Sword Reverence City

Sword Reverence City...

Pill Emperor Hall, located on the Moon Continent, was a place of immense reverence. The hall's main palace, reaching towards the heavens, was regarded as sacred by people from all corners of the land. It was said that the alchemists of Pill Emperor Hall possessed the power to save lives with their pills, making the hall one of the most respected transcendent powers.

In the grand main hall, the air was filled with fragrant incense, creating an atmosphere that seemed fit for immortals. However, tucked away at the farthest reaches of the palaces and halls lay a forbidden gate, guarded by powerful experts. Beyond this gate, the celestial qi was denser, and it was believed to be the sacred place of the Pill Emperor Hall. Legend had it that this was where the current Saintess of the sect underwent her baptism, strengthening her talents and intensifying her celestial aura.

Yet, there was a strict rule in Pill Emperor Hall: once you entered the sacred ground, you were bound to the sect for life. Marriage outside the sect was forbidden, and members were expected to live and die within its walls.

Walking past the forbidden gate, a figure emerged—Luo He of the Pill Emperor Hall. She ventured forth, heading toward the end of the celestial mist. Ahead of her stood a cliff, atop which was another figure—her senior brother and the master of Zhan Chen.

Luo He appeared visibly distressed as she ascended the cliff, her gaze shifting uneasily towards the valley below. If others could see what she witnessed, terror would surely consume them.

Beneath the sacred Pill Emperor Hall lay a mountain range, surrounded by a sea of corpses and skeletons. The overpowering stench of death emanated from the ancient bones that rested eternally beneath. Scattered across this eerie landscape were stone platforms, each occupied by white-robed young females. Their beauty was heavenly, but their expressions were strangely vacant, almost lifeless.

In the midst of these white-robed figures lay a set of skeletal remains radiating a sinister red glow, pulsing with a rhythmic semblance of life.

"Have you prepared a total of eighty-one essence-gathering bodies for me?" a raspy voice echoed from the skeletal remains, dripping with malevolence. Luo He's heart clenched, her face etched with discomfort as she glanced at her senior brother by her side.

"I will do my utmost," Luo He replied respectfully.

"Hmph!"

The cold snort reverberated through the air, intensifying the pressure in Luo He's chest, causing her complexion to pale significantly.

"Know your priorities well," a stern voice admonished her. Luo He trembled, her fear palpable as she forced herself into a deep bow. "I will give my utmost."

"You have one more year," the voice declared, sending shivers down Luo He's spine. She nodded, her heart heavy. As she retreated, she couldn't help but think, Qingcheng, oh Qingcheng, I gave you a chance due to your talent, but if you persist in foolishness, do not blame me for being merciless.

Today marked the first year since the conclusion of the Heavenly Fate Rankings.

In the heart of Grand Xia lay Sword Reverence City, a place of renown in a vast region spanning ten thousand miles. While not as opulent as the nine continents, it held great significance, particularly for sword enthusiasts. Known for its concentration of sword aficionados, it earned its title, Sword Reverence City.

Outside the city gates sprawled a path leading to the precipice's edge. The air here vibrated with a formidable sword energy. The flat expanse seemed as though it had been cleaved by a colossal sword, and nine exceptionally sharp swords protruded from the precipice's edge, accepting the reverence of millions. Thus, the city gained its name, Sword Reverence City.

A hot topic buzzed through the city, captivating its inhabitants. A few months prior, a young swordsman had arrived. Draped in white robes with an ancient sword strapped to his back, he exuded an aura of sharpness that complemented his striking appearance.

This youth journeyed to Sword Reverence City to spar with fellow swordsmen daily, seeking enlightenment in the Mandate of Swords. Astonishingly, within a mere three days, he achieved this feat.

The first level of the Mandate of Swords was marked by sharpness, the ability to cut through any obstacle. In ten days, the youth advanced to the Advanced Boundary, reached the Transformation Boundary in a month, and attained the Perfection Boundary in three months. Spectators marveled at his remarkable progress.

Notably, his perception was extraordinary. After a single exchange, he could assimilate an opponent's sword arts and techniques, employing them effectively in the next bout. This talent left audiences in awe.

From the moment he embarked on his sword comprehension journey to becoming a sword master, only three months had passed. He had already vanquished several formidable sword cultivators at his level, relying solely on his sword techniques. It seemed as if he were unbeatable, defeating every challenger who crossed his path.

Now, in Sword Reverence City, he faced a new adversary, a swordsman in his mid-twenties. Both wielded impeccable swordsmanship, creating a maelstrom of sword qi that swept through their surroundings.

"Haha, Brother Qin, your sword skills are truly remarkable. I, Zong, am thoroughly impressed." The young man took a step back and sheathed his sword, his eyes brimming with respect. Achieving such mastery at such a tender age marked him as a prodigious genius on the path of the sword.

The talented youth in question was none other than Qin Wentian. After his departure from the ancient kingdom, he didn't linger in Ginkou but headed directly to Sword Reverence City to refine his sword techniques. He needed to reach the second level of the Mandate of Swords and condense an Astral Nova to break into the Heavenly Dipper Realm.

Though he still exuded an aura at the Yuanfu level, his possession of three Astral Novas hinted at combat prowess beyond the Heavenly Dipper level.

