webnovelvip Chapter 57 Just how strong is His Majesty?
Chapter 57 Just how strong is His Majesty?
A complex emotion flashed in the eyes of all seven elders.
Xiao Tiannan, the eighth sect master of Qinglan Sword Sect, is a peak expert of the Celestial Phenomenon Realm.
Thirty years ago, he handed over the affairs of the sect to the seven elders and announced that he would go into seclusion to comprehend the Dao of Heaven. He has not emerged since.
For the past thirty years, although the Sword Sect has publicly claimed that "the sect leader is still in seclusion," many people privately speculate that the old sect leader has probably passed away.
After all, the path to becoming a terrestrial immortal in seclusion is fraught with peril, with a near-certain death.
Throughout history, countless people have tried, but only a handful have succeeded.
Mo Wentian remained silent for a moment before slowly saying:
"Your Majesty, our master is still in seclusion deep within the Sword Tomb in the back mountains. No news has been sent out for the past thirty years. Outside the Sword Tomb is the Nine Extremes Sword Formation set up by our master, which we cannot enter, so we do not know how our master is doing."
His voice was filled with deep worry.
Qin Mu nodded thoughtfully:
"Sword Tomb... I have heard of it. It is said to be a forbidden area of the Azure Cloud Sword Sect, the place where the sect leaders of all generations secluded themselves and passed away."
He paused, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes:
"Now that I'm here, I'd like to visit the Sword Tomb. Is that permissible?"
The expressions of the seven elders changed simultaneously.
The Sword Tomb is a forbidden area of the Sword Sect. No one may enter without the permission of the sect leader or the supreme elder.
Even the emperor did not have this power.
Mo Wentian said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, the Sword Tomb is a forbidden area of the sect, containing the remains of past ancestors and protected by the Nine Extremes Sword Formation. It is extremely dangerous. Your Majesty's precious body should not be taken into danger."
This was said tactfully, but it was actually a rejection.
Qin Mu smiled.
"It's alright. I'm just curious and want to see the legendary Nine Extremes Sword Formation. If I really can't get in, I naturally won't force it."
He spoke casually, but the unwavering conviction in his tone made Mo Wentian's heart sink.
His Majesty is determined to enter the Sword Tomb.
What does he want to do?
To find out if the old sect leader is alive or dead? Or... is there another motive?
Mo Wentian and Liu Suifeng exchanged a glance, both seeing the seriousness in each other's eyes.
But now that things have come to this, can they still refuse?
With the puppet sect leader Jian Lai already in place, His Majesty's desire to control the Sword Sect is now crystal clear.
If we refuse him entry to the forbidden area again, I'm afraid...
Liu Suifeng sighed and stepped forward:
"Since Your Majesty is interested, we will naturally lead the way. However, the Sword Tomb is dangerous, so please be careful."
Qin Mu nodded in satisfaction:
"Thank you for your trouble, Second Elder."
......
The Sword Tomb is located at "Absolute Sword Peak," the deepest part of Qinglan Mountain.
This peak faces Tianjian Peak from afar, but its terrain is more precipitous, with cliffs on three sides and only a narrow stone staircase leading to the summit.
The stone steps were steep like a ladder to heaven, with bottomless abysses on both sides. The night wind howled, bringing waves of chill.
Accompanied by the seven elders, Qin Mu slowly ascended the stone steps.
He came alone, without any guards.
Her moon-white dress fluttered slightly in the night breeze, and she carried a glass palace lantern in her hand, its warm yellow light illuminating an area of about ten feet in front of her.
Seven elders followed behind him, each with a different expression.
Mo Wentian frowned, Liu Suifeng seemed lost in thought, and the other elders looked tense.
They didn't know why His Majesty wanted to enter the Sword Tomb, nor did they know what would happen next.
Only Jianlai followed far behind, both excited and fearful.
Does His Majesty bringing him to the Sword Tomb mean... that he's going to give him an even greater opportunity?
About half an hour later, the group reached the summit.
Suddenly, everything became clear.
The summit is a flat area about 100 feet in diameter, paved with dark blue stone slabs. Over the years, the stone slabs have become mottled and worn, with tough weeds growing in the cracks.
In the center of the flat land, a huge stone tablet stands.
The stone tablet is about three zhang tall and one zhang wide. It is pitch black all over and its surface is as smooth as a mirror, as if it can swallow all light.
On the monument, two large characters are carved with sharp sword marks—
Sword Tomb.
The characters are deeply engraved in the stone, exuding a chilling sword intent. Even after a hundred years, one can still feel the unparalleled sharpness of the engraver back then.
"This is the entrance to the Sword Tomb."
Mo Wentian pointed to the stone tablet and said in a low voice, "Behind the stone tablet is the Nine Extremes Sword Formation. For thirty years, no one has been able to break through the formation."
Qin Mu walked to the stone tablet, reached out, and gently stroked the two large characters with his fingertips.
