Chapter 924: New Era Seven Sword Immortals? Tears of the Broken Sword in the Sword Burial Mound

Xiao Kongtong sighed, not elaborating further.

Xiuyuanke, however, became excited. "Our master has been resurrected! As his only student who has met him, you must have a way to contact him, right? Please tell him now, I sincerely want to learn 'Sword Thought'!"

Xiao Kongtong shook his head slightly, remaining silent.

A young disciple in the courtyard scoffed, "Xiuyuanke, stop being stubborn. Senior Disciple-Brother is so good to us. If he could truly teach 'Sword Thought,' he would have taught it to you years ago. Why wait so long? To be honest, Senior Disciple-Brother has demonstrated 'Sword Thought' many times, but you haven't grasped it. That's simply because your aptitude isn't good enough."

Xiuyuanke's old face flushed. "Adults are talking, kid, shut your mouth!"

"Hmph!" The disciple immediately puffed out his cheeks and turned away, no longer bothering to speak to deaf ears.

Xiao Kongtong watched the familiar bickering scene between the two, a heartwarming sight. He tilted his head slightly, gazing into the distance, and it seemed he could hear the voice of his master, Ba Zun'an, again. He murmured, "Time passes so quickly..."

This unexpected sigh made both the old woman and the young man pause, a wistful look appearing in their eyes.

"Yes, decades have slipped by," the old woman sighed. "Before, everyone simply regarded our master as a belief. Now, his fame has spread across the Five Domains... No, perhaps the Five Domains isn't obvious enough, but Sword God Heaven is certainly going to be in an uproar."

"This is our chance, isn't it?" The young man stopped sweeping fallen leaves and looked at Xiao Kongtong, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Senior Disciple-Brother, when do you plan to challenge the 'Seven Sword Immortals'?"

Hearing this, the others in the courtyard collectively paused their actions and looked at him with similar hopeful expressions.

Xiao Kongtong founded the Crescent Immortal City, and his legacy in the path of ancient sword cultivation is almost unrivaled, surpassing even the current Seven Sword Immortals.

This is his great achievement.

However, these achievements alone are not enough to gain universal recognition.

Decades have passed since the current generation of "Seven Sword Immortals" received their titles.

This is too long; some of the Seven Sword Immortals have even become Saints and should no longer hold the "Sword Immortal" title.

However, this generation of Seven Sword Immortals is too powerful, their prestige having intimidated the world for too long. To this day, no one dares to challenge their authority, except for the Eighth Sword Immortal.

Since the master has declared, "The Age of Saints is coming," then the one who should take up the mantle and be the first to answer his call is undoubtedly Xiao Kongtong!

Once Xiao Kongtong successfully challenges them, the era of ancient sword cultivation will surely usher in another period of glory!

Faced with their hopes, Xiao Kongtong did not respond directly, merely smiling. "The Seven Sword Immortals are but an empty title. Our immediate priority is to answer our master's true call. He is in Sky City and needs our help."

The young man grew anxious. "But the Seven Sword Immortals is also a significant matter! It's the only task our master never completed in his lifetime; it should rightfully be taken up by you."

The disciple nodded in agreement, also urging, "Senior Disciple-Brother Kongtong, you always said the time wasn't right, the time wasn't right. But in my opinion, you were qualified to claim the Seven Sword Immortal title ten years ago. In the path of the sword, you have surpassed even our master..."

Xiao Kongtong's gaze shifted, and the disciple immediately swallowed the rest of his words.

"Our master's power is beyond your imagination," Xiao Kongtong said seriously.

Seeing his senior disciple-brother undervalue himself so, the old woman took a deep breath, her eyes sharp, and said, "Senior Disciple-Brother possesses all nine great sword techniques, like our master in his youth. He has also achieved great mastery of 'Sword Thought,' akin to our master in his prime combat power. Furthermore, he has surpassed his teacher, creating a second-generation variant of 'Sword Thought' – the 'Sword Thought Incarnation'!"

"Senior Disciple-Brother, you are already incredibly strong! Sword Immortal Hua might be a Saint, so we won't challenge him, but people like Gou Wuyue and Rao Yaoyao are complacent and have been left far behind by you on the path of the sword!" The old woman's words were forceful and impassioned.

