Chapter 136: Ten Thousand Dao Pagoda, Finale And Aftermath
True Martial Mountain.
Disciples all looked at the towering Inheritance Sword Tower before them with astonished eyes. This had just been excavated from Sword Asking Pavilion, and even the soil still carried a fresh scent. The two Heavenly Human Realm elders from Sword Asking Pavilion had rushed through the night to minimize their humiliation, avoiding many cities along the way.
The three hundred and thirty-three zhang Inheritance Sword Tower was quite imposing, with Sword Dao Rhyme and sharpness occasionally rippling out, filling sword practitioners with longing.
Over a millennium of accumulation, the Sword Dao legacies of top-tier swordsmen, all their essence contained within.
If one ignored the wooden black faces of the two Sword Asking Pavilion elders, it would be even more perfect.
Ning Qi gazed at the Sword Tower, anticipation in his eyes.
This was good promotion provisions for him. The only pity was that it was only Sword Dao.
But it was not a big problem either.
He could draw analogies and use Sword Dao to drive the development of other paths.
“Two elders, you’ve worked hard.” Luo Wentian smiled and said.
The Sword Asking Pavilion elders’ faces darkened further. They felt bitter inside but said woodenly:
“Sect Leader Luo, the rest of the items are on the way with Tang Qiu and others. This time, Sword Asking Pavilion was wrong, but we have already received due punishment. Please, Sect Leader Luo, show mercy and let Sword Asking Pavilion off the hook.”
So humble, so aggrieved in begging for peace—for what?
Was it not to ensure Sword Asking Pavilion could continue its inheritance?
Luo Wentian nodded faintly:
“Naturally, Sword Asking Pavilion need only stay out of the world for two hundred years.”
He showed no mercy.
Having done wrong, one naturally had to pay the price.
But this was also the limit. True Martial Sect could not really slaughter Sword Asking Pavilion entirely. Leaving aside whether it could be done, the Great Yan Dynasty would not allow it, and such actions did not fit True Martial Sect’s style.
Since Sword Asking Pavilion had coveted the Ascension Stairs and True Martial Sword Stele and other foundations back then, they would repay the favor in kind by taking Sword Asking Pavilion’s Inheritance Sword Tower.
Moreover, if they truly exterminated them, True Martial Sect would be targeted by some Martial Arts Sects, which would not be good. At that time, many would not follow the default rules when dealing with True Martial Sect. After all, up to now, Sword Asking Pavilion had not actually harmed any True Martial Sect member.
Sword Asking Pavilion had stood in Great Yan for a millennium and had many friendly sects.
If they went too far, they would also stand up in support.
The two Sword Asking Pavilion elders looked bitter, but they breathed a sigh of relief inside.
“Sword Asking Pavilion will honor the promise.”
They looked back once more at the towering Inheritance Sword Tower, their hearts bleeding. Finally, they gritted their teeth and departed through the air. They did not want to stay a moment longer in this hurtful land of True Martial Sect. A single thought had ruined Sword Asking Pavilion’s millennium of effort—their pain was incomprehensible to others.
Ning Qi simply watched quietly.
Not to mention two hundred years—even twenty years later, who knew to what extent True Martial Sect would metamorphose? Perhaps when Sword Asking Pavilion emerged again, they would find heaven and earth utterly changed.
But as the two Heavenly Human Realm experts departed, a wisp of aura quietly wrapped around them, turning into some hard-to-detect mark.
In case these two truly could not think straight.
Ning Qi had a backup plan.
With his current strength, a common Heavenly Human Realm was just a wave of the hand.
But most likely, these two would not dare. That would bring true doom to Sword Asking Pavilion. Now there was still hope; they would not reach a desperate situation. The most terrifying were those with nothing to lose, but keeping Sword Asking Pavilion made them the “shoes” binding them.
He withdrew his gaze.
Ning Qi re-examined the Inheritance Sword Tower before him. Now there were too many eyes; it was not time to enter.
Luo Wentian smiled:
“Disperse, all of you. It will be opened to you once we clarify the Sword Tower’s situation.”
He still needed to discuss with Ning Qi and Dragon Mountain Daoist how exactly to handle this Sword Tower.
The disciples were all expectant.
After all, it was the foundation of a millennium-old Sword Dao Holy Land, full of novelty for them.
…
Late at night.
No one around.
