Zhenwu Mountain.
One by one, the disciples stared in awe at the towering Sword Inheritance Tower before them.
It had just been dug out from Wenjian Pavilion, and even the dirt on it still carried a fresh scent.
The two Heaven-Man Realm elders from Wenjian Pavilion, hoping to preserve some dignity, had traveled under cover of night, avoiding many cities along the way.
The 333-zhang tall Sword Inheritance Tower was grand and imposing, with occasional surges of sword aura and sharpness, stirring deep longing in all who practiced the sword.
A millennium of accumulation, the remnants of generations of top swordsmen's sword path—its essence lay within.
If one could just ignore the two Wenjian Pavilion elders' stiff, darkened faces, it would be perfect.
Ning Qi gazed at the tower, eyes tinged with anticipation.
To him, this was excellent material for advancement.
The only pity was that it focused solely on the sword path.
But that wasn't much of a problem.
He could draw inferences by analogy, using swordsmanship to drive the growth of other paths.
"Elders, thank you for your trouble," Luo Wentian said with a smile.
The two elders' faces darkened even more, bitterness in their hearts. One said stiffly:
"Sect Master Luo, the rest of the items are being delivered by Tang Qiu and his men. It was Wenjian Pavilion that was in the wrong, and we've received due punishment. We beg Sect Master Luo to show mercy and spare Wenjian Pavilion."
Why humble themselves like this? Why swallow their pride?
All for the sake of Wenjian Pavilion's survival.
Luo Wentian nodded faintly.
"Of course. So long as Wenjian Pavilion remains hidden from the world for two hundred years."
He showed no leniency.
When you make a mistake, you pay the price.
But this was already the limit. Zhenwu Sect couldn't truly annihilate Wenjian Pavilion—setting aside whether it was even possible, would the Great Yan court permit it? It also didn't align with Zhenwu Sect's principles.
Wenjian Pavilion had once coveted the Heaven Ascension Steps and Zhenwu Sword Stele.
So now, they simply used their own method against them—taking Wenjian Pavilion's Sword Inheritance Tower.
And if Zhenwu really went too far, they would invite pushback from other sects.
After all, until now, Wenjian Pavilion hadn't actually harmed a single Zhenwu Sect member.
They'd stood for over a thousand years and had allied sects.
If Zhenwu overdid it, those sects would speak up.
The two Wenjian Pavilion elders looked bitter, but inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
"Wenjian Pavilion will honor its promise."
They turned back once more to look at the towering Sword Inheritance Tower, hearts bleeding. In the end, they clenched their teeth and flew off.
They didn't want to stay another moment in this place of heartbreak.
One misstep had destroyed a thousand years of Wenjian Pavilion's effort.
Their pain—no one could understand.
Ning Qi merely watched in silence.
Forget two hundred years—even in twenty years, who could know what Zhenwu Sect might evolve into?
When Wenjian Pavilion emerged again, they might find the world entirely different.
But as the two elders departed, an unseen wisp of aura silently wrapped around them—
A faint, nearly imperceptible mark.
If they ever did anything reckless,
Ning Qi had a backup plan.
At his current level, ordinary Heaven-Man experts were nothing more than a wave of the hand.
But most likely, those two wouldn't dare.
So long as Wenjian Pavilion existed, they still had hope.
And hope was what kept people cautious.
He who has bare feet fears nothing—
But as long as Wenjian Pavilion lived, it was their "shoes."
With that, Ning Qi withdrew his gaze.
He examined the Sword Inheritance Tower again.
There were too many people around—not the right time to go in.
Luo Wentian laughed:
"Disperse for now. Once we've assessed the tower's situation, it'll be open to you all."
How to manage this tower—he still had to discuss it with Ning Qi and Daoist Longshan.
The disciples were full of anticipation.
After all, it was the heritage of a thousand-year-old sword sect—new and fascinating to them.
…
Late at night.
No one around.
Ning Qi slipped silently into the tower.
It was wide.
And tall.
