Chapter 1719: Two Generations of Sword Immortals Seek Wu Qi, My Friend Does Not Fear the Moon Palace's Abandonment

The first light of dawn pierced through the night, and the sun's faint glow began to spread. The Holy Divine Continent welcomed a new day.

This day was no different from any other, unless one were to assign it special significance. Feng Zhongzui gazed into the nascent light, his eyes filled with a wistful regret, murmuring that the sun had risen and it was time for the Seven Sword Sages rankings to be finalized.

Indeed, the battle for the new generation of Seven Sword Sages had reached its final ranking moment. On this last day, everyone had anticipated a dark horse sensationally breaking into the top ranks and reshaping the existing order.

Some had high hopes for Gu Qingyi. Most believed he was the true successor to the Ancient Sword Cultivators of the Sword Tomb. After all, if Gu Qing'er could make the list, why not Gu Qingyi? Yet, it was rumored that after his seclusion, Gu Qingyi traveled south to the Land of Sin. On a tumultuous night, at the Wind-Listening Pavilion, one of the three sacred sites of the Feng family estate, he simply embraced the Evil Sword Yuelian and listened to the cold wind all night, never drawing his sword.

Others favored Xi, the chief of the Anomalous Division. From various clues, and even from the incidental broadcasts of the semi-saint level "White Calamity Yama Lord" seen in the background perspectives of the Preaching Mirror, it was clear that Xi's mastery of Ghost Swordsmanship was exceptionally high. Even if he were pitted against Beibei, the outcome would be uncertain. What's more, it was revealed that Xi's Ghost Swordsmanship was inherited from Hua Changdeng, one of the previous generation's Seven Sword Sages, making even Beibei envious. However, the turmoil on Holy Mountain had not ended, and Xi remained trapped in the cage of Guihe Holy Mountain from beginning to end. Despite his talent, he had no opportunity to display it, becoming merely a background figure.

If one were to delve into even finer details, one of the two elders on the initial Seven Sword Sages list, Elder Yang Xizhi, faced a seemingly ordinary challenge that same night. The challenger, named Xiao Qixiu, fought on an obscure low mountain in the Southern Domain for an entire night. With all attention on Lord Shou, few bothered with such minor events. It appeared to be a trial, a closed-door battle, with even the final outcome of victory or defeat remaining unannounced. However, just before dawn, Elder Yang returned to the Feng family, voluntarily retired, and withdrew from the Seven Sword Sages ranking competition. It was as if he intended to leave a Sword Sage position open for a newcomer; he did not die, but he relinquished his fame. Logically, with Elder Yang's voluntary withdrawal, the last challenger should have risen in rank and been declared the victor. Yet, in the Sword Pagoda's judgment, "Xiao Qixiu" appeared to be an unidentifiable individual and was not listed among the Seven Sword Sages, despite Elder Yang having no prior record of defeat.

The rankings were finalized! In the previous generation, an unexpected newcomer, Bazun An, emerged, expanding the Seven Sword Sages to eight. In this generation, Elder Yang's voluntary withdrawal meant that at the final ranking, the Seven Sword Sages numbered only six.

As dawn broke, even though the turmoil on Holy Mountain had not yet subsided, Feng Zhongzui received the results from the Old Family Head. After all, this was a paramount event for the Ancient Sword Cultivator circle. He had received a verse which spoke of two generations of Sword Sages seeking seven, and the arrival of Xu Xiaoliu and Gu Beixi.

Feng Zhongzui held the results, and though he should have announced them immediately, he was utterly bewildered. It was too dramatic! Despite being called the "Seven Sword Sages," the previous generation had eight, and this one had six, somehow failing to produce a complete "seven." Feng Zhongzui even began to question the Sword Pagoda's chosen timing for selecting the new generation of Seven Sword Sages.

Much had transpired over the past month, with numerous battles for the Sword Sages taking place. But what truly stood out to him, besides Lord Shou's initial solo challenge against the three Sword Sages – Guyu, Liu Fuyu, and Beibei – was only Lord Shou's final assault on Holy Mountain. This latter event, though not even part of the Sword Sage battles, had dominated the entire broadcast of the main Preaching Mirror. Feng Zhongzui realized that perhaps the Sword Pagoda's timing wasn't wrong; the problem lay with one specific individual: Lord Shou!

