The Reason the Heavenly Emperor Sword Heart Was Destroyed

"Changqing, do you still remember what you said when I first accepted you as my disciple?"

Inside the pavilion, the Old Sword Saint gazed at Gu Changqing with a beaming smile.

Gu Changqing said, "If Master was willing to teach me the sword, I would surely repay Master's kindness."

The Old Sword Saint nodded in satisfaction. "It is good that you have not forgotten."

"The reason the Heavenly Secrets Sect has been able to gain a foothold on the Northern Profound Continent is that we hold intelligence on countless matters across the Northern Profound Continent, as well as certain secrets unknown to others."

"Beyond that, the Heavenly Secrets Sect also carries out certain special tasks for certain people."

"For instance, assassination."

"On the surface, our Sword Sect is responsible only for guarding the mountain. But in truth, every assassination mission of the Heavenly Secrets Sect is handled by the Sword Sect."

Gu Changqing's heart tightened.

Over the years he had spent in the Heavenly Secrets Sect, he had learned some of its hidden secrets as well.

The reason the Heavenly Secrets Sect could gain a foothold on the Northern Profound Continent and hold such an exalted position there was because its intelligence network was unimaginably vast, having infiltrated nearly every power on the Northern Profound Continent.

Whether great clans, aristocratic families, or other factions, all feared that the Heavenly Secrets Sect might seize their weaknesses. None dared tear off all pretense with it, much less offend the Heavenly Secrets Sect.

But he had never imagined that the Heavenly Secrets Sect also engaged in assassination.

Still, on second thought, it made sense. Such a secretive organization had always hidden in the shadows, while possessing enormous influence.

For matters such as assassination, the Heavenly Secrets Sect was naturally the most convenient choice.

"What does Master want me to do?" Gu Changqing had already guessed something by then.

The old man smiled approvingly and handed him a list. Upon it were many names, along with some information about each of them.

"My disciple, if you have spoken, then you must follow through."

The Old Sword Saint patted Gu Changqing on the shoulder and left on his own.

Gu Changqing stood there completely stunned.

His sword was meant to right the wrongs beneath heaven, to cut down the injustices of the world, to defy the Heavenly Dao—only because fate itself oppressed men.

Yet now that he had achieved some success in cultivation—

He could never have imagined that this was what awaited him.

This was not his sword path!

But his master's kindness was too great; he could not leave it unpaid. If not for the Old Sword Saint, he would still be wandering the mortal world.

A quarter of an hour later.

Gu Changqing rose to his feet, took that broken woodcutter's blade with him, and walked out of the pavilion, bitterness written across his face.

The night stretched vast and boundless. The heavens were black as ink, without a single star in sight, just like his mood at that moment.

Gu Changqing gazed into the dark night. A moment later, he suddenly soared into the sky.

A quarter of an hour later.

Gu Changqing arrived at a hidden family standing upon the Star Sea Ancient Star.

Its Family Head bore the surname Wang and the given name Teng.

He was a rare prodigy in this world, who had brought prosperity to his family through his own efforts. But he had clearly offended no few people, and the one who had hired the Heavenly Secrets Sect to kill him was evidently among them.

Gu Changqing did not conceal his aura.

Assassination was not his style. When his sword struck, it struck openly and aboveboard.

A powerful sword intent shrouded this ancient star. Every living being upon it awoke in that instant, immense fear and an urge to submit rising within their hearts.

"Which blind fool is this?!"

From the depths of the darkness came a heaven-piercing roar. An exceedingly terrifying aura flooded the sky as it descended.

It was a somewhat plump middle-aged man. With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked down upon Gu Changqing.

Outside the mirror.

The cultivators were stunned.

Because they recognized the man who had appeared.

It was none other than Wang Teng, famed for possessing the bearing of a Great Emperor!

"Wang Teng rose to prominence in ancient times. Though this man possessed peerless talent, he was arrogant to the extreme!"

A cultivator said indignantly.

