Chapter 35

In the depths of the Sword Tomb, Lin Yuan gripped the hilt with his right hand.

Even so, Lin Yuan could distinctly feel the sword slightly trembling.

“A mere object possessing such spirit?”

Lin Yuan couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.

If this were in the Cosmic Human Alliance, only spaceships made of bio-fusion technology comparable in value to a planet could possibly match it.

“However, no matter how spirited, it remains an inanimate object.”

Lin Yuan could sense that the sword’s resistance was weakening.

Merely moments passed before it stopped trembling and lay quietly in his hand.

Only then did Lin Yuan turn to look behind him.

The current lord of the Celestial Master Mansion, the chubby Taoist Master Pingyang, and two other Celestial Phenomena Realm masters stood not far off, quietly watching Lin Yuan.

To be precise, they were looking at the ‘True Martial Sword’ in Lin Yuan’s hand, their expressions a complex mix of relief, shock, and reminiscence.

“Lord…”

A tinge of fear promptly appeared on Lin Yuan’s face.

He was about to bow in respect.

“No need.”

Master Cang Qing stepped forward and lifted Lin Yuan up.

“Since you have been chosen by the True Martial Sword, you are this generation’s True Martial Successor, and you will be the future Celestial Master of our mansion.”

Master Cang Qing spoke solemnly.

 

The journey to the Sword Tomb concluded.

Lin Yuan did not return to the Taoist temple halfway up the mountain.

Instead, Master Cang Qing personally took him to a residence at the mountain summit.

With Lin Yuan, there were also four Taoist boys.

From the casual conversations with Master Cang Qing, Lin Yuan learned that the swords chosen by these four boys, even though not comparable to the ‘True Martial Sword’ selected by Lin Yuan, were extremely impressive, having been left behind by past Celestial Masters of the mansion.

They all held great potential to reach the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

“Brother Shanfeng, what do you think the lord is doing?”

Qingping followed closely behind Lin Yuan.

This little shadow, too, had been chosen by a sword left behind by past Celestial Masters, making him one of the four.

“Don’t worry, it must be something good.”

Lin Yuan said offhandedly.

From the snippets of information occasionally revealed by Master Cang Qing, Lin Yuan deduced that the five of them were certainly being cultivated as ‘seeds’ by the Celestial Master Mansion.

Especially Lin Yuan, who had been chosen by the True Martial Sword and directly named as the ‘future Celestial Master’ by Master Cang Qing himself.

What did it mean to be a Celestial Master of the Celestial Master Mansion?

Even after five hundred years, the world still could not forget the terror of a Celestial Master.

Whenever a Celestial Master emerged from the Mansion, they were invincible in this world.

According to Lin Yuan’s understanding, the ceiling of combat power in this world was the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

Perhaps a very few exceptionally gifted individuals could manage to step half a step or even a full step beyond the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

But only the Celestial Masters of the Celestial Master Mansion could genuinely transcend the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

This was why the Celestial Masters were invincible throughout the world.

Even Lin Yuan was eager to discover what exactly allowed a Celestial Master to fully transcend that threshold.

Considering his calculations, to surpass the Celestial Phenomena Realm, even with his Against-Heaven’s Understanding, it would still take at least fifty years.

But a Celestial Master… how could they achieve it?

Could it be that every Celestial Master of the mansion possessed an Against-Heaven’s Understanding like Lin Yuan’s?

That was clearly impossible.

 

After Master Cang Qing brought Lin Yuan and the other four to their residence,

he reminded them not to wander around at night, then turned and left.

Lin Yuan sat on the bedstead.

He casually placed the True Martial Sword in front of him.

By now, the sword had completely calmed down.

“This sword must contain the secret of the Celestial Master.”

“Otherwise, Master Cang Qing would not have acknowledged me as the future Celestial Master.”

Lin Yuan gently caressed the hilt with his right hand.

At the same time,

a faint flow of vital breath began to explore deep into the sword’s body from the hilt.

Boom!!!

The scenery around Lin Yuan suddenly changed.

He found himself in a vast darkness of void.

To his left not far away, was a sun-like fireball.

To his right, lay an abyss emitting an endless chill.

The Power of Taiyang and the Power of Taiyin permeated the entire space.

“What is this?”

Lin Yuan’s pupils slightly narrowed.

His mind suddenly began to flood with Spiritual Light.

“[Your understanding is Against-Heaven, witnessing the external manifestations of the forces of Yin and Yang poles deepens your grasp on the Dao of Yin and Yang]”

 

“[Your Against-Heaven’s Understanding has deepened your comprehension of the Dao of Yin and Yang as you observed the external manifestations of the powers of Taiyin and Taiyang.]

