"Wuxie, have you ever heard this voice before?" Xu Ying asked.
The Immortal Sword Siwuxie chimed with a gentle vibration. A ray of sword light shot from the sword's tip, transforming into the form of a delicate sword child. With a slightly trembling voice, it said, "It is all too familiar. That is the voice of Tao Danyang, the former sect master of the Mount Shu Sword Sect!"
Floating in midair and following steadily behind Xu Ying, the sword child continued, "Three thousand years ago, I sensed that terrifying evil thought, yet I never heard his voice nor saw his face. I only felt the person was somewhat familiar, someone who surely belonged to the Sword Sect and had lurked upon the mountain for ages. He could conceal his wicked intentions, but I never in my wildest dreams imagined it would be him! Tao Danyang presided over the Mount Shu Sword Sect for a thousand years, making him the longest-reigning sect master in our history, revered for his immense virtue and prestige.
"He was also someone in the Sword Sect's history who attained the highest heights in the cultivation of the Sword Dao, ranking among the top five—perhaps even top three—of all past sect masters. Had it not been for the super heavenly tribulation, he would certainly have undergone the tribulation to ascend, become a sword immortal, and become the most dazzling figure in the history of the Sword Sect! Alas, the super heavenly tribulation severed his path to ascension.
"Since Siwuxie was the immortal sword guarding the Mount Shu Sword Sect, Tao Danyang naturally possessed the authority to wield it. He grasped this immortal sword more than once, yet Siwuxie never felt even the slightest trace of evil from him! All Siwuxie ever sensed from him was a heart as pure and devoted as an infant's, innocent and devoid of wickedness.
"His sword heart was clear as a mirror, his sword intent like fierce wind and raging fire, as upright as a blade—just like the man himself, incapable of bending in the slightest. How could such a powerful and pure person be the true culprit behind the Sword Sect's tragedy?"
"Life is like an inn greeting travelers, watching people come and go in hasty steps."
As Xu Ying walked forward, Shi Yuqing's distant voice drifted over. "Qi Refiners are no different from mortals; whether in life or death, we are all like travelers passing through an inn, unable to linger between Heaven and Earth forever. Master, your words remain as philosophical as ever. Disciple is delighted to see you again, yet there is one matter that eludes my understanding."
Her tone shifted. "When I ascended the mountain back then, Master was already in your twilight years, with little time left to live. Disciple is unfilial, but may I ask: how did Master cross three thousand years and survive until today?"
Xu Ying quickened his pace. Suddenly, ahead of him before the cliff face, he saw a tall man standing with a greatsword strapped across his back. The blade was broad and long, resembling a solitary skiff.
Behind the tall man stood a woman clad in fiery red. At her feet rested a sword casket, heavy and four feet long, bound at top and bottom with bronze hoops. Xu Ying looked up toward the precipice. Upon the clifftop stood figures arranged in an orderly pattern—roughly two hundred people in all.
Sword qi surged within them like sharp blades plunged into the heights and base of the Ten-Li Sword Immortal Precipice!
The sword child was struck with utter disbelief: "They are Qi Refiners from three thousand years ago! It's impossible for them to be alive now—they should have died long ago!"
Clear though its sword heart was, devoid of stray thoughts, even it could not help spiraling into turmoil and confusion. These people, who had clearly vanished so long ago and should have perished in antiquity, had actually reappeared! They were the Qi Refiners of the Sword Sect back then. When internal strife broke out, dividing the sect into the Nuo Immortal faction and the Orthodox faction, these people had belonged to the Orthodox faction! The Nuo Immortal faction was utterly wiped out, handing the Orthodox faction an effortless victory. Yet during the subsequent upheaval of Heaven and Earth, all of them vanished without a trace, leaving only the sealed Shi Yuqing behind. And now, these people who should have been dead for ages had reappeared!
Shi Yuqing had survived solely because the Sword Sect's sword immortals in the Immortal Realm had moved heaven and earth to protect her. How had the rest of them managed to survive?
These Sword Sect masters chatted and laughed freely, and some even called out greetings to the Immortal Sword Siwuxie. Every single one of them appeared so normal, so completely alive. What frightened the Immortal Sword Siwuxie even more was that it could sense the thoughts of each and every one of them. Sword Sect masters possessed distinct personalities, and distinct personalities gave rise to distinct ways of thinking. Siwuxie knew these people intimately, knowing their dispositions and their thoughts. Yet right now, it sensed that the personalities and thoughts of these resurrected people were identical to how they had been in life!
"Could they truly be alive?" Unease and dread gripped its heart. Yet they should be dead.
