Chapter 1: The Sword Lord

The Sword Palace was incomparably vast, like a giant floating island suspended high in the sky, with continuous buildings atop it. The soaring sword intent made Ji Ning inwardly gasp.

At the outer perimeter of the Sword Palace, several black-armored Dao Lords were patrolling.

"This fellow Daoist." Sensing the Sword Palace token on Ji Ning, a black-armored Dao Lord immediately flew over and said with considerable courtesy and humility, "First time at the Sword Palace?"

"Yes." Ji Ning nodded.

"I am Fu Dan. Let me guide you, fellow Daoist." The black-armored Dao Lord was very polite, even lowering his posture considerably. He also glanced at Su Youji beside Ji Ning; she was clearly not from the Sword Palace, but the black-armored Dao Lord said nothing.

"I am Beiming." Ji Ning said.

"Junior Brother Beiming has come to the Sword Palace for the first time, yet already has an identity token. Are you from the Star Island?" The black-armored Dao Lord led the way while making conversation.

"Yes." Ji Ning nodded.

"To join our Sword Palace while on Star Island—impressive, Junior Brother." The black-armored Dao Lord laughed. As he spoke, they stepped onto a stone path a thousand zhang wide. This path led straight ahead to the main gate of the Sword Palace, on which were two bold characters—Sword Palace!

Those two characters overflowed with sword intent, enveloping the entire Sword Palace, then soaring into the sky, unhindered even by layers of spacetime.

Ji Ning was stunned. The intensity of the sword intent in these two characters was the most terrifying he had ever seen.

"These two characters were left by the first Palace Master of our Sword Palace, the 'Wind Snow Emperor.'" The black-armored Dao Lord said, "Junior Brother Beiming, do you know the rules for establishing a new palace among the Twelve Palaces?"

"Establishing a new palace?" Ji Ning was puzzled; he really didn't know.

The black-armored Fu Dan Dao Lord said, "A long, long time ago, the Great Ruler founded the Mangya Kingdom and devoted great effort to nurturing and guiding these Dao Lords. But at that time, there were no 'Twelve Palaces.' In the Great Ruler's words... only those with strength comparable to Eternal Emperors could establish a separate palace."

"The Wind Snow Emperor was a great power from the early days of the Mangya Kingdom. When he was still a Dao Lord, he was astonishing enough to rival Eternal Emperors, so he established the 'Sword Palace' and became its first Palace Master. Later, he succeeded in Dao-heart unification and became an Eternal Emperor. The characters 'Sword Palace' above were rewritten after he became an Emperor. The Emperor once said... these two characters contain the sword path by which he achieved eternity."

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

Time passed, and now the Mangya Kingdom had a full twelve palaces.

Later generations also had those who could rival Eternal Emperors, and some Dao Lords even killed Eternal Emperors! But the Twelve Palaces already covered almost all major cultivation paths, so it had been a very long time since a new palace was established. For Ji Ning, who followed the sword path, even if he became an Eternal Emperor in the future, he would still belong to the Sword Palace, so there was no need to establish a new palace.

"The sword path that achieved eternity?" Ji Ning looked up at those two characters.

"I can't understand it." Su Youji beside him murmured softly.

"I can't understand it either." Ji Ning also smiled, "The artistic conception of such a sword path is far beyond what we can glimpse. The gap is too vast. Perhaps only after becoming a Three-Step Dao Lord or even a Four-Step Dao Lord can one explore it."

Talking and laughing, Ji Ning and the black-armored Dao Lord continued forward.

On this thousand-zhang-wide stone path, they began to see many cultivators, all World-level cultivators. At a glance, though scattered, the path was very long, and Ji Ning estimated there were probably tens of thousands.

"Why?"

"Why did I fail again? A hundred chaos cycles, and still failure... hahaha..."

A mad laugh came.

A cultivator was crying and laughing, as if insane.

"This is?" Ji Ning looked puzzled.

Fu Dan Dao Lord shook his head: "These are all World-level cultivators, vainly trying to pass the trials to join our Sword Palace. To enter the Sword Palace, aside from those like Junior Brother Beiming who are so extraordinary that they are actively invited, most must undergo numerous trials. These World-level cultivators stay here, burying themselves in cultivation, then trying again and again. Alas, no need to mind them. After a long time, they will realize they have no hope and leave."

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

"This path into the palace is called the Sword-Questioning Path." Fu Dan Dao Lord said, "These outside World-level cultivators, aside from the trials, are only allowed on the Sword-Questioning Path and are forbidden from entering other areas of the Sword Palace."

...

Walking along the Sword-Questioning Path, which was ten thousand li long, they saw a large number of World-level cultivators. When those World-level cultivators saw Ji Ning, they couldn't hide their envy. A black-armored Dao Lord was so polite to Ji Ning, even lowering his posture—clearly, he was a formal member of the Sword Palace.

