The Prodigies War

Chapter 2143: Rumors around the Match To Decide the True Peak of Sword Dao

Lin Xun then learned from Second Senior Brother that Underworld Son had only entered Dark Hidden Purgatory by borrowing Zhukong’s power.

Moreover, the entrance he had taken was on the eighteenth level of Dark Hidden Purgatory.

Zhong Qiu directed the topic back to Zhukong, “It also surprised me that Zhukong actually left behind his sword dao legacy, but when I actually consider this, I have a rough guess of his intention.

“Due to the first Calamity of Ruin, Zhukong suffered severe dao injuries. It’s already been very difficult for him to hold on until now.

“To save Underworld Son, he spared no effort to exert his full strength to cross the Law Powers permeating Dark Hidden Purgatory. If my speculation is correct, then it won't be long before he and his dao fall into oblivion.”

Speaking of this, Zhong Qiu's voice was a little heavy, as if he found this to be a pity.

Lin Xun was also unsettled inside. Is a mere Underworld Son worth to pay such a heavy price for?

Zhong Qiu continued, “During his whole life, Zhukong has never married or taken in disciples. He walks alone on his path with nothing but the sword dao on him. He has long had the qualification to found his own dao lineage.

“Now that he feels his death fast approaching, he naturally isn’t willing to watch his lifelong quest for the sword dao be lost. Therefore, he chose you.”

Lin Xun was a little taken aback. “Elder Taixuan?”

Zhong Qiu said, “Yes. Taixuan is known as the primeval era’s number one Sword Emperor whose sword had dominated all heavens. Among all the giants on the sword path in his era, no one other than Zhukong was his opponent.

“Meanwhile, Zhukong was known as the number one Sword Exalt of the Underworld. The might of his sword dao could be described as ‘all-annihilating.’

“His only wish was to compete with Sword Emperor Taixuan – to see whose sword dao was the true peak of the world.

“Taixuan straightforwardly agreed to it, and the two then planned to have their ‘sword debate to decide the true peak’ in the Underworld.

“This matter caused a sensation everywhere back then. When our master heard of it, he commented with a smile: ‘The sword paths they seek are different, but both can be called number one in all heavens. It is indeed difficult to judge exactly who is stronger.’

“At that time, I was accompanying Master as he divined the Almighty Dao in the Return Dominion, so I also heard about it. And I had intended to go to see their sword debate and witness their elegance.

“Unfortunately, the first Calamity of Ruin erupted too suddenly and fiercely. It ended up robbing the two apex sword experts their opportunity to spar.”

Speaking of this, Zhong Qiu looked regretful. He lightly patted his knees with a despondent look.

Listening to these past events of the primeval times, Lin Xun's heart also yearned toward it, and it had given rise to many thoughts.

One was Taixuan who was known as the primeval era’s number one Sword Emperor.

The other was Zhukong, the number one Sword Exalt of the Underworld.

A competition to decide the true peak between them had been about to be staged, but foiled because of a Calamity of Ruin, which was indeed regrettable.

Zhong Qiu concluded, “Now, you understand why Zhukong made the most correct choice of choosing you. He simply doesn’t find anyone else worthy.

“Otherwise, that fellow called Underworld Son would have received his legacy long ago. One’s dao must not be lightly passed on, but when one decides to do it, they withhold nothing.”

Saying that, he handed Lin Xun jade slip Zhukong had left behind.

Lin Xun accepted it, but didn't rush to read it on the spot and instead asked, “Senior Brother, which one do you think is stronger, Elder Taixuan or Elder Zhukong?”

Zhong Qiu thought for a moment, then shook his head. Even their master, the Lord of Fangchun Mountain, had been unable to provide the answer to this, so he himself was not in a good position to make a judgment.

However, he still said, “Junior Brother, I can only tell you that it is very, very difficult for those who have reached such a level to decide who is stronger. Unless one possesses the power to absolutely suppress the other, it's already difficult for them to even try to defeat each other.”

Lin Xun asked, “What about you?”

Zhong Qiu was stunned, then laughed, “I can't brag about myself in front of you, but I can tell you that throughout all my life, not the Great Dao nor anyone else can make me lower my head, except our master. It is only to him that I willingly bow.”

This meant that except for the Master of Fangchun Mountain, no one in existence could make Zhong Qiu yield to them!

Lin Xun couldn't help but say, “Not even Eldest Senior Brother?”

Zhong Qiu seemed to have anticipated that Lin Xun would ask this. He replied without thinking, “Not even him.”

Those three words were said matter-of-factly.

Lin Xun was stunned for a good moment, and only then did he realize that his second senior brother's vision and standards were far higher than he had imagined.

After a brief silence, Zhong Qiu said, “Eldest Senior Brother's dao revolves around endless combat without a defeat, while I only want to go and see if there is an end to the Almighty Dao that pervades all heavens…”

With that, he stood up. “There is still some time left before the third Calamity of Ruin comes. Do you intend to go out for a walk or continue training here?”

Lin Xun thought about it and decided to stay.

Zhong Qiu nodded. “This place is covered in Kunwu Lightning Fire, and this lightning pool contains nothing but Kunwu Lightning Liquid, so it's a quite suitable place for cultivation. I will come back to see you when the Nirvana of Transcendence descends.”

