Chapter 262: Chapter 257: Xuanyuan Sword
"The foremost sword in the world... if one does not count those legendary swords from myths, the sword before us is the world’s foremost sword—or perhaps, the first sword forged by human hands.
Its status is equivalent to that of the Military God’s Five Weapons wielded by Warlord Chi You, but due to the principle of the victor setting the rules, it holds various different meanings.
Thus, the Yellow Emperor achieved the status of Emperor, and the Xuanyuan Sword underwent a fundamental change. Emperor’s Sword, Human Dao Sword—it has become the emblem of Imperial Power, the representative of the Human Dao.
With numerous auras added to it, this sword can truly contend for the title of the foremost sword.
"Indeed, it is the Xuanyuan Sword!" exclaimed Yun Qiuchi. "Who knew Elder Kaiyang wasn’t just boasting."
Eh, seems you’ve focussed on the wrong point, right?
Her words made everyone simultaneously think of Elder Kaiyang, the previous shock they felt was swept away, replaced by a mix of laughter and tears.
Because Yun Qiuchi wasn’t wrong—in her description, Elder Kaiyang was indeed so unrestrained and bold; such was the impression he gave, unreliable.
Elder Tianpeng deeply shared this sentiment. Compared to Elder Kaiyang’s promise to show the Xuanyuan Sword, his fondness for watching erotic art seemed trivial.
However, looking at it from another angle, the very fact that Elder Kaiyang dared make such a promise was a skill in itself because the Xuanyuan Sword truly was shown.
Elder Tianpeng slowly began, "The pattern on the sword hilt is text written by the Character Saint Cang Jie, containing Heavenly Mechanism; the imprint on the blade aligns with the Yellow Emperor’s Path—front representing the myriad elements of heaven and earth, and the back, Gods, Demons, Immortals, and Devils. The Xuanyuan Sword’s concealed mysteries encompass all under heaven; just grasping a little of it can bring immense benefit."
At this point, Elder Tianpeng paused, then dropped a bombshell, "Before the conference, you may observe the sword freely."
At this declaration, a brilliance arose in the eyes of the young attendees.
Especially for the two from Mo Sect. Had it not been for this Sword Discussion Conference, they wouldn’t have even the qualifications to see the Xuanyuan Sword, let alone observe its profundities.
At the same time, they couldn’t help but marvel at the magnanimity of the Dinghu Sect, unafraid even if someone truly perceived something from it. Or perhaps, even if something was perceived, they remained fearless.
Regardless of the reason behind it, for everyone present, observing the Xuanyuan Sword was the most crucial, and all else could momentarily be put aside.
Aware of everyone’s eagerness, Elder Tianpeng prepared to leave, heading downstairs to let the younger generation proceed with their observations.
Unexpectedly, as he left, Tan Wuwei also followed, seemingly having no interest in observing the Xuanyuan Sword.
"After advancing to fifth-rank, the path of cultivation becomes fixed; a little bit of observation won’t yield much. I’d rather go downstairs and help Brother Long Yue with Artifact Refining."
Saying so, Tan Wuwei left without a trace of attachment.
The space was thus left for the young people.
Feng Ziyang was the first to make a move.
He walked more than ten steps away, distancing himself, and sat cross-legged in midair. His Lifebound Flying Sword stood before him as he closed his eyes in deep contemplation, evidently intending to use a sword to comprehend the sword, improving himself through the essence of the Xuanyuan Sword.
Yun Qiuchi, meanwhile, looked up at the profound characters on the sword hilt, muttering softly as if decoding the origins of the script.
Being a scholar of both Confucian and Daoist doctrines, and predominantly using the method of command through words, the importance of characters to her was apparent.
Brother and sister, Yan Hanqing and Mu Lingyi, used a mechanical iron box to transform into various devices, continuously making measurements, seemingly trying to ascertain the physical data of the Xuanyuan Sword.
Each had their own method, and Jiang Li had his too.
Complicated patterns emerged in his eyes, the "Lin De Calendar," "Yisi Divination," and "Tuibei Diagram" abilities of Dao Fruit merging into one, with the Emperor’s Qi Observation Skill being fully employed. His skin turned as transparent as crystal, showing crimson patterns, and the Divine Farmer’s appearance was fully revealed.
At the same time, the Dream Butterfly perched on his shoulder began to stir as if intending to raise its head, observing the mountain-like giant sword.
In Jiang Li’s hands, the Wind Queen Compass quietly appeared, silently calculating.
