Chapter 1904: Profound

"Is this the Xu Xiaoshou you expected?"

Outside the spatial temporal rift, the phantom of the World Locust sneered, its crown rustling as it inclined towards the giant purple pupil:

"He has grasped seven or eight tenths of the Path of Space, and five or six tenths of the Path of Time. His body, spirit, and will have achieved 'super-daoization,' clearly through external enlightenment, but he only has the form without knowing how to wield it. Hua Changdeng's Minor Three Talents Sword Array locks down space, but not time; it restricts sword arts, but not the super-daoization of body, spirit, or will. Despite being given ample opportunities and numerous weaknesses, Xu Xiaoshou couldn't exploit a single one, resorting only to calling out for Ba Zun'an's rescue, with no other recourse. Even his supposedly proud Ancient Sword Path seemed inadequate before Hua Changdeng... Sui Yin, if this is the person you value, then that large eye of yours is truly wasted!"

Not only the Medicine Ancestor, but even the Demon Ancestor, who lay in the coffin beneath the tower, was amused by Xu Xiaoshou's clownish movements after his appearance. Darting back and forth, only to dart straight into Hua Changdeng's inescapable net? As for the bananas, eggplants... these might only be useful against the less experienced Hua Changdeng. True Ancestral Gods who have lived since ancient times wouldn't care or be provoked by such antics!

"If the so-called 'Successor of the Name' is merely this..."

The Demon Ancestor felt his deduction was correct: the 'Name' didn't belong to Xu, but to Ba! Before Xu Xiaoshou's appearance, the three Ancestors had, speaking through Hua Changdeng, asked who would come after Ba Zun'an, once he had led the charge. At that time, all clues pointed to Xu Xiaoshou. This inevitably made them reconsider Sui Yin's earlier words: Xu Xiaoshou is very important!

Now, however, it seemed Xu Xiaoshou was truly unsuited for major tasks. Even if he was deliberately concealing his true abilities in his current performance... he was concealing them far too clumsily. Even if he truly poured out all the 'paint from the bottom of the jar' (revealed everything he had), it probably wouldn't make a splash in the grand scheme – his abilities were diverse but not refined, simply not up to par!

"Ba Zun'an is the sword; there must be a wielder behind him." The Demon Ancestor was certain of this, and his deduction continued: "Ba cultivates the 'Name,' and Xu does too. Xu being pushed forward, ostensibly in front of Ba, is merely a smokescreen, and that holds true even now. Ba is in front, Xu is behind; one unsheathed, one concealing their abilities. It appears Xu is Ba's sword wielder, but that's not the case."

From beginning to end, Xu Xiaoshou was merely a scapegoat pushed to the forefront by that hand, used to attract everyone's attention. As for the owner of that hand behind the scenes... In the coffin beneath the tower, the Demon Ancestor pondered for a moment and formed a theory: Sui Yin!

Sui Yin revived in the Divine Ruins, and after so many years of planning, had his scheme disrupted by a few young people working together. Thinking about it now, how incredible is that? There must have been guidance involved! Xu Xiaoshou had been to the Divine Ruins, Dao Qiongcang had been there too, and Ba Zun'an had even 'landed' in the Divine Ruins in an unconventional way... The Demon Ancestor had learned all of this when trading with Kong Yuhen. Xu, Ba, and Dao were pawns. Sui Yin was the mastermind, orchestrating this whole situation. His intention was to reap the benefits of their conflict, like a fisherman benefiting from a dispute between two others. Wasn't that even more plausible? From this perspective, Sui Yin's repeated emphasis on not underestimating Xu Xiaoshou made his true intentions obvious. It was nothing more than wanting Xu Xiaoshou to take the lead, while he himself stepped back, thus remaining better hidden.

Supporting this idea were not only the visible events but also unseen factors behind the scenes. In the Gan Shi Imperial Realm, the Saint Emperor had grand ambitions, aiming to become an Ancestral Daoist. Others might not know his intentions, but how could Yue Gongqi, who had contended with him for thousands of years, be ignorant of them? To date, with the situation having evolved to this point, it was impossible for the Gan Shi Saint Emperor not to be involved. Yet, he hadn't entered the Cold Palace Imperial Realm to seek cooperation with Yue Gongqi. Why? There was only one answer: he already had another collaborator. Who? Given the Medicine Ancestor's simple-minded nature, with Bei Huai already on board, he wouldn't share the spoils with another party, nor would it be himself. That left only one Ancestor: Sui Yin!

