Chapter 389: 卒子

Ning Yan's sudden kneel caught everyone by surprise. Zi Xuan glanced at him indifferently, as if accustomed to such gestures.

"The Xuan You Sect?"

"Ancestor is wise. Your disciple is indeed a cultivator from the Xuan You Sect. During my time in the sect, I greatly admired the Ancestor of the main Xuan You Sect, which oversees all three thousand seven hundred Xuan You Sects throughout Yinghuang State."

The captain's expression was odd, and Xu Qing frowned, recalling the peculiar nature of the Xuan You Sect. Due to the Ancient Emperor Xuan You, there were an extremely large number of Xuan You Sects. Any sect, big or small, that could claim even a slight connection, would call itself a Xuan You Sect. For example, back at Mount Taisi Due, Xu Qing and the captain had once encountered a Xuan You Sect. Ning Yan was clearly no different. After all, whether he cultivated Xuan You Sect techniques was perfectly clear to Immortal Zi Xuan. Out of respect for the shared heritage, Zi Xuan nodded and allowed him to travel with the ship.

Ning Yan's heart fluttered with panic. He didn't want to travel with them but dared not refuse. He could only steel himself, hide in a corner, and avoid looking at Xu Qing, his heart trembling like a startled bird. Xu Qing glanced at him, planning to settle accounts with the man later when no one was around.

However, the captain's eyes gleamed with curiosity. He walked over and circled the nervous Ning Yan several times, looking intrigued, and asked a question.

"Kid, there's something off about you. Being toyed with by that giant bird like that, you somehow didn't die, and your injuries aren't even that severe."

"Senior Brother Chen, when I was young, my bloodline underwent an ancestral reversion, and its power is defensive," Ning Yan quickly explained.

Upon hearing this, the captain licked his lips, laughed heartily, and then threw an arm around Ning Yan's neck, speaking in a low voice. "Don't be afraid of Xu Qing. I'm his Senior Grand-Brother. You must have heard those rumors at the Grand Beginning Pillar about how much Xu Qing respects me, right? Let me tell you, they're true. From now on, just listen to me. If you're my brother, then you're Xu Qing's brother. What's most important between brothers? Friendship, right?!"

Ning Yan didn't dare to disagree and quickly nodded. Xu Qing shot a glance at the captain. This scene felt somewhat familiar to him, as if he had seen it play out with someone else. He then looked at Wu Jianwu, who was standing nearby. Wu Jianwu also stood stunned, recalling his own past experiences, and looked at Ning Yan with sympathy.

The captain continued his persuasion while the flying boat pressed on, now not far from the teleportation point Chen Tinghao had mentioned. That was actually the final teleportation spot along the Eight Sect Alliance's designated route.

"After this next teleportation, we'll reach the Prefectural City. Xu Qing, I just asked a friend in the palace here and found out... it's actually 'Ten Thousand Radiant Glories'!" Chen Tinghao looked at Xu Qing with shock, having just learned of this, as he had been away on a mission for a long time and had only recently returned within the Prefectural City's communication range.

"There's still much I don't understand. If I do anything improperly in the future, I hope Big Brother Chen will remind me," Xu Qing said sincerely, cupping his fists.

"Of course. Xu Qing, your 'Ten Thousand Radiant Glories' is unprecedented in Fenghai County. Do you know what that signifies?" Chen Tinghao asked, his eyes showing admiration but no hint of jealousy.

Xu Qing shook his head.

"It means you are the most trustworthy, that your heart is upright, and it will be of immense help to your appointment," Chen Tinghao explained with emotion.

"Appointment?" Xu Qing knew that his arrival this time was for an appointment, but he didn't know the specifics, so he inquired further.