In truth, he did not need to explain; nearly everyone understood.

Great Emperor!

This was the pinnacle realm of the Northern Profound Continent!

Back then, Wang Teng had declared that he possessed the bearing of a Great Emperor, making sure that everyone under heaven knew of it. For that arrogance alone, the number of people in the world who wanted him dead was impossible to count.

"Wang Teng had indeed shone for an entire era in ancient times, suppressing an entire age. But later, he vanished from the mortal world overnight, and there was never any news of him again."

"Could it be that Wang Teng was killed by the Heavenly Emperor?"

Someone voiced the question.

But the moment those words were spoken, they sparked enormous controversy.

"When Wang Teng was at the height of his glory, his cultivation had already reached the Supreme Realm. He had suppressed countless existences of the same realm. The Heavenly Emperor, meanwhile, has only been in the sword path for four years."

"What could Wang Teng's disappearance possibly have to do with the Heavenly Emperor?"

"Ancient rumors say that Wang Teng offended an Outer Realm Great Emperor, which was why he was slain!"

Someone immediately refuted the claim.

Many silently agreed with those words.

The Wang Teng of that time had been arrogant, yes, but he had the strength to back it up. He was almost invincible in the Supreme Realm and could even battle a Quasi-Emperor.

Other than a Great Emperor, perhaps no one could have killed him!

The Heavenly Emperor's cultivation speed was indeed utterly unreasonable, but facing Wang Teng would be no different from seeking death.

Could it be that the Heavenly Emperor was seeking death?

Everyone froze.

They had all seen Gu Changqing's hesitation in the earlier scene.

Could it be that, rather than let the Heavenly Secrets Sect use him as a chess piece, the Young Heavenly Emperor had gone straight to Wang Teng's door?

After neutralizing Cao Yuwei's attack this time, Mei Gongzi did not rush to counterattack. She merely stood where she was.

Cao Yuwei frowned slightly. Was this little girl's perception truly so sharp? After he had forged flame into armor, he still had other methods at his disposal. If Mei Gongzi had followed up with an attack, he was confident he could use those methods to restrain her. But she had not stepped forward, forcing the ability he had poised and ready to interrupt.

The war blade slashed out again, its surging blade intent several degrees stronger than before. Cao Yuwei moved with the blade, man and weapon becoming one as he charged straight at Mei Gongzi.

The Heavenly Secret Plume in Mei Gongzi's hand traced another Heavenly Mysterious Circle, and with an instantaneous shift, she switched positions. While dissolving her opponent's attack, she also broke his lock-on. The next instant, she was already on the other side. A flash of golden-red light passed over Cao Yuwei's body; had she not dodged quickly enough, another ability would undoubtedly have descended upon her.

A battle of attrition! It seemed she intended to wear Cao Yuwei down.

Yet no one questioned the origin of this ability. After all, the Peacock Demon Race's greatest innate gift was Stellar Transposition. Her technique possessed the same marvelous effect through different paths.

After neutralizing Cao Yuwei's attack this time, Mei Gongzi did not rush to counterattack. She merely stood where she was.

Cao Yuwei frowned slightly. Was this little girl's perception truly so sharp? After he had forged flame into armor, he still had other methods at his disposal. If Mei Gongzi had followed up with an attack, he was confident he could use those methods to restrain her. But she had not stepped forward, forcing the ability he had poised and ready to interrupt.

The war blade slashed out again, its surging blade intent several degrees stronger than before. Cao Yuwei moved with the blade, man and weapon becoming one as he charged straight at Mei Gongzi.

The Heavenly Secret Plume in Mei Gongzi's hand traced another Heavenly Mysterious Circle, and with an instantaneous shift, she switched positions. While dissolving her opponent's attack, she also broke his lock-on. The next instant, she was already on the other side. A flash of golden-red light passed over Cao Yuwei's body; had she not dodged quickly enough, another ability would undoubtedly have descended upon her.

A battle of attrition! It seemed she intended to wear Cao Yuwei down.