Chapter 698: The Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain

The reunion of the Mount Shu Sect’s once most talented trio of disciples ended on a sour note.

Chu Liang had initially planned to organize a meal for everyone to reminisce about the good old days. He thought that since everyone had been fellow disciples, there shouldn’t be any grudges that couldn’t be resolved with a good talk.

However, before they could even order food, Daoist Yan was already furrowing her brows.

The Whale-Riding Immortal added, "I’ll leave first. It’d be troublesome if I’m seen. Ah Feng, Yan Zi... we’ll meet again someday."

With a flicker, he vanished on the spot. Daoist Yan stared at the direction where he had disappeared, her eyes reflecting a sense of emptiness.

There were those who found it hard to speak calmly when the person they longed for stood before them. Yet, once the person left, they realized the true weight of their longing.

Not long after, a cheerful voice came from outside the door. “Congratulations to the Mount Shu Sect for gaining another Master of the Heavenly Origin.”

“Come in,” Daoist Yan replied.

The visitor was a thin, short old man with a goatee. He exuded a peaceful aura and looked no different from the grandfathers who spent their days fishing by the village pond.

If anything stood out, it was his warm smile. It felt like a spring breeze and made him seem unusually friendly.

“It is truly an honor to have the esteemed headmaster personally visit and congratulate me,” Daoist Yan said as she stood up.

Although she spoke with courtesy, her face clearly showed displeasure, which confused the old man slightly.

After a pause, he chuckled. “Having another master of the Heavenly Origin in the Divine Nine and Terrestrial Ten is a major event for all the immortal sects. I assumed everyone would visit Mount Shu to offer their congratulations, so I decided to be strategic and get here first to make an impression.”

From Daoist Yan’s response, both Chu Liang and Jiang Yuebai quickly deduced the visitor’s identity.

This was Gongyang Qi, the headmaster of Ascending Dragon Academy.

He was a prominent master of the Heavenly Origin in the Yu Dynasty and the current leader of Confucianism. As the head of one of the three schools of thought, his position was naturally significant. Even the Imperial Supervisory Commissioner had to show him the proper respect.

“Headmaster, you’re too polite. I should be the one visiting and paying my respects to you and the other esteemed seniors,” Daoist Yan said politely. Still, she looked very annoyed.

She was targeting the old man though. Unlike Di Nufeng, Daoist Yan had always maintained basic politeness and decorum despite her aloofness. Since Gongyang Qi had come to congratulate her, she wouldn’t greet him with a cold face.

But the Whale-Riding Immortal had just left so suddenly. After years of waiting, all she got was this brief meeting, making it hard for her to put on a pleasant expression.

“I haven’t prepared a grand gift, only a small token. I hope you like it,” Gongyang Qi said as he handed her a scroll.

Daoist Yan accepted the scroll with both hands and carefully unfurled it, revealing a calligraphy piece with the words “Maintain the Righteous Sword Heart” written in an elegant, flowing style.

Though the calligraphy contained only a few words, it radiated an aura of integrity and righteousness, evoking a sense of awe and respect.

Gazing at the scroll, Daoist Yan instantly understood the old man’s intent.

The headmaster of Ascending Dragon Academy rarely gave away his calligraphy. Even when a leader of the sect in the Divine Nine or Terrestrial Ten assumed office, it was unlikely that he would offer such a gift.

Today, her success in competing for the Great Dao had also exposed her demonic lineage. Gongyang Qi’s four words were clearly a reminder for her to uphold righteousness and protect her sword heart from being tainted. More importantly, it symbolized his recognition of her.

Since Gongyang Qi had given this calligraphy, the Confucian cultivators would no longer disturb Daoist Yan. If even the Confucian cultivators, who valued righteousness above all else, had no objections, members of other sects of immortality cultivation would likely remain silent even if they had other thoughts.

