Chapter 361: Ghost Cave

The selection process for Sword Holders differs somewhat from typical sect selections. It is more rigorous and divided into two stages.

The first stage focuses on qualifying candidates for the Sword Holder trial.

This phase primarily serves to eliminate the vast majority of disciples, allowing only a very small number to qualify for the final trial.

A total of 2,793 disciples from various sects in Yinghuang Province have arrived, representing the most outstanding talents from their respective sects over the past decade.

In the first stage of the selection, the top ten will be chosen to earn trial qualifications.

Only these ten individuals will be eligible to participate in the upcoming second stage of the Sword Holder trial.

This is because the Sword Holder trial itself, once qualification is obtained, is extremely unique.

It resembles a pilgrimage, witnessed by all current Sword Holders.

Therefore, it has been a long-standing tradition to limit the number of trial participants to avoid disturbing the slumber of the sages.

The Sword Holder assessment occurs every ten years, with five individuals chosen from the best of the best: three full members and two provisional members.

A full member is directly granted the identity of a Sword Holder, bestowed with a command sword, and receives the Emperor's blessing.

Full Sword Holders are considered the most orthodox, with heaven and earth as their witnesses.

A provisional member does not receive a command sword but is blessed. They must travel to the Sword Holder Palace in Fenghai County for a re-assessment. This is a secondary position, lacking the witness of heaven and earth, and past Sword Holder Elders can make their own decisions based on the participant's performance.

Before these two stages, both the comprehension of the Battle Spirit Seal and the height reached on the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar are significant, serving as bonus points for the second stage of the trial.

At this moment, the sky was a clear azure, with thin clouds. Midday sunlight cascaded onto the snowy plain, illuminating it brightly.

Both the light from the sky and the light reflecting off the ice and snow on the ground intersected, casting a chilling aura.

A north wind swept through, lifting snowflakes and stirring the robes of the gathered crowd.

Beside the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar, as the sound of swords echoed from within the Sword Holder Court, 2,793 disciples from various sects in Yinghuang Province, along with rogue cultivators, gathered simultaneously.

Xu Qing and the captain were among them, standing together and looking up at the sky.

Xu Qing's expression was calm, while the captain's eyes were full of anticipation.

Xu Qing wasn't surprised that the captain met the trial conditions, as the captain had been preparing for this ever since arriving at the Eight Sect Alliance.

His main focus was on the Dao Child of the Grand Preceptor Immortal Sect in the distant crowd.

"Got your eye on him?" the captain whispered.

Xu Qing glanced at the captain and nodded slightly.

Hearing this, the captain chuckled.

"You felt it too?"

Xu Qing's gaze sharpened, and he was about to ask, but at that moment, the sound of swords clashing like metal and stone resonated across the sky once more. Three vast figures descended from the far end of the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar.

The three figures consisted of two elders and one middle-aged man.

All three wore official robes. Upon appearing in mid-air, their imposing aura made the heavens and earth seem to tremble, and silence enveloped all directions. The two elders were particularly extraordinary, with countless Dao lines flowing in their eyes, shaking the firmament.

The cultivator in the center was even more terrifying; countless phantoms appeared behind him, one after another, connected to the sky. Wherever his gaze fell, it seemed half the sky transformed into his very being.

Everyone below, along with all cultivators in Grand Initial Solitary City, trembled in mind and spirit under this immense pressure, their expressions deferential.

Then, a majestic voice boomed like thunder within the minds of all 2,793 individuals.

"In previous selections for trial qualifications, life-or-death situations were rare."

"However, this time's selection for trial qualifications in Yinghuang Province differs. According to the Sword Holder Court's decision, the qualification acquisition location has been changed to the Ghost Cave."

Only a very small number of disciples and the protector elders from various sects showed a change in expression.

Xu Qing was also startled and instinctively looked at the captain.

The captain's pupils visibly contracted slightly. Noticing Xu Qing's gaze, he pointed towards the ground.

Xu Qing seemed to ponder.

The majestic voice, after finishing its previous statement, paused for a moment before continuing.

"Some of you may have heard of it, but most likely, the majority do not know what the Ghost Cave is."

Everyone below listened intently, as this concerned their success or failure. Xu Qing also looked solemn and paid close attention.

"You should know the origin of the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar. The Ghost Cave... is directly beneath it!"

Everyone's minds were stirred, and Xu Qing narrowed his eyes.

"Beneath the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar lies a deep chasm of unknown destination, teeming with countless heteromorphic spirits. Listen closely: they are not 'strangeness' but 'heteromorphic spirits'."

As the middle-aged man in the sky spoke of this, his gaze swept over the crowd before he continued.

"'Strangeness' is ethereal, while 'heteromorphic spirits' are corporeal. The former is sinister, the latter ferocious."

"There are many Ghost Caves on the Ancient Continent, each mysterious and perilous. However, as long as one does not delve too deep, the danger remains somewhat manageable."

"The Grand Initial Solitary Pillar actually serves to suppress this Ghost Cave, and it has done so for countless years."

Xu Qing lowered his gaze, looking at the distant section of the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar that sank into the earth. He recalled the captain's earlier remark that later generations believed the Ghost Emperor had a purpose in discarding his weapon.

Now, it seemed this purpose might indeed be to suppress the Ghost Cave.

"Why would the Ghost Emperor do this? And what exactly exists within the Ghost Cave that would compel the Ghost Emperor to use the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar to suppress it?"

