Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 460: Chapter 445: You Are the Saint Heir of the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect

The man was tall and powerfully built, his aura as deep as an abyss and as suffocating as a prison, brimming with destructive intent.

Even without making a move, he was like an unsheathed Flying Sword, its edge fully exposed. A mere glance would make the eyes of a lower-Realm Cultivator sting, their limbs grow weak, and their will to fight evaporate.

The mask he wore was of an archaic design, resembling the furious, wide-eyed mythological figures from traditional operas, radiating an imposing majesty.

His attire was also a stark contrast to the current fashion of the Cultivation Realm. It had an ancient air, its style closely mirroring the Celestial Immortal Divine Officials depicted in mythological biographies that were popular in the Near Ancient era.

”Po Jun Star Monarch?”

Bai Zichen’s eyes narrowed slightly. It was another familiar name—the Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator who had attacked Shi Chengdong during the Celestial Principle Sect’s migration north.

The man’s strength wasn’t considered top-tier among Nascent Soul True Monarchs, yet he was incredibly famous, with his reputation known to many even outside the Central Domain.

He had made a name for himself two hundred years ago when, with just a single sword, he robbed a shipment of goods from the Heaven-Reaching Association, a top merchant guild in the Central Domain.

According to rumor, that shipment was worth over five million Spirit Stones.

In a place like the Central Domain, he had done the unthinkable: he established a Tribulation Cultivation Organization and orchestrated numerous major heists.

His victims included more than a few Nascent Soul Major Sects.

Such flagrant disregard for others naturally drew the attention of several Super Major Sects. Both the Five Phoenix Sword Sect and the Celestial Star Sect dispatched forces led by Nascent Soul Ancestors to hunt him down.

Although these operations were repeatedly declared successful, the organization would always rise from the ashes a short time later.

The fact that even the Super Major Sects couldn’t take down Po Jun Star Monarch led to growing suspicion among Cultivators. Many came to believe the mysterious Star Monarch was actually a member of the Five Phoenix Sword Sect, and that the whole affair was just a grand play staged by the sect itself.

They were using the guise of a Tribulation Cultivator to strike at their rivals and accumulate wealth.

This theory was quite popular in the Great Li.

Po Jun Star Monarch had appeared abruptly two hundred years ago, already at the Nascent Soul Realm when he first made his move. He had no discernible history or path of growth.

Furthermore, he had always worn a mask that blocked Divine Sense, leaving no one able to uncover a single clue about his true identity.

All the Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators in the world could be counted on one’s fingers; each one was known and accounted for.

Such a figure couldn’t have just appeared out of thin air. His true identity had to be that of a renowned major figure from the Central Domain.

Besides, the idea that a Tribulation Cultivation Organization could survive for over a century in the Central Domain without the clandestine support of a Super Major Sect was simply unbelievable.

The speculation that the Five Phoenix Sword Sect was the backer of the Tribulation Cultivation Organization, and that Po Jun Star Monarch was merely an alias for one of the Sword Sect’s True Monarchs, was rampant for good reason.

’During the conflict with the Celestial Principle Sect, wasn’t the Hundred Puppet Sect secretly allied with them? Why are they now at each other’s throats, to the point of luring one of their disciples to steal a Treasure...’

Po Jun Star Monarch’s appearance here was clearly no coincidence.

Considering that a great Treasure was stolen from the Hundred Puppet Sect, the traitorous disciple appeared in the Sea of Sand, and Guk Wen still escaped even after Yu Nie personally tried to intercept him, the truth of the matter was all but revealed.

Po Jun Star Monarch was the mastermind. He had enticed Guk Wen—a Core Formation True Man who was clearly held in high regard by the Hundred Puppet Sect—to betray his Sect and steal the Treasure. The number of Tier Three Puppets Guk Wen possessed was a testament to his standing within the Sect.

Clearly, the Treasure was something Po Jun Star Monarch was determined to obtain, which explained why he had rushed to the Sea of Sand at the earliest opportunity.

Upon seeing Bai Zichen, he must have assumed another party had designs on the Hundred Puppet Sect’s Treasure, prompting him to attack without hesitation.

”A Tier Four Flying Sword?”

The corners of Po Jun Star Monarch’s mouth pulled wide, his face showing an exaggerated expression. It seemed the mysterious mask, in addition to blocking Divine Sense, could also project its wearer’s expressions.

It magnified them countless times, however; behind the mask, his features might have barely twitched.

The two Bronze Flying Swords in his hand radiated an ancient charm. They were unadorned from tip to hilt, lacking even a single Talismanic Seal, featuring only smooth, heavy, octagonal blades.

He held the Bronze Flying Swords horizontally. A notch the size of a pinprick appeared at the tip of each blade, and a mottled azure light surged from within the swords to fill the gaps.

”Which Sword Sect’s Hidden Vein are you from? I’ve never seen this Flying Sword before. You’ve certainly kept yourself well hidden...”

”From the sound of it, fellow Daoist, you’re familiar with every Tier Four Flying Sword in existence?”

Bai Zichen’s heart skipped a beat. He was glad he was using the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword. It had been sealed in a Secret Realm for countless millennia; it was impossible for anyone to recognize it.

”And which Sword Sect’s True Monarch are you, parading around as a Tribulation Cultivator and luring someone to steal a Treasure from the Hundred Puppet Sect!”

”Stealing a Treasure? I was merely taking back what is rightfully mine!”

Faced with a Tier Four Flying Sword, Po Jun Star Monarch showed no signs of retreat. Two streams of Bronze Sword Light surged forward.

”Excellent!”

Bai Zichen had already pegged his opponent as a member of a Central Domain Sword Sect. This was a perfect opportunity to see just how capable a Nascent Soul True Monarch from a Super Major Sect truly was.

He also wanted to see just how far the swordsmanship of those Sects, founded on the very principles of the Sword Dao, surpassed that of the Northern Domain.

Thunder Radiance flared, transforming into fine threads of Thunder Silk that completely intercepted the two weaving streams of Bronze Sword Light.

The Bronze Flying Swords appeared incredibly active, seemingly dominating the exchange, but they failed to produce any tangible results.

A casual parry from the Thunder Radiance Sword Light was enough to knock Po Jun Star Monarch’s Flying Sword aside, its azure glow dimming significantly.

The sword had to circle away to gather its power before it could clash with him again.

After several exchanges, both Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators had a clear understanding of each other’s level of mastery.

Po Jun Star Monarch was at the stage of Refining Sword into Silk within the Third Realm of Sword Dao. His swordsmanship was masterful and his techniques were seasoned, clearly indicating a wealth of practical combat experience.

On two occasions, Bai Zichen leveraged the superior Tier of his Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword to knock aside the Bronze Sword Light. Just as he was about to press his advantage and strike at his opponent’s core, the Bronze Sword Light would suddenly project a Sword Shadow, and in that same instant, the real Flying Sword and the illusory shadow swapped places.