Devour

Chapter 428: The First Sword Emperor

Chang Yufeng inquired, "The Taowu Academy is only a little over 100,000 miles away. Are you, the seniors, planning to visit the Sword Burial Tomb before attending the Immortal Fate Gathering?"

Duanmu Jun's face darkened and he shook his head, saying, "I wasn't invited to this event. I've come here with my disciples to worship the sword spirit and make friends with heroes. Has your Prison Sword Sect been invited?"

"I am honored to be invited to this Xianyuan Elegant Gathering. My master has participated in two events and is quite familiar with the situation. He has come here to give guidance so that I can see the world." Chang Yufeng spoke frankly. He not only admitted it but also detailed the number of times.

Guo Xieke groaned inwardly upon hearing this and quickly sent a message to Chang Yufeng, "It's okay to tell others about this. Duanmu Jun is a jealous man, so don't mess with him."

Chang Yufeng quickly closed his mouth, but it was a little too late.

As expected, Duanmu Jun's face was filled with displeasure. He snorted, "So, the Prison Sword Sect has participated at least three times, and they're unrivaled! Thanks to Master, Saint Guo has made rapid progress and is now 12th on the Sages' List, leaving me far behind. Throughout history, I'm the only one from the Dongsang Sword Sect to have been invited to the previous event."

Duanmu Jun said this, looking at Ren Yijian and asking, "I wonder how many times the Beiling Sword Sect has received invitations from the Master?"

Ren Yijian smiled calmly and said, "Our sect's founder was lazy by nature and has always neglected to participate in grand events. It was only until this year that I, Ren, and my disciples came to join in the fun."

Yao Shuang wrinkled her cute little nose and interrupted, "Humph! You don't know. My grandmother was always invited to every previous Immortal Fate Gathering, but she just felt lazy and didn't want to go."

"Oh?" Duanmu Jun and Duanmu Qi looked at each other, each stunned for a moment.

Seeing this, Yao Shuang was secretly pleased with herself and couldn't help showing off. She laughed and said, "My great-grandmother said that at the last Xianyuan Elegant Gathering, a lecherous old man showed up and tried to molest a young female cultivator. However, he got so carried away that he somehow touched Mr. Lan's butt and was kicked out on the spot..."

Ren Yijian quickly stretched out his finger and lightly flicked Yao Shuang's forehead, saying with a hint of reproach: "Little girl, stop talking nonsense, be careful of the harm you say!"

"Hmm..." Yao Shuang pouted her lips in grievance and swallowed back all the gossip in her heart.

Duanmu Jun's eyes were filled with panic when he heard this. He forced himself to remain calm and stammered, "Uh...oh...is there such a thing? People's hearts have changed, and the world is becoming more and more corrupt...ha...ha..."

Cheng Bai was stunned: "Look at that behavior, could that old pervert be you?"

Guo Xieke rubbed his chin and muttered, "I've heard that Queen Yao of the Snow Fox Nation also possesses a Fire Spirit Sword Body. Master, I can't understand why I have the same talent as her, but don't have such a good life."

Master Li avoided the main point and simply praised, "Previous Immortal Fate Elegant Gatherings were merely elegant gatherings, and female cultivators suitable for invitation were already rare. Queen Yao is a breathtakingly beautiful woman. If she could grace us with her presence, it would be a great honor for all who attend. It's a pity that Confucian scholars don't have the good fortune to be invited, and can only yearn for her."

Duanmu Jun laughed dryly after hearing this and said, "Haha... I can't believe there are people in this world that even the Master can't invite. This old man... it's unbelievable!"

He then looked at Cheng Bai a few more times, then put away his frivolous expression and asked, "You look familiar... Have you met me before in the Qun Hua Ya Club? May I ask what sect you are from?"

Cheng Bai leaned over and bowed, smiling brightly as he said, "Heaven Devouring Sect Master—Bai Di—has long heard of the great name of Saint Duanmu!"

Duanmu Jun pretended to understand and said, "White Emperor? He's that new weapon refiner with a boastful name! I've heard a lot about his deeds recently."

Cheng Bai inquired, "Saint Lord Duanmu, why has he come all this way to the Bone and Sword Tomb?"

Duanmu Jun said solemnly, "To be honest, ever since our sect won the magic silver at the Qunhua Elegant Gathering, we've spared no expense to invite a renowned master from the Changsheng Society to refine it through countless trials and tribulations, finally creating a superb soul weapon. The sword is named 'Yuhun'!"

Chang Yufeng, unwilling to be left out, joined in the fun, saying, "I've also recently acquired the two precious swords, Han Guang and Hua Ying. So, Saint Duanmu's purpose for coming here coincides with my disciple's."

Cheng Bai asked in confusion, "The Sword Tomb is supposed to be an ancient burial ground for swords. Why would you bring a new sword on this pilgrimage?"

