Chapter 1908: Describing the Scripture

“So, can we see the Sword God Gu Louying?”

“Does the legacy behind the Xuanmiao Gate originate from the Sword Ancestor on the Sword Tower?”

Radiant light burst forth from Lingyu Mountain, and all who bathed in it felt their spirits soar and their blood stirred. This Dao Rhyme light clearly contained the true essence of swordsmanship. Nearly ninety percent of the ancient sword cultivators present received a boon, sitting cross-legged on the spot, already experiencing breakthroughs. Gu Qingyi, Xiao Wanfeng, Lei Shuangxing… Xiaokongdong, Feng Tingchen, Mei Siren… the young, the old, those renowned and those unknown from the Five Domains—all achieved enlightenment simultaneously.

Those at the first realm awakened to the second. Those who had just entered the threshold of the second realm soon consolidated their cultivation, mastering it completely. The exceptions were Hua Changdeng, Ba Zun'an, and Gou Wuyue. Every sword cultivator on site greedily absorbed the Dao Rhyme light, feeling enlightened and breaking through their limitations continuously.

“Damn it, I’m envious!”

“We should have rushed to Lingyu Mountain at all costs!”

Ancient sword cultivators who hadn't made it to Lingyu Mountain from across the Five Domains were filled with bitter regret. There were no weak individuals present; most who arrived had already reached the Sword Dao Throne realm, and each of them could still achieve significant breakthroughs. If Sword Dao Innates or Sword Dao Grandmasters had been there, wouldn't they have broken through one or two major stages on the spot?

“This is truly like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, achieving instant transcendence!”

“But look, Emperor Hua Changdeng, the Eighth Sword Immortal, and Sword Immortal Wuyue—these three aren’t moving. Why?”

“It seems they initially received nourishment from the Dao Rhyme light, but then cut themselves off. Are they looking down on it?”

Looking down on it… that’s too bold a guess! That was the Sword Ancestor's blessing! Even the most arrogant individuals would at least absorb some of it. To speak irreverently, they should at least "take the essence and discard the dross," though in the hearts of the Five Domains' people, there was no dross at all. Yet, in the eyes of those three, the Dao Rhyme light seemed not to be essence, but entirely dross, so they didn't accept any of it.

“Perhaps they’re aiming for the entire legacy? All of it!”

“Don't forget, there's also the Ancestral God's fate!”

As the Xuanmiao Gate opened, the ethereal shadow of the Sword Tower behind it gradually solidified as the surging Dao Rhyme light diminished. Soon after, as many ancient sword cultivators on Lingyu Mountain opened their eyes one by one, some awakening later than others, the Sword Tower behind the Xuanmiao Gate, which pierced the clouds, had solidified to a semi-real state, seeming almost tangible.

“It moved!”

“The Sword God Gu Louying moved!”

Atop the isolated tower, a silver moon hung high. The black figure at the peak of the tower, initially like a statue, suddenly trembled as if life had been breathed into it. At that moment, heaven and earth shook, and a sea of swords resonated. After the Twenty-One Famous Swords emerged from Ba Zun'an's body, they circled the eaves of the Sword Tower, prostrating in reverence. The black figure at the tower's peak then slowly turned around.

“Sword Ancestor!”

Everyone felt no pressure and began to scramble, either gazing or drawing closer, their hearts filled with only one thought: to reach the pinnacle. Will it be a bestowal of legacy next? Or will the Ancestral God's fate be cast out? Will the opportunity belong to whoever grabs it first? If a weaker individual obtains it, will the Sword Ancestor grant protection to prevent us from being killed or plundered by Hua Changdeng or Ba Zun'an? Ten thousand people, ten thousand forms of greed.

But reality was different. After the isolated tower's shadow turned, no one could clearly see its appearance or form. Only that solitary, lofty figure was visible, with hands seemingly holding a scripture, and nothing else. From the tower's peak, he stepped forth, reflecting the moon, illusion and reality intertwined, with every step blossoming like a flower.

