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He had been widely known as the top figure among the younger generation in Emperor-Receiving Prefecture. He had grown used to being the center of attention. And yet on this day, he experienced the rare sensation of being an actor playing a supporting role, with no choice but to watch someone else shine brilliantly. His heart filled with even more complex emotions when he thought about how his mother and Sect Grandfather were waiting for news in Sea-Sealing County. Xu Qing had ruined everything for him, and as a result, hatred took root in his very bones.

If Xu Qing hadn’t pulled a fast one on him, he would have achieved his goal. After all, he hadn’t been after the life lamp in that log cabin, but rather, something else inside. But his hopes had gone up in smoke. He would just have to wait until the next time the Swordsage Court lifted the Supreme Beginning Netherflight Pillar, and there was no telling how many years would have to pass before that happened.

Mother is going to be so disappointed.

The truth was that he didn’t care much about his Sect Grandfather. But he did care a lot about his mother. His father had passed away when he was young, and his mother had always been very strict with him, instilling within him a fear of her. As a result, he had worked hard on his cultivation in order to avoid disappointing her. In his heart, he longed for his mother to say she was proud of him. Such thoughts caused his insides to burn as if with fire as he glared at Xu Qing.

Xu Qing ignored Zhang Siyun’s gaze. Focusing on the divine likeness of the Grand Emperor, he clasped hands and bowed deeply.

The swordsages above and the cultivators below all looked on.

Though everyone was shaken, they were also curious. Everyone wanted to know what the Grand Emperor had asked, and how Xu Qing had answered.

That was especially true of the Captain, who was so curious he felt like an infinitude of cats were clawing around inside of him. On the one hand, he felt embarrassed. But also, he really couldn’t think of what Xu Qing might have said.

It was in that manner that the swordsage recruitment event ended. The Grand Emperor’s divine likeness disappeared, and the seven-colored staircase vanished into the light. Everything went back to normal.

Xu Qing and the others were notified that they had one year to report to the Swordsage Palace in Sea-Sealing County. There, they would receive their swordsage legacies and assignments, as well as boundless destined opportunities. Such things were very important to new swordsages. The former represented the chance to boost their battle prowess, while the latter represented the traditions of humankind.

What was more, the county capital of Sea-Sealing County was in the middle of the county, and was a place where human chosen from all over would gather. There were chosen from other species there as well. Someone who could rise to prominence in the capital city would truly make a name, and would truly stand at the ultimate peak.

Many chosen from various sects thought in that way, and believed that if they wanted to become like the Ancient Emperors and Imperial Sovereigns, then they needed to crush all the competition starting from when they were young. By getting more destined opportunities, and more good fortune, they could lead the pack and eventually crush everyone. After all, that was what all of the Ancient Emperors and Imperial Sovereigns had done in the past.

Compared to the county capital, Emperor-Receiving Prefecture was considered remote. It was many prefectures away from the capital, and though it was possible to teleport there, the Swordsage Court wouldn’t throw away money on new recruits just for that.

It didn’t matter how important a new recruit was, unless they somehow surpassed the Swordsage Court, then they would make their own way to the capital city. The Swordsage Court wasn’t in the practice of ‘growing greenhouse flowers,’ and thus, the recruits would make the long journey as a form of training.

***

With the recruitment event over, Sir Bloodsmelter had called for a celebratory banquet for Xu Qing and the Captain in the Eight Sect Coalition garrison.

As the festivities played out, the Captain pulled Xu Qing outside and said, “We need to plan ahead wisely. As your Eldest Brother, I’ve done all the thinking. By using public teleportation portals in various prefectures, we can make the trip in about eight months. Assuming we hurry.

“In terms of the exact route, we don’t need to worry about it too much. There have been other swordsages from the Eight Sect Coalition in years past, so there have long since been subsidiary sects set up along the path to Sea-Sealing County. We can rest in those places on the way.

“Besides, once we’re back in the coalition, someone will be assigned to help us. After all, our status will be very different then.”

The Captain cleared his throat. “Look, little Ah Qing, you’re only on this amazing path because your Eldest Brother brought you along. Therefore, it’s appropriate for you to offer some thanks, don’t you think? Bros like us don’t need to quibble about spirit stones. Why not just tell me what your answer was to the statue?”

Xu Qing had been drinking during the banquet, and was currently looking up into the night sky. As the cold wind blew snowflakes past him, he felt unusually comfortable. Turning to the Captain, he said, “Eldest Brother, look. Your eye and ears grew back.”

The Captain looked very pleased with himself. “Well, that’s a given. If I want them to grow back, they grow back. Amazing, huh? By the way, little Ah Qing, you—”

Xu Qing took out an apple and handed it to the Captain. “Captain, congratulations on becoming a swordsage.”

The Captain reflexively accepted it, took a bite, and was about to ask another question. But then, Xu Qing dropped down onto a snowbank and looked up into the starry sky, where it was just possible to see the broken face of the god. He took a drink from the flagon of alcohol he had in his hand.

“Eldest Brother, what exactly is a god?”

The Captain also looked up into the sky. After thinking for a moment, he sat down next to Xu Qing on the pile of snow and took another bite from his apple.

“Gods. Heh. Do you think they taste good?”

