Years later, the village was still the same village, and the old man who had encouraged Ye Muxi to embark on the Dao of the Sword was still teaching a new generation of children in the mountain village.
A story had also continued to circulate in the village: a youth who had left the village had drawn his sword against a supreme sovereign of the Demon Race for the one he loved.
Thanks to Ye Muxi, the village's cultivation resources had long since far surpassed those of the past.
Even many of the younger generation had grown stronger than the villagers back then.
Whenever this came up, the children would gather around the old man and tease him.
"Grandpa, why is our village so rich and strong, but your cultivation isn't all that high?"
The old man poked a child's forehead. "You little rascal, now you're making fun of your uncles and grandpas."
The old man smiled and told that story again, and again.
"Because from our village came a great emperor..."
Outside the Sword Heart Tomb.
The many geniuses gradually awakened from the illusion and appeared outside the Sword Heart Tomb's gates.
By now, everyone understood that the story repeating within the illusion probably belonged to the master of this Sword Heart Tomb.
It was actually the Great Emperor of Eternal Night, who had attained the Dao through the sword ten thousand years ago and protected all living beings beneath heaven.
"This is actually an emperor's tomb!" someone exclaimed.
The group beside Ye Wushuang also sighed in wonder. "Who would have thought the renowned Great Emperor of Eternal Night had a past like that?"
"Even heroes truly struggle to pass the beauty's trial," Xie Qianli suddenly blurted out.
His words earned him eye rolls from Ye Kongling and Ye Yanling. Was that saying supposed to be used like that?
Nearby, Nie Qingcheng remained lost in thought for a long time, a trace of sorrow actually showing in her eyes.
Everyone else had entered the illusion as spectators, but Ye Wushuang and Nie Qingcheng had been different.
The Old Gravekeeper had led them into the first-person perspectives of the Great Emperor of Eternal Night, Ye Muxi, and Yun Chenxi, respectively.
What they had experienced within the illusion had felt especially real, as though they had truly lived through it themselves.
"Why couldn't he have been a little braver, followed his heart, and sought her out to ask why?" Nie Qingcheng murmured.
Hearing the quiet words beside him, Ye Wushuang sighed softly and replied evenly.
"He wasn't some great emperor back then. He had no illustrious family background. He was just an ordinary youth, filled with endless uncertainty about his own future."
"With nothing but the breeze in his sleeves, how could he dare hold back a fair lady's future?"
Perhaps this was the difference between how men and women thought.
Yun Chenxi had grieved over why Ye Muxi had not come looking for her to ask the reason.
Ye Muxi, meanwhile, had hated himself for not being outstanding enough. How could he deserve such a fair lady?
Ye Wushuang sighed inwardly as well.
Even Xiao Huohuo from the novel in his previous life had grown up as childhood sweethearts with Xun'er, shared deep feelings with her, and had the help of a benefactor like Yao Lao.
Even with such cheats, Xiao Huohuo had only gone to the Gu Clan after working hard for a thousand chapters.
Only after becoming a Dou Sheng had he gone to Xun'er's home.
The Old Gravekeeper descended from the void and stood beside the gates.
The many geniuses all noticed the movement and looked toward the Old Gravekeeper.
"Everyone, I am the spirit of this secret realm. In life, I followed my master, the Eternal Night Sword Emperor. After death, I have guarded this place and kept watch over his tomb."
Eight sage swords stood arrayed on either side of the Gravekeeper Elder. Though their presence had not been released, they remained imposing.
"Next, whether you youngsters obtain these sage swords will depend on your own abilities. The capable shall claim them."
With a wave of the Gravekeeper Elder's hand, the eight sage swords began releasing their presence.
An oppressive might descended, as though the heavens themselves were pressing down.
The two demon saint swords flashed with light, unleashing an utterly sharp intent.
The burning fervor in Jin Zhan's eyes was impossible to hide.
"Not only is there the sacred sword of a red-crowned crane demon saint, there's even the sacred sword of a golden roc demon saint from my race."
