Fate-Defying Demon Emperor

While Su Han was in secluded cultivation, ripples began to spread across Cangzhou and even the entire Heavenly Sword Dynasty. All of this originated from the annual Mount Hua Sword Séance.

Mount Hua was a place of legend. It was the site where the Heavenly Sword Dynasty’s first Emperor, the Great Emperor, achieved Instant Sanctification. Originally, Mount Hua was just an ordinary, unremarkable mountain. But ever since the Great Emperor achieved Instant Sanctification and left countless sword marks there, it has become a sacred place in the hearts of all Sword Cultivators.

The legend of the Great Emperor is timeless, and the sanctity of Mount Hua has endured for millennia. Coupled with the growing strength of the Heavenly Sword Dynasty, the annual Mount Hua Sword Séance had become the focus of widespread attention.

Under a blue sky and white clouds, a golden chariot, a symbol of a prince’s procession, slowly passed by. However, this was not the chariot of the Nineteenth Prince, the identity Su Han had assumed. Surrounding the golden chariot were palace maids and attendants, along with a Protector from the Saint Realm, indicating that the person traveling was also a prince.

Next to the golden chariot, however, was a white palanquin crafted from precious Spirit Jade. It was wreathed in mist and rich with Spiritual Energy. The white palanquin was surrounded entirely by palace maids, and even its Protector was a Female Saint.

”Eighth Brother, I heard that our Nineteenth Brother is also in Cangzhou and plans to participate in this year’s Mount Hua Sword Séance.” A melodious voice, sweet as the song of an oriole, echoed from the white palanquin.

The speaker was a graceful woman dressed in palace attire, her face veiled in white silk. She carried herself with an air of dignified grace, poised and composed like a pristine white lotus. This woman was none other than the Thirteenth Princess of the Heavenly Sword Dynasty, and seated in the nearby golden chariot was the Eighth Prince. Although not as prominent as the Second and Third Princes, these two were still standouts among the many princes and princesses. They were traveling together, both heading for the Mount Hua Sword Séance.

”Nineteenth Brother may have exceptional innate talent, but he is young and his strength is still shallow. He is not yet qualified to contend for first place!”

The Eighth Prince’s voice was gentle, but his words were filled with arrogance and confidence. He clearly didn’t consider the Nineteenth Prince a worthy rival. At twenty-five years of age, he was older than the Nineteenth Prince and thus stronger, having reached the Supreme Realm Fifth Later. He was also a renowned figure on the Hidden Dragon List. This time, he was aiming for first place, coveting not only its glory but also the baptism of ancestral Sword Intent that came with it.

”Eighth Brother is right. Nineteenth Brother is indeed still too young. Perhaps in a few years, he’ll be qualified to contend for the top spot. But this year, first place will certainly be yours.”

The Thirteenth Princess and the Eighth Prince were exceptionally close, so her flattering words pleased him greatly.

”I hope this year’s Mount Hua Sword Séance brings out a few more geniuses; otherwise, it would be terribly dull!” the Eighth Prince said with leisurely contentment. He was filled with the innate arrogance of the Imperial Family, looking down upon all the talents of the world.

I shall claim first place!

On the borders of Cangzhou, a young man in black walked toward Mount Hua. He carried a heavy sword the size of a door plank on his back, and each of his steps sank deep into the ground. The youth looked resolute, about twenty years old. His heavy sword was without an edge, yet it was as weighty as a mountain, pressing his feet into the earth and leaving a trail of deep footprints.

”Isn’t that the Giant Que Saint Heir from the Spirit Sword Holy Palace? What’s he doing here!”

Along the way, many who saw the black-clad youth were utterly astonished. The Spirit Sword Holy Palace was one of the three great Holy Lands within the Heavenly Sword Dynasty, and this young man was its Saint Heir.

But the Giant Que Saint Heir was different. He lacked a Protector and had no companions. Instead of flying, he walked alone, step-by-step toward Mount Hua, drawing a great deal of attention.

”You don’t know? This is the Giant Que Saint Heir’s method of cultivation. See the heavy sword on his back? It’s called Nine Mountains, which signifies the weight of nine great mountains. The Giant Que Saint Heir practices the Heavy Sword Technique. Carrying this blade not only hones his body but also allows him to resonate with the Nine Mountains Holy Sword.”

”The weight of nine great mountains? Is that still a sword? Who could possibly withstand a single strike from that? It’s just too powerful!”

”Don’t judge the Giant Que Saint Heir with your narrow perspective! If he weren’t a genius, how could he possibly have become the Saint Heir?”

The crowd murmured among themselves, but the Giant Que Saint Heir paid them no mind. He traveled far and wide to temper himself and had heard such discussions countless times; they were insignificant to him. He continued his steady, one-step-at-a-time journey toward Mount Hua, the Nine Mountains Holy Sword on his back.

His goal was the same: the Mount Hua Sword Séance.

WHOOSH!

A beam of sword radiance tore through the sky, seemingly cleaving the heavens in two. Wherever it passed, clouds split asunder and plants were severed. Upon this streak of light stood a person. She was a woman in white, her hair a cascade of black silk falling to her waist. Her pure white garment was untouched by dust, and her beauty was so breathtaking she looked as if she had stepped out of a painting.

Judging by the time, the Giant Que Saint Heir should have already entered Cangzhou’s territory!

The woman in white lifted her beautiful eyes toward Cangzhou, a gleam of battle intent flickering in her otherwise placid pupils. She was the Holy Maiden, Yun Jun, from the Nanshu Jian Gong, one of the three great Holy Lands. She was here for the Mount Hua Sword Séance as well.

Of course, besides the Sword Séance, she also yearned for another battle with the Giant Que Saint Heir.

The Spirit Sword Holy Palace and the Nanshu Jian Gong, one in the north and the other in the south, were both Holy Lands within the Heavenly Sword Dynasty. Due to historical conflicts, the two were constantly at odds, locked in fierce rivalry. Holy Maiden Yun Jun and the Giant Que Saint Heir were naturally old rivals, with victories and defeats on both sides. This time, both had honed their skills further and were ready for another clash.

SWISH!

Battle intent surged in Holy Maiden Yun Jun’s eyes, and the sword radiance beneath her feet accelerated. The Nanshu Jian Gong was unique. Although they were Sword Cultivators, they belonged to the most esoteric lineage: the Flying Sword school. They practiced Sword Flight, their blades moving with their will, ever-changing and unpredictable.

In an ordinary village, a young man in plain clothes was asking a kind old woman for a drink of water. Dressed in humble attire, the young man appeared to be from a poor family. Yet, his eyes were exceptionally bright, leaving a deep impression on everyone who met him. Those bright eyes seemed to contain a sharp Sword Radiance capable of piercing one’s sea of consciousness and seeing through their very heart.

”Granny, do you know where Mount Hua is?” After drinking the water, the boy asked with a heartwarming and endearing smile.

”Mount Hua should be in that direction,” the kind old woman said, pointing the way. ”But there are many important people there. You should be careful not to offend anyone of high status.”

”Thank you, Granny. I will be!”

The young man respectfully cleaned the bowl before handing it back. Then, with the old woman’s words of caution ringing in his ears, he waved goodbye and headed toward Mount Hua.

He hailed from the Heart Sword Sacred Palace, one of the three great Holy Lands. This Holy Land had few followers, as it passed its teachings to a single heir each generation and rarely appeared in the world. Yet, this generation’s Heartless Holy Son had entered the mortal world to participate in the Mount Hua Sword Séance.

The Imperial Family, the three great Holy Lands, and geniuses from every quarter—all were now converging on Mount Hua, ready to compete for supremacy at the Sword Séance.