384 Heavenly Sword Vault
Directorate of Astronomy.
Despite this great storm in Heavenly Revelations City, the people in the Directorate of Astronomy remained detached from the incident and continued their lives as if nothing had happened. The person training his sword continued training, the people catching their butterflies continued catching, the person reading his books continued reading, and they all passed their time leisurely.
Xie Xuan and Qi Tianchen were sitting in the sky tower playing chess. Xie Xuan put down a black stone and smiled. "This time, Heavenly Revelations City weathered a dangerous crisis but you didn’t go to the palace to protect His Majesty the Emperor. Wouldn’t you be censured for this?"
"Back then, the one sword from Snow Moon infiltrated Heavenly Revelations City filed with murderous intent. Naturally, I had to be there to protect. This time, the Langya Army invaded the city and came with the intent to kill someone else. Before it happened, I tested the little Prince and knew that His Majesty was not at risk.” Qi Tianchen waved his horsetail whisk, then suddenly turned his head. “We have distinguished guests again.”
"It’s probably related to that matter," Xie Xuan said pointedly.
Qi Tianchen yawned. "I'm already an old man, and my time is approaching. I can’t be bothered with other people’s business."
"The State Preceptor must be kidding. The State Preceptor has cultivated halfway to the Profound Realm. It can’t be difficult to live another sixty years." Xie Xuan shook his head.
"Back then, nobody thought that Sectmaster Lü would die so early either." Qi Tianchen seemed to be implying something with his words.
Xie Xuan's expression also became serious. "What happened?"
"Do you know about Yong’an Prince and his friends going to the immortal mountain beyond the sea in search of the immortal?" Qi Tianchen asked suddenly.
"Of course I know. I pointed out the way for them." Xie Xuan nodded.
"The immortal on the sea is my shidi, Mo Yi. He has cultivated into the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm and is half-man, half-immortal. However, because of his obsession with his past, he entered the Ghost Immortal realm. Baili Dongjun, who had also entered the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm, was not his match. I used the Dragon-Seeking array and projected my spirit over thousands of miles to support them. Finally, although we managed to suppress his inner demons, I suffered a major backlash at the same time." Qi Tianchen sighed.
"Shifu, they’re here." Zitong and Fei Xuan brought the guests up.
Xiao Se, Lei Wujie, and Li Fansong who happened to meet them downstairs.
"State Preceptor." They bowed their heads respectfully and greeted, "Mister Xie."
"Your Highness Yong’an Prince, why have you come to visit again?" After asking the question, Qi Tianchen patted Zitong's head and added, "The two of you can go and continue playing."
"It's still regarding the matter about my friend. I’m here to ask the State Preceptor for help," Xiao Se said.
"That monk?" Qi Tianchen was not surprised. "The last time you were here, Mister Xie Xuan already told you how to save him."
"Yes. We understand the method to cure him and have also obtained the materials we need. But, a few days ago, before the palace gates, I saw for myself when he struck a move with his palm. Only then did I understand this matter is not as simple as I thought. Least of which is that none of us are a match for my friend as he is now. In Heavenly Revelations City, I’m afraid the only one who can stop him is probably you, State Preceptor," Xiao Se said.
Xie Xuan raised his eyebrows. "I’m not his match either?"
"To be honest, no," Lei Wujie said. "The Wrath Sword Immortal once exchanged blows with him and wasn’t his match. At the time, the Wrath Sword Immortal, me, Lanyue Marquis and both Jin Wei and Jin Yu Gonggong together couldn’t stop him."
"That big demon head couldn’t beat him too? Although I’m confident that my swordsmanship is far from ordinary, I dare not claim I’m able to defeat Yan Zhantian. So, I’m no match for Wuxin now," Xie Xuan said evenly without a trace of distress in his tone.
Qi Tianchen sighed lightly. "I’m afraid that with my current level, I’m not a match for him either." He flicked his horsetail whisk and swept a move at Xiao Se.
