First Arrival at the Sword Sect

Time flew by, and before they knew it, the Sword Sect gradually came into view...

The Sword Sect stood on a sheer cliff. An ancient tree towered over the cliff, its luxuriant branches and leaves shading half the sky. Beneath it ran a winding flight of stone steps. All Sword Sect disciples climbed the mountain by those steps.

At the end of the steps lay a square paved with bluestone. At its very center stood a stone stele a thousand zhang tall, exuding an ancient presence as a desolate, majestic, weighty air spread outward. Thousands of Sword Sect disciples stood in the square. They all wore the same clothing, their collars embroidered with a long saber and a short sword, and each carried a longsword at their waist. They gazed curiously toward the horizon, as though welcoming something important.

Suddenly, a black hole split open in the void, and a gigantic warship slowly descended from it.

Rumble! A violent roar thundered, deafening to the ears.

The Sword Sect disciples raised their heads one after another, staring at the enormous ship.

Without warning, the warship turned into a mass of golden light and landed in the center of the square.

Thirteen people stood aboard the warship.

"Greetings, Sect Master! Greetings, elders!" The Sword Sect disciples dropped to one knee.

"Rise." Jian Wuya waved a hand, signaling for the disciples to stand, then said, "I imagine you have already guessed something of why I summoned you all today. That's right! A sword prodigy of monstrous talent will soon be joining the Sword Sect."

An uproar erupted-

At these words, all the Sword Sect disciples burst into excitement. They had never imagined that the Sword Sect would actually take in a new disciple! And a monstrously talented sword genius at that! The Sword Sect had not accepted disciples for hundreds of years. Once this news spread, it would surely stir up towering waves.

"Sect Master, what is this new disciple's name?" a Sword Sect elder asked impatiently. The other disciples also pricked up their ears, wanting to learn about this monstrous prodigy.

"His name is..."

"Wait, Sword Master!" Di Chen interrupted Jian Wuya.

"Is there something else, young friend?" Jian Wuya asked in confusion.

"I don't wish to reveal my true identity for now," Di Chen said calmly.

"Not allowed to reveal it?" Everyone exchanged glances.

"Hehe, very well." Jian Wuya gave a dry cough and smiled.

"As for joining the Sword Sect, I have no such intention for now," Di Chen said with a smile.

Hearing Di Chen refuse, not only Jian Wuya but everyone else froze. They did not understand what Di Chen meant.

"You're unwilling?" Jian Wuya asked in confusion.

"What do you think?" Di Chen looked at Jian Wuya with a half-smile.

With that, Di Chen took Elder Wang off to look around.

He left a group of bewildered Sword Sect disciples standing in disarray in the wind.

"Sect Master, what should we do?" a Sword Sect elder asked in confusion.

"Hmph! Who does he think he is? How could our mighty Sword Sect tolerate his provocation? So what if he refuses to join? Does our Sword Sect need one more disciple that badly? And he's still putting on that mysterious act!" a disciple exuding piercing Sword Qi said coldly.

"Exactly. Since when could outsiders run wild in our Sword Sect?" another deacon chimed in.

"Shut up!" Jian Wuya snapped angrily.

"Sword Master..." The Sword Sect disciples' faces were filled with indignation.

"I know what you want to say." Jian Wuya cut them off. "His refusal to join is not because he looks down on our Sword Sect. You will understand this in the future! Disperse!" He waved his hand.

At Jian Wuya's command, everyone withdrew.

"Zhang Yu, go invite our young friend to the Sword Graveyard," Jian Wuya instructed.

"Yes, Sect Master," Zhang Yu replied.

Di Chen walked along a path within the Sword Sect, admiring the scenery. A great power was indeed a great power; this place was like an immortal paradise. Before he knew it, he reached a library and stopped.

An old man stood in front of the library, holding a broom and sweeping away the dust. His eyes were deep yet dim, as though they had witnessed endless years.

"What brings you here, young friend?" the old man asked, lowering his broom.

"Nothing. I was passing by, just looking around," Di Chen replied offhandedly.

"If you dislike it, Senior, I will naturally leave," Di Chen said with a faint smile.

"Ah, I'm merely an ordinary old sweeper. How could I deserve to be called Senior by you?" The old man shook his head and sighed.

"Heh, truly worthy of a great power. Even the sweeper is..."

"Brother, brother...!" Zhang Yu's voice

came from afar.

Hearing him, Di Chen turned his head and, sure enough, saw Zhang Yu rushing toward him.

"Haha, so here you are. The Sect Master would like to invite you to the Sword Graveyard," Zhang Yu said, beaming.

"Oh. Lead the way!" Di Chen replied softly. Before leaving, he took a long

look at the old man, then left with Zhang Yu.

Watching Di Chen's departing figure, the old man murmured, "A thirteen-year-old Great Saint who killed a Quasi-Emperor instantly with a single sword strike. If those youngsters found out, it would probably scare them to death. Ah, I wonder whether living in the same era as him is a blessing or a sorrow." With that, he shook his head and continued sweeping the dust from the library.

The Sword Graveyard was a forbidden ground of the Sword Sect. Outsiders were generally not allowed inside.

Di Chen followed Zhang Yu through several courtyards and finally arrived at the entrance to the Sword Graveyard.

"Brother, the Sect Master is already waiting inside the Sword Graveyard. Please!" Zhang Yu gestured for him to enter.

"Mm, thanks!" Di Chen cupped his hands.

"Young Master, I will wait outside," Elder Wang said respectfully, then drifted away.

Di Chen then stepped into the Sword Graveyard.

The instant Di Chen entered the Sword Graveyard, endless Sword Qi raged, forming a violent sea of swords.

But this Sword Qi could not harm Di Chen in the slightest. He walked farther inside as though strolling through a quiet courtyard.

Before him lay an enormous circular square, surrounded by nine pillars. Each pillar was about ten zhang tall and incredibly thick, soaring into the clouds like a pillar holding up the heavens.

Ancient, sharp swords lay quietly upon the ground throughout the square, some large and some small, packed so densely that their end could not be seen at a glance.

At the center of the Sword Graveyard stood an enormous altar roughly a hundred zhang wide. Intricate runes and sword patterns were carved upon it, appearing profound and obscure. An old man in silver robes sat upright atop the altar. His hair and beard were pure white, his face youthful beneath his crane-white hair. A powerful sword presence radiated from him, inspiring awe.

Jian Wuya stood respectfully in attendance beside him.

Sensing Di Chen's arrival, the old man opened his eyes slightly. Boundless sword intent filled them, as though it could cleave through all things and destroy the stars.

Yet Di Chen

paid it no heed, looking at him calmly without the slightest change of emotion in his eyes.

"Hahaha!" The old man's voice

resounded throughout the Sword Graveyard, brimming with boldness and dominance. His gaze roamed over Di Chen for a long while before he finally said with a smile, "Heroes truly do emerge from the young. As expected of a monstrous prodigy from a forbidden zone."

He could detect neither panic nor surprise in Di Chen's eyes.

"You flatter me, Senior!" Di Chen said with a faint smile.

"To face this old man so calmly-you are extraordinary indeed!" the old man marveled.