It had clearly seen with its own eyes that when the catastrophe struck, the sky tore open, and an abyss appeared, sweeping up all the Qi Refiners and swallowing them whole.
Tao Danyang's voice drifted over: "The reason Master could survive until today is that I betrayed Qi Refinement, practiced the Nuo method, and became a Nuo immortal to prolong my life."
He sighed and said, "Back then, when the Human Skin Lantern Case occurred within our sect, I was racked with grief and resolved to investigate it to the very bottom. When the great upheaval of Heaven and Earth struck, I was swept into the Heavenly Abyss. Later, I led your martial uncles and aunts out of the Heavenly Abyss. For three thousand years, we hurried about in search of clues, until at last we uncovered a grand conspiracy that concerns the fates of all: someone is using the Nuo methods to refine the great medicine of the human body!"
Xu Ying was slightly taken aback, not expecting him to expose the matter himself. He kept walking forward, passing beside the tall man.
The tall man wore a smile and said, "Immortal Sword Wuxie, long time no see."
The sword child ignored him, keeping close behind Xu Ying. As Xu Ying walked on, he passed the woman in red, who smiled and said, "Immortal Sword Wuxie, three thousand years have passed, and we meet once more." The sword child still paid no heed, following Xu Ying further in. More and more Sword Sect masters called out to it, their demeanor warm and respectful.
"People of different temperaments cultivate different paths of the sword, and their sword intent is naturally different as well."
The sword child tried its best to sense their sword intents and their Sword Daos, only to discover in horror that everyone's sword intent and Sword Dao exhibited distinct, clear differences!
At this moment, the Immortal Sword Siwuxie was lost in confusion. "Could they truly have survived? Could they truly have returned alive from the abyss? Is Tao Danyang really that evil harvester?" It began to doubt its own judgment.
Tao Danyang's voice came again: "I discovered that certain people disseminated tainted Nuo methods laden with traps. Once others attained success in cultivation, they would spring these traps to harvest the immortal medicine of the human body, thereby extending their own lifespans. But in the process of seeking the truth, I also obtained the authentic Nuo method."
He smiled. "The authentic Nuo method allows for longevity! It is by relying on the orthodox method of the Nuo masters that Master, alongside your martial uncles and aunts, has lived until today. Qing'er, you are still young; there is still time for you to open the six secret depositories."
Xu Ying walked forward and saw Shi Yuqing standing beneath the Sword Immortal Precipice, and he also saw the former sect master, Tao Danyang.
Tao Danyang was a tall elderly man. Though his hair was grizzled, his complexion was ruddy and healthy. He wore coarse ash-green robes adorned with white cloth bound around his shoulders. His eyes were bright and sharp as swords, his face broad, and his shoulders wide, giving off a reliable and honest impression.
He was like a towering sword peak standing between Heaven and Earth, grand and majestic. As long as he stood, the Sword Sect would never fall! Shi Yuqing looked at Tao Danyang with conflicting emotions, wanting to step forward and embrace him, yet not daring to.
She knew that only she had survived from the Sword Sect, making Tao Danyang's sudden emergence profoundly suspect. Yet Tao Danyang was her revered master and the closest person she had left in this world, stirring deep filial affection within her.
Tao Danyang's voice was resonant as a bronze bell, carrying immense magnetism. He laughed heartily. "Qing'er, once Master passes the orthodox method of the six secret depositories to you, you can combine it with the sword arts to establish your lineage, take in disciples, and elevate the Sword Sect's heritage to heights far surpassing our ancestors!"
His gaze burned with warmth and enthusiasm as he smiled. "The true Nuo method has no hidden backdoors, no traps! The orthodox Nuo immortal method that Master and your martial uncles and aunts went through unimaginable hardships to find will finally allow our Sword Sect to achieve glory once more and flourish. You, too, will leave your name in the annals of the Sword Sect, surpassing all past patriarchs!"
The Sword Sect masters seemed to recall all the suffering they had endured over the years; their eyes welled with tears, yet they held them back, though some turned away secretly to wipe away a stray tear.
At this moment, a voice rang out, interrupting this touching scene between master and disciple: "Boss Tao, Qing'er has already received my true teachings; I have already imparted to her my orthodox method of the six secret depositories. You're a step late, and you should know the principle of first come, first served, shouldn't you?"
Tao Danyang's frame shook slightly. Turning around, he saw a broad-framed youth with slightly tanned skin approaching, and he could not help but frown. "And who might you be, sir?"
Xu Ying smiled faintly. "Grand Supreme Elder of the Sword Sect, Xu Ying. Fellow Daoist Tao, the rules of the trade state: first come, first served. Since I have already taught Qing'er the orthodox method of the six secret depositories, you may not impart yours. Please take your leave; this pot of dishes belonging to the Sword Sect is mine."