"Bang."

"Boom."

In the distance, there was a continuous roar.

Ji Ning looked ahead in surprise: "A spar?" Looking carefully, in the distance, a man with red hair was holding a greatsword. His red hair was casually tied back, and he stood very casually, occasionally swinging his sword. His opponent, manifesting six arms and controlling various treasures, was attacking fiercely.

But it was like an ant trying to shake a tree; he couldn't budge the red-haired man at all. When the red-haired man swung his sword, space rippled layer by layer, like beautiful music, and the opponent was repelled. Though repelled each time, he was not seriously injured.

Ji Ning's expression changed. Such terrifying sword technique—it was definitely superior to his own!

On Star Island, probably only BetaLeo's realm was higher than this man's.

"Haha, it's Senior Brother Yan Kuang sparring." Fu Dan Dao Lord said.

"Senior Brother Yan Kuang?" Ji Ning was puzzled.

You're a Dao Lord, and that red-haired man is at most a World-level cultivator. You call me 'Junior Brother Beiming,' but you call him 'Senior Brother Yan Kuang'?

"Senior Brother Yan Kuang is one of the six Sword Lords of our Sword Palace." Fu Dan Dao Lord quickly explained.

"Six Sword Lords? He should be a World-level cultivator." Ji Ning was puzzled.

"Our Sword Palace currently has over a hundred Life-Death Dao Lords and over two hundred World-level cultivators." Fu Dan Dao Lord said, "These two hundred-plus World-level cultivators have accumulated over a long time and gathered from all over the Mangya Kingdom—the most talented sword cultivators among World-level cultivators."

The Mangya Kingdom was a top-tier major power comparable to the Dao Alliance.

Almost all World-level cultivators skilled in the sword path were selected, and only the best could enter the Sword Palace, totaling just over two hundred.

"Among these two hundred-plus, those recognized by the 'Sword Tower' are considered Sword Lords." Fu Dan Dao Lord said, "Among the two hundred-plus World-level cultivators, there are only six Sword Lords. Although they are only World-level, within the Sword Palace they are treated as Dao Lords. Because at the World level, they can generally kill some weaker One-Step Dao Lords."

"Kill One-Step Dao Lords?" Ji Ning looked in surprise at the seemingly casual red-haired man in the distance.

A World-level cultivator killing a One-Step Dao Lord?

Rivalling and killing are completely different.

On Star Island, probably only BetaLeo could do that when revealing his true form. The Sword Palace had six who could.

"They could have broken through to become Life-Death Dao Lords long ago, but they didn't. Their sword techniques are still improving." Fu Dan Dao Lord sighed, "Each of them is perfecting their sword technique, wanting to reach the perfect limit they desire before becoming Dao Lords. After all, the more perfect and powerful the sword path, the more extraordinary they become as Dao Lords."

Ji Ning nodded.

For example, BetaLeo's realm was very high. Without revealing his true form, just holding two great hammers, he suppressed Ji Ning. With such a high realm, becoming a Dao Lord would make him a One-Step Dao Lord capable of rivaling ordinary Three-Step Dao Lords! Clearly, the six most outstanding Sword Lords of the Sword Palace also had ambitions.

"My current sword technique is not even enough to become a Dao Lord."

"And this Senior Brother Yan Kuang could have become a Dao Lord with his sword technique long ago, yet he continues to perfect and improve it." Ji Ning was shocked, "His sword technique is superior to mine; no wonder."

"Next."

The red-haired man in the distance suddenly flicked his greatsword. With a bang, before the sword even touched his opponent, invisible layers of spatial waves struck the opponent, sending him flying backward for several li.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Yan Kuang, for your guidance." The opponent quickly expressed gratitude. He hadn't even passed the Sword Palace trials, so calling him 'Senior Brother Yan Kuang' was a bit thick-skinned, but not only he—all the other World-level cultivators did the same.

"Please guide me, Senior Brother."

Another World-level cultivator stepped forward, using all kinds of methods against Yan Kuang.

"Effortless, easily crushing." Ji Ning marveled inwardly, "It's like a senior guiding a junior. Clearly both are World-level, but these who dare to stay and repeatedly attempt the trials are all extraordinary; many, without Eternal divine weapons, barely have peak World God strength. Yet before that Yan Kuang, they are fragile."

"The Sword Palace has accumulated endless years." Fu Dan Dao Lord beside him laughed, "Once you enter the Sword Palace, you too can improve. But reaching the realm of Senior Brother Yan Kuang is still very difficult. Among the two hundred-plus World-level cultivators in the Sword Palace, only six are Sword Lords."