Sword Sovereign of the Celestial Emperor

The battle with the illusions had left Chu Ming with many wounds, but the primary consumption was his mental exertion.

In the haste of the previous situation, Chu Ming had no time to ponder the mysteries of the Heart Sword Realm. Now, sitting down, he carefully contemplated, realizing that the Heart Sword was more than just a Sword Dao Realm.

Most importantly, it was a connection that linked a swordsman's thoughts with the sword in his hand, achieving a state where the sword exists only in the heart. As Chu Ming gripped the Star Trace Sword, he felt an intrinsic connection; he could now fully control the Star Trace Sword with his mind.

Previously, although Chu Ming's Sword Dao was profound, it was too scattered. His sword strikes contained little essence and were mixed with much dross.

However, after comprehending the Heart Sword, Chu Ming's Sword Dao became concentrated and sharp. Each strike contained pure essence, making it more unpredictable and powerful.

An hour later, the purple mist spread, and the remnant soul of the Ancient Sword Emperor appeared again. He glanced at Chu Ming sitting on the ground and spoke faintly.

"Now begins the third layer of the trial."

Chu Ming stood up from the ground, his stature tall and straight, quietly listening to the Ancient Sword Emperor.

Reaching the Heart Sword Realm, his desire for the Sword Scripture inexplicably diminished. This was a trick of the Mental Realm.

"The third trial is simple yet difficult: within one day, comprehend a Sword Technique from the Sword Scripture."

The Ancient Sword Emperor spoke slowly.

The third trial undoubtedly tests a swordsman's enlightenment. Before the second trial, he might have thought that Chu Ming had some difficulty passing the third trial, but achieving the Heart Sword Realm under such conditions in the second trial was a testament to Chu Ming's extraordinary talent.

Most swordsmen never grasp the Heart Sword in their lifetime. Only those with unparalleled talent have a chance, and in the Ancient Sword Emperor's era, only three or four swordsmen achieved it, the Ancient Sword Emperor among them.

The others, though less powerful than the Ancient Sword Emperor, were formidable figures known as emperors with overwhelming combat strength.

However, even the Ancient Sword Emperor entered the Heart Sword Realm at thirty. In some ways, Chu Ming's Sword Dao talent already surpassed that of the pre-thirty Ancient Sword Emperor.

After thirty, the Ancient Sword Emperor reached his peak, dominating the continent's prodigies, remaining unrivaled among his peers, and continued his legend even as the King of the Life and Death Realm.

Whoosh!

The Ancient Sword Emperor lightly waved his hand, and a broken stone tablet, about a meter high, descended from the sky, emitting a faint purple light and floating two meters above Chu Ming's head.

"You don't have much time, make the most of it!"

With these words, the Ancient Sword Emperor turned and left, surrounded by purple light, his remnant soul disappearing once more.

Once the Ancient Sword Emperor's remnant soul vanished, Chu Ming fixed his gaze on the Sword Scripture. The tablet was inscribed with over a thousand complex characters. At a glance, Chu Ming felt dizzy; some characters were blurry, giving him the sensation of being amidst clouds.

Without delay, Chu Ming sat down cross-legged and began to immerse himself in studying the Sword Scripture. The three volumes of the Sword Scripture were the Ancient Sword Emperor's lifelong insights into Sword Dao, profoundly vast, and reading them was a blessing for any swordsman.

Within a few breaths, Chu Ming felt everything around him change as if all had vanished into rippling water. He sat alone in darkness, before him only the stone tablet with its radiant characters emitting a faint purple glow.

Comprehending a Sword Technique within a day was a near-impossible task for any swordsman; Chu Ming was no exception. Aurora Lightning surged through his mind, using his enlightenment to the fullest.

Like tangled clouds and mist, countless electric spheres floated in his vision.

...

Enduring countless difficulties, Night Charm finally reached the peak of Sword Peak. Her forehead sparkled with fine, crystalline sweat. After a brief rest, she began to observe her surroundings.

When her eyes landed on a mottled stone tablet, she immediately felt overjoyed, her face blossoming with beauty. Just as she was about to approach the tablet, a purple light spread through the void, becoming denser. A middle-aged, ethereal figure emerged from the tablet.

It was the Ancient Sword Emperor!

Night Charm's expression froze, quickly changing. She respectfully cupped her hands and greeted, "Greetings, Senior Ancient Sword Emperor!"

Although the Ancient Sword Emperor had been dead for a millennium, he had died in the Human-Demon War, fought to ensure the survival of the Human Race, and was venerated by all. Even her master, the Blue Thunder King, would call himself a junior before the Ancient Sword Emperor.

Moreover, had her master known the Ancient Sword Emperor's remnants were within the Sword Scripture, he would never have sent her to seize it.

"Tell the one behind you that the Sword Scripture is beyond his reach."

The Ancient Sword Emperor spoke faintly. As soon as the words fell, the purple mist contracted rapidly, and in an instant, the Ancient Sword Emperor's figure vanished from the peak, leaving Night Charm alone.

Unable to obtain the Sword Scripture, Night Charm felt a momentary regret, but she quickly composed herself. Atop the peak, she found a random rock, sat cross-legged, and quietly waited for the peak to open again.

.....

In the dark space, time flew by. The study of the Sword Scripture greatly benefited him. It was as if countless electric spheres flickered in his mind, pulsing like a heartbeat.

"This is it!"

Chu Ming knew the day was almost over. An electric sphere exploded in his mind, and before him, a small figure made of light quickly performed a sword dance in a rhythmic pattern.

Whoosh!

The Star Trace Sword swiftly unsheathed, sparks trailing on the ground. Following the light figure, Chu Ming rapidly swung the Star Trace Sword, releasing a terrifyingly domineering red light, sweeping through, carrying a sense of slaughter.

After a long while, the red light faded. Chu Ming slowly opened his eyes, quietly gazing at the Star Trace Sword in his hand. Reflecting on the Sword Technique he had just performed, his heart stirred, admiring the Sword Scripture as a true treasure for swordsmen.

Through his study of the Sword Scripture, combined with his powerful enlightenment, he had comprehended a formidable Sword Technique in just one day. This was previously unimaginable.

He named the Sword Technique "Red Lotus Rain."