https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-448-Nine-Heart-Questions-Stirring-the-Waves-Part-2-/13451761/
Chapter 449: Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, Sword Abyss
Chapter 449: Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, Sword Abyss
Li Hao was unwilling, and Yue Xi couldn't force him any further. She felt that Li Hao was just evading her, looking down on her, and silently resolved to challenge him again when they reached the Nine Depths of the Great Dream.
The Nine Depths of the Great Dream was not far from Conscience Pagoda City; a round trip would take only three days.
On the way, Li Hao and Yue Xi learned the name of the old man with the red nose: Sword Abyss Elder, Li Tiemu.
Li Tiemu asked Li Hao, Lin Yufeng, and Yue Xi about their backgrounds. He already knew something about Yue Xi, but he couldn't tell where Li Hao and Lin Yufeng came from, though it was clear they were companions.
Yue Xi said she temporarily resided in nearby Nanyang City and was a member of the Yanhuo Clan. Many forces in the True World kept their distance from this clan, wary of its ominous reputation.
Li Hao said he came from a distant land and was new to the area, unfamiliar with the surroundings.
Seeing that Li Hao didn't want to reveal more, Li Tiemu didn't press further. He simply said, "Once you join the Nine Depths of the Great Dream, you are a disciple of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream. No matter where you come from, the Nine Depths of the Great Dream will be your backing. You must also refrain from harming your fellow disciples. When we return to the sect and you take on your mentors, this will be a fundamental principle you must uphold in your Dao Heart."
Li Hao and Yue Xi both agreed to this.
Li Hao asked Li Tiemu about the True World, as they knew nothing about it, including its powers and cities.
Seeing Li Hao taking it seriously, Li Tiemu chatted with him, treating him as an outsider and providing detailed information:
"Let's assume you're from the Western Region. You should know that the True World is divided into four domains, right? The Eastern Domain is governed by the Ancestral Dragon Imperial Court, the Southern Domain by the Heavenly Palace Supreme, the Northern Domain by the Demon Emperor Palace, and the Western Region by the Crimson Burn Imperial Domain. The Western Region is a mix of various powers, including immortals, demons, beasts, deities, and spirits."
"In the Southern Domain, the territory is as vast as the Western Region, spanning hundreds of billions of miles. Even an Immortal King would take a year to reach the border."
"We are at the edge of the Southern Domain, close to the ancient battlefield known as the Imperial Abyss. Have you heard of the Imperial Abyss?"
Li Tiemu suddenly asked.
Li Hao's heart skipped a beat. They had come from an ancient battlefield, but he didn't know if it was the same Imperial Abyss Li Tiemu mentioned.
Before he could answer, Yue Xi calmly said, "Yes, I know. It's the place where an Emperor fell ten thousand years ago. I heard that the Heavenly Palace recently cleared and opened it. I visited it once, and it was a forest of white bones, with the bodies of ancient demons scattered everywhere. True Treasures were broken and scattered like mud, and there were countless abandoned Immortal Weapons and Realm Artifacts. There were also Imperial Forbidden Immortal Artifacts, long since shattered and dim."
Hearing her words, Li Hao and Lin Yufeng realized that this was likely the ancient battlefield they had come from.
Li Tiemu's usual casual and slightly lecherous smile vanished, replaced by a rare solemn expression. After Yue Xi finished speaking, he said somberly, "That's right. The battle was incredibly brutal, leaving the True World severely weakened. In the past, nine Immortal Emperors ruled the four domains and the original True World, but more than half of them fell in that battle!"
"Even today, the Northern Domain remains without an Emperor, with many near-Emperors vying for power. The Northern Domain is the most chaotic region, plagued by ancient demons and various forces fighting for the supreme throne, hoping to unify the Northern Domain..."
He seemed to realize he had strayed from the topic and shook his head slightly, then turned to Li Hao and said, "Where were we? The Imperial Abyss, right? The territory of the Southern Domain has shrunk significantly compared to the past. In the border regions, humans are scarce. Conscience Pagoda City is already considered a peripheral area. The central regions are home to many Heavenly Sects and Immortal Dynasties."
Li Hao asked, "What are the powers stronger than the Tianyi Sect?"
"Ancient Immortal Dynasties!"
Li Tiemu said, "I belong to the Nine Depths of the Great Dream, which is located within the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty in the Southern Domain, one of the seven ancient Immortal Dynasties. The Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower is also part of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty, and to be precise, the region we are currently in is within the territory of the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty."
