A flash of light passed, and a ring of light appeared ahead of the riverbank. Everyone turned to look.
Those who knew something of the inside story prepared to move at the sight of the ring.
This was precisely the guiding light their lineages had spoken of, leading to the Heavenly Sword Secret Realm's final trial ground.
Rumor had it that eight swords of sages were sealed within, two of which had even accompanied Great Emperors as they grew.
Ye Wushuang's expression turned serious. "Are we finally entering the last trial ground?"
"Ever since the Heavenly Sword Secret Realm appeared, someone has obtained a sage's sword each time it opened. Only beyond the gates of the Sword Heart Tomb has no one ever gained anything."
Even the eight sages' swords were only worthy of being placed outside the tomb gates.
Whatever was enshrined within the Sword Heart Tomb had to be something unparalleled. Ye Wushuang's curiosity was stirred as well.
Ye Wushuang calmly walked forward, and everyone from the Ye Lineage followed behind him.
Situ Xue, who had merely watched ever since arriving, finally moved, strolling toward the ring of light.
"Kekeke, the greatest opportunity in this Heavenly Sword Secret Realm will surely belong to our Nine Nether Imperial Dynasty. When the time comes, I'll devour every last one of you."
Ming Ye laughed sinisterly.
"That bastard Heavenly Son of the Ye Lineage! On this third level, I, Jin Zhan, will wash away my humiliation and win the recognition of our Demon Race's sage's sword."
Jin Zhan inwardly swore.
Outside, he had lost all face, suppressed by the Ye Lineage like that.
Yet strong though his own faction was, it could hardly be mentioned in the same breath as the legendary Immortal Ancient Ye Clan.
Naturally, it would not fall out with the Ye Lineage just for him.
He could neither beat them in a fight nor match their status, leaving Jin Zhan utterly stifled.
During the trial, he had even been ignored by an unknown masked sword cultivator and then outperformed by him, becoming everyone's laughingstock.
As a member of the Golden-Feathered Heavenly Peng race, he had developed a proud temperament from birth.
Losing so much face today had nearly shattered Jin Zhan's Dao heart.
The masked sword cultivator also set off, a smile curling his lips beneath the mask that concealed his face.
"I've heard this Heavenly Sword Secret Realm holds another secret. Today, let me explore it for myself."
Although the ring of light had already lit up, few people approached it.
Only some descendants of imperial clans and geniuses from powerful factions harbored such ambitions and gradually entered.
They all considered themselves extraordinary, believing they were not limited to this Ten Thousand Swords River.
They wanted to try venturing into the final trial ground to seize its opportunities.
At that moment, the disciples of most factions remained on the riverbank.
They tested the swords within the Ten Thousand Swords River, attempting to find opportunities of their own.
These remaining disciples all had some self-awareness and knew that the sages' swords would surely have nothing to do with them.
They intended to rest and recover while waiting to receive their own chosen ones.
If their chosen ones claimed a sword, they could protect them as they left the secret realm, preventing others from swarming them to seize it.
All those who wished to seize the opportunities gradually entered the ring of light.
As time passed, no one else entered, and the ring of light gradually disappeared.
Watching everyone enter, the old tomb keeper revealed a trace of sorrow in his eyes.
"For a thousand years, the Heavenly Sword Secret Realm has cycled through the beautiful first half of my master and mistress's lives, and their desolate latter half."
"Countless chosen ones have entered this final trial, yet none have drawn the All Under Heaven Sword, sealed in dust for ten thousand years, from its sheath."
"I hope you can do it this time, white-haired boy of the Ye Lineage."
The old tomb keeper watched Ye Wushuang enter the ring of light and nodded slightly.
Amid the turbulent currents of the void, Ye Wushuang looked at the people beside him. Their eyes were tightly shut, and they all seemed to have fallen asleep.
His divine soul was powerful, and with an unparalleled divine treasure like the Immortal-Slaying Sword within his sea of consciousness, he had not been forcibly drawn into the illusion.
