The Sword Unsheathing Stone

Cult Master.

Void Dao Realm experts could merge with the Dao and touch the Great Dao. Even in the Three Thousand Provinces of the Upper Realm, beings at this level were titans, powerful enough to shake several provinces and establish an immortal lineage.

And yet such titans had fallen here—and not just one.

How brutal had the ancient war been?

Su Ye felt that what he knew about this world was probably no more than a drop in the ocean. "Could those titans still be alive?"

Fairy Menglian, a True God, had not completely perished, and God Emperor Qimu's primordial spirit had survived. It stood to reason that those Cult Master-level beings might not be entirely dead either. This world was especially rich in Divine Substance and spiritual energy, making it difficult to perish.

"I don't know."

Fairy Menglian gently shook her head. "Beings of that level are indeed difficult to eradicate completely. But even if they haven't fully fallen into oblivion, I imagine only remnants of their souls remain. Otherwise, they would surely be rejected by heaven and earth."

The Eight Lower Realms and the Three Thousand Provinces of the Upper Realm belonged to the same great world, but each had its own independent Heavenly Dao laws and order.

The Eight Lower Realms were Lesser Worlds in particular, and they strongly repelled those from the Three Thousand Provinces of the Upper Realm who had ignited their Divine Fire or surpassed that level. Anyone who forced their way in would be annihilated.

It was like how the Hundred Broken Mountains did not allow powerful beings from the Desolate Region to enter, while the creatures within the Hundred Broken Mountains were unaffected.

That was also why the God Emperor hid inside the Totem Pillar and did not dare emerge. It wasn't because he was trapped in the River of Time, but because even with only his primordial spirit left, he was still a Heavenly Deity's primordial spirit and was suppressed by the laws of the Desolate Region.

As for someone like the Willow Deity, it was because the Willow Deity of today was no longer the Willow Deity of the past. After being reborn through Nirvana, the Willow Deity had lost its former cultivation. Besides, the Willow Deity had been struck by lightning and fire when it first descended to the Lower Realm.

The Mist Mountains were extremely unusual. They were an Ancient Battlefield. Though they hadn't formed a separate world like the Hundred Broken Mountains, their laws were chaotic, allowing one to barely descend by borrowing the power of faith.

"The depths are strange. Don't go wandering in there."

Fairy Menglian said. As a being from the Lower Realm, she would not be annihilated by its laws. But she was very weak now, and if they truly encountered the remnants of those titans, she would be unable to handle them.

"I understand."

Su Ye said, his figure turning translucent before disappearing.

Outside.

Su Ye opened his eyes. Runes swirled in his gaze, as if they were manifesting an entire world. Looking around, he saw dense mist and ancient buildings in ruins within it.

"Damn dog, where are we? Why do I feel like you're not heading out, but going deeper in?"

Su Ye hurriedly told Big Gold Dog to stop. The more he looked around, the more he felt something was wrong. This place seemed even stranger than before.

"I don't know."

Big Gold Dog said, looking around in confusion. It had been walking with its back to the Mist Immortal Mountain the entire time, but somehow it had ended up here.

"Go left."

Su Ye regretted it. When his consciousness had entered the Totem Pillar earlier, he should have told the damn dog to stop. Then it wouldn't have brought him to this strange place.

The Sword Unsheathing Stone.

The man and dog came to a massive stone, nine zhang tall. Three ancient characters were carved into it: "Jie Jian Stone." They gave off an incredibly sharp aura. Looking at them, Su Ye felt as if countless sword rays were rushing at him.

"The Sword Unsheathing Stone."

Su Ye gazed at the enormous stele. The three characters contained a powerful Sword Dao resonance. Though countless years had passed, that resonance remained undiminished. The person who had carved them must have been extraordinarily powerful.

Runes swirled in his gaze. The three characters seemed to come alive, their light spreading as runes flowed through them, unfolding into a Sword Domain.

Light radiated from Su Ye, and runes appeared. Sword Light gathered around him, while sword energy crisscrossed the air.

"Argh..."

Big Gold Dog let out a miserable yelp. Golden light blazed across its entire body, and it blasted Su Ye away. Then it glared at him, baring its teeth.

Su Ye came out of his earlier enlightenment and looked at the bloodied welts across Big Gold Dog's back. His expression turned awkward. He had been so absorbed in comprehending the Sword Dao resonance that he'd forgotten he was sitting on the dog.

"Sorry, my fault."

Su Ye apologized. Light appeared in his hand, and a Willow Branch materialized. He sent it toward Big Gold Dog, pouring a rich surge of life force into its body. Its bloody wounds quickly healed.

Hearing Su Ye apologize, Big Gold Dog's expression finally softened. Otherwise, it would have fought him to the death right there.

Su Ye walked up to the enormous stele and studied it from close range. It was made of ordinary stone, not rare ore. But after being nourished for countless years by the three characters, which contained a powerful Sword Dao resonance, it was no longer a mundane rock.

Rumble.

Su Ye wrapped his arms around the enormous stele. The earth roared, and huge cracks spread as he pulled the stone straight out of the ground. Behind him, space rumbled and a Heavenly Passage appeared, Auspicious Mist swirling around it.

The Heavenly Passage blazed with light. Runes danced, forming a sea that enveloped the enormous stele and slowly drew it inside.

Big Gold Dog was aghast to see Su Ye put the stele into his Heavenly Passage.

A Heavenly Passage was indeed a small world, capable of holding treasures and nourishing Treasure Arts. But this little world was fragile, especially since Su Ye had only opened his not long ago. And he was already stuffing a huge boulder inside. Wasn't he afraid of bursting it?

"Whew."

Su Ye exhaled, his face somewhat pale. Storing the Sword Unsheathing Stone in his Heavenly Passage had taken a tremendous toll on his spirit. He had nearly caused his Heavenly Passage to collapse, but it had been worth it.

The Sword Unsheathing Stone had surely been inscribed by a powerful Sword Dao expert and contained that expert's Sword Dao. By studying it in the future, he could certainly comprehend a powerful Sword Dao Treasure Art. Moreover, the stone itself was a powerful Magic Treasure.

"Let's go."

A smile appeared on Su Ye's face. He took Big Gold Dog and continued onward. He wasn't too concerned about whether there was any danger here. He wanted to explore deeper and see if he could find anything even more valuable.

Big Gold Dog's eyes widened as it finally realized what had happened. Ordinary stones couldn't be stored in a Heavenly Passage. Even ordinary treasures were difficult to store, or the chaotic power inside would destroy them. Generally, only powerful treasures could be kept within.

Since this stele could be stored in a Heavenly Passage, it definitely wasn't an ordinary rock. It was a supreme treasure.

Had it just passed right by a supreme treasure?

Big Gold Dog regretted missing out. Its eyes darted around, and it galloped forward on all fours. There was a Sword Unsheathing Stone here, so this was very likely the site of an ancient Sword Dao sect. There might be other treasures up ahead.

What about danger?

They hadn't encountered any danger along the way. It was probably just an empty expanse, with no real threat.

Su Ye watched Big Gold Dog run recklessly ahead and felt speechless. But he said nothing. This place was strange, and having the dog scout ahead let him worry a little less.