"What about the Heavenly Palace?"
"The Heavenly Palace is governed by the Immortal Emperor, the Supreme Sage, who stands above the ancient Immortal Dynasties. The Immortal Emperor rules over a domain, and all the Immortal Dynasties bow to his authority", Li Tiemu explained.
His expression was somewhat solemn, and his eyes held a deep, hidden meaning.
As Li Tiemu provided the introduction, a rough map of the True World began to form in Li Hao's mind.
After a three-day journey, they teleported from Conscience Pagoda City through several ancient cities. Some of these cities were extremely old and dilapidated, with remnants of grand arrays still visible outside. According to Li Tiemu, these were once the front-line cities during the great battles, but now they were forgotten and abandoned.
"We have arrived."
Li Tiemu announced.
They teleported out of an immortal city and found themselves in a vast expanse of space. Here, a flow of rainbow-colored Great Dao, formed by Immortal Power, stretched out before them. Stepping on it, they felt themselves being carried forward effortlessly, without expending any Immortal Power.
Ahead, a massive continent, shaped like a turtle, floated in the void, with its surface bulging both upwards and downwards. An Immortal Array enveloped the continent, shielding it from the falling meteorites.
The rainbow-colored Great Dao led to the continent. As they approached, Li Hao felt the heat emanating from the Immortal Array, as if it could vaporize anything that came too close.
Li Tiemu waved his hand, and a passage opened up. The lush greenery and mountains and rivers of the continent were revealed like an unfolding scroll.
"This is where the Nine Depths of the Great Dream is located", Li Tiemu said.
Li Hao's eyes widened in awe. This was the Heavenly Sect's power in the True World? An entire world dedicated to a sect.
Moreover, the size of this continent seemed to surpass even the Minor World of All Heavens.
"The Nine Depths of the Great Dream has nine branches, hence the name Nine Abysmal Branches. In the past, our founding ancestor had a close relationship with the Emperor, who imparted nine supreme techniques. This led to the establishment of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream", Li Tiemu explained.
"You two are sword cultivators, so you can join the Sword Abyss. I happen to be a member of the Sword Abyss as well. As for you..."
He turned to Lin Yufeng and said, "You mentioned you are skilled with a spear. Fortunately, the Nine Depths of the Great Dream has a Spear Abyss, which is one of the branches with the most disciples."
Lin Yufeng glanced at Li Hao.
Li Hao patted his shoulder. "I'll send you the wind; soar on your own."
Lin Yufeng understood Li Hao's meaning and nodded vigorously.
"I'll take you to the Spear Abyss first and introduce you to Old Peach. You can become his disciple", Li Tiemu said.
With that, he led Li Hao and the others toward the eastern side of the continent.
Countless mountains, rivers, green plains, and forests flew past beneath them. In a flash, they arrived at a towering mountain that rose steeply from the ground, its peak piercing the clouds. Numerous pavilions were built along the mountain, creating a picturesque and ethereal environment.
Li Hao's keen eyesight allowed him to see many people practicing on the training grounds, wielding spears and emitting Divine Light and Immortal Power.
As they arrived, a figure flew down from the mountain.
Seeing this, Li Tiemu's face lit up with a broad smile. "Old Peach, here, I've brought you a genius."
"Hmph, you bringing me a genius? You're more likely to try to persuade them to switch to the Sword Dao", the figure replied coldly, clearly knowing Li Tiemu's nature.
Li Tiemu's smile faltered. "You're really hurting my feelings with that."
"Do we even have feelings between us?"
The figure countered.
Li Hao noticed that Old Peach wore a long, peach-pink robe adorned with blooming peach blossoms, giving him a slightly rosy appearance. His sleeves were extremely wide, fluttering as he moved.
"Five pounds, that's my final offer", Tao Chunfeng said coldly.
Li Tiemu, understanding the implication, looked somewhat helpless. "Three pounds? This is very difficult to brew, you know. One pound takes ten thousand years."
Tao Chunfeng turned and walked away without a second glance.
“Alright, alright, five pounds it is, you old ghost.”
Li Tiemu hastily waved his hand, somewhat helplessly, and glanced at Li Hao, as if to say, "See, for your sake, I spent five pounds of good wine!"
Li Hao was speechless. Lin Yufeng was no ordinary person. Though not a top prodigy, he definitely had solid cultivation talent. With the Supreme Immortal Technique he would impart, Lin Yufeng was sure to make a name for himself.