The descendant of a demon competing for control of the Great Dao was bound to attract public criticism. Therefore, the calligraphy given by Gongyang Qi acted as a shield in her defense. It was, in truth, the real gift.

Daoist Yan gazed at Gongyang Qi, bowed respectfully as a junior, and said earnestly, “Thank you.”

...

As Chu Liang escorted Jiang Yuebai away, they once again spotted the Whale-Riding Immortal.

The weathered man was seated at a spot overlooking the waves outside Sword-Hanging City, staring at the waves crashing against the coral rocks, lost in thought. No one knew what he was thinking.

Jiang Yuebai walked up to him and suddenly asked, "You knew from the start, didn’t you?"

The Whale-Riding Immortal turned to her. "What?"

“You knew, didn’t you?” Jiang Yuebai asked. “You must have realized something was wrong that day, but you stayed quiet. When they were tampering with the sword in the hut...”

She paused and then continued, “You had already informed Senior Aunt Feng to rescue us. You must have known what they were doing. You allowed it to happen so that my teacher could become the next Dao Master, didn’t you?”

So that’s what happened?

Chu Liang stood there, his eyes widening in surprise as he watched his future father-in-law. He hadn’t expected this unexpected turn of events.

If that was the case, Daoist Yan owed the Whale-Riding Immortal a great deal for her success this time. However, even as Senior Aunt Yan had been scolding him earlier, he hadn’t said a thing.

“Not exactly...” the Whale-Riding Immortal responded, his expression showing a slight awkwardness.

Just then, another voice interrupted, “Well, well. I was wondering why you were so eager to help me. It turns out you’ve been feeling guilty all along.”

Immediately, a pale blue specter emerged from the Whale-Riding Immortal’s sleeve. The soul, condensed to near-corporeal form, appeared as a kind-faced elderly farmer.

It was none other than the Sword Emperor of the West Sea.

Upon seeing the figure, both Chu Liang and Jiang Yuebai were mildly taken aback.

Chu Liang couldn’t help but wonder,

Didn’t he dissipate into nothingness before our eyes? How is his soul still here, fully intact?

The Whale-Riding Immortal chuckled awkwardly and shrugged. “The ones who plotted against you were from the Celestial Charm Sect. I could’ve just left you to your fate. But I even prepared an enchanted tool to nurture your soul. Isn’t that good enough?"

Watching this, Chu Liang asked, "Are you two old acquaintances?"

“We crossed paths back when I traveled the West Sea,” the Sword Emperor of the West Sea said.

Despite his current state as a soul, he straightened his robe in the void as he spoke to the younger generation.

"I’ve beaten him up before," the Whale-Riding Immortal said succinctly.

“Ahem, let’s just say we got to know each other through a fight,” the Sword Emperor of the West Sea added, trying to smooth things over.

Chu Liang finally understood:

Those three probably beat up almost everyone in their generation. Esteemed Teacher struck with her powerful fists, Jiang Tiankuo filled in the gaps, and Senior Aunt Yan held the rear—all three dedicated to educating their peers through sheer force.

"Anyway, I did suspect the Celestial Charm Sect's schemes beforehand, but I didn’t know their full plan," the Whale-Riding Immortal said frankly. “As for your fight with Yan Zi for control of Great Dao, if she lost, she’d definitely die. If you lost, you’d still have a chance to survive. That’s why I acted the way I did. If you think I was wrong, feel free to reprimand me.”

While the loser of a fight for control of the Great Dao might not necessarily die, Daoist Yan’s strong sense of honor would have led her to fight with everything she had, leaving no way out for herself. This was why both the Whale-Riding Immortal and Di Nufeng had been so concerned for her.

"Can you put that bottle down first..." the Sword Emperor of the West Sea said helplessly.

While the Whale-Riding Immortal was speaking, he was holding a white jade purification bottle, but he was holding it in such a manner that it felt as though it could drop and shatter at any moment.

