Comprehending One Sword of Heaven and Earth; A Visitor from Outer Deep Space?

Not only had he ascended to the ninety-ninth tier, but in a mere fraction of time, he had directly comprehended the sword stele's legacy. Keep in mind that many people had not even begun yet. They still had to adapt first. Yet what of Lu Yuan? He had succeeded right away, taking merely a few minutes from start to finish. The Ice Fairy, Northern Emperor, Asura, Zhu Qingyu, and the others were all thoroughly shaken. Could the gap in comprehension truly be so vast? Furthermore, Chunyang and Huikong kept shaking their heads. In particular, recalling their earlier conversation, both felt thoroughly embarrassed. Contrasted against Lu Yuan's current display, everything they had done paled into insignificance. "The legacy contained within the ninety-ninth sword stele must be the strongest!" After a brief daze, Dean Chen grew instantly excited. His original expectation had merely been thirty tiers, which would have already been fine. Who could have foreseen such a magnificent surprise? The legacy of the ninety-ninth sword stele—to what heights could it possibly reach? The other deans felt the same way. It was an outright windfall. Lu Yuan possessed immense comprehension, and whatever legacy he comprehended would be shared with Zhendan Academy as well, wouldn't it? Comprehending the single strongest one right away—if this was not a joyous surprise, what was? "Everyone..." Seeing them like this, Dean Zheng felt guilty to the absolute extreme, but he knew he could hide it no longer. Taking a deep breath, he said, "Earlier, I promised Mr. Lu that any legacy he comprehended on Ancient Mount Shu would not have to be shared with Zhendan Academy." His voice was quiet, almost faint enough that only he could hear it. Who could have anticipated such an outcome? Dean Zheng felt like weeping, yet had no tears to shed. The moment these words left his mouth, the others froze, then their eyes widened together as they shouted in unison: "What?!" Those words were practically bellowed by the four deans. *** At the summit of Sword Mountain, before the ninety-ninth sword stele. Lu Yuan sat cross-legged, eyes closed. Unlike the phenomena manifesting outside, a completely different scene unfolded within his mind. Heaven and earth were vast and gray, the clear and turbid indistinguishable, stretching into an endless void. The golden figure representing the innate spirit and the god of wisdom sat beneath the Ancient Bodhi Tree. Above, a sword composed of myriad energies spanned heaven and earth, its length immeasurable. The formidable sword intent radiating from it raged unceasingly, terrifying beyond compare, as though poised to suppress all living beings. It was far too extraordinary. The moment it appeared, heaven and earth trembled. This sword was the legacy of the ninety-ninth sword stele of Ancient Mount Shu's Sword Mountain. There was no name, nor any text to aid comprehension—only a single, simple sword strike. If it were anyone else, they would not be able to glean anything from it whatsoever. However, as the aura of that golden figure continuously came into contact with the giant energy sword, and as the Ancient Bodhi Tree radiated misty radiance accompanied by the chanting of Buddhas, everything seemed to become clear. "No specific stances, no fixed formula—all that exists is that singular will?" As Lu Yuan comprehended, he gradually began to understand what it represented. For a divine ability of the sword path, one had to first understand what a sword was. There was no need to be constrained by form. As long as one understood the sword and understood that will, a blade of grass, a single tree, all things between heaven and earth could serve as a sword in one's hand. No wonder the Daluo sword core was said to be suited for this sword divine ability. Wasn't its might also forged by absorbing all manner of rare divine materials, growing progressively stronger over time? Gradually, Lu Yuan understood. In Daoist lore, Daluo signified heaven and earth. Daluo conveyed the meaning of eternal freedom and indestructible through ten thousand tribulations. And this single strike carried a similar meaning: when the sword emerged between heaven and earth, all living beings submitted. Thus, that sword divine ability of the ninety-ninth sword stele possessed a simple name: One Sword of Heaven and Earth. "So that is how it is. I understand." Lu Yuan opened his eyes, a radiant divine light spilling from his gaze. At the same time, the moment he completely comprehended the One Sword of Heaven and Earth, the entire Sword Mountain quaked, and the previous phenomena dissipated, returning everything to its original state. The sword stele before him appeared just as ordinary as ever, devoid of any peculiarity. At this, Lu Yuan merely smiled and slowly rose to his feet. The legacy of Ancient Mount Shu's Sword Mountain truly lived up to its reputation. Of course, another question lingered in his mind: who had left behind these ninety-nine sword steles? Even with the world's upheaval, they could not have appeared out of thin air. At least during some forgotten era, Ancient Mount Shu might truly have been home to a group of sword immortals out of myth and legend who left behind their legacies. Yet no records existed in the history books. Perhaps, like the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, certain secrets had been buried away entirely, impossible for later