Chapter 373: The Answer from Ernniu

Xu Qing closed his eyes, his senses spreading out and merging with the large black stone before him. The moment his senses touched the stone, a mist appeared in his mind.

Within the mist, faint whispers emerged. The voices wavered, seeming both distant and close.

"The Emperor's Sword... does not emerge easily.""The moment the sword is drawn... heaven and earth shatter."

Xu Qing's mind trembled. He listened intently, and gradually, the whispers transformed into streams of information that appeared and resonated within his soul. This information was about the Emperor's Sword.

The Emperor's Sword, also known as the Sword of the Sword Bearer, is one of humanity's orthodox Imperial-level cultivation methods, uniquely created by Emperor Jiyao, the Great Immortal Yuancai. It specializes in combat, possesses astonishing power, and is boundless in slaughter. It has slain myriad races and, in ancient times, was wielded by the Great Emperor himself to strike down gods. Even the Ancient Emperor Xuanyou had highly praised the Great Emperor's sword.

Subsequently, the Sword Palace lineage became the Sword Bearers. The Great Emperor placed all his Imperial-level cultivation methods within the Sword Bearer Department, opening them up so that Sword Bearers could gain insights according to their respective ranks. Especially regarding the light of the Emperor's Sword, the Great Emperor, with his vast generosity, made it completely accessible. Every new Sword Bearer would receive one opportunity for insight after becoming a Sword Bearer. However, this was a one-time opportunity; subsequent insights required military merit for exchange.

The Emperor's Sword is exceedingly difficult to comprehend; no one throughout history has succeeded in a single attempt. Most require multiple attempts to barely imprint it in their hearts, forming a "sword seed." As for the sword's power, it can be strong or weak. The factors determining its power limit are related to the cultivator's cultivation level, but more so to time. The Emperor's Sword needs to be nurtured and should not be used lightly. The longer it is nurtured, the more terrifying its power will be the moment it is drawn. Although its power reverts to its original state after one strike, the deterrent effect is astounding.

There was once a Sword Bearer who nurtured the sword for two millennia without drawing it. The moment it was drawn, with peak Nascent Soul cultivation, they transcended the Spirit Depository Great Realm and instantly slew a first-tier Spirit Tiger Grand Cultivator. This is precisely why the myriad races fear humanity's Sword Bearer Department, because one never knows if there are old masters within the department who have been nurturing their swords for thousands of years or even longer. It is also conceivable that any race, having mastered such a formidable combat art, would inevitably designate a group of people to never venture out, spending their entire lives nurturing their swords, solely for the purpose of unleashing that single, earth-shattering strike at a critical moment.

These are some of the Sword Bearer Department's foundational strengths, and also the reason why the Great Emperor, back then, opened up this supreme Emperor's Sword technique to all Sword Bearers. He wanted to build an eternal and unshakeable foundation for the Sword Bearer Department. However, the difficulty of comprehending this sword is immense; not every Sword Bearer can successfully master it. Therefore, the number of opportunities for insight is particularly crucial. This time, Xu Qing, the Captain, and Zhang Siyun were effectively rewarded with an extra opportunity.

Xu Qing understood. Unaware of the passage of time outside, he was intensely trying to part the mist before him, but the fog in his perception was too dense. Even with all his effort, he couldn't quickly dispel it. He could only continuously push with all his might, making his way forward through the mist, determined to see what lay beyond.

Thus, time slowly passed. After an unknown period, the mist before Xu Qing's eyes finally thinned, and he vaguely saw a sword behind it. With just one glance, the sword occupied everything in Xu Qing's sight, as if it had become the sole entity in heaven and earth. His mind was in turmoil, a deafening roar echoing within.

Although the sword appeared ordinary and unremarkable, it contained astonishing destructive power. An indescribable malevolence and mind-shattering killing intent emanated from it. It seemed poised to pierce the clouds, slay everything, and annihilate all existence in heaven and earth. The large black stone it rested upon seemed incapable of containing it, requiring layers of iron chains above to barely keep a residual image of the sword confined.

Xu Qing's breathing grew ragged, his mind blank. Only the sword behind the mist grew clearer in his eyes, its astonishing presence becoming increasingly apparent. In this trance, the outline of a sword slowly began to appear in his Sea of Consciousness. Even Seventh Master was surprised by Xu Qing's comprehension, highlighting its extraordinary nature.

At this moment, a strong desire welled up within Xu Qing. He was about to part the mist further, about to more deeply gather this sword within his mind. But just then...

A terrifying suction force suddenly came from behind him, sharply pulling his body outward. After a dizzying moment, Xu Qing's body trembled. When he abruptly looked up, he found himself no longer in the place of insight, but outside the great hall.

Zhang Siyun was also there, his eyes bloodshot, seemingly struggling to suppress his inner desire. Hongnu Qingqiu, nearby, gave them a cold glance. She knew these individuals had gone to comprehend human Imperial-level cultivation methods. She didn't know why she wasn't qualified, yet the Sword Bearer Court still made her wait there. "Wait, wait, wait... what exactly am I waiting for?!"

