The two thick yet not overly voluminous secret manuals lay quietly on the table before Meng Qi, containing the supreme sword techniques passed down from ancient times—Zhu Xian and Jue Xian—and embodying the calligraphic works of numerous ancestors from Ren Qiushui’s sect.
This was not the authentic transmission of true intent; it could only record the parts later generations had grasped or realized. Due to differing temperaments, experiences, and paths, each ancestor who left behind writings described Zhu Xian and Jue Xian differently. However, should one truly reach the other shore and fully master these two sword manuals, all paths would eventually converge.
“There shouldn’t be much difficulty progressing from Qi Opening to Legend, but beyond Legend, interpretations will vary,” Meng Qi casually flipped through the pages, focusing particularly on the differences in the first chapter regarding the Dharma Body.
He Qi, seated across the table, calmed his slightly restless thoughts and replied without looking sideways, “Anyway, for you, it’s more of a reference—absorbing its essence into your martial cultivation. Whether there are flaws or not is trivial.”
“Exactly. Especially Zhu Xian and Jue Xian, which involve space and time. Understanding them will benefit both the Legendary and the Cultivation Paths,” Meng Qi smiled and pushed the Jue Xian Sword Manual toward He Qi.
“What is this?” He Qi looked sharply into Meng Qi’s eyes.
Meng Qi grinned, “The transmissions of the four sword manuals and the Zhu Xian Sword Formation do not belong to me. Previously, due to the threat posed by Golden Tortoise Island to the entire martial world, regardless of north or south, I convinced the ‘Master’ to allow me and Master Lu and others to each wield a sword to counter Golden Tortoise Island using the sword formation. Therefore, I dared not pass them on recklessly.”
The so-called ‘Master’ referred to the late Chong He, representing the collective known as Immortal Traces. Despite any differences between factions or clans, or conflicts between the Jin and Bei Zhou dynasties, their interests aligned when facing Golden Tortoise Island. Hence, Meng Qi directly comprehended the jade tablet and secretly transmitted the knowledge to Master Lu and others.
He Qi gave a barely perceptible nod, indicating he understood, and thus had never hoped to practice these four sword manuals.
“Now, I’ve taken the liberty to exchange the incomplete four sword manuals and the complete Zhu Xian Sword Formation for these two manuals, which benefits the ‘Master’ without harm. I believe they won’t mind. Compared to the originals, these two manuals now include crucial chapters beyond the Dharma Body stage, which is my contribution. Thus, I feel justified in making a small decision regarding them.” Meng Qi explained calmly, as he only sought inner peace in his actions.
These two manuals, along with his comprehension of Xian Sword and Lu Sword manuals and the Zhu Xian Sword Formation, would secretly be sent to the Pure Yang Sect upon returning to the future. He believed that, had it not been for the Six Dao’s rules, Senior Chong He would have already completed this task. Meng Qi was merely fulfilling an unspoken wish.
He Qi remained silent for a moment, then without pretense, reached out to caress the cover of the Jue Xian Sword Manual. “I owe you much, and I have never found a way to repay you. It truly shames me.”
“I’ve always believed in one saying: ‘Those who follow the Dao gain much assistance.'” Meng Qi smiled and transmitted his voice, “We are in the Middle Ancient Era, where Dharma Bodies are common and Celestial Immortals numerous. We might face danger at any moment. If we can enhance our faction’s strength, it’s undoubtedly beneficial. Senior He Qi, your Nameless and Formless Sword Qi involves the concept of ‘No Form,’ the path of ‘True and Illusory,’ and also relates to emptiness. ‘Jue Xian Sword’ symbolizes the supreme sword technique of emptiness, aiding you in perfecting the Donghai Sword Sect’s techniques and taking that crucial step forward.”
He Qi had sufficient accumulation, but due to the need to explore and perfect his techniques himself, his progress had stagnated. With the Jue Xian Sword Manual as a reference, he might soon ascend to Earth Immortal. Meng Qi had already ‘copied’ the contents of the Jue Xian Sword Manual into his mind and possessed the Void Seal, making him less reliant on external sources. In contrast, the Zhu Xian Sword Manual was highly beneficial to him, not only involving the mysteries of time but also indirectly aiding his understanding and mastery of the Infinite Seal, allowing him to penetrate the Infinite Dao—timeless and boundless.
“I hope so,” He Qi’s expression revealed a hint of joy and contemplation. “Then, where shall we go next? The inheritance of the Sword-Cleansing Pavilion, the inheritance of the Zhenwu Sect, or the mausoleum of Master Chunyang, or the Tianjing of Jade Emperor Mountain?”
Meng Qi pondered briefly and replied, “Master Lu and Senior Su, having clarified their return to the Middle Ancient Era, will certainly guard against Gurdo, Han Guang, and the Dharma King of Salvation from sabotaging the inheritance and altering history. Therefore, Senior Su will likely protect the inheritance of the Sword-Cleansing Pavilion, while Master Lu may head to Master Chunyang’s mausoleum.”
“The Jade Emperor Mountain has the Blade of Time. If it doesn’t wish to be found, even a Demon Buddha might struggle to locate it, let alone Gurdo and the others. We should first head to the hidden treasures of the Zhenwu Sect to establish a karmic connection.”
He Qi reminded him, “But we shouldn’t neglect Jade Emperor Mountain either. No one knows the current state of the Blade of Time or whether it intends to alter history.”
Meng Qi smiled bitterly, “If it truly intends to act, how could I stop it? However, such a divine weapon possesses high sentience; perhaps it can be persuaded through reason and emotion.”
