"Great Ancestor Emperor above, please bless the Mo imperial family so that our bloodline may continue."
Mo Tianming had ordered a high platform built over the tomb. After filling the offering table before him with incense and candles, he performed three bows and nine kowtows before reaching out to grab the Xuanyuan Sword.
"Buzz!"
A deep hum suddenly rang out from the treasured sword. Countless sword energies shot wildly through the heavens and earth, reducing everything in their path to ruin.
Mo Tianming's heart jolted. The Great Ancestor's treasured sword is truly extraordinary. How can it possess such power? But just then, a golden light flashed across the sword, and in an instant, it sent Mo Tianming flying backward.
Although Mo Tianming did not end up as disheveled as Yan Luotian, he still staggered back two or three steps.
"What's going on?" Mo Tianming roared.
The sword had clearly recognized him as a descendant of the Mo family. Why would it still refuse to let him wield it?
Seeing that Mo Tianming was also unable to take the treasure, Yan Luotian immediately snickered. What use is putting on such a grand show if you still can't take it?
Yan Luotian's smug, villainous expression infuriated Mo Tianming.
"Your Majesty, please don't be anxious. Perhaps this sword is searching for a young descendant of the Mo family," Elder Huli suggested from the side.
Since ancient times, divine weapons and treasured arms had possessed spirits of their own. Ordinary weapons could naturally be used by anyone, but divine artifacts with spirits were different.
Elder Huli pondered inwardly. That must be the reason.
"Fine." Mo Tianming immediately followed his suggestion and ordered people to go to the imperial harem and summon all the royal offspring born to the consorts of the three palaces and six courts.
After this commotion, the solemn imperial mausoleum suddenly became bustling. Numerous consorts, with their faces powdered and painted and dressed in brightly colored clothes, gathered together like a flock of orioles, turning the place into a dazzling fashion show.
Mo Tianming shouted, "Today, I shall make a decision. If any one of My children can take the sword before us into their hands, then regardless of whether they are male or female, they will become the crown prince and the next ruler of the Mu Lan Empire!"
"Ah!"
The consorts covered their cherry-red lips in shock and disbelief. They had spent so many years fighting one another for favor, and now the crown prince's position was actually going to be decided by a broken sword? How arbitrary!
However, many of the consorts were extremely excited. They had given birth to daughters, and if their daughters had a chance to compete for the throne, it would truly be wonderful news.
"I see. Then let My son try first!" The speaker was a huge, broad-waisted fat woman. She was the empress of the Mu Lan Empire and immediately seized first place.
"Elder Sister Empress, that isn't right. I think My son should try first," a consort objected at once.
"Go to hell, you little wench! Who do you think you are?" The empress looked like a shrewish woman. Her fat face twisted as her beady eyes widened. With a swing of her ape-like arm, she slapped the consort and sent her spinning like a top.
"Ah! The empress hit someone! Your Majesty, you must stand up for me! I don't want to live anymore!" The consort was left dizzy from the blow. She wailed and clung to Mo Tianming, seeking comfort.
"Your Majesty, Sister Baihe is too overbearing! She openly struck Sister Ma Rong. You must do something!" A consort named Xiao Lu also took advantage of the opportunity, surrounding Mo Tianming with the others as they chattered incessantly.
"Enough!" Mo Tianming roared furiously, driving away the group of despicable women around him. At a time like this, they still have the nerve to bother me.
"Do as the empress said. Let the First Prince take the sword first."
Hearing Mo Tianming's words, the First Prince, born to the empress, strutted forward first. He jiggled his fat belly and reached out toward the Xuanyuan Sword.
"Come on, son. When we go back, Mother will roast a whole pig for you," the fat empress secretly encouraged her son.
Buzz!
"Ah!" The First Prince was suddenly sent flying by the Xuanyuan Sword. His body, covered in rolls of fat, crashed to the ground and kicked up clouds of dust. He lay unconscious.
"Next."
Seeing that the First Prince was not someone the Xuanyuan Sword recognized, Mo Tianming waved his hand and ordered people to carry him away.