Xu and Ba might not directly cooperate with Sui Yin. But don't forget, there's another person hidden on the Holy Divine Continent, whose intelligence and methods even the Demon Ancestor acknowledged. Coincidentally, that person's surname was Dao. If Dao Qiongcang mediated, first allying with Sui Yin, then engaging Xu Xiaoshou, and from that line, finally connecting with Ba Zun'an, who sought to become an Ancestral God. Regardless of what these individuals truly intended, Sui Yin, Dao Qianshi, and Ba Zun'an had indeed, in a roundabout way, formed a small clandestine circle.

Understanding this scheme, the Demon Ancestor merely smiled. A pig-dog alliance, plotting grand schemes to achieve transcendence? What a laughable notion! But knowing the truth without revealing it, and despite his disdain, Sui Yin had at least found him, and they were now 'allies' on the surface, so he couldn't be too excessive. Rarely, he spoke up for Sui Yin: "The Calamity Pupil, empowered by art, should not be underestimated. Sui Yin's eye might see much further than you, Medicine Ancestor, can imagine."

On the other side of the starry sky, Sui Yin, for a moment, genuinely couldn't discern the Demon Ancestor's subtly critical words, and retorted: "Anyone with eyes can see that Xu Xiaoshou is concealing his true abilities!"

Indeed, he was... The Demon Ancestor merely smiled, saying nothing. The Medicine Ancestor, however, scoffed, unable to listen any longer. The Great Dao was simple; he never theorized, only asked what came to mind: "Are you connected to Ba Zun'an?"

Sui Yin choked, bursting with fury. "That scoundrel, in the Divine Ruins, used Xu Xiaoshou's hand to send me adrift; and I'm colluding with him? Medicine Ancestor, did you feed your brain to Bei Huai?!" Too lazy to fall into a self-incriminating trap, he was about to add a few more words about Xu Xiaoshou, but after a moment's thought, he closed his mouth.

Xu Xiaoshou's Path of Intent had reached its ultimate state... Xu Xiaoshou could travel back in time through the River of Time to confront him, thereby undoing the restraints of Reversed Remembrance. His mastery of the Path of Time wasn't just five or six tenths; it surely held profound mysteries... Only the Path of Oblivion could be restricted by Reversed Remembrance. Hua Changdeng couldn't have found Xu Xiaoshou with just a Minor Three Talents Array; this absolutely had to be Xu Xiaoshou deliberately showing weakness... But could he say all this? If he did, would the Demon Ancestor and Medicine Ancestor believe him? Even if they did, would it help him? No! On the contrary, it would only reveal Xu Xiaoshou to them prematurely...

"What masterful oblivion and concealment. What clever, indirect guidance." Sui Yin knew that once Reversed Remembrance was broken, Xu Xiaoshou could play tricks and hide in plain sight. By now, he couldn't concern himself with so many others; he could only constantly remind himself to remember this point and, even more importantly, not to forget Xu Xiaoshou's existence.

As for now... "Just watch, Medicine Ancestor." Sui Yin's giant pupil pulsed with purple light, his gaze lowering to the sea of swords over Spirit Elm Mountain. He 'passed the buck,' content to muddy the waters further: "The Twenty-One Famous Swords summon the Sword Ancestor. This Sword Ancestor's Tower doesn't lock my spirit, Sui Yin; on the contrary, it holds someone else."

The Demon Ancestor chuckled. "So, it's me? It's me colluding with Ba Zun'an? Sui Yin, you really are something..."

"Sword, come!"

With that single command, "Sword, come!", the focus of Spirit Elm Mountain reversed once more. The various transmission screens immediately shifted upwards, drawn by the anomaly in the high-altitude sea of swords.

"Ba Zun'an!""He's emerged!"