"According to the rules, newly promoted Sword Holders must serve a full three years in the Prefectural City before they can be assigned elsewhere. After you take your oath upon arrival, you'll be assigned your positions. Different positions yield different military merits, so your assignment is very important. After all, for us Sword Holders, everything revolves around military merit! Among the many positions within the Sword Holding Palace, departments like Patrol and Investigation offer the easiest ways to earn military merit. Intelligence and Enforcement are also decent, but positions in Internal Affairs provide fewer opportunities to earn merit. Additionally, there's a special position that offers even more military merit, but it never recruits newly promoted Sword Holders, nor can veterans apply. All Sword Holders in this position are specially recruited by the Palace Lord's decree."

Chen Tinghao's eyes gleamed with longing. "Only those with extremely clean backgrounds and pure hearts can qualify."

Xu Qing grew curious and looked at Chen Tinghao.

"That would be the Pawns!"

"Pawns?" Xu Qing was startled.

"Yes, Pawns, the Pawns of the Correctional Department. You'll understand once you reach the Prefectural City. One of the city's greatest features is the Myriad Races Prison!" Chen Tinghao smiled, a hint of pride on his face. "The Correctional Department holds all the vicious and malevolent beings of the myriad races throughout history, as well as the bizarre and uncanny. It's the largest prison in all of Fenghai County. Most of the inmates are utterly ruthless and bloodthirsty, yet in the end, they all pale at the mention of the Pawns. Because everyone in the Correctional Department refers to themselves as mere Pawns. Thus, the term 'Pawns' came into being, and they strike fear into all malevolent forces."

As Chen Tinghao spoke, the longing in his eyes intensified, turning into a profound yearning. "An old ancestor from my sect was specially recruited by the Palace Lord to become a Pawn back then. Unfortunately, he passed away in the line of duty many years ago." Chen Tinghao shook his head at this point. "However, Xu Qing, you won't be going to the Correctional Department. While the Pawns are special, you are even more so. A Sword Holder of Ten Thousand Radiant Glories will certainly be given great expectations. Perhaps the next time I see you, I'll be saluting you with the Sword Holder's salute."

Xu Qing gazed at the distant horizon. He wasn't particularly concerned about his assignment. After arriving in the Prefectural City's territory, seeing everything around him, the complexity in his heart grew, so he spoke softly.

"Big Brother Chen, is Mount Zhaoxia located here?"

"Mount Zhaoxia?" Chen Tinghao glanced at Xu Qing. "Mount Zhaoxia is in Zhaolu State, one of the three states closest to the Prefectural City. It became a trial ground for our Sword Holding Palace a long time ago, and outsiders are strictly forbidden from entering. If a Sword Holder wishes to go, they need to expend a certain amount of military merit. The merit cost is substantial because it's the sleeping quarters of an ancient sun, and also the place where that sun fell. Occasionally, streaks of light from the sun's moments before its demise will overflow from the River of Time and shine there. Each streak of light from before its demise contains Dao-rhythm, and they are also top-tier materials for artifact crafting and pill refinement. They are very rare, and every appearance is meticulously recorded."

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. He appeared calm, but his heart churned with tumultuous waves. This was the first time he had learned such detailed information about Mount Zhaoxia. Chen Tinghao didn't ask why Xu Qing was interested in Mount Zhaoxia, but instead offered a reminder. "If you intend to go to Mount Zhaoxia, you'll need to accumulate a good deal of military merit." Xu Qing nodded.

Before long, as they conversed, the flying boat arrived at the location of the teleportation array. As Zi Xuan stepped out and the flying boat was stowed away, over a hundred cultivators disembarked onto the ground. On the ground lay an ancient, altar-shaped teleportation array. It was vast, entirely gray-black, with long intersecting grooves that flickered with light. Sword Holders guarded the perimeter. They clearly knew Chen Tinghao, greeting him warmly upon seeing him, with a few even embracing him. This sense of camaraderie gave Xu Qing a deeper understanding of Sword Holders.

Soon, under the arrangement of these Sword Holders, the Eight Sect Alliance entourage stepped into the teleportation array. Amidst a dazzling flash of light, they completed the final teleportation of their journey. When they reappeared, they were already outside the Prefectural City!

