The Nine Swords of the Sovereign Emperor

Although called the Transmission Pavilion, it was in fact composed of a cluster of resplendent palace buildings gilded with gold and jade.

Within the Transmission Pavilion, apart from more than ten Golden Core elders, there were over a thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Whether elder or disciple, all were dedicated practitioners who preferred to delve into the creation of sword techniques, mental methods, talismans, and formations, rather than engage in conflict.

Among the Seventy-Two Peaks, if a cultivator could innovate and create new methods, there was a chance they would be invited into the Transmission Pavilion.

The cultivation resources within the Transmission Pavilion were naturally superior to those of the Seventy-Two Peaks.

Since its inception, the Transmission Pavilion had played an indispensable role in the legacy of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

It was precisely because the cultivators of the Transmission Pavilion had painstakingly compiled and systematized countless experiences of their predecessors, analyzing and refining them by discarding the dross and preserving the essence, continuously perfecting and deducing, that they paved a broad and prosperous path for other disciples.

For example, tens of thousands of years ago.

Among the inheritances of Yunxiao Peak, the Nine Scenes of Yunxiao originally comprised only one scene, named Blazing Sun Golden Radiance.

Over time, countless cultivators supplemented and perfected it, resulting in the nine scenes today, regarded as pinnacle Golden Core sword techniques.

The original move, Blazing Sun Golden Radiance, was refined countless times, nearly reaching perfection.

The Cloud Sea Mist technique, frequently wielded by Pang Yue, underwent a similar process.

In the center of this vast palace complex stood five majestic pavilions arranged in the pattern of plum blossoms.

Pang Yue entered one of these pavilions and was soon led by a guarding cultivator into a grand hall.

There, an elder with white hair and beard sat cross-legged in midair at the center, smiling warmly at Pang Yue.

“Disciple Chen Mo from Yunxiao Peak comes to apply for the true transmission trial,” Pang Yue said respectfully.

This was one of his true reasons for infiltrating the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The elder’s eyes gleamed with clarity and purity as he looked deeply at Pang Yue, then smiled and asked, “There are three great paths to becoming a true transmission disciple of our Heavenly Sword Sect.”

“First, defeat the Trial Law Spirit. Second, perform a great meritorious deed for the sect. Third, receive a talisman edict personally bestowed by the sect leader.”

“Which path do you intend to pursue?”

Rumor had it that the Trial Law Spirit of the Transmission Pavilion was forged by a powerful primordial spirit. Its strength was the benchmark for measuring Foundation Establishment disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Defeating the Trial Law Spirit meant one had gained the recognition of a primordial spirit from all aspects.

The second and third paths were rare exceptions, occurring once in a century, achievable only by those with great perseverance, willpower, and immense fortune.

This was because the merits required to become a true transmission disciple were astronomical.

An ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would need to dedicate at least a century, with sincere focus and arduous accumulation, to possibly fulfill the requirements.

As for the talisman edict personally granted by the sect leader, one needed extraordinary fortune to encounter such a blessing.

An ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator aspiring to obtain a talisman edict from a primordial spirit was akin to reaching the heavens.

Pang Yue spoke in a deep voice, “This disciple wishes to challenge the Trial Law Spirit.”

The elder nodded, as if he had anticipated this.

With a gentle point, a sword light appeared suspended above the hall.

The sword light shifted and transformed into an unusually handsome young man.

He wore flowing robes with wide sleeves, a tall crown atop his head; his bearing was elegant and refined, with a gentle expression resembling that of an elder, as he regarded Pang Yue.

“Strike. Let me see your strength,” the young man smiled.

Without a word, Pang Yue pointed toward him.

Ninety-nine razor-sharp Taibai Gengjin sword auras shot forth, intertwining in the air to form a vast scroll filled with leaden clouds and entwined thunder.

As the scroll unfolded, it enveloped the young man.

Blazing thunderlight erupted fiercely.

Countless sword lights emerged amidst the thunder, weaving a prison-like pattern.

