Chapter 913: Supreme of the Sword Pavilion

"What did he just say? Mingtai is a sword spirit transformed into a human?"

The sword cultivators stared at Mingtai in utter disbelief. Lu Yang was the successor of the Immortal Ying Tian, and Mingtai was a sword spirit taken human form. No, really, both of you have such extraordinary identities. Compared to you two, are we all just too ordinary?

Originally, the sword cultivators had felt that with the coming of the great era of contention, it was precisely the time for them to stretch their wings and make a grand display of their skills.

Instead, they found that they had been utterly defeated on the sole front of their backgrounds.

To say an identity was special was not truly a great obstacle; history was replete with cultivators who, through arduous cultivation, had triumphed over many foes of special standing, leaving behind celebrated tales.

The problem was, even after cultivating arduously, they still could not defeat Lu Yang and his companion.

How on earth were they supposed to contend for this great era?

The expressions of the Sword Pavilion's higher-ups shifted slightly. They had not expected this ancient, nameless sword spirit to pierce through Mingtai's identity with a single word, leaving them uncertain whether it boded fortune or ruin.

Yun Mengmeng quietly edged closer to Lu Yang. She sensed that Liu Ningxuan's attitude was somewhat amiss, and the faint, elusive aura he radiated made her deeply uncomfortable.

Had Yun Mengmeng spent some time in the outside world, she would have known that this was called killing intent.

Liu Ningxuan stared at Mingtai, a cruel and dangerous smile gracing his features as he spoke unhurriedly.

"An innate sword spirit is truly a wonderful thing, even able to transform into human form. Unlike me, who can only remain within a sword."

Lu Yang's expression changed instantly, and he stepped in front of Mingtai. "What are you trying to do!"

Seeing Lu Yang's movement, Liu Ningxuan found it laughable. "Boy, do not think that just because you obtained the inheritance of the Immortal Ying Tian, I shall fear you."

"Let me guess. You only obtained the inheritance of the Immortal Ying Tian and have only ever seen his phantom images, but have never laid eyes on the true Immortal Ying Tian himself!"

Observing Lu Yang's expression, Liu Ningxuan became increasingly certain of his conjecture. "The Immortal Ying Tian has not shown his face for a long time; perhaps he died ages ago."

Given how much the Immortal Ying Tian loved to show off, could he really have remained silent for over a hundred thousand years? Surely, something had gone wrong.

The Immortal Ying Tian and he shared an blood feud. Were it not for the concern that the Immortal Ying Tian might still be alive, he would have slain even Lu Yang!

Over ten thousand years ago, after the Chengying Sword was acquired by the Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion, Liu Ningxuan, fearing that the Sovereign would perceive his presence within the blade, had remained in a deep slumber.

Upon awakening, he was first confronted by the successor of his mortal enemy, and then by an innate sword spirit transformed into human form. If he did not kill both to vent his wrath, it would simply be unjustifiable!

Liu Ningxuan manipulated the Chengying Sword, unleashing an invisible sword qi. The light was dazzling and boundlessly brilliant, outshining even the finest night-luminescent pearls at the apex of the sword vault. Its power was so immense that the entire vault trembled, and the Sword Pavilion above swayed left and right, unable to withstand such sword qi!

The invisible sword qi locked onto Mingtai, determined to slay him in a single blow!

The gathered sword cultivators shivered in terror at the sight, fearing that even an ordinary Tribulation Transmutation stage cultivator would be unable to withstand this single strike!

"Quickly, protect Mingtai!"

Pavilion Master Guan shouted urgently, throwing himself in front of Mingtai alongside the twelve elders, as layer upon layer of runes surged from their swords.

Golden runes erupted, containing some ultimate and supreme truth, reflecting one another to construct the Great Heavenly Array of the Sword Dao.

The invisible sword qi descended, striking the Great Heavenly Array of the Sword Dao, surging and raging wildly. After locked in a stalemate with the array for three breaths, the invisible sword qi and the array shattered simultaneously!

"Ah—"

Pavilion Master Guan and the others were sent flying by the residual shockwaves of the sword qi, their ribs broken in God knows how many places, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.

Liu Ningxuan sneered. "Is this the extent of your skill?"

"You should rejoice that I have not fought for tens of thousands of years and have grown rusty. Otherwise, that strike just now would have annihilated you all together!"