Multiple observations, overlapping fields of vision, Jiang Li looked again at the sword’s body, only to feel that the sun, moon, stars, hills, rivers, and vegetation were gradually twisting and transforming. The massive sword had acquired a curvature, making it look like...
A human!
All phenomena of heaven and earth, like the hundred parts of a human body, faintly corresponded.
"The ’Form Tomb’ concerns the Dao of transformation; form is appearance, transforming the appearances of gods and demons is to take on those appearances oneself, encompassing all divinities, but apart from the appearances of gods and demons, there are also the appearances of heaven and earth... The Yellow Emperor created the ’Form Tomb,’ intending to exhaust the appearances of heaven and earth and gods and demons, to transform the body into heaven and earth!"
Jiang Li was shocked, recalling the records in ancient texts.
In the past, the Yellow Emperor had Chi You, thus clarifying the Heavenly Dao; had Da Chang, thus understanding the benefits of the land; had She Long, thus deliberating the East; had Zhu Rong, thus deliberating the South; had Da Feng, thus deliberating the West; had the Earth Deity, thus deliberating the North. Having gained the Six Ministers, the Yellow Emperor brought order to heaven and earth, and supreme clarity to the gods.
The Yellow Emperor’s Six Ministers were the foundation of the Yellow Emperor’s integration of the appearances of heaven and earth with those of gods and demons.
Thinking up to this point, Jiang Li’s thoughts sparked like electricity, wildly extrapolating, wisps of white smoke emerging from his Heavenly Spirit, aiming to use his base of Yinglong Transformation to further extrapolate the secrets of heaven and earth.
Their disciples of the Dinghu Sect inherited the Yellow Emperor’s inheritance, having a natural advantage in observing the Xuanyuan Sword, as long as they found the correct approach, it was not difficult to gain insights.
But now, the gain Jiang Li wanted was simply too great, so great he couldn’t bear it. Even with the help of the Wind Queen Compass, he felt it was difficult to extrapolate the related mysteries.
Continuing would surely repeat the past mistakes made during the Qi Tomb cultivation, entangling himself.
Moreover, the current difficulty was much greater than before. Initially, Jiang Li was to differentiate the Innate Eight Qi, a task merely introductory to the ’Qi Tomb.’ Now, he attempted to extrapolate the mysteries of the ’Form Tomb.’ While ’Qi Tomb’ and ’Form Tomb’ were equivalent, the task was entirely unequal.
Even if he burned out his brain, Jiang Li could not successfully extrapolate the secrets of heaven and earth.
"However, using the Xuanyuan Sword to derive the Nine Heavens Demon Suppressing True Technique is feasible," Jiang Li shifted his thinking.
The key to the Nine Heavens Demon Suppressing True Technique lay in the transformation of heaven and earth. Although the current Xuanyuan Sword did not clarify the process of spiritual mechanism transforming pollutants, it did manifest the secrets of heaven and earth, which could serve as a control group for auxiliary extrapolation.
Unable to figure out the ’Form Tomb,’ can’t he handle you?
The Wind Queen Compass continuously evolved, Jiang Li continued the work of the past several days.
Simultaneously, he was also incessantly recording the principles manifested by the control group using the Karma Collection.
Time continuously passed in the contemplation and extrapolation, and quietly, an hour had gone by.
Just when Jiang Li felt that he was becoming more adept with the application of the Demon Cleansing True Qi, frequent clanking sounds suddenly resounded, echoing in the empty mountain.
Jiang Li’s gaze shifted slightly, detecting fluctuations of Qi Mechanism on the other side of the Xuanyuan Sword, seemingly someone else was also observing.
"I remember Elder Tianpeng said that on the other side of the sword body are gods, demons, immortals, and devils..."
With this thought, Jiang Li paused his work, walking along the rock wall towards the side.
The clanking sounds grew louder as he approached, and familiar figures came into view.
Yun Jiuye, Ling Wujue, and Xuanming from the Yuxu Temple.
Ling Wujue was surrounded by crisscrossing Sword Gang, the clanging incessant. His hair shined with a metallic luster, resembling swords and spears, and his Qi Mechanism revealed a slaughter akin to golden spears and iron horses.
The two sides of the Xuanyuan Sword were equal, one side being heaven and earth, the other being gods and demons. The strength of the gods and demons that corresponded to heaven and earth was evident.
If Jiang Li wasn’t mistaken, one of the gods and demons on this other side was indeed the Warlord.
The Yellow Emperor had slain Chi You, transforming his aspect into one of the Six Ministers. Since the Xuanyuan Sword manifested the achievements of the Yellow Emperor, it could not possibly lack the aspect of the Warlord Chi You.