“Buzz!” With the Sword Ancestor's first step, the Xuanmiao Gate shattered with a crash, transforming into beautiful smoke and clouds. The smoke and clouds didn't dissipate; instead, they intertwined, seemingly creating a magnificent dreamscape. With his second step, Lingyu Mountain shook violently, space warped, and extraordinary phenomena descended, encompassing the entire Holy God Continent!

Everyone looked up, and the surrounding scenery was no longer as it was. Heaven and earth changed color. A cold wave surged forth, pouring from an unknown place—a calamity.

“Cold!” In an instant, everyone shivered uncontrollably from the cold. The entire world seemed to be frozen. Everyone's spiritual essence extinguished, their bodies withered. The young grew frail, and the elderly were on the brink of death. It seemed that in another breath, everyone would succumb to the intense cold and perish in the catastrophe. Some wailed, but no sound escaped their lips. Even the ability to speak seemed to have been stripped away by this disaster; only whimpering sobs could be heard. Heaven and earth gradually lost their color. Amidst the gloom, only the Sword Ancestor stood alone, becoming the sole beam of light.

With his third step, the Sword Ancestor regarded the cold wave as nothing. The great worldly catastrophe slowed, allowing everyone to breathe. Although they still couldn't speak, they could at least see clearly and hear distinctly, regaining some of their most basic human abilities. They saw an unnamed scripture in the Sword Ancestor's palm, its pages turning in the wind. Without any visible movement or sound, faint Dao sounds drifted down from between heaven and earth:

“In the Era of Frigid Sculpture, the origin of depleted martial arts, lifeforms were short-lived, and all sounds were muted. They prayed to the long night for scattered stars, and to the long rainbow for a clear spirit realm. A crescent moon hung in the sky, while beasts like rats and weasels gained enlightenment, jade spirits broke free from stone, but human masters found no good end...”

A few short sentences eloquently described everyone's current predicament. But what was being said? Since the Sword Ancestor had appeared, were the accompanying phenomena not the Sword Ancestor's legacy, but these "Dao sounds"? Did they contain the legacy? Could one only gain a boon by discerning the true meaning?

The Five Domains were completely puzzled. Even elite ancient sword cultivators from places like Sanyue Immortal City and the Southern Region Feng Family couldn't grasp the true meaning. Gou Wuyue frowned slightly. His swordsmanship foundation was already established, and his heart yearned for the pinnacle, yet he couldn't gain any understanding from these words. His only gain seemed to be witnessing an era different from the current one. Hua Changdeng's gaze was unusual. He was even more certain that these were not legacies at all, but rather the Sword Ancestor expounding a scripture, describing the difficulties of the era he lived in. A glance from the corner of his eye, and he saw Ba Zun'an looking surprised. Hua Changdeng's heart immediately tensed. What? He's already enlightened?

“No! Absolutely impossible!”

Hua Changdeng soon realized that while the Sword Ancestor's faint Dao sounds bewildered ninety-nine percent of the ancient sword cultivators present, a small group of people were exceptions. Like Ba Zun'an, almost from the very first sound they heard, those few showed unusual expressions, as if they had gained something.

“The Zangjian Tomb!”

Around Lingyu Mountain, everyone noticed and looked towards the four disciples of the Zangjian Tomb. The patriarchs of various sects hastily focused their attention on the Gu Qing disciples, seeing the four of them exchanging glances, clearly with excited "I know" expressions.

“Hiss-woo!” Gu Qing Er cried out loudly, but only a hoarse sound escaped.

“Woo-ming!” Gu Qing San also roared hoarsely, even shaking his Eldest Senior Brother's arm, but could only produce unintelligible sounds. Su Qianqian opened her mouth, but seeing the situation, wisely closed it and remained silent.

Gu Qingyi scanned his surroundings, seeing everyone staring at him with surprise, confusion, envy... He then looked at his speechless Second Junior Brother, Third Junior Brother, and Fourth Junior Sister, intending not to try speaking either... Suddenly, a surge of power rose from his Dantian, pushing upwards, severing the restriction in his throat and allowing his voice to escape:

“Sword Classic!” Gu Qingyi blurted out, stunned himself. Those two words, clear and distinct, were like a spring thunderclap, causing the scalps of everyone in the Five Domains to tingle. Everyone else tried too, but still couldn't speak. But Gu Qingyi could speak! Why?

