Chapter 466: 441 Sword Deity

"What?"

Xiangyangzi was greatly alarmed; the mouth that served as a gap widened, nearly splitting the flower head in two.

"Baiyujing has been destroyed? Or was it destroyed by an attack?"

"Impossible!"

"What kind of thing could destroy Baiyujing? Baiyujing survived that battle; the Ruyi Sword's Sword Momentum was fully formed, nearly becoming a Tianwaitian! Isn't this the Human World? What kind of existence could destroy Baiyujing? Did the Heavenly Demons launch a massive invasion?"

It asked in a rapid succession of questions, then mused, "Could it be that the outside world has perished, and it is already the end of the world? Has the Human World been conquered by Heavenly Demons, leaving the people to merely linger on in their final breaths? You child..."

It stared at Tang Zhao; if its eye beads weren't just two small round balls, it would surely have been able to show pity: "Are you living among ruins? Is that why you know nothing? Do you know of the prosperity of the Human World back then?"

Tang Zhao coughed lightly and said, "That's not the case; the Human World is still quite prosperous. Only Baiyujing was destroyed. And it wasn't because of Heavenly Demons, but Wangliang."

Xiangyangzi heard the word "Wangliang" again and asked in confusion, "Wangliang? What is this Wangliang? If it's not a Heavenly Demon, could it be some Sword Immortal?"

This Sunflower really didn't know much. Tang Zhao felt a bit disappointed, but still patiently explained, "Wangliang is an all-encompassing shadow, endless and infinite, and within the shadows are countless monsters..."

He first objectively described the appearance of the Wangliang outside, then mentioned the records in the classics—things like the Shadow of Shadow, the Shadow Kingdom, and Wangliang Mountain—trying to be as detailed as possible.

Upon hearing this, Xiangyangzi's flower head swayed slightly, as if in thought, and it said, "Listening to you, this fellow seems to be a Sword Deity..."

The two words "Sword Deity" finally triggered Tang Zhao's memory. He finally recalled seeing these two words in the Glasses, back when he first saw the Wangliang. The Glasses had provided a label, and as the memory surfaced, he blurted out, "That's right—this is a Sword Deity, a Middle-rank Sword Deity!"

Xiangyangzi made an 'oh' sound and said, "A Middle-rank Sword Deity, that's not bad; at least it has the strength of a Sword Immortal. But the Ruyi Sword is also a Sword Immortal, can't it handle it? If it were an encounter in the wild, that would be one thing, but Baiyujing is a formed Sword Momentum, and the Ruyi Sword is fighting on its home turf, right? How could it still fail? Even if that so-called Wangliang's strength pressed the Ruyi Sword down, Baiyujing still harbored the legacy of the former Dongjun, and it is the nemesis of shadows; it shouldn't have lost, right? How could it lose so thoroughly?"

Only then did Tang Zhao realize the power of a Sword Deity. They were indeed very strong; a Middle-rank Sword Deity could match a Sword Immortal, so wouldn't an Upper-rank Sword Deity be a Sword Saint? One must know that ordinary Heavenly Demons only match up with Sword Guests, and those comparable to Sword Heroes can already be called "Great" Heavenly Demons; there is no need to even mention Fierce Beasts. In the realm of Sword Deities, the Sword Hero level is probably only Lower-rank.

As for why Baiyujing lost...

Tang Zhao felt that perhaps the bad luck lay in the legacy of Dongjun. One can fight to the death against external enemies, but internal enemies are impossible to guard against.

What kind of variables did that Bai Ni bring, he wondered?

He was only guessing; it was all over a hundred years ago, and since it was all his own wild speculation, he didn't feel right telling this to Xiangyangzi.

He couldn't help but ask again, "What exactly is a Sword Deity?"

Xiangyangzi said in astonishment, "Didn't you just say it was a Middle-rank Sword Deity? You even know the rank, so why are you asking now?"

