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He could sense every tiny bit of the sword’s structure. He could sense every inch of the blade’s sharp edge. And he could sense every mote of light glittering on the weapon’s surface.

That said, those seemingly familiar sensations were also illusory, like flowers in a mirror or the moon in the water. He would still need further contemplation and practice before he could make them a reality, and infuse the technique into his soul, to the point where using it came as an instinct.

“Upgrade it to the second stage, and it will give me additional battle prowess equivalent to a full heavenly palace,” he murmured.

After a bit more contemplation, he looked down at his right hand. He sent out a thought, whereupon dazzling light shone up from the creases in his palm. Swirling around, it eventually converged into the shape of a sword. It felt like it was so sharp it could slice through any and all living beings. And it was mighty enough to cause all gods and devils in the universe to tremble.

Xu Qing could tell that this imperial-class technique belonging to humans and swordsages was definitely not designed for defensive purposes. It was meant for killing, and it pulsed with a baleful aura. It was a sword that would defend humanity by means of killing.

As he came to that understanding, his eyes shone brightly, linking him further to the sword. Just barely, he could hear the thrum of the sword, and it sounded intimate and familiar to him. At the same time, he could almost see the countless figures he had witnessed earlier using the sword strike. All of them held The Emperor’s Sword, and all of them smiled as they bore witness to a successor pursuing the same great dao as they.

Xu Qing stood and bowed deeply. He was bowing to the sword, and bowing to those who also pursued that dao.

As of this moment, he truly did wield two imperial-class techniques. Golden Crow Assimilates Myriad Spirits could devour countless living beings in heaven and earth. The Emperor’s Sword could slaughter anyone who ranked lower than the emperor.

The latter could unleash power that surpassed that of the wielder’s cultivation level, but to do so required that it power up for years. But now that Xu Qing had gained enlightenment, that moment was certain to happen sooner or later.

Seeing The Emperor’s Sword form from sword energy caused Xu Qing’s heart to pound. However, after a moment, he calmed himself. A thoughtful look appeared in his eyes.

I can’t just wait for years before using The Emperor’s Sword. I need it to be available as a possible trump card in every battle I fight. Therefore, my goal should be to familiarize myself with the sword as quickly as possible, and then get it to the second stage. That way, it will count as additional battle prowess equivalent to an entire heavenly palace. If I want to familiarize myself with it, I’ll need to use an actual sword....

Suddenly, something clicked, and he looked down at his swordsage command sword. Looking at it, he felt a bit stunned as he realized that it had an additional function.

Other than its everyday functions used by swordsages, and the fact that it could be used to build a sword pavilion, it had another hidden feature. And that feature was its function in aiding the user in becoming more familiar with The Emperor’s Sword. After all, its physical appearance... was exactly the same as The Emperor’s Sword.

Just what I would expect of a legacy belonging to humankind and kept in the Swordsage Division. Every single step of the way involves deep meaning and reserve powers. Considering how long the Swordsage Division has considered this technique a reserve power, there must have been countless swordsages who succeeded in gaining enlightenment. And though people who succeeded in one shot are probably rare, people who succeeded in two shots are surely not so unusual.

Xu Qing had to remind himself that he couldn’t get complacent just because he succeeded in two attempts. After all, Kong Xianglong had also succeeded after only two attempts.

With that thought on his mind, he took a deep breath and left.

***

Unbeknownst to him, the moment he succeeded in gaining enlightenment, down in the Corrections Division on Level 89, the palace lord opened his eyes.

Behind him, the enormous eye with the vertical pupil also opened. “Yet again someone has gained enlightenment of The Emperor’s Sword in only two attempts. His name is Xu Qing.”

The voice caused great storm-like winds to sweep through Level 89. It was the very same voice that had spoken to the palace lord when Xu Qing departed previously.

After some thought, the palace lord said, “How are things in D-132?”

“That place is unique,” replied the thunderous voice. “I might be the spirit automaton of the Corrections Division, but not even I qualify to peer in there. That said, Xu Qing is already wrapped up in misfortune. Furthermore, only you know the true secret of D-132. Why not just tell him the truth? Actually, even I’m curious about what other secrets might be buried there.”