Ahhh! Everyone pondered the words "Sword Classic." Those who didn't know what it meant remained clueless, but those who did suddenly remembered. The Zangjian Tomb had its own legacy, the ancient "Sword Classic," said to record all the true meanings of ancient swordsmanship, but outsiders were naturally forbidden from viewing it.

“Woo-woo-woo!” Gu Qing Er cried out excitedly.

“Woo-woo-woo!” Gu Qing San also vigorously slapped his Eldest Senior Brother's shoulder. Su Qianqian looked at her Second and Third Senior Brothers, who were excitedly jumping around like monkeys, and remained silent.

Unlike others, the Gu Qing disciples had all read the "Sword Classic." In the Zangjian Tomb, the "Sword Classic" was the primary scripture, but it was like a heavenly book; reading it caused dizziness and required a master's protection. It was both a reward and a punishment. The Zangjian Tomb stipulated that, unless specially permitted, disciples could only read the "Sword Classic" for the first time after formally becoming a student. Each person only had this one chance to understand as much as they could, because afterwards, their master would no longer help them comprehend it. The only remaining way to read the scripture was as a punishment for misdeeds—being made to copy the "Sword Classic." This was purely a form of punishment.

Yet, even a heavenly book, if read a hundred times, reveals its meaning. This led Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San, who were eager to improve, to often compete in making mistakes, vying for the right to be punished by reading or even copying the "Sword Classic." With more punishments and more copying, even a heavenly book could be memorized. To this day, except for Su Qianqian, who had only recently joined the Zangjian Tomb, Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San could recite the "Sword Classic" backward. Incomplete understanding was incomplete understanding, but they'd remember it first. Perhaps one day they'd have an epiphany and directly surpass their Eldest Senior Brother and master.

Gu Qingyi couldn't restrain his excited Second and Third Junior Brothers. He himself felt awkward and didn't even understand why his Second and Third Junior Brothers, whose talents were better than his, couldn't speak, but he could. He didn't hide anything. Facing the envy, jealousy, and hatred of the Five Domains, he took the initiative to explain:

“Though I said 'Sword Classic,' what the Sword Ancestor is saying right now isn't the content of the 'Sword Classic,' but merely its prologue.”

“Even so, this 'Prologue' was personally written by the Sword Ancestor, documenting the era he lived in and the complete story of how he pioneered the path of swordsmanship.”

This was enough to make anyone jealous! The eyes of the Five Domains' people were almost spitting fire. Yet, they had to suppress their envy, for the Sword Ancestor hadn't stopped; the Dao sounds from the nine heavens continued:

“Dao seeds grew obstacles, beasts turned into demons, verdant plants faded to ash, dark clouds extended claws. Those near the Dao made no progress, while those far from it advanced hundreds of feet in a single step. Yin and Yang inverted, natural order was chaotic, day and night lost their rhythm, the great world rebelled...”

What the Dao sounds spoke of was actually not difficult to understand. Those who could reach Lingyu Mountain were not fools; they could understand after hearing it once. But the nature of a "heavenly book" was that it entered one ear and exited the other, merely passing through the mind without lingering.

“I can't remember...” Xiao Wanfeng helplessly spoke out. The moment the words left his mouth, he was startled to realize everyone on Lingyu Mountain was staring at him as if they wanted to devour him. Then he realized he had just spoken human words...

“Woo-woo-woo!”

“Woo-woo-woo-woo-woo!”

Lingyu Mountain instantly erupted in cries, one after another. Everyone tried, but still couldn't make a sound. Even Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San were the same, thus their cries were filled with indignation: We're the ones who remember the "Sword Classic"! We can even recite it backward! Why can't we speak? This isn't fair!

“One, two, three, one—erh.”

Suddenly, human speech was heard from another side. The anger immediately shifted. Everyone looked over and saw Lei Shuangxing, who was also startled. He seemed to be attempting something. He actually succeeded!

“Woo-woo-woo-woo!”

Everyone felt as if the sky had fallen. If no one could speak, that would be fair, and there would be nothing to contend for. But if some could speak, and others subsequently could too, while they themselves were still whimpering like monkeys, it was unbearable.

