Chapter 69: Seven Killing Swords Sect (3)

Chapter 69: Seven Killing Swords Sect (3)

Lan Xiaohuis words leave a deep and lasting impression on me. Despite how stiff and rehearsed those words sound or perhaps exactly because of it I understand the meaning and the thought behind them.

Lan Xiaohui has forgiven me for ruining her life. She does not hold me responsible for what happened to her. Naturally, I cannot be responsible for any of it because I was not even conscious at the time. To hold me responsible because of [Avarice] would be like holding Lan Xiaohui responsible for what happened to her because she was born in this Sky Continent, and not some other place.

Lan Xiaohuis perception of the matter and the nature of it is something I am not certain if it should be concerning or not. The way she casually ignores my demonic nature and in the same sentence declares I am not evil is something I could not do myself. First of all, I dont have a moral compass good or evil does not exist for me. I can understand the concept of those things and how meat thinks of it, but I am incapable, even in jest, to admit that it has merit. I am too objective.

From the perspective of meat, I am certainly something that would be regarded as evil, therefore the fact that Lan Xiaohui rejects that notion implies that in her subjective perception of the events she either thinks that I have somehow vindicated myself likely by helping her, which is a very selfish and human reason to do so or she is completely insane.

Of course, there is also a third possibility. She is becoming a true, quintessential warrior. Those who follow the path of the sword, at the pinnacle, become as righteous as the sword Lan Xiaohui also called me righteous like this but this kind of righteousness is not related to good or evil. The righteous sword is tyrannical because it is above those moral responsibilities. The sword exists to cut, and at the apex of its existence, all things beneath the sword exist to be cut.

Sword cultivators are fascinating.

It is almost empty, Lan Xiaohui says, standing within the Martial Pavilion.

At some point, likely inspired by Li Feng holding a scripture, Lan Xiaohui detoured to this thirteen-story grand pavilion in the administrative area.

The insides of this pavilion were so large that its large first floor extended beyond the limit of my perception, and there were countless bookshelves arranged inefficiently, if I may add but most of them were empty. With my perception, I could find about three hundred total scriptures in the pavilion, even though it had the capacity to hold thousands and thousands.

This is not surprising, though.

And there is no Elder, either, Lan Xiaohui adds, turning towards an empty booth near the entrance and the stairs that lead to the next floor.

If this place truly is a recreation of memories mine and of those I have slain it makes sense that only the scriptures they know of exist. It is entirely possible that some of these scriptures are empty or incorrect, having only been seen once, or given a cursory read.

Like Wukong, I doubt that the people here are actually ghosts or reincarnations of those people they pretend to be. They must be simulations. The hint that supports this theory is Li Feng.

The stele simply reads:

Tenth place to third place: 25 Inner World Tokens. Mystic Sword Formation priority.

Third place: 50 Inner World Tokens. Access to second floor of the Martial Pavilion.

Second place: 100 Inner World Tokens. Access to Secret Sword Realm Nexus. Martial Pavilion Floors 3 and 4 accessible.

First place: 200 Inner World Tokens. Rewards REDACTED.

After reading the words on the stele, Lan Xiaohui chews on her bottom lip thoughtfully. For a while, she just stands there, trying to make sense of the words. I am not sure why Lan Xiaohui came here, of all places, but I know that she did not expect to find this.

After several minutes, Lan Xiaohui finally nods. We have three hours to prepare for this challenge stage. I wonder what it will be. What should we do?

I also wonder what the next test will be. Considering the presence of others, and the fact that there is a ranking system for this test, it will likely either depend heavily on cooperation or complete independence. It could go either way.

There might even be additional objectives.

In other words, it could be everything and anything.

Gather information for now, I tell Lan Xiaohui.

She nods, and tries to open the door behind the stele, but it does not even budge.

Perhaps the other pavilions are also altered in some way, Lan Xiaohui says. I am also interested in this Mystic Sword Formation.

Good. I dont need to urge her to investigate this formation. I sense that her words are not selfish, but also in consideration of my needs. Perhaps she understands that I possess an ability to analyze things and discover their natures.