Lin Yufeng also realized what the two were haggling over. A layer of coldness spread across his face, but he remained silent, knowing that men often speak through their actions.
“Who is it?”
Tao Chunfeng, seeing Li Tiemu agree, stopped in his tracks and scanned Li Hao and his companions.
“Him.”
Li Tiemu pointed at Lin Yufeng.
Tao Chunfeng glanced at him and casually waved his sleeve. “Follow me.”
Li Tiemu nodded at Lin Yufeng, who bowed to Li Hao and said, “I’ll be off then.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Li Hao nodded, watching as Lin Yufeng left with the other man, heading toward the towering mountain. Li Tiemu then beckoned, “Stop gawking, let’s go.”
With that, he hurriedly led Li Hao and Yue Xi away, heading north. There, another towering mountain loomed, its peak unseen, one side a sheer cliff as if sliced by a blade.
“This is the Sword Abyss.”
Li Tiemu’s face broke into a smile. With these two disciples, his position in the sect was secure.
In a good mood, he casually introduced, “This is the former Chief Sword Immortal of the Sword Abyss. Thirty thousand years ago, he comprehended the Emperor Sword Technique, leaving this mark. Later, it was used by Sword Abyss disciples to carve their names, with remnants of the imperial sword’s might still lingering. The closer to the center, the stronger the Sword Intent, so most Sword Abyss disciples take pride in carving their names here.”
He smiled at the two, “Once you join the sect and find a master, you can try it out if you’re interested.”
Li Hao merely glanced at it, showing no particular interest.
Leaving names was something monkeys did.
However, Yue Xi’s beautiful face lit up, her eyes deeply focused on the Imperial Sword Cliff. She asked softly, “What realm is the former Chief Sword Immortal in now? Can we become his disciples?”
Li Tiemu shook his head. “He is no longer with us.”
“No longer with us?”
Yue Xi turned to look at him.
A hint of sadness crossed Li Tiemu’s eyes. “After comprehending the Emperor Sword Technique, the Southern Domain was in chaos. He was sent by the Immortal Dynasties to suppress the chaos. He slew nine ancient demon kings, but ultimately met his end in sorrow. Only his sword-wielding hand was brought back...”
His eyes held both sorrow and a glint of anger.
Li Hao and Yue Xi exchanged a glance. Though Li Tiemu didn’t elaborate, waves of awe and shock rippled through their hearts.
Such a remarkable figure, fallen on the battlefield, even without a complete body?
If the fall of the emperors ten thousand years ago seemed distant, the towering Imperial Sword Cliff before them felt very close...
“Ancient demons, the sole goal of the Yanhuo Clan’s cultivation is to slay all ancient demons!”
Yue Xi’s fingers tightened slightly, a cold, determined light in her eyes.
Li Tiemu nodded. Ancient demons were the common enemy of the True World. While sects competed for resources and prestige, they were united in their hatred of ancient demons.
“Let’s go.”
Li Tiemu led the two up the mountain.
The Sword Dao path on the mountain resembled a dragon’s spine, layer upon layer of snow-white paths winding upward.
“Doesn’t the Sword Abyss seem less prominent than the Spear Abyss?”
On the way up, Li Hao noticed fewer auras on the mountain, far fewer than what he had seen at the Spear Abyss.
Li Tiemu nodded slightly. “The Sword Abyss has been declining in recent years. The Ten Thousand Mountains Sword Tower has gathered many Sword Dao geniuses, while we at the Nine Depths of the Great Dream...”
He shook his head and continued leading the way with his hands behind his back.
On this day, the old man Li returned to the Sword Abyss, bringing back a young male and female disciple.
Upon reaching the summit, Li Hao and Yue Xi saw many Sword Abyss disciples practicing, sparring, meditating, and comprehending the Sword Dao.
Sword lights floated in the air, some practicing sword control, wielding myriad sword artifacts.
Others were forming sword formations, the swords arranged in dragon arrays, roaring within.
Li Tiemu’s arrival caught the attention of some, who hurriedly sheathed their swords and greeted their master.
"Another junior brother has arrived?"
"Looking at these two, they both seem to have quite extraordinary auras."
Although Li Hao and Yue Xi's cultivation levels were inscrutable, many people noticed their auras and demeanor, which stood out in the crowd.