333 zhang meant 333 levels.
Each floor had its own small room.
As Ning Qi stepped into one, he saw a meditation mat in the center.
On the walls were all kinds of drawings, inscriptions, and sword marks—seemingly chaotic, but upon close examination, each held true sword intent.
The higher the level, the more profound the sword intent.
Some upper levels even held sword principles left behind by Heaven-Man Realm swordsmen—
More than he could count on both hands.
Some were left by Wenjian Pavilion's own masters.
Some by invited outside experts.
Though the tower was usually closed to outsiders, there were exceptions.
Those with deep ties or as part of an exchange.
But unlike the Zhenwu Sword Stele, it was never fully open to the public.
Ning Qi immersed himself in the various sword intents.
His mind flashed with insight—he had gained a lot.
He quickly understood how the tower worked.
Over a thousand years, countless sword intents had intertwined—
Forming an invisible barrier of will.
Only those with matching sword mastery could ascend to a given level.
"Every time a master swordsman of Wenjian Pavilion neared death, they would enter the tower—ascending, dueling the sages across time, climbing until they reached the peak of their path—
Then, unable to move forward, they would leave all their essence on that level for future generations to comprehend."
Ning Qi sighed softly.
He could faintly see those swordsmen laughing boldly in the face of death—
Leaving behind their unique marks within the tower.
The higher the floor, the greater the honor.
"The person who built this tower… truly remarkable."
Ning Qi studied the strongest sword intent—the River Sword Intent.
It was left by Wenjian Pavilion's founder, a once-in-a-generation genius.
Stronger than Gu Changhe's Heart-Seeking Sword Intent,
Though Gu Changhe's sword intent was also in this level, out of respect for the founder, he'd inscribed his own lower.
"River Sword Intent, Heart-Seeking Sword Intent, Mountain-Moving Sword Intent, Falling Star Sword Intent… all extraordinary."
"Especially the River Sword Intent—starting from the river, yet aspiring to the highest ideals, vast and unending, with a timeless, space-shattering essence. The founder was truly outstanding. No wonder he created this tower.
A pity his descendants were unworthy…"
Ning Qi closed his eyes to comprehend.
A thousand years of Wenjian Pavilion's legacy became nourishment for his growth.
His sword intent embraced all, absorbing the best of the rest.
Floor by floor,
He strolled casually, comprehending lifetimes of wisdom.
His talent was monstrous to begin with.
Add to that his supreme swordsmanship—
He consumed these insights at terrifying speed.
Only when creating something entirely new did he ever need to slow down.
When it came to learning existing techniques, he'd never faced a bottleneck.
If the Zhenwu Sword Stele was a steady stream,
Then this tower was a once-in-a-lifetime feast.
Days later,
Ning Qi had finished his feast.
He exhaled deeply.
A look of satisfaction spread across his face.
This time, he had gained much.
His sword intent had taken a great leap.
His understanding of the sword path reached new levels—
Raising his potential ceiling even further.
In terms of gains, it might equal several years of insights from the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
Of course,
Now that he'd slain the Heart-Seeking Sword, the Heavenly Sword Immortal's fame had soared.
More swordsmen would flock to the Stele.
And the sword path feedback it received would increase.
A feast like this wouldn't come often—
The slow stream of the Stele was still the foundation.
"But not just the Stele—this Sword Inheritance Tower can be opened to the public too."
Ning Qi already had a plan.
In his view, Wenjian Pavilion had been too stingy.
Otherwise, how could a millennium yield so little?
Then again, not everyone had Ning Qi's unshakable confidence.
People were selfish with their treasures.
Ning Qi activated his intent.
A peerless sword aura erupted within the tower—
Instantly, all the residual intents surged in response.
An unseen web of sword will formed, trying to tear his apart.
Too bad—it was useless.
The net melted before him like spring snow.
Ning Qi was cleaning house.
After consuming all the remnants, he fully understood the tower's contents.
Some sword intents were redundant, shallow, or chaotic.