“Woo!” Gu Qing Er's eyes were bloodshot; he was a Sword Immortal, after all.

“Woo!” Gu Qing San strained so hard that the veins on his neck threatened to burst; he was the Ultimate Sword Dao Physique.

“Calm down,” Gu Qingyi quickly soothed his junior brothers. Seeing that everyone around them was reacting abnormally, he didn't dare to hide anything. He spoke up, becoming the Sword Ancestor's simultaneous interpreter. This immediately captivated everyone, because what the Eldest Gu disciple said, they could remember:

The Sword Ancestor's prologue described the era he lived in. In the Era of Frigid Sculpture, the Sacred Dao withered, and great calamities descended. Cultivators could no longer grasp the Dao, became frail and sickly, and their lifespans shortened; the longest-lived would age and die in merely thirty to fifty years. In the end, it even devolved to the point where living beings regressed, for instance, losing sight and speech, just like the "monkeys" on Lingyu Mountain now. Cultivators prayed to heaven and earth, but no Ancestral God responded. Instead, some snakes, rats, insects, and weasels born in the gloom began to gain enlightenment and become demons, reversing the poles, and humanity fell into decline...

Just as everyone was listening with relish, an ill-timed curse erupted behind Eldest Gu, spoken extremely quickly and full of complaints: “Gu Qingyi, I beg you, stop pretending! You're just like that old geezer Wen Ting, acting like you're the most capable, aren't you? Do you believe me when I say, once I can speak again... hey?”

It stopped abruptly. Everyone looked, and Gu Qing Er's face rapidly turned red. After his Eldest Senior Brother also stopped explaining and slowly turned his head, he knelt down without hesitation, slamming his head against the ground.

“I'm sorry, Eldest Senior Brother, I was wrong, I was really wrong, I... woo-woo-woo.” Gu Qing Er felt like he was splitting apart. A dignified Sword Immortal, actually crying in public. Now he just wanted to find a crack in the earth and bury himself.

Fortunately, at the crucial moment, Third Junior Brother didn't disappoint him, suddenly roaring out: “Wah! Wah! Wah! Eldest Senior Brother, I can speak!”

“Second Senior Brother, you're doomed! Wahahahaha, you cursed our master? Wahaha... erh.” Gu Qing San also knelt down, slamming his head against the ground. “I'm sorry, Eldest Senior Brother, this doesn't seem like something to laugh about.”

Family shame should not be aired publicly. However, this particular family shame was displayed directly before the eyes of the world. Gu Qingyi took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and helped his two junior brothers up without saying much:

“Recite along with the 'Sword Classic'.”

The Second and Third Junior Brothers instantly felt as if they had received a great pardon, their shouts piercing the sky: “Yes!”

The Sword Ancestor's Dao sounds led the way. The prologue wasn't long. After describing the historical background, the narrative quickly shifted, and the Sword Ancestor's journey began due to a "dream." Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San of the Zangjian Tomb recited along, following behind. The two spoke in unison, starting from the middle, and were surprisingly able to match the Sword Ancestor's narrative, confirming Gu Qingyi's claim that this was indeed the "Sword Classic" prologue.

“Rugged mountains stirred, waterfalls ceased to flow, dormant dragons awoke, and mirage dreams emerged. Chaos reassembled the universe, Yin and Yang merged into one energy. Infants curled and withered, but living beings self-reproduced, Bodhi flourished, and we received the Dao of longevity. From now on, fate is mine to decide, destiny mine to control. This dream broken, the gate to the Dao opens.”

Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San were too excited. Their voices were loud, and their recitation was full of emotion. When their voices overlapped with the Sword Ancestor's Dao sounds, the rhythm was powerful and grand, forcing Gu Qingyi to avoid their overwhelming momentum. Soon, he was forced to stop explaining. Because, looking around Lingyu Mountain, the murderous glares directed at his junior brothers made it seem as if the content of the Dao sounds no longer mattered—his junior brothers were in danger! He simply started reciting along too. Su Qianqian could also speak now. She couldn't remember everything perfectly, so she could only quietly read along, occasionally pausing and only resuming when she recalled the words. The light of Lingyu descended upon Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San. These two young men were red-faced with excitement, knowing that Hua Changdeng and Ba Zun'an were secondary; today, they were the protagonists, and they were shouting until their voices were hoarse. Yet, everyone was helpless, because these two... truly had something!

