Remould the Glory of Sword Art

"I just need to confirm that you're a disciple of Brother Xuanyi, and that you haven't lied about this,"

Huang Su stared at Xie Xuanyi, "Although Brother Xuanyi has passed away, his disciple is still here, and the truth about the North Sea should not be simply glossed over... As long as this one thing is true, it's enough. Xie Zhen, I can assure you in the name of Lotus Peak that once this matter begins, no matter how many obstacles there are, I will investigate it thoroughly."

"I can swear by my Divine Soul..."

Xie Xuanyi extended two fingers, slowly pressing them at the center of his forehead.

He remained silent for a long time, then spoke word by word, "The mental method, Sword Intent, Divine Soul cultivation technique, and even the Body Refinement techniques I used earlier in our exchange were all from Xie Xuanyi... If I'm lying, may I endure torment of the Divine Soul for a lifetime, never to find peace."

The words fell.

A faint Divine Soul was drawn out.

Xie Xuanyi held it in the palm of his hand, and as the oath was settled, this extremely faint Divine Soul slowly dissipated.

This was a solemn and immediate Divine Soul oath—

If the oath were broken, one would suffer the backlash of the Divine Soul.

Beyond that, the person who swore the oath was also destined to attract a Heart Demon, thereby utterly ruining their future!

Huang Su's body suddenly jolted.

She looked at Xie Xuanyi, her expression softening for the first time at this moment.

"Only... try to handle the investigation 'gently,' if possible."

Xie Xuanyi lowered his eyelids, speaking sincerely, "Mount Lord, my master once told me that he had great affection for Da Sui."

Huang Su's expression grew complex.

Standing under the night sky, she stared at Xie Xuanyi for a long time, finally sighing and speaking.

"Fine... let's do as you say."

...

...

Clouds enshrouded the area, the Great Yue hanging high, beside True Hidden Peak, atop a tall peak, stood a beautifully constructed mansion.

Though the night was deep, the mansion was brightly lit.

This time, Prince Jiangning had come to visit the mountain with more than a hundred people, including not only maids and servants... but also collateral families from the Jiangning area who admired the grandeur of the Sword Palace.

These people also 'benefited,' being able to enter the mountain with the delegation, naturally receiving a different treatment.

The Xie Family was now at its zenith, undisputedly the leader in the Jiangning area.

Aside from this, Da Sui Sword Palace had no way to keep them out... This opening of the mountain was conducted under the principle of 'fairness and justice.'

Everyone under the heavens, everyone could step into the Sword Palace.

As long as one's heart was sincere, they could wield a sword.

Whether they could remain would depend on their abilities—

Xie Sheng had declared his intent to ascend Lotus Peak, to take charge of Xuanshui Cave Heaven, and from the current situation, it seemed no one really could contest him.

"It's kind of the Pavilion Master to condescend to accompany the delegation."

At the far end of the expansive mansion, a space specifically kept empty, isolated by a Formation, was now filled with hanging talismans.

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master, dressed in a simple cloth robe, sat on the ground on a giant painted Bagua.

Xie Sheng held a lantern, standing outside the Bagua, looking at the mist-shrouded Formation, and smilingly said, "This simple attire, I wonder if the Pavilion Master is accustomed to it?"

"The poor monk does not mind these things,"

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master spoke lightly.

"I have long heard of the great reputation of the Observing Qi Skill,"

Xie Sheng, gazing at the many talismans floating in the air, remarked, "I hear that after the delegation settled in the mansion, the Pavilion Master has been sitting here continuously... Have you discerned anything?"

"Above Da Sui Sword Palace, hangs a Sword Qi Decree,"

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master shook his head, saying, "The Observing Qi Skill, if one truly wishes to clear 'mountain' weather, must touch on the Sword Qi Decree... I'm of low realm and on someone else's territory, I can only observe slightly. If I truly touch it, it would be overstepping, which is inappropriate."

Having said this,

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master paused, then added, "However..."

Xie Sheng put down the lantern, neatly composed, all ears.

Incense Fire Pavilion Master smiled and said, "From afar, I observed several main peaks, and their aura was all dull. It seems that the ten-year Sealing Mountain of Da Sui Sword Palace is indeed due to declining fortunes."

"Wasn't it already known to everyone that the fortune of Da Sui Sword Palace was declining?" Xie Sheng spoke indifferently.

"Indeed... In the battle where poison was drunk years ago, Da Sui Sword Palace suffered severe losses, and since then, the fortune has been irreversibly declining."

