Chapter 886: Redemption
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Everybody from the Great Void turned towards the Tai Yi Holy Man.
The Tai Yi Holy Man’s eyes landed upon the Zheng Yi Holy Man as he heaved another heavy sigh. He wasted no words and explained as simply as he could, "It’s not impossible for you to defeat him, but if you wish to kill him – that’s another story altogether."
"I only need to trap him. I will unleash the Great Calamity and we will just die together."
His words sent the other elders of the Great Void Sect into a solemn silence as nobody was happy to hear that.
The Tai Yi Holy Man replied, "We shall hope that he’s not another Emperor of the Dead, nor another Emperor of Violence. Hopefully, he’s not another Ancient Satanic Sect Leader either."
The Qing Yi Holy Woman was calm as she said, "Nobody knows for sure."
"It would have been a lot easier had we been on Mount Baiyun. Outside of Mount Baiyun, unless the Supreme Heavenly Mirror is in perfect condition, we will need a lot more people to be able to trap him," Cai Fengzhou contemplated the options and continued, "However, the Leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders will still be able to retaliate with his dying breaths, and many of us will perish along with him."
Kuang Heng muttered, "If the Supreme Heavenly Mirror is in its peak condition, we won’t need the Tai Yi Holy Man to follow him into the grave."
Yun Yuanzhen sighed and said, "The process of returning the Supreme Heavenly Mirror to its prime condition takes time. The Leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders also needs time to cultivate the Heaven-Destroying Sword. This is his second time cultivating it – I’m afraid he intends to use it against the Supreme Heavenly Mirror."
Wu Mengqi’s brows furrowed into a frown. "This guy is truly ambitious. We’ll see who’s faster, then." A dash of sinister light flashed through his pupils.
The flash of light seemed to reflect the scenes and images of apocalypse and catastrophe from the Netherworld Sea.
Cai Fengzhou glanced at Wu Mengqi but said nothing. The two of them had the same master and were descended from the same lineage – the Radiant Sun lineage which was also the head of the Four Immemorial Heroes of the Great Void. It was a pity that they had different political views – one belonged to the Conservative Faction, and the other was part of the Radical Faction.
"The use of the Supreme Heavenly Mirror will only slow down the recuperation process." Cai Fengzhou was not too convinced.
The Qing Ning Holy Woman, who was also part of the Conservative Faction, had the same idea. "We can allow him this opportunity to use the sword, as long as we ensure it’s against the demons."
Cai Fengzhou sighed once again. "After today, the status quo of the Divine Lands will be changed forever."
Kuang Heng said plainly, "It’s just another ‘Heaven’s Gate Sect’. We just have to use the same methods we used against the Heaven’s Gate Sect all those years ago. The Great Void Sect was in shambles back then, and we have flourished ever since."
Fu Yunkong mulled over his words momentarily before he proposed his own opinions. "Nobody will know for sure whether the Leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders will become like another Emperor of Violence. However, that does not mean that he will become the public enemy of the Divine Lands. In my opinion, even though he is hard-headed and extreme in the way he does things, it’s very different from the lawless and brutal nature of the Emperor of Violence and the Ancient Satanic Sect Leader."
"His eventual success may be a good thing for the Divine Lands after all."
Yan Nanlai had been silent all along and he finally spoke his piece. "The teachings that have been passed down from our ancestors clearly states that our mission is to protect the Divine Lands. Even if we may antagonize certain other human parties in the process, these are all just means to an end. The rise of the leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders, even if it means he will surpass the power of the Great Void Sect, in the end, might mean that he might actually be able to protect this Greater World against the demons better than we can. Is that not a good thing?"
He cast his gaze across the people in front of him. His eyes swept across Kuang Heng, the Xuanlin Holy Man, and Wu Mengqi. The three of them met his gaze fearlessly and showed no signs of backing down.
Ironically, it was the Yu Yuan Holy Woman from the Conservative Faction who contradicted him. "It’s too early to be sure. The Great Void Sect has been through the Antiquity Age all the way till today, and we have gone through a lot more than he has. An accurate judgment of the personality of the leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders will require further investigation and observation."
Yan Nanlai and Fu Yunkong nodded their heads in agreement and said, "That’s true."