Xiao Se was startled and he pushed out a palm to intercept the whisk.
That was when he realised that Qi Tianchen’s breath was boundless and majestic, but while it was still suffused with an imposing immortal aura, it seemed to be intermittent and unsustainable. He finally understood that after the ultimate duel that day, Qi Tianchen suffered a serious and irreversible injury. Today, he still looked powerful on the surface but the truth was, his internal breath was already damaged and his time was running out.
"State Preceptor…" Xiao Se was stunned.
"Everything in the world has its cause and effect. Don't worry, I still have something I have to accomplish. I won’t die yet." Qi Tianchen smiled.
"It's a pity that Senior Mo Yi and Citymaster Baili are still immersed in their grand dream. Who else in this world can save Wuxin?" Lei Wujie sighed.
"You don’t have me, don’t have Citymaster Baili, but you still have yourselves." Qi Tianchen smiled. "Has the recent upheaval in Heavenly Revelations City eroded your spirit? Your Highness Yong’an Prince, haven’t you always believed in only yourself?"
Xiao Se was taken aback and his eyes lit up. "What State Preceptor means is…"
"Although Wuxin is strong, has he entered the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm?" Qi Tianchen asked again.
Xiao Se shook his head. "He has yet to."
"That’s it, then. If you can enter the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm, you’ll be able to surpass him." Qi Tianchen chuckled. "If it really doesn’t work, you should still be able to reach halfway to the Profound Realm like me."
"What are you talking about?" Lei Wujie was confused. "If it was that simple to enter the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm, wouldn’t everyone under Heaven be martial experts? Even Citymaster Sikong and Mister Xie Xuan haven’t achieved it, how could we? "
"No, there’s a very simple way," Xiao Se said suddenly.
Xie Xuan smiled slightly. "This is getting interesting."
Beili Imperial Palace, Sword Vault.
The Sword Vault was where the famous swords through generations of the Beili imperial dynasty were enshrined and it was usually guarded by Jin Wei Gonggong. Although in name, it was just a building used for storing treasured swords, it was actually the most dangerous place in the imperial palace. It was the last resort shelter constructed by the Xiao Clan imperial family for themselves. It was said to be easy to defend and difficult to attack, as it was densely packed with all sorts of mechanisms. Only the successor of the throne and the Eunuch of Sword knew all the secrets within.
Langya Prince Xiao Lingchen, who had just left the Hall of Supreme Peace, was now standing outside the gate to the Sword Vault.
"Your Highness, although His Majesty allowed Your Highness to roam freely around the palace, but this Sword Vault… pray Your Highness be careful." The attendant accompanying him was trembling a little.
"Be careful about what? Jin Wei is already dead, and as for this Sword Vault, if it were up to me? I’d set the whole thing on fire." Xiao Lingchen scoffed coldly, pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The inside of the Sword Vault was extremely dark, with only a faint light from a few flickering candles. But, on closer look, one could make out a dense cold light. The famous swords that were enshrined inside were placed in a row as if they were being ranked and arranged on a shelf, looking imposing and oppressive. Xiao Lingchen swept his gaze over the swords one by one, as if he was looking for something.
In the darkness, several figures moved.
"These must be the legendary sword bondbearers?" Xiao Lingchen looked at the figures who stayed in the shadows without revealing themselves. "I’m going to take a sword from here today. May I?"
"The sword must respond. We have no opinion." A muted voice answered him from the darkness.
"Then I shall ask you, which is the best sword in here?" Xiao Lingchen asked.
"Celestial Palace. This sword was known as the number one sword of justice in the world, ranked eighth on the Sword Heart Tomb’s Register of Swords."
"Who did the sword belong to before?"
"Beili Grand Protector, Langya Prince Xiao Ruofeng."
Xiao Lingchen nodded, suddenly reached out a hand, and yelled out, "Celestial Palace!"