generations to fathom to the bottom. Lu Yuan did not dwell on the thought, turning around instead. Having already comprehended the strongest sword legacy of Ancient Mount Shu, there was no need to remain. Thus, he headed straight back down. There were ninety-eight other sword steles, each bearing a legacy, though unfortunately the opportunity arose only once every three years. Yet in Lu Yuan's mind, only the top three were worth comprehending; the rest could wait until he had time. It wasn't as if he would lack opportunities in the future. He moved swiftly, covering a hundred meters in a single stride, and before long arrived beside Little Celestial Master Chunyang and Monk Huikong. The two paused in surprise, then both nodded slightly in greeting. His comprehension had thoroughly won their respect. Further down were Zhu Qingyu, the Ice Fairy, and the others. The way they looked at Lu Yuan was vastly different from before, as if they were looking at a monster. It was one thing to possess terrifying strength and rank among the Five Great Sovereigns, but to possess such heaven-defying comprehension on top of that? Truly, comparisons were odious. As for the other Awakened, they shared the exact same thought. At this moment, all of them agreed that this Human Sovereign would become the strongest among the five, beyond even the Winged Celestial, and his name would inevitably resound throughout the entire world. Unlike them, who still had to continue struggling to comprehend the sword steles' legacies... Before long, Lu Yuan descended Sword Mountain and reached the clearing. The five deans of Zhendan Academy immediately gathered around him. Their expressions were bizarre, filled with astonishment as they looked him up and down. It couldn't be helped; his display was simply too staggering. Still, being individuals of standing, they quickly regained their composure. Dean Chen, who led them, gave it a moment's thought and spoke directly: "First, congratulations to Mr. Lu for successfully comprehending the sword stele's legacy. Old Zheng has already explained the matter to us. That legacy does not need to be handed over to Zhendan Academy. How you dispose of it is entirely up to you, Mr. Lu. I can guarantee that no one will raise any objections." As he said this, his heart ached. That was the supreme legacy of Ancient Mount Shu! The other deans shot Dean Zheng harsh glares as well. Yet who told him to make that promise beforehand? Could they possibly go back on their word? Neither Zhendan Academy nor the deans themselves could afford such a disgrace. Thus, before Lu Yuan came down, the five deans had already deliberated and reached an agreement. Rather than bickering and making things awkward over it, it was far better to forge good relations. Anyone could see that Lu Yuan's future was boundless, and he was destined to become a supreme powerhouse. Building good ties between them was already a great outcome for Zhendan Academy. As for that supreme legacy, though it was regrettable, they refrained from asking about it. "Thank you," Lu Yuan replied, naturally grasping what was on their minds. Zhendan Academy's breadth of mind was fairly grand after all; had it been a faction like Wuzhou Group, they certainly would not have acted this way. Moreover, Dean Zheng and the others had permitted him to visit Ancient Mount Shu without attaching any conditions, which counted as a favor. Lu Yuan did not deny this and naturally kept it in mind. "Mr. Lu, where do you plan to go next?" At this point, Dean Zheng stepped forward. Now that the comprehension was complete, he wanted to know Lu Yuan's upcoming plans to see if there was any chance for further contact. After all, the priority right now was to draw closer to him; every little bit helped. "I'll return to Chang'an first," Lu Yuan replied after a brief thought. With matters at Ancient Mount Shu settled, a trip to Qinling was necessary. That was his next step. "Good. We have a plane, so we can travel together." Dean Zheng looked delighted, having achieved his aim. He added, however, that they would need to wait for Zhu Qingyu and the Northern Emperor, as they were still comprehending their legacies. Lu Yuan naturally had no objection. It would not take much time anyway. After chatting briefly with the five deans, he walked to the side, closed his eyes, and rested. The One Sword of Heaven and Earth held boundless mysteries, requiring deeper comprehension. "Old Zheng, have several students from the academies accompany you back to Chang'an for now," Dean Chen said, having thought of something. "The higher-ups predict there is a high probability Chang'an will face a beast tide soon. You and Commander-in-Chief Xu must make thorough preparations. We will assist as well." Assigning students was meant to bolster Chang'an's defenses. "Understood," Dean Zheng replied in a grave voice, knowing the gravity of the matter. The other four supercities had all experienced beast tides to varying extents; now, it was Chang'an's turn. He even suspected whether the mutated beasts had coordinated among themselves. Regardless, preparations had to be made. Otherwise, a single slip could result in massive casualties. Mutated beasts were humanity's true nemesis. Thereafter, they said no more, waiting where they stood. With Lu Yuan's departure, the others were no longer disrupted and began comprehending the sword steles' legacies. As noted before, ascending the tiers was one thing, but whether one could comprehend