Chapter 1577 - True Martial Sword

After hearing Grandpa Dao’s words, Xu Zimo fell silent for a long time. Then he asked, “Was it Hongtian?”

“No, it was Shen Xing,” Grandpa Dao said with a smile. “Only he can reach the far side of the starry sky, and only he would choose to go. He once vowed to walk every mountain and river of the Primordial Heartlands. Now he has made a new vow. To set foot on every inch of land within the Nine Heavens.”

Xu Zimo smiled faintly. He had almost forgotten about Grand Emperor Shen Xing. In the history of the True Martial Sacred Ground, Grand Emperor Zhen Wu, as the founding ancestor, was the most renowned. Grand Empress Hongtian, with her unparalleled divine talent, swept across entire eras; even emperors who came after her lived under her shadow. As for Grand Emperor San Dao, though his fame was not as great as the other two, his attacks were vicious and unmatched. The Undying Flower still bloomed on the path before the True Martial Sacred Ground, and many disciples instinctively chose to inherit his legacy because his combat style was simple and brutally effective. Thus Grand Emperor San Dao was also widely celebrated.

Only Grand Emperor Shen Xing had little recorded about him. After receiving the Heaven’s Will, he rarely returned to the sect. He wandered the world, measuring every inch of land with his own steps. That was the path he walked. Xu Zimo hadn’t expected that even after entering the Nine Heavens, Grand Emperor Shen Xing was still following his own Dao. The road was long, accompanied only by loneliness and solitude. He truly possessed iron will.

“Then what about you, Senior San Dao? Are you also walking your own road?” Xu Zimo asked with a smile.

“My whole life, I’ve walked with my blade. In death, I’ll rest with it as well,” Grandpa Dao said, also smiling. “Along the way, I encountered countless saintesses and heavenly palace fairies, yet none of them could halt my steps. Only this blade followed me through it all.” His voice carried a faint sigh. At his age, he no longer cared for appearances. He had reached the twilight of life, like a candle nearly burned out.

After chatting for a while longer, Xu Zimo departed. Xiao An’an pushed his wheelchair. On the way, she asked with reluctance, “Do we really have to leave the True Martial Sacred Ground?”

“Why not?” Xu Zimo replied.

“I grew up here since childhood. I can’t help but feel attached,” she said softly.

“We’ll be back,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “We’re only going to handle some matters, kill a few people. Afterward, everything will return to what it should be. The only difference is that the True Martial Sacred Ground will rule Absolute God Heaven.”

His last words were spoken so quietly that Xiao An’an could barely hear them. As she pushed him forward, Xu Zimo asked, “What did Sect Master Wang say?”

“The sect master has already informed all elders and disciples,” she explained. “We should have an answer soon.”

“Then we’ll wait,” Xu Zimo said. “In the meantime, take me to see the sect’s monument.”

The True Martial Monument recorded those who had made great contributions to the sect. But due to the sect’s destruction, no one had visited for a long time. The last name recorded was from five hundred years ago. Xiao An’an didn’t ask further, she assumed Xu Zimo simply wanted to revisit old places, so she quietly pushed him toward the monument.

It took them over ten minutes. Though the sect had once been destroyed, the land was vast. Eventually, they reached the half-ruined monument grounds. There were three hundred monuments in total, each commemorating the most distinguished ancestors since the founding of the sect. Sadly, most had been destroyed. Only five or six remained intact; the rest were rubble and broken stone.

One monument read, “Martial Origin Ancestor. A three-thousand-year elder of the True Martial Sacred Ground. Once slew seven Saint Sovereigns and helped suppress the Yao Rebellion.”

Each monument towered dozens of meters high, with the life deeds of its subject carved below. Xu Zimo read them one by one. Most were broken in half or missing large sections.

“Young master, what are you looking for?” Xiao An’an asked.

“The monument of your founding ancestor, the True Martial Saint Sovereign,” Xu Zimo replied with a smile.

“But the ancestor’s monument shattered long ago,” Xiao An’an said regretfully.

“Do you know where it once stood?” he asked.

“It was the first monument, right in the innermost area. Easy to recognize,” she answered.

She pushed him to the deepest part, where they found a completely intact monument. Its surface was forged from black magic stone, and faint characters were still visible, radiating dense martial intent.

“The Monument of the Founding Ancestor, the True Martial Saint Sovereign. He led the True Martial Sacred Ground through a full sixty-year cycle and raised it to its peak.”

Xu Zimo silently read the inscription. Xiao An’an, shocked, exclaimed, “This… wasn’t the ancestor’s monument destroyed ages ago? How is it suddenly here again? Who restored it?”

“If a monument falls, it can be raised again. And if a person dies, they can also return,” Xu Zimo said quietly, offering no explanation. Then he added, “Place your hand on the stone.”

Xiao An’an hesitated for only a moment before obeying. The instant her hand touched the monument, a blinding sword glow erupted, slicing open the surrounding void. A deep vortex formed on the surface of the stone. Xu Zimo reached into it and retrieved a sword, tossing it to her.

“W-what is this?” Xiao An’an asked, catching it in a panic. The moment the sword touched her palm, she felt it resonate with her blood. Her True Martial Sword Physique rioted within her, sword intent bursting uncontrollably.

“The founding ancestor’s companion sword,” Xu Zimo said with a smile. “You can simply call it the True Martial Sword.”

“The ancestor’s sword? How… how could it be here?” she stammered.

“Because he left it for you,” Xu Zimo replied.

“Left it for me? But… why?” she asked, confused.

Xu Zimo shot her a glance but did not answer. Instead, he said, “Keep it. It’s rightfully yours. Even if I didn’t give it to you, that old man would’ve handed it over eventually. I’m just getting ahead of him.”

Xiao An’an didn’t understand his meaning. She only felt that old ancestors always spoke in circles. Still, she happily accepted the sword and thanked him repeatedly.

Just then, Wang Hengzhi descended from the distance. “Enough. It seems it’s time for us to leave. There’s nothing left to linger for here.”