Chapter 1127: Chapter 1126 Huge Gain_1
Shi Xiaole took a deep breath.
Supreme Sword Way?
Was this the critical factor in becoming a Sword Emperor? Previously, he knew only of the legends of the Sword Emperor but not how to reach such a state. It wasn’t just him; probably ninety-nine percent of people in the Martial World didn’t know either.
When the Golden Sword King spoke of the Sword Emperor, he was vague and mostly clueless.
Galan Sword Emperor sighed, "My master, who became famous three thousand years ago, was the descendant of a powerful family with broad knowledge. That’s how he knew such secrets. But how to look for, communicate with, and even gain the recognition of the Supreme Sword Way was unclear to my master as well."
Shi Xiaole asked with curiosity, "In the ancient Martial World, where martial arts flourished, and peerless masters were countless, could there have been a Sword Emperor?"
This question startled both Galan Sword Emperor and Dustless Sword Emperor, leaving them unsure of how to answer.
It was said that no Sword Emperor had ever appeared, but theoretically, tracing back through generations, with many exceptional individuals emerging, how could one be certain that no one had ever gained the recognition of the Supreme Sword Way?
On the other hand, if no one had ever succeeded, how could one know the method to become a Sword Emperor, or was it all just speculation by some of the top figures?
"If the Supreme Sword Way could absorb the essence of the sword from the heavens and earth, then it should become stronger with time. Doesn’t that mean that with each passing day, it becomes harder to achieve the Sword Emperor status?"
Shi Xiaole raised another question.
This time, Dustless Sword Emperor nodded in agreement, "That’s the logic. In a secret realm by the shore of the East Sea, I found an ancient tome that mentioned a master named the East Sea Madman who nearly gained the recognition of the Supreme Martial Way and became a Martial Emperor 13,000 years ago. Unfortunately, he failed in the end. He left words of regret, saying that if he had been born 3,000 years earlier, he would have surely become a Martial Emperor!"
Excluding weapon users, the strongest practitioners in hand-to-hand combat are all deemed Martial Emperors.
Of course, the concept of Martial Emperor from that time is not the same as it is today. The former was considered a supreme lord of heaven and earth, whereas the latter is merely a respectful title used openly among the five regions of the Martial World, and their value is worlds apart.
Galan Sword Emperor said, "Based on the heritage left by our ancestors and the corroboration of many ancient tomes, the direction to become a true emperor should be beyond doubt. As for the specifics of how to do it, probably only a rare few know now."
As he spoke, his grip on the ’Overview of the Supreme Sword Way’ in his hand tightened. Dustless Sword Emperor’s eyes were fervent, shining so brightly they seemed to scorch the air.
In the eyes of the two, all the tomes of the second layer combined could not compare to the value of this ’Overview of the Supreme Sword Way’.
After all, they were not lacking in top-tier martial arts and were unlikely to switch disciplines; they might, at most, take a few references from them. But if they could discern the method to become an emperor from this book, then the gains would be massive.
Galan Sword Emperor suddenly covered the book with his supreme willpower. It was not the time to divide their loot, and his prior behavior was inappropriate.
The Buddhist philosophy values destiny highly; if one becomes too obsessive and greedy, it ironically contradicts the sword path in one’s heart and hinders cultivation.
After pondering, Galan Sword Emperor placed the book back on the shelf, turned around, and eventually calmed down.
Dustless Sword Emperor smacked his lips. He disliked beating around the bush and letting his heart be clouded by dust. He grabbed the ’Overview of the Supreme Sword Way’ and said with a smile, "What is there to be troubled about? The three of us can read it together, memorize our own parts, and that’s it. If you don’t read, I’ll read first."
Shi Xiaole gave a wry smile.
A person’s character and experiences influence the nature of their martial arts, and vice versa, martial arts also affect one’s actions. Then what about him? Embodied with four martial paths, he seemed to be unrestricted by any.