Tang Zhao said embarrassedly, "Well, I heard a senior mention something about Middle-rank Sword Deities, but I only have a half-baked understanding myself."

Xiangyangzi said, "Looking at your manners and upbringing, I thought you were a disciple from a family with a tradition of teaching. I didn't expect you to know nothing at all. Are you not a Human Realm Swordsman? Isn't it said that Sword Deities are common in the Human World? Why don't you recognize a Sword Deity?"

Tang Zhao asked in confusion, "Are Sword Deities common in the Human World? I've never heard of that."

Sword Deities are very powerful; even a Lower-rank Sword Deity should count as a Sword Hero, right? Does the Human World have so many high-end powers? If so, why would Wangliang Mountain be so famous? He had never heard of any other place as famous as Wangliang Mountain.

Xiangyangzi said, "Sword Deities are just rare spiritual objects produced after the Sword Heart of you incompetent Sword Guests is devoured by Sword Intent. At first, after being devoured, the Sword Image mostly develops spirituality, but at the Sword Guest stage, it's probably just chaotic and understands nothing, so it can't be called a 'Deity'. Only when it opens its intelligence at the Sword Hero stage can it be called a Lower-rank Sword Deity. At this time, its strength might be very high, or it might have some special ability but little use, but its intelligence is comparable to a human's. Only after reaching the Middle-rank does a Sword Deity truly erupt, even surpassing Sword Immortals. You Sword Immortals pursue the unity of person and sword and the formation of a domain of Sword Momentum, while Sword Deities achieve this naturally, especially in a suitable environment where the Sword Momentum combines with nature; their power is almost limitless."

"Why do I say Sword Deities are common in the Human World? Because every inch of land on the Qianxian is being fought over, and there are too many people eyeing it, waiting to pick up swords. Even if some unlucky soul gets swallowed by a sword, before the Sword Deity can form, ten or a hundred people will rush up to take advantage, dismantling and cleaning the sword, leaving nothing for the Sword Deity. Only in the Human World are Sword Guests scattered and unorganized, the terrain is complex, there are many hidden swords, and few people know their value. Some Sword Guests go their own way, and if an accident happens in some remote corner, it might go unnoticed for decades or a century, and thus a Sword Deity is born."

"Although the probability of this is small, over a long period of time, the accumulated number is not small. For example, that Zhenzi, a Sword Deity who is very famous among you all—everyone knows about it, right?"

Tang Zhao wanted to say he didn't know, but that would make him look like a complete blockhead.

Who is Zhenzi?

He hadn't even heard the name; how could everyone know about it?

The only time he saw this name was on the list of those being worshipped at the entrance. He had even wondered why this person had no Sword Title and why the format of the name tag was different from others. So it was a Sword Deity?

In other words, can a Sword Deity actually obtain a legal identity, be ranked alongside Sword Heroes and Sword Immortals, interact as peers, and be openly worshipped by other Sword Immortals?

The fact that Wangliang is reviled by everyone must be its own problem.

However, Tang Zhao really hadn't heard the name of any Sword Deity. Perhaps Sword Deities can exist in certain circles and even be famous, but that level is clearly not accessible to the common folk.

As for this Zhenzi, perhaps it was famous over a hundred years ago, but now that times have changed and generations have passed, it might no longer be famous.

At this moment, Tang Zhao said thoughtfully, "Senior, are all Sword Deities named like 'So-and-so-zi'? Then, Senior Xiangyangzi, are you also a Sword Deity?"

Xiangyangzi's flower head leaned back again, and it grinned, "You could say that. I am the Sword Deity of the Xiangyang Sword. I used to be a sword under the command of Dongjun, and after Ju Dongjun passed away, I stayed here to guard his spirit."

Tang Zhao thought to himself: Xiangyang? Isn't that a sunflower? So you really are a Sunflower spirit.

Guarding the spirit for one's master is indeed an act of loyalty. Tang Zhao felt admiration and said, "I wonder, as a fellow Sword Deity, how do you compare to Wangliang, Senior?"

