Chapter 14 The Emperor Most Approaching the Master

"Hmm?"

The great master on the thirteenth throne of the void and the twelve golden-armored great beings all changed expression. The great master even manipulated the spacetime token to replay the scene from earlier: Ji Ning extending his finger, the fingertip touching the void, the scene repeating again and again...

"Yes, it's the Heartsword Art." The great master nodded slightly.

"This Beiming actually managed to master the Heartsword Art." Qian Tao Daoist beside him was somewhat astonished.

"Impressive."

"I thought he had created some sword technique that earned the recognition of the ancient tower. I didn't expect it was because he executed the Heartsword Art." The golden-armored great beings present were all amazed. Note that executing another's sword technique is different from creating one's own. A self-created technique generally has greater power when executed.

Ji Ning had previously learned the 'Reincarnation Style' from the 'Heart Seal Sword Art'. If at that level he had created his own sword technique, it would have been enough to gain the tower's recognition. But he hadn't rushed to create his own; instead, he delved into the more difficult 'Nameless Sword Art'. The seventh style of the Nameless Sword Art had an extremely strong sword intent, and even though Ji Ning executed another's technique, the sword intent still earned the tower's recognition.

"He only learned another's sword art." The great master shook his head slightly. "If he could achieve this step on his own path, that would be truly remarkable."

"Mm."

"Right."

The golden-armored great beings all nodded. That ancient being had reached the peak on the path of 'Heartsword Art' and become an Eternal Emperor, but that didn't mean Ji Ning could walk that path. Ji Ning's current sword strike was merely an entry.

"Muhua." The great master looked at Muhua Palace Master beside him.

"Master." Muhua Palace Master replied respectfully.

"Go and remind this little fellow." The great master instructed. "When he forges his own path in the future, he should also incorporate the mystery of combining heart force and sword art. But it's just a suggestion; the path he ultimately takes is his own choice."

"Yes." Muhua Palace Master nodded.

The great master's gaze was ethereal, and he sighed softly: "Back then, 'Heartsword Emperor' burst onto the scene, challenged us three masters, and then drifted away, leaving no trace."

The twelve golden-armored great beings beside him pricked up their ears and listened carefully.

'Heartsword Emperor' was indeed a legend, one whose power was almost comparable to the three masters. But he rose too quickly and vanished too quickly. Before the brink of Dao integration, he had little fame, keeping a low profile, and was said to have lived a mundane life in a chaos world for a long time.

It was only after becoming a Four-Step Daoist that, due to some grudges, he killed over twenty Daoists in a single battle, annihilated a large sect with overwhelming power, shocking the endless territories, and thus gained fame. Not long after, he succeeded in Dao integration and achieved eternity.

After achieving eternity, he challenged one Eternal Emperor after another, undefeated. But he never killed an Emperor.

Later, he challenged the ancient three masters.

The three masters had stood at the pinnacle from the infinite past to the present, unshakable. Outsiders never knew the true circumstances of that challenge. When asked, Heartsword Emperor only said, "I lost."

But one of the three masters, the great master of the ancient cultivators, said, "His power is comparable to ours."

With that one sentence...

Heartsword Emperor became a legend. Although he rose quickly and drifted away after the challenge with no further news, later great beings considered him the Emperor closest to the three masters in endless ages. His 'Heartsword Art' was highly esteemed, but he never fully taught his sword art to any disciple. Before leaving, he left a complete volume of 'Heartsword Art' in the Dao Alliance.

That volume of 'Heartsword Art' became a treasure of the Dao Alliance. Most versions circulating outside were incomplete; only the Dao Alliance possessed the complete one. Forces like Mangya Kingdom paid a huge price but could not obtain a complete set of 'Heartsword Art'.

"His sword art, in terms of sword Dao mysteries alone, is not the highest. Some rebellious Daoists who can slay Emperors have higher sword Dao mysteries." The great master sighed. "But his strength lies in the near-perfect integration of heart force cultivators and divine power cultivators, which greatly amplifies power."

"Mm." The twelve golden-armored great beings nodded.

Logically, the heart force stream, qi stream, and divine power stream are completely different schools.

For example, Beta Laeu relied on some illusions or the projection of his heart world to suppress and bind enemies in battle, using heart force as an aid, then engaged in close combat.