Earlier, after Master Shou's 'eggplant talk,' the Eighth Sword Immortal clearly knew something in advance, having disappeared to chuckle secretly somewhere. Now that the Ghost Hunt was revealed, the Blazing Python returned to its place, and the Twenty-One Famous Swords were gathered. No matter how circuitous or bizarre the process, the outcome remained the same — Ba Zun'an emerged from the sea of swords! Didn't this mean:

The Sword Ancestor's legacy was about to appear?

Immediately, the ancient sword cultivators on Spirit Elm Mountain wore expressions of fervent excitement. Those across the Five Domains who had hesitated to come either regretted it or were envious, as their insufficient strength naturally prevented them from witnessing it firsthand.

"That's the Sword Ancestor's legacy!""The Eighth Sword Immortal also said there was an Ancestral God's fate, making this a truly tangible opportunity for an Ancestral God.""Given their sword cultivation mastery, once they obtain the Ancestral God's fate, they're bound to become Ancestral Gods, right? I'd say Hua Changdeng is probably also playing along with their plan...""Exactly. Once the Twenty-One Famous Swords are gathered, the sword-opening marvels begin. If the Sword Ancestor's legacy truly manifests, it's not certain who will be chosen. Perhaps even I could get a share, let alone Hua Changdeng!""Pfft? You? A wild chicken with a feather stuck in its backside, thinking it's a goddamn phoenix, are you!"

The ancient sword cultivators of the Five Domains were fervent, and so were the Spirit Refiners. Everyone stared intently at the skies above Spirit Elm Mountain, Hua Changdeng included, as if blinking would cause them to miss the Sword Ancestor's legacy. For a moment, everyone seemed to forget that Master Shou, who was still 'grounded,' was also present.

"Famous Swords as guides, myriad swords as array. Spirit Elm as foundation, Great Dao as inquiry."

The white-robed Ba Zun'an, upon his appearance, formed a hand seal, commanded the swords into an array, and brought his palm down upon the mountain range beneath him: "Famous Sword Array: Questioning Heaven!"

Hum—

The sea of swords hummed in unison. The sound echoed in all directions, deafening. The Twenty-One Famous Swords collectively swept across the sky, followed by over a hundred thousand swords from the Five Domains, appearing even more magnificent and vast. As they moved, they successively manifested the nine great ancient sword arts: Illusion, Nine, Myriad, Silence, Void, Heart, Ghost, Hidden, and Sentiment. The twenty-one swords solidified, anchoring Spirit Elm Mountain. Arranged in intricate harmony, subtly conforming to the Dao. The sky at that moment grew dim and hazy, and a silver moon appeared in the azure, but it was no longer as chilling as the arrival of Fengdu. Instead, the clear, cool moonlight was accompanied by a sense of lofty solitude, untamed spirit, and the 'coldness of standing high above the world.'

Boom, boom, boom...

The Five Domains' sea of swords, following behind, also descended in layers. Some were commanded to anchor in the mountains, others sunk into the valleys, or hung suspended in the void. They encircled the entire area in perfect order. Layered and interlocked, transforming into an array.

"A Diagram!"

Far away in the Northern Domain, Zhong Yuanzi, observing the Spirit Elm battle through his palm-sized apricot seed, instantly recognized the Great Dao Diagram he had longed for. This diagram was based on famous swords, with the flowing sea of swords as its patterns. It possessed complex transformations, formless yet constantly shifting with the flow of time, manifesting sword Dao mysteries that could almost be called 'perfect.' This was the Great Dao Diagram! This was the true essence of becoming an Ancestral God!

"An Array."

In the Great Western Desert, Dao Qiongcang emerged from the sand, his body's moisture drained as the quicksand fell away. He stared intently at the Famous Sword Array diagram far away at Spirit Elm, seeing a 'perfect' array that was almost within reach through the Heavenly Secret Art at that moment.

"Famous swords as guides, myriad swords as foundation. Simple to say, but it requires the commander to be proficient in the nine great sword arts, eighteen sword flows, and three thousand sword Daos... who else but him?"

Dao Qiongcang swept his hand, and the quicksand beneath his feet surged. He began to single-mindedly simulate the Spirit Elm Mountain Famous Sword Array. And in that converging focal point of the world, the myriad swords also began to evolve according to Ba Zun'an's command.

