Remould the Glory of Sword Art

The bustling hall had become eerily silent due to a few words from Prince Jiangning.

Xie Sheng's words appeared to be an inquiry into the qualifications for discipleship at Lotus Peak...

But clearly, there was a deeper meaning to them.

Just a few days ago, Xie Zhen had just obtained the Lotus Jade Order.

And yet, at today's grand feast, Huang Su still hadn't accepted a single disciple.

"Lotus Peak does not choose disciples based on cultivation or realm,"

Huang Su said calmly, "The main thing... is fate."

"If it's all about fate, why bother with the Sword Qi competition?"

Xie Sheng smiled, said softly, "Sect Leader, do not be angry. I am just curious, what kind of 'fate' is needed for one to be accepted by Lotus Peak, as the rumors say?"

Having said that.

He no longer beat around the bush.

Prince Jiangning silently looked towards where Xie Xuanyi was sitting.

All was said without words.

Very well.

Just knew the banquet wouldn't be that simple... Xie Xuanyi silently drained the wine in his cup, ready to stand up.

At that moment.

"Has the first place in the Sword Qi competition been decided?"

A curious voice suddenly came from not far above.

The raggedly dressed youth, chin in hand, daydreaming until this moment his eyes finally showed some color.

Duan Zhao had been forcibly brought to the seat of honor by Qi Lie, and for nearly two hours he had been idle since no one dared to approach him, viewing him as a disciple already taken under the wing of Golden Turtle Peak… especially since Qi Lie had not concealed his whereabouts, all main peaks knew that this youth had been taken to the back mountain and had met with the Law Enforcement.

Everyone has curiosity.

But this youth could almost certainly be connected with "Law Enforcement," so then the main peaks' Guest Elders lost the urge to inquire any further.

"Though it hasn't been decided, is there really any doubt about who is first?"

Next to Prince Jiangning, a young man in purple robes stood up.

Aside from the Silver Moon Sect.

The Jiangning Xie Family also has other followers.

This person's name is "Yue Chenglong," a young talent from the Jiangning Yue Clan who coincidentally reached Grotto Heaven at the time of Da Sui Sword Palace's founding and is one of the "Thirteen Geniuses" listed by Fangyuan Lodge.

"Prince's mastery with the Sword Qi is hard to come by in a century. In this competition, if it really came to a fight... who would be the Prince's match?"

Another person also stood up.

This person was Wan Chuo, also one of the thirteen people listed in the records of Fangyuan Lodge, though not from Jiangning, but from Qing State territory.

Wan Chuo's cultivation realm was slightly higher than Yue Chenglong's.

Not even thirty years old, he was already at the second layer of Grotto Heaven.

Two young Grotto Heaven cultivators stood up and spoke.

The atmosphere in the hall grew slightly tense.

"Tch... Such big words, aren't you afraid of being taught a lesson?"

Duan Zhao said with a sneer upon hearing this.

Wan Chuo narrowed his eyes, knowing that this little fellow's identity and status weren't ordinary; he was sitting next to Qi Lie at this grand feast, most likely a character not to be trifled with.

So he immediately changed the subject, bowing to Huang Su and respectfully said, "Palace Master Huang… The question previously posed by the Prince is also the question of the people across the world. Da Sui Sword Palace sealed itself off for ten years and hosted this grand event, with thousands of cultivators from all four realms coming to pay homage. Who doesn't know that Xuanshui Cave Heaven is a rare sight in this world, who doesn't know that Lotus Peak is the head of Da Sui? If Lotus Peak does not take on disciples, then why participate in this Sword Qi ceremony? If Lotus Peak does recruit disciples, what exactly are the detailed rules? May you please reveal them… so that even if we are not chosen, we still leave with clarity?"

This succession of questions left Huang Su silent.

Elsewhere.

Yue Chenglong let out a sigh and rebuked, "Brother Wan, how can you trouble Palace Master Huang so? On Lotus Peak, there are so many rules for taking disciples, how do you expect one to explain the word 'fate'?"

"I am just asking on behalf of all people."

