Chapter 351: Old Sword Matters

Qu Zhu opened this jade pendant once again.

The "General Scripture of Dao Void and Bright Reality" and the bright pearl were still lying here quietly.

But this time he was not helpless. The remaining three play-masks walked up from under the platform; this was the scenario the Joyful Death Pavilion had prepared. Sima took out a small, bright piece the size of a thumb from his bosom, like a mirror and like ice. Facing this bright pearl, the built-up starlight barrier was broken through by the bright pearl itself, flying out and falling into Sima's palm.

Pei Ye was observing this thing so closely for the first time, only then realizing that the deviation of calling it a bright pearl all along was perfunctory.

It was indeed not a "bright pearl" at all. Pei Ye could not distinguish what substance it was; it was like condensed cloud gas, light, deep, and unfathomable, changing unpredictably, as if it never had a fixed shape.

Seeing nothing, Pei Ye tried to open 【Chun Shou】, and in an instant, a kind of indescribable ultimate simplicity was displayed before him.

—Those changing, ghostly mists were actually composed of incomparably tiny lines of varying lengths at their finest points. They themselves did not move; it was just that the long ones sometimes became short, and the short ones sometimes became long. Those that were too long or too short would disappear, but new ones would soon appear... This scene was reflected in Pei Ye's mind for only an instant before his spirit felt as if it were being squeezed into a ball. 【Chun Shou】 shattered, and he covered his forehead in pain.

And even without getting his hands on it, Pei Ye already had a feeling that it could not be touched. Now it was indeed not in contact with any entity, but floating in the palm of Sima's hand.

Pei Ye recovered and looked again. This time, he saw seven star signs in this "bright pearl." They were branded inside in dead, quiet stillness, like seven locked portals... It was put into a bag by Sima.

"Can this thing really determine the so-called situation of the world?"

"It is the 'world' itself," Sima's voice was cold, thus revealing a touch of majesty.

"Then what exactly is it?"

Qu Zhu looked at him, seemingly having waited for the answer to this question for too long.

Sima was quiet for a moment; the plain and white play-masks actually avoided them from afar on their own.

He raised his hand and pointed at the inscription on the platform: "The throne of Zhou Zhou Muwang of Zhou, the tomb of buried stars. Shichen has not fallen, Daliang has left its position, because of taking Jianglou... This is the way they divided the world."

"In the ancient times even more distant than Shang and Zhou, when there were still 'Immortals'," he said, "the world was like that. You can consider it the Imperial Jade Seal of the ancient West. At that time, the person who held it was not only the leader of the human world but also the master of Heaven and Earth."

"We call it... 【West Court Heart】."

". Then, what do Shichen, Daliang, and Jianglou mean?"

"Because man himself cannot become the master of Heaven and Earth," Sima said. "【West Court Heart】 recognizes the corresponding Immortal Authority. Only by bearing Immortal Authority can one receive the West Court Heart, step onto the Ascension Ladder it designates, and ultimately use it to govern Heaven and Earth."

The hall was silent.

"So, you know what we are going to do," he said softly. "This is the most dangerous business in the world... This is the inheritance right of a Heaven and Earth."

"After all, ancient things are all slowly returning, aren't they?"

Qu Zhu looked at this high platform in silence, and after a long time said: "So, this is also what Zhou Zhou Muwang of Zhou was pursuing back then. After he died, he put the 【West Court Heart】 and the Immortal Authority used for inheritance here."

"Yes."

"Then how do we take down this 【Jianglou】 Immortal Authority?"

"Since it is difficult to take for a moment, let's leave it for now."

". Leave it?"

"Because we are not taking this path," Sima looked at the green mask beside him and said softly, "The 'Ascension Ladder' is not a fixed staircase. It requires you to build this ladder yourself while climbing. It is more dangerous and difficult to walk than anyone imagines. We have our own chosen starting point."

"."

Sima's gaze fell toward the inscription: "Shichen, the stars have not yet merged, and no predecessor has ever set foot on it; Zhou Zhou Muwang of Zhou stepped onto 【Jianglou】 but gave up halfway; only 【Daliang】, before Zhou Zhou Muwang obtained the West Court Heart, had already been walked to the very peak... That is the path walked by the ancient West Court masters."

"Bastard, usurper, and Crown Prince," this majestic voice smiled slightly for the first time, "【West Court Heart】 is already in hand, we want the most orthodox position."

"."

So, how are you going to ask for it? Where are you making preparations??

Pei Ye gripped the corner of the platform until his fingers turned white, his eyes staring fixedly at this play-mask, but the words stopped right here.

"Let's go," Sima flicked his robe and walked down the steps. "Walking in the shadows and darkness, I don't know how many years it has been, and I don't know how many more years I have to wait."

