Remould the Glory of Sword Art

Qi Lie's voice echoed above the Dao court.

The expressions of the esteemed figures were somewhat subtle… None of them had expected that the Tongtian Law Enforcement would make such an arrangement.

Directly declared to the world, no need to fight.

The quota for entering the Xuanshui Cave Heaven had doubled!

Isn't this making it impossible for someone ready to show off their skills to make a move?

"Congratulations to everyone, you have all obtained the qualification to comprehend the Xuanshui Cave Heaven."

Qi Lie spoke calmly, "Tonight's banquet will be held at Golden Turtle Peak… please make sure none of you are absent."

"Not fighting?"

Prince Jiangning's expression seemed calm.

But the Red Dragon Mark between his brows was faintly overheating!

Xie Sheng clenched the armrest of his seat, suppressing the anger in his heart, looking towards the cloud-enshrouded direction of the rear mountain… What was the Sword Palace Law Enforcement thinking? What meaning was there in issuing this decree, Da Sui Sword Palace had sealed the mountain for a full ten years, drawing so many people to come and pay homage, only to terminate the competition today!

Was this deliberately cutting off his own fame?

Unfortunately.

No matter how angry he was, it was useless.

When the Sword Palace Law Enforcement had Qi Lie move the Sword Qi Decree, it was clear, he had made up his mind!

The will of a Yang God Realm Grand Sword Immortal is not to be defied.

"… Your Highness?"

Xie Sheng stretched out his hand, grabbing the shoulder of a servant by his side, who was startled and began to speak with a trembling voice.

"Let's go."

Prince Jiangning did not lose his composure, he still maintained his demeanor, but he was the first to stand up and leave the Dao court just like that.

…

…

After Prince Jiangning left the Dao court, he did not go back to his mansion to rest.

Instead, he went directly to the rear mountain of Golden Turtle Peak.

The delegation was stopped at the entrance to the rear mountain.

But he was an exception, alone, he arrived at the large cloud array in the rear mountain; the two law enforcers in charge of guarding this place did not drive the princely heir away, but after searching him, they left the place.

Behind the Golden Turtle Peak, only a misty haze remained.

And the lonely princely heir.

"Law Enforcement Master, I don't understand—"

Prince Jiangning stood amidst the clouds and spoke gravely.

"Ten years ago, it was you who personally went to Jiangning, giving the royal mansion a 'Sword Qi Mark' for comprehending the Sword Intent!"

"It was also you who personally promised to free me from the 'Red Dragon' bindings in the future and spare me from disaster."

"Before Da Sui opened the mountain, my father sent a message asking if my identity was convenient for participating in the Sword Qi Ceremony…"

"It was still you who told my father that I could come."

Xie Sheng stared intently into the depths of the clouds.

He inquired incomprehensively, "But now that I have come, why are you treating me this way?"

From the depths of the clouds, a figure with flowing large sleeves and a tall stature slowly emerged.

The Tongtian Law Enforcement stood at the other end of the clouds.

"After coming to the Sword Palace, is everything I've faced truly fair?"

"The Sword Palace created momentum for Xie Zhen, giving him the Lotus Jade Order!"

"At the Sword Qi Ceremony, he was even granted permission not to participate!"

"And I… I fought hard all the way, and when I finally reached today, you suddenly changed your mind, canceling my chance to 'reach the top'!"

Xie Sheng's eyes were bloodshot as he spoke of the injustices he had faced.

But the Law Enforcement remained very calm.

He stood with his hands behind his back, indifferently looking at the extremely young prince, then slowly uttered two words.

"Fair."

Prince Jiangning was stunned.

"Everything that has happened after the Sword Qi Ceremony, I have seen…"

The Law Enforcement slowly articulated, "Everything is fair. The Lotus Jade Order, the Sword Qi Ceremony, even the final 'cancellation,' nothing is unfair to you."

He paused for a moment.

The Law Enforcement spoke solemnly, "It could even be said… cancelling this competition, for you, is a good thing."

Absurd!

How utterly absurd!

The Red Dragon Mark between Prince Jiangning's brows flickered.

His Heart Lake became extremely unstable under the influence of this mark.

With his mind wavering,

"Are you kidding me?"

Xie Sheng scoffed sarcastically, "Do you think I wouldn't have won first place?"

"This matter has nothing to do with first place… Valuing reputation too highly will only lead to backlash."

The Tongtian Law Enforcement shook his head, not explaining the reason for canceling the competition but simply stated coldly, "You need to understand… Your furious cultivation and coming here were to comprehend the Xuanshui Cave Heaven, to remove the 'Red Dragon' mark so as to enter Da Sui Sword Palace, not to step on Xuanyi's old reputation and become the new 'Sword Dao Leader'."

"I never thought that being called the 'Sword Dao Leader' had any significance! The Sword Qi Ceremony was not about elevating someone onto a pedestal for everyone's adoration!"

He spoke sternly, "Xuanyi has already paid the price for vanity, do you still want to walk his old path?"

This time.

Prince Jiangning was silent for a long time.

The Red Dragon Mark on his brow no longer flickered, fading gradually.

"If a Sword Cultivator doesn't compete, how can he be called a Sword Cultivator?"

But still, he stubbornly raised his head.

"Haven't you already competed?"

The Tongtian Law Enforcement spoke impassively, "Now the whole world knows that you, Xie Sheng, possess peerless talent and extraordinary strength, what more do you want to compete for?"

In the midst of clouds, both fell into silence.

"...Everything."