Wan Chuo laughed softly and said, "Although the Sword Qi competition has been suspended… the 'Sword Qi talent' of the Prince is beyond doubt. Apart from Xie Xuanyi back then, only the Prince has achieved 'A-grade.' With such talent, looking across Sword Palace, who can compare?"

The two men sang in harmony, advancing and retreating in tandem, each invocation of "the people" seeming gracious.

If one did not know better, one might suspect flattery under the guise of slaying.

But obviously.

They were intentionally coming forward, playing their roles at this time.

Huang Su's expression grew unsightly as a chill began to surge in her eyes.

"Young Master Xiao Xie, what should be done about their actions?"

Yuan Yi was startled by this scene.

At this moment, the sight in the hall was being projected outward through talismans and treasures, in real-time for all to see.

"Naturally, they will leave Sword Palace,"

Xie Xuanyi said calmly, "This opening of Da Sui Sword Palace is being watched by the people of the world… With the Law Enforcement's word, they can step into Xuanshui Cave Heaven, and the greatest opportunity has already been grasped."

Although these two young Grotto Heaven cultivators had been engaged in close discussions with the main peaks' Guest Elders earlier in the feast, the disturbance tonight...

Clearly, the Prince Jiangning household had already arranged a place for them.

Not all sword cultivators wish to enter Sword Palace.

Some people are more inclined to seize "substantial" benefits.

Moreover, the number of people pessimistic about Sword Palace has been increasing over the years.

The present-day Da Sui Sword Palace can no longer be compared with the Taoist sects... Sword cultivators are already weak, and the fortunes of Sword Palace are even more in decline.

"What about Xie Sheng?"

Yuan Yi was somewhat nervous but also held a tone of anger.

Everyone said Prince Jiangning wanted to be admitted to Lotus Peak.

After today's question...

After it was asked, could he really be admitted to Lotus Peak?

"Perhaps, he doesn't want to be admitted to Lotus Peak at all,"

Xie Xuanyi smiled softly, "Or perhaps… he doesn't even want to be Huang Su's disciple."

Yuan Yi was stunned.

But the next moment, she understood Xie Xuanyi's meaning.

The entirety of Lotus Peak now only had two people.

In fact, Huang Su was placed in charge of the Lotus Decree, not because her cultivation realm was so powerful that she had surpassed her senior brothers of the past...

It was simply because.

Apart from the Sealed Sect Leader of Pure Yang, there was only her left on Lotus Peak.

If Prince Jiangning wished to ascend Lotus Peak without wanting to become Huang Su's disciple, then there was only one possibility.

From beginning to end.

The one Prince Jiangning wished to become a disciple of was none other than the current Palace Master of Da Sui Sword Palace.

The Sect Leader of Pure Yang.

Therefore, tonight's "inquiry" was no longer directed at Huang Su.

Although the Sect Leader of Pure Yang had been in seclusion for many years without any news...

Every disciple of Da Sui held an unwavering belief in their hearts.

The Sect Leader was just in seclusion.

Within the bounds of Da Sui, every blade of grass and piece of wood was within the Sect Leader's Heart Lake.

The rustle of the wind.

The buzz of mosquitos and flies.

If the Sect Leader wished to listen, then he could hear them.

"Ten years ago, Da Sui Sword Palace made the 'Sword Qi Bell Strike' formation public," Xie Sheng gently began. "This formation chart has a total of three thousand nine hundred and twelve sword qi acupoints... To restore this formation chart, one must comprehend all the sword qi acupoints. For the past ten years, no one in the world has been able to fully understand this formation chart."

He slightly lifted his sleeve.

Boom!

The entire hall echoed with the sound of swords.

Every young cultivator present had an odd expression, their swords trembling uncontrollably at this moment.

From within Prince Jiangning's robes, talismans flew out one after another, like swimming dragons in the sky above the hall, winding and connecting, while the sound of swords became more intense. A young disciple in the Foundation Establishment Realm cried out in surprise as the sword in his bosom uncontrollably soared towards the ceiling of the great hall—

With a "thud"!

