https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-32-The-True-Martial-Arts-Treasury/12529742/
Chapter 31: Finally Witnessing the True Martial God
Chapter 31: Finally Witnessing the True Martial God
After Pingyang Daoist left, Lin Yuan returned to his Daoist academy.
"Sword Tomb," Lin Yuan mused to himself.
The Sword Tomb of Dragon-Tiger Mountain was a place where the ancestral swords of the Celestial Master's Mansion's predecessors were kept.
The Celestial Master's Mansion revered the Great Emperor Zhenwu, and their expertise in swordsmanship was profound. Their ultimate technique, the 'True Martial Seven-Section Sword', was the strongest sword technique in the world.
"If my memory serves me right," Lin Yuan thought, "the location of the Sword Tomb should be one of those places."
Lin Yuan's heart stirred. The so-called 'those places' naturally referred to locations that housed auras surpassing the Celestial Phenomenon realm, places that Lin Yuan was wary of.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," he told himself. "I'll know in half a month."
Lin Yuan calmed his mind, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.
At the peak of Dragon-Tiger Mountain, in the Great Hall of Zhenwu… Cang Qing, the master of the Celestial Master's Mansion, stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the towering statue of the 'God of Zhenwu' before him.
"In half a month, it will be time for the journey to the Sword Tomb," he said to himself. "I wonder if any disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion will be chosen by the Zhenwu ceremonial sword this time."
Cang Qing sighed. The Sword Tomb of Dragon-Tiger Mountain housed countless ceremonial swords, including those of the mansion's disciples, True Humans, and masters through the generations, as well as those of the thirty-six Celestial Masters.
Of course, there was also the most important sword—the 'Zhenwu Ceremonial Sword'.
It was said that the Zhenwu Ceremonial Sword belonged to the first Celestial Master of the mansion and was related to the revered Great Emperor Zhenwu, hence its name.
Only those chosen by the Zhenwu Ceremonial Sword could take that step forward and become the new Celestial Master of the mansion.
Five hundred years.
Twenty-five journeys to the Sword Tomb.
Not a single disciple of the Celestial Master's Mansion had been chosen by the Zhenwu Ceremonial Sword during that time.
As a result, the position of Celestial Master had been vacant for five centuries.
Even without a Celestial Master, the Celestial Master's Mansion remained the ancestral court of the Daoist Sect, commanding respect from all.
However, in terms of high-level combat power, they were undeniably lacking. For decades, the Demon Sect had risen again, wreaking untold havoc.
If the Celestial Master's Mansion had a Celestial Master presiding over it, would the Demon Sect have dared to act so boldly?
"There's no need for the Master to worry," said a plump Daoist priest standing beside Cang Qing.
This plump Daoist appeared to have no aura at all, but he was actually a Celestial Phenomenon realm expert, one of the three such experts in the Celestial Master's Mansion.
Time passed, and half a month went by in the blink of an eye.
On that day, as Lin Yuan stepped out of his Daoist academy, a Daoist priest hurried over from the mountain peak.
"All Daoist disciples under the age of twenty, follow me," the priest said.
The priest looked to be in his thirties or forties, but he was already a fourth-rank expert. In the cultivation system of this world, fourth-rank was considered the peak of the middle third-rank, and such a cultivator could be considered a formidable figure on the mountain.
"Is it time for the journey to the Sword Tomb?" Lin Yuan's heart stirred, and he obediently stood still, following the priest's instructions.
Soon, nearly all the disciples from the academy who met the age requirement had gathered. There were about a hundred of them.
"Follow me," the priest said. "Don't straggle or wander off."
The priest's words carried a hint of martial arts, causing a ringing in the disciples' ears. None dared to disobey.
Half a day later, led by the priest, Lin Yuan and the other disciples arrived at a valley on the back side of Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
Here, they joined many other disciples who had apparently come from the other seven Daoist academies.
"There are so many people," said a slightly thin boy beside Lin Yuan.
"Senior Brother Fengshan, why have the Daoists brought us here?" the thin boy, Qingping, asked Lin Yuan in a low voice.
"I'm not sure," Lin Yuan replied with a shake of his head.
