Sword Hall I

"Oh?"

The others in the hall were also startled. It seemed the Nine-Headed Bird Clan had staked everything they possessed on the Nether Realm, on Lord Sun Snatcher.

That realm artifact was the very foundation of Huiyang City. Its power was immense, the pinnacle masterpiece painstakingly forged by the Nine-Headed Bird Clan over hundreds of thousands of years. To gamble it on the Nether Realm was clearly to place the clan's very survival on the line.

"Then from now on, matters concerning the activation, maintenance, and command of the core realm artifact will be handled entirely by the Nine-Headed Bird Clan."

Lin Xin directly delegated the authority.

"Many thanks, Lord!"

Hui Yang was immediately overjoyed.

This was equivalent to becoming the minister in charge of surveillance and defense for the entire Nether Realm—a position of extreme importance.

"Also, I will soon be making a trip to the main sect to observe the sword-mark insights personally bestowed by the Dao Ancestor."

Lin Xin changed the subject.

"Will you be entering the Sword Hall?"

Xing Pengfei suddenly asked.

"Correct."

Lin Xin nodded.

"Amazing! What generosity!" Xing Pengfei sighed. "Every time the Sword Hall opens, a great deal of the Sword Intent, Sword Qi, and Sword Dao preserved within leaks away. Once a Sword Hall is formed, it can be opened at most three times before it completely becomes ordinary.

"Every being who once entered the Sword Hall is now at least a Fate Candle Earth Immortal. Most are Celestial Sovereigns—and Sword Cultivator Celestial Sovereigns at that.

"The foremost example is Cosmos Celestial Sovereign!"

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone present drew in a cold breath.

Cosmos Celestial Sovereign's great name was known to all.

His divine-soul incarnations had silently seeped into All Heavens and Myriad Realms. He had already reached the absolute pinnacle of accumulated stellar power, and even among Seekers of the Dao, he was one of the foremost supreme figures. He could practically be called invincible among Celestial Sovereigns.

If the Sword Hall could nurture an invincible existence such as Cosmos Celestial Sovereign, it was clearly the most precious place in all of Azure Lake Mountain.

"This time, I will strive to completely comprehend and remedy the hidden danger in the Supreme September Divine Wind Sword. Since the Dao Ancestor's department has permitted me to enter, that is evidently their intention as well."

Lin Xin said calmly.

"Master will certainly perfect the sword art." Lu Li spoke with absolute certainty, seeming to have even more confidence in Lin Xin than he had in himself.

"Lord will surely win the banner at the first battle and gain complete enlightenment in the Great Dao!"

Everyone offered their respectful congratulations.

Lin Xin nodded. Looking at the neatly arranged cultivators below, he suddenly recalled how he had reincarnated into the Human Realm, risen from an utterly ordinary minor figure, and gradually grown until he had reached his current level.

Who knew how many rises and falls he had experienced along the way.

The long years had passed in a blur—hundreds, even thousands of years flowing away.

Even ten thousand years was nothing unusual.

Having reached this level, aside from his original promise to Hong Ye, and the final traces of affection he still held for Lin Yaoyang and his master, firmly engraved in the depths of his heart, Lin Xin had long since become indifferent to everything else.

"Dismissed."

He suddenly felt listless. With a wave of his hand, he departed directly.

His figure vanished from his seat.

Lin Yaoyang, standing to one side, keenly sensed the strange emotion within him. Her brows shifted slightly, and she rose to follow him.

**********************

At the summit of Mingyang Peak, the tallest mountain in the Nether Realm.

Wild winds raged, and snow drifted through the air.

Lin Xin stood alone on the platform atop the mountain, gazing into the distance at a world of white.

Lin Yaoyang soon appeared at his side. She quietly accompanied him, standing behind him.

"You've established such a vast foundation. Why are you still unhappy?" She looked at Lin Xin with concern.

"It's nothing. I may simply be a little tired." Lin Xin smiled.

Aside from the practitioner themselves, no one knew of the Supreme September Divine Wind Sword's flaw. Lin Yaoyang had originally only been a Nascent Soul Cultivator, so it was even less likely that she would know such a secret.

"If you're tired, then rest properly." Lin Yaoyang's face reddened slightly. "How about we go bathe?"

Ever since she and Lin Xin had become intimate, she had called intimacy bathing every time. Whenever she wished to be intimate, she would simply say they should go bathe.

"You go rest first. I'll come in a while."

Lin Xin gently stroked her cheek.

He felt that he was smiling, but the smile was stiff.

Lin Yaoyang clearly saw it, and her expression dimmed somewhat.

"Alright, I'll rest first. You..."

She looked at Lin Xin worriedly.

"Go without worry."

Lin Xin nodded slightly.

Only after he urged her several times did Lin Yaoyang slowly leave the summit.

Lin Xin remained alone on the mountaintop.

As he stared at the snowy white scenery in the distance, he suddenly let out a long sigh.

"Looks like I can only search the Sword Hall and see whether I can break the hidden danger of the Supreme September Divine Wind Sword."

"It seems you need help."

A hidden voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Xiya?"

Without even turning around, Lin Xin had already seen with his divine sense the bizarre sewn infant that had abruptly appeared behind him. It was Xiya's standard appearance.

"You still dare show yourself before me?"

Lin Xin said blandly.

The Evil God King was merely Celestial Sovereign level, at most a somewhat stronger Celestial Sovereign. He had even killed Fang Yu's incarnation—would he fear Xiya?

"Hehehe... I merely came to make a deal with you."

