"Sunken Sword Style?"
Lin Zhao frowned. On the skill list of the Eternal Sword Scripture system, a golden icon leaped out. It was a symbol of dozens of long swords pointing downwards from the sky, their tips aligned in one direction, and then falling. As Lin Zhao's gaze swept over it, the skill details appeared—
[Sunken Sword Style] (Eternal Grade): Summons dozens of sword lights to descend from the sky, dealing massive damage within a 5x5 range.
…
He couldn't help but take a deep breath. The first move of the Eternal Sword Scripture, such a supreme sword scripture, was actually a skill with a small area of effect. With only a 5x5 attack range, and not being a lock-on skill, its use would heavily test the player's prediction ability. Naturally, once it hit, it would be fatal or cause serious injury.
Let's try it first!
Lin Zhao still had a bit of youthful exuberance. He got up and leaped from the giant rock, drew Zhanlu Sword, raised his long sword towards an open space ahead, and with a thought, said: "Sunken Sword Style!"
Instantly, "swish swish swish" sounds filled the air as sword lights, infused with potent sword intent, descended from the sky. They converged from all directions, their tips all pointed at the mere 5x5 area. "Ching ching ching," they wildly struck, until the area was covered with mottled sword lights.
Currently, there were no monsters, so the killing power was unknown, but it was certainly not bad.
Lin Zhao let out a relieved sigh. The Eternal Sword Scripture was an absolute treasure for sword cultivators. The moment they entered it, their sword intent and sword damage would be significantly boosted. And it seemed each level could unlock a sword move, which was quite remarkable. One sword scripture could truly transform someone completely.
Continue to refine the sword!
He wasn't in a hurry to display the power of the Eternal Sword Scripture. He spun around, sat back on the blue rock, and continued to cultivate the Eternal Sword Scripture.
Not long after, a figure floated gracefully up. She wore a white dress, her right sleeve empty, her long sleeves fluttering in the wind. A single glance made one's heart ache. Such a peerlessly beautiful sword immortal, yet only having one arm, was truly regrettable.
Wu Zhi landed gracefully not far away and said respectfully, "My lord."
"Mmm, Wu Zhi, what is it?"
Lin Zhao opened his eyes and looked at his most capable subordinate.
Wu Zhi said softly, "Reporting to my lord, this morning, the Lingyan Sword Sect held a grand ceremony for the enthronement of their new sect leader. Many sects from Mounts in Furong State, Yu State, Ji State, and Yun State sent people to offer their congratulations. Our Mountain Peak Villa still has some connections with the Lingyan Sword Sect, should we also…?"
"Mmm."
Lin Zhao stopped cultivating his sword. He stood up on the blue rock and looked at Wu Zhi, saying, "Immortal Sword User Xie Yiying once brought Chen Mengjun to visit our Mountain Peak Villa. Furthermore, during the two major crises of the Nine Nether Dragon Court and the Western Shu Landslide, Immortal Sword User Xie poured out her sword for the human world…"
His eyes reddened slightly. "If it weren't for Immortal Sword User Xie holding back the Old Ancestor of the Five Peaks during the Southern Wilderness turmoil, sacrificing her sword heart to awaken all cultivators in the world, the losses for the human world on the mountains would have been even greater."
"Indeed…"
Wu Zhi said softly, "Immortal Sword User Xie Yiying is truly worthy of the title 'Sword Immortal'."
"Who succeeded as the sect leader?" Lin Zhao asked.
"Peak of the eleventh realm, Chen Mengjun."
"Oh…"
Lin Zhao understood. It seemed natural. There would be no one more suitable to be the sect leader of the Lingyan Sword Sect than Chen Mengjun. Although the Lingyan Sword Sect still had several eleventh-realm sword cultivators of Xie Yiying's generation guarding it, their talent and comprehension were still inferior to Chen Mengjun's.
Moreover, Chen Mengjun was now at the peak of the eleventh realm, and her foundation as a sword cultivator made her the foremost person in the Lingyan Sword Sect after Xie Yiying. She was also Xie Yiying's most favored disciple, so Chen Mengjun's succession was only logical.
"Wu Zhi."
Lin Zhao said, "Were the gifts from the sects attending the ceremony substantial?"