Xiuyuanke nodded like a pecking chick. "Yes, yes! Senior Disciple-Brother, when can you teach me your 'Sword Thought Incarnation'? I truly want to learn it, sincerely!"

As he spoke, a fervent look appeared in Xiuyuanke's eyes.

The Sword Thought Incarnation is a second avatar created by the senior disciple-brother. It combines the essence of "Sword Thought," returning to its original simplicity, then extrapolating outward to integrate "form, intent, and spirit" into a single entity.

It is almost comparable to a true Half-Saint Incarnation, far superior to the special, simplified versions of "Half-Saint Incarnations" created by the Saint-Slave Storyteller.

This is because the senior disciple-brother's "Sword Thought Incarnation" possesses genuine spirituality, complete combat power, and independent thought processes.

For example, right now...

All four people in the courtyard knew that the one speaking to them was not the senior disciple-brother's true self, but rather his "Sword Thought Incarnation."

This was to handle the Saint-God Temple's irregular inspections.

As for the whereabouts of the senior disciple-brother's true body, outsiders were unaware, but those within the courtyard knew: he was at the very eye of the current world's storm—East Heaven King City!

Xiao Kongtong glanced helplessly at Xiuyuanke and sighed, "If you can't learn 'Sword Thought,' how could you possibly learn 'Sword Thought Incarnation'? They originate from the same source."

Xiuyuanke said with a hint of a whimper, "Then is there no other way for me to gain Senior Disciple-Brother's power?"

"There is!" Xiao Kongtong raised a finger and said with a smile, "I've told you before: master all nine sword techniques and forge a path similar to 'Sword Thought.' In doing so, you will surely surpass me, reaching a level comparable to our master. There might even be a slim chance for you to surpass him later!"

Xiuyuanke was speechless.

He certainly wished he could.

But mastering all nine great sword techniques is no easy feat.

Throughout the entire Crescent Immortal City, only you, Senior Disciple-Brother, have managed to do it!

At this moment, the disciple standing by the chessboard puffed out his cheeks and pouted. "Senior Disciple-Brother, you're changing the subject again! You're not directly addressing the 'challenge to the Seven Sword Immortals.' You know, this is what all sword cultivators in Crescent Immortal City are anticipating, and what all ancient sword cultivators across the land are looking forward to."

Xiao Kongtong stepped over to the disciple, patted his head, and chuckled, "People like Gou Wuyue and Rao Yaoyao are not as simple as you think. To earn the title of Seven Sword Immortals and the name of the Ten Venerables, they are far more powerful than you imagine. Even I don't have absolute certainty."

"You definitely do!" the disciple insisted stubbornly.

Xiao Kongtong shook his head. "Perhaps, but not now."

After a moment of thought, he paced forward again, sighing softly. "I was born at the wrong time. I can only fulfill the role of a historical transitioner. If I were to truly push the wheels of history forward prematurely, it might bring me fame, but it would be a severe blow to the path of ancient sword cultivation!"

"Why?" The disciple looked up, his eyes full of confusion.

Xiao Kongtong explained, "I can become a Seven Sword Immortal. However, if ancient sword cultivators receive too much attention in the Spirit Refining Era without possessing power comparable to the mainstream of the entire era, the 'empire' we've painstakingly built might well collapse prematurely."

The disciple looked bewildered, not quite understanding.

The young man beside him, however, seemed to grasp something and asked, "Is it because of... 'them above'?"

He looked up at the sky, where blue skies and white clouds stretched. At this moment, they seemed like a barrier, limiting everyone's aspirations to go higher.

Xiao Kongtong neither confirmed nor denied, saying, "Let's give those young ones who truly belong to this era a bit more time. Perhaps you are one of them." He lightly patted the disciple's head again.

"Oh..." The disciple still didn't understand.

The young man, however, perked up, his blood stirring. "Senior Disciple-Brother, if you succeed in your challenge, I will definitely follow in your footsteps and strive to become a Seven Sword Immortal myself! I won't let the path of ancient sword cultivation completely decline in the Spirit Refining Era!"

Xiao Kongtong smiled.

He smiled for a long time, only stopping when the others in the courtyard looked at him with confusion and the young man with a touch of dismay.

"This is precisely the mindset ancient sword cultivators would adopt if I succeeded. And once that happens, receiving too much attention while being too weak, you would inevitably perish prematurely," Xiao Kongtong said gravely.