“And so the heavens cracked, and five pillars were decreed to suppress it: Xuan Cang, Du Zun, Nu Xian, You Si, and Tai Cheng.”

The Sword Ancestor paused, and the Dao sounds ceased for a moment. Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San also paused; they had adapted to the rhythm. When the Dao sounds resumed, the two exchanged glances, then roared out in unison, their shouts perfectly synchronized:

“Divided into Master God, Master Emperor, Master Buddha, Master Fiend, Master Profound. Why is there no Master Demon?”

The Sword Ancestor's voice softened, and their emotions also mellowed:

“To avoid prophecy, there is no Demon.”

Everyone on Lingyu Mountain was grinding their teeth in frustration. But they didn't stop; they continued reciting the scripture, as if by heart:

“And so the earth divided, spitting forth five beads: Yue Lian, Yan Mang, Qing Feng, Ting Chen, and Shuang Zhen.”

“Divided to represent Ice, Fire, Wind, Earth, and Metal. Why is there no Wood?”

“To avoid a name, there is no Wood.”

The Five Divine Artifacts of Chaos appeared. Five of the Twenty-One Famous Swords appeared. The Five Domains didn't even know why only these five famous swords appeared. They assumed these few knew, but even Gu Qingyi stopped explaining. Everyone observing the four Zangjian Tomb disciples felt as if they were witnessing the Sword Ancestor's true legacy. And looking at themselves, they felt like mere servants outside the ancient sword dao sect, only fit to carry buckets of water, filled with shame.

“To avoid prophecy—it seems it wasn't avoided in the end, because the Demon Ancestor still appeared...” Xiao Wanfeng tried to keep up with the rhythm. It didn't matter if he couldn't remember the prologue; he needed to remember his own understanding. Jealousy? Who had time for jealousy! They were born in the Zangjian Tomb and were qualified to read the "Sword Classic"—that was their destiny. To be able to hear the Sword Ancestor expounding the scripture now was already a heaven-sent opportunity; he felt not a shred of jealousy.

“But this 'avoiding a name'...” Xiao Wanfeng couldn't understand it. Whose name was being avoided? Was there an Ancestral God named "Wood"?

The Sword Ancestor paused again. Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San also stopped. Eldest Gu Qingyi immediately glared at them, signaling them not to recite the next words. The two quickly nodded, indicating they naturally understood. Thus, between heaven and earth, only the Sword Ancestor's Dao sounds remained, echoing in all directions:

“My name is Wood, the wood of solitary trees!”

With a rumble, the cultivators of the Five Domains felt as if struck by lightning. The Sword Ancestor's true name had been revealed? So it was recorded in the "Sword Classic" all along? And he wasn't even called "Gu Louying" (Isolated Tower's Shadow)? Indeed, Gu Louying was merely an alias...

Gu Qing Er and Gu Qing San were anxious. After the Sword Ancestor's voice settled, they desperately sought permission, and only after receiving an affirmative reply from their Eldest Senior Brother did they dare to continue reciting:

“Gu Mu, born of heaven and earth, sustained by wind and dew, without a family name, alone. The Yellow Heaven passed down five pillars, the Houtu fed five beads. Having received such grace, I dared not squander my talent, and, mandated by the Dao, pioneered the flourishing Age of the Sword. Thus creating Illusion, Nine Formations, Ten Thousand Forces, True Silence, Emptiness, Original Heart, Ghost Control, and Sealing Storage, ultimately comprehending unparalleled supreme emotion, only then could the Xuanmiao Gate be opened, the Twenty-One Famous Swords be decreed, and all returned to the true essence of creation. Ascending freely, wandering beyond the world, pursuing higher righteousness, and resuming the brilliance of the past. Future generations, therefore, read of the sword and read of Wood, gaining profound insights, and can see the true self.”

A pause. In the void, the Sword Ancestor's manifestation lowered its gaze. The cultivators of the Five Domains looked up and immediately realized that the "Prologue" section had concluded.