An awe-inspiring statue dominated the view the moment their figures materialized. It was the statue of Ancient Emperor Xuan You, vast and astonishing, appearing to support the heavens and earth. It was so colossal that compared to it, everyone seemed like mere specks of dust. Even ordinary mortals wouldn't be able to see the entire statue by looking up. It stood on the earth, its head touching the sky, with thin clouds merely circling its waist. Only cultivators exerting their vision to the utmost could barely glimpse its peak from afar. The statue was sculpted with both hands raised, as if embracing the heavens and earth. Between the statue's hands, a majestic floating city was suspended.

This was the Prefectural City.

This city was several times the size of the combined Eight Sect Alliance cities. Within it, endless brilliant light emanated, forming a sea of radiance. Around it, three smaller palaces also floated. Though not as large as the Prefectural City, each of these palaces would be a colossal structure if placed on the ground. The three palaces and one city clearly registered in Xu Qing's eyes, deeply shaking his mind.

But what stirred even greater turmoil in his heart was the ground below. Directly beneath the floating Prefectural City, at the base of the Ancient Emperor's statue, the ground was smooth as a mirror. Beneath this mirrored surface lay a colossal underground prison. The mirror-like ground above this prison was semi-transparent. From high above, one could look down and see numerous subterranean levels, like a bottomless abyss. That was the Correctional Department Chen Tinghao had spoken of earlier — Fenghai County's primary prison!

Midway between the prison and the floating city, a gigantic ancient bronze sword hovered. This sword was vast and mighty, awe-inspiring, its brilliant light visible in all directions. The character 'Yuan' was engraved on its blade, clearly marking it as a Sword Holder's blade. It floated in the void, with the city above and the prison below. The blade slowly rotated, emanating an indescribable, terrifying pressure. Guarding the Prefectural City above, suppressing the Correctional Department below!

And that wasn't all. There were also clusters of buildings on the ground that caught the attention of the Eight Sect Alliance members. Those were five-sided sword towers built in circles around the prison! These sword towers formed concentric rings, perfectly aligned yet varying in height. Some were nearly as tall as the Prefectural City, while others were only a few zhang high, creating a jagged appearance. There were perhaps over a hundred thousand of them, each separated by a thousand zhang, forming dozens of rings.

"Those are Sword Pavilions. All Sword Holders from Fenghai County, upon their promotion and reporting to the Prefectural City, place their spirit swords here, forming a Sword Pavilion. These also serve as the Sword Holders' residences. As long as a Sword Holder lives, their Sword Pavilion remains. If one falls in battle, the pavilion will only dissipate after a special ceremony, announced by a steward. Welcome, all of you, to the Fenghai County Sword Holder Headquarters, to the Prefectural City!"

Chen Tinghao laughed heartily and bowed to Xu Qing and the others. He had intended to leave but noticed that the Eight Sect Alliance seemed to be waiting for someone, so he stayed and waited with them.

The Eight Sect Alliance was indeed waiting. They were waiting for someone from the branch sect to come out. Firstly, Immortal Zi Xuan had arrived in person, and secondly, one couldn't simply enter the Prefectural City; an escort was required. Originally, according to the agreement, the branch sect members should have arrived long ago. However, after waiting for a while, no disciples from the branch sect appeared. A chilling glint appeared in Immortal Zi Xuan's eyes. She had already sent a message via jade slip, but received no response whatsoever.

"It seems something has gone wrong," the old woman from the Five Peaks, standing beside Zi Xuan, murmured.

The branch sect's resident cultivators were not at the Ancestor level, so it was impossible for them to slight Immortal Zi Xuan, nor would they dare. Yet, they hadn't appeared. There was only one explanation: something had happened to the branch sect.

Xu Qing's eyes narrowed. For something like this to happen immediately upon their arrival clearly couldn't be explained by coincidence.

"Targeting us?" Xu Qing squinted his eyes. The captain's gaze also turned cold, and the two exchanged a look.