Tao Danyang's gaze fell upon the Immortal Sword Siwuxie in Xu Ying's hand, and his expression changed abruptly. He looked at Shi Yuqing and asked, "You practiced the six secret depositories he taught you?"
Shi Yuqing nodded. "Replying to Master, Disciple has already opened five secret depositories and was just intending to borrow Senior Siwuxie's power to open the sixth secret depository."
Tao Danyang's face darkened instantly, and his tone turned chillingly stern: "How could you casually practice a Nuo method taught by an outsider? His Nuo method contains traps, and once you become a Nuo immortal, he will come to devour you! If you pass his methods of the six secret depositories to the disciples of the Sword Sect, every single disciple will suffer calamity in the future and be eaten by him!"
Exuding an imposing aura without anger, he barked sternly, "Have you forgotten how your martial uncles and aunts died back then? Do you want our Sword Sect to repeat the past tragedy?"
Shi Yuqing hurried to drop to her knees. "Disciple would never dare forget."
Tao Danyang said coldly, "Yet you dared to practice the six secret depositories' Nuo method taught by an outsider! Are you trying to destroy the very foundation of our Sword Sect?"
Shi Yuqing shook her head. "Disciple would never dare."
Tao Danyang's expression softened slightly. "Fortunately, you are not too deeply entrapped, and this can still be remedied. You only need to cripple those cave-heavens, open them anew, and cultivate the Nuo method I pass to you."
Shi Yuqing hesitated briefly, then asked, "Disciple wishes to know: three thousand years ago, how did Master and all our martial uncles and aunts survive?"
Tao Danyang laughed in disbelief. "Qing'er, do you still doubt me?"
A Sword Sect elder standing upon the cliff, who fiercely detested evil, shouted down, "You place no trust in your Sect Master and Master, yet you believe an outsider? Shi Yuqing, have you lost your mind!"
Other elders and venerables chimed in with reproaches toward Shi Yuqing. A woman spoke with heartfelt anguish: "Shi Yuqing, you have no idea how much suffering the Sect Master endured, how many sacrifices he made, just to discover the truth! Did the Sect Master do it for himself? It was for the Sword Sect, for you! And yet you dare suspect the Sect Master!"
Shi Yuqing wavered. These were all people she knew well, the elders of her sect. Their accusations struck like sharp swords plunging into her heart, making it impossible for her to calmly discern truth from falsehood.
Gritting her teeth, Shi Yuqing said, "Since Master claims that all of you have cultivated the orthodox method of the six secret depositories over all these years, then I invite Master and all our martial elders to reveal your six secret depositories' cave-heavens so Disciple may judge the truth!"
Tao Danyang smiled. "So that is what you suspected."
He took a step forward, his body swaying slightly, and behind him emerged brilliantly luminous cave-heavens of the six secret depositories—large and small, numbering a full sixty-three! Up and down the Ten-Li Precipice, the various Sword Sect elders and venerables gave low shouts, each displaying their own secret depository cave-heavens.
There were over two hundred of them, and each possessed sixty-three cave-heavens: Mud Pill, Jade Pool, Jade Capital, Yellow Court, Crimson Palace, Bubbling Spring—every one of the six secret depositories accounted for. Ten to twenty thousand radiant cave-heavens blazed, illuminating not only the Ten-Li Precipice with blinding brilliance, but casting their dazzling glow across all Seventy-Two Peaks of the Sword Sect! Such a spectacle was magnificent beyond words.
Seeing this, Shi Yuqing's face turned solemn. "Master, how did you open the six secret depositories?"
Tao Danyang was briefly stunned, somewhat puzzled. "What?"
Xu Ying inwardly praised her cleverness.
Shi Yuqing said, "The Six Secret Depositories of the Human Body cannot be opened once a Primordial Spirit is cultivated. Master and all the elders and venerables are figures who cultivated Primordial Spirits long ago; your six secret depositories were sealed so densely that not even immortal artifacts could pry them open. How did you open the Six Secret Depositories of the Human Body?"
Tao Danyang fell silent. A white-bearded, white-haired elder could not hold back; he leaped down from above and strode furiously toward Shi Yuqing, fuming, "Niece Yuqing, you don't think I would deceive you too, do you? People's hearts are sinister! How could you possibly know that a Primordial Spirit prevents opening the six secret depositories? Others are lying to—"
Before he could finish his sentence, a ray of sword qi shot from Shi Yuqing's fingertips. The tip of the sword transformed into starlight, and with a gentle vibration, countless stars surged toward his face! The white-haired elder reflexively unleashed his sword arts, and iron swords flew from the sword casket behind him to meet the sky full of starlight as he shouted, "Niece..."