The Second Prince was a malnourished, skinny monkey with a sharp mouth and beady eyes. His frail frame looked as though the wind could blow him away.
Before he could even touch the Xuanyuan Sword, the energy on its blade sent him flying to who knew where.
"Next."
"Imperial Father, carry me!" A three-year-old toddler was held in a consort's arms. He cried and demanded that Mo Tianming carry him, giving Mo Tianming a splitting headache.
After one child tried and then another, every one of the children before him had taken their turn, yet not a single one could lift the peerless divine weapon.
Mo Tianming knelt before the tomb in despair. If the Great Ancestor Emperor had released this treasured sword, why would he then make it impossible to take? What was the meaning of this?
Just then, the Xuanyuan Sword suddenly moved and transformed into a streak of red light that shot toward the depths of the imperial palace.
Mo Tianming, Yan Luotian, and the others' pupils contracted. They hurriedly used their own abilities to pursue it.
The Cold Palace.
"Mother, when will Father come see Youyou? Youyou has grown so big, but I still haven't even seen what Father looks like!"
Inside the Cold Palace, a fourteen-year-old girl sat on a little stool with her chin propped in both hands. She wore tattered clothes covered in patches.
"Soon. Your father is very busy." The beautiful woman before the girl looked haggard as she spoke.
She was a consort named Murong Wan, whom Mo Tianming had banished to the Cold Palace.
Ever since she had been sent there, Mo Tianming had never come even once. He had not shown the slightest concern when she gave birth to her child, and she was often bullied by palace maids and eunuchs. Her days were extremely bitter.
"Huh? Mother, something seems to be flying over from the sky." Mo Youyou stared with her bright, limpid eyes and blinked her long eyelashes like little fans.
Whoosh!
In an instant, a long sword descended into the little courtyard and plunged straight into the ground before Mo Youyou.
The sight startled Murong Wan. She hurriedly set down the clothes she had been washing and shielded Mo Youyou behind her.
"Wow, how amazing!"
Mo Youyou reached out and poked the sword hilt with one finger. The long sword immediately began to hum, radiating a soothing light.
Crack.
Mo Youyou's little hand closed around the hilt, and the incomparably heavy Xuanyuan Sword was lifted with ease. She gave it a slight wave, and with a thunderous boom, the tall wall in the distance instantly turned to dust.
At the same time, Mo Tianming and the others arrived after hearing the noise. They were all stunned by the sight before them.
"Mo Tianming, what are You doing here?" When Murong Wan saw Mo Tianming slowly descending from the sky, her expression changed slightly. She glared at him with the fury one reserved for an enemy.
"This is My daughter?" Mo Tianming's attention was entirely focused on Mo Youyou, who was playing with the Xuanyuan Sword. He asked curiously, "What is her name?"
"Mo Youyou." Murong Wan's expression was cold.
"Good name." Mo Tianming scooped the bewildered Mo Youyou into his arms with one hand and shouted, "Today, I, the Emperor, announce that from this day onward, this girl is the crown prince of the Mu Lan Empire and its future ruler!"
The next day!
"Soldiers, bleed with me!"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
"Kill, kill, kill!"
Saber rode at the head of the charge, leading an advance army of a hundred thousand into the heartland of the Mu Lan Empire. They seized passes and defeated generals along the way, taking down dozens of military strongholds. This lightning assault caught the Mu Lan Empire completely off guard.
At the same time, Xie Biyan and Xie Shan led the disciples of the Ten Thousand Scorpion Gate, while Yun Shan and Yun Yun led the disciples of the Misty Cloud Sect. Each commanded armies numbering several hundred thousand, appearing on the left and right wings and coordinating with the advance force from afar.
Na Lan Yan Ran and her grandfather, Nalan Jie, led an army to block the route through which the Yan Luo Empire's reinforcements had to pass.
Warfire spread and smoke filled the skies. Whenever a Dou Zong or Dou Emperor entered the battlefield, they were virtually unstoppable. More than a dozen massive legions advanced like a procession and effortlessly reached the outskirts of the Mu Lan imperial capital.