"Qingcheng, I'll wish you success in claiming this Red-Crowned Crane Sacred Sword, and you wish me success in claiming this Golden Roc Sacred Sword. Together, we'll surely suppress everyone else."
If I obtain this senior of my race's sacred sword and comprehend the inheritance within, I can rise another level even within my race, Jin Zhan thought to himself.
Nie Qingcheng snorted coldly. "I'm not in the habit of doing charity, nor am I obliged to drag along dead weight like you."
"I can take both sacred swords by myself."
Seeing Nie Qingcheng with her hands on her hips, Ye Wushuang cast her a light glance.
Ye Wushuang actually laughed aloud. "A little phoenix with her feathers all ruffled."
Nie Qingcheng rolled her eyes at Ye Wushuang, huffed indignantly, and flew toward the two demon saint swords.
The other six sage swords also released different presences.
Two accompanied each other, emanating the power of water and fire. They actually circled one another, showing none of the incompatibility of water and fire.
Another two stood opposite each other, their powers of light and darkness repelling one another, looking as though neither could stand the other.
Of the remaining two, one released immortal spirit Qi, while the other released ice Qi.
Dark gleams flickered in Ming Ye's eyes as he led the Nine Nether Imperial Dynasty's people to stand beside the Holy Sword of Darkness.
"I'm taking this sword, and I'm taking what's inside the Sword Heart Tomb too. However much there is, I'll swallow it all."
Ming Ye wore a sinister expression, looking slightly crazed.
He seemed to sense something inside drawing him in, leaving him restless.
The masked sword cultivator said nothing and silently stood beside the Holy Sword of Light.
A few peals of silvery laughter rang out as Situ Xue came beside the Immortal Spirit Holy Sword. She looked around innocently. "Everyone, this little lady really likes this sword. I hope you big brothers won't crush a flower with ruthless hands."
What surprised Ye Wushuang most was that Xie Qianli, who had been beside him, actually went over to the ice sword.
He wore a foolish grin. "Ah, that old man in my lineage really is something, sending a saber user like me to a place like this. He wants me to fetch a suitable sword for that wooden-headed older brother of mine."
The many geniuses looked toward the sacred swords that caught their interest and gradually gathered around them.
Ye Kongling and Ye Yanling went over to the two Water and Fire Holy Swords accompanying each other.
Ye Yanling reached out a finger, lifted a lock of Ye Kongling's hair, and teased her.
"Little Sister Kongling, look how close these two sacred swords are, circling each other as companions. If we claim these two sacred swords, we'll have to be like them and get along a little better too."
Ye Kongling brushed Ye Yanling's arm aside and rolled her beautiful eyes at her, saying nothing in response.
Looking at a mature, seductive beauty brimming with charm and a cool, lovely, pure young maiden.
The teasing between these two beauties left even the bystanders hoping to claim the sacred swords staring in a daze.
The gazes of every man present also converged on Ye Wushuang.
He had two beauties from his lineage accompanying him, along with a holy maiden of the Demon Race, Nie Qingcheng.
Just what kind of charm did this Heavenly Son of the Ye Lineage possess, to win over so many proud young women?
Ye Wushuang himself felt nothing in particular, his face perfectly calm.
Mute the world and listen to the simps' defenses crumble!
Seeing Ye Kongling and Ye Yanling's choices, Ye Wushuang swept his gaze around, then flashed directly in front of the Water and Fire Holy Swords.
Ye Wushuang rubbed his brow, releasing Human Emperor Qi.
He stood there alone, yet everyone surrounding the Water and Fire Holy Swords felt a towering pressure.
Everyone's expression turned somewhat ugly. If this Heavenly Son of the Ye Lineage made a move, they would probably find it very difficult to claim these Water and Fire Holy Swords.
Looking at the solemn expressions in everyone's eyes, Ye Wushuang merely smiled.
"Relax. You're already surrounded by me alone."