Chapter 9: A Set of Snow Mirror Scrolls

"Our Blade Palace doesn't ask for much, just two slots."

"Yin Feng, there are only four in total, and your Blade Palace wants two?"

"Who knows, our Blade Palace might take three."

The twelve Golden Armor magnates watched the sixty-six scenes in the void while chatting idly. They were also familiar with the World-level strength of each of the twelve palaces. In the current generation of World-level cultivators in the twelve palaces... the Blade Palace indeed stood out. Before Beta Leo joined, 'Dong Xiu' of the Blade Palace was unquestionably the strongest among World-level cultivators, and the other Blade Lords were also extraordinarily impressive.

When the Blade Palace's vice-palace lord, 'Yin Feng Dao Lord', said they might take three slots... it was not an exaggeration.

The reason the Blade Palace was so formidable in the World-level generation was that its palace lord was—Li Xing Palace Lord! Li Xing Palace Lord was undisputedly the strongest among all Dao Lords of the twelve palaces, and even among all Dao Lords of the top powers across the endless territories, he was definitely in the top three.

With just three heaven-defying strikes, he slew an Eternal Emperor.

His monstrous talent was thus evident... Now, Li Xing Palace Lord was also on the verge of Dao merging. For a Dao Lord as heaven-defying as him, the path he walked was considered the most difficult, making successful Dao merging extremely hard. Naturally, Li Xing Palace Lord focused entirely on preparing for Dao merging. For a time, he had devoted himself earnestly to teaching the World-level disciples of the Blade Palace.

Those World-level cultivators all received personal, dedicated guidance from Li Xing Palace Lord. His teaching lasted a full ten million years, after which Li Xing Palace Lord left Mangaya Kingdom to wander elsewhere.

'Being a teacher' was also a form of self-cultivation.

For Li Xing Palace Lord, it was merely a training before Dao merging, but for those World-level cultivators, it was a true great opportunity. After all, Li Xing Palace Lord, across the endless territories, even counting Eternal Emperors, was definitely in the top three in the Dao of the Blade. If counting only Life-and-Death Dao Lords, he was unquestionably the number one in the Dao of the Blade in this era.

Thus...

The Blade Palace's World-level generation was exceptionally strong overall, and the most outstanding among them were especially remarkable.

...

Sword Palace.

"Palace Lord." The three World-level cultivators bowed respectfully.

Mu Hua Palace Lord sat cross-legged, looking at them. The one staying in the Sword Palace was his true body; the one in the imperial palace was merely an incarnation.

"A great opportunity lies before you." Mu Hua Palace Lord said.

"Oh?" Yan Kuang Sword Lord, Yi Cheng Sword Lord, and Wu Xiu Sword Lord's eyes lit up.

"The other three Sword Lords are also rushing back from various parts of Mangaya Kingdom. All six of you Sword Lords must prepare well in the coming days." Mu Hua Palace Lord said. "Apart from Beta Leo and Dong Xiu, everyone in the twelve palaces who has received the ancient tower's acknowledgment may obtain this opportunity... but in the end, only four will get it."

Yan Kuang Sword Lord and the others were startled.

Those who received the ancient tower's acknowledgment were all capable of becoming Dao Lords at any time, and they were no ordinary Dao Lords! Since only four were to be chosen from among them, what kind of opportunity warranted such selection?

"Prepare yourselves. I hope our Sword Palace can succeed with at least one." Mu Hua Palace Lord sighed.

"Rest assured, Palace Lord."

"We will do our utmost."

The three Sword Lords present were all filled with fighting spirit.

But Mu Hua Palace Lord knew well: what use was fighting spirit? Those who had received the ancient tower's acknowledgment were probably all brimming with confidence. In the end, it would come down to strength, and the Blade Palace's strength in the World-level generation was simply too great.

...

Those who had received the ancient tower's acknowledgment were secretly tipped off by the magnates of the twelve palaces, and those adventuring in dangerous places within Mangaya Kingdom were recalled one by one.

...

Sword Palace, Dao Lord Cloud Realm.

Whoosh.

A white-robed youth appeared in midair beside the Dao Lord Cloud Realm. He was somewhat disheveled, with traces of blood on him, but as light flowed over his body, everything became clean again. Ji Ning had never even heard of the competition for that great opportunity, so he naturally lived a very leisurely, happy, and excited life.

Indeed, it was leisurely and exciting. Having reached this point in the Dao of the Sword, Ji Ning genuinely loved practicing swordsmanship, and the feeling of continuous progress captivated him.

And the Sword Palace was the holy land for sword cultivators.

"How exhilarating."