Shaking his head, Shi Xiaole simply began to browse the other secret tomes. With his mental strength, a photographic memory was a minor matter; he could memorize the contents of a martial arts tome in just a few moments.
These could be exchanged for reward points and also enhance the foundation of Nine Heavens Mountain. Just this result alone made the journey worthwhile, not to mention what still awaited on the third floor...
The three of them silently perused the tomes without verbal agreement.
"We must grasp the essence of this book carefully," said Dustless Sword Emperor as he handed the ’Overview of the Supreme Sword Way’ to Galan Sword Emperor, indicating he had memorized it all. Seeing the latter furrowing his brows in thought, lost in a trance, it was apparent that he had been shaken by the content inside.
Galan Sword Emperor no longer hesitated. After he flipped through the book quickly, he hadn’t fully processed many parts, but was deeply impacted, not much different from Dustless Sword Emperor.
Finally, the book landed in Shi Xiaole’s hands. He wasn’t in a hurry and put it on himself, awakening the other two and heading down to the third floor.
In the middle of the third floor, three coffins were neatly placed, their luster subdued, apparently crafted from materials used for top-grade average-quality spiritual weapons.
It was well-known that aside from high-quality spiritual weapons, the pinnacle of average-quality spiritual weapons represented the Martial World’s extreme, with most masters on the Emperor List using them as well.
The material used for these three coffins could suffice to forge hundreds of top-grade average-quality spiritual weapons. No power in the world possessed such a foundation.
Above the three coffins hung a sword each.
"Substandard famous swords!"
The two, who were contemplating other things, were suddenly captivated by the sight.
Between top-grade average-quality spiritual weapons and high-quality spiritual weapons, there was actually another kind of weapon. These weapons were made of the same materials as high-quality spiritual weapons but were damaged during the forging process, diminishing their power and thus termed substandard high-quality spiritual weapons.
Shi Xiaole’s Cleansing Evil Sword was not discernible to outsiders, but substandard famous swords were different. Because of their structural defects, they were more conspicuous, with their aura seeping out, though they were indeed much more powerful than top-grade average-quality spiritual weapons.
Galan Sword Emperor and Dustless Sword Emperor’s breathing became heavier.
But just then, Shi Xiaole said seriously, "Seniors, please don’t touch these three swords, they are traps!"
Dustless Sword Emperor sighed, "To be able to look but not use, how tragic!"
With danger lurking at every corner of the underground palace, even without Shi Xiaole’s warning, the other two didn’t dare to act rashly.
Shi Xiaole’s gaze shifted as he made his way to a wooden rack nearby. The racks on the third level were reduced by ninety percent compared to the second, but the items on them made Shi Xiaole’s heart race.
He picked up four pieces of tortoise shell fragments.
At the same time, within the system space, the Sword Qi Tortoise Shell began to tremble madly, and a vast Sword Qi that was about to erupt was promptly suppressed by Shi Xiaole.
"What treasures!"
Shi Xiaole had discovered these four tortoise shell fragments previously when he was exploring the outside of the gate with his mental power.
He had always thought that they belonged to Shi Xuanzhong, but upon further thought, something seemed amiss. Shi Xuanzhong was not a swordsman; it was likely that he obtained these fragments elsewhere, which meant that their presence in the Fire Stiff Palace did not necessarily indicate a connection with Shi Xuanzhong.
With that doubt cast aside, Shi Xiaole could barely contain his excitement.
Originally, it was the Sword Qi Tortoise Shell that enabled him to comprehend the power of the Heart Sword more quickly. Later, in the second layer of Mist Rain Town, he acquired three fragments that further stimulated the capabilities of the Sword Qi Tortoise Shell.
Having obtained another four pieces now, he expected the Sword Qi Tortoise Shell to regain its power. At that time, his stable Heart Sword realm might just be able to advance at a faster pace!
Beyond the four tortoise shell fragments, there were various bottles and jars on the rack.