"Ordinary,"
Wu Zhi replied. "However, Sect Leader Long Dongjun of Iron Floating Mountain not only had enmity with Xie Yiying but also shared a debt of gratitude. Therefore, the gift given by Long Dongjun this time was very generous, totaling over three thousand Jin Zizhi coins, all given to Chen Mengjun."
"…"
Lin Zhao frowned. Indeed, during the two uprisings of the Nine Nether Dragon Court and the Western Shu Landslide, Long Dongjun fought alongside Xie Yiying. The animosity between them had long since dissolved, and now only a sense of mutual appreciation existed between the peak cultivators of the human world's mountains.
Xie Yiying sacrificing herself for the world, and Long Dongjun being deeply moved, it was understandable that he would give extra consideration to the Lingyan Sword Sect.
"Let's also prepare a substantial gift from our Mountain Peak Villa."
Lin Zhao slightly raised his eyebrows. "Li Ying, come here."
"Yes, young master."
In the wind, a strand of golden light flickered and condensed, transforming into the figure of Liu Li Ying, the Fan Goddess. Clad in a red dress, holding a folding fan, her curves were pronounced and alluring, enough to captivate anyone.
"Now, how much Jin Zizhi coins do we still have in the treasury of our Mountain Peak Villa?" Lin Zhao asked.
"Over nineteen thousand, just under twenty thousand."
"Oh…"
Lin Zhao frowned and said, "Take five thousand Jin Zizhi coins from it. Furthermore, Wu Zhi, go to Sword Mountain and gather fifty top-grade sword embryos. Then, call Yu Wan Ning and Chen Ben, and accompany me to the Lingyan Sword Sect at Wangxin Lake to offer congratulations."
"Yes, my lord!"
Wu Zhi floated away.
"Young master."
Liu Li Ying took out a heavy money bag, containing five thousand Jin Zizhi coins. She pursed her red lips and said softly, "Aren't you taking me along? Li Ying has arrived in the human world and hasn't traveled far yet."
"Li Ying, be good and stay at Mountain Peak Villa. It's the safest,"
Lin Zhao looked at her. "After all, you are the Fan Goddess. It's not suitable for you to be ostentatious in public. Besides… this trip to the Lingyan Sword Sect is both to congratulate Chen Mengjun and to mourn Immortal Sword User Xie Yiying. Your red attire is too festive."
"Oh…"
Liu Li Ying pouted. Although she wanted to argue, she found herself unable to refute. What the young master said was reasonable and logical. And the deeper reason was that Wu Zhi, Chen Ben, and Yu Wan Ning were all people who had blocked the Old Ancestor of the Five Peaks at Changming Mountain on this journey south. It was only right for them to go, but not for her.
…
In the afternoon.
A sword light shot up from Xue Yu Tian Chi. Lin Zhao, accompanied by Wu Zhi, Chen Ben, and Yu Wan Ning, headed south towards Wangxin Lake in Furong State.
Upon arriving at the Lingyan Sword Sect, there were no festive decorations. On the contrary, all the disciples of the Lingyan Sword Sect had a strip of white cloth tied around their arms. Although Xie Yiying's cenotaph had been buried, many disciples were still mourning her.
"Mountain Peak Villa, Lin Zhao, Wu Zhi, Chen Ben, Yu Wan Ning have arrived!"
An outer disciple announced loudly.
Inside the main hall, Chen Mengjun immediately led her fellow disciples to greet them.
When she saw Lin Zhao, dressed in white and with a long sword on his back, Chen Mengjun's heart was filled with mixed emotions. When she saw Wu Zhi, Chen Ben, and Yu Wan Ning also dressed in white, Chen Mengjun's eyes reddened. Those who understood the ways of the human world's mountains came to congratulate the Lingyan Sword Sect dressed in simple white.
"Lin Zhao…"
Chen Mengjun softly called out. She wanted to say something as she had before, but suddenly, she realized her identity was different now. She was now the sect leader of the Lingyan Sword Sect, no longer the girl who traveled the martial world with Lin Zhao. Some things she could no longer say.
"Mengjun."
Lin Zhao's expression was solemn. "Where is the spiritual tablet of Immortal Sword User Xie? We wish to offer some incense."
"Alright, follow me!"
The spiritual tablet was placed not far from the main hall of the succession ceremony. Above the tablet was inscribed, "Tablet of Xie Yiying, Sect Leader of the Lingyan Sword Sect." In front of the tablet lay a broken sword. This was Xie Yiying's sword, found by Chen Mengjun and her fellow disciples amidst the wreckage by the Bai Xi River. It had been damaged when she self-destructed her sword heart.