From the first realm of Illusion Sword Art, spatial-temporal leap, to the second realm, the Second World... To the first realm of Nine Sword Art, infinite numbers, to the second realm, Unified Extreme Sword... To the first realm of Myriad Sword Art... To Silence Sword Art... To Void Sword Art... To Heart Sword Art... To Ghost Sword Art... To the first realm of Hidden Sword Art, the sheathed sword made complete. Entering the final Sentiment Sword Art, beginning the evolution of its three realms: Red Dust Sword, Forgetful Sword, and the eagerly anticipated, never-before-seen, complete... Unparalleled Sword!

"A Gate!"

The myriad swords finally converged, the Unparalleled Sword manifesting as a Heavenly Gate, with light and shadow flickering within, and Daoist charm swirling around it. This gate was ethereal, as faint as smoke. Boundless in width, towering into the sky. Beneath the gate, the sea of swords anchored three thousand points in the sky above Spirit Elm, each holding a Dao. From beyond the nine heavens, ethereal green smoke gathered at the gate's call, accompanied by the deep clang of bells and drums, and the crisp chime of porcelain and jade. At that moment, clouds and mist swirled, sparking imagination, as if an immortal lord had arrived, intending to guide one to profound enlightenment. Clouds and rain sparked lightning, flying snow ushered in spring. Yin and Yang rotated, seasons alternated. A single instant, like eternity.

Ba Zun'an stood at the center of the Famous Sword Array, imposing and elegant, seemingly an insurmountable Sword God reborn, silhouetted against the silver moonlight and the sea of swords. Yet he was no celestial being, but truly stood in this world, possessing the most genuine touch of mortal life. He then pointed towards the ethereal gate, turned his head, and spoke with a smile:

"Brother Hua, allow me to seek the Dao for you."

The Five Domains listened, their hearts surging with emotion. Such a magnificent and spectacular scene could only come into being on this very day. Ten years earlier, ten years later, missing it would mean missing it forever, a lifelong regret. Hua Changdeng took a deep breath. At that moment, how could Xu Xiaoshou still be on his mind? The Dao was right before him! Apart from Ba Zun'an, there was no one else capable of seeking this Dao. Even if he himself went up, with his peerless Ghost Sword Art but lacking mastery of the other great sword arts' intricacies, it would be futile. He gestured with his hand, barely concealing his composure:

"Please!"

Mei Siren looked on. Gou Wuyue looked on. All the ancient sword cultivators, great and small, on Spirit Elm Mountain looked on. Those from the Eastern Domain's Buried Sword Mound and Moon-Gazing Immortal City, from the Southern Domain's Feng family, and the Spirit Refiners of the Five Domains looked on. The crowd at the crossroads looked on. Kuilie Han from the spatial-temporal rift looked on. In the starry sky, the Demon Ancestor, Medicine Ancestor, and Sui Yin looked on. In the Gan Shi Imperial Realm, Dao Peipei and Xu Xiaoshou, fishing rods in hand, looked on. The entire world, both within and beyond, everyone saw that magnificent sea of swords, the ethereal gate constructed of green smoke towering above it, and before that gate, the one seeking the Dao... Ba Zun'an!

Is the Path difficult to tread?The Path is not difficult to tread!

Ba Zun'an stood before the gate, turned with a sweep of his sleeve, his black hair billowing with the wind and snow. Tread the Path? Simply tread it! He walked upon the waves, strolled through the void, ascended steps, climbed high into the Cloud Gate, pausing every five steps, murmuring every ten, starting outside the gate, unknowingly reaching the azure sky:

"Fish emerge as dragons drawing swords.Moon sets as snow adds light.Three-foot frosty white blade.Knocking on the door, marvels arise."

The sea of swords rippled in response, producing layers of sword waves. Famous swords, spirit swords, myriad swords, at this moment, simultaneously shed their dust and fully unleashed their sword intent. Swords, like fish leaping against the current, surged upwards. The Dragon Gate stood high before them, offering hope of achieving the Dao. The Evil Sword Lotus-Crossing was the first to streak out, flying high, as if wanting to cross the towering, mysterious gate to prove its Dao, but it was powerless. It crashed heavily against the mysterious gate, failing to 'leap over the Dragon Gate,' and quickly plummeted.