It feels cold to the touch and is as hard as iron.
But what interested him even more was the seemingly ordinary open space behind the stone tablet.
With his perception at the level of a terrestrial immortal, he could clearly sense that the open space was filled with densely packed sword energy.
These sword energies are formless and intangible, yet they intertwine to form a massive net that envelops the entire entrance to the Sword Tomb.
Each sword aura contains pure sword intent, whether sharp, profound, ethereal, or sinister...
Nine distinct sword intents intertwined and continuously generated, forming a flawless sword formation.
"Nine Extremes Sword Formation..."
Qin Mu muttered to himself, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.
"Indeed exquisite. Nine sword intents, mutually generating and restraining each other, in a continuous cycle. Unless all nine sword intents are broken at the same time, once triggered, it will cause a backlash from the sword formation, piercing the heart with ten thousand swords."
He turned to look at Mo Wentian:
"Was it Sect Master Xiao who set up this formation?"
Mo Wentian nodded: "It is indeed my master. Thirty years ago, before he went into seclusion, he used all his sword skills to set up this formation, both to protect the Sword Tomb and... to test those who come after him."
"A test?" Qin Mu raised an eyebrow.
"My master once said that if someone can break through this formation, they will be qualified to inherit his swordsmanship and also qualified to... know the truth about his seclusion."
Qin Mu smiled.
"interesting."
He put down the palace lantern in his hand and slowly walked towards the sword formation.
"Your Majesty!" Mo Wentian's expression changed. "The sword formation is dangerous, we mustn't..."
Before he finished speaking, Qin Mu had already stepped into the sword formation's range.
In an instant—
"Buzz!"
A sharp sword cry rang out in the air!
Nine distinct sword energies, like ferocious beasts awakened, surged in from all directions!
The sharp sword energy, like a knife, slashed towards his neck.
The heavy sword energy, like a mountain, pressed down on his head.
The ethereal sword energy, like mist, coiled around his limbs.
The sinister sword energy, like poison, pierced towards his vital points...
Nine sword intents, nine killing moves, instantly engulfed Qin Mu!
The seven elders' expressions changed drastically, and they subconsciously took several steps back.
Jian Lai was so frightened that he collapsed to the ground, his face pale.
however--
Qin Mu stood still, motionless.
He didn't even adopt any defensive stance; he simply stood there quietly, letting the overwhelming sword energy engulf him.
A bizarre scene unfolded.
Those sword energies, powerful enough to tear even a Celestial Realm expert to shreds, vanished silently as soon as they touched three feet in front of Qin Mu, like ice and snow meeting the spring sun.
No, it didn't dissipate.
Instead... it was absorbed.
It was as if an invisible vortex surrounded Qin Mu, devouring, transforming, and absorbing all the sword energy and sword intent.
He stood there, calm, his eyes deep and unfathomable.
The Nine Extremes Sword Formation operated wildly, and sword energy surged in like a tide, each wave stronger than the last.
No matter how violent the sword energy was, it would vanish without a trace the moment it touched Qin Mu.
It was as if he wasn't a living person, but a bottomless black hole, swallowing everything.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
Ten breaths later, the sword formation's offensive gradually weakened.
Those nine sword intents, which were originally incomparably fierce, now seemed somewhat... fearful?
They circled around Qin Mu, probing him, but dared not attack easily again.
Qin Mu slowly raised his hand, his five fingers spread wide.
"Disperse."
Just a single word.
Like an imperial edict, words become law.
"boom--!"
The Nine Extremes Sword Formation shattered with a deafening roar!
The nine sword intents scattered like startled birds, disappearing without a trace in the blink of an eye.
The open space behind the stone tablet has returned to calm.
It was as if the earth-shattering sword formation from just now had never existed.
Dead silence.
The seven elders stared in disbelief, as if they were clay or wooden sculptures.
It's broken...
The Nine Extremes Sword Formation, passed down for thirty years, has been... broken just like that?
Without even making a move, a single word was enough to scatter them?
What... what kind of method is this?
Jianlai slumped to the ground, his mouth agape, but no sound came out.
He suddenly understood why His Majesty could control him remotely and defeat Li Wuhen.
Such strength was beyond his comprehension.
Qin Mu withdrew his hand, patted off non-existent dust from his sleeve, as if he had only done a trivial matter.
He turned to look at Mo Wentian and smiled slightly:
"The formation has been broken, may we go in now?"
Mo Wentian trembled all over before he came to his senses.
He looked at Qin Mu with an extremely complex expression.
Awe, fear, bewilderment, and a glimmer of... hope?
His Majesty was able to break through the Nine Extremes Sword Formation so easily, then his strength...
Is it...
A crazy idea popped into Mo Wentian's mind, making him breathe rapidly.
"Yes, Your Majesty, please come with me."
He took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and took the lead in walking behind the stone tablet.