Xu Qing laughed softly. There was no way the Captain had answered in that way to the Grand Emperor. Otherwise, his pillar of light wouldn’t have been only one meter.

More snow blew in the wind. Xu Qing didn’t say anything further. He just lay there letting the snowflakes gather on his face while he thought back to what the Grand Emperor’s divine likeness had said. Laughing, he got up from the snow, walked over to the side, and spat onto the ground a few times.

The Captain was completely taken aback, but joined Xu Qing in spitting a few times. Although Xu Qing wasn’t offering any explanation, the Captain was planning to be patient. Suppressing his curiosity, he finished the apple, then took out an ice pear that was native to Netherflight City. He started eating.

It was quiet outside, and as snowflakes drifted through the sky, it seemed very peaceful. They could hear the sound of the bonfires and the laughter coming from the tents a short distance away.

At some point, Yanyan showed up. Seeing Xu Qing and the Captain sitting in the snow, she scooted over to sit next to Xu Qing, then lay down at his side.

***

High in the sky were Sir Bloodsmelter and Guru Eastnether. As they hovered there, they looked down on Xu Qing, the Captain, and Yanyan.

“How nice to be young,” Sir Bloodsmelter said with a sigh. Looking curiously at Guru Eastnether, he continued, “How do you think that little punk answered the question? Some people from the Swordsage Court came today and hinted that they wanted to know.”

Guru Eastnether looked back at him coldly.

Sir Bloodsmelter blinked a few times, then cleared his throat and used a different word to describe Xu Qing. “How do you think that grandson-in-law of yours answered the question?”

A smile broke out on Guru Eastnether’s wrinkled face. She nodded. “When we get back to the coalition, you can have your son-in-law ask his apprentice for the details. There’s still plenty of time. The Swordsage Court asked us to stay for a few more days. For one thing, Xu Qing and Chen Erniu still need to seek enlightenment of that imperial-class technique. Also, the court has a matter they want the two of us to help out with.”

***

Time passed.

Most of the cultivators who had previously gathered in Netherflight City were now gone. What had once been a bustling city was now mostly empty. There were only some rogue cultivators left behind who were still hoping to gain enlightenment of the battle spirit symbols from the pillar.

The people from the Eight Sect Coalition had not yet left. Nor had those from the Church of Departure or the Supreme Arbiter Immortal Society. That was because the first place prize for climbing the Supreme Beginning Netherflight Pillar was just now being given out. Enlightenment of an imperial-class technique meant for humans was not easy to get. The spot where they were to seek enlightenment was at the top of the Supreme Beginning Netherflight Pillar, past the clouds, and inside the Swordsage Court.

It was Xu Qing’s first time going there. Upon arriving, he caught sight of Qing Qiu. However, she wasn’t going to be seeking enlightenment at his side. She was seated in a grand hall, apparently waiting for something. When she saw him and the Captain, she looked away with a harrumph.

Xu Qing showed no reaction, but the Captain responded with a similar harrumph. Then the two of them were being led away by swordsages into a large open square.

Red liquid ran along the ground to form a large spell formation that glowed with a blood-colored light. In the middle of the formation was a huge black boulder wrapped up in gray iron chains. Through all the chains, it was possible to see a sword carved onto the boulder. It looked like any ordinary sword.

And yet, when Xu Qing and the Captain looked at it, their minds spun. Both could sense a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering pressure emanating out from that sword. They exchanged a glance, and both could see the surprise and anticipation in each other’s eyes.

This had to be the place where they would seek enlightenment of the imperial-class technique.

The golden crow on Xu Qing’s back shivered, and for the first time, it didn’t manifest in response to encountering another imperial-class technique. Instead, it seemed afraid.

Around this time, Xu Qing saw Zhang Siyun. He had arrived before them, and was sitting near the boulder with his eyes closed.

The person that had led them here was the same middle-aged swordsage who had officiated earlier. Along the way, he had glanced at Xu Qing a few times. “Go ahead and start,” he said, “You have six hours to seek enlightenment. After that, the spell formation will automatically remove you.

“Treat this opportunity as something precious. Normally speaking, only swordsages with a lot of military credits are able to seek enlightenment here. That’s because the name of this imperial-class technique is... The Emperor’s Sword!

“The Emperor’s Sword, also called Sword of the Swordsage, was created by the Grand Emperor. It’s a rare technique that can be comprehended by many people at the same time. It belongs solely to humankind, and is in the care of us swordsages.

“You could say that the reason why the swordsages of the past were able to dominate countless other species, and also why we manage to hold on to the afterglow of that glory now, is largely because of The Emperor’s Sword.

“After you gain some enlightenment, you’ll understand why.”

With that, the middle-aged swordsage turned and left.

Without any hesitation, Xu Qing and the Captain rushed forward, picked spots in which to sit down cross-legged, and began seeking enlightenment.

All of a sudden, Xu Qing realized that the Captain was actually sitting a bit closer to the boulder than he was. Feeling suddenly alarmed, he sent a message via divine will.

“Eldest Brother, if you take a bite, then I have the feeling... I’ll be going to Sea-Sealing County alone.”

The Captain turned and looked begrudgingly at Xu Qing.