Xu Qing didn't know the reason, but he believed the Sword Holder Court surely had the answer.

At this moment, the middle-aged official in the sky continued to speak with a majestic voice, echoing in everyone's minds.

"Precisely because of this, the part of the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar submerged in the Ghost Cave underground is constantly corroded by the cave's aura, inevitably leading to fragmentation."

"Especially in recent years, more fragments have broken off, causing a large quantity of Grand Initial Solitary Pillar pieces to drift within the Ghost Cave; some have fallen to the infinite depths, while others are scattered on the cave's walls and corners."

"In the past, Sword Holders would descend periodically to collect them and re-integrate them into the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar. Today, you all shall undertake this task."

"The time limit is three days. The top ten individuals who retrieve the most fragments will qualify for the second stage of the trial."

Most of the crowd's expressions became solemn, understanding that these were the rules for the qualification battle.

"Furthermore, I remind you that life-or-death dangers exist within the Ghost Cave. Therefore, this is your last chance to withdraw. Although each participant will receive a special teleportation talisman to escape danger once inside, it is not absolute, and accidents can still occur."

As he spoke, jade slips flew down from the sky, landing before each participant, who all caught them.

Those capable of participating in the Sword Holder selection were not faint-hearted, so naturally, no one withdrew at this moment. Some even started to ask questions after receiving their teleportation jade slips.

"Sir, if the quantities are equal, how will the choice be made?"

"It will be decided by the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar ranking," the middle-aged official stated calmly.

"Finally, I must warn you all: this Ghost Cave is not outside the law; it is still within the jurisdiction of the Sword Holder Court. You may engage in combat, but mutual slaughter is strictly prohibited."

"Now, the Sword Holder trial qualification selection begins!"

As his words echoed, the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar immediately emitted dazzling light. As the light expanded, the pillar vibrated intensely. Then, it slowly contracted in circumference and gradually rose into the air, revealing the section that had been buried underground.

One could clearly see that the lowest part of the now-raised Grand Initial Solitary Pillar was pitch black, mottled, severely damaged, and extensively corroded.

The very bottom section of the pillar was riddled with holes and utterly dilapidated.

As the Grand Initial Solitary Pillar rose, a chasm a thousand zhang deep abruptly appeared on the ground. Plumes of intensely malevolent black mist seeped out from within, accompanied by roars that were utterly inhuman, emanating from the depths of the pit.

Those roars contained screams and wails, brimming with endless pain and madness, as if... that place connected to the underworld's Yellow Springs.

This scene caused the expressions of everyone present to change. Some individuals who were previously resolute now faltered, shaken by the sight.

"Why are you not descending?" The middle-aged official's voice from the sky boomed louder than thunder, shattering the air. The disciples from various sects and rogue cultivators surrounding the chasm gritted their teeth and rushed forward, heading straight into the pit.

Hong Nu Qingqiu was among the first to enter, followed by the Grand Preceptor Dao Child, the human youth, and other sect prodigies, who all stepped in one after another.

Xu Qing and the captain also moved.

Soon, ninety percent of the cultivators present chose to enter. As the remaining hesitated, a deafening crash resounded. The Grand Initial Solitary Pillar, which had ascended, suddenly descended, reverting to its thousand-zhang thickness, and plunged directly into the deep pit.

It sealed the chasm once more!

Instantly, the black mist vanished, the wailing and screaming ceased, and everything returned to normal.

As for the chasm itself, it was pitch black.

The moment Xu Qing stepped inside, he immediately moved towards the edges, and upon touching the dirt, he became vigilant, coldly observing his surroundings.

This place was strange; even with cultivation focused in his eyes, he couldn't immediately discern everything.

The roars he had heard outside had now completely vanished; no more screams emanated from within. Besides the sounds of breathing, there was only silence.

The pervasive darkness and the feeling of claustrophobia naturally created a sense of oppression, instilling a mysterious fear.

Only the chilling aura rising from below, carrying a stench of blood and decay, felt like countless strands of hair drifting past, brushing against the skin and making one's hair stand on end instinctively.

After a moment, perhaps as his eyes adjusted to the darkness, or perhaps as his cultivation resonated with the environment, the surroundings slowly became clearer to Xu Qing's vision.

It was a colossal chasm; even though he could discern the immediate surroundings, the depths remained pitch black, like an abyss.

Black plants grew on the surrounding walls, and on each leaf, faint ghostly faces shimmered, smiling at those observing from against the walls.

There were roughly 2,400 to 2,500 arrivals in total, but only half of them were now cautiously positioned against the surrounding walls.

The other half appeared to have rushed into the deeper parts of the cave immediately upon entering.

Xu Qing narrowed his eyes and turned to look beside him. The captain, less than three zhang away, also looked at him, then pointed downwards.

Xu Qing nodded. Just as they were about to release their grip and leap down into the chasm...

A desolate, lingering, and ethereal operatic melody, seemingly from all directions yet also right by their ears, began to circle continuously.

The sound was full of femininity yet also piercing, merging into an unspeakable tune.

"Past lives don't come, future lives always remain, severing lovesickness, painting dust..."

The voice was indistinguishable as male or female. It unconsciously seeped into their minds, making their scalps tingle and sending shivers down their spines.

It was like autumn rain, a coldness on their faces that permeated their entire bodies.