Incense Fire Pavilion Master narrowed his eyes and said, "However, the effort of one person can often affect the whole situation. The emergence of Xie Xuanyi has brought a turn in the fortune of Da Sui Sword Palace. Years ago, someone using the Observing Qi Skill saw bright, blazing light bursting from the main peak of the Sword Palace, reaching straight for the heavens."

The three words "Xie Xuanyi" fell into Xie Sheng's ears.

This delicate and beautiful Prince Jiangning, a hint of disgust appeared in his eyes.

He said coldly, "How powerful can he be, when he is now nothing but a corpse?"

This statement made the Incense Fire Pavilion Master pause.

The Pavilion Master smiled and said, "The Princely Heir is right. The soaring momentum of Xie Xuanyi was extinguished halfway by someone."

"Extinguished..."

Prince Jiangning frowned, the word catching his attention.

"Indeed, extinguished."

"Those capable of such a deed... are very few in the entire world, and it is not difficult to guess - it is that person from the Imperial City. At that time, the reason for Da Sui's mountain sealing was due to that individual. Exactly what happened, I am not sure, but one thing is clear..." Incense Fire Pavilion Master stood up, looking in the direction of the main peak of Lotus Peak, his expression detached and cold as he lightly said, "Xie Xuanyi's fate was extinguished, and consequently, Lotus Peak also suffered, and for ten whole years, there has been no sign of improvement. Today's Lotus Peak no longer possesses its once 'overwhelming' momentum."

Xie Sheng's expression turned slightly gloomy: "The momentum of Lotus Peak you mentioned, could it affect those who come after?"

"The Princely Heir possesses the aspect of a heavenly dragon."

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master bowed respectfully and smiled, saying, "If facing disaster, one can surely turn bad luck into good fortune, which is the best aspect for cultivation. However... please forgive my bluntness, but the doomed fate of Lotus Peak is not something that even the aspect of a heavenly dragon can save."

Prince Jiangning spoke softly, "Say what you want to say, just say it."

"The fate of Lotus Peak was severed, not only because of Xie Xuanyi's demise but more importantly due to Zhao Chunyang's declining fortunes."

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master stood straight, speaking softly, "I must be frank, Your Highness. The reason I accompanied you to Da Sui Sword Palace this time was to see for myself the current state of the fortune surrounding the current Sword Palace Master..."

"I do not doubt your abilities, Pavilion Master... but this matter is indeed somewhat absurd."

Xie Sheng felt this was somewhat amusing and said, "Can the Incense Fire Pavilion truly perceive 'his' fortunes?"

"In True Hidden Peak, naturally not."

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master was not annoyed, maintaining a pleasant demeanor: "But if Your Highness were to reach the summit of Lotus Peak, perhaps there would be a slim chance. You might want to think carefully about investigating Zhao Chunyang's fortunes... is it something that I alone can accomplish? Since I dare to do so, who do you think is supporting me?"

Xie Sheng's smile slowly faded.

"Incense Fire Pavilion may not be comparable to World Pavilion, nor is it directly under the control of a Taoist Sect Leader, but we also have a 'Tongtian existence' behind us."

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master spoke calmly, "Your Highness stepped into the Sword Palace, and to this day, the Sword Palace Master has not yet made a statement... If you were to step into the Taoist path, the Yang God behind Incense Fire Pavilion would surely personally receive you."

"It's just the first day."

Xie Sheng said indifferently, "Wait until I ascend Lotus Peak and refine Xuanshui Cave Heaven, then, both logically and emotionally, the Sword Palace Master should meet me. The Sword Palace is in great need of revival, and in dire need of a new Sword Dao Leader."

Upon hearing this, the Incense Fire Pavilion Master merely smiled slightly and did not say more.

"Forgive my presumptuousness..."

Xie Sheng raised his eyebrows and asked, "Your Observing Qi Skill, aside from the big picture of geomancy, should also be able to see the specific fortunes of an individual, right?"

"Naturally."

The Incense Fire Pavilion Master brought his hands together, bowing respectfully and said, "As I have mentioned before, Your Highness is a heavenly dragon aspect, a top-level fortunate aspect that is one in ten thousand."

"That is not what I meant to ask."

Prince Jiangning's mind inexplicably flashed to the junky carriage from the day at the mountain gate, whom he had met only briefly.

No...

To be precise.

The two had never met face to face, so it could not even be called 'a brief encounter.'

At that time, they had not seen each other, separated by the curtain of the carriage, and only exchanged a few words.

Yet, for some reason, since leaving, Xie Sheng always found himself thinking of that shabby carriage.

"…Xie Zhen."

After pondering for a moment, the Princely Heir uttered this name that haunted him.

He looked at the Incense Fire Pavilion Master, his tone serious, "May I know if you could discern the fortunes of this person?"