"After spending centuries in the Sword Pagoda Forest gaining many insights, I entered the Dao Lord Cloud Realm for real battles to test my swordsmanship." Ji Ning flew through the air, relaxed and at ease. It had only been a little over twenty years since he entered the Sword Palace, but with the Time Grass Hut, he had effectively cultivated for over two thousand years and had ventured into the Dao Lord Cloud Realm five times.

"You Ji hasn't returned yet?"

Ji Ning glanced down at his immortal mansion on a distant peak. Su Youji indeed hadn't returned. "It seems she's set on entering the Flame Palace."

Suddenly—

"Junior Brother Bei Ming! Junior Brother Bei Ming!"

A shout came from afar.

Ji Ning turned to look. A tall, black-armored Dao Lord with thick facial hair flew over.

"This senior brother." Ji Ning didn't actually recognize him. There were many black-armored Dao Lords in the Sword Palace, and Ji Ning, focused on cultivation, hadn't socialized much, so he knew few people in the Sword Palace.

"I am Ji Wang." The black-armored Dao Lord said quickly, "Sword Five of the Divine Weapon Valley asked me to pass a message for you to go there."

"Sword Five?" Ji Ning's eyes lit up.

Sword Five was a puppet who handled affairs impartially; he wouldn't call Ji Ning without reason. Ji Ning had already purchased the nine types of Chaos Divine Water he had ordered earlier. The only thing he still had the Divine Weapon Valley help with was collecting the 'fourth Snow Mirror scroll.'

"Thank you, Dao Lord Ji Wang." Ji Ning said and immediately flew off into the distance.

...

Ji Ning landed at the Divine Weapon Valley. Sword Five and Sword Six, who were in charge of guarding the place, stood on either side of the gate.

"Bei Ming." Sword Five spoke.

"Is it the Snow Mirror scroll?" Ji Ning couldn't help asking.

"You're quite impatient." Sword Five smiled.

Ji Ning laughed too: "How could I not be? When I first entered the Sword Palace, I didn't choose a legacy." It was because he had the legacy of Snow Mirror Emperor that Ji Ning looked down on other legacies. The Sword Palace did have Emperor legacies, but they required acknowledgment from the ancient tower and passing the Emperor's trials, which Ji Ning didn't qualify for. The others were clearly inferior to Snow Mirror Emperor's.

"Good thing you didn't choose." Sword Five said. "You're lucky. The fourth Snow Mirror scroll was found without too much effort, but the seller probably guessed you valued it highly and set a high price: three hundred thousand cubes of Chaos Divine Liquid. Plus, a Dao Lord worked hard to find it and traveled across many territories to deliver this fourth scroll, so you need to give that Dao Lord thirty thousand cubes as a thank-you gift. That's three hundred thirty thousand cubes in total!"

Ji Ning nodded.

The twelve palaces had their rules. For instance, by spreading word through the twelve palaces that the 'fourth Snow Mirror scroll' was needed, many Dao Lords would help search. The Dao Lord who successfully found and delivered the item would get a ten percent reward; the others were just helping for nothing.

"Here are three hundred thirty thousand cubes." Ji Ning handed a gourd to Sword Five.

Sword Five took it and checked.

"Whoosh."

Sword Five waved his hand, and from deep within the Divine Weapon Valley gate flew a scroll radiating sword energy, depicting a scene of ice and snow.

"Here you go." Sword Five handed it to Ji Ning.

Ji Ning, barely containing his excitement, took the ice-and-snow scroll. Finally, he had it! Snow Mirror Emperor had never formally taken disciples. Before embarking on his wandering adventures, he created ten sets of scrolls and scattered them completely. Any World-level cultivator who collected a set and passed the trials would become his personal disciple!

"The Emperor's personal disciple? Since Snow Mirror Emperor dared to say that obtaining a set of scrolls makes one a personal disciple, his legacy shouldn't disappoint me, right?" Ji Ning eagerly anticipated.

Some legacies only contained techniques and insights.

More dedicated ones, like Bei Xiu World God, painstakingly created ninety-eight stone tablets to guide Ji Ning.

Even better—divine abilities, treasures, secret arts—like San Chou Dao Lord raising disciples, leaving behind a pile of everything.

"I wonder what Snow Mirror Emperor left behind."

"I've gathered a set and passed three of the four cave-heaven trials. Only the last one remains." Ji Ning put away the scroll.

"Thank you." Ji Ning expressed his gratitude to Sword Five and Sword Six, then transformed into a streak of light and flew away swiftly.

...

Ji Ning flew quickly back to his immortal mansion.

Swoosh.

He rushed into the mansion, and the doors slammed shut! No one could enter now; even if Su Youji returned, she would have to stay outside. Ji Ning would not allow anyone to disturb him now.

...