Chapter 345: Tai Siming Lamp

Xu Qing looked up, gazing at the distant, hazy world.

"Little Ah Qing, many in Yinghuang State know that the Tai Chu Li You Pillar is the weapon of the Ghost Emperor of Nanyue. However, according to alliance intelligence, this weapon seems to have been cast aside by the Ghost Emperor himself before his death, back in that ancient era."

"Therefore, there has always been a rumor that the Ghost Emperor used his own weapon to suppress a certain mystery."

"In fact, the Tai Chu Li You Pillar has vibrated many times over the years. Some speculate that it's the suppressed entity acting up, while others guess the Ghost Emperor is about to revive. Considering the Sword Holder Palace's recent action against San Ling Zhen Dao Mountain, it's highly likely that the latter is true."

Xu Qing pondered.

"Senior Brother, is there also a reason related to suppression for the Sword Holder Palace choosing to establish its headquarters here in Yinghuang State?"

"Exactly," the Captain replied. "That Ghost Emperor was incredibly powerful, and the Sword Holder Palace naturally attaches great importance to it. But none of that concerns us right now. What we're focusing on is definitely becoming Sword Holders." The Captain's expression was full of anticipation. "The selection date for Sword Holders is approaching. I've inquired thoroughly, and any human under the age of twenty-five can participate, regardless of their cultivation level."

"Once we reach the Tai Chu Li You Pillar's vicinity, we won't need to conceal our identities. The Sword Holder Palace has regulations: no non-humans are allowed within the Tai Chu Li You Pillar's range. Furthermore, humans can spar here, but killing is forbidden."

Xu Qing nodded.

"As for the assessment process, I've consulted many alliance archives and have a thorough understanding of it. In previous years, the assessment was always divided into two stages."

"The first stage is to secure a spot in the Sword Holder trial. These spots are highly competitive, as typically only one-tenth of the total participants are selected."

"The second stage is the actual Sword Holder trial. The number of Sword Holders recruited each time is usually no more than ten, sometimes as few as three to five."

"Therefore, every Sword Holder is exceptional."

"So few?" Xu Qing was somewhat surprised. On that day at San Ling Zhen Dao Mountain, he had seen many Sword Holders and had assumed that many people passed the assessment trial each time.

As if guessing Xu Qing's thoughts, the Captain began to explain.

"Most Sword Holders actually come from outside provinces; only a portion are local cultivators. This is a regulation for Sword Holders."

"If we succeed in the assessment and become Sword Holders, we may also face the possibility of being transferred to an outer province. However, that's still distant, because every newly promoted Sword Holder must, within a specified time, go to the Sword Official in Fenghai Commandery to obtain the secret arts and traditions of Sword Holders."

"Ultimately, Sword Holders will compete for their place of assignment based on their own circumstances. Moreover, as Sword Holders, they gain the right to ride human ferries."

"The seven human commanderies are separated by multiple vast domains. Ordinary people cannot travel across them in a lifetime unless they are powerful cultivators; otherwise, they can only rely on the super ferries that travel between domains."

And sect disciples rarely have this qualification.

Xu Qing listened intently. He felt that becoming a Sword Holder would greatly assist him in his future travels.

Yan Yan, who was beside them, also felt the same way. She also wanted to become a Sword Holder so she could stay by Brother Xu Qing's side.

Thus, a month passed.

Under the Captain's guidance, their Dharma ship soared through the sky, continuously flying northward, drawing closer and closer to the Tai Chu Li You Pillar.

During this month, Xu Qing also finally thoroughly understood the abilities of Shadow and the Vajra Sect Patriarch after their promotion.

The Vajra Sect Patriarch's abilities had received an all-around enhancement, reaching the level of a One-Palace Golden Core.

This was because his promotion wasn't fully complete. Xu Qing felt that once he fully transformed into a spirit artifact, he should exhibit even more capabilities.

At the same time, the Vajra Sect Patriarch's mastery over lightning was also vastly different from before. Both the lightning he unleashed and his own speed had advanced by leaps and bounds. Additionally, he gained a new trump card.

That was the Heavenly Tribulation Red Lightning.

The destructive intent contained within this lightning was astonishing. Once unleashed, it possessed the power to kill beyond its cultivation palace level, and judging by its domineering nature, such a strike would likely be a one-hit kill.

As for Shadow, with the Vajra Sect Patriarch's translation, Xu Qing easily understood all its capabilities. Besides being able to transform Xu Qing into a body refinement secret art, Shadow retained its previous abilities: it could devour and control others' shadows, and its devouring speed was now faster. In addition, its many eyes also gained a new ability.

This ability was called Shatter.

In reality, Shadow also had this ability before, but it was too weak for Xu Qing to pay attention to. Now, after its promotion, this Shatter technique became obvious due to its greatly increased power. Shadow could generate a shattering force by blinking its numerous eyes. When unleashed at full power, Xu Qing felt a sense of solemnity after experiencing it.

All of this made him clearly realize that his current combat power was vastly different from before, and he had far more methods for fighting.

This allowed him to formulate more tactics to face more complex situations and more cunning and strange enemies.

"Without using poison or Shadow's secret arts, I can defeat anyone below the Five Palaces!"

"Using Shadow's secret arts, I can suppress anyone below the Six Palaces."

