Chapter 379: Sacred Altar
Although he knew the other party was only testing him, Zhang Ruochen did not immediately refuse, because he too was very curious about the origin of the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
Zhang Ruochen’s face showed no emotional fluctuation as he said, “I would be glad to hear the details.”
Jade Saint sat high above, exuding an extraordinary bearing. Every strand of his hair flowed with divine radiance, and wisps of spiritual energy swirled around his body in vortexes, as if he were seated at the center of heaven and earth. Such was the aura unique to a Saint.
He said, “You should have heard the legend of the Creation Divine Iron, but the legend is not the truth. Eight hundred years ago, was it Empress Chi Yao who obtained the Creation Divine Iron? Actually, no.”
“The one who obtained the Creation Divine Iron was Empress Chi Yao’s father, the Green Emperor.”
Zhang Ruochen was not at all surprised by this answer.
Eight hundred years ago, Chi Yao was still a teenage girl. How could she have had the ability to invite ten master refiners to forge swords simultaneously? Only the Green Emperor possessed such influence.
Jade Saint continued, “Creation divides into yin and yang, divides life and death, divides black and white. What was forged back then was not one sword, but two.”
“The ten master refiners racked their brains, using every method, to split the Creation Divine Iron in half—one half black, one half white. Later, after eighty-one days, they forged two swords. One was called the ‘Death Sword,’ and the other was called the ‘Life Sword.’”
Zhang Ruochen squinted his eyes and said, “Empress Chi Yao’s white blood-dripping sword—is that the Death Sword?”
“Unfortunately, it has already been stained blood-red.” Jade Saint nodded with a sigh.
Zhang Ruochen pointed at the Abyssal Ancient Sword and asked again, “Why was the Life Sword broken?”
“Only the Death Sword can sever the Life Sword. And only the Life Sword can sever the Death Sword.” Jade Saint continued.
Zhang Ruochen fell silent.
After a long moment, Jade Saint spoke again, “Do you know why the Death Sword is called the Death Sword? And why the Life Sword is called the Life Sword?”
“Why?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Jade Saint said unhurriedly, “The so-called Death Sword can absorb the blood of all living beings, continuously advancing, eventually transforming into a Creation Divine Sword, unmatched under heaven. Thus, for the Death Sword to grow, it must constantly kill. The more blood it absorbs, the more powerful it becomes.”
Zhang Ruochen asked again, “Then why is the Life Sword called the Life Sword?”
Jade Saint said, “The Death Sword can absorb the blood of all living beings to grow. The Life Sword, on the other hand, can absorb all weapons, merging them into its blade, and also grow continuously.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, “I understand. Weapons are tools of killing. The Life Sword can refine weapons, absorb them, and in doing so, save all living beings.”
“Exactly so.”
Zhang Ruochen sighed, “It’s just a pity that the Life Sword is already broken.”
Jade Saint’s expression shifted, and he stroked his beard with a smile, saying, “Repairing the Life Sword is not impossible. At the very least, our Divine Sword Sacred Land has this capability. After all, we participated in the forging back then and are very familiar with the process. If you trust us, leave the Life Sword here at the Divine Sword Sacred Land. Once it is successfully repaired, I will personally send someone to return it to you.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Can I trust you?”
Jade Saint revealed a smile and said, “If the Divine Sword Sacred Land wanted to take your Life Sword, do you think you could still walk out of this sacred hall?”
“That makes sense.”
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath, clasped his hands, and bowed to Jade Saint, saying, “In that case, I thank you, senior. How will the cost of repairing the Life Sword be calculated?”
“‘Deep in the forest, none know; the bright moon shines upon me.’”
“The owner of this poem has some connection with our Divine Sword Sacred Land. Since you know that line, there is no need for any fee.”
Jade Saint added, “Let me ask once more: Do you really have nothing else to say?”
Clearly, Jade Saint was still waiting, for he had been waiting for that line of poetry for three hundred years.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, “I do not understand the meaning of Senior Jade Saint’s words. Farewell.”
Zhang Ruochen bowed again, then walked out of the sacred hall.
Jade Saint stared at Zhang Ruochen’s retreating figure, his expression grave, his mind racing. After a while, he sent a sound transmission summoning Lu Chongyu back inside.
Lu Chongyu knelt on the ground, kowtowing to Jade Saint, and said, “Ancestor, what are your orders?”
Jade Saint said, “Arrange for people to investigate him immediately. Find out his identity thoroughly, leaving no gaps.”
Lu Chongyu asked doubtfully, “Ancestor, who exactly is this person, that you, venerable one, place such importance on him?”
Jade Saint sighed, “There are some things that are not yet time for you to know. Go and handle it.”
After Lu Chongyu left, Jade Saint transformed into a beam of white light and flew out of the sacred hall.
Beneath the Divine Sword Sacred Land, a white altar stood ninety-nine zhang tall, cylindrical in shape, as if forged from white jade. On the altar’s surface were carved intricate patterns; upon closer inspection, one could see traces of blood flowing within those patterns.
Jade Saint arrived at the base of the white altar, pressed his palms together, and bowed to the altar, saying, “Grandfather, that line of poetry has appeared!”
“Rustle!”
The blood patterns on the white altar began to flow rapidly, emitting a sound like a surging river, roaring without end, deafening to the ears. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth turned violent.