He let out two majestic yet eerie laughs: "I really look forward to the moment this shocking evil deed is displayed before the world."

"So the Star Burial Tomb can be divided into two parts."

Pei Ye curled up his body, pressing his head against the wall with a pale face. Outside the window, the cold gray dawn had already risen.

The black cat softly combed through what he had seen in the 【Zhao You】.

"The Array Path part is enough to complete everything seen in the entire Star Burial Tomb: human Qi, starlight, entering the mountain, swimming insects... This is an extremely profound achievement, but it still belongs to the Array Path. And the basic concept of the Array Path is that as long as it is a program set by man, no matter how strange and eerie it looks, or how traceless it is, there is actually a way to break it. This is what Qu Zhu achieved in seventeen years."

"And what makes this array unbreakable is that a mysterious 'living' element was added to the dead program," the black cat said. "It comes from the essence of Heaven and Earth itself, which is triggered by the West Court Heart. This is something that cannot be replicated."

"In these ten years, Qu Zhu excavated the ritual for iron objects to obtain this Heaven and Earth spirit-bestowal."

"Responding to the stars, swimming with the four seasons, melting into the subtle harmony of nature—in this way, gold and iron gradually merge with Heaven and Earth. This is what the sixty-eight swords they carried have experienced," the black cat said. "But merging with nature is not enough to give dead objects 'spirit.' Here, a step is needed to make the essence of Heaven and Earth manifest, to dot the eyes of the dragon."

"So he brought them to the 【Star Burial Tomb】, where the array was formed back then—the 【West Court Heart】 has been shrouding that valley for thousands of years."

"Thus, a new Star Insect was born."

"It was born from the same source as the Star Insect, and the array patterns merged perfectly... So it is, of course, a part of the Star Insect, naturally merging into its body."

"But this is just the appearance. The array diagram that deceived it seventeen years ago has returned here once again, only this time it was cast into the swords. And so, when these swimming swords entered those important joints, they revealed their sharp fangs."

"This is Qu Zhu's accumulation in the Joyful Death Pavilion for ten years."

The black cat was quiet for a while: "To achieve such a set of processes, a lot of effort must be spent on those sixty-eight swords."

Pei Ye opened his eyes slightly.

"Harmony with Heaven and Earth cannot be completed in a moment. Those swords need years of patrolling, casting aside human control, and gradually fitting into nature through contact with grass, trees, and mountain rocks," the black cat said. "Nothing but time can complete all this."

"And more importantly, sixty-eight swords alone are not enough to complete this resonance."

"What do you mean?"

"Because the harmony of Heaven and Earth is like this: you must always choose a river, a mountain, and a river, for it to constitute a complete Heaven and Earth. And then you must encompass and merge into this entire Heaven and Earth to complete the fit with it," the black cat said. "This is the 'Heaven and Earth spirit-bestowal' ritual I just mentioned. Thousands of years ago, the Star Burial Tomb was achieved by the entire valley of Lake Mountain in this way."

"You mean it's too small?"

"Too small," the black cat said. "Qu Zhu copied this ancient ritual from the Star Burial Tomb; he must be walking the same path. Throwing sixty-eight swords into a dirt mound is far from enough. He must also have chosen a spiritual and beautiful mountain and river, and then built an array of at least ten li to encompass it... As for the sixty-eight swords obtained in the end, they are just a miniature of this array, just like a section of bronze cut from the Star Insect."

"." Pei Ye was silent for a moment. "The Star Burial Tomb was already the power of an emperor back then. Such a similar array, even if some reductions are made... Is it worth it, or can the Joyful Death Pavilion complete such a great undertaking in a place where no one knows and without leaving traces?"

"This is a fact that has already happened."

"." Pei Ye looked out the window and said softly, "So if we find it, we can find its designer and builder, right?"

"."

Before the black cat could speak, a thin figure appeared outside the window. She knocked on the door, and a somewhat dry female voice said: "Young Master Pei. I am anxious in my heart, and seeing that your lamp is not yet extinguished, I have disturbed you at an untimely hour."

Pei Ye recognized this voice; it was Xu Shang.

——

Outside Yin Prefecture City, at the bottom of Green Mirror Lake.

Wu Dong and Sui Zaihua walked up; the morning light was faint.

"I also need to make a trip to Kongdong," Wu Dong watched 【Flowing Wind】 disappear into the horizon. "Since Inspector Sui is in a heavy position, do not trouble yourself to rush with me."

"I will just send a letter," Sui Zaihua raised his hand. "Since the matter is urgent, making a trip is fine."

"I heard there is a very important gathering in the city?"