Not every Wenjian Pavilion expert had been truly skilled.
His intent swept through, erasing many marks.
The tower became much cleaner.
After some thought,
Ning Qi summoned many other intents—fist, blade, spear…
While not as strong as his sword intent,
They were unmatched in their own right.
He left traces of them within the tower—then let them fade.
This was an experiment.
As the Heavenly Sword Immortal, he could only establish the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
If he built a monument that embraced all paths, it could provoke trouble—
Even attract the attention of the Great Yan Martial Saint.
Until he had absolute strength, Ning Qi still feared the Martial Saint.
He remembered the Northern Suppression King's words—
"There are no longer any Martial Saint laws in this world."
If they had been erased, it was best not to draw too much attention.
"But this tower wasn't built by the Heavenly Sword Immortal."
"Going forward, it can be opened—but not freely like the Stele."
"Set conditions.
Anyone who wishes to comprehend a level's intent must leave behind a technique or martial path of equal level in exchange."
"In this way, over time, the tower won't be limited to swordsmanship."
"As others add their insights and techniques, my own intents will gradually appear too.
And no one will know whose legacy they are."
"The tower will become a true Martial Heritage Tower—
Filled with all paths.
Helping me grow ever stronger!"
"Since that's the case, 'Sword Inheritance Tower' no longer fits.
From now on, it will be called the Myriad Dao Tower."
"In a way, this is a deeper experiment built upon the Zhenwu Sword Stele—
And it brings even greater benefit to Zhenwu Sect."
"After all, the Stele only lets them comprehend my sword intent."
"But the Myriad Dao Tower will let them gain the techniques of all who enter."
Thinking this, a smile crept across Ning Qi's face.
It was a win for both him and the sect.
Even the entire martial world of Great Yan would benefit.
Some people would surely hoard their techniques at first.
But others would share.
And as those who shared grew stronger, those who didn't would fall behind.
Eventually, they'd be forced to join in.
He shared his plan with Luo Wentian and Daoist Longshan.
Both were thrilled—no objections at all.
That very night,
Daoist Longshan personally moved the tower to the opposite side of the mountain gate—facing the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
He even changed the nameplate to read:
Myriad Dao Tower.
A few days later.
Tang Qiu brought a group of Wenjian Pavilion experts and delivered the rest of the agreed compensation—treasures, manuals, all loaded onto carts and delivered to Zhenwu Sect.
When they saw their once-proud Sword Inheritance Tower now standing tall outside Zhenwu Mountain's gate, with its name changed to "Myriad Dao Tower," their hearts bled.
It felt like watching their wife being handed over to the enemy by their own hand, dressed in the enemy's favored attire.
Their eyes turned red.
But all they could feel was deep helplessness.
"Sect Master Tang, two hundred years of seclusion. If Wenjian Pavilion fails to keep this promise, I'm afraid many fellow cultivators in the martial world will no longer stand with you," Luo Wentian said calmly, his tone carrying a faint threat.
He was merely stating facts.
Tang Qiu's face was full of bitterness."Understood. Once we return, we'll officially announce the sealing of our sect—two hundred years in hiding."
Luo Wentian gave a faint nod."Take care, no need to see you off."
He watched the sorrowful backs of Tang Qiu and his people without a hint of sympathy.
It was all self-inflicted.
If Gu Changhe had won, Zhenwu Sect's fate wouldn't have been much better—The Heart-Questioning Platform and Zhenwu Sword Stele would've been taken away.
No point dwelling on it.
Luo Wentian exchanged a smile with Ning Qi, then they began sorting through the compensation Wenjian Pavilion had brought.
It was far more than what the Wuxiang Sect had offered.
After all, this was a sacred land of swordsmanship with a thousand-year heritage.
This harvest would greatly boost Zhenwu Sect's foundations!
The manuals spoke for themselves.
And some of the treasures made Ning Qi smile faintly—With just a little effort, he could refine them into pills to further enhance the strength of Zhenwu Sect's disciples.