Dong...

The sound of that famous sword knocking on the gate, however, spread through the spiritual connection, creating ripples in the hearts of cultivators across the Five Domains, stirring their minds. The Blood Sword, Peerless Enchantress, not to be outdone, also leaped. It still could not pass, also striking the mysterious gate, emitting a resonant chime.

Ding...

Clear, resonant, transparent!

The Flame Sword Blazing Python, the Demonic Sword Myriad Weapons Demon Ancestor, the Immortal Sword Purple Sky Drunk... One famous sword after another, jostling to be first, 'leaped over the Dragon Gate.' None reached their destination, but after striking the gate, they repeatedly emitted Daoist sounds, cleansing the hearts of those who heard. The Voice of Nulan, Ghost Hunt, Azure Scaled Spine, Mad Carving Sword... Famous swords in front, myriad swords behind. One failure, then a fresh attempt.

Ding! Dong! Dang...Ding! Dong! Dang...

The sounds of knocking echoed across the Five Domains, making scalps tingle and bodies tremble.

"Charge!""Knock open that gate, I want to see the marvel!""The Dao is before us, the Dao is before us! We, ancient sword cultivators, must press forward without fear!"

That mysterious gate, towering into the clouds and seemingly impenetrable, finally, after repeated failures and attempts, quietly began to crack open. Just like the door to the Ancient Sword Dao, which had been closed in the Five Domains for this current era, its shackles finally loosened and its bottleneck cracked under the relentless assault of numerous brilliant ancient sword cultivators.

"The gate has opened!""The mysterious gate... it's open!"

The Cloud Gate opened a gap, and a torrent of radiant light surged out. Daoist charm sprayed out from the narrow opening like a tide, nourishing the ancient sword cultivators around the mountain. Suddenly, someone's Dao heart stirred, and they broke through on the spot. The sea of swords went wild! Famous swords, spirit swords, myriad swords, seeing the crack in the mysterious gate, launched even more frenzied attacks. The cultivators of the Five Domains also went wild! Today, after so many dormant eras, were they finally about to witness the radiant light of an Ancestral God's ascension?

The gap in the light gate grew wider and wider. Myriad swords, like fish and dragons, tried to squeeze through the gap, eager to seize the fortune. But stagnation, confinement, and shackles remained. Even with every trick unleashed, the gap could not be entered or broken through; an invisible barrier trapped them like a cage. Before long, as the knocking sounds grew more frequent and grating, the towering light gate shuddered, as if developing a resistance, and began to slowly close on its own.

"The gate, it's closing?" Everyone grew anxious. Having already glimpsed hope, if this gate truly closed again, when would it ever reopen?

"Ba Zun'an!""Look, he's there! He's in the sky!"

Just then, someone looked up and saw Ba Zun'an, who had just ascended the steps into the Dao, yet disappeared, now reappearing above the clouds at some unknown moment. He was no longer ordinary; his entire being pulsed with sword intent, like a sharp sword newly unsheathed. The moment he appeared, the sky pulsed with tribulation lightning, as if he was about to undergo a tribulation and enter the Saint realm directly.

"Return!"

However, with a single command, countless swords instantly converged back, and even the tribulation clouds dissipated. The sea of swords shuddered in unison, obeying his command, no longer knocking on the gate, but instead surging towards Ba Zun'an, transforming into green smoke and merging into his body. The Indestructible Sword Body absorbed all myriad swords. Treading clouds and mist, like a celestial immortal. Ba Zun'an's eyes snapped open, silver light sweeping forth. He formed a sword-finger gesture from afar and lightly pointed forward:

"Sealing swords until old age, look upon this dawn. Break!"

With that single pointed finger. Sword intent surged wildly, myriad swords reappeared, forming a torrent, bound by a single force, and with a resounding crash, they slammed into the rapidly closing mysterious gate.

One breath...Two breaths...Ten breaths...

The light gate cracked inch by inch, until finally it completely disintegrated. Daoist charm and radiant light surged from the nameless place behind the gate, gushing forth thousands of feet, as if connecting to ancient times, about to welcome a new deity. The finger pierced through nothingness, breaking through the vast sky. One finger opened the marvel!