NOVEL WEB Chapter 309: The Sword Emperor's Mausoleum
Chapter 309: The Sword Emperor’s Mausoleum
“Sorry for keeping everyone waiting.”
The Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion arrived.
Sheng Tianyun and Xu Lian finally broke their intense gaze.
“You are the winners of the various tracks in this sword competition. According to the tradition of the Sword Pavilion, you are entitled to receive cultivation resources corresponding to your level as a reward.”
The Pavilion Master took out eight spatial bags and handed them one by one to Sheng Tianyun, Xu Lian, and the six other victors from different tracks.
Xu Lian accepted the bag and immediately used his consciousness to inspect its contents. Inside, he found thirty strands of Origin Tracing Light, which left him somewhat disappointed. He had hoped for more-perhaps even a full Origin Tracing Light-but only thirty strands were given to him.
Upon reflection, he understood why. Since the passing of the Sword Emperor, the Sword Pavilion had not produced a supreme-level expert. The exclusive cultivation resource zones once secured by the Sword Emperor had gradually been encroached upon by various top-level powers.
The Sword Pavilion no longer possessed any exclusive cultivation zones and had retreated into obscurity within its own domain. Over the long years, they had lived off the remnants left behind by the Sword Emperor. Even with the vast wealth the Sword Emperor had originally amassed, it was nearly depleted after centuries of consumption. These thirty strands of Origin Tracing Light were likely squeezed out with great difficulty – it was already quite generous.
Sheng Tianyun and the other victors also inspected their spatial bags, but they simply thanked the Pavilion Master without much reaction. Their families or sects provided them with sufficient cultivation resources, so they didn’t need the Sword Pavilion’s rewards that much. What truly mattered to them was who would ultimately inherit the Sword Emperor’s legacy.
Although Xu Lian and Sheng Tianyun were the most likely candidates to obtain the Sword Emperor’s inheritance, it wasn’t guaranteed. There was always the possibility that the Sword Emperor’s remaining consciousness would choose someone else entirely.
“All of you are outstanding figures from various great powers, so I imagine that none of you are lacking in cultivation resources. The rewards given by the Sword Pavilion are merely an additional token of appreciation, not life-saving aid. The Sword Emperor’s legacy is not something that any of you need. Even without it, I believe all of you will become formidable figures in your respective domains,”
The Pavilion Master smiled and respectfully clasped his hands. “Regardless of whom the Sword Emperor’s lingering consciousness chooses-or if it chooses no one-I hope none of you harbor any resentment. Furthermore, I hope that the Sword Pavilion can maintain its current relationship with all of you.”
The honorary students returned the gesture with respectful bows.
“Pavilion Master, you’re too kind. The Sword Pavilion has chosen me as an honorary disciple, granted me a high-level guardian to protect my cultivation, and assigned me a sword attendant to assist me. I’ve also been given the opportunity to seek the Sword Emperor’s legacy. I’m deeply grateful, and I could never hold a grudge.”
“Whether we get the Sword Emperor’s legacy or not depends on our fate. If we fail, we have no one to blame, let alone the Sword Pavilion.”
The Pavilion Master’s words were a preemptive clarification to avoid any possible disappointment later. Without further elaboration, he led Sheng Tianyun, Xu Lian, and the other six victors into the Sword Emperor’s Mausoleum.
The eight sword attendants silently followed their respective masters. As the direct daughters of prominent families within the Sword Pavilion, they were considered core members and thus qualified to enter the Sword Emperor’s Mausoleum.
As for the sword disciples, they lacked the privilege to enter-their families belonged to the outer circle of the Sword Pavilion.
The group of sixteen – eight honorary disciples and eight sword attendants – followed the Pavilion Master deeper into the mausoleum.
Xu Lian noticed that the Sword Emperor’s tomb wasn’t as sacred as he had imagined. Instead, the environment was dark, cold, and damp. The ancient stone stairs leading down were dirty and emitted a musty smell, obviously neglected for a long time. Moss covered the walls, and occasionally small insects would poke their heads out, startled by the visitors before retreating back into hiding.
Perhaps to ease any concerns about the Sword Pavilion’s neglect of the tomb, the Pavilion Master casually explained, “The Sword Emperor’s mausoleum is his resting place. Aside from during sword competitions, the Sword Pavilion refrains from entering to disturb his peace. Therefore, the environment here is similar to that of an ordinary grave.”
Xu Lian suddenly remembered the words of the Goddess of Time that the Sword Pavilion’s sword competitions were held every five thousand years. Yet this time it had been initiated less than three thousand years after the previous one, possibly due to foreboding signs of impending chaos.
He asked, “I heard that the Sword Pavilion holds these sword competitions every five thousand years. Why has it been moved up by two thousand years this time?”
The others shared his curiosity.
The Pavilion Master sighed. “Since the passing of the Sword Emperor, the Sword Pavilion has not produced another supreme-level expert. Due to the lack of top-level experts, the exclusive cultivation resource zones that were once under the control of the Pavilion have been gradually taken over by various powers.
“Our cultivation resources have dwindled, and our foundation is slowly eroding. More and more powerful figures are growing restless, coveting the Sword Emperor’s inheritance and contemplating seizing it by force. It has become increasingly difficult for the Sword Pavilion to defend itself against such threats.
“Therefore, we have decided to start this sword competition early. If someone succeeds in obtaining the inheritance, it would be ideal. But if no one does, then the Sword Pavilion will close its doors entirely until the next competition opens in eight thousand years.”
The group exchanged glances but remained silent. Among those coveting the Sword Emperor’s inheritance might be supreme-level experts from their own families or sects, making it awkward to comment further.
They continued to descend for about half an hour before finally reaching the bottom.
Before them lay a circular burial pit containing a sword-shaped coffin.
Strange… Xu Lian’s expression changed slightly. Was the Sword Emperor so dedicated to his craft that even his coffin was shaped like a sword?
The Pavilion Master instructed, “Stand before the coffin and extend your consciousness into it. If the Sword Emperor’s lingering consciousness acknowledges you, it will impart its teachings”.
The eight honorary disciples lined up in front of the coffin.
Xu Lian asked another question. “What if a previous honorary disciple has already claimed the Sword Emperor’s inheritance?”
The Pavilion Master replied, “That won’t happen. If someone had obtained the inheritance, the Sword Emperor’s weapon, the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass, would have appeared to recognize its new master. The Sword Pavilion would certainly know about it,”
Xu Lian understood. Whether someone had received the Sword Emperor’s inheritance or not could be determined by the presence of the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass.
The eight honorary disciples closed their eyes and extended their consciousness to the coffin.
Time ticked by…
No response.
The eight opened their eyes and exchanged glances, unable to hide their disappointment.
The eight sword attendants mirrored their disappointment. This meant that their masters, like all the previous honorary disciples in the history of the Sword Pavilion, had failed to receive the Sword Emperor’s inheritance.
Huo Xin’er grabbed Xu Lian’s hand and forced a smile to comfort him. “It’s okay if you didn’t receive the Sword Emperor’s legacy. You already possess the divine laws of the Divine Kingdom. Once you fully comprehend them, you’ll still become an unrivaled powerhouse”.
“What you say is true,” Xu Lian replied. He knew that she must be deeply disappointed, as higher expectations often led to greater disappointment.
But inwardly, Xu Lian cursed. The Sword Emperor lacked vision – failing to pass on the legacy to him was the Sword Emperor’s loss.
The Pavilion Master added, “Aside from receiving recognition from the Sword Emperor’s remaining consciousness, there is another way to indirectly obtain the Sword Emperor’s inheritance.”