Within the Mystic Heaven Sect, countless swords rang out in a chorus of whistles.
In the courtyard where Chu Kuangren was staying, a pillar of light suddenly shot into the sky, surrounded by countless Great Dao runes and accompanied by waves of Dao resonance.
Within the pillar of light, the runes intertwined to form a heart.
This heart had nine orifices, and with every beat, sword qi shuttled through them. Amid its pounding heartbeat rang the clash of metal.
"Wh-what is happening?!"
"A phenomenon like this-could some kind of Dao Body have awakened?!"
"A heart with nine orifices, containing sword qi... could this be the legendary supreme Dao Body... the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart?!!"
"Hiss, this Dao Body hasn't appeared in nearly ten thousand years, has it? Why has it suddenly appeared, and within the Mystic Heaven Sect's territory, at that?"
"That direction is... the outer disciples' quarters."
"Could the one who awakened this constitution be an outer disciple?"
"How is that possible?!"
Within the Mystic Heaven Sect, everyone from the senior elders to the outer disciples was startled by this sudden phenomenon.
As Chu Kuangren's fusion with the Sword Heart deepened, the phenomenon's power continued to grow, spreading beyond the Mystic Heaven Sect.
For a time, powerful cultivators across more than half the Azure Dragon Domain sensed it.
Within a magnificent city.
A white-robed man seated in a tall building abruptly opened his eyes and looked toward the Mystic Heaven Sect. "This aura-a supreme Dao Body has emerged!"
Supreme Dao Bodies had appeared only a handful of times throughout the ages.
Any one of them had the potential to reach the Emperor Realm.
Yet throughout Firmament Star's history, Emperor Realm Great Powers had been few and far between.
"That direction is the Mystic Heaven Sect. Could the Mystic Heaven Sect be producing a Young Emperor in this epoch? How interesting."
The white-robed man chuckled, then half-closed his eyes and paid it no further attention.
Within a resplendent great hall.
An imposing man sat on a throne, gazing toward the Mystic Heaven Sect as he murmured, "A supreme Dao Body! To think another supreme Dao Body has appeared in this epoch. Heh, this truly is a great age of strife!"
"But whoever it may be, the Emperor Position in this lifetime belongs to me alone!"
"Whoever contends with me must die!"
Amid a churning sea of blood, an old man sat upon a blood-colored lotus throne. Sensing something, he looked into the distance, and his expression abruptly darkened.
"The aura of a supreme Dao Body!"
"In that direction-could it be the Mystic Heaven Sect? Hmph, it seems I must pick up the pace and hatch that Blood Spirit Dao Embryo sooner."
"Only then can I contend for the Emperor Position in this lifetime."
"The competition really is growing fiercer."
Within the Mystic Heaven Sect.
As the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart's phenomenon power grew stronger.
The swordsmen could no longer control the swords in their hands. Countless swords flew from their grasp, turning into streaks of light as they hurtled toward Chu Kuangren's location.
In the distance stood a mountain peak covered in swords.
Suddenly, the mountain shook with a thunderous rumble!
Precious swords soared into the air, flying toward Chu Kuangren as well.
"Holy crap, those are the swords from Mystic Heaven Sword Mountain!"
"Mystic Heaven Sword Mountain is a supreme treasure of our Mystic Heaven Sect. It houses precious swords and magic swords collected or forged by generations of our sect's predecessors, and not one is ordinary. Yet today, all these swords have actually flown out on their own!"
"Look, that's the Sage Artifact, the Violet Heavens Sword!!"
"No, it's not just the Violet Heavens Sword. There's Green Vine, Crimson Refinement, Dragon's Cry, Tai'e... all of these are Saints' weapons!!"
"The Mystic Heaven Sect specializes in the Sword Dao. Upon joining, disciples must go to Sword Mountain to choose a sword to carry with them. Rumor has it that Sword Mountain contains ten Sage Artifact-grade swords, but very few disciples can gain their recognition! In this generation, only the Daoist Seed Nangong Huang has gained the recognition of the Saint Weapon Yuanhong."
"But now, these Sage Artifacts have all flown out on their own. They look as though they can't wait to acknowledge a master of their own accord. This is unbelievable! Just who is the person behind this phenomenon?!"