Xiya was still the same, wearing that mysterious and sly manner as she smiled at Lin Xin's back.

"We are old friends, after all. I've helped you quite a bit. Don't you know how to repay kindness?"

"Helped?"

Lin Xin sneered.

If he had not been capable enough, he would have been conned to death back when Song Danhao had brought Lin Yaoyang to mingle in Snowman King City.

"Enough, let us not bring up those old matters. I have yet to congratulate you on attaining the position of overlord in one stroke. By now, even Cosmos Celestial Sovereign is probably getting a headache at the sight of you."

Xiya said with a grin.

"I have a matter here. If you can help me... I can help you resolve the greatest trouble you are currently facing."

"What exactly are you plotting?" Lin Xin asked with a frown. The Evil God Kings were an extremely troublesome group. Even with his current terrifying strength, he was unwilling to casually provoke those old monsters who neither died nor perished.

"You do not understand... This Great Calamity is different from the previous ones..." Xiya's expression slowly calmed, and she stopped smiling. "In this Great Calamity, one slight misstep could place even us in extreme danger. There may be a possibility of true annihilation."

"So what? Why should I help you?"

Lin Xin paid him no heed.

"Don't you want to remove the karmic bond with Hong Ye?" Xiya suddenly said rapidly.

"You know Hong Ye!?"

With a boom, Lin Xin teleported before Xiya. His body moved like light itself; by the time Xiya noticed, Lin Xin had already seized his clothing and lifted him one-handed into the air.

"You will understand once you enter the Sword Hall. Hong Ye and Huang Yan were both among the first generation of Sword Masters in the Sword Hall." Xiya seemed to know many secrets, yet still wore that irritating smile as he calmly allowed Lin Xin to grab him and hold him aloft.

"What do you mean?"

Lin Xin narrowed his eyes.

Xiya smiled.

"Do you know what it means for ten thousand calamities to descend upon one's body without destroying it?"

Boom!!!

In an instant, Lin Xin's mind seemed to explode. He suddenly recalled what Red Leaf Sword Master had told him aboard that ship long ago.

"Do you know Huang Yuerong?"

"Of course." Hong Ye smiled unexpectedly. "A person upon whom ten thousand calamities descend without destruction—the strongest person in your world. Once one reaches our level, one's own existence occupies a portion of the world's principles and laws. Those who command space and time cannot have anything concealed from them."

His mind abruptly cleared, and Lin Xin heard Xiya speaking again.

"Quite unfortunately, if I had not happened by chance to investigate your background, I might not have known that you were actually connected to that person."

Xiya said with a smile.

"This Great Calamity is special. You will know very soon."

As he spoke, his body naturally faded away in Lin Xin's grasp until he completely disappeared.

Lin Xin released his hand and did not pursue him.

He merely carefully considered Xiya's words.

"Hong Ye, Huang Yan..."

**********************

"The Sword Hall is the supreme temple that every sword cultivator in All Heavens and Myriad Realms dreams of reaching.

"There are supreme sword-art sword marks existing within the principles and laws themselves. Every person capable of leaving a sword mark in the Sword Hall was the strongest and most formidable sword cultivator.

"Such sword cultivators are respectfully called Sword Masters.

"And in the hearts of sword cultivators, Sword Masters are a title equal in standing to Dao Ancestors."

Outside Heavenly Palace on the mountainside of Azure Lake Mountain's main sect.

Lin Xin and Cosmos Celestial Sovereign stood shoulder to shoulder atop hazy white clouds, gazing into the invisible void before them.

"This is the entrance to the Sword Hall?"

Lin Xin transmitted softly.

"Yes, and no."

Cosmos Celestial Sovereign replied calmly.

"At a distance of eleven meters, three inches, and one-fifth of a millimeter in front of you, a tiny nameless glimmer will suddenly appear three minutes and forty-two seconds from now.

"The light will last only an instant. You must seize the opportunity and rush inside at once. If you miss this chance, the Sword Hall must wait another ten thousand years to accumulate enough strength to open again. Remember this well."

"What about the opening duration?"

"Only an instant. But because the difference in the flow of time is immense, once you enter, time within will move extremely slowly. One instant outside is equivalent to one year within. One year is the length of time you may remain there." Cosmos Celestial Sovereign explained carefully.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Cosmos."

Lin Xin clasped his hands.

"No need for courtesy. It is the Dao Ancestor's decree. I hope you can complete this supreme sword art..."

He said no more, turning and abruptly vanishing into the air.

Only Lin Xin remained atop the cloud, quietly waiting.

Originally, he had not been greatly anticipating the Sword Hall. He did not believe that merely a few sword marks could spark insight in his sword Dao cultivation and make him advance by leaps and bounds.

But Xiya's words had suddenly filled him with curiosity and anticipation toward the Sword Hall.

He waited in silence as time slowly passed.

Soon, several minutes arrived in a flash.

Ssh!

A streak of white light suddenly lit up in Lin Xin's vision. Without a second thought, his figure vanished abruptly, leaving only a faint afterimage slowly dispersing in midair.

The white light rippled slightly, then instantly went out.

**************************

At first, Lin Xin saw nothing but snow-white light. Then he felt as though he had plunged into a mass of viscous liquid.

Countless quantities of glue around him tried to stick him in place.

With a light tear, he directly broke free of the glue's restraints and continued rushing forward.

Whoosh!!

His vision blurred.

He suddenly charged into a spacious and empty grand plaza.

His view opened wide. Looking around, he discovered that he was standing between two rows of enormous white buildings.