"This is an open secret in the martial arts world. Let the Confucian scholar explain it in detail." Master Li took over the conversation, hesitated for a moment, and then explained, "The Bone and Sword Burial Mound has a long history. Tens of thousands of precious swords are buried here, and their spirits are deeply hidden here. It can be said to be the essence of the sharpest swords from all over the world."

"The swords were broken, but their resentment lingered. The weapon spirits, after over 1,300 cycles of reincarnation, absorbed and exhaled the primordial spirits of heaven and earth, blending to create prosperity, thus giving birth to the most powerful king. After several transformations, it ultimately became a deity among all sword spirits, revered by sword cultivators as the 'First Sword Emperor.'"

"A new sword blessed by this spirit often inherits the wisdom accumulated by countless sword spirits, unleashing its own combat potential. The so-called Sword Sage's blessing at the Bone Mound is truly irrelevant to that... individual."

Master Li paused for a moment, his gaze far away, and continued, "The one who truly appeared in the name of Sword Saint was actually the First Sword Emperor."

Cheng Bai suddenly realized, "No wonder the Sword Burial Tomb is regarded as a sacred place for sword cultivators."

Yao Shuang curled her lips and muttered softly, "You all entered the sword tomb for other purposes. I am the only one who came here to bury the sword sincerely."

Chang Yufeng was surprised and asked, "Fairy Feishuang is so young, yet she has already participated in a sect war. Did she lose her famous sword?"

Yao Shuang lowered her head, her face flushed with shame. She said a little embarrassedly, "No! I broke it when I went to the Nine-Layered Abyss. I blamed it on Senior Brother A Pu's recklessness. Besides, it's just a magic weapon, without a sword spirit... Can't I come and bury the sword?"

Chang Yufeng quickly smiled and nodded, responding, "Of course. Fairy Feishuang is beautiful and kind-hearted, and she cherishes her sword, which is admirable. However, the procedures for burying swords in the city are quite particular. As an experienced person who knows the way, I might as well assist Junior Sister Yao with the burial."

Yao Shuang's pretty face lit up with a bright smile, and she said softly, "Thank you, Senior Brother Chang."

It was difficult to compare the seniority of different sects. But in terms of power background, Chang Yufeng was the sect leader's direct disciple, while Yao Shuang was the sect leader's grand-disciple.

Strictly speaking, the two are of a different generation, but they call each other "senior brother" and "junior sister", which is actually a move to eliminate barriers and bring them closer.

Cheng Bai saw this and secretly admired: "Chang Yufeng is really a veteran in the field of love. He won the favor of the beautiful woman with just a few words."

Guo Xieke couldn't hold back any longer and sent a voice message to Chang Yufeng, "Yufeng, this is my first time bringing you to the Bone Burial Sword Tomb. Do you know the way?"

Chang Yufeng also transmitted the secret message and said with a smirk, "Master, I have just discovered a path to love."

As they chatted and laughed, the heroes unknowingly entered the city. Although the Bone and Sword Burial Mound was large, it was sparsely populated and the atmosphere was deserted. Only a few men in green came out to greet them and silently led the way.

On both sides of the road, ancient swords that have gone through vicissitudes of life and are almost fossilized are inserted in a crisscross manner, accompanied by scattered mottled iron chains, which sway gently in the wind, making a sound of metal clashing.

After wandering for a while, the group arrived before a majestic building. Looking up, it resembled a giant sword piercing the earth, an imposing presence. A plaque hung high above the door, inscribed in three large, flamboyantly written characters: "Jianxiang Pavilion."

"The gravekeeper Sword Maniac is waiting for you in the pavilion. Heroes, please make yourselves at ease." The man in green announced loudly as usual, then stepped aside to make way, and stood quietly outside the door of Jianxiang Pavilion like a clay sculpture or wooden statue, without any further movement.

Master Li seemed to be accustomed to it. He walked in first, and the others followed him in one after another.

As soon as I entered the door, I was greeted by a muscular man in yellow clothes. He bowed and said in a loud voice, "Master, it's been many years since we last met. You are still as elegant as ever."

Master Li introduced him to the crowd, "This is the gravekeeper of the Sword Burial Tomb, 'Sword Madman.' Friends in the martial arts world, feel free to call him by his given name, or politely address him as 'Sword Tomb City Lord.' Those men in green outside are collectively referred to as 'Sword Guards.'"

During their brief encounter, Cheng Bai caught a subtle detail: Master Li, always a man of great social etiquette, didn't return the greeting as usual when facing the Sword Maniac.

This aroused Cheng Bai's curiosity, and he thought to himself, "It seems like their relationship is very special, with some kind of hierarchy."

Guo Xieke and the others came forward to pay their respects, saying, "Sword Mad City Lord, your honor."

The Sword Maniac gave a hearty laugh and answered loudly, "I, the Sword Maniac, am nominally the acting city lord, but in reality I am a tomb keeper. The Sword Fragrance Pavilion you fellow Daoists have seen is the place within the Sword Tomb that is closest to ordinary life. Most other places are filled with a sharp and piercing aura. If you don't have a sword guard to lead the way, be sure not to wander around!"