Chapter 25: The Emperor Who Seeks Immortality

Sword Dynasty

Volume 2

Chapter 25: The Emperor Who Seeks Immortality

A cultivator dressed in purple robes floated down into the winter forest by the river.

This cultivator was very young, with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, and handsome facial features. Furthermore, unlike ordinary handsome young men, he possessed a unique divine light.

This light was like the light radiating from Prince Li Ling. This light stemmed from his confidence, aura, birth, and other factors unrelated to his appearance.

His purple robe was unlike any other robe and radiated a dazzling, radiant light. Each thread seemed to be made of a special material, giving the impression that each thread was a unique seal line that could help him absorb the primal energies of the universe.

The purple robe had no special patterns or symbols, but the robe's unique presence and light, along with its lack of markings, were its greatest distinguishing features.

This was the sect robe of the Spirit Void Sword Sect.

Only disciples of realm three and above of the Min Mountain Sword Sect and the Spirit Void Sword Sect were qualified to leave the sect. Otherwise, they would only be able to spend their lives in the mountains until old age.

Of all the disciples who could travel the world, only direct disciples, personally inaugurated by the sect master, were qualified to wear the sect robes that represented the sect when traveling outside. Their every moment, every word, and every sword move represented the glory and disgrace of their sect.

The direct disciples of the Spirit Void Sword Sect who could represent their sect were certainly no ordinary people.

Although he had sensed the battle between cultivators above realm seven and had immediately rushed there, he could not make it in time. The winter forest before his eyes seemed perfectly normal, but when he saw this winter forest by the water, he felt something was wrong.

As he got closer, he finally sensed what was wrong.

This winter forest was too quiet.

This silence was not referring to the sound of falling snow, but rather because the subtle sounds were too monotonous.

Countless snowflakes fell from the sky and landed in the winter forest. There were trees, dried branches, withered leaves, soil, and rocks in the forest… when snow fell on these objects, although the sounds were subtle, they were ultimately distinct.

To cultivators like him, when they listened carefully, these countless subtle sounds should have formed a unique and profound piece of music, a unique symphony of nature.

But at this moment, the sound of falling snowflakes sounded extremely monotonous, as if each snowflake was falling on a velvet carpet.

The expression of the direct disciple of the Spirit Void Sword Sect who had sensed where the anomaly was located became extremely serious.

This kind of unique Spirit Formation represented immense power.

But why would someone set up such a Spirit Formation, clearly intended to conceal the energy and sound in this winter forest?

Just at this moment, a burst of sound like an egg cracking suddenly rang out from the winter forest ahead of him. Because the sound was too cold and swift, it sounded depressing and made people tremble with fear.

A clear, resounding twang echoed.

A Flying Sword suddenly emerged from his sleeve, seemingly possessing a will of its own, and swiftly circled around his body.

At the same time, this direct disciple of the Spirit Void Sword Sect's mental power subconsciously probed the Spirit Formation within the winter forest, the Spirit Formation had already disappeared.

His facial expression suddenly changed. His body floated into the air, accompanied by the spinning light purple sword. His movements were extremely graceful. In an instant, he was deep within the forest.

At this moment, eggshell-like fragments of the snow curtain fell one by one to the ground beside him.

His breathing suddenly stopped.

Before him stood a completely cold and stiff corpse.

When this direct disciple of the Spirit Void Sword Sect saw the face of the corpse, he immediately recognized the person and exclaimed, “Official Nangong of the Bureau of Palace Scribes!”

His voice caused the surrounding air to vibrate.

Just from this slight vibration, countless tiny cracking sounds could be heard from Nangong Shang's corpse.

It was as if countless dust seemed to be pouring out of his body.

In the next moment, Nangong Shang's corpse collapsed before him with a roar, turning into a pile of shattered ice.

“Who is it!” The face of this direct disciple of the Spirit Void Sword Sect was ashen.

This was Changling.

Nangong Shang was an important official in the Bureau of Palace Scribes.

The battle outside the gates of the Northern Camp of the Tiger-Wolf Army had attracted the attention of many powerful cultivators in Changling… Who would dare directly assassinate an important official of the Qin Dynasty here?

What kind of method could generate such extreme cold energy? A cold energy that did not seem to originate from the mortal world?

As these questions flashed through the mind of this direct disciple of the Spirit Void Sword Sect, he did no't hesitate. With a sharp whistle, the light purple Flying Sword revolving around his body seemed to ignite and shot into the air at a terrifying speed.

A loud explosion rang out.

Amidst the wind and snow above this winter forest, it was as if a purple dragon had suddenly appeared.

 

White snow had also fallen onto the yellow canvas umbrella Ding Ning was holding and covered it, turning it completely white.

