc reappeared. They had instantly crossed the distance they had traveled the previous day.
The beast continued flying calmly.
For some time, Shen Chu remained silent. However, one question had been troubling him for quite a while, and unable to hold himself back, he finally spoke.
"Immortal Master."
"I have been wondering something."
Riven glanced at him.
"What is it?"
Shen Chu hesitated.
"If you can teleport so easily, why do we even need to travel to the Thaloryn Continent?"
"Wouldn't it be faster for you to simply teleport there?"
Riven smiled.
"It's not as simple as you think."
"Yes, I can teleport, but that doesn't mean I can appear anywhere I wish."
Shen Chu listened attentively.
"You see, I have walked through Drifting Mist City. I have seen the pavilion, and I know those places, so I can directly appear there. But the Thaloryn Continent?"
"I have never even been there, and if I were to rely solely on a map..."
Riven smiled helplessly.
"I might arrive on the continent or perhaps I would find myself in the middle of the ocean."
"Or buried beneath a mountain."
"Or inside a volcano."
"Who knows?"
Shen Chu immediately understood. In other words, teleportation required familiarity, and a map alone wasn't enough.
Which meant even immortals had limitations.
"I understand, Immortal Master."
However, another question surfaced in his mind. After hesitating for a while, Shen Chu finally asked.
"Immortal Master."
"Why did you give the Sword Immortal's sword to that young disciple?"
"I thought there was some deeper meaning behind it."
Riven laughed.
"A deeper meaning?"
Shen Chu nodded.
Riven shook his head.
"Not really."
"When I told the Sword Immortal that I don't use swords and that the sword would merely become an ornament in my hands, I asked whether he minded if I gave it to someone else."
"And?"
"He said I could do as I wished."
"As long as the next owner was someone who used the sword."
Shen Chu nodded.
Then suddenly froze.
Riven continued naturally.
"So, when I looked at the crowd, I simply gave it to the first disciple I saw carrying a sword."
"..."
Shen Chu became speechless.
He had imagined countless possibilities.
Perhaps Bai Zhou possessed extraordinary talent.
Perhaps he was fated.
Perhaps Riven had foreseen something.
Yet...
The truth was so simple that Shen Chu nearly doubted his ears.
The future owner of the Sword Immortal's weapon had been decided because he happened to be the first sword cultivator Riven noticed.
For a moment, Shen Chu genuinely pitied Bai Zhou.
The poor boy would probably spend his entire life wondering why he had been chosen.
While the actual reason was ridiculously simple.
Suppressing the strange expression on his face, Shen Chu chose not to say anything.
Some truths were better left unknown.