Eastern Xuan Hall remained as ancient and solemn as ever, though a faint trace of killing intent seemed to linger in the air.
Xuanyuan Che entered the great hall. Lu Xuanchen stood with his hands behind his back before a chessboard, gazing at the unfinished game with a calm expression, as though the earth-shaking battle from moments ago had never happened.
"Master." Xuanyuan Che stepped forward.
Lu Xuanchen turned around, his gaze falling upon Xuanyuan Che. There was a trace of scrutiny in his eyes, but even more approval.
"You've come." Lu Xuanchen spoke lightly, his tone even, revealing neither joy nor anger.
"This disciple has some questions." Xuanyuan Che came straight to the point.
"About the Nangong Family, or about... the Sword Devouring Gu?" Lu Xuanchen seemed to have anticipated Xuanyuan Che's visit and directly exposed the matter.
Xuanyuan Che's heart stirred. Sure enough, this master of his was not as indifferent as he appeared.
"Alas..."
"Three hundred years ago, the Sword Pavilion was destroyed because of the Nangong Family." Lu Xuanchen slowly began, his voice low and carrying the vicissitudes of time.
"Back then, in order to refine an evil gu called the 'Supreme Devouring Gu,' the Nangong Family needed vast quantities of sword cultivators' Essence Blood and Sword Souls." Lu Xuanchen continued, disgust coloring his tone. "And as the foremost sword dao sect in the Eastern Wasteland Domain, the Sword Pavilion naturally became the Nangong Family's target."
"The Nangong Family plotted in secret, colluded with traitors within the Sword Pavilion, and launched a surprise attack overnight, slaughtering them all." Lu Xuanchen's voice turned icy, carrying a trace of fury. "Seven hundred elite sword cultivators from the main pavilion met no exception. The Sword Pavilion's ten-thousand-year foundation was destroyed overnight."
Xuanyuan Che listened in silence, rage rising in his heart. Seven hundred sword cultivators slaughtered in a single night—such a tragedy was simply monstrous beyond all reason.
"Supreme Devouring Gu..." Xuanyuan Che murmured.
"The Supreme Devouring Gu is the final form of the Sword Devouring Gu—the Sword Devouring Gu after its nine transformations are complete." Lu Xuanchen explained, "Once refined, it can devour countless Sword Souls and control the power of the sword dao. It can slay Supremes."
"The Nangong Family was wildly ambitious. They wanted to use the Supreme Devouring Gu's power to control the sword dao of the Eastern Wasteland Domain and raise their standing in Central Continent." Lu Xuanchen sneered. "Unfortunately, despite all their scheming, they ultimately fell short at the last step. Oh, no, that isn't quite right. After all, you saved that little girl too. Hehehe."
"Oh?" Xuanyuan Che's heart tightened.
At last, they had reached the heart of the matter.
"The refinement of the Supreme Devouring Gu is exceedingly demanding. Heaven, earth, and man—all three are indispensable." Lu Xuanchen said. "Though the Nangong Family obtained sword cultivators' Essence Blood and Sword Souls, they lacked the most crucial item."
"This thing is neither a Sword Soul nor a Sword Bone. Even that little girl does not possess it at present."
"What is it?" Xuanyuan Che was intrigued.
"Sword Heart." Lu Xuanchen slowly uttered the two words.
"Sword Heart?"
"The Sword Heart is the core of a sword cultivator's soul, the embodiment of sword dao will." Lu Xuanchen explained. "Only one with a pure Sword Heart can truly command the power of the sword dao. Refining the Supreme Devouring Gu also requires a Sword Heart as its catalyst."
"Although the Nangong Family annihilated the Sword Pavilion and obtained sword cultivators' Essence Blood and Sword Souls, they could not obtain a Sword Heart." Lu Xuanchen sighed. "Because a Sword Heart cannot be seized. It can only be nurtured by one born for the sword."
"And without a Sword Heart, the Sword Devouring Gu may still undergo its nine transformations, but it will no longer hold much value for those people."
Xuanyuan Che nodded. The Nangong Family had exhausted every scheme, yet overlooked the most crucial link. In the end, it was like drawing water with a bamboo basket—nothing but emptiness.
The Nangong Family thought that obtaining Mu Qingxue's Guixu Sword Body would allow the Supreme Devouring Gu to reach completion.
Yet in the end, it was like drawing water with a bamboo basket—nothing but emptiness.
"Master, for the Nangong Family to act so..." Xuanyuan Che was somewhat puzzled. The Sword Pavilion's destruction and the deaths of seven hundred sword cultivators were no small matter.
The Sword Pavilion might not have been renowned throughout Central Continent, but it was at least a famous name in the surrounding dao domains. It was impossible that no one would seek justice for them.