Ning Qi silently entered the Sword Tower.
The Sword Tower was very spacious and very tall.
Three hundred and thirty-three zhang, three hundred and thirty-three levels.
Each level had many small rooms. Ning Qi stepped into one and saw a cushion in the room, while on the walls were various patterns, text, or sword marks. They seemed chaotic, but upon close inspection, one could discover the Sword Dao True Meaning contained within.
The higher up the Sword Tower, the more profound the Sword Dao True Meaning left behind.
Even later, there appeared Sword Dao left by Heavenly Human Realm swordsmen, and not a few—more than ten.
Some were left by Sword Asking Pavilion’s historical experts, some by invited external Heavenly Human Realm swordsmen.
Though the Inheritance Sword Tower was never open to the public, there were exceptions. Some who had favors to Sword Asking Pavilion were permitted entry; others used it for transactions. But unlike True Martial Sword Stele, it was not fully open.
Ning Qi comprehended the various Sword Daos within, spiritual insights rising in his mind. He felt the harvest was not shallow.
He roughly understood the Sword Tower’s operating mechanism.
Over a millennium, the intertwined Sword Dao artistic conceptions had formed some invisible Sword Intent blockade. Only by reaching the corresponding level in Sword Dao could one ascend to that layer.
“Whenever Sword Asking Pavilion has a Sword Dao Master nearing the end of their lifespan, they enter the Sword Tower, climb upward, and ‘ask sword’ across time with ancient sages until they reach their own Sword Dao Limit and can go no further. Then they leave all their Sword Dao Essence on that level for later generations to comprehend.”
Ning Qi sighed softly.
He could vaguely see Sword Asking Pavilion swordsmen laughing as they went to their deaths, ultimately leaving their unique marks in this Sword Tower.
The higher the level reached, the greater the glory.
“The one who left this Sword Tower back then was indeed extraordinary.”
Ning Qi comprehended Sword Asking Pavilion’s most powerful River Sword Intent—that left by their ancestor, a stunningly talented swordsman back then. It surpassed Heart-Seeking Sword by a notch. Gu Changhe’s Heart Seeking Sword Intent was also on this level, but to show respect to the ancestor, he had deliberately inscribed it below.
“River Sword Intent, Heart Seeking Sword Intent, Mountain-Moving Sword Intent, Falling Star Sword Intent… all remarkable.”
“Especially this River Sword Intent, beginning with rivers yet with lofty intent—endless, spanning millennia and thousands of miles, with intent transcending time and space. This Sword Asking Pavilion ancestor was indeed extraordinary. No wonder he devised this Inheritance Sword Tower method. It’s just a pity his descendants were incompetent…”
Ning Qi closed his eyes in comprehension.
Sword Asking Pavilion’s millennium accumulation all turned into provisions for his growth.
His Sword Intent included everything, taking the essences of many Sword Intents to grow.
From bottom to top.
Ning Qi strolled leisurely, having comprehended the lifelong legacies of many swordsmen. His comprehension was already exaggerated, combined with peerless Sword Dao, viewing from above. His digestion speed was astonishing; insights came with every breath.
Only creating new methods ever made him pause. Learning existing ones, he had never encountered so-called difficulties.
If True Martial Sword Stele was a steady trickle, this Sword Tower was an unprecedented “feast.”
A few days later.
Ning Qi finished digesting the “feast” and sincerely exhaled.
Satisfaction showed on his face.
This time, his harvest was great. Sword Intent had made significant progress, and he had some new insights into Sword Dao, further raising his strength upper limit.
If forced to compare, it was perhaps equivalent to several years of True Martial Sword Stele being open.
Of course.
After slaying Heart-Seeking Sword this time, Heavenly Sword True Person’s prestige had risen further, drawing more swordsmen. Then, the Sword Dao feedback True Martial Sword Stele received at once would be even more.
“Feasts” were not daily; the steady trickle of True Martial Sword Stele was the way.
“Not just True Martial Sword Stele—this Inheritance Sword Tower can also be opened to the public.”
Ning Qi had already thought of how to handle the Sword Tower.
In his view, Sword Asking Pavilion’s hoarding was too wasteful. Otherwise, how could a millennium yield only these Sword Dao essences? But it was understandable—not everyone had Ning Qi’s absolute confidence.
Moreover, people always had possessiveness toward their own things.
With a thought from Ning Qi.