The white jade purification bottle was a precious artifact used to hold souls, and it was very important to the Sword Emperor. Even an eighth-realm soul would weaken and dissipate if left outside for too long.

For example, Old Fei, Chu Liang’s companion, could only sustain his vitality through spirit plants or by entering prolonged dormancy.

With this jade bottle, the Sword Emperor of the West Sea could preserve his soul in an intact state, making it a highly important artifact.

So, when the Whale-Riding Immortal was holding such a critical item while talking, the Sword Emperor naturally didn’t dare oppose him.

“The Celestial Charm Sect might have targeted me because they were working with the West Sea Diabolical Forces,” the Sword Emperor of the West Sea said in a serious manner. “Of course, I won’t direct my anger towards Daoist Yan. The fact is, you saved me, and I owe you a favor. There are no grudges. I see that clearly.”

"It’s good that you are able to think that way," the Whale-Riding Immortal nodded.

As if he’d dare think otherwise...

Chu Liang thought to himself.

Then the Whale-Riding Immortal added, "In that case, I can accompany you to the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain."

...

"The Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain?"

Both Jiang Yuebai and Chu Liang exchanged confused looks, having never heard of such a place before.

But the Sword Emperor of the West Sea’s soul quivered as he exclaimed, “You’ve found the location of the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain?”

“Maybe,” replied the Whale-Riding Immortal with a faint smile.

After a brief explanation, Chu Liang finally understood what kind of place it was.

There were three Daos of the Sword in this world and each with its own origins.

The Great Dao of Severing the Void had been started by Hallowed Li, and it was the first hallowed cultivation path in the mortal world. The Great Dao of Tai’a had come into existence when the ancient sword cultivator was observing the heavens, earth, and rivers. None had ever attained the ninth realm with this Great Dao, but this Great Dao contained immense power.

Meanwhile, the Great Dao of the Cloud of Determination had originated from a mysterious location within the Divine Ruins.

It was said that, while training in the Divine Ruins, an ancient sword cultivator accidentally stumbled upon a palace in the clouds. Misty clouds surrounded the palace, with countless flying swords forming a forest, and at the center stood a Heaven-Raising Sword. He tried to take the sword but couldn’t find a way and ultimately left in disappointment.

Yet, just by meditating upon the sword, he comprehended the Great Dao of the Cloud of Determination, becoming the first mortal to master this Dao and attained the Heavenly Origin.

The Whale-Riding Immortal explained, "Back then, Ah Feng, Yan Zi, and I went out to train together. In an ancient sword cultivator’s tomb, we found the Heavenly Cloud Ancient Sword and some records about the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain."

Chu Liang quicklyy realized the Whale-Riding Immortal’s intentions. “Esteemed senior, are you planning to retrieve that legendary sword?”

He had considered this possibility before.

If the Divine Ruins Monastery had been able to wipe out the Jiang Family, which had a master of the Heavenly Origin, in a single night, they had likely possessed power beyond the eighth realm.

But if they possessed the power of the ninth realm, they could dominate an entire region, and all living beings in the world would know of them.

Thus, they most likely wielded an eighth-and-a-half realm power through a legendary artifact or something stronger than the eighth-and-a-half realm but definitely not at the ninth realm.

𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

If the Whale-Riding Immortal planned to advance toward the Divine Ruins Monastery directly, he would likely fail. The safest approach would be to obtain a legendary artifact, though that was nearly impossible.

The legendary artifacts of this world were owned by the immortal sects, and no one in their right mind would lend their sect's treasure for a life-or-death venture.

As for stealing a legendary artifact? That was even harder.

If he could obtain a legendary artifact without an owner, that would be the best scenario. Nevertheless, it still remained a question as to whether this scenario could ever actualize.

"I guess it's fine if I tell you..." the Whale-Riding Immortal said, glancing at him., "After all, the key to opening the Heavenly Palace of the Sword Domain might just be with you."