For example, Lu Xuanchen clearly knew certain secrets, yet he had never made any major move.
The Nangong Family alone was surely not qualified for such things.
Lu Xuanchen fell silent for a long time before slowly speaking. "Your master knows. The Sword Pavilion Master of that year even had some connection with me."
"After the Sword Pavilion was destroyed, I also investigated in secret, wishing to avenge it." Lu Xuanchen's voice lowered, carrying a trace of guilt. "But the Nangong Family possessed immense influence in Central Continent and had deep roots. Tug one hair, and the whole body moved. At the time, I had not yet broken through to the Supreme realm. I stood alone and weak, unable to contend with them."
"Later, my strength improved, but the more I investigated this matter, the more troublesome I found it." Lu Xuanchen paused, his tone growing complicated. "There was an even deeper reason behind the Sword Pavilion's destruction. The Nangong Family was merely acting on orders."
Xuanyuan Che frowned. "Master means that behind the Nangong Family, there is an even stronger force?"
Lu Xuanchen nodded, his expression turning grave. "Though the Nangong Family can be considered a powerful force in Central Continent, what truly allows them to act without restraint is the patron behind them—a powerful Lineage in Central Continent."
"A powerful Lineage in Central Continent?" Xuanyuan Che repeated, pondering which powerful Lineages existed there.
"Master, could you mean one of the Five Great Ancient Families of Central Continent—the Sword Dao Xiao Family?" Xuanyuan Che asked, a vague guess forming in his heart.
"Precisely." Lu Xuanchen was somewhat surprised by the breadth of Xuanyuan Che's knowledge.
"The Nangong Family is nothing more than a dog raised by the Xiao Family."
Xuanyuan Che narrowed his eyes.
"The Xiao Family and the Sword Pavilion were vastly unequal in strength, and both belonged to the sword dao lineage. Why would they destroy the Sword Pavilion?" He could not understand.
The Ancient Noble Families of Central Continent possessed profound foundations. Could it truly be because of the Supreme Devouring Gu? Such a family surely did not lack Supremes.
"For Myriad Swords Return to Origin." Lu Xuanchen slowly spoke the four words, caution in his tone.
"Myriad Swords Return to Origin?" Xuanyuan Che was confused. The name sounded like some kind of sword dao divine ability.
He had only just entered the Lower Realm. Though he had read many books, he did not know enough about its hidden secrets.
"Myriad Swords Return to Origin is rumored to be one of the highest sword dao secret scriptures. At some unknown point, the Sword Pavilion became entangled in the karma of this thing." Lu Xuanchen explained. "It is said that Myriad Swords Return to Origin contains the secret of the sword dao's origin. Once fully comprehended, one can command all swords beneath heaven, achieve the Supreme realm in the sword dao, and perhaps even..."
Lu Xuanchen pointed toward the heavens, yearning in his heart.
"Did they obtain it?"
"They did, but the Sword Pavilion possessed only a fragmentary page. Their objective was not fully achieved."
"To act with such utter madness, does no one in Central Continent care?" Xuanyuan Che was curious.
Back at home, he had heard many stories of Heaven's Chosen Sons and righteous sects in the Lower Realm.
Lu Xuanchen gave a bitter smile. "The forces of Central Continent are tangled and intertwined, their roots coiling together. That Lineage is an Ancient Noble Family with immense power. Who would dare provoke them lightly?"
"And..." Lu Xuanchen paused, helplessness entering his voice. "Which of those great powers in Central Continent does not scheme and deceive, stabbing one another in the back for their own interests? Why would they offend the Xiao Family for a Sword Pavilion in the Eastern Wasteland Domain?"
Flying!
Xuanyuan Che curled his lip.
"Master spared Nangong Huo to let the tiger return to the mountain and lure the snake from its hole, didn't he?" Xuanyuan Che shifted the subject.
"As expected of my disciple—clever indeed! Nangong Huo is merely a minor character. The true big fish is still in that Lineage." Lu Xuanchen's gaze was deep, and he carried the air of an immortal sage.
Xuanyuan Che could not help feeling anticipation. He understood Lu Xuanchen's meaning.
What secrets was that Lineage still hiding?
"Enough, we'll leave it here for today." Lu Xuanchen rose and walked to the window, gazing into the distance.
"Oh, right. In a while, I'll take you to Central Continent. The Academy Grand Competition, hosted by Xuanhuang Academy—the academy known as the finest under heaven—is about to begin. It comes once every hundred years, and the opportunity is rare! With you and your senior brothers and sisters, this competition is in the bag! Hahahahahahahahahaha!"
"Lunatic."
Before you continue