"Sacred Blood Pill!"
"Nine Rebirth Pill!"
"Heartless Forgetfulness Powder!"
The Dustless Sword Emperor flipped through the pills, his eyes growing rounder with each one he saw. By the end, his pale face was flushed red with excitement.
This time they had hit the jackpot!
Once martial artists cultivated to the Void Origin Realm, especially at the pinnacle levels of the realm, aside from the likes of the ten Exotic Fruits, there were hardly any other treasures or mystical medicines that could change their physiques; most precious items were generally for healing.
After all, the higher the level of a martial artist, the less likely they were to get injured, but once they were, it would usually be seriously difficult to heal, wasting too much time and energy, and potentially impeding their cultivation.
A single Sacred Blood Pill could essentially replenish the lost vital blood of a top-level Heaven Realm Martial Emperor, stabilize their foundation, and belonged to ancient medicines long lost to history, something that one could hope for but not seek.
The Nine Rebirth Pill was even more precious, with the name stemming from the phrase ’nine deaths and one life.’ It was said that as long as a person was still breathing, swallowing this pill would allow them to recover quickly, its efficacy even stronger than that of the Three-Life Flower.
As for the Heartless Forgetfulness Powder, it was a kind of medicine that induced forgetfulness of love and emotions, a niche product that to most people was useless, but to some, it was as valuable as a treasure.
There were also several other types of pills, passed down from ancient times and not seen in the present day.
"Let’s take these items and figure out a way to leave quickly, then we can divide our findings," urged the Dustless Sword Emperor.
"I have no objections."
The depths of the underground palace gave Shi Xiaole a dangerous feeling. Knowing when to stop was paramount, and besides, their haul so far had been far too great.
The Galan Sword Emperor was not the type to be insatiable with greed. Even without the Dustless Sword Emperor’s words, he would have suggested that it was wise to retreat quickly.
The three of them didn’t waste any more time talking. Grabbing the items from the rack, they made their way back to the first floor.
Hum!
Humming...
Deep within the underground palace, a sudden commotion arose. A terrifying sword intent surged towards Shi Xiaole and his companions like a tide, with an undercurrent of fury.
The first floor, originally empty, was now obscured by lines of light, which were barriers formed by the Sky Origin Realm Array System.
With all his might, the Dustless Sword Emperor slashed out with his sword, only to see the sword light snuffed out, nearly getting himself crippled by the force of the Array System. He cried out, "What do we do?"
Shi Xiaole took action, with each cut from his Cleansing Evil Sword methodically aimed ahead.
Thud, thud, thud in three strikes.
There were holes in the barrier, leaving the Dustless Sword Emperor and the other onlooker dumbfounded. Amazing, the Kirin could even break through the Sky Origin Realm Array System. What couldn’t he do?
Leading the way, Shi Xiaole had previously grasped the layout of the tomb’s Array System; following the plan they had set, the trio quickly entered the passageway.
"Damn this little guy!" a spiritual will roared continuously from the depths of the underground palace.
He was too heavily injured, with his spiritual power only capable of spreading throughout the underground palace, even controlling the Fire Stiffs required the use of the remaining sword intent. He had not been aware of Shi Xiaole’s capabilities before; otherwise, he would not have taken such a careless approach.
"This is a rare opportunity. I’ve been stuck in this dark place for far too long, so long that those old fellows might have already forgotten me. I must take a risk. Move!" he ordered.
The residual sword intent swelled like a tumultuous upheaval, and the entire tomb was irradiated by sword energy.
Bang bang bang.
Three coffins were flung open, and out stepped three swordsmen, indistinguishable from normal people. Yet the intense heat they emanated made it clear they were Fire Stiffs without a doubt.
It was rumored that when Fire Stiffs cultivated to the extreme, their appearance would revert back to that of normal humans, but their strength would be ten, even a hundred times stronger than that of ordinary Fire Stiffs.