Even an immortal sword was damaged to this extent, indicating the immense power of Xie Yiying's self-destruction of her sword heart.
Lin Zhao looked at the remnants of the immortal sword, his eyes reddening. He couldn't help but recall Immortal Sword User Xu Zhan, who had self-destructed his sword heart on the Ku Song River. Since ancient times, the human world had produced many heroes. These sword immortals were indeed exceptional individuals. Although they had perished, their achievements would be forever etched in history!
"Immortal Sword User Xie!"
Lin Zhao lit an incense stick, bowed before the spiritual tablet, and then said softly, "I'm sorry, Lin Zhao arrived a step late… But no matter how early Lin Zhao arrived, it would have been too late… I'm sorry…"
At this moment, Chen Mengjun and the other disciples of the Lingyan Sword Sect were all teary-eyed.
They all knew that Lin Zhao had led the subsequent battle at Changming Mountain. Not long after Xie Yiying sacrificed herself, Lin Zhao and his group arrived and intercepted the Old Ancestor of the Five Peaks at Changming Mountain. They fought for nearly a day and a night, and even Lin Zhao, Gu Lingyu, and Wu Zhi suffered from backlash from their inner demons, nearly perishing themselves.
Therefore, none of Chen Mengjun and the others blamed the people from Mountain Peak Villa. They had also risked their lives for this world.
Wu Zhi, Chen Ben, and Yu Wan Ning offered incense one by one.
Afterward, everyone returned to the main hall.
…
"Mengjun…"
Lin Zhao stepped forward, frowning, and said, "Today, we are here first to pay respects to Immortal Sword User Xie, and second to congratulate you on your succession as sect leader."
"Lin Zhao…"
Chen Mengjun pursed her red lips and said, "I actually…"
"No need to say it."
Lin Zhao took out a heavy bag of Jin Zizhi coins from his storage and handed it to one of Chen Mengjun's junior sisters. He said, "This is five thousand Jin Zizhi coins. Our Mountain Peak Villa has business dealings with the Mo Family Ancestral Hall, and we can also collect taxes from many shops in Xue Yu Tian Chi, so we are not short of this amount of money."
"Lin Zhao, the gift is too generous. Your presence is enough…"
Chen Mengjun's eyes were pleading. This gift was too heavy, and she truly hesitated to accept it.
"Take it."
Lin Zhao continued to take things out. He took out a bundle of sword embryos from his storage and handed it to a disciple of the Lingyan Sword Sect. He said, "These are fifty top-grade sword embryos grown on Sword Mountain. They are all quite extraordinary."
"…"
Chen Mengjun remained silent.
Lin Zhao then took out five golden Water Cloud Stones and thirty silver Water Cloud Stones. He said, "These Water Cloud Stones can nourish the spiritual energy of water transport. You can scatter them in Wangxin Lake. If the spiritual energy of Wangxin Lake is preserved, it means the spiritual energy of the Lingyan Sword Sect is preserved."
"Lin Zhao…" Chen Mengjun's heart was in turmoil.
"Alright."
Lin Zhao said softly, "No need for thanks. Practice your sword well! The reason I am giving you so many things is that I hope you, Chen Mengjun, can break through your realm as soon as possible and become a twelfth-realm Sword Immortal. After all, it's not fitting for the sect leader of the Lingyan Sword Sect, the foremost sword sect in Furong State, to only be at the eleventh realm."
"Mmm."
Chen Mengjun nodded softly and accepted all the gifts.
After delivering the gifts, Lin Zhao did not linger. It was not appropriate to linger at this time. He then took Wu Zhi, Chen Ben, and Yu Wan Ning back to Mountain Peak Villa.
…
The ancestral forbidden ground, Demon Soul Mountain.
Dense streaks of blood-red sword light erupted in the valley. Within the sword light, countless demon souls were torn apart. An old general, holding a long sword, was covered in wounds, deep gashes visible everywhere. Almost his entire forehead had been gnawed away, a whole piece of flesh and skin gone.
However, on the white bone beneath the skin, streaks of blood-red characters appeared, foreshadowing the complete return of his bloodline to its ancestral state.
Behind Huang Ting Yu, a colossal heavenly dog apparition was looking up!