"Sage Artifacts acknowledging a master of their own accord? Terrifying!"
Countless swords circled above the courtyard, a magnificent sight.
Figures arrived around the courtyard, and an old man with white eyebrows called out, "Which disciple is inside this courtyard? Please show yourself."
With a creak, the room's door opened.
Chu Kuangren slowly emerged, dressed in a white outer disciple's uniform. His handsome face and ethereal, otherworldly bearing, together with the peerless swords circling him, made him look like a Sword Immortal who had attained the Dao.
Everyone who saw him stared without blinking.
"Who is this? He's so handsome."
"He's far too handsome. And with that otherworldly bearing, I'd believe you if you said he was some immortal reincarnated. The outer disciples actually have someone this exceptional?"
"A man like jade upon the path, a peerless young lord beneath the heavens."
"It's him, Chu Kuangren."
"No way, it really is Chu Kuangren. He was handsome before, sure, but never to such an outrageous extent. How has he changed so much after just two days out of sight? And was he the one who awakened the supreme Dao Body?"
"I heard a senior sister who's a True Disciple wanted to keep him, but he refused her. In her anger, she beat him badly enough to leave him seriously injured. He should be lying in bed right now. I never expected him to cause such a commotion."
"Holy crap, no wonder that True Disciple senior sister wanted to keep him. If it were me, I wouldn't be able to resist wanting to keep him either."
"Wake up. You're a man."
The disciples buzzed with discussion-some surprised, some shocked, and some entranced. Clearly, Chu Kuangren's exiled immortal bearing had stunned quite a few people.
High in the sky, an exceptionally beautiful female elder could not help looking taken aback upon seeing Chu Kuangren. Even her heart, usually as still as an ancient well, stirred with a ripple. "Such looks and bearing are far too unfair."
By now, Chu Kuangren had fully fused with the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart, and the phenomenon above the courtyard had disappeared. Yet the countless swords still circled overhead, lingering for a long time.
Several swords stood out above the rest, precious light flowing over them as Great Dao runes manifested. They were also the closest to Chu Kuangren; under their pressure, the other swords did not dare approach too closely.
Do they want to acknowledge me as their master?
Sage Artifacts possessed sentience, and Chu Kuangren seemed able to sense what these swords were thinking. He could not help being surprised. Was the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart really this appealing?
Or was this the combined effect of the Sword Heart and the Exiled Immortal Bearing?
Regardless, Chu Kuangren did not dare act rashly now. These Saint Weapons were all supreme treasures of the Mystic Heaven Sect. If they all acknowledged him as their master, what would the other disciples and elders think?
He had only just awakened his Dao Body, yet he already couldn't wait to claim Sage Artifacts.
With such a disposition, he could hardly be entrusted with anything important.
Chu Kuangren ignored the Sage Artifacts around him and instead walked straight up to the white-browed old man and the others, bowing in greeting.
"Outer disciple Chu Kuangren greets the elders."
The white-browed old man nodded in satisfaction. He can resist the temptation of Sage Artifacts. Good, good. This young man does have some strength of character.
Seeing the expression on the white-browed old man's face, Chu Kuangren immediately guessed what he was thinking. Heh, it's all about playing the game.
"Chu Kuangren, were you the one who caused this phenomenon?"
"I suppose so."
Chu Kuangren feigned hesitation.
"You suppose? What do you mean?"
"Elder, I was resting in my room today when my body suddenly began hurting unbearably, as though I were being sliced by a thousand blades. Then a pillar of light shot out of my body, and things ended up like this."
Chu Kuangren spoke. He could not reveal the Fantasy Roulette, so for now, he could only pretend that he had suddenly awakened a Dao Body.
"Oh." In a flash, the white-browed old man appeared before Chu Kuangren, seized his arm, and sent a stream of spiritual power into him to investigate.
Chu Kuangren let him do as he pleased, not daring to move in the slightest.
A moment later, wild joy filled the white-browed old man's face. He laughed heartily and said in excitement, "It truly is the Nine-Orifice Exquisite Sword Heart! Heaven truly favors our Mystic Heaven Sect! We have actually gained a supreme Dao Body in this lifetime!!"
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