"I wonder what you intend to use to resist this time?"

Liu Ningxuan once again gathered an invisible sword qi, its power several degrees greater than the previous one!

Seeing this, the faces of Pavilion Master Guan and the others turned pale. They had exhausted all their strength just to block that last sword strike; how were they to block this one?

Right at that moment, the finest night-luminescent pearl at the apex of the sword vault bloomed with unprecedented brilliance, and a graceful silhouette stepped out from the nine-colored divine light.

"Let us see who dares harm my Mingtai!"

Everyone stared unblinkingly at the graceful figure within the nine-colored divine light, wondering which supreme master had manifested.

When Mingtai saw that familiar silhouette, his eyes lit up, and he could not help but cry out, "Master!"

Master?

Hearing Mingtai address the figure in such a manner, Pavilion Master Guan also realized who this individual truly was.

"The unworthy disciples of the Sword Pavilion pay their respects to the Sovereign!"

The finest night-luminescent pearl shattered, and the nine-colored divine light vanished, revealing the true form of the graceful silhouette. She was a woman of peerless grace, appearing soft and delicate, like a young lady of a noble household.

Very few knew that the Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion was actually a woman.

"The Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion?" Liu Ningxuan's eyes narrowed slightly, though he remained composed; this was by no means the true body of the Sovereign.

As if she had not even seen Liu Ningxuan, the Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion flew down and affectionately caressed Mingtai's head.

"You truly did embark upon this path of transforming into a human."

"Master!"

Mingtai clung tightly to the Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion, weeping bitter tears, having believed he would never see her again in this lifetime.

"There, there, do not cry. Am I not perfectly fine?" the Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion comforted him softly.

Then, she turned her head to look at Liu Ningxuan in the sky. "Is he the one who wishes to bully you? Watch as big sister teaches him a lesson!"

The Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion took up the Hanguang Sword and flew into the sky to confront Liu Ningxuan, the very air freezing between them.

Liu Ningxuan harbored no fear of the Sovereign, laughing contemptuously. "You truly have the audacity to say you are perfectly fine. You now possess nothing but a remnant soul hidden within a night-luminescent pearl, likely manifesting only because the Sword Pavilion faces an existential catastrophe."

"With this remnant soul of yours, how much of your original power can you possibly exert?"

Failing the Ascension Tribulation meant it was impossible to survive. For the Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion to leave behind a remnant soul was already turning the impossible into reality.

"Back then, I suspected this weapon was the Chengying Sword, but alas, there was never any proof, and the Grand Academy gave no definitive word either."

"Who would have thought? The world rumored that you had vanished, yet you were merely hiding within the Chengying Sword, clinging to a wretched existence until now."

The Sovereign pointed her sword at Liu Ningxuan, her delicate brows knitting together. "Daring to harm my Mingtai, I see you are weary of living!"

The Immortal Fairy was also observing the state of the Sovereign of the Sword Pavilion. "Impressive. To be able to leave behind a remnant soul from the Ascension Tribulation, could she possess the embryonic form of the Soul Dao Fruit?"

Aside from the embryonic form of the Indestructible Dao Fruit, only the embryonic form of the Soul Dao Fruit could achieve such a feat.

"Fairy, what is Liu Ningxuan's cultivation level?" Lu Yang asked covertly.

"The peak of the Tribulation Transmutation stage."

"Only the peak of the Tribulation Transmutation stage?" Lu Yang thought to himself, noting that he had assumed Liu Ningxuan was a half-immortal.

Immediately after, he realized something was amiss. When had he begun to think that the Tribulation Transmutation stage was nothing special?

"Back then, both he and this Immortal wished to condense the embryonic form of the Nirvanic Dao Fruit. He simply overestimated himself and challenged this Immortal, only to perform the unity of man and sword to flee as we fought," the Immortal Fairy said with a huff.

"Regrettably, he became a sword spirit. It is impossible for a sword spirit to possess the embryonic form of a Dao Fruit—oh, this Immortal excluded, of course."

"Had he not become a sword spirit, he would still have had some slight chance of condensing the embryonic form of the Nirvanic Dao Fruit."

Lu Yang had not expected the Immortal Fairy to hold such a high opinion of Liu Ningxuan. But then again, if one lacked a fair measure of ability, one would hardly possess the audacity to challenge the Immortal Fairy.