"Sword Abyss has four courtyards: Heaven, Earth, Yellow, and Black. New disciples, unless directly apprenticed to an Elder, are normally admitted through an initial trial and placed in the Yellow Courtyard. From there, they must advance step by step through cultivation and performance!"
As they walked, Li Tiemu explained telepathically to Li Hao and Yue Xi:
"The cultivation resources available in each courtyard vary, with the Heaven Courtyard being the best. You are fortunate; I am one of the three Grand Elders of Sword Abyss. If you apprentice under me, you can directly enter the Heaven Courtyard for cultivation!"
Upon hearing this, Li Hao and Yue Xi's expressions remained unchanged.
Li Hao was indifferent, while Yue Xi felt it was only natural.
If she were placed in the Yellow or Earth Courtyard, she would immediately draw her sword and challenge the Heaven Courtyard disciples to see where she fell short!
Seeing that neither of them showed any surprise, Li Tiemu felt a bit helpless. Recruiting prodigies had its downsides, as they provided little emotional value. Even when rewarded, they remained unperturbed. He couldn't tell if they were genuinely cool or just putting on an act.
"Do you two wish to apprentice under me?"
He asked.
Li Hao nodded.
Yue Xi also nodded, but both looked rather casual.
Li Tiemu felt a lack of fulfillment in being their Master, but he sighed inwardly. Considering that one was an Eighth Rank and the other a Ninth Rank, they were both monsters, and it was understandable.
After passing through the square, Li Tiemu led them to the Sword Immortal Pavilion at the mountaintop.
He sent out a message, summoning all his disciples.
"Don't be fooled by my smile. I am very strict about taking on apprentices. I currently have only five disciples, which will become seven with you two!"
Li Tiemu's expression turned serious as he addressed them: "Once you join my door, the future cultivation trials will be extremely stringent. If you slack off or cheat, I will not show mercy!"
Li Hao asked, "Apart from the trials, will you not interfere with my daily life?"
Li Tiemu glanced at him and replied, "As long as you meet the requirements, I will leave you alone."
Li Hao nodded, relieved. "That's fine."
At that moment, three figures flew in and landed in front of the Sword Immortal Pavilion.
"Master."
The three bowed to Li Tiemu and then glanced at Li Hao and Yue Xi.
"New junior brothers and a little junior sister. To receive two at once is quite unexpected."
They were all surprised. They knew that although Master Li the old man was often informal, he had a well-known reputation in the Yan Chu Immortal Dynasty as the Iron Sword Immortal!
"Where is your Eldest Senior Brother?"
Li Tiemu asked.
"Eldest Senior Brother has gone to slay ancient demons."
"Fifth Senior Sister is attending the Imperial Sword Lecture and hasn't returned yet."
A young man with lively eyes responded with a grin.
Li Tiemu nodded. "These are my new disciples, your junior brothers and sister. Take good care of them. Now, offer them tea."
As he spoke, he summoned an armchair and sat down, his expression stern.
Yue Xi didn't hesitate. She took the tea from the young man and knelt to offer it.
Li Hao also picked up the tea, ready to offer it, when a hum suddenly emanated from the Sword Immortal Pavilion behind Li Tiemu, causing the ground to tremble slightly.
Li Tiemu had just taken a sip of Yue Xi's tea when the tremor startled him, shattering his stern demeanor. He jumped up, looking bewildered at the Sword Immortal Pavilion.
"It seems like..."
The other three seemed to understand what was happening and exchanged shocked looks.
Li Tiemu was equally shocked. The Remnant Iron in the Sword Pavilion had never trembled before. What was going on?
As he stood up, the trembling quickly subsided, as if it had been a mere illusion.
Li Tiemu's expression flickered. Suddenly, several figures appeared above the Sword Immortal Pavilion, their forms shrouded in mist, making them hard to see clearly.
Li Tiemu, forgetting about the tea, flew forward, entering a barrier with them and speaking in hushed tones.
After a moment, the barrier dissipated, and the figures vanished. One of them glanced at Li Hao and Yue Xi before turning to leave.
Li Tiemu returned to the Sword Immortal Pavilion, letting out a bitter laugh. "I wonder what kind of trouble has arisen. I’ll go check it out later."
He glanced at the tea in Li Hao’s hand and noticed it had already gone cold. He waved his hand and said, "Forget it. From today on, the two of you are my disciples. You are the sixth, and you are the seventh uncle!"
He assigned the ranks to Li Hao and Yue Xi.
Yue Xi was the first to pay respects with tea, taking precedence over Li Hao.