"It seems that before we claim the swords, this secret realm wants us to watch a story first. Presumably, it has something to do with the master of the secret realm."
"In that case, I'll have the Immortal-Slaying Sword guard my sea of consciousness to prevent anything from going wrong, and experience it myself."
Ye Wushuang opened his divine soul.
The many geniuses who had entered the ring of light were now all drawn into an illusion as well.
Ten thousand years ago.
In a small mountain village in the Heavenly Radiance Dynasty.
An old man was telling the village children about the cruelty of this world of cultivation.
The children, still innocent and uncomprehending, listened with keen interest.
"Cultivate diligently. If one of you becomes a powerful cultivator someday, our village will be renowned far and wide too."
The old man smiled as he urged the children.
He turned, took out many weapons, arranged them beside him, and spoke.
"In this world, some cultivate the Dao of the Sword, killing a man every ten steps. Some cultivate the Dao of the Saber, severing mountains and rivers with one slash. Some cultivate the Dao of the Spear, guarding a nation's gates with a single spear..."
"Children, you are about to step onto the path of cultivation. Choose your own weapons according to your preferences."
The old man smiled faintly and spread his hands, allowing the children to step forward and choose.
The children were still young, and the elegant swords failed to catch their eye. Most chose sabers, spears, and halberds that looked imposing at a glance.
Only one handsome youth gently picked up a sword and gripped it tightly.
His expression was still somewhat dazed, but determination shone in his eyes.
Seeing his choice, the other children were filled with curiosity and teased him.
"Hahahahahahaha! Look, Ye Muxi actually chose the Dao of the Sword! Something so delicate-how powerful could it be?"
"My spear would probably have hit him before his sword could even touch me."
"Hurry up and change your weapon. There's still time."
Ye Muxi said nothing and showed no fear. He merely gripped the sword in his hand tightly.
The old man sent the playful children around him away and spoke solemnly.
"Of all the countless weapons under heaven, every path can lead to the pinnacle. Strength has never depended on the weapon, but on the person who wields it."
The old man bent down and patted Ye Muxi's head, gently comforting him.
"Pay no heed to other people's idle gossip. Just walk the path you've chosen well."
"Perhaps someday, a master of the Dao of the Sword will emerge from our village."
There, with patient guidance, the old man taught Ye Muxi the first lesson of his life.
"One day, my name will surely resound beneath the heavens. With the sword in my hand, I will attain the Dao and become a Great Emperor."
Ignoring the roars of laughter around him, Ye Muxi bowed solemnly to the old man.
Then he picked up his longsword and slowly walked home.
Spring passed and winter came, day after day. The youth carried his longsword at every moment, swinging it again and again.
Ye Muxi's swordsmanship continually improved, and gradually, he actually became the foremost of the village's younger generation.
Ye Muxi knew his goal was not confined to this village.
His future lay in a wider world. He bid farewell to the mountain village and stepped into the martial world with his sword.
From humble beginnings, Ye Muxi fought demonic beasts and made enemies of evildoers, setting out on a journey through the martial world.
Everyone who met him was won over by his swordsmanship, and all marveled at his aptitude for the Dao of the Sword.
Everyone said Ye Muxi had the makings of a Great Emperor.
Later, in a forest of demonic beasts, he met the woman who would run through his entire life.
Yun Chenxi, the eldest princess of the Heavenly Radiance Dynasty.
Since childhood, Yun Chenxi had been unwilling to be bound by worldly conventions and had developed a spoiled, willful temperament.
When he came of age, the emperor of the Heavenly Radiance Dynasty forcibly arranged a marriage for her.
Yun Chenxi disliked the usual conduct of this generation's royal scions and nobles, and she was unwilling to marry just like that.
So she left the imperial palace to show her resolve.
To avoid attracting attention and drawing other people's gazes.
Yun Chenxi used a secret treasure from the imperial household to conceal her presence and secretly left alone.
All by herself, she arrived at a forest of demonic beasts far from the royal capital.