As soon as Wang Wei arrived in [Heaven Slashing Mountain], an assembly of sword wills and intents assaulted his spirit. He remained calm since he was not a swordsman and his spirit could take it, but the sight before him was oddly beautiful.
The mountain was a sword grave or monument. From the bottom to the top, swords of different shapes and sizes were embedded in the ground. The mountain itself was made of a unique material that could nourish these swords to preserve their spirit, sword intent, or sword will.
At the top of the mountain was a small mansion, and Wang Wei sensed ten terrifying sword wills from inside. He sighed but couldn't shake his head.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Yan Hai said as she appeared next to him.
"I'm guessing these swords are from people you've defeated?" Wang Wei asked.
"Of course. The higher the sword location, the more memorable the swordsman was," Yan Hai said with pride. "Only ten of them are allowed inside my cultivation room."
Wang Wei looked at all the millions of swords in this mountain and sighed: "No wonder the other swordsmen hate and respect you." A swordsman's sword is a part of themselves; some even loved it more than their wives. However, Yan Hai would strip that love from them as a form of humiliation after defeating or killing them for her sword monument.
"It's an honor for them to have their swords here," Yan Hai said calmly. This thing started as a way to use other people's sword intent to sharpen hers, but eventually, it also turned into collecting swords from competent swordsmen.
"You should have branded it like that," Wang Wei added. "Make the mountain public for others, and make it look like an honor to be remembered by you. Had you done this, your reputation in the Sword Dao World would have been better."
"Brother Qi once said the same thing. There are quotas every generation for swordsmen to visit this place. And despite how they talk behind my back, most of them know a sign of a mighty swordsman is if their swords are here."
"Oh?" Wang Wei asked.
"Anyone who wishes to test themselves can summon my projection at any cultivation stage in this place to test whether they are worthy. Of course, these cunning bastards will cultivate a second sword to leave here," Yan Hai revealed.
"Don't tell me you've never been defeated?"
"I have, but it's usually during the lower realm," Yan Hai admitted.
"Do the winners get a prize or something?"
"Yes, they get to take a sword back or receive direct instruction from me," Yan Hai explained. "Many people who know they cannot get their swords from me cultivate the younger generation to try."
"That makes sense," Wang Wei nodded before looking at this sword monument with a daze.
"What's wrong?"
"I was just thinking that my father would love this place."
Yan Hai patted his shoulder: "His Soul Flame is burning bright, meaning he's alive, and that's all that matters. We will find him."
"I know," Wang Wei nodded, taking a moment to control himself. They slowly flew toward the mountain's top."How are things going with the Sword League Path?"
"I've started the negotiation, but I'm delaying things until the catastrophe. They should be more desperate by then and willing to pay a higher price."
"So, you've decided to cheat them?"
"It's the best approach, isn't it?" Yan Hai smiled.
"True. Have you started planning for the other sword paths?"
"I have activated our previous dormant agents, and they've revealed the Ultimate Sword Path has appeared in five other Chaos Worlds."
"Them?"
"Yes. Of all the Ma Clan, they are the most talented," Yan Hai nodded. Wang Wei observed them. They had dreamy eyes, which is usually a sign of people with high spirituality, dream, or illusion talents. They resembled each other and wore blue, except Ma Honghua had a red flower on her hanfu, and Ma Wen had a butterfly on his robe. Their body language indicated they were closed and strict competitors.
"Duyi Realm, 9-Leaf Foundation, Emperor Taboo Battle Realm, Peak Empyrean cultivation, and a Paragon Soul," Wang Wei muttered. "You went above and beyond. Thank you, ancestor."
"You should thank me," Yan Hai said with slightly gritted teeth. "These Ma Clan people used to be protected by the Memorialized Luck of creating the Void Illusion Realm, yet they were reduced to such a terrible state. Do you know how many terrible decisions they made to reach that level? Decisions I had to deal with when purifying their bloodline."
Ma Wen and Ma Honghua blushed in shame for their ancestor's actions, while Wang Wei was ashamed for letting her do all the work. "I didn't expect it would be this challenging."
Yan Hai caressed her temple: "I really hope our descendants won't be so stupid if something happens to us. "The entire process stressed her out as she thought this may be the fact of the Dao Opening Sect. Wang Wei wanted to reassure her, but couldn't find the words.
If all of them were gone, the Dao Opening Sect might face the same situation. Despite the sect's rules and spirit, nothing can resist the erosion of time. So, without guidance and protection, it's highly likely their fate would eventually be the same as the Ma Clan.
"We just have to ensure nothing happens to us," Wang Wei said before focusing on the two Heaven Chosens. He pondered briefly before pointing at Ma Wen: "I choose you." Ma Honghua's body tensed, and she secretly clenched her fists. However, she immediately controlled herself and cupped her hands together: "Congratulations, Brother Wen."
"Thank you, Sister Honghua. I promise you to lead our clan to glory, and even find the resources for your Paragon Tribulations," Ma Wen replied with a salute, but his eyes did not hide his contentment and mockery. Wang Wei looked at them with an odd look.
Ma Wen did not know being chosen was a death sentence. He chose him not because he was better, but because he thought it would be funny for Ma Liqiu to revive herself in a man's body. He handed Ma Wen one of the Mortalhood Trial's tokens:
"Take a few years to calm your mind and reach your peak state before activating the token."
"I will," Ma Wen said, having calmed down from the previous excited state. Wang Wei nodded in acknowledgement before looking at Ma Honghua: "While he's away, you're in charge of the Ma Clan."
"As you wish, Lord."
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