A peerlessly matchless Sword Intent instantly rose within the Sword Tower. In that instant, all Sword Intents rioted. Unowned Sword Intents wove together, seemingly forming an invisible net to shred Ning Qi’s Sword Intent.
But alas, useless.
This Sword Intent net melted like spring snow before Ning Qi’s Sword Intent.
Ning Qi was cleaning the Sword Tower.
After digesting all legacies, he knew the Sword Tower inside out. Some Sword Intents were repetitive, shallow, or even flawed. Sword Asking Pavilion’s Sword Dao Masters were not all impressive.
At this moment, Ning Qi’s Sword Intent swept through, instantly erasing many traces.
The entire Sword Tower became much cleaner.
After pondering.
Various artistic conceptions from Ning Qi manifested in turn—Fist Intent, Saber Intent, Spear Intent, and so on. Though not as powerful as his Sword Intent, none outside could match them. These artistic conceptions left marks in the Sword Tower, then faded.
Obtaining the Sword Tower from Sword Asking Pavilion was a trial opportunity for Ning Qi.
As Heavenly Sword True Person, he could only establish True Martial Sword Stele. If he established a stele including Myriad Daos, it would cause great chaos, even drawing the gaze of that Great Yan Martial Saint.
Before having absolute strength, Ning Qi was extremely wary of the Martial Saint.
He always remembered King Zhenbei’s words: the world had no more Martial Saint Method. If it was deliberately erased, better not show too many anomalies.
“But this Sword Tower at hand is ready-made, not established by Heavenly Sword True Person.”
“Afterward, the Inheritance Sword Tower can be opened to the public, but unlike True Martial Sword Stele where one can comprehend freely, set conditions: martial artists entering the Sword Tower, upon comprehending a certain level’s Sword Intent, must leave behind corresponding realm’s Martial Way or supreme art in exchange, one for one.”
“This way, over time, the Inheritance Sword Tower will no longer be limited to Sword Dao.”
“At that time, in this process, my various artistic conceptions and martial arts left behind will slowly emerge. The beauty is that no one knows which expert left them. The Inheritance Sword Tower will gradually become a true Inheritance Martial Tower. Myriad Dao experts all enter, aiding my growth!”
“Since so, calling it Inheritance Sword Tower is no longer fitting. Henceforth, call it Myriad Dao Tower.”
“In a sense, this is a deeper attempt based on True Martial Sword Stele. And it brings more benefits to True Martial Sect. After all, True Martial Sword Stele only lets disciples comprehend my Sword Intent, while Myriad Dao Tower lets them obtain those entrants’ supreme arts too.”
Thinking thus, a smile rose on Ning Qi’s face.
This was good for True Martial Sect and him.
Even for the entire Great Yan Martial World, it was extremely beneficial.
Perhaps at first some would hoard their brooms, unwilling to exchange their supreme arts. But if you don’t exchange, others will. As those others grow stronger and you fall behind, you’ll have to exchange even if you don’t want to.
He told Luo Wentian and Dragon Mountain Daoist about this. The two were naturally overjoyed, with no opposition.
Even that very night.
Dragon Mountain Daoist personally moved the Sword Tower to the other side of the sect gate, echoing True Martial Sword Stele.
He even changed the name on the tower to Myriad Dao Tower.
A few days later.
Tang Qiu led a group of Sword Asking Pavilion masters to deliver all the previously negotiated other compensations: treasures, classics, cartload after cartload into True Martial Sect.
Seeing their former Inheritance Sword Tower towering outside True Martial Sect Gate, with its name changed to Myriad Dao Tower, their hearts bled. That feeling was like seeing one’s wife personally handed to the enemy and forced to wear clothes the enemy liked—their eyes reddened.
But they felt only deep powerlessness.
“Sect Leader Tang, two hundred years of seclusion. If Sword Asking Pavilion fails to honor the promise, I’m afraid the Martial World’s many fellows won’t stand by you.” Luo Wentian said calmly, his words carrying faint threat.
He was just stating facts.
Tang Qiu’s face was full of bitterness:
“Understood. Upon return to the sect, we will announce sealing the mountain, no emergence for two hundred years.”
Luo Wentian nodded faintly:
“See yourselves out.”
He watched Tang Qiu and the others’ desolate backs, without the slightest pity.
It was all self-inflicted.
