Chapter 38

"Is this the Historical Text?" Robin had seen a Historical Text in Ohara before, but this one was much larger than the one in Ohara, and its overwhelming presence was hard to describe. Plus, the one in Ohara had been stored in a dark basement, which subtly diminished its grandeur. So, even Robin, despite her calm demeanor, was still taken aback by the sheer force of this one.

"Yeah! When I saw the Historical Text for the first time, I was shocked as well!" Shanter remarked with awe. "Who could have erected this? It's truly unimaginable!"

"Brother, didn't you say you weren't interested in history?"

"I'm just expressing my feelings," Shanter replied casually.

"Eh? Is that... a sword?" Shanter's eyes widened in surprise as he gazed at the shadow on the back of the Historical Text.

"It looks like it!" Robin was also puzzled. How could there be a black long sword 'inserted' into the place where the Historical Text was placed?

The black sword emanated an oppressive aura even from afar, exuding violent energy and a sense of immense malice. But in Shanter's eyes, the black blade appeared serene and peaceful.

"Brother, wait." Robin stopped Shanter, who was about to pull out the sword.

"What is it?"

"Don't you find something odd?" Robin asked. "Why didn't Shanks mention this sword? He even wrote about how the fruit on the island was delicious!"

"He didn't mention those Vajra either!" Shanter dismissed it and moved to take the sword. "What does that prove?"

"It means this sword could be problematic! Otherwise, why wouldn't Roger and the others take it? Of course, it's also possible that this sword wasn't there back then, but the likelihood is too low! How could someone 'insert' a sword on an uninhabited island? Look at the inscription on the blade; I don't even recognize these two characters!" Robin once again stopped Shalanter's impulsive move. "I think, maybe this sword is like the ghostly blade or the Muramasa, a cursed weapon..."

"That's the name of the sword—Huang Tian!" To Robin's surprise, Shanter recognized the two characters immediately.

"You... recognize these characters?" Robin said, astonished. She knew Shanter's knowledge was quite limited, so she couldn't fathom how he could possibly know these characters. "How do you recognize them? I've never seen these characters before."

"I don't know, but I just do. I'm very familiar with this sword!" Shanter reached out to grasp the sword's hilt. "I feel like it... is my sword!"

As Shanter's hand touched the hilt, an overwhelming will surged into his brain, sending waves of confusion through his consciousness, as if he had been transported to another world.

"You don't understand? This battle, I must fight it!"

"If you want to say that I want to be a savior, I don't think that's wrong. They are my people. If I run away without fighting, that would betray my true nature. If I cannot act according to my heart and walk the Dao I believe in, then living would be worse than dying."

"Yes, the enemy is powerful. But even now, countless immortal beings, gods, shamans, and strong warriors from all races are fighting bloodily in the outer realms. They are all fighting to protect this land. If I run away, abandoning this land that our ancestors shed their blood to protect, how could I live with myself? If I can't follow my Dao, what is the point of my existence? Besides, three years ago, I made an agreement with him. We sealed the pact with a handshake, agreeing to settle things once the dark dawn arrives!"

"Important? To others, my Dao may mean nothing, worthless. But to me, my Dao is everything. For my Dao, I would slaughter thousands, wade through seas of blood and mountains of corpses—so what? For my Dao, I would endure scorn from the world and the cold indifference of all beings—so what? For my Dao, I would leave a legacy of glory or infamy—so what? For my Dao, I would sacrifice my life, bravely facing death—so what? I never thought of myself as a great person; everything I do is just to follow my Dao."

"That's right! The enemy is incredibly powerful, and our elders are no longer with us. But so what? True, compared to the battle of the opening of the heavens, we don't have Pangu or Hongjun; compared to the battle of the Primordial Chaos, we don't have Dijun, Taiyi, Fuxi, Nuwa, the Three Pure Ones, Zhunti, the Buddha, Jehovah, Zeus, or Odin. We've lost so many great figures, but so what? At least in the Central World, there is still—me!"

"Our elders are gone, but we, the new generation of powerful beings, must fight till the end. This land, which our predecessors gave everything for, it's time for me to protect it! As the one to end the Fourth Great Era, I may not be any worse than they were! Look, billions of lives are waiting for me to lead them into battle!"

"Don't worry about me too much! Think about it, the enemies I've faced in the past—were any of them not infinitely stronger than me? Yet, didn't I win every time? Look at my sword—I believe it will continue to carry my Dao. This Huang Tian, it will once again, like the divine will of the heavens, cleave through all obstacles before me!"

"My Dao in my heart has never faltered, and the sword in my hand will not be stopped! Come, I will cleave through everything!"

"Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals, kings against kings. You, handle their outer forces; I will deal with their core strength!"

"Risk? The real risk is not taking a risk now! The disparity in strength between us is vast. We only have a few dozen Vast-level Saints, and they have over a hundred. Among them, there is only one Mysterious-level Saint, while they have nine. One of those nine is almost as strong as the 'Four Emperors,' comparable to Pangu, the creator of heaven and earth, and Hongjun, the eternal being! Alas, though... because of the ritual to recall the Demon's origin consciousness, they can't fully utilize their power for now, but that won't last long! The great Dao follows the natural order, and now we are at the final 'one.' If we miss this fleeting opportunity, all our previous efforts will be in vain!"

"Alright, then it's decided. You disrupt the ritual, and I will face the Demon's child directly!"

"Rest assured, with my eyes that see through everything, my sword that cleaves through all, and my Dao that encompasses all, I fear nothing!"

"Brother, I have no reason to lose to you!"

"Whether it's exquisite techniques, divine weapons, or powerful fortune and source energy, none of it will stop my Dao!"

"The secret technique of the Giant Demon race, 'Rampage,' and the undead race's life-burning technique, 'Destruction,' these two moves strengthen my physical skills, but they're useless against you, right? Then, see what I can do with this move, which is based on my Dao!"

"Good deeds are rewarded, evil deeds are punished; if there is no retribution for good and evil, then there is no Dao in the heavens and earth; and where there is no Dao in the heavens and earth, I shall repay good and evil! This is my Dao! If you can, take this move!"

"Good and Evil • Karma and Retribution!"

"Hmph, you felt the power of this move, didn't you? Even if you can block my sword, can you block my Dao? Every strike now erodes your fortune and source energy, brother, how will you respond?"

"Oh? Looks like the situation is turning around, huh? Your reinforcements have arrived—hehe, eight Saints!"

"1v9? Haha, you must think highly of me! Alright, then let me show you my strength!"

"Cough, cough, seems like I can't win after all. But, if I can't win, you won't win either. At most, we'll both perish together."

"Cough, cough, with eight Saints and the Demon's child accompanying me to the grave, this is truly a luxurious end!"

Huang Tian, my sword, I hope you find a new master, someone worthy of inheriting my Dao!

"When my Dao is in my heart, my sword is in my hand. When my Dao in my heart never hesitates, my sword becomes unstoppable. When my Dao spreads across the world, my sword will cleave through everything!"

"Goodbye, my comrades! Goodbye, my—brother!"