Thousands of talismans came together to form a grand formation chart, resembling an ancient bell.

And the sword that collided into the talisman formation emitted a deep and resonant tremor; in an instant, the sword was firmly attached to the surface of the talisman ancient bell!

Whiz, whiz, whiz!

More than one sword flew out.

Dozens of young sword cultivators, invited to follow their family elders to the feast, lost control over their swords due to their low realms and unstable Heart Lakes under the deterrence of the "Sword Qi Bell Strike" formation.

Yuan Yi was no different.

She was slightly distracted, and the reed sword in her bosom was about to unsheathe and fly out!

But a hand appeared in time, nonchalantly pressing down on the reed sword.

"...Hold fast to your Heart Lake, dispel stray thoughts, listen not to the sword's sound, heed not the sword's ringing!"

Xie Xuanyi's voice reached out immediately.

This voice, overpowering the trembling of the ancient bell, carried a reassuringly deep and gentle warmth into Yuan Yi's Heart Lake, as well as into the hearts of the other disciples from Baihua Valley.

The female disciples from Baihua Valley quickly regained their composure, secured their flying swords, and avoided the embarrassment of losing control.

Baihua Valley was spared the trouble, but other powers were not so lucky.

After Xie Sheng unveiled the Sword Qi Bell Strike formation, the entire Golden Turtle Peak hall resonated with the sound of sword qi clanging—

For a moment.

Everyone's gaze was drawn to the ancient formation chart hanging high above!

The ancient bell, assembled from countless talismans, was now absorbing the sword intent from dozens of flying swords. It began to rotate slowly, and the sound of trembling swords it emitted was both lofty and majestic!

The entire hall was enveloped by the grand sword intent emanating from Prince Jiangning.

"I began contemplating this Sword Qi Bell Strike formation chart the moment it spread into the world," Xie Sheng said quietly.

"To try and fathom it was indeed difficult... Even more so than advancing to Grotto Heaven at the age of seventeen."

"I heard it took the Sect Leader of Pure Yang decades to restore it," Xie Sheng continued softly. "As for Xie Xuanyi, he never managed to 'restore' it until his death. Palace Master Huang, would you say that what I've said is a rumor or truth?"

"..."

Huang Su once again fell silent.

The reason for her silence.

Was because what Xie Sheng said was true.

This Sword Qi Bell Strike formation chart... was released just before the Sect Leader of Pure Yang went into seclusion.

To her knowledge, Brother Xuanyi spent over a decade on Lotus Peak poring over the Taoist scriptures, focusing on this particular formation until he left Da Sui Sword Palace, still contemplating it.

"Over the past ten years, I've heard many people say that Xie Xuanyi was a unique Sword Immortal in the entire world," Xie Sheng stated calmly. "But today, I, Xie Sheng, am going to prove that I am stronger than Xie Xuanyi..."

"I've completed the cultivation records that Xie Xuanyi never finished!"

"The formation chart that Xie Xuanyi never fully understood in his lifetime, I have comprehended!"

"I'm saying all this, not because I'm seeking to become a disciple of Lotus Peak. In fact, I've never intended to take you, Palace Master Huang, as my master. Lotus Peak can certainly refuse me, but if tomorrow I take down Xuanshui Cave Heaven..."

"Sorry."

Prince Jiangning raised his head, his gaze fixed on the highest point of this grand hall. He spoke with a calm, measured tone, "This Grotto Heaven, I shall take with me."

At the highest point of the great hall, the ancient bell assembled from innumerable talismans was hanging, with swords slotted between the gaps of the talismans.

Above the ancient bell was the vault of the hall's ceiling, as well as the drifting clouds.

Above even that.

Was the ever-present "Divine Thought" of the Sect Leader of Pure Yang.

The voice of Prince Jiangning, along with the sound of sword qi clanging, reverberated within the hall... but aside from the swords, no further sound was heard.

As the sound of swords was about to extinguish.

"My apologies..."

A voice tinged with contemptuous coldness rose from across the high seats of the hall.

"I do not believe that Xie Sheng is stronger than Xie Xuanyi."