"It is just the matter I have been busy with in vain," Sui Zaihua said. "Running east and west, uniting the sects of Shaolong, and listing the young and promising sword practitioners. Now it is seven or eight out of ten complete. Because there is such a gathering, the name is more than the reality, not to mention there are still more than ten days, so it is not too urgent."

". This is indeed a difficult and arduous achievement, especially on our side, we are definitely happy to see it succeed," Wu Dong nodded slowly. "Minister Gongsun is about to retire... Inspector Sui achieving this matter can move up another rank."

Sui Zaihua shook his head and smiled: "Floating names and empty salaries, how can there be an end."

Wu Dong looked at this old man and smiled with his head lowered.

If Wu Dong were to choose the person who knew best how to be an official in his life, it would definitely be this Inspector Sui. It is by no means saying that he is hypocritical or acts in a way that is not what he says; in fact, Wu Dong's smile was full of sighing admiration.

Upright and correct, with ease and flexibility, in terms of talent, he followed closely behind that benefactor Yu Chaocai of the past, but he was ten times more clear-sighted and resilient. Especially in recent years, he was not anxious or impatient, looking casual and composed, yet he had never taken a wrong step... Many people had always felt that this Inspector should go to the Divine Capital to show his skills, rather than wasting time in the local area.

"Then let's go together," Wu Dong withdrew his thoughts. "Inspector Sui's sword is also rare in Shaolong."

"Overpraised."

——

Colorful Mist Peak.

When Pei Ye walked up with this Peak Master, the orange-yellow but heatless sun had just jumped out from the horizon.

It was indeed a small and remote peak, with twenty-some courtyards scattered about. The central flat ground should be the main hall, but it was only a circle larger, with several connected courtyards and a vermilion five-story building.

"That is Jingbi's courtyard," Xu Shang looked at the side courtyard in the east. "No one is on good terms with him, and he doesn't go out much on weekdays, especially in the last two years knowing how to work hard, practicing sword in the courtyard every day."

The woman pushed open the door. There were several different wooden stakes in the courtyard, and four or five swords of similar style were arranged on the sword field.

Pei Ye checked them one by one—they were not new swords in terms of age, but there were not many traces of use.

". This is an old sword he dug out from his father's building," Xu Shang said in a low voice. "He has asked me many times to find him a sword his father liked. But Meiqing was picky and long-lasting with swords; a good sword would be used until it broke. Like these swords, he actually didn't touch them much."

"So Jingbi is also not satisfied with using them, just hanging them here—what's wrong, Young Master Pei?"

"Zhang Jingbi, has he always wanted to use a sword of your late husband?"

". He was very mischievous when he was young. Meiqing wanted him to practice sword, but he always made noise and played tricks," Xu Shang said. "Later, when he grew up and became sensible, I always saw him running to Meiqing's building himself... Sometimes when I bumped into him, his eyes were red."

Pei Ye lowered his head and looked at the sword in his hand, which was the one Zhang Jingbi used for the sword competition. It was of the same style as the swords hanging on the sword field, and the age was similar, but the time spent in human hands was far longer.

He frowned and swung the sword a few times, then went to look at the swords on the rack.

"Peak Master Xu, does this sword have any relationship with your late husband?"

Xu Shang was stunned and lowered her head.

"This is not Meiqing's sword," Xu Shang looked at him. "What's wrong with it?"

"This is not a trace of two years of use," Pei Ye said softly.

". What?"

Pei Ye casually pulled one out from the sword rack. Both swords were produced by Kongdong and were completely of the same style. Now, under the daylight, except for the different silk wrapping on the hilt, no difference could be seen.

"Zhang Jingbi said he used this sword for two years, but a sword used for only two years doesn't look like this," Pei Ye looked at the woman seriously and handed her the two swords. "Peak Master Xu is a top-tier sword practitioner. A sword, in long-term use, weight, wear, blade... will subtly lean toward the user's habits. A sword used for only two years will not have such distinct changes."

Actually, it was not distinct at all. Xu Shang frowned and felt it for a long time, waving, thrusting, and holding it still, only then did she truly understand the difference the boy mentioned.

"You mean Jingbi has been using it for a long time?" The woman was slightly stunned. "But he only started practicing sword diligently in the last few years, and the last two years have been the most diligent..."

"No, those are different trends," Pei Ye looked at her. "This sword has the sword-using habits of two sword practitioners—even not just habits, the trends are distinct. I think it is fundamentally two different sword arts."

"."

"Before Zhang Jingbi got it, it had been used for a very long time by a diligent sword practitioner," Pei Ye stroked the blade lightly and raised his head. "I think perhaps it was this experience that made Jingbi choose it, thereby giving the framer an opportunity... I want to take a look at the things before your late husband passed away. I wonder if it is appropriate?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 352 =====