Chapter 168 The Heavenly Sword Pavilion
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As Arthur and the others stepped out of the passageway, they found themselves in a world of its own—a realm filled with dense essence energy, surrounded by towering mountains, and boasting a magnificent building etched on one of the peaks.
The mountains exuded an aura of ancient power, and the essence energy was so rich that it seemed to invigorate their very souls.
Arthur's eyes gleamed with curiosity as he beheld the scene before him. "This place is good," he remarked.
He wasn't shocked like the others as he had see something grander in the past.
Kira nodded, her expression reflecting slight approval. "Indeed, it is. I've only seen a few of such places in the past."
"You been to places like this before?" Arthur asked in mild surprise.
"Yes," Kira answered but gave no further explanation.
Luke, Balor, and Sun Wukong were amazed, their gazes sweeping across the landscape with admiration.
"Let's go," Arthur commanded.
The group decided to make their way towards the mountain with the magnificent building.
On their ascent, they encountered no obstacles or challenges; it was as if the path had been prepared specifically for them.
As they neared the mountain's peak, the inscription "Heavenly Sword Pavilion" became clearer, etched with elegance on the building's surface.
However, as they arrived at the pavilion, a slightly transparent figure materialized before them.
Arthur and Balor's eyes widened in surprise as they recognized the figure—the Artifact spirit of the Sword Tower, the same one they had encountered when they cleared the Sword Tower's trials.
The Artifact spirit introduced itself, its voice carrying a sense of authority, "Welcome, esteemed disciples, to the Heavenly Sword Pavilion. I am the keeper of this sacred place, entrusted with the preservation of the founder's legacy, his treasures, and the founder's seal."
"You lot are the very first to arrive here, since the creation of this secret realm."
"Senior, who made this secret realm?" someone asked politely.
The artifact spirit looked at the one who asked and answered, "It was your Sect's founder of course."
The others became shocked as the knew that the ability to create a secret realm belong to a supreme expert and such existences were usually immortals of ancient times or those who had ascended to upper realms.
The spirit continued, "To gain access to the treasures and knowledge within this pavilion, you must prove your worthiness through a test—a trial of the sword. Only those who are dedicated practitioners of the sword shall proceed."
"Who ever passes the test will inherit the Founder's legacy and also become the possessor of the Founder's token and seal."
These last words made them shocked and excited as they recalled the mission of the sect leader.
'Anyone who finds the seal will gets its acknowledgement will become the Prime Disciple of the sect.'
"What do we do now?" Arthur asked.
"Well, those who are not sword practitioners should step aside."
Kira, Sun Wukong, Luke, and a few others opted to stay back as they were not proficient in the art of the sword.
"Don't worry, your journey here will still be rewarded. As there is a treasure trove that will be beneficial to you. But you will also be tested to be found worthy," the Artifact spirit explained as he noticed the disappointed expressions of some of them.
Then the doors of the pavilion opened and what was revealed was a portal.
"As you step in you will all appear in a different room where you will face your trials independently. But I would like to warn you."
"Unlike the sword tower, the challenges you will face here is not an illusion," he said with a serious tone.
Arthur understood why, as one can not gain the inheritance of the Founder if he is a shielded brat with no sense of courage.
Nodding in understanding, no one backed out and they all agreed to enter, irrespective of the dangers.
This was a once in a lifetime opportunity and only a spineless coward will retreat. and there was no cowards amongst them.
In fact, one cannot be a sword practitioner if one has a cowardly heart.
Arthur and the rest were granted entry, and as they entered, the doors of the pavilion closed behind them.
When his vision cleared up from the transportation, Arthur found himself in a spacious room, adorned with ancient murals depicting legendary swordsmen and battles of ages past.
The room seemed to pulse with the energy of countless sword cultivators which each of them demonstrating a truth of the sword Dao.
Balor, Ezra, Gareth, and Thalia were also in separate rooms, ready to face their individual tests.
Arthur felt a sense of confidence as he knew Balor's swordsmanship was exceptional.
He was certain that Balor would pass the trial and be deemed worthy of the founder's inheritance.
As he thought about the test, something happened.
The Artifact spirit of the Sword Tower manifested before Arthur, its ethereal form shimmering with energy.
"You have the Map?" the spirit inquired, its voice echoing in the room.
Arthur was taken aback by the question, but he quickly realized what the spirit was referring to.
He nodded, reaching into his spatial ring and presenting the Map.
The spirit seemed pleased, its form glowing with approval. "Excellent. The Map serves as a testament to your destiny—a destiny intertwined with the Heavenly Dao Sword."
Arthur furrowed his brows in thought as he faced the Artifact spirit. "Can you please explain what's going on here?"
The Artifact spirit smiled and explained, "The map was destined to be given to only one person and that person would be a person that clears the towers. But that destined one can not be the inheritor of the founder's legacy."
Arthur frowned, "Why is the Map given to only a chosen few who clear the tower, and why can't they become the founder's inheritor?"
The spirit's form flickered with a sense of ancient wisdom, as if contemplating how to best answer Arthur's questions. "The Map is a sacred artifact bestowed upon those destined to embark on a special journey—the journey of the chosen one. It is a mark of recognition from the Heavenly Sword Sect's founder himself."
"Moreover it was first given to a messenger who ventured into the world to hand it over to a particular person based a the guidance of Seer."
Arthur mind became filled with realization as he recalled how he got the copy of the map from Balor.
"So that man was a messenger?" Arthur asked.
The Artifact Spirit understood who Arthur was referring to and nodded, "Yes, but he was also a seer."
"A Seer.."
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