Li Hao let out a bitter laugh upon hearing this. He suddenly wondered if this girl was in such a hurry to pay respects just to rank higher than him in the sect.
When he saw her slightly proud neck, he seemed to confirm his suspicions.
"You really are the sixth!"
Li Hao said to Yue Xi.
Yue Xi frowned slightly. Although there was nothing wrong with his words, she had a vague feeling that they weren’t exactly flattering.
"Now, I will first impart to you one of the core Sword Techniques of the Nine Depths of the Great Dream Sword Sect, the Nine Depths of the Great Dream, Immortal Sword, the first form, Divine Guide!"
Li Tiemu raised his hand, and a seemingly ordinary wooden sword appeared in his palm. His expression relaxed, and he continued, "Mastering it within half a month is the minimum requirement for you."
Upon hearing this, the three others nearby exchanged strange looks. They knew he hadn’t said the same to them initially, but they were long used to it. Their Master had different requirements for each disciple, which seemed to be based on talent. This suggested that the two new junior disciples in front of them were quite formidable in talent...
They themselves had taken several months, or even half a year.
Yue Xi’s eyes lit up with a spark of challenge upon hearing this.
Li Hao’s eyes flickered with a hint of curiosity but showed no particular reaction.
Li Tiemu then demonstrated the Sword Intent. Li Hao felt as if the residual image from the All Heavens Sword Wall had come to life, wielding the sword before his eyes.
Yue Xi watched intently, while Li Hao’s eyes were filled with reminiscence and reflection.
The three others observed the two new disciples, noticing Li Hao’s lack of engagement, and gave him a few extra glances.
Shortly after, Li Tiemu finished his demonstration and asked, "Did you both remember it? Go back and thoroughly comprehend it."
Yue Xi closed her eyes without a word, clearly already starting to comprehend it.
Seeing this, Li Tiemu didn’t reprimand her but instead showed a hint of satisfaction on his face.
Li Hao, however, smiled and nodded in response. Li Tiemu nodded back and said to Li Hao, "You have high talent, but don’t become arrogant. You are a True Immortal, right? If you perform well, I will recommend you to represent our Sword Abyss in the upcoming battle."
"Battle?"
Li Hao asked, puzzled.
Li Tiemu smiled slightly but didn’t elaborate.
The three others were surprised but then remembered the old man’s habit of making grand promises, so they weren’t too shocked.
"Alright, get to know each other. If you have any questions, ask them. If they act up, come find me."
With that, Li Tiemu left Li Hao and Yue Xi, disappearing in a flash.
Yue Xi slowly opened her eyes, still lost in thought and reflection.
The three others, seeing Li Tiemu leave, immediately approached Li Hao and Yue Xi to introduce themselves.
After a brief introduction, Li Hao learned more about the three. The one who looked around twenty-seven or twenty-eight was the second elder brother, Lu Wuchen. He seemed rather cold and, after a brief greeting, followed Li Tiemu’s departure with a quick teleportation.
The other was a graceful and elegant woman, dressed in plain white with sleeves like curtains. She was the third elder sister, Wei Hongye, and she was quite approachable.
The lively young man with sparkling eyes was the fourth elder brother, Xu Jianming. He chattered nonstop, asking Li Hao and Yue Xi about their backgrounds, such as how they were taken in by Li Tiemu, their talent, and their Dao Heart.
Yue Xi’s expression turned cold as her thoughts were interrupted, and she seemed to deliberately reveal her identity.
When they learned she was from the Yanhuo Clan, Xu Jianming’s voice faltered, and he timidly asked Li Hao about his family.
Upon learning that Li Hao was just an ordinary human, he let out a sigh of relief.
Wei Hongye, though surprised by Yue Xi’s identity, didn’t show any fear. Instead, she smiled and inquired about her talent.
Since the Yanhuo Clan could be taken in by Li Tiemu, there must be something extraordinary about her. They knew their Master’s character well.
Seeing that the third elder sister had no fear or rejection in her eyes, Yue Xi felt a warmth in her heart. Her cold expression softened, and she revealed her Dao Heart.
"Eight resonances?"
Upon learning that Yue Xi’s Dao Heart had eight resonances, indicating an Eternal Dao Heart, Wei Hongye and Xu Jianming were both taken aback.
Yue Xi glanced at Li Hao, who stood nearby, and said, "That’s nothing. He has one more resonance than me."
(End of Chapter)
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