After saying that, he took a step and vanished on the spot.

……

The lightning pool tumbled. Dazzling electric bolts filled the air. The lightning law power enveloping this piece of heaven and earth had recovered from the previous silence, starting to diffuse a destructive aura.

Lin Xun sat alone, his heart fluctuating with emotions.

While there were no big twists and turns during his journey in Dark Hidden Purgatory, he had still encountered many things.

On the first level, he had met Bochuan.

After the two of them had entered the second level, they had suppressed Meng Xingzi and seized half of Dao Skyless Spear from the latter’s hands.

Entering the fourth level, he had come across the treacherous man in green and learned from him that the other half of the Dao Skyless Spear was in the possession of Silver Bat Ghost Emperor in the seventh floor.

In the fifth level, he had encountered the honest and hospitable Huo Lan…

For Lin Xun, the real training had only started from the sixth level, and it was also at this floor that he had encountered many Emperor fiend spirits.

Finally, after slaying Silver Bat Ghost Emperor in the seventh level, Lin Xun had been able to confirm that he could kill a third realm Emperor if he fought with his life on the line.

The eighth level, on the other hand, was a land that had caused Lin Xun's mindset and willpower to change drastically.

In there, he had entered the Dao Forbidden Tract and spent nearly three months defeating the wills left behind by thirty-six mighty primeval experts. During the process, his mind and will had been tempered and elevated thirty-six times.

Ultimately, he had broken the Dao Forbidden Tract and also the record set by Second Senior Brother!

In Lin Xun’s spirit, the will had transformed into a furnace!

In his heart, the heart’s power had transformed into an abyss!

This was a precedent that had never been seen before!

Finally, what he had seen on this ninth floor was undoubtedly the most unimaginable and thrilling.

The long-time-no-see Underworld Son, the number one primeval Sword Exalt of Underworld, the drunkard, Big Yellow, and his second senior brother had appeared one after another. Although Lin Xun hadn’t gotten much training from this, he had ended up learning a lot of secrets.

Now that he was recalling those scenes, Lin Xun couldn't help but get sentimental.

No matter what, this trip to Dark Hidden Purgatory was already a rewarding experience.

Putting aside the metamorphosis of his own strength, he had gained the Dao Skyless Spear, the origin root spirits of the Sacred Kunwu Tree, the sword dao legacy of Zhukong, and a great amount of Dao Essence Crystals and Kunwu Lightning Liquid…

Not to forget the various Emperor-grade weapons robbed from Underworld Son!

“According to Second Senior Brother, there’s only less than a year left before the third Calamity of Ruin befalls. In the meantime, I should bring my dao cultivation and martial cultivation to perfection…” Lin Xun calmly calculated.

He was so fixated on certifying himself as a supreme Emperor that he just wished to break through right here and now.

However, he was well aware that he was still a small step away from the perfect condition to do it. If he couldn't suppress the urge to break through, then it was highly likely that something untoward would happen.

A miss was as good as a mile.

In front of the heavenly barrier of the Emperor Stage, Lin Xun would never allow any slip-ups on his part.

“Get up.” Lin Xun walked over to the Old Bronze Tree and kicked it awake from its coma.

“Huh?” As if jolted out of a dream, the old tree remained in a dazed expression for a long time before it finally realized that all those despairingly terrifying characters had already left.

“Do you want to stay here and cultivate or are you leaving?” asked Lin Xun.

The Old Bronze Tree had performed quite well during their journey together, so he didn't mind giving it an opportunity.

“Of course I'm staying!” replied Old Bronze Tree decisively with fervent eyes. This lightning forbidden zone was left behind by the Sacred Kunwu Tree who was now gone, so this was its chance to occupy it and make this place its new lair!

Lin Xun did not reject the old tree’s wish. He pointed at the distance. “This pool of Kunwu Lightning Liquid is useful to me….”

Without waiting for him to finish speaking, the Old Bronze Tree had rushed over. “Fellow Daoist, I'll help you collect it.”

It never looked so attentive, happy, excited, uplifted, and filled with a fighting spirit.

Lin Xun quietly watched this scene and whispered in his heart, I hope you can develop into a complete Sacred Kunwu Tree one day.

On this day, Lin Xun began a secluded session in the lightning forbidden zone.

Every day, aside from meditating on the Great Dao, he would go find and battle with illusory figures manifested from lightning law power.

A month later.

Lin Xun got up from his meditation, put his hands behind his back, and looked up at the sky. In his deep, dark eyes, a faint but sharp strand of sword qi surged.

After standing in silence for a while, he lifted his right hand and made an empty unsheathing motion. His movement was incomparably slow, as if what he was grasping at wasn't air, but a sword sealed between this heaven and earth.

The lightning forbidden zone suddenly quaked.

Far away in the center of the lightning pool, the Old Bronze Tree, who was rooted in it meditating, twitched and opened its eyes. An indescribably dangerous chill ran through it, making its mind quiver.

Lin Xun looked calm and focused. His right hand, which was held in a false grip, slowly pulled back inch by inch.

Clang!

A sword chant resounded stirringly.

In that instant, as if the flow of its long history was disturbed, the ninth level of Dark Hidden Purgatory began to tremble.

An inch of a sword condensed in Lin Xun's hand, emitting a glow like that of the rising sun!