Qingping was on good terms with Lin Yuan, or more accurately, he looked up to Lin Yuan.
After all, because of Evergreen Daoist, Lin Yuan had some standing in Dragon-Tiger Mountain as a well-connected 'second-generation', and he didn't have to worry about being bullied. Naturally, a group of younger disciples gathered around him.
Even in the ancestral court of the Daoist Sect, Dragon-Tiger Mountain, there were still factions and divisions. The younger disciples naturally formed small groups to look out for each other.
Time passed, and after another half-hour, a Daoist priest hurried over with a stack of books in his hands.
He distributed the books to each of the disciples and said, "These books contain a technique for sensing spiritual auras. All of you will cultivate this technique and then enter the Sword Tomb one by one. Maintain the sensing technique inside the tomb and search for a ceremonial sword that suits you."
The priest quickly finished his explanation and then repeated it several times to ensure that all the disciples understood before leaving.
"This sensing technique is so difficult," Qingping complained as he flipped through the book.
The other disciples were in a similar situation, struggling to understand the technique.
"Sensing technique?" Lin Yuan opened his book and quickly scanned its contents.
【Your comprehension ability is heaven-defying. By reading the 'Sword Intent Sensing Technique', you have gained insight into the 'Supreme Sword Sensing Chapter'.】 In an instant, a large amount of enlightenment regarding swordsmanship and sword intent flooded Lin Yuan's mind.
Even Lin Yuan, who had already entered the Celestial Phenomenon realm, took half an hour to fully absorb all the insights.
"This sensing technique…" Lin Yuan was astonished.
After learning and mastering this sensing technique, Lin Yuan felt a subtle resonance with the Sword Tomb in the distance.
On a high platform above the Sword Tomb, three figures sat cross-legged, looking down at the tomb below.
The leader of the three was none other than Cang Qing, the master of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
In the absence of a Celestial Master, the master of the mansion held absolute authority over the entire Celestial Master's Mansion.
The other two figures were none other than the disheveled Daoist, Pingyang, on the left, and a plump Daoist on the right.
These three silhouettes were the three Great Grandmasters of the Celestial Master's Mansion, the pinnacle of power in the present day.
"The journey to the Sword Tomb," one of them mused.
"Is crucial for the birth of a Celestial Master in our mansion."
"I hope this time it won't disappoint us," Pingyang muttered.
From his vantage point, Pingyang could clearly see everything happening below in the Sword Tomb.
"In the Sword Tomb, it is both the person choosing the sword and the sword choosing the person," Pingyang continued.
"All the swords placed within the Sword Tomb are imbued with sword intent."
"As long as one cultivates the 'Sword Intent Sensing Technique' to a basic level, they will be able to sense the myriad sword intents and have a chance to choose the swords of the Celestial Masters of past generations."
The plump Daoist, with a rounded face, spoke up, his voice carrying an air of authority.
As for why they didn't teach the 'Sword Intent Sensing Technique' to the Daoist disciples in advance, it was because this technique served not only as a means of sensing but also as a measure of one's innate talent.
Those who could cultivate the 'Sword Intent Sensing Technique' to a basic level within a few hours would undoubtedly possess extraordinary talent in the Dao of the sword, and the swords they ultimately chose would be a true reflection of their potential.
Furthermore, if one's talent in the Dao of the sword was lacking, even spending a decade cultivating the 'Sword Intent Sensing Technique' would likely yield little success in reaching the basic level.
As for cultivating the technique to a higher level of mastery, it had been a long time since someone in the Celestial Master's Mansion had achieved that feat.
Only the most exceptional disciples, those with the potential to become Celestial Masters themselves, might be able to do so and attract the attention of the 'Zhenwu Ceremonial Sword'.
Half a day passed.
As the disciples below entered the Sword Tomb one by one and chose swords that suited them, the expressions of the three Heavenly Phenomenon realm experts observing from above gradually softened into smiles.
Thus far, four disciples had chosen the swords of the Celestial Masters of past generations, indicating their potential to reach the Heavenly Phenomenon realm.
Additionally, thirty-one disciples had chosen the swords of previous mansion lords, ensuring that even if they didn't attain the Heavenly Phenomenon realm, they would still reach the First-Rank.