"We shall wait and see. We will judge him based on his actions and the outcome of his venture into the Barren Expanses," the Tai Yi Holy Man closed his eyes and continued calmly, "If something bad happens, I am willing to sacrifice myself to bring him down. If we let him continue, it will be harder and harder for us to rein him in."
A consensus had been reached, and some of the illusions that were projected into the mountain to participate in the discussion vanished.
Mount Baiyun returned to its original tranquility.
Back on Mount Yujing, Lin Feng had his hands behind his back and was strolling around the summit and eventually reached the Black Heavenly Treasure Tree. His disciples a few others were there to greet him.
"Welcome back, master."
"Welcome back, Sect Leader."
The Supreme Radiance Swordmaster gave Lin Feng a normal greeting before he did it again with even more respect and submissiveness. "Thank you, leader of the Celestial Sect of Wonders, for bringing out the otherworldly sword against the Saintly Celestial Sword to incur the Saintly Celestial Cataclysm."
Lin Feng held him up with one hand before the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster could bow. He chuckled and answered, "Sending the Saintly Celestial Sword into the depths was to tie up my feuds with Mount Shu – you don’t have to thank me."
Lin Feng studied him and could tell that there was a unique flicker of flowing radiance in his pupils. It had a different aura, and he could tell upon closer inspection that the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster had advanced his mantras and his level of mastery ever since they last met.
Even though his improvement was still only the tip of the iceberg and required further study and examination, it was comparable to the standard of the Shaoze Sword and was even slightly superior. He was no longer lost in his path like last time – the road he had to take was now clear, and he still had great potential to excavate and develop.
The Supreme Radiance Swordmaster wore a complicated expression as he glanced at the Heavenly Gods-Sealing Banner that Wang Lin was holding. Light shadows glimmered on the banner as two human illusions appeared. The two humans appeared dull and blank – they were the Shaoshang Swordmaster and the Lixiong Swordmaster.
The Shaoshang Swordmaster no longer had the familiar overbearing aura and the Lixiong Swordmaster lost his unique sharpness and solitude. It was hard to tell what their expressions represented as the lights in their eyes flickered dimly as if they were about to extinguish at any time.
The shadows of the Vast Sea Swordmaster and the Intense Flaming Swordmaster shimmered into vision on the giant banner as well.
The Vast Sea Swordmaster practiced the Vast Sea Way of the Sword while the Intense Flaming Swordmaster followed the path of the Flaming Heavens Way of the Sword. They were in the same state as the Supreme Radiance Swordmaster and the Instant Sword of Radiance – they had discovered their true calling and now had clear journeys to travel.
The Intense Flaming Swordmaster lowered his head and said nothing while the Vast Sea Swordmaster loosed a melancholic sigh. "Everyone feels that they are unable to resist the Saintly Celestial Sword, but nobody knows why. Only after the Saintly Celestial Cataclysm did we realize what was going on."
The Supreme Radiance Swordmaster gazed at the Shaoshang Swordmaster and shook his head sullenly. "It’s the same for everyone."
"Most of the world’s Ways of the Sword came from Mount Shu. Even those who have established their own lineages drew their inspirations from Mount Shu one way or another and simply branched out from them. This caused them to sever their own futures but there was just no turning back."
"Divine Sword Emperor… Divine Sword Emperor… Heh, how can there be an emperor that doesn’t call for taxes?"
"How can there be an emperor that lets his subjects call themselves kings and establish their own kingdoms?"
"The Saintly Celestial Sword had been spreading the key meanings of swordplay ever since it was in its infant stages. At the same time, it consolidated the different meanings and forms of swordplay of the world and formed an endless cycle that secured its opportunity to become a destiny-level magic treasure till the point the process was complete."
"Our ancestors had been hooked into the cycle since the beginning of time and had no way out. It was hard to say whether they were feuding with Mount Shu, or if they benefited from Mount Shu instead."
Lin Feng knew better than to respond. The only few who were willing and able to create their own paths were giant entities like the Great Void Sect and the Heaven’s Gate Sect and a few other minorities. Most others were assimilated by the Mount Shu Sword Sect – the Immortal Heaven Universal Sword Formation only had a few swords that truly belonged to the Mount Shu Sword Sect themselves.