He then turned serious and said, “Senior He Qi, my reputation is currently rising, and soon my name will spread far and wide, inevitably drawing old acquaintances together. If I travel elsewhere now, I might miss them. But if I go openly, I might attract attention, causing the hidden treasures to surface prematurely. Moreover, having recently ruined the Devil Sect’s plans and killed a Deva King, it’s better for me to remain discreet to avoid attacks from the Supreme Heaven Devil or other Deva Kings. Therefore, I must trouble you to stay in Luo City, studying the Jue Xian Sword Manual while waiting for old friends to arrive.”
Due to the calamity caused by the Demon Buddha in the Middle and Near Ancient Eras, the terrain had changed significantly, and Meng Qi dared not guarantee a swift return.
“Fine,” He Qi agreed without hesitation.
Meng Qi smiled and added, “Senior, since you’re closely associated with me, you may attract the Devil Sect’s attention. While staying in Luo City, you must be cautious. It’s best to hide and hire someone to monitor for any familiar faces gathering.”
…
In Luo City’s Ink Palace, eaves curved upward like wings, buildings stretching endlessly, and a “Wooden Pagoda” towering into the clouds.
During the Middle Ancient Era, long-distance teleportation arrays had not yet completely disappeared, and many places still maintained them to connect distant regions. The teleportation array in Luo City was located within the Ink Palace.
Unfamiliar with the geography of the Middle Ancient Era and unwilling to fly, Meng Qi planned to first reach the vicinity of the Zhenwu Sect’s hidden treasures via the teleportation array, then gradually search based on his knowledge. Thus, after bidding farewell to He Qi, he headed directly to the Ink Palace.
Additionally, he intended to meet the local Ink Palace’s master to learn about machinery techniques and the crafting of various artifacts, and to request an audience with the Artisan Sage.
With this journey to the Middle Ancient Era, if he could return safely, the Multiversal Awareness Sphere should truly be able to proceed.
The Ink Palace bustled with people—not as crowded as a busy market but still lively. Some came to retrieve transported items, while others sent goods or messages afar. Meng Qi repeatedly saw them inserting letters into packages or taking them out to read.
The letters carried news from other provinces and counties, as well as about Luo City itself, such as “The heavenly net set by the Divine and the Heaven and Earth Swords was severed by the Overlord, allowing the Supreme Heaven Devil to escape,” or “With one slash, the Overlord shattered rites and music, causing Celestial Immortals to fall like rain,” or “A mysterious Dharma Body named Su Meng guided sword techniques across the land, listing seven supreme styles. The Five Great Sword Sects refused to accept this and challenged him with swords, only to be convinced by Su Meng’s sword techniques despite his mere Human Immortal-level cultivation,” or “Su Meng, wielding a Celestial Immortal-grade divine weapon, blocked a strike from the Devil Sword Deva King, shattered the Snowstorm Celestial Realm, and slew the severely wounded Multi-Eyed Deva King in Luo City…”
The news indeed spread quickly… Meng Qi mused as he walked, soon his name would echo through the Middle Ancient Era, earning him another title.
I hope it’s not too bad…
I subdued five sects with a single sword stroke and slew the Multi-Eyed Deva King. My demeanor must be quite impressive…
As he passed through the teleportation array area, the crowd thinned, and the surroundings grew quiet. As a Dharma Body cultivator, Meng Qi was soon escorted into a flowered hall where he met Qiu Han, the master of this Ink Palace. Qiu Han was a Half-Dharma Body cultivator with a ruddy complexion, graying brown hair, and parts of his body replaced by wondrous mechanical devices.
Inside the flowered hall were also two women, one seated and one standing. The standing one was clearly a maid, wearing a light blue dress with a round face exuding gentleness. The seated one appeared youthful, dressed in white, her beauty exquisite and her aura saintly, making one dare not look directly at her. She was also a Grand Master cultivator.
“Who are these two?” Meng Qi casually asked after exchanging greetings.
Qiu Han chuckled, “This is Luo Sect’s Holy Maiden, Zhuo Biting.”
Luo Sect’s Holy Maiden? Meng Qi instinctively looked over. Zhuo Biting gently nodded in greeting, maintaining an air of sacredness and untouchability.
Why would the Holy Maiden of the Luo Sect appear openly in the Ink Palace?
Wait, during the Middle Ancient Era, the Old Mother had not yet awakened or returned. The sect was quietly spreading its faith and developing itself. Though its teachings leaned toward heterodoxy and were not considered orthodox, it was not yet classified as heretical or demonic. At this time, the Holy Maiden had no connection to the reincarnation of the Old Mother but was more of a symbolic or potential sect leader.
“We’ve also heard of Master Su’s feat of subduing the Five Great Sword Sects with a single sword stroke. Truly admirable,” the Holy Maiden’s maid eagerly added, clearly attempting to befriend the newly emerged Dharma Body cultivator.
At this time, the Luo Sect was not yet one of the Nine Heretical Paths. It was cautiously expanding, avoiding conflicts, and seeking to build connections.
Meng Qi glanced at them and suddenly smiled, “Miss Zhuo, as a Holy Maiden, sacredness is one aspect, but if you remain only sacred, people may easily see through you and offer only false reverence and obedience. It would be better to display a thousand different faces, to be unpredictable in emotions and thoughts. That way, you would…”
Halfway through his sentence, Meng Qi shook his head and smiled self-deprecatingly, “I spoke out of turn.”
Zhuo Biting calmly stood up and spoke in a clear, elegant voice, “It’s fine.”
Her maid looked puzzled. Was Su Meng, this newly emerged Dharma Body, speaking so recklessly due to their shallow acquaintance? Or was he simply smitten?
As Zhuo Biting prepared to leave, Meng Qi stepped aside, allowing them to pass.
As they brushed past each other, Meng Qi suddenly heard a faint, elegant voice from Zhuo Biting:
“Master Su, do you wish to return?”
Return? Meng Qi’s pupils abruptly constricted.
She knows?
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