In the center of the white altar, wisps of mist emerged, converging into a single holy soul.
If Zhang Ruochen were here, he would recognize that holy soul—it was his sixth senior brother, Lu Yuanzhi.
Lu Yuanzhi’s holy soul hovered above the white altar, radiating white light, and spoke with a distant, resonant voice, full of excitement: “Is it the Ming Emperor?”
Jade Saint shook his head and said, “It is not the Ming Emperor, but a young man around twenty years old.”
Lu Yuanzhi’s holy soul showed disappointment and sighed, “Eight hundred years ago, I was ordered by the Ming Emperor to forge the ‘Sacred Altar.’ It took five hundred years to complete. But he has been missing for eight hundred years with no news. Perhaps he truly died at the hands of the Green Emperor and Empress Chi Yao.”
The altar beneath Lu Yuanzhi’s holy soul was the “Sacred Altar.”
Eight hundred years ago, the Ming Emperor issued a secret decree, exhausting all resources to have Lu Yuanzhi forge the Sacred Altar.
The Sacred Altar was used to preserve the holy souls of Saints, preventing them from dissipating, while also accumulating the power of many Saints.
Exhausting all the resources of the Ming Emperor and the Divine Sword Sacred Land, it took five hundred years to complete, showing the enormity of the project.
Lu Yuanzhi had indeed exhausted his lifespan and died three hundred years ago, but thanks to the Sacred Altar’s miraculous power, his holy soul was preserved.
Jade Saint pondered for a moment and said, “Although that person is just a young man, his name… is somewhat unusual. Moreover, he possesses the Life Sword.”
Lu Yuanzhi had been disappointed upon learning that the visitor was not the Ming Emperor, but upon hearing Jade Saint’s words, his spirits lifted, and he immediately asked, “Is it the Creation Life Sword that the Green Emperor ordered forged back then?”
“Exactly,” Jade Saint said.
Lu Yuanzhi said, “You said the young man’s name is unusual. How so?”
Jade Saint said, “He is called Zhang Ruochen.”
“Zhang Ruochen.”
Lu Yuanzhi repeated the name, and suddenly, his holy soul trembled violently. “Are you sure that’s the name?”
“There is absolutely no mistake. I was also surprised when I heard the name. After all, the Crown Prince has been dead for eight hundred years. Even if he were still alive, he would be over eight hundred years old, not a young man of twenty,” Jade Saint said.
Lu Yuanzhi’s holy soul closed its eyes and murmured, “Zhang Ruochen, the Creation Life Sword, and that line of poetry—how could it be such a coincidence? Could it really be the little junior brother?”
Jade Saint said, “Grandfather, how should we handle this matter now?”
Lu Yuanzhi’s holy soul opened its eyes again and said, “This matter is too incredible. I don’t know his true identity either. If he is the little junior brother, we naturally must do everything to help him. But I worry that this might be a trap set by Empress Chi Yao.”
Jade Saint’s expression changed, and he said, “Grandfather fears that this Zhang Ruochen might be someone sent by Empress Chi Yao to test us?”
“It’s not impossible.”
Lu Yuanzhi said, “Although the relationship between our Divine Sword Sacred Land and the Zhang family is very secret, given the friendship between the Green Emperor and the Ming Emperor back then, it’s possible that some clues were known. Though the likelihood is small, we must be cautious.”
“As for this Zhang Ruochen, our Divine Sword Sacred Land can befriend him and help him as much as possible. But we cannot reveal all our secrets to him; we must hold some back.”
“Secondly, his identity must be investigated, and the clearer, the better.”
“Also, send word to the Bright Hall people now. Let them contact Zhang Ruochen. Our Divine Sword Sacred Land dares not clash head-on with Empress Chi Yao in the open, but the Bright Hall dares.”
“Moreover, that Sacred Ancestor of the Bright Hall has a very close relationship with the little junior brother. If she learns that the little junior brother might still be alive, she will surely rush to the Eastern Domain immediately. Let her personally confirm the little junior brother’s identity to ensure there is no mistake.”
Jade Saint expressed some concern, “What if he really is someone sent by Empress Chi Yao to investigate our Divine Sword Sacred Land?”
“Haha! Empress Chi Yao is a decisive and ruthless person. If she truly suspects our Divine Sword Sacred Land, then no matter how we guard against it, we cannot escape annihilation. Just do as I say. We only need to befriend this Zhang Ruochen as much as possible. Leave the rest to the Bright Hall.”
Lu Yuanzhi added, “Hand the Creation Life Sword over to me. I can use the power of the Sacred Altar to help him repair the sword. This is a Life Sword, and it is time for it to reappear in the world, to contend with Empress Chi Yao’s Death Sword.”
After presenting the Abyssal Ancient Sword, Jade Saint stepped back three paces and left the underground Sacred Altar.
Returning to the sacred hall atop Spirit Mountain, Jade Saint immediately recorded the information about Zhang Ruochen onto a Message Light Talisman.
“I hope he really is the Crown Prince.”
Jade Saint exhaled deeply and infused a wisp of Saint Qi into the Message Light Talisman.
“Whoosh!”
The Message Light Talisman instantly transformed into a streak of light, flying toward the Central Region.