If the Ancient Sword Cultivators were seen as a waterwheel on the river of time, capable of invigorating the Five Domains' civilization, then when this waterwheel ran normally, Gu Qingyi should have drawn his sword, Xi should have shone brightly, and the obscure Xiao Qixiu might even have become renowned throughout the Five Domains. Feng Zhongzui even had high hopes for his friend, Xiao Wanfeng. He always felt Xiao Wanfeng was peculiar, possessing a contradictory blend of immense strength and surprising weakness. He was like a famous sword concealing its brilliance; Feng Zhongzui even anticipated Xiao Wanfeng's sudden breakthrough on the final night, if it were possible.

But the moment Lord Shou ascended the mountain, he single-handedly brought the waterwheel to a halt. He altered the historical progression that should have normally unfolded on the river of time. He forcefully drew the world's focus entirely upon himself, consolidating all seven reputations originally meant for the "Seven Sword Sages" into that of the "First Sword Sage."

Such an occurrence was not unprecedented. The "Eighth Sword Sage" of the previous generation, as a latecomer, had indeed reversed the fortunes of the Seven Sword Sages. But that was a newcomer! At least that generation of Seven Sword Sages was still complete and renowned. This generation, however, saw the emergence of Lord Shou, a massive variable who, with his unreasonable actions, overturned everything that should have proceeded systematically. But perhaps that was right? Feng Zhongzui looked thoughtfully at Lord Shou, who stood nearby, still altering the course of history.

He recalled the verse again, which spoke of two generations of Sword Sages seeking seven, and the arrival of Xu Xiaoliu and Gu Beixi. He once again confirmed the new Seven Sword Sages' finalized list with the Old Family Head, specifically inquiring about the character "Xi" (兮). Who was Xi (兮)? Feng Zhongzui hoped that "Xi" (兮) was a mistake by the Sword Pagoda, a miswriting of "Xi" (奚). No. The Sword Pagoda would not make a mistake. The Old Family Head's reply was not entirely unexpected. Xi (兮) did not refer to anyone specific; it held no inherent meaning itself. The appearance of "Xi" (兮) was like the questions Lord Shou asked and A'si answered on Holy Mountain that night, giving the cultivators and even the Saints of the Five Domains the same revelation: A path of unknown meaning, when cultivated, holds no meaning either!

Feng Zhongzui pressed, asking if the Seven Sword Sages list was still to be announced. The Old Family Head's reply was grave, stating that they would announce it only when the affairs on Holy Mountain concluded, when Xu Xiaoshou's actions ceased, and when peace returned. It was understandable. Feng Zhongzui knew this was the correct course of action. Announcing the Seven Sword Sages list at this moment would attract too much attention, potentially exposing the Feng family to public scrutiny and even leading to their demise. After all, Feng Zhongzui had broadcasted an entire scenario of great impiety, making the Feng family's position extremely sensitive. But could Lord Shou really stop? Feng Zhongzui, no longer concerned with such matters, cautiously posed his next question: The battle for the Seven Sword Sages has concluded. Are we to continue "preaching"?

This time, the Old Family Head hesitated for a long while, but ultimately gave a completely unexpected answer. "Broadcast it!" he declared decisively. This single-word reply made Feng Zhongzui's blood boil, his morale soaring. The Old Family Head had backbone? Throughout the family's history, every family head had lacked backbone; though it wasn't quite that simple, to preserve the family, the heads had made sacrifices in their choices. But why was the Old Family Head so resolute this time? Feng Zhongzui, who considered himself intelligent, found himself unable to decipher the Old Family Head's meaning. Was the Old Family Head's foresight greater than his own? Before he could even ask, the Old Family Head, as if possessed by the Dao Palace Master, gave a paradoxical explanation, saying that the battle for the Sword Sages had ended, and yet, it had not.

Just like Feng Zhongzui's confusion, as the sun rose in the east, the cultivators and Saints across the Five Domains, watching the Preaching Mirror, saw no light and were utterly bewildered. Self-Imprisonment, Status, Guidance, Forgetting...