With the enemy at the gates, the people inside the city panicked. Yet for the Jia Ma Empire, as long as the Mu Lan capital fell, victory in this battle would be certain.
"I am Yan Luotian, Sect Master of the Golden Goose Sect! Who dares fight me to the death?"
Yan Luotian stood atop the walls of the Mu Lan capital, possessing the imposing air of Zhang Fei holding a pass against ten thousand enemies.
When the power of a seven-star Dou Zong erupted, Xie Biyan and Yun Shan repeatedly retreated, not daring to challenge him. Countless legions wavered, afraid to advance even a single step.
"Excalibur, Sword of Victory!"
Just as Yan Luotian was lamenting how lonely it was to be invincible, a golden sword beam that shook heaven and earth pierced through the sky and came crashing down upon him.
"Whoa!"
Yan Luotian was scared witless. The energy struck him, and he spat out a mouthful of blood before his body crashed deep into the ruins, his life or death unknown.
"Long live My King!"
"Victory to Jia Ma!"
"Long live My King!"
"Victory to Jia Ma!"
The morale of every legion soared.
In the distance, Saber waved her long sword and softly parted her lips. "Attack."
Nearly a million soldiers below the walls rubbed their fists and prepared for battle, surrounding the Mu Lan capital so densely that not even water could pass through.
As soon as the order was given, the soldiers attacked the major gates in the east, west, south, and north. Crossbow bolts rained down from the walls, while huge rocks were hurled from below. Harrowing cries of people calling for their fathers and mothers rang out without end.
Mo Tianming led a squad of royal guards up onto the wall, holding a girl's hand with one hand.
"Youyou, My good daughter, the survival of the Mo imperial family depends on You." Mo Tianming crouched down and placed both hands on Mo Youyou's shoulders.
The dignified ruler of an entire nation had actually placed his hopes on a little girl.
Mo Youyou looked utterly confused, but she still nodded woodenly.
Her slender arms lifted the Xuanyuan Sword and swung it toward the densely packed enemy troops beneath the wall.
"Rumble!"
A sword beam capable of sweeping away ten thousand soldiers suddenly appeared. Carrying an overwhelming, world-destroying might, it cleaved straight downward.
"Ahhhhhhh!"
More than ten thousand soldiers attacking the city were struck by the sword beam. Their bodies exploded into clouds of blood, while experts above the Dou Shi level and below the Dou Ling level all vomited blood and collapsed.
Yet Mo Youyou casually swung the long sword again. A terrifying sight unfolded once more. Another wave of wails rose from below the walls, with severed limbs scattered everywhere and heads rolling through rivers of blood.
"This is bad! Sound the retreat!" Xie Biyan and Yun Shan were horrified. What kind of expert was on the city wall? How could she possess such heavenly might?
Seeing how powerful the other side was, Saber immediately closed in, her long sword slashing straight at Mo Youyou, who held the Xuanyuan Sword.
Mo Youyou, however, did not care in the slightest. She lightly raised the Xuanyuan Sword to block.
Clang!
The two swords collided with earth-shaking force. Wave after wave of air spread outward in circles around the two of them, blowing everyone off their feet.
"Ah!" Saber suddenly cried out in pain. Mo Youyou struck her with a single sword blow, sending her flying. She rolled dozens of times across the ground before finally coming to a stop.
Mo Tianming was ecstatic. Even a peak Dou Zong expert was no match for Mo Youyou. It was clear just how powerful this treasured sword was.
"Retreat!" Blood spilled from Saber's mouth. She was no longer able to fight, so she hastily led the countless wounded soldiers away.
"You want to run? Not a chance!" Mo Tianming was overjoyed and hurriedly ordered the entire army to pursue the retreating enemy and strike them down.
As the saying went, fortune turned like a wheel. After a day and a night of pursuit, the Mu Lan Empire had reclaimed the territories it had lost.
Seeing the favorable situation, the Yan Luo ruler proposed that the Mu Lan and Yan Luo armies join forces the next day to attack the Jia Ma Empire and let Jia Ma taste the same bitterness.
Of course, that depended on Mo Youyou and the treasured sword in her hands.
Before you continue