Xu Qing ignored Qingqiu and Zhang Siyun. He quickly looked up in the direction of the place where he had gained insight, an immense longing rising in his heart. Especially when he sensed the sword's outline that had appeared in his Sea of Consciousness. Although very blurry, it was indeed the residual image of a sword. However, it was rootless and slowly dissipating. At this rate, it would likely vanish completely within two years at most. All this made Xu Qing feel as though he had been just a hair's breadth away from truly seeing the sword. This sensation of being forcibly pulled back and abruptly disconnected filled him with boundless disappointment.

Simultaneously, the Captain's figure emerged from thin air. Upon landing, like Xu Qing, his breathing was ragged, and he abruptly stood up, looking into the distance. "What?! I was so close to succeeding! My mouth was already open!" Endless depression surged in the Captain's heart. He dared not speak these words aloud, only expressing his dissatisfaction internally.

"Calm your minds!" As Xu Qing and the Captain were both emotionally turbulent, a calm voice, like heavenly thunder, echoed in their minds. The middle-aged Sword Bearer who had led them earlier appeared before them. The powerful pressure emanating from him made Xu Qing take a deep breath, suppressing the longing in his heart.

"Do you feel like you were just a hair's breadth away from success?" the middle-aged Sword Bearer asked. "I can tell you, every one who gains insight feels this way, but in reality... you were still infinitely far from successful comprehension. Furthermore, there's a reason the insight is limited to three hours. Throughout history, every Sword Bearer who exceeded three hours of insight instantly mutated and died during the process. Not one was saved."

The middle-aged Sword Bearer spoke calmly, his words causing Xu Qing's heart to sink. "The reason for this is that the Great Emperor once slew a god, but this very sword was also cursed by that deity. Therefore, anyone who attempts insight for over three hours will mutate and die. And there's no need for you to rush. You are very fortunate; that earlier opportunity was an extra reward. Once you arrive at the county capital, each of you will have another chance for insight. Now, it's time to handle another matter. The elders have been waiting for a long time."

Zhang Siyun looked somewhat puzzled; he didn't know what was next. But just as he focused on listening, the middle-aged Sword Bearer raised his right hand and waved, and Zhang Siyun's figure instantly vanished from the spot. "This matter is unrelated to him, but concerns the three of you," the middle-aged Sword Bearer said slowly, indifferent to what Zhang Siyun might be thinking after being moved. Such situations were generally considered a disgrace for a Sword Bearer; it wasn't just an individual's view, but a common sentiment among many, as it suggested a lack of proper ideological alignment or foundational stance. The middle-aged Sword Bearer paid no mind to this, turning instead to Xu Qing and Qingqiu.

Xu Qing's heart stirred. He glanced at the Captain, then at Qingqiu, deep in thought. Qingqiu frowned. She vaguely guessed the answer, but it made her feel unlucky and resentful deep down. The Captain also thought of something, a strange glint appearing in his eyes, subtly tinged with excitement. He quickly spoke. "Sir, is it related to the Three Spirits Dao-Suppressing Mountain?"

"You three were once present at the Three Spirits Dao-Suppressing Mountain and witnessed our Sword Bearer Court's suppression of the Nether Spirit Venerable," the middle-aged Sword Bearer continued. "Currently, the Nether Spirit Venerable has been imprisoned by our Sword Bearer Court and is being interrogated. The elders require the three of you to appear and stimulate the Nether Spirit Venerable, causing its emotions to fluctuate wildly instead of remaining as calm as a still well. This way, it will be easier for the elders to probe the secrets within its soul."

After speaking, the middle-aged Sword Bearer walked away. Xu Qing and the other two rose and followed. Along the way, the Captain blinked, rapidly calculating in his mind. "It seems my one-zhang illumination is not well-regarded. No, I must perform well this time and earn some extra points with those old fellows in the Sword Bearer Court. Otherwise, it will be hard to get promoted."

While feeling alert, the Captain was also very frustrated. He still couldn't believe how he had only achieved one zhang of illumination. "My answers weren't wrong. Although the Great Emperor's question wasn't among those thousand-plus questions, there were forty-seven questions that could answer it indirectly. I recited all the answers. They were absolutely beyond standard, each one capable of reaching hundreds of zhang in height. Added together, they should have been ten thousand zhang! The spirit stones couldn't have been wasted. I even flattered them profusely, and not a single compliment was repeated! To really make an impression, I even said, 'Great Emperor, you are a god!' There was nothing wrong with that statement. The Great Emperor's light even swayed violently at the time, showing how pleased he was deep down." Thinking about his performance, the Captain grew even more indignant. "Why did they only give me one zhang?!" Depressed, the Captain glanced at Xu Qing, feeling immense pressure.

While his mind was churning with these thoughts, the three were led by the middle-aged Sword Bearer to the prison within the Sword Bearer Court. It was a dark, secluded chamber, surrounded by countless restrictions. Anyone who stepped inside would be locked onto by divine sense.

After a review, led by the middle-aged Sword Bearer, the four entered the prison. As they descended a narrow staircase under dim, yellow light, the Nether Spirit Venerable's calm yet elegant voice drifted from the distance.

"By the sound of footsteps, more people have arrived?" the Nether Spirit Venerable said. "It's useless. You wish to search my soul, to provoke my emotions? Impossible. This Venerable is formed from the human soul of a Ghost Emperor. My emotions do not fluctuate, and even if they did, they are not something low-tier Void Return cultivators like you can manipulate. My true form contains a deity. You... are nothing but ants."