This sight filled Cang Qing with relief and joy.
Before the journey to the Sword Tomb, he had secretly hoped that perhaps one of the disciples would be chosen by the 'Zhenwu Ceremonial Sword'.
However, this hope had always felt like a pipe dream. After all, for five hundred years, no one had been chosen by that sword, so why would it be any different this time?
Compared to that far-fetched hope, the current outcome was much more in line with the reality of the Celestial Master's Mansion.
As long as several more Heavenly Phenomenon realm experts were nurtured, even without a Celestial Master, the mansion would still thrive.
"No, no, no," came a voice from within the Sword Tomb. "These sword intents are too weak."
In the depths of the Sword Tomb, Lin Yuan was also in the process of choosing a sword.
After elevating the 'Sword Intent Sensing Technique' to the 'Supreme Sword Sensing Chapter', the entire Sword Tomb's sword intents were laid bare before Lin Yuan, as if they were imprinted on the palm of his hand.
And with just a slight activation of the 'Supreme Sword Sensing Chapter', Lin Yuan could sense countless swords yearning for him.
While these swords would undoubtedly be extremely powerful for the other disciples, Lin Yuan, having already reached the Heavenly Phenomenon realm, naturally had no interest in them.
"There's a sword intent over there," Lin Yuan muttered, following the pull of the sensation. He continued deeper into the Sword Tomb.
Almost simultaneously, the three Heavenly Phenomenon realm experts on the high platform turned their gazes toward Lin Yuan.
"Who is that person, and why is he wandering deeper into the Sword Tomb instead of properly choosing a sword?" The plump Daoist's brows furrowed as he spoke.
"Is that Fengshan?" Pingyang asked, recognizing Lin Yuan. His expression mirrored the confusion of his companions.
While he had indeed instructed Lin Yuan to showcase his abilities, wandering around was not what he had meant.
Moreover, the deeper parts of the Sword Tomb were filled with rampant sword energy, and if these disciples were exposed to it, it could pose a danger to their bodies and leave hidden troubles.
Cang Qing, witnessing this development, also wore a puzzled expression.
"I'll bring him back," the plump Daoist said, seeing that Lin Yuan showed no signs of stopping. He was about to descend to stop Lin Yuan.
However, at that moment...
Lin Yuan's expression turned solemn as he raised his right hand and reached into a pile of swords.
"Come out!"
Lin Yuan activated the 'Supreme Sword Sensing Chapter' and slowly drew out a sword.
Screeeech! A faint sound of friction rang out.
Then, to everyone's disbelief, the countless swords within the Sword Tomb trembled uncontrollably.
The Sword Tomb itself shook.
The aftershocks caused the entire Dragon-Tiger Mountain to tremble.
In the extreme north icy plains, a dignified man with golden irises shot to his feet, his eyes wide with shock as he stared in the direction of Dragon-Tiger Mountain.
On a certain street, a Daoist fortune-teller, clad in a Daoist robe, who had been leisurely calling out to passersby, suddenly stumbled, almost falling to the ground. A child beside him looked on with a bewildered expression, for this old man was known as one of the strongest in the world, and yet he seemed unable to walk steadily. The Daoist's face, however, held a look of bewilderment as he muttered, "Celestial Master?"
In a desolate land, a half-buried old man struggled out of the soil, his eyes filled with disbelief, as if he couldn't quite grasp what had happened.
Dragon-Tiger Mountain, the Sword Tomb at the back of the mountain.
Lin Yuan's right hand slowly drew out a sword with a worn hilt and the characters 'Zhenwu' etched on its face.
With Lin Yuan at the center, countless swords began to tremble.
The hearts of the countless Celestial Master's Mansion disciples were shaken, and they knelt in unison toward the 'Zhenwu Sword'.
The thirty-nine First-Rank Realized Humans of the Celestial Master's Mansion bowed respectfully to Lin Yuan.
Even Cang Qing, the current lord of the Celestial Master's Mansion and a Heavenly Phenomenon realm expert, had tears streaming down his face.
Dragon-Tiger Mountain had not seen Zhenwu for five hundred years.
Today, Zhenwu finally reveals himself to me.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