The night passed, long yet short. Lord Shou and A'si hadn't actually asked many questions; most of the time had been spent resolving sudden "incidents." Either A'si's condition worsened, bringing him to the brink of death, or the rules changed, attempting to obstruct the questioning. Or even Lord Shou himself encountered problems. Yet his problems were strange; it was as if misfortune couldn't touch him, and he showed no ill effects. Instead, he either felt a desire to break through his cultivation realm, or gained insights during questioning, almost sitting down on the spot to comprehend the Dao – all positive developments. Anyone else might have already succumbed to such "benevolent guidance." But these incidents, good or bad, failed to halt the "Q&A" process. Lord Shou seemed to possess a Sacred Body immune to guidance.

At this moment, Xu Xiaoshou had already asked the first four questions from Dao Qiongcang's "Thirteen Unspeakables": Self-Imprisonment, Status, Guidance, and Forgetting. These were concepts the continent seemed to know but, in reality, only grasped the tip of the iceberg. Especially the latter two; before this Q&A, few beneath the Semi-Saint level even knew of their existence. But this time, Xu Xiaoshou used the power of the Will Dao Plate, guided the Five Domains with spatial mysteries, and radiated influence through the various focal points of the Preaching Mirror's subordinate mirrors. At least he made a small portion of the population aware and remember the answers. Under the guidance of the Will Dao Plate, one person would tell ten, ten would tell a hundred; time would reveal all the answers to the cultivation world. But he seemed to be running out of time!

Dao Qiongcang's voice transmitted through the Spirit Resonance Art, saying that he could not hold on. Dawn had fully broken, but this time, the faint morning light seemed not to be from the natural rotation of day and night, but bore signs of artificial influence. Xu Xiaoshou looked up at the sky. Where others saw nothing, he perceived Dao Qiongcang's Heavenly Secret Art, a woven net of blockade, clearly torn open. The flashy old Daoist's Heavenly Secret Art had progressed, especially after its full demonstration. Even so, his blockade was still perceived by someone, and upon detection, a rift quickly tore open. Such power made the perpetrator's identity obvious.

Xu Xiaoshou, holding A'si, transmitted via Spirit Resonance Art, asking which Saint Emperor it was. Dao Qiongcang, who typically exuded an aura of eternal nonchalance, this time had a hint of tremor in his voice as he replied with the name: The Saint Emperor of Han Palace. Moon, North, Hua, Rao Dao, he listed, adding that while the full hierarchy might be uncertain, it was universally acknowledged that the Moon-ranked one was paramount. Not only had a Saint Emperor detected them, but it was the strongest among them who had caught them! Xu Xiaoshou asked if he could fight him. The flashy old Daoist declared he couldn't fight at all, and now only wanted to run. He had already said it: he could block it for a while, but not forever. What was meant to be discovered would inevitably be discovered. As for what happened after discovery, whether the world would remember or forget again due to the Saint Emperor's intervention, Dao Qiongcang no longer wished to interfere too much; this was Xu Xiaoshou's tribulation.

Boom! The firmament cried out in pain as the heavenly realm tore open. The rift was shallow but long and narrow, stretching from the Great Desert of the Western Domain, through the Holy Divine Heavens of the Central Domain, and into the Sword God Heavens of the Eastern Domain. The woven net remained invisible to all. But this rift, everyone saw! The anomaly appeared so abruptly that it startled everyone. The Saints in the Holy Mountain refuge and the people before the Preaching Mirror across the Five Domains looked up, but were not surprised. Since Lord Shou had captured A'si and begun questioning, anomalies had been frequent. A tearing sky was indeed terrifying, yet it was also within reason; even a collapsing sky would be understandable! After the booming sound, the narrow rift hanging in the firmament swallowed the light of dawn. The sunrise seemed to revert to night. Xu Xiaoshou looked into the distance, feeling as if a massive hand from beyond the heavens, with five fingers, forcefully plunged into the Five Domains, as if to rip open a blockade, or perhaps to seal it.

Being watched, passive value, 1.

A shiver ran down his spine, and he broke out in a cold sweat. Though unseen by others, Xu Xiaoshou knew that person was staring at him.