In an instant, sword light became thunder, and thunder became sword.

Within the thunderstorm, an eternal, undying, ever-flowing aura gradually arose.

Within this wildly destructive sword formation, a nascent sword intent took shape, resembling destruction, creation, and chaos all at once.

The sword light’s power instantly surged to a new level.

Within the formation, a single aura ascended but was immediately extinguished in a flash.

Pang Yue remained expressionless as he reached forward and grasped; the sword formation dispersed, and ninety-nine Gengjin sword auras returned to his body.

The Trial Law Spirit shattered without a trace.

Within the hall, residual thunderlight still flickered.

The observing elder’s face was intermittently illuminated by the thunderlight. He looked puzzled and asked, “Did you just use the Lead Cloud Thunder Prison from the Nine Scenes of Yunxiao? It seems somewhat different.”

“All ninety-nine Taibai Gengjin sword auras have been refined by you to their utmost, their killing power likely surpassing that of a first-rank artifact… How have you accumulated such astonishing prowess?”

He had guarded this place for many years, and every disciple who came to challenge the Law Spirit had always given their utmost.

Rarely had anyone like Pang Yue, whose strength far exceeded that of a true transmission disciple, delayed the trial until now and then performed a ‘one-sword annihilation’ trick.

It seemed he desired to make a grand display, stunning everyone at once.

This left the elder somewhat displeased.

Pang Yue, meanwhile, quietly assessed that the standard for true transmission disciples in the Heavenly Sword Sect seemed similar to that of the Magic Talisman Sect’s Ping Taiyin and the like.

Or perhaps slightly higher.

Sending Magic Talisman Sect’s He Miao, Xu Wentian, and others here to trial the Law Spirit would not be too difficult.

His swift victory over the Law Spirit owed partly to the fortune of being in Youtian Market and receiving the “assistance” of a primordial spirit, rapidly cultivating the ninety-nine Taibai Gengjin sword auras to perfection.

Another reason was his recent enlightenment of the Chaos Thunder intent, which, combined with the Innate Limitless Stele, elevated the Lead Cloud Thunder Prison sword technique to a new height.

Its power greatly increased.

In other words, the strength he exhibited now could nearly rival that of the true master.

The true master prevailed by virtue of numerous techniques—Ice Demon Sword, the Sea-Calming Talisman Formation composed of the Immaculate Demon Knot—whose power was no less than the Lead Cloud Thunder Prison.

Without waiting for Pang Yue to speak further, the elder commented, “Your sword strike rivals the swordsmanship within the primordial spirit-level legacy. If perfected in the future, it might well become the sixth primordial spirit path of our sect.”

Pang Yue replied, “This disciple has not yet reached the Golden Core stage and dares not think of such distant matters.”

The elder waved his hand and said, “Yunxiao Peak produced a Yang Su, and now you. Truly, the saying ‘from extreme adversity comes great fortune’ is apt!”

After a pause, he asked, “Our sect has no cumbersome formalities. Since you are now a true transmission disciple, you may cultivate any of the five great primordial spirit paths. Which do you wish to train?”

Pang Yue bowed respectfully and answered, “This disciple wishes to cultivate the Nine Swords of the Human Emperor.”

“The Nine Swords of the Human Emperor? Are you certain?” the elder was momentarily stunned, then surprised.

“This disciple is certain,” Pang Yue replied.

The elder chuckled, “Very well. Young people always have high ambitions. In a few years, you will likely return to me to exchange for another path.”

With that, he touched Pang Yue’s brow.

A profound and mysterious technique instantly flooded Pang Yue’s mind.

Scanning it with his divine sense, Pang Yue’s face lit up with joy as he bowed and thanked, “Thank you, Elder!”

The elder smiled and said, “Go now, cultivate diligently. In the future, Yunxiao Peak will rely on you to glorify its legacy!”

“Your teachings will be followed with utmost respect,” Pang Yue nodded and took his leave.