The young man's face flushed. Wasn't that saying his strength wasn't enough?

It was then that he suddenly understood what his senior disciple-brother had meant.

So, the reason for not challenging the Seven Sword Immortals wasn't that the senior disciple-brother lacked confidence. Instead, he was concerned that if he succeeded, too many ancient sword cultivators would follow suit but fail due to insufficient time, insufficient accumulation, or insufficient strength.

Everyone understood what failure meant for an ancient sword cultivator.

On a path that emphasizes charging forward and making valiant progress, once they fail, and once they cannot accept that failure, nine out of ten ancient sword cultivators would choose to die standing rather than live in ignominy.

If they were propelled by external forces, challenging those they shouldn't, at a point not meant for their advancement, they would be acting blindly.

Too rigid, and they would easily break...

Xiuyuanke's eyes sparkled. Wasn't this the true meaning of the "Hidden Sword Technique"? Senior Disciple-Brother was finding new ways to guide them.

Unfortunately, my aptitude is too poor; I always just miss the mark.

Sword Thought...

Sword Thought Incarnation...

It will probably be difficult for me to comprehend them in this lifetime.

"Senior Disciple-Brother, you must have come out for a reason, right?" the old woman suddenly spoke. She knew her senior disciple-brother wouldn't leave without cause, and with the master's fame spreading across the Five Domains, Crescent Immortal City should also take action.

"Mm." Xiao Kongtong nodded slightly, returning to the main topic.

He pulled a small axe from his ring and threw it to Xiuyuanke, instructing, "Go to East Heaven King City and find me. Be careful not to expose your identity."

Xiuyuanke took the small axe, a pained look in his eyes. "Senior Disciple-Brother, I am an ancient sword cultivator. Why do you always make me do such things? I feel it's precisely these 'disguises' that cause my sword path to progress slowly, even if it involves using 'Illusion Sword Technique'."

"There are three thousand Great Daos, but they share the same origin," Xiao Kongtong said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Whether it's a sword or an axe, if used well, they are all the same."

"But..." Xiuyuanke was still a bit resistant.

Xiao Kongtong waved him off, saying, "If you manage to see our master on this trip, you might very well get your wish. Our master is a very approachable person."

"Hmm?" This tempting prospect made Xiuyuanke's breathing immediately quicken. "I'll disguise myself! I'll disguise as anyone! If necessary, I can even pretend to be our master!"

"Our master is already out, and you still need to pretend to be him?" The disciple looked at the axe, initially with distaste, but now with envy.

The young man frowned slightly. "Senior Disciple-Brother, doing this repeatedly might draw the enmity of the Saint-God Temple to Crescent Immortal City. Before, it was to avoid attention, but now our master has emerged..."

Xiao Kongtong looked at him with a smile. "Precisely because our master has emerged, we must share more of the burden. He still needs help right now, and..."

He paused, then looked east, towards the furthest eastern point. "Crescent Immortal City, when broken down, is merely a small organization, a minor force established just over thirty years ago. Compared to those powers with ancient inheritances, the amount of hatred we can attract is far too insignificant, and too little..."

Our master's words can stir up far more than just a small Crescent Immortal City!

In the Eastern Domain, at its easternmost point, overlooking the sea, stood East Mountain.

East Mountain had no peak; legend had it that it was cleaved away by a sword. This was because it housed an ancient power, passed down since time immemorial, called "Sword Tomb."

Spirit swords, famous swords, lost swords from ancient relic stele...

All unowned swords, if they possessed sentience, would be drawn to the "Sword Tomb." They would return to it in an unknown manner, awaiting the arrival of a destined individual before reappearing in the world.

The area around the Sword Tomb, spanning a hundred thousand miles, was encircled by an invisible sword qi barrier, formed by the convergence of countless spirit swords, preventing anyone from entering.

However, for sword cultivators, this sword qi barrier contained the endless sword dao insights of ancient sword cultivators, from antiquity to the present.

They only needed to cultivate here.

Every step deeper into the sword qi barrier represented another increment of progress in their sword dao cultivation.

The rule for entering the Sword Tomb was simple: "As long as you pass through the sword qi barrier, you can join the Sword Tomb." This encouraged everyone.