 

“[Your Against-Heaven’s Understanding has deepened your comprehension of the Dao of Yin and Yang as you observed the external manifestations of the powers of Taiyin and Taiyang.]

 

In an instant, a massive influx of insights flooded his mind.

Lin Yuan was utterly absorbed, his focus entirely devoted to the powers of Taiyin and Taiyang on his left and right.

He didn’t know how much time had passed.

Gradually, Lin Yuan opened his eyes.

“So that’s how it is.”

“So that’s how it is.”

A sudden realization dawned on Lin Yuan.

At this moment, he finally understood why the successive Heavenly Masters of the Celestial Master Mansion could surpass the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

It was because of this True Martial Sword.

Within the sword, the externally manifested powers of Taiyang and Taiyin were housed.

This was a direct path leading above the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

The successive Heavenly Masters of the Celestial Master Mansion observed the powers of Taiyin and Taiyang within the sword day and night.

Constantly comprehending the nature beyond the Celestial Phenomena Realm, it was naturally not difficult for them to exceed that realm.

“Twenty years.”

“No, that’s not right.”

“At most a dozen years.”

“I should be able to break through the Celestial Phenomena Realm.”

Lin Yuan’s heart swelled with excitement.

In truth, the powers of Taiyin and Taiyang in the sword…

Merely comprehending either would allow one to break through the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

This was also the path taken by the historical Heavenly Masters of the Celestial Master Mansion.

But Lin Yuan had great ambition and wished to cultivate both Taiyin and Taiyang simultaneously.

Only then would the necessary time skyrocket.

If Lin Yuan had chosen to comprehend one power alone, with his Against-Heaven’s Understanding, it likely would have taken only a year or a few months to break through the Celestial Phenomena Realm smoothly.

“I was wrong.”

“I was wrong.”

“The method I used to break into the Celestial Phenomena Realm was mistaken.”

After Lin Yuan observed the essence of the powers of Taiyin and Taiyang,

he immediately recognized the issue with himself.

Years ago, Lin Yuan had quietly broken through to the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

However, the foundation of Lin Yuan’s entry into the Celestial Phenomena Realm mainly stemmed from his last journey through the Martial World.

It’s not to say that was wrong.

But breaking through to the Celestial Phenomena Realm in such a way would make the subsequent path more difficult to traverse.

“If I rooted my entry into the Celestial Phenomena Realm in the power of Taiyin or Taiyang, and then attempted the fusion of Yin and Yang to break through the Celestial Phenomena Realm…”

Thoughts swiftly formed in Lin Yuan’s mind.

He decided to break through the Celestial Phenomena Realm again.

If it were someone else, attempting to break through the Celestial Phenomena Realm again would likely mean ruining their cultivation and starting over.

However, Lin Yuan possessed Against-Heaven’s Understanding and quickly grasped a method that would perfectly convert his Celestial Phenomena Realm’s Qi and strength into the power of Taiyin or Taiyang.

Although there were losses involved, it was far better than starting over from scratch.

 

“This sword…”

“Could it truly be that the True Martial Great Emperor exists in this world?”

Lin Yuan’s gaze once again fell upon the sword in front of him.

The essence of the powers of Taiyin and Taiyang contained within the sword could guide beings to transcend beyond the Celestial Phenomena Realm.

The sheer power of its maker was unimaginably formidable.

 

The next day.

Lin Yuan gathered outside with four other Taoist disciples.

Master Cang Qing and two other Celestial Phenomena Realm masters stood not far away.

“Alright.”

“You five are the future hope of our Celestial Master Mansion.”

Master Cang Qing’s gaze lingered briefly on Lin Yuan without trace.

Clearly, in Master Cang Qing’s eyes, the other four were optional.

As long as Lin Yuan, the future Heavenly Master chosen by the True Martial Sword, was present, that was enough.

Nevertheless, due to the rules of the Celestial Master Mansion, he brought the others along.

“Next.”

“I will take you to the True Martial Dao Zang.”

“That place is where the successive Heavenly Masters of our Celestial Master Mansion have secluded themselves.”

“Inside, the cultivation paths and realizations of the Heavenly Masters are recorded.”

Master Cang Qing slowly stated.

Upon hearing this,

excitement appeared on the faces of the four Taoist disciples.

At Dragon Tiger Mountain, the Heavenly Masters had been ‘mythologized.’

Being able to go to the place where the Heavenly Masters once cultivated was something any Taoist of the Celestial Master Mansion deeply desired.