"The Saint Emperor of Han Palace, right?" he called out, his voice booming across the Five Domains as he clutched A'si and stared at the rift in the firmament, his words startling. The Saint Emperor of Han Palace? A chill ran through the hearts of all observers in the Five Domains. Under the guidance of Lord Shou's Will Dao Plate, they had remembered the concepts of "Guidance" and "Forgetting." Naturally, they also recalled the traces of "Moon, North, Hua, Rao Dao" they had encountered throughout their lives of cultivation. At the very least, they knew the Saint Emperor of Han Palace was the head of the Five Great Saint Emperor families. In other words, the instigator of the "Self-Imprisonment" path! It was him! Excitement surged through the Five Domains; while they wished for Lord Shou to step forward and defy the Saint Emperor, they also knew the timing was wrong, and Lord Shou was powerless to reverse the situation. No matter how strong Lord Shou was, the Saint Emperor of Han Palace was beyond his current ability to provoke.

A sense of helplessness filled Feng Zhongzui, who was holding the Preaching Mirror, as he noted that they were retreating again, knowing this was the inevitable course of events. But at that very moment, Lord Shou put A'si down, faced the unspeakable power within the long, narrow rift in the sky, and loudly proclaimed that he had Dao Qiongcang assisting him against Moon Han Palace. He continued that Dao Qiongcang had helped him with the "Thirteen Essential Questions," and he had already asked the first four. He pointed out that Dao Qiongcang's Heavenly Secret Art had deceived the heavens, and only now had the other party detected a clue. He then challenged, asserting that Dao Qiongcang was unfathomable, residing in the Five Domains, his strategies determining imperial fates, and even if the other party showed their face, they could do nothing to him.

Silence fell across the Five Domains. In Feng Family City, Dao Qiongcang's composure, like the suddenly widening rift in the firmament, completely shattered. He furiously transmitted via Spirit Resonance Art, asking what Xu Xiaoshou was saying. He then accused Xu Xiaoshou of being a reincarnated dog soul or a despicable god born again, demanding to know why he was being betrayed when Dao Qiongcang had already helped him this much. He reminded Xu Xiaoshou that he had already stated he could help for a while, but not forever, and had advised him not to stir up trouble now, as it was Xu Xiaoshou's own decision to proceed at this moment. Therefore, he concluded, the rest was up to Xu Xiaoshou, pressing him to bring out his counter-attack and his trump card.

Boom! A heavy sound echoed in the sky. Faintly, holy light poured forth from the rift. Xu Xiaoshou earnestly replied via Spirit Resonance Art that his trump card was Dao Qiongcang. Dao Qiongcang exclaimed his disbelief and inner turmoil, wondering what Xu Xiaoshou was and why he should fight alongside him. Dao Qiongcang wished he could self-destruct and reform his body, to cleanse away the defilement that now permeated him. He suddenly froze.

Boom! Thunder roared in the sky again. Holy light streamed from the rift, bringing an unparalleled sense of oppression to the people of the Five Domains, but to Lord Shou, it was like air.

Feng Zhongzui could no longer bear the weight of the Preaching Mirror. His knees trembled, and every fiber of his being screamed to prostrate himself on the ground. But countless spiritual threads suddenly pierced his body, suspending him in mid-air, turning him completely into a marionette. Gripping the Preaching Mirror, he held it steadier than any master of equilibrium, relaying every single one of Lord Shou's defiant words to the Five Domains. Lord Shou addressed someone named Moon Han Palace. Dao Qiongcang could no longer contain himself, interjecting that the person was not called Moon Han Palace, nor Moon Cold Palace; his actual name was Moon Gongqi. Xu Xiaoshou acknowledged, saying, "Oh, Moon Gongqi," before slightly nodding and continuing to point furiously at the sky, scolding in a cold voice. He then decided to simply call him Moon Cold Palace. He scornfully addressed him as "Brother Cold Palace," declaring that despite his unmatched divine powers and world-shaking might, in his eyes, he was nothing but a cowardly rat, hiding his face and daring not to show himself. He contrasted this by stating that his good friend, Dao Qiongcang, had once revealed his true form in the Divine Ruins, with three heads and six arms, battling malevolent forces and utterly defeating the evil god.

He then flicked his sleeve. Feng Zhongzui was nearly scared witless; Lord Shou was still flicking his sleeve! And he jutted out his chin, as if recounting his personal glorious deeds, even though they were not his own. Yet he spoke with perfect conviction and logic, his disdain overflowing through the Preaching Mirror to fill the Five Domains, asking how the light of a firefly dared to contend with the brilliance of the bright moon. He concluded by advising the other party to retreat quickly, assuring them that his friend Dao Qiongcang could treat today's events as if they had never happened.