“D-132...” the palace lord said, his eyes flickering with reminiscence. “There’s not just one secret buried there, that’s for sure. That said, I don’t cater to personal whims. Everything will come down to destined opportunities. If he’s still wrapped in misfortune seven days from now, then I’ll remove him from D-132 guard duty and assign him to another cell block. That will just prove that he has no predestined good fortune.”

The palace lord closed his eyes.

***

Meanwhile, Xu Qing walked through the Swordsage Palace.

Since I’m already here, I might as well go see what kind of poisonous plants are available for sale in the county capital. I can’t give up on the dao of poison. What’s more, I need to find one of those pallid boluses to study.

With that, he flew toward the city. It was already late in the night, and clouds covered the sky. Thunder rumbled above; a big rainstorm was obviously coming. That said, the business in the county capital stayed open both day and night. After all, visiting cultivators didn’t just go shopping at one specific time.

However, just as soon as he flew away from the Swordsage Palace, and right before he reached the city, a boom rang out from above, and a lightning bolt appeared, shooting right down toward Xu Qing.

It looked like an upside down tree, splitting apart as it dropped. It moved with shocking speed, making it almost seem like heavenly tribulation.

The suddenness was unexpected. However, Xu Qing’s vigilance was something that was part of his soul, and therefore, as soon as the lightning bolt dropped, he stepped out of the way. It sliced through the air right in front of him and then slammed into the ground below. Expression unsightly, Xu Qing looked up into the dome of heaven. As he hovered there, the lighting up above reflected in his eyes. Clouds filled the sky, and the thunder rumbled constantly. It seemed just like any ordinary storm, except for that strange bolt of lightning.

Something’s off!

Xu Qing’s expression darkened. Whether it was that stray beam of sword light from the old swordsage earlier, or this random bolt of lightning, both seemed too coincidental. All of a sudden, he thought back to the rumors about D-132, and what Ol’ Li had mentioned.

Half the people assigned to guard duty there end up dying violently.

Expression grim, he continued to the edge of the city. There, he looked down from the sky and to the lands below. Though it was a dark, cloud-covered sky, the occasional streaks of lightning coupled with Xu Qing’s own cultivation base power enabled him to see all the way down to the Corrections Division.

The two coincidences had him thinking. Upon reaching the city, he cast his senses out in all directions.

Not everyone assigned to D-132 ended up dying. Only some did. The palace lord must know what’s really going on. In that case, why did he assign me there...? Is it a test, or is it something else?

As he pondered the situation, he started looking around for the nearest medicine shop.

Thunder crashed above, and it seemed like the rain must be building up in preparation for a huge downpour. Not many mortal citizens were out and about; most people on the street were cultivators.

It took about an hour to find a shop. As he neared, a frown broke out on his face. There were seven or eight cultivators shopping for medicinal plants and pills. One of them was a young woman in a swordsage uniform. Xu Qing recognized her.

It was none other than the scythe-wielding Qing Qiu.

Qing Qiu had just got off work in the Inspections Division, and had come here to purchase some medicinal pills. Upon seeing Xu Qing, she frowned behind her mask. Meanwhile, the evil ghost’s voice echoed in her mind.

“We just can’t get rid of this Xu Qing! I bet he’s following us. From now on, let’s not go this way after you get off work. I feel like Xu Qing is just too, too dangerous. We need to avoid him. Otherwise, you might not be able to hold back from ending things in mutual destruction with him! It wouldn’t be worth it to do that. We should end things in mutual destruction with someone else. For example, Mad Dog!”

Xu Qing glanced at Qing Qiu briefly, but that was all. As he headed to the counter, Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior projected a message to him.

“Milord, your humble servant, er... has a small matter to report.”

Expression the same as ever, Xu Qing told the shopkeeper what medicinal plants he wanted. Inside, he said, “Talk.”

“Milord, did you know that Girl in Red’s scythe has a spirit automaton? It hasn’t detected me, so it has no idea that, because I’m a high-level lightning soul, I can hear what it’s saying. Every time the spirit automaton sees you, it curses you viciously.”

Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior had long since been able to overhear Qing Qiu and the evil ghost when they spoke via divine will. However, he had never said anything, as he wanted to find exactly the right moment to reveal the details. Because he had failed to do anything impressive earlier in the cell block, he had decided that now was the time to make his move.

“Based on the things I’ve heard that little rascal saying, I think the two of them have some special way of ending a fight in mutual destruction. Milord, whenever the time comes to get rid of Girl in Red, you need to be careful.”

Xu Qing looked thoughtfully at Qing Qiu’s scythe.

“He’s looking at me!” the evil ghost shrieked. “There’s something wrong with his eyes. Something very wrong! We need to get out of here. I have a really bad premonition. Xu Qing’s noticed something. And he did earn the veneration of the Grand Emperor. He also became the palace lord’s secretary-general. We can’t afford to provoke him. There’s definitely something off about him. I have a really bad feeling right now!”

As the evil ghost shrieked to Qing Qiu, the voice of Patriarch Golden Vajra Warrior echoed in Xu Qing’s mind.

“Milord, you’re incredible! By merely looking at that wimpy spirit automaton, you got it terrified! Don’t worry, milord. Going forward, I’ll help you keep an eye on that little rascal. Hmph! How dare that thing have evil thoughts about Master Freespirit’s lord and master! Is it looking to die? With me here, there’s no way any malicious spirit will ever harm my most beloved lord. It’ll have to deal with me first!

“By the way, milord, it probably wouldn’t hurt to occasionally show off how domineering you are. Err... all the books I’ve read say that. The majesty of a king! The aggression of a tyrant! Milord, you have those things, so you can easily scare that upstart spirit automaton half to death!

“Later on, your humble servant will figure out a plan to work against it. That way, when the time comes to kill Girl in Red, we won’t have any unexpected setbacks.”

The patriarch was clearly going into overdrive trying to prove his worth.

Xu Qing thought about it for a moment. Having purchased all of the medicinal plants he wanted, he suddenly recalled the pallid bolus.

“Do you have any pallid boluses?” he asked.

The shopkeeper smiled and nodded. Pulling out a bottle of pills from behind the counter, he placed it in front of Xu Qing.

“Ten pallid bolus for one spirit coin.”

Xu Qing was shocked at the seemingly incredibly low price. After all, even back in Emperor-Receiving Prefecture, white boluses cost far more than that.

“Our exalted lieutenant governor is the epitome of benevolence and morality,” the shopkeeper explained. “He’s the one who invented this pill. There really is no end to his virtuous achievements. In order to ensure that the common folk in the county capital don’t have to deal with the encroaching effects of mutagen, he’s set the price for the pill at all shops in the city. For all intents and purposes, they’re basically free.”

Xu Qing felt admiration in his heart as he paid for the bottle. Later, he would research it and see if he could learn from the lieutenant governor’s pill concocting technique. With that, he turned and left.

***

Qing Qiu watched all of this, and suddenly found herself thinking back to the scavenger basecamp in South Phoenix. She remembered when she worked as a clerk at a general store, and a scrawny, grubby young man would cautiously approach and buy white boluses.

Qing Qiu frowned. She had no idea why seeing the detestable Ghost Hand buy medicinal pills would dredge up the memory of her most cherished Big Bro Kid. It was almost pure blasphemy. Feeling more revulsion at the sight of Xu Qing than ever, she quickly purchased the medicinal pills she wanted and then left the county capital, flying down toward the ground. She wasn’t staying in the Church of Departure’s subsidiary congregation in the city. She didn’t have much in the way of fond feelings for the church, and much preferred her own sword pavilion.

However, before she could reach her pavilion, she suddenly frowned again.

Inside her head, the evil ghost shrieked. “It’s Ghost Hand again! We really just can’t get rid of him! Don’t tell me he’s out to get us! Wait, I know what’s going on. He was looking at me earlier, which means he must know about my existence! He must be coming to end things in mutual destruction!”

“Shut up!” Qing Qiu said, grinding her teeth. Turning, she looked maliciously in the direction of Xu Qing, who was flying toward her.