Even though half of Xue Wangxu's weight rested on Ding Ning's shoulders, Xue Wangxu still felt every muscle and flesh inside his body growing increasingly sore and painful, his body growing colder and colder.

“Finally, I understand what it feels like for an ordinary old man to truly be in his twilight years. This feeling is new and refreshing. To me, my life is more complete for having experienced this at the end of my life and not dying in battle.”

Xue Wangxu struggled to catch his breath and said to Ding Ning, “It's a pity that from today until the Min Mountain Sword Trials, I can no longer be your support.”

Ding Ning shook his head and said, “That’s alright. From today on, I have a greater supporter. Before the Min Mountain Sword Trials, no one will dare to touch me.”

Xue Wangxu was a little surprised. “I don't quite understand.”

Ding Ning glanced at him and said, “You want to watch the Min Mountain Sword Trials. The Empress has already permitted it, and even sent such a powerful and important person today to fulfill her promise. She wants everyone to know that she will keep her word… After your fight with Liang Lian today, many people will naturally know that she keeps her promise. They also know that you will watch the Min Mountain Sword Trials next year. Unless it’s someone so foolish as to deserve death, they will know that you want to see my performance at the Min Mountain Sword Trials. Since the Empress has already approved of you watching the Min Mountain Sword Trials, naturally she can’t let you not watch anything. So the Empress’ approval isn’t just for you, but also for me. Unless I seek my own death, I will live well before next year’s Min Mountain Sword Trials. She is my biggest supporter before the Min Mountain Sword Trials.”

Xue Wangxu looked at Ding Ning with admiration and said sincerely, “You really think more deeply than I do, but why didn’t you think further and have a carriage come to pick us up? We didn’t need a carriage when we arrived, but we really need one now.”

Ding Ning glanced at him and did not respond.

However, Xue Wangxu was surprised again.

“I admire you very much. Even if you can’t become a particularly powerful cultivator, you will definitely become one of the best strategists,” he said, looking ahead and praising him sincerely.

A carriage came through the wind and snow, heading towards him and Ding Ning. The driver was dressed in a gray robe. It was Jing Mozong, Wang Taixu’s subordinate.

 

All of Changling was shrouded in the wind and snow but the empress’ study was still as warm as spring.

The primal energies of the universe were slowly and gently released, allowing the entire study to maintain a comfortable temperature for the human body.

The Empress, who was perfect in every way, sat serenely on the phoenix throne. She did not go to witness the battle between Liang Lian and Xue Wangxu, but she knew the outcome earlier than the cultivators who were near the scene or who had rushed there.

“At the peak of his strength, yet unable to defeat an old man like Xue Wangxu. He's both courageous and fierce, and his progress is also impressive, but he doesn't know how to combine strength and gentleness. Which marquis in Changling couldn't easily defeat Xue Wangxu with a single sword strike? Yet he still wants to become a marquis?”

A cold look of disdain appeared on her perfect face. She said to the palace attendant standing respectfully beside her, “Have the family tell him to stop wasting his energies on other things. If he can't make any contributions regarding Bai Shanshui and the Lonely Mountain Sword Hoard, he can only retire outside the forts.”

A female palace attendant who could deliver a message for her was certainly no ordinary palace attendant.

The female palace attendant sensed an unusual presence as she was about to retreat. She reacted immediately and knelt down.

A look of genuine surprise and joy appeared on the empress's delicate, jade-like face.

She smiled a rare, faint smile.

Only at times like these did she appear like an ordinary woman, revealing her emotions instead of always appearing like an emotionless deity.

She stood gracefully. Looking at the tall figure walking into the study, she asked softly, “Your Majesty, why have you come here?”

The person who could make her change like this was undoubtedly the most noble person of the Qin Dynasty, the Emperor of the Qin Dynasty, with the entire empire at his feet. At this moment, the wise and courageous emperor, in the eyes of his countless subjects and the most tyrannical, was not wearing a dragon robe, only a simple gray hemp robe. Even his face had grown a coarse, untrimmed beard.

Yet despite his disheveled appearance, the features of his brows and eyes, and his every gesture, still possessed a majesty and presence that ordinary people could not imagine. Every breath he took and every step he took seemed to carry with it countless rivers and mountains. His figure was only average, but the feeling he gave people was enormous.

Anyone, even if they closed their eyes, would be certain that he was the emperor of the Qin Dynasty without needing to see his face or clothing.

Hearing the empress's words, the strongest and most beloved emperor in the history of the Qin Dynasty did not answer her question.

He seemed to be contemplating something important. He glanced at the empress and then looked up at the skylight above the spirit spring in the study. He said in a dream-like manner, “Empress, do you think realm nine truly exists? Can humans truly attain immortality?”

Hearing his words, the empress’ heart suddenly sank.

 

Notes:

This novel is not my work... I just translated it from a Chinese web novel written by Wu Zui

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