After creating the Heavenly Thunder Method, Ning Qi's alchemy skills had improved further.
Moreover, pills refined through heavenly thunder tempering had no side effects, as long as dosage was controlled.
It was easy to foresee:
Once Zhenwu Sect digested these gains, they would truly take on the appearance of a sacred sect.
Zhenwu Sect grew ever more vigorous.
Ning Qi was in a good mood.
He thought that this act of "killing the chicken to scare the monkeys" had worked well enough—It should at least deter future probing from the Demonic Sect and Southern Alliance.
Just give him a little more time, and those two forces would no longer be a threat.
…
The result of the battle between the Heavenly Sword Immortal and the Heart-Seeking Sword was still spreading, with many keeping close watch on what came next.
A few days later,
Two more pieces of news rocked the realm.
First, Wenjian Pavilion had sealed itself off for two hundred years.
Second, Zhenwu Sect had reopened its gates—And announced that both the Zhenwu Sword Stele and the Myriad Dao Tower would be open to the public.
This caused an even bigger stir in the martial world—It also marked the official end of the conflict between Wenjian Pavilion and Zhenwu Sect.
Once people learned of Wenjian Pavilion's two-hundred-year seclusion,
Many sighed.
Some even felt a trace of regret.
If Zhenwu Sect had been a bit more ruthless,
Then they could've openly watched Wenjian Pavilion perish and then stood on the moral high ground to attack Zhenwu Sect,
Splitting two fat pieces of meat in one stroke.
Unfortunately, the heavens did not align with their desires.
But then—
Everyone's attention shifted entirely to Zhenwu Sect.
The reopening of the Zhenwu Sword Stele naturally thrilled and excited countless swordsmen.
It had already been famous, and after the incident where it summoned heavenly thunder to slay the Heart-Seeking Sword,
Its reputation soared.
Everyone now realized they had underestimated the Zhenwu Sword Stele.
But some couldn't help being curious:
"Myriad Dao Tower? What's that?"
Those well-informed dug around for details—
And were utterly stunned.
Then they spread the news with great excitement:
"What? The Myriad Dao Tower is actually the former Sword Inheritance Tower from Wenjian Pavilion?"
"Zhenwu Sect has guts! To share something so valuable from their heritage? Compared to Wenjian Pavilion, it's obvious who's superior…"
"And not just that—the Myriad Dao Tower is open to all qualified martial artists.
But it's a one-for-one exchange: comprehend one path, leave behind another.
Though it seems most of the current insights inside are still sword-related…"
Discussion rippled across the land.
Some people felt the name "Myriad Dao" was untrue—
Claiming it still revolved mostly around swordsmanship.
Others thought the Myriad Dao Tower was a ploy—
That Zhenwu Sect was using the one-for-one rule to steal others' martial arts.
But the majority marveled at Zhenwu Sect's generosity.
They had already earned goodwill by opening the Zhenwu Sword Stele—
Now, sharing the Myriad Dao Tower elevated them even further.
Everyone knew—
Zhenwu Sect had risen on the back of Wenjian Pavilion,
And surely gained countless treasures in the process,
Enough to make people envious.
But now—
By sharing the Myriad Dao Tower,
Zhenwu Sect had effectively silenced those with loose tongues.
No one would envy their other gains anymore.
That's human nature.
Several ancient martial sects secretly sighed—
Zhenwu Sect's rise was now unstoppable.
They not only had world-shaking experts as foundation,
But also the foresight to match.
It was impossible not to rise.
Some people regretted bitterly—
That they hadn't participated in Zhenwu Sect's recruitment earlier and missed a chance to soar.
The Northern Suppression King heard the news and chuckled, shaking his head.
He realized—his warning had been unnecessary.
Zhenwu Sect clearly knew exactly what to do.
They had control.
"But…
This time, the Heavenly Sword Immortal will likely enter the view of those who stand atop the Great Yan."
"I wonder—
Will even that one glance his way?"
He looked far into the distance.
In the direction of the Imperial Capital of Yanzhou.