Chapter 292: Number One Sword in the Cosmos!
"The Heavenly Mirror was indeed taken," the Sword Warden remarked, glancing at Yun Xiao.
"What do you think now?" Yun Xiao asked.
"The walls had already started to crumble when he incited those demon spawn rumors about you. But, there's no harm in letting him ruin his reputation even more," the Sword Warden replied, stroking his beard with a sly smile.
"If one chooses to dig their own grave, there's no escape." Yun Xiao detested traitors the most.
Stability within was key before confronting external threats!
"This old coot is utterly selfish. To prolong his life, he's already sent several of his children and grandchildren to their early graves. Yet, he's still refusing to stop," Yun Xiao said, shaking his head.
"Age brings its own demons." The Sword Warden sighed softly. "Life and death, the great limits of heaven and earth, can indeed be suffocating. Maybe only at the brink of death can one truly understand his plight."
"Don't make excuses for him. Wrong is wrong. I've seen many face life and death, but never someone trading the lives of their children and grandchildren for their own," Yun Xiao said coldly.
"Indeed." The Sword Warden sighed. He felt helpless. His once mentor was not like this.
"Exile Yun, do you believe in the tales of the Heavenly Land?" the Sword Warden suddenly asked.
"Don't you?" Yun Xiao countered.
"I find it too elusive. To use the power of the Heavenly Mirror for a legend seems impractical," the Sword Warden expressed.
That's why he'd hesitated these past days. The Withered Bone Keeper had long advocated using the Heavenly Mirror to broaden the pathway, facing his opposition.
This was one of the conflicts between master and pupil.
"Speaking of which, was it your sword slave who informed you about the Heavenly Mirror?" the Sword Warden asked with a grin.
"Yes," Yun Xiao nodded.
"Did he really turn traitor, helping us overthrow the Ku Family?" The Sword Warden was incredulous.
"Yes and no," Yun Xiao said.
"How so?"
"I gave him the role of a traitor to play. If he loses, he continues the act. If he finds the strength to oppose me, he drops the act," Yun Xiao explained with a chuckle.
"So, you've given him a double safeguard?" The Sword Warden was astounded, having never seen such a strategy.
"You underestimate me," Yun Xiao said.
"And so?"
"Whatever he says or does is of no consequence to me. My only need is his help in pushing the Ku Family into the pit. Once my aim is achieved, he becomes irrelevant," Yun Xiao stated calmly.
As the two conversed, they walked through the Ancestral Sword Tomb, offering incense to each tombstone.
"I see now. This isn't double insurance; it's a double-edged gamble," the Sword Warden mused, feeling a stir of respect for Yun Xiao. A formidable genius, unkillable, with an unyielding spirit and a cold heart...
"Anyone who becomes his enemy is truly in for a nightmare. Unfortunately, except for me, most can't get close enough to him to realize these issues." The Sword Warden suddenly felt lucky. Thankfully, the Withered Bone Keeper had taken Ling Chen away with the promise of the Sword Relic, leading fate to bring him an even more fearsome ally.
As they passed a vacant area in the middle during their offering of incense, Yun Xiao asked, "Is the Sword Relic buried here?"
"Yes," the Sword Warden replied.
"What if I took it?" Yun Xiao asked.
After a moment of silence, the Sword Warden shook his head. "Our ancestors' rest must not be disturbed. If so, even if the Sword Ruins were to fall, I would fight you to the end."
"Fair enough. I respect your stance." After saying this, Yun Xiao placed the final three incense sticks at the last tombstone.
"Descendants of the sword, so grand, deserve their peace." With these words, Yun Xiao turned to leave.
"Exile Yun," the Sword Warden called out, "Aren't you here to study the sword?"
"I've already completed my study," Yun Xiao replied without looking back.
"Darn it..." The Sword Warden nearly let out a curse in disbelief.
Many spent a lifetime unable to master the swordsmanship of a single ancestor in the Ancestral Sword Tomb. Yet Yun Xiao, in the midst of offering incense and conversing with the Sword Warden, had learned it all.
Was it that Ling Chen disdained these sword techniques, or was Yun Xiao simply more formidable?
The Sword Warden had his answer.
Their departure was quicker than any of the Overseers had anticipated.
"Overseer Sikong!" After emerging from the Ancestral Sword Tomb, the Sword Warden's face was stern. His aura weighed heavily on the elderly man.
"Sword Warden!" Overseer Sikong's voice trembled as he knelt.
"Do you wish to live?" the Sword Warden asked.
"I do!" Overseer Sikong pleaded.
"Tell me, who dared to take the Heavenly Mirror, tarnishing the over 10,000-year legacy of the Sword Ruins and leaving our future generations exposed to danger?" The Sword Warden's words were deliberate, heavy.
Overseer Sikong shivered, lifting his gaze to meet the Sword Warden's. The indifferent stares of Yun Xiao, the Sword Warden, and over twenty other Overseers bore down on him like a tidal wave, bringing a sense of impending doom.
"I bear witness..." Overseer Sikong bowed repeatedly, "It was the old Sword Warden, the Withered Bone Keeper! Only he could enter the Ancestral Sword Tomb. He stole the Heavenly Mirror, committing an egregious error, dooming the descendants."
"Well done." The Sword Warden patted his shoulder. "Congratulations, a prodigal son returns, more valuable than gold, you've saved your own life."
"Thank you, Sword Warden! Thank you, Exile Yun!"
Overseer Sikong lay prostrate on the ground, soaked in cold sweat.The inception of this chapter's publication is linked to n(0)vel(b)(j)(n).