One could say it was a sword formation, and one could also say it was a sword prison.
The early losses of the Heaven’s Gate Sect’s Great Nine Heavens Holy Sword and the Great Void Way of the Sword were due to the extraordinary requirements that were unable to be met sufficiently and they lost popularity over time.
On the other hand, the Saintly Celestial Sword and the Saintly Celestial Sword Qi only became stronger. During the chaotic Middle Ages, the Saintly Celestial Sword managed to survive the initial stages of establishing its foundations and solidified its position as the ‘Divine Sword Emperor’, and eventually drew in more and more unwitting cultivators.
Most of the popular swords and swordplay of the Divine Lands of today originated from the Saintly Celestial Sword.
The Supreme Radiance Swordmaster heaved another brooding sigh. "That may not have been your intentions, Master Lin, but you did annihilate the Saintly Celestial Sword after all and cut off its lifeblood. Otherwise, as long as the cycle of the Saintly Celestial Sword Qi is still there, if the Saintly Celestial Sword comes back to life in the future then we will all be mired in the very same cycle with no hope of reversal."
"Even though Mount Shu and the Saintly Celestial Sword Qi still exists, without the Saintly Celestial Sword, we now have a chance at advancing to the third-level immortal soul stage and we can finally advance our personal mantras. The debris that blocked us in the past are now cleared, and it’s all because of your efforts."
Lin Feng shook his head casually and answered, "No need for such talk. We all have to walk our own paths in the end."
"Rather, it was your aid that was timely and I will remember it."
The Supreme Radiance Swordmaster was unrelenting as he shook his head even harder. "That’s nothing compared to the favors you have bestowed upon us. Our sects have always had a good relationship, and it’s only right that I give you all the help that you need."
Xiao Yan walked up to interrupt the conversation. "Master, Mister Dual Polarity Peak had been heavily injured by Jie Luoshi of Mount Shu, and his opponent was eventually killed by you. I wish to ask you to help him recover. The Virtuous Zen Master was also injured by Jie Luoshi – he had kept the enemies busy even though he was hurt."
Lin Feng pointed a finger towards the Dual Polarity Heavenly Mountain and radiant light immediately started flashing around the summit.
After he extended a helping hand towards the Virtuous Zen Master, Lin Feng turned towards Xiao Yan and laughed, somewhat mischievously, and said, "Seems like your injuries are pretty heavy as well."
Xiao Yan guffawed and answered, "Don’t mock me, master. I know the injuries I have sustained, and I also know it’s best that I try to recuperate by myself. This will be helpful towards my control of the Penta Fire Lotus."
Lin Feng nodded his head in approval. "Very good. You’re a fantastic role model, and you are a great reflection of your position as Eldest Senior."
He surveyed Zhu Yi, Wang Lin, and his other disciples and exclaimed heartily, "Everybody’s done well. I am extremely proud of everyone!"
Smiles could be seen on everyone’s faces as they bowed down in front of Lin Feng again. "Without you around, we have delegated the various responsibilities and worked together to hold down the fort. Sorry for worrying you!"
Lin Feng turned back towards Xiao Zhener and Gu Peng. "Thank you, both of you."
Xiao Zhener curtsied and answered, "Senior Lin, you don’t have to say that. Something happened in the middle world my family is residing in, and that was the reason why my father and the others couldn’t head down to help out and only Uncle Peng and I are here. If not for that, then the battle of Mount Yujing wouldn’t have been so perilous and hazardous. If you hadn’t come out fast enough, the Heaven-Destroying Sword might even have been abducted by the Mount Shu Sword Sect."
Lin Feng dismissed her words and laughed, "You are overstating everything. I will pay a visit to your father soon."
Lin Feng quickly received news that the Purple Clouds Sect and the Thunderclouds Holy Man, the Blue Pavilion Holy Man, the Royal House of the Northern Tribes, the Lightning Swordmaster and even the Great Barren Swordmaster were on the mountain to congratulate him.
Lin Feng already had his hands full before he was informed that the Great Zhou Empire, The Vast Sea Sword Sect, the Intense Flaming Sword Sect and the Samsara Sect were at his doorstep as well – needless to say, they were here for the redemption of their fellow cultivators.