"Brother Zong, your swordsmanship is equally impressive, a testament to your formidable sect," Qin Wentian acknowledged with a smile.

Zong Qian's eyes gleamed, and he returned the smile. "It seems Brother Qin has already figured out who I am. I'm Zong Qian from the Zong Clan in Sword Reverence City."

In this city, three major powers reigned supreme: the Zong Clan, the Li Clan, and the Heavenly Sword Sect. They boasted numerous disciples who flocked to their banners, ensuring the continued prosperity of these sects and clans.

All three powers held immense prestige and were teeming with experts.

The Zong Clan maintained a low profile, the Li Clan was known for its arrogance, while the Heavenly Sword Sect stood as the most influential and renowned. Given the choice, most young cultivators in the city sought admission to the Heavenly Sword Sect, for the other two were mere clans.

"I'm Qin Wen," Qin Wentian introduced himself.

"I won't beat around the bush, Brother Qin. I'm somewhat puzzled by the rumors circulating in the city. Is it true that you advanced from a beginner to a swordmaster in just three months?" Zong Qian asked directly. His straightforward nature left no room for subtlety. Many suspected that Qin Wentian was an experienced swordsman pretending to be a novice for recognition and fame.

"If I say yes, would you believe me, Brother Zong?" Qin Wentian chuckled.

Zong Qian pondered for a moment before replying, "If it were before today, I wouldn't have believed it. But now that I've met you in person, I'd take your word for it."

"Why is that?" Qin Wentian inquired, intrigued.

"As swordsmen, we cultivate our sword hearts, and our personality aligns with our swordsmanship. Crafty sword techniques reflect a devious character. Your sword is sharp, bold, tyrannical, and carries the aura of a king. Facing you, I couldn't help but discern the type of person you are," Zong Qian explained, causing Qin Wentian to raise an eyebrow.

Zong Qian was indeed from one of the three major sword-wielding powers, and he evaluated his opponents based on their sword techniques.

"Moreover, Brother Qin's swordplay is exceptionally pure, your sword intent crystal clear and razor-sharp. It would truly be a shame if you didn't choose the path of the sword." Zong Qian complimented with a grin, leaving Qin Wentian somewhat bemused.

"Brother Zong, you flatter me too generously," Qin Wentian replied with a wry smile.

"We hit it off right from the start. I'm a bit older than you, so I'll be your big brother. How about we head back to my place today? We can exchange sword techniques over some fine wine," Zong Qian suggested enthusiastically, gripping Qin Wentian's arm, causing him to startle. But as Qin Wentian glanced at Zong Qian, he realized that his expression was genuine, devoid of pretense, and sincere in its desire to form a friendship.

As he had mentioned earlier, the character of sword cultivators often mirrored their swordplay. Zong Qian's sword was straightforward and swift, much like his personality; he did as he pleased.

However, just as they were about to agree, the sound of whistling sword qi echoed nearby. They looked up to find three sharp swords hurtling through the air, landing beside Qin Wentian. There were two men and one woman among the newcomers.

The two men appeared to be in their thirties, while the woman had a striking countenance with clear eyes, placing her age around twenty-five or twenty-six.

Seeing the newcomers, Zong Qian promptly released his grip on Qin Wentian's arm. But they had already observed the interaction between the two. Their eyes gleamed with sharpness as they focused on Qin Wentian.

"Are you the undefeated swordsman from the rumors?" asked one of the men, who had a blood dot between his brows, exuding a dominating aura as he stood atop his sword.

"Yes, I am Qin," replied Qin Wentian.

"I thought you were alone and wanted to spar with you. Little did I know you're from the Zong Clan," stated the other man, his sword-like eyebrows furrowed with enmity.

"We told you so. There's no way someone could reach the Perfection Boundary of the first level in just three months. Clearly, this was all a setup. He's always been a sword cultivator, not a beginner as the rumors claim," the woman remarked, her thin lips curling in disdain.

Qin Wentian furrowed his brow, watching as Zong Qian retorted icily, "Li Nian, this is Qin's first visit to our Sword Reverence City. He has no affiliation with my Zong Clan."

"Ah, now you're trying to deny it? It's pointless. Since he's someone your Zong Clan invited, you must have planned to confront us. Since the opportunity is here, why don't we have a friendly exchange?" the woman suggested coldly. As her voice trailed off, the man with the sword-like brows unleashed a palm strike, sending forth a terrifying sword qi hurtling toward Qin Wentian.

Zong Qian stepped forward, shielding Qin Wentian, and coldly declared, "The feud between the Li and Zong Clans is ours alone to bear. Don't involve an innocent bystander."

"Since you guys are the ones who did it, why shy away from admitting it? If this expert was hired by the Zong Clan, why be afraid of a fight?" The man with the sword-like eyebrows sneered, intensifying the force of his palm strikes. His sword qi now carried the unwavering resolve of his martial mandates.

Zong Qian reacted swiftly, unleashing his aura in response. This opponent was far from ordinary, and even Qin Wentian's perfected Mandate of Swords couldn't easily contend with him.

During their previous exchange, Zong Qian hadn't sensed the presence of other mandates in Qin Wentian. He now believed that Qin Wentian had only grasped the Mandate of Swords, which would place him at a significant disadvantage against this formidable adversary. Engaging in such a battle would be inviting calamity upon himself!