Yet, among the current generation of young sword cultivators, only three individuals had achieved this feat: the three brothers of the Gu family.

Since Ba Zun'an's fame spread across the Five Domains, the Sword Tomb, which had been still for many years, saw its sword qi barrier tremble. All the sword cultivators on the periphery began to dance with their swords and cheer.

Concurrently, within the Sword Tomb, the "Sword Washing Pool," which had been motionless for decades, suddenly rippled with a small circle of waves.

"Wooo—"

In the center of the Sword Washing Pool, a broken sword trembled softly, emitting a sorrowful cry.

Its blade was covered in rust, long having lost its original color, and even its hilt was overgrown with moss and assorted lichens.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

From the darkness, a tall figure paced forward.

He stepped over the water, passing all the rusted swords in the Sword Washing Pool, and slowly crouched before the sobbing broken sword.

"He's back..." he said softly, as if tenderly caring for a plant, afraid his words might agitate it.

"Buzz!!!"

Yet, the broken sword still struggled violently, as if in anger, as if roaring, like a wronged child weeping about decades of solitude.

"You shouldn't hate him; he had no choice..." The man gently stroked the broken sword before him.

After a single word, seeing the broken sword's emotions grow even more frenzied, he could only give a helpless, bitter smile. "Alright, I won't defend him. He truly deserves to die..."

"Buzz!"

The broken sword trembled violently again.

The man froze, then sighed after a long moment.

"Oh, you... what am I to say about you?"

"I told you long ago to let him go and find another master. Perhaps by now, you could have earned the title of a famous sword. Why bind yourself here, waiting in solitude?"

"If he hadn't spoken up, would you have waited for a hundred, even a thousand years?"

"Perhaps you would never have waited for him at all!"

The tone of the last sentence was heavy, and the man seemed to be complaining about the person he was speaking of, expressing his own emotions.

"Buzz buzz buzz..." The broken sword vibrated in response.

The man, understanding the sword's language, smiled. "I'm not like you. I'm not bound here. When I want to leave, I can do so anytime."

"Clang!"

The Sword Washing Pool suddenly erupted with a sword cry. The broken sword struggled, trying to pull itself out of the pool.

However, as the sword cry echoed, it failed to achieve its desired outcome in the slightest, only trembling violently.

The man rose with a smile. "It's difficult. Entering the Sword Washing Pool is easy, but leaving it is hard. Ba Zun'an has already missed his chance to enter the Sword Tomb; he will never set foot here again. The one you're waiting for might have returned to the world, but he will never take you home."

With that, the man turned and left.

"Clang, clang, clang—"

These malicious words infuriated the broken sword, causing it to vibrate wildly, sending ripples across the pool.

It wanted to emerge and strike down this person, but it was bound by rules and could not leave.

"I told you long ago, is it so hard to acknowledge a new master?"

The man flicked his sleeve and vanished into the darkness, sighing, "Now, he's back, but you can't leave. Tsk, tsk. Fate plays tricks on people, and on swords... How tragic. Truly, truly tragic..."

"Heh heh."

In the end, there was even a mocking laugh!

Unable to bear the mockery any longer, the broken sword erupted with boundless bright white sword light, as if a demon god had opened its eyes. The light illuminated the figure of a white-robed man, who had returned to his seat on a towering, sword-hilt-shaped throne in the darkness.

All around him, the ground was strewn with broken and fallen swords.

Amidst this, the white-robed man seated on the "Sword Hilt Throne" remained indifferent.

He rested his elbow on the armrest of the throne, lightly propped his chin with the back of his fingers, and tilted his head slightly. He gazed askance at the movements of the broken sword in the nearby Sword Washing Pool, a smirk playing on his lips and mockery in his eyes.

Unwilling to endure such humiliation, the broken sword raged, its sword light piercing through the Sword Tomb's sword qi barrier, startling and delighting those outside the tomb who sat cross-legged, seeking enlightenment.

But in the end, this "phenomenon" remained merely a "phenomenon."

The broken sword never broke free from the Sword Washing Pool's restraint.

Darkness gathered once more.

The struggles in the Sword Washing Pool ceased, leaving only the broken sword's whimpers and the faint ripples spreading across the water.

It was as if invisible tears were falling into the Sword Washing Pool.

"Wuu wuu wuu..."