If Gu Changhe had won before, True Martial Sect’s fate would likely not have been much better. Heart Questioning Platform and True Martial Sword Stele and other foundations would have been taken.
No need to dwell excessively.
Luo Wentian and Ning Qi exchanged smiles and began inventorying the compensations from Sword Asking Pavilion this time—far more than what Formless Sect had sent before.
After all, it was a millennium-old Sword Dao Holy Land. This harvest was enough to make True Martial Sect’s foundation surge!
The many classics among them went without saying.
And some treasures sent made Ning Qi smile slightly. With some leisure time, he could refine them into pills to further accelerate True Martial Sect disciples’ strength improvement.
After creating Heavenly Thunder Method, Ning Qi’s Pill Way level had risen further. Pills refined via Heavenly Thunder tempering had no side effects, needing only dosage control.
It could be foreseen.
Once True Martial Sect digested this harvest, it would truly possess the air of a Daoist holy land.
True Martial Sect grew ever more vibrant.
Ning Qi was in a good mood.
He thought this killing the chicken to warn the monkeys should have good effect, deterring the Demonic Sect and Southern Border probes to some extent. Just give him a bit more time, and neither would be a threat.
…
The result of Heavenly Sword True Person’s battle with Heart-Seeking Sword was still spreading widely, with many following the aftermath.
A few days later.
Two more pieces of news spread through the world, causing shock.
The first: Sword Asking Pavilion seals the mountain for two hundred years.
The second: True Martial Sect reopens its gate and announces opening True Martial Sword Stele and Myriad Dao Tower.
This made the Martial World even livelier while marking the complete end of the prior conflict between Sword Asking Pavilion and True Martial Sect.
Upon learning of Sword Asking Pavilion’s two-hundred-year seclusion outcome.
Many sighed.
Some felt faint regret. If True Martial Sect had gone further, they could openly watch Sword Asking Pavilion perish, then stand on moral high ground to jointly attack True Martial Sect, devouring two big chunks of fat at once.
Alas, things did not go as wished.
But soon.
All eyes turned to True Martial Sect.
True Martial Sword Stele reopening naturally excited and expectant many swordsmen. Its fame was already great; after drawing heavenly thunder to slay Heart-Seeking Sword this time, even more so. Everyone realized they had previously underestimated True Martial Sword Stele.
And inevitably some wondered.
“Myriad Dao Tower? What is that?”
The well-informed inquired everywhere, stunned, then excitedly spread the news.
“What? Myriad Dao Tower is Sword Asking Pavilion’s former Inheritance Sword Tower?”
“True Martial Sect has such boldness! Willing to share such an inheritance foundation? Compared to Sword Asking Pavilion, the difference is clear…”
“Not only that—any martial artist meeting conditions can enter Myriad Dao Tower, but must exchange one for one: comprehend one path within, leave another behind. Though now, it seems most in the so-called Myriad Dao Tower are still Sword Dao comprehensions…”
Discussions arose across the world.
Some felt Myriad Dao Tower’s name was undeserved—called Myriad Daos, yet mainly Sword Dao.
Others thought Myriad Dao Tower a scheme, the exchange a ploy by True Martial Sect to covet others’ Martial Ways.
But most marveled at True Martial Sect’s magnanimity.
Opening True Martial Sword Stele before had already won much goodwill; now opening Myriad Dao Tower did even more.
Everyone knew.
True Martial Sect had risen stepping on Sword Asking Pavilion, its foundation greatly increased, gaining who knew how many treasures—enough to make eyes red.
But now.
True Martial Sect shared Myriad Dao Tower, in a sense plugging the world’s gossiping mouths. People would no longer covet True Martial Sect’s other gains.
Such was human nature.
Long-established Martial Arts Sects secretly sighed: True Martial Sect’s rise was unstoppable.
Not only did it have a supreme expert overlooking the world as foundation, but also lacked no long-term vision. Hard not to rise.
Some regretted and annoyed.
They had not taken True Martial Sect’s assessment before, missing a chance to soar.
King Zhenbei heard the news and shook his head with a wry smile.
He realized his reminder was somewhat redundant. True Martial Sect clearly knew what to do and had measure.
“However… this time, Heavenly Sword True Person will truly enter the sight of those peak experts at Great Yan’s apex. Just unknown if it will draw a glance from that one.”
He gazed into the distance.
That was the direction of Yan Province’s imperial city.