Xiangyangzi was stunned, then fell silent.

After a while, Tang Zhao felt a bit awkward—he really shouldn't have asked that. Just looking at the all-encompassing shadows outside, and then at these few clusters of sunflowers in the room, wasn't asking this question a bit lacking in awareness?

It seemed to be at most a Lower-rank Sword Deity, far behind in terms of level.

Honestly, if the first Sword Deity he had met was this sunflower, he would never have been so wary of the term "Sword Deity". Just like how the first Sword Hero he met was the Jar Sword, which is why he has always lacked a bit of reverence for Sword Heroes.

He quickly changed the subject and said, "Senior, since you are a Sword Deity, this Spirit Hall is naturally under your control. Why not let me out first? Wangliang is wreaking havoc outside, and I'm afraid something will happen if I delay too long."

Xiangyangzi said, "What could happen? What difference does it make whether you are there or not if something happens? Outside is a Middle-rank Sword Deity; what use is a tiny Sword Guest like you going out?"

Tang Zhao said, "It might be useless, but I can't just hide here forever, right? My companions are still outside, and they are isolated and helpless, just needing me. Please, Senior, show me the way."

Xiangyangzi said, "Strange? Why ask me when you want to go out? Did I trap you here? I haven't made things difficult for you. Just go out the way you came in, right?"

Tang Zhao hurriedly said, "I entered this place by mistake due to a teleportation error, and I've been confused the whole time, unable to find the way out. If there is a way out of the Spirit Hall..."

Xiangyangzi interrupted him, "You say that, but why would there be a way out of a Spirit Hall? Is it for the master of the Spirit Hall to crawl out once they wake up from their sleep?"

Tang Zhao was momentarily speechless. Xiangyangzi said, "Anyway, for all these years, people who came to worship entered through that door and left through that door. How they came and went, I don't know, and I don't care. The main gate is there; go out and find your own way. If there is a path, surely no one will stop you from leaving."

Tang Zhao felt slightly disappointed and added, "Then can you return my sword? I can't go out empty-handed, can I?"

Ever since he became a Sword Guest, he had been inseparable from his sword. Now, without a sword in hand, he felt as if he were naked, feeling completely uncomfortable all over. Not to mention that his savings of many years had also disappeared along with it.

If he couldn't get his things back, whether he continued as a Sword Guest or not, he would be completely bankrupt!

Xiangyangzi remained calm and said, "That's not my concern either. This should be a restriction set when the Zhugong was built. It might have been set by the Ruyi Sword, or it might have borrowed the legacy of the Jinwu Sword. In any case, it should be automatic. Perhaps once you go out, it will be returned to you automatically?"

Tang Zhao felt this was too unreliable, so he had to push the door open to find a way. Just as he was about to leave, he feared that the door would close automatically once he stepped out, preventing him from coming back in, so he wanted to find a heavy object to block the door.

But there were no heavy objects in the Spirit Hall; he couldn't just take the incense burner or the spirit tablet, could he?

He wanted to move a pot of flowers, but unfortunately, these flowers were all connected, planted in a row of flower beds, and he couldn't move them.

Xiangyangzi understood what he was trying to do and said, "Your ideas are really strange. Wouldn't it be better to just write your name and come in again? Forget it, I'll block it for you." As it said this, it stood up, and beneath its large petals, slender green limbs extended—it did have hands and feet after all—and its flower stem twisted and turned as it arrived at the main gate.

Tang Zhao smiled and said, "Many thanks, Senior!"

Seeing that he was about to leave, Xiangyangzi said, "Don't be in such a rush; if it really doesn't work out..."

Tang Zhao turned his head to look at him, and Xiangyangzi waved a leaf and said, "It's nothing, go look for it first. If you find it, everyone will be happy; if you don't find it, we'll talk then."

As a last resort, there was still one Sword Law, but the hope was too slim, and Xiangyangzi did not want to use it.

It shouldn't come to that point, right?