How could Emperor Yu's personal sword have ended up in the hands of this minor cultivator? Had it been excavated from an ancient tomb?
The crowd's minds ran wild with speculation, but the youth's confidants knew far more.
They had heard from the youth that Emperor Yu, Wu Yao, had long since become an immortal—it was simply unknown to the world.
What did Emperor Yu's personal sword signify? It signified an immortal sword!
This was something every half-immortal dreamed of possessing.
No wonder their lord was so excited.
"Does anyone among you know who holds that immortal sword?" The youth had never paid attention to the younger generation; as long as geniuses had not yet grown up, there was no need to pay them any mind.
Geniuses were far too plentiful under heaven. He too had once been one among many back then. Looking around now, how many of them were still alive? Only himself.
"Reporting to My Lord, this person is named Lu Yang. He is a disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect's Sect Master, and back at the Golden Core stage, he fought the Heavenly Court Cult's Young Cult Master to a standstill."
Hearing this, the youth finally gave Lu Yang a sliver of regard.
Yet it was only a sliver.
"From the Dao Seeking Sect, one of the Five Great Immortal Sects, is he...?"
Seeing that the youth seemed tempted to act, a confidant sent a sound transmission to caution him: "My Lord, Lu Yang possesses Emperor Yu's sword; it might have been bestowed by Emperor Yu himself. We must not act rashly."
Perhaps this Lu Yang was Emperor Yu's personal disciple—otherwise, how else could he have obtained Emperor Yu's personal sword?
Connecting that with Lu Yang's deeds—being able to fight the Heavenly Court Cult's Young Cult Master to a draw—and word had it that the Young Cult Master's master was none other than the Lord of the Heavenly Court, Dou Tianzun, a veritable ancient immortal.
A disciple of an ancient immortal fighting a disciple of Emperor Yu to a standstill was perfectly reasonable.
Hearing this, the youth did not grow angry at his confidant's dissuasion. Instead, he burst into hearty laughter and said with deep meaning, "If I didn't know the inside story, your reasoning would indeed make sense. Unfortunately, your guess is impossible. Emperor Yu is no longer here."
The confidant was greatly shocked upon hearing this. Emperor Yu was no longer here? What did that mean? Emperor Yu was an immortal—how could he be gone?
"Why do you think Emperor Yu allowed the dynasty to fall?" the youth asked in return, though it sounded more like he was talking to himself. "He was seeking an opportunity—an opportunity to leave this world."
A reminiscent look appeared on the youth's face. "Ever since ancient times, this world has been sealed off. No one can leave, and no one can enter. Emperor Yu rose in the final years of the Great Qian Dynasty, contending with outstanding heroes from all quarters for the realm. He established the Great Yu Dynasty, wielding monstrous power, and his cultivation had reached the immortal realm. Whether viewed from the extent of his dominion, his cultivation level, or the experiences of his life, he had reached the absolute peak, with no room left to advance.
"Therefore, he always wanted to leave this world and see what the outside looked like.
"Do you think Emperor Yu didn't know that Wu Youdao raised the banner of restoring Great Yu? Of course he knew. He simply didn't bother to care.
"Rather than saying the Great Yu Dynasty collapsed, it would be truer to say that Emperor Yu sacrificed his own dynasty with his own hands. As for what means he employed, there is no need for you to know. That was the power of a Dao fruit—even if I explained it to you, you wouldn't be able to retain it.
"After Great Yu fell, I met Emperor Yu a few times. He had not departed, perhaps because certain conditions had yet to be met. It wasn't until not long ago that I sensed a momentary burst of Emperor Yu's aura. It flared up and then vanished, and he no longer existed in this world. Surely, it was at that very moment that Emperor Yu left this world.
"So you see, there's no need to worry about Emperor Yu reappearing. He has already departed this world. This brat named Lu Yang merely came across Emperor Yu's sword through some stroke of luck.
"Immortal treasures belong to the capable. He, Lu Yang, is a mere mortal of the Nascent Soul stage—how could he be qualified to possess such an immortal treasure?
"My guess is that the conditions for Emperor Yu to leave this world were exceedingly harsh. Perhaps he had to sacrifice not only the Great Yu Dynasty, but himself as well. In the end, he could only depart alone without bringing anything along, which is why he left his sword behind here.
"Thus, what I have my eyes on isn't merely a sword, but everything Emperor Yu left behind!"
Chapter 712