anything was another entirely. Most returned disappointed, having gained no legacy or fortune. Figures like the Northern Emperor and the Ice Fairy, however, succeeded after several hours. What people comprehended varied widely: breathing methods, visualization methods, divine abilities, and even ancient Chinese martial arts that had been lost to time. It was not restricted to any single form. Seeing this, the five deans finally breathed a sigh of relief. At least this opening of Ancient Mount Shu had not been in vain. Moreover, following this trial, it could continue to be opened to attract more Awakened. In the New Era, the number of individuals acquiring extraordinary power was growing exponentially. Their goal was to rely on sheer numbers. One way or another, there would always be gains in the end. As for Lu Yuan, he sat cross-legged in the distance, calming his mind. He had already comprehended the divine ability, One Sword of Heaven and Earth, and with the aid of his hundred-million-fold talent, his grasp of it deepened continuously. He was certain that this was a supreme sword divine ability no less potent than the Jade Emperor Orthodox Heavenly Thunder Art and the Buddha Kingdom in the Palm. In terms of pure offensive power, it might even surpass them. The sword governed slaughter and was among the deadliest means of attack. Of course, Lu Yuan did not pour all his focus into it; he occasionally observed the circumstances of the others. True to what he knew, Zhu Qingyu possessed formidable bloodline and talent. Combining both, she had comprehended quite an impressive visualization method from a sword stele. Once back, if she received Zhendan Academy's dedicated nurturing, her achievements might surpass even the Ice Fairy and the rest. This was only natural. Currently it was only the initial stage of the upheaval; the so-called Top 100 List and Five Great Sovereigns were merely ranked by onlookers and meddlers. As time progressed, truly powerful geniuses would gradually emerge, transforming into dragons overnight. Ring, ring... Yet just as Lu Yuan was pondering this, his phone suddenly rang. Glancing at the screen, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes. It was actually Chen Song. Why was he calling? Lu Yuan hesitated briefly before answering: "Hello." "Is this classmate Lu? It's me, Chen Song." The voice on the other end was much the same as before, skipping pleasantries to get straight to business. "Sorry to bother you, but there's an important matter I feel I must tell you." "Oh? Let's hear it," Lu Yuan smiled. "It's about that small cauldron from my family," Chen Song began to explain. It turned out that just last night, a woman had suddenly arrived at his house, around seventeen or eighteen years old. She wore ancient attire rather than modern clothing, and was exceptionally beautiful—even surpassing Zhou Yunqiong. Right off the bat, she demanded that small green heirloom cauldron. But Chen Song didn't know her, and she refused to reveal her identity. "And then?" Hearing this, Lu Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly. He had thought of something, but needed to confirm. "Then I said the small cauldron had been lost long ago and couldn't be found, and I didn't say it was given to you," Chen Song said. Sensing the woman had ill intentions and fearing trouble, he had fabricated a lie and never revealed Lu Yuan's name—acting quite decently. Immediately following, he didn't forget to warn Lu Yuan that the woman was strange and might be an Awakened, urging him to be careful. "Is that so?" Lu Yuan's tone turned slightly grave. "Yeah," Chen Song hesitated, but asked anyway, "Classmate Lu, I have a question... Are you that Human Sovereign, one of the Five Great Sovereigns?" News of the five strongest Awakened was buzzing all over the internet, and he had naturally seen it. However, because Lu Yuan's build and disposition had changed, he wasn't certain. Calling this time, besides warning him, was also to find out for sure. Chen Song was an ordinary person and naturally curious about Awakened, especially one who might be his old classmate. Lu Yuan gave no answer to that, asking instead, "Chen Song, are you still in Shanghai?" "Yeah. In times like these, who dares go out? Besides, my dad needs looking after." "If your livelihood isn't an issue, head back to the countryside. I recall your family's hometown also falls under the jurisdiction of a supercity, and things will be more relaxed once you're back," Lu Yuan suddenly suggested. For he remembered that back in Chen Song's hometown in the countryside, there were several decent exotic herbs. Though consuming them wouldn't turn someone into an Awakened, they could strengthen the body and bestow power beyond ordinary men. In his previous life, Chen Song had relied on those to completely cure his father's illness. Speaking up now merely moved up the timeline. Of course, what Chen Song decided to do was up to his own choice. Since Chen Song hadn't disclosed that Lu Yuan took the heirloom cauldron, Lu Yuan naturally returned the favor. "Ah, alright, got it." Chen Song did not pry further, though in his heart he grew increasingly certain that this classmate of his, like Zhou Yunqiong, had likely become an Awakened—and might truly be the Human Sovereign among the Five Great Sovereigns. "To think visitors from the outer deep space would arrive this soon..." Hanging up the phone, Lu Yuan's gaze turned solemn as he murmured to himself.