*Chi! Chi! Chi!*
Shi Yuqing's sword qi pierced through his sword formation with effortless ease, striking between his brows. With a soft pop, it drilled through his skull, piercing straight from front to back! The white-haired elder stared blankly, and his corpse collapsed to the ground.
"Niece, you've gone mad!" The crowd of Sword Sect elders and venerables flew into a rage and leaped down from the cliff face.
"Master, do you recognize this sword technique?" Shi Yuqing asked.
A sharp glint flashed in Tao Danyang's eyes, and he took a sudden stride forward. "That is the sword technique of the founding ancestral master. You learned it?" As he stepped forward, the other Sword Sect elders and venerables all stepped forward in unison.
At that moment, the Immortal Sword Siwuxie finally realized: those Sword Sect elders and venerables were no longer living individuals. Every single one of them was Tao Danyang!
Their personalities and thoughts had unified in an instant. Even the corpse of the white-haired elder on the ground suddenly stirred with mental activity, aligning perfectly with Tao Danyang!
Shi Yuqing acted as if she had not seen this, continuing, "No, this is a sword technique from the Sword Immortal Dao Scripture. It is even more profound than that of the founding ancestral master—the ultimate immortal sword art you have dreamed of day and night."
Tao Danyang's mind surged with emotion. In a trembling voice, he said, "You comprehended it?"
Behind him, all the Sword Sect elders and venerables spoke in unison, their voices trembling at the exact same moment: "You comprehended it?"
Standing beside Tao Danyang, those Sword Sect elders and venerables mirrored his demeanor, bearing, tone, and micro-expressions down to the minutest detail, completely synchronized. At this moment, the Immortal Sword Siwuxie sensed an overwhelming malice radiating from them!
These evil thoughts fused together into an unimaginably terrifying monster, far more horrifying than even a heavenly fiend!
Shi Yuqing sighed, clear tears tracing down the corners of her eyes. Her voice was raspy as she asked, "Master, why did you impart false Nuo methods to all those martial uncles and aunts back then?"
Beside Tao Danyang, the complexions of those Sword Sect elders and venerables suddenly turned ash-gray. They stood there like wooden carvings and clay idols, transforming from living people into lifeless corpses. They looked as if they had been dead for who knew how long; their bodies took on a greenish pallor, covered in corpse spots like pale blue flowers.
One cave-heaven after another flew out from behind them, falling behind Tao Danyang in succession, dense and beyond count. Cave-heavens large and small crammed the sky above the Ten-Li Precipice.
"Why? Probably because I was unwilling to accept my fate."
Tao Danyang sighed, dropping all pretense. "Look, Qing'er. Of all the sword paths and sword incantations recorded on this Ten-Li Precipice, how many could match my attainments? Yet many of them ascended to the Immortal Realm, becoming immortals and ancestors. If they could ascend, why should I—who am stronger and wiser than them—be left to rot in the mortal realm, not daring to face the tribulation, unable to ascend?"
He looked up at the sky, his eyes burning with fury and resentment. "Their abilities fell short of mine, their talent was inferior to mine, and their comprehension could not compare to mine! On what grounds did they get to ascend while I remained in the mortal realm as their watchdog? Simply because they were born earlier than me, encountering fortunate times? It's not fair!"
His anger mounted, and he yelled toward the heavens: "It's not fair! I am more capable than they were, and I deserved to ascend far more! Why? Who can answer me: why?"
He sneered. "Since Heaven is unjust, why should I bother being a good person? If it won't let me ascend, won't let me achieve longevity, I will find my own way to attain longevity and ascend! The Nuo methods showed me an opportunity."
A sudden smile broke across his face. "My good disciple, you are wonderful, very clever. I never imagined you could unravel this eternal mystery. As long as you pass the Sword Immortal Dao Scripture to me, I will not kill you. I will even teach you the authentic Nuo method, granting you the strength to ascend. You and I, master and disciple, shall ascend together."
Right then, Xu Ying's voice came from behind him: "Yuqing's Sword Immortal Dao Scripture—I was the one who taught her."
Tao Danyang whipped around, only to come face to face with the Immortal Sword Siwuxie. Sword light rushed toward him as if wielded by an immortal king standing in the distant Immortal Realm, carrying boundless mysteries of the Immortal Dao into his sight—deadly, yet intoxicating!
This was the Sword Immortal Dao Scripture, the supreme Sword Dao he had dreamed of all his life!
Chapter 218