But—

Heartsword Emperor was different. He erupted divine power, executed divine abilities, and with one sword strike, the power was vast. Heart force influenced reality through illusion, naturally combining with the sword strike. This made heart force and divine power stream perfectly integrate... resulting in a tremendous increase in power. Later, great beings considered him the Emperor closest to the three masters.

...

Sword Palace.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Beiming."

"Senior Brother Beiming, having earned the recognition of the Sword Tower, you are now the seventh Sword Lord of our Sword Palace."

Ji Ning was in an excellent mood and responded to his fellow disciples. Suddenly, he saw a golden-armored figure at the edge of the Sword Tower Forest.

"Senior Brother Muhua?" Ji Ning recognized him immediately.

"Beiming, come with me." Muhua Palace Master transmitted.

"Everyone, the Palace Master summons me. I must take my leave." Ji Ning said to the cultivators around him, who also saw Muhua Palace Master in the distance.

Soon.

Ji Ning and Muhua Palace Master walked together through the forest.

"Beiming, now that you have earned the Sword Tower's recognition and become a Sword Lord, according to the rules, you may choose any treasure worth no more than one million cubes of chaos nectar from the Divine Weapon Valley." Muhua Palace Master said. "This is the Sword Palace's special treatment for Sword Lords. Only Sword Lords enjoy this benefit."

Ji Ning's eyes lit up. No more than one million cubes? That was quite generous.

Indeed, Sword Lords were those who could become Daoists at any time, and once they broke through, they would not be ordinary Daoists, making them worth nurturing.

"By the way, now that you are a Sword Lord, there is something I should tell you." Muhua Palace Master smiled. "Almost all World-level cultivators in the twelve palaces who have earned the recognition of the ancient towers are now preparing... because a great opportunity lies before you."

"A great opportunity?" Ji Ning was puzzled.

"Mm. Ultimately, four World-level cultivators from the twelve palaces will receive this great opportunity." Muhua Palace Master looked at Ji Ning. "This is a truly great opportunity, one that our twelve palaces cannot provide. In the entire endless territories, only the great master can offer such an opportunity. If not for a little one from his imperial clan, the great master would certainly not bring it out."

Muhua Palace Master knew well that in the great master's heart, the imperial clan was the most important.

For the imperial clan, the great master was willing to give. He gave four slots to the twelve palaces, partly because they were his subordinates, but mainly to provide four helpers for that little imperial clan member. The 'Ancient Domain' of the alternate universe was a place of both absolute danger and opportunity. Greater opportunities always come with greater dangers.

"In the entire twelve palaces, there should be many who have earned the recognition of the ancient towers." Ji Ning was puzzled. "Only four will get it?"

"Only four." Muhua Palace Master sighed. "I fear our Sword Palace may not get even one."

"You just earned the tower's recognition and have been in our Sword Palace for a short time. Failure is nothing. But work hard. According to the great master, the four strongest among you will receive this opportunity." Muhua Palace Master said. He indeed did not have high hopes for Ji Ning. Although Ji Ning had earned the Sword Tower's recognition, the other six Sword Lords had done so long ago.

"In about a hundred years, the great master will select the four strongest from among you." Muhua Palace Master said.

"A hundred years?" Ji Ning nodded inwardly.

It seemed he needed to prepare.

"Oh, by the way, do you know the name of the sword art you used to earn the tower's recognition?" Muhua Palace Master asked Ji Ning.

Ji Ning shook his head: "I don't know. I obtained this sword art by chance. Since I didn't know its name, I called it the 'Nameless Sword Art'. Senior Brother Muhua, do you know?" Ji Ning's eyes grew fervent. After executing the seventh style 'Heart of Heaven and Earth', he realized that although it was slightly more difficult than Xuejian Emperor's 'Reincarnation Style', the sword Dao mysteries were on the same level. The difficulty lay in the fact that the 'Heart of Heaven and Earth' was more ethereal, more focused on the feeling of the heart, a perfect combination of heart force and sword technique.

Ji Ning indeed had talent in heart force. Although his heart force was not strong, he still executed this technique.

If his heart force were higher, even reaching the sixth level and creating his own 'Heart World', the power of this technique would be much greater.

"This is a sword art that perfectly combines heart force and sword Dao." After executing this technique, Ji Ning understood its value and immediately became eager.

"I do know." Muhua Palace Master nodded. "This sword art was left by an Emperor whose power nearly rivaled a master."

...