"If I also use poison, I can even fight against someone at the Six Palaces. Although a one-palace difference is huge in the Golden Core realm, I would certainly be severely injured in such a fight, but my opponent would definitely die from my poison!"

If he were to use all his hidden methods... Xu Qing pondered. He didn't want a day to come when he would have to try this, because it would mean the enemy he encountered would be incredibly powerful.

As Xu Qing assessed his own combat power, the month-long snowstorm finally ended. The distant world became clear, light poured down from the sky, and the earth became bright.

Here, it was no longer just snow, but also ice plains and snow-capped mountains. Undulating snow-capped mountains came into Xu Qing's view, with occasional black specks visible on them, which were scattered, protruding rocks.

The wind was even colder, blowing against Xu Qing's outstretched hand, as if it would freeze his flesh.

There were no longer any mortal small nations here. The harsh climate meant that except for cultivators who could resist it, mortals would instantly freeze to death in this place.

"Comfortable!" The Captain's loud shout came from the front of the Dharma ship.

The Captain stood at the bow of the ship, his body exposed beyond the protective barrier, facing the cold wind head-on. He stretched out his arms in the wind, a look of utter comfort on his face, as if the icy cold here was nothing to him.

After all, all of his spells emanated an icy aura, and here, his abilities would clearly receive a stronger boost.

"Little Ah Qing, I've wanted to come here for a long time. This place is much more comfortable than the sect."

The Captain laughed loudly. Just as he was looking content, his eyes suddenly narrowed, and he turned to look at another direction in the sky.

At the same time, Xu Qing also noticed something and turned to gaze.

Yan Yan noticed nothing, but instinctively looked in that direction. To her, there was nothing in the distant sky, but in Xu Qing and the Captain's eyes, dozens of massive flying boats were roaring from an even greater distance. These flying boats resembled willow leaves, slender with both bow and stern curved upwards, appearing very peculiar. They were entirely crafted from crystal and spirit stones, sparkling brilliantly in the sunlight, covered in dazzling jewels.

Among them, one boat stood out, positioned among the fleet as if the others were its escorts.

This particular boat was a distinct azure blue, adorned with long streamers that waved like flags in the wind, making it very conspicuous. The characters 'Tai Si' were embroidered on them. Xu Qing and the Captain had seen such a boat before on the Immortal River of Myriad Ages; it belonged to the Tai Si Immortal Sect.

On these dozens of boats, large and small, stood figures dressed in white, both men and women. Each exuded an otherworldly aura, especially with the rising mist beneath their boats, making them appear like immortals. On that azure flying boat, one person also stood.

This person was a young man, dressed in a blue robe distinct from the others, which accentuated his slender figure like a verdant pine. His fair skin was like jade, his sword-like brows resembled peaks, and his entire demeanor was dignified and imposing.

He stood at the azure bow with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm, as if his noble status and peerless talent had already led him to the pinnacle of life.

Therefore, few things in this world could move him. In this calm, their fleet of flying boats roared past Xu Qing's Dharma ship, without pausing for a moment from beginning to end.

Because they represented the Tai Si Immortal Sect, and the Tai Si Immortal Sect was the foremost sect in Yinghuang State, second only to the Sword Holder Palace, the orthodox human power.

Thus, when the Tai Si Immortal Sect traveled, all other sects naturally had to make way.

As they flew past, the air currents stirred by this fleet of flying boats spread in all directions, impacting Xu Qing's Dharma ship, causing it to sway and forcing it to retreat to avoid them.

Xu Qing and the Captain both narrowed their eyes.

Not one of the Tai Si Immortal Sect's flying boats or any of its disciples looked back at them; their indifference was even more pronounced. As the roaring sound echoed, they flew further and further away.

Their destination was clearly also the Tai Chu Li You Pillar.

"What a display of power!" The Captain's eyebrows rose as he looked at the distant Tai Si Immortal Sect's flying boats. "Later, I'll go look for information and see what good stuff the Tai Si Immortal Sect has."

The Captain was clearly displeased with their domineering attitude.

"That person is very strong," Xu Qing slowly said. He was referring to the young man in the blue Daoist robe; from that brief glance, he had faintly sensed the fluctuations of a Life Lamp on him.

This was the second person he had seen in many years, besides the Holy Son, who was suspected of possessing a Life Lamp.

"That's Zhang Siyun, the Dao Child of the Tai Si Immortal Sect. This person had firmly suppressed the Holy Son in Yinghuang State back then, and was considered the top prodigy among the disciples of this generation in the entire Yinghuang State. He had far surpassed the Holy Son during the Foundation Establishment stage, and after forming his Golden Core, he left the Holy Son completely in the dust."

"It is said that not only does he possess a Life Lamp, but he also cultivates Imperial-level cultivation methods. He has even mastered nine stances of the Grand Azure Blade and cultivated an Imperial-level seed."

"According to alliance intelligence, Zhang Siyun has four Heavenly Palaces, but his combat power should be at the Six-Palace level, or possibly even higher."

"Little Ah Qing, are you eyeing his Life Lamp? Should we find a chance to take him out?"

Xu Qing shook his head. The Captain blinked and chuckled.

"However, he's not like the Holy Son. If he were to fall, the Tai Si Immortal Sect would undoubtedly be enraged to the extreme. The old man probably couldn't stop them."