NOVEL WEB Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The Sword God, Emperor Liu
The moment Old Sheep joined the Feathered Gate, Bai Yunfei was overjoyed. He immediately took Old Sheep with him to discuss the future development of the sect. These were matters he had been pondering alone, but with Li Jiu Feng hiding in the Scripture Pavilion, avoiding worldly affairs, Bai Yunfei had not dared to disturb him. Now that Old Sheep had joined, he was eager to share the responsibility.
Old Sheep was equally eager. As a new member, he was determined to contribute more to the Feathered Gate and prove his worth.
The two immediately left the Scripture Pavilion, their spirits high, leaving Li Jiu Feng alone in the hall.
"With Old Sheep's addition, the Feathered Gate's strength has greatly increased. It will also serve as a benchmark for others who might gain benefits from the Sword Sea. Even if they don't join the Feathered Gate, they shouldn't go against us," Li Jiu Feng thought quietly to himself. "But I still wonder what the Supreme Dao and the Wen family are plotting. They're hiding in the shadows, surely preparing something. We must remain cautious."
He frowned, but his thoughts soon lightened. "At least they haven't made any large moves yet, which gives the Feathered Gate a chance to breathe. With my breakthrough to the Ninth Forbidden, I now have enough strength to face any enemies."
Relaxing, Li Jiu Feng took another sip of his tea. With a casual flick of his hand, a book flew off the shelf and landed smoothly in his grasp. He opened it, his gaze scanning the pages.
The book contained various historical records, written about five thousand years ago, detailing the rise and fall of a major family—the Empire Family, known for its great influence during that era.
Li Jiu Feng's brow furrowed. An empire with the surname "Emperor"? It was rare for someone to take "Emperor" as their surname—usually a sign of ultimate power and divine rule. Such a surname was not to be taken lightly. His mind immediately connected the name to someone he had read about earlier.
The Sword God, Emperor Liu.
He had come across Emperor Liu in his studies of the ten great warriors from five thousand years ago. Emperor Liu was the only one among the top ten who wielded a sword, and his swordsmanship was so extraordinary that the world called him the Sword God.
Li Jiu Feng wondered if there was a connection between this Empire Family and Emperor Liu. With that thought, he continued reading the book.
As he read on, he learned that the Empire Family's downfall was caused by treachery within its own ranks. The three younger branches of the family used the legend of the Fallen Immortal Tomb as bait, luring the main branch's strongest members into a trap where they were killed and devoured by a demon lord imprisoned beneath the tomb.
The demon lord, once freed, massacred the Empire Family and took control, turning them into slaves and causing their utter destruction.
Li Jiu Feng closed the book with a sigh. "The downfall of such a powerful family didn't come from external enemies but from betrayal within. It's a harsh reminder that if a powerful family doesn't maintain unity, it will eventually be destroyed from within."
He was about to set the book down when he noticed a small line of text on the last page:
"It is rumored that the Empire family's direct descendant, an unborn child, was taken from his mother's tomb by a loyal servant. The truth of this remains uncertain."
Li Jiu Feng's eyes widened. He immediately thought of Emperor Liu.
"This child… could it be the legendary Sword God, Emperor Liu?" he murmured, rubbing his fingers over the text.
At that moment, a new line of text appeared before his eyes:
"You have detected the past of Sword God, Emperor Liu. Your comprehension of the time stream has been activated."
Li Jiu Feng's eyes sparkled with surprise. He hadn't expected that reading a book would lead him to uncover a connection with the Sword God, Emperor Liu, one of the ten great warriors. This unexpected discovery triggered a new understanding of time itself.
As he focused, time seemed to flow around him. He saw visions unfold before his eyes, and past events long buried began to resurface.
The scene around him changed, and he found himself in a lush wilderness, surrounded by mountains and rivers. In front of him, a wooden house stood beside a wide river. Two figures were practicing swordsmanship—an old man teaching a young boy.
The boy was young, his face full of determination, though his features were still soft with youth. He wielded a simple iron sword, his movements careful and precise.
"Young master, you are the last descendant of the Empire family. The deep grudge of the Empire rests upon your shoulders. You must train diligently," the old man said.
Li Jiu Feng recognized the boy immediately—this was the young Emperor Liu, the future Sword God.
"Uncle Shao, I understand the weight of my responsibility," the boy replied, his voice calm and firm.
"The young master's swordsmanship talent surpasses any of the Empire family's ancestors. You are a born sword fighter. Though I can teach you the basics, I won't be able to do so for much longer," the old man said with both pride and sorrow.
"It's fine, Uncle Shao. You only need to teach me the basics. I will comprehend the rest myself," the young boy said confidently.
"Good, I will teach you the basics of swordsmanship," the old man replied with a hearty laugh.
Li Jiu Feng listened in awe. What he heard shocked him.
"The world of cultivation is divided into fifteen 'Forbidden' levels. Our world can only reach the tenth Forbidden. Anything beyond that… I have no knowledge of," the old man explained.
Li Jiu Feng was stunned. Fifteen Forbidden levels? He had only ever heard of ten, but now, he was hearing about the existence of five more.
"How could I have never heard of the Fifteen Forbidden levels before?" Li Jiu Feng thought to himself, his mind reeling with questions.