Xie Sheng raised his head, his voice hoarse, "Everything Xie Xuanyi once possessed, I intend to fight for!"

"If you do not abandon this thought, even if you manage to enter Xuanshui Cave Heaven, you will have no connection with Da Sui Sword Palace."

Tongtian's law enforcer said coldly, "The calamity of the Red Dragon arises from the heart. If you cannot let go of this obsessive thought… even I cannot help you. As for the debt I owe to Prince Jiangning, if I cannot help you this time, I will have to find another opportunity in the future to repay the Prince."

After a pause.

"Xie Xuanyi is already dead, the rights and wrongs are past, you have your own Dao to pursue, why compete with him any further?"

In the end, the law enforcer showed a trace of compassion, advising in a low voice, "Harbor no intent to kill, cultivate a peaceful heart⁠, and safely step into Xuanshui Cave Heaven to seize your destined fortune. If the Sect Leader does not respond, then come to worship at Golden Turtle Peak. I can ensure your safety for a hundred years, and within the next cycle, you may approach the Yangshen Realm."

With that said.

Xie Sheng silently watched as the tall, ethereal figure disappeared into the end of the clouds.

A certain thought that was always undecided in his heart.

At this moment, finally settled.

...

...

As for the reason for the cancellation of the Sword Qi competition, Xie Xuanyi could guess a bit.

The Island Master of Wangyou Island had just visited a short while ago.

Although many important figures came from far and wide to congratulate the opening of Da Sui Sword Palace… the truly "significant" top bigwigs had not come.

This point.

Could be seen from Baihua Valley.

Baihua Valley sent their Young Valley Master Ye Qinglian, who although is a revered Yin God and future Valley Master, is still quite "young".

Ye Qinglian's attendance was deemed as giving enough face and respect.

But if there was genuine "importance", the one who should have come is actually the Valley Master of Baihua Valley!

Similarly, many princes from the four territories attended.

But the genuinely powerful family heads had not come.

Almost only the Xu Family from the West Territory valued this event enough to earnestly come to pay their respects.

Even the Jiang Family had merely sent Jiang Qihu symbolically, who could represent both the "Jiang Family" and the "Library."

The reason for such a situation.

Was simply that the Imperial Family of Da Chu had not yet made a statement—

The royal blood of the Dachu Dynasty has infiltrated the inner workings of all major sects and powerful families over thousands of years, which great power isn't influenced by the royal family?

The Dachu Dynasty is like a massive tree.

The Imperial Family is the root of this tree.

A Yang God coming to Da Sui Sword Palace is definitely explosive news.

The Island Master of Wangyou Island needed to "keep a low profile."

Then the news of his son must be quietly suppressed. If the Sword Qi competition continues… how would it handle the encounter between the foolish young man of Wangyou Island and Prince Jiangning?

One had already boldly declared to take first place in the Sword Qi competition.

The other is a brazen young man who fears nothing.

If they actually fought, it would be disastrous.

The law enforcer couldn't allow such an event to unfold, so he canceled the final Sword Qi competition, providing an ending that pleased everyone.

Of course.

This ending, as it appeared now… seemed to only disappoint one person.

"It's a pity."

Xie Xuanyi too was somewhat dissatisfied.

He actually wished for the Sword Qi competition to continue indefinitely.

Although the foolish young man from Wangyou Island didn't have many years of cultivation and currently could not overcome Prince Jiangning… if the fight went on till mid-fight, the foolish young man, driven to despair, would unleash the Golden Body Realm cultivation and Wangyou Island's Cultivation Technique, forcing Prince Jiangning to realize something was amiss.

At that point.

Xie Sheng would be caught in a difficult position, and if he did not take drastic actions, it's highly unlikely he could defeat Duan Zhao.

But if he did take drastic actions…

It's likely that the martial artists from Wangyou Island would take drastic actions against Prince Jiangning's manor.

Qi Lie left with the Sword Qi Decree.

For the moment, everyone at the venue felt somewhat regretful.

Today, they missed the chance to witness the top confrontation of young Sword Dao geniuses.

But the early end of the competition wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

The law enforcer also left a second decree, which was to take advantage of the free time of the peak masters to start the grand banquet early!

Upon receiving the news, the law enforcers of Golden Turtle Peak began leading everyone to the banquet hall…

At the same moment, the delegation from Jiangning released news, citing the Princely Heir securing the Xuanshui Cave Heaven enlightenment slot as a reason, inviting all who came to pay respects to join this evening's banquet. The delegation will set up tables at the foot of the peaks, with an unlimited number of seats and welcoming all comers.

The people from Jiangning are always good at creating momentum.

Although the competition ended prematurely without determining first, second, third, and fourth places.

Prince Jiangning still presented an air of having already "grandly seized first place", generously inviting everyone to the banquet.

The banquet of Golden Turtle Peak was only meant for "important persons."

Only those who could settle in the arena to watch the battle, and those who ultimately obtained the Xuanshui Cave Heaven enlightenment slots, were allowed into the grand banquet hall.

But Prince Jiangning's invitation had no threshold, and it was open to everyone.

This banquet was said to be a "spur-of-the-moment" idea by the Princely Heir, and the banquet arrangement by the Jiangning delegation even included "talismans," and "array patterns," to share the scene of the Golden Turtle Peak grand banquet.

For a moment.

The entire Da Sui Sword Palace became lively.

Although the Sword Qi competition was canceled…

A grand banquet was beginning.

On the mountain, below the mountain, there were grand banquets everywhere.

Every person who came to pay respects had a feast to enjoy.