The Sword Warden turned to the other Overseers, saying, "Seal off the Sword Ruins for now."
"What about a public announcement?" someone asked.
"Wouldn't that just alert the culprit?" the Sword Warden replied with a cold smile. "First, let's cast our net wide; we must wait for their return."
Clearly, preparations were almost complete.
"Where's my reward?" Yun Xiao asked the Sword Warden with a smile.
"Don't worry. I haven't forgotten" The Sword Warden always got nervous with that look in Yun Xiao's eyes. He was a strong ally, but he also burned through money at a frightening rate!
At that moment, Mu Dalong and her brother Mu Daxiong, both arrived on their Sovereign Swords, landing before Yun Xiao. Each presented a bulging Bag of Holding, obviously of high quality.
"Exile Yun, this is 100 million Immortal Jades," Mu Dalong offered with both hands, viewing Yun Xiao as a supreme and noble Immortal. She always remained disciplined, never overstepping her boundaries!
"Exile Yun, please spend it wisely. This is a third of the Sword Ruins' treasury!" the Sword Warden said, clearly pained.
The value of Immortal Jades far exceeded that of Saint Stones. With 100 million Immortal Jades, one could buy almost anything.
As Yun Xiao accepted this fortune, none of the over twenty Overseers raised any objections.
This was the impact of Yun Xiao suppressing Ling Chen on the Immortal Sword Rankings and slaying four Inscription Cultivators! Otherwise, not even the Sword Warden could have independently mobilized a third of the treasury!
Clearly, Yun Xiao's authority had now surpassed even that of the Sword Warden, making him the true ruler of the Eternal Sword Prison.
The key was that most were convinced, daring not to utter another word. This was the conquest of talent!
The Overseers looked on with nothing but respect in their eyes. They had staked the future of the Sword Ruins entirely on Yun Xiao.
"The other eight hells are watching closely. To outsiders, betting the future of billions of Sword Cultivators in the Eternal Sword Prison on a single genius must seem like madness! But... everyone here understands Exile Yun better than those outsiders. So, we'll risk it all!" the Sword Warden suddenly declared solemnly.
"Risk it all!" the Overseers voiced their agreement.
"In that case, I cannot let wise men lose their bet," Yun Xiao said, liking their straightforwardness.
They had committed to him, throwing in money and everything else! This was what Yun Xiao had earned with his talent and performance. How long would other geniuses struggle to acquire 100 million Immortal Jades?
Yun Xiao did it in one go, leaving them stunned and offering up the foundation of their sect for a daring bet, even in the face of the threat of the other eight hells. Who would dare to do this, if not for extraordinary talent?
Yun Xiao was unfazed by their intense gazes. He took another Bag of Holding from Mu Daxiong.
"This contains the Desolate Essence produced by the Eternal Sword Prison over the years, all in these Desolate Pearls," Mu Daxiong explained.
Desolate Essence, a naturally occurring resource, could appear randomly anywhere, not exclusive to the Endless Netherworld or the Primeval Demon Hell
Typically, the Eternal Sword Prison traded Desolate Essence with the Endless Netherworld for goods. However, most were retained for crafting magic treasures and refining pills.
Now, Yun Xiao's request had effectively drained the Eternal Sword Prison's highest quality Desolate Essence in one fell swoop.
The Sword Warden was indeed generous!
Yun Xiao had never encountered such a straightforward and forceful leader.
"Thank you," Yun Xiao bowed.
"Exile Yun, no need for formalities." The Sword Warden chuckled. "As long as you don't ask for more Golden Springs Wine, we're all good friends here."
"I was just about to mention that..." Yun Xiao said.
"Dammit!" The Sword Warden was taken aback.
"Just kidding." Yun Xiao secured the two Bags of Holding. With these treasures, he and his body double were pretty much set. On top of that, he'd also vastly expanded his arsenal with the sword techniques from the Ancestral Sword Tomb!
He was now the direct heir of the ancestral teachings of the Sword Ruins!
"To the Demon Continent, to the Prison Warden!" Yun Xiao suddenly looked up. "Let's go!"
With a loud vroom he took off to the sky on his Sovereign Sword.
Above an ordinary looking stream in the mountains of the Eternal Sword Prison, a vortex twisted and churned, warping the very fabric of space.
A group of over 30 people stood in front of this vortex. At the forefront were the Withered Bone Keeper and Ling Chen.
"Exile Ling, shall we start now?" the Withered Bone Keeper asked.
"Go ahead!" Ling Chen nodded, then added, "After it's used, I will take the Heavenly Mirror."
"This..." The Withered Bone Keeper hesitated.
"Not possible?" Ling Chen's gaze turned cold.
"Of course, it's possible," the Withered Bone Keeper bowed slightly. "Once Exile Ling ascends again, treasures like the Heavenly Mirror will be plentiful. Even granting one to us would be enough to protect the Sword Ruins for thousands of years."
"You're thinking too small." Ling Chen smiled faintly. "I always repay even the smallest kindness with great generosity. If I ascend again, your Sword Ruins will be the eternal ruler of the Nine Hells, and your Ku Family the perpetual royal family."
"Thank you, Exile Ling!" The Ku Family's Sword Cultivators knelt down with fervent admiration.
And Ling Chen, gazing at the vortex, held up the nine-colored Sword Soul, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "Last time I let you down... but don't worry, once we conquer this Heavenly Land, you'll still be the number one sword in the cosmos!"
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