Chapter 154: The Strong Gather at the Stone Sword Stele

Chapter 154: Chapter 154: The Strong Gather at the Stone Sword Stele

Because the Washing Sword Sect was quite far from the Seven Kills Star Hall, and with only three days remaining until the Sword Cleansing Pool opened, Yi Xiaoyao had to depart early.

Before leaving, he entrusted the still-slumbering Little Hei to Yun Mengling.

Yun Mengling wasn’t a Sword Cultivator and didn’t use a sword, so she didn’t accompany Yi Xiaoyao.

「Three days later.」

Ever since news of the Sword Cleansing Pool’s opening had spread a few days prior, a massive number of Cultivators had flocked to the area.

The Washing Sword Sect was an ancient sect, situated on a mountain range that resembled a longsword lying on its side.

Its main gate was magnificent. Before it stood a giant, sword-shaped stele inscribed with the three powerful, ancient words "Washing Sword Sect." Every stroke of the characters exuded a sharp sword aura.

Merely observing the gate was enough to imagine the sect’s prosperity from countless years ago.

Unfortunately, weathered by the passage of time, the sect’s entrance was now devoid of life. Its population had dwindled, and not a single disciple could be seen guarding the gate.

Today, however, the Washing Sword Sect was more bustling than ever.

Right now, a massive number of Cultivators were gathered before the grand gate. They stood in small groups, chatting and laughing with one another as if at a grand banquet.

"So many people came."

Yi Xiaoyao stood alone beside an ancient tree. He scanned the people before him and muttered in surprise.

These people all shared a common characteristic: every one of them carried a sword. They were all Sword Cultivators.

Among them, Yi Xiaoyao’s plain clothes and low-key demeanor made him completely unremarkable.

After all, nearly everyone who came for the Sword Cleansing Pool was in the Golden Core Realm. There were even a fair number of experts at the Ninth Layer of the Golden Core Realm, so naturally, no one paid him any mind.

Yi Xiaoyao was happy to be left in peace; not being recognized would save him a great deal of trouble.

Before long, a refined, middle-aged man walked out from the Washing Sword Sect and bowed to the crowd outside the gate.

"Everyone, today my Washing Sword Sect is opening the Sword Cleansing Pool. Before I allow you to enter our mountain gate, you must abide by two rules."

The refined man’s eyes narrowed as he sized up the crowd. "Those who are not Sword Cultivators may not enter. Members of the Cloud Transformation Sect are strictly forbidden!"

When he stated the second rule, the crowd burst into laughter. "We’re all Sword Cultivators here, and there’s no one from the Cloud Transformation Sect."

"That’s for the best. Everyone, please enter the mountain gate." The refined man nodded and turned back.

Yi Xiaoyao followed the crowd through the mountain gate. The moment he stepped inside, a ubiquitous sword aura rushed to greet him.

This sword aura was both majestic and profound. It would be incredibly beneficial for Sword Cultivators to train here year-round; logically, it should have produced countless Sword Cultivators. This made the Washing Sword Sect’s decline all the more baffling.

After walking for some distance, the crowd saw a hundred-zhang-tall stone sword looming before them. The powerful sword aura was emanating from this very stone.

"This must be the Washing Sword Sect’s famous Stone Sword Stele, right? I heard that many Sword Cultivators have comprehended Sword Momentum here over the years. It seems its reputation is well-deserved."

"That’s right. Even several experts on the Hidden Dragon List comprehended their Sword Momentum right here."

The crowd gazed at the Stone Sword Stele, their eyes shining as they exclaimed in awe.

"Everyone, due to some special reasons, the opening of the Sword Cleansing Pool will be delayed for five days. During these five days, you are all welcome to comprehend Sword Momentum beneath this Stone Sword Stele!"

The refined man stood beneath the Stone Sword Stele and smiled at the crowd.

Upon hearing this, the crowd showed no signs of dissatisfaction. Most of them understood that the slots for the Sword Cleansing Pool were limited and difficult to secure. In fact, many had come primarily to observe this Stone Sword Stele and attempt to comprehend Sword Momentum.

After he finished speaking, the refined man left. The crowd immediately surged toward the Stone Sword Stele, because the closer one got, the denser the sword aura became.

At that moment, a coarse voice rang out.

"This spot’s mine now! You lot, scram!"

Following the shout, a man with a scar on his face and a broadsword on his back strode forward. He planted himself in the area closest to the Stone Sword Stele, his face a mask of arrogance as he glared at the people there.

"Why should we?" Immediately, several people in that area voiced their displeasure.

Yi Xiaoyao also looked toward the man with the broadsword, as he was also in that area at the moment.

"You better watch what you say. Don’t you recognize him? That’s Overlord Sword Xiang Mo, ranked eighty-ninth on the Hidden Dragon List!"

"What? He’s Xiang Mo?"

"Someone from the Hidden Dragon List is here?"

Everyone’s expressions shifted, and they looked toward Xiang Mo with great apprehension.

The Hidden Dragon List ranked the one hundred strongest people in the Golden Core Realm. In the Great Shang Dynasty, they were considered absolute powerhouses, and the appearance of any one of them could cause a stir.

"Hmph! You know who I am, so what are you waiting for? Scram!"

Xiang Mo let out a triumphant sneer, then slammed the broadsword from his back onto the ground. "If you don’t scram, you die!" he roared.

Instantly, the same few people who had just been complaining fearfully scrambled out of the area.

Yi Xiaoyao’s gaze shifted slightly, but he said nothing, choosing to leave with the others.

Of course, he wasn’t conceding because he feared Xiang Mo; there was simply no need to antagonize the man.

First, Yi Xiaoyao had already mastered Sword Momentum, so his position didn’t matter.

Furthermore, Yi Xiaoyao’s current strength was insufficient to take on a Hidden Dragon List expert, and he couldn’t very well resort to using the Soul Burning Forbidden Technique for every little thing.

Besides, battle would inevitably find him once the Sword Cleansing Pool opened. It was still too early to act.

After that, similar incidents occurred in the other areas, with many powerful Golden Core Realm experts seizing the territory closest to the Stone Sword Stele.

Putting aside the various other powerful and well-known Golden Core Realm cultivators from the Great Shang Dynasty, there were a full eight experts present from the Hidden Dragon List alone.

"Look, that’s Cloud-piercing Sword Lin Fei, seventy-fifth on the Hidden Dragon List!"

"Zhang Yu, number fifty-three on the Hidden Dragon List, is here too."

"My heavens! The great beauty Ye Qingqing... She’s a top-tier expert, ranked twentieth on the Hidden Dragon List!"

The crowd stared at the people sitting in the area closest to the Stone Sword Stele, buzzing with discussion. It was extremely rare to see so many Hidden Dragon List experts in one place.

This was mainly because the Washing Sword Sect was only allowing Sword Cultivators this time. Otherwise, even more people from the Hidden Dragon List would have come.

Yi Xiaoyao, for his part, had chosen a less crowded spot, casually listening to the discussions around him.

’From the looks of it, the strongest person here is undoubtedly Ye Qingqing, ranked twentieth on the Hidden Dragon List. And she’s a great beauty, too.’

As far as Yi Xiaoyao knew, the top twenty on the Hidden Dragon List had all grasped Sword Momentum. This meant Ye Qingqing’s strength was worlds apart from the others.

However, Yi Xiaoyao couldn’t be bothered with any of that, because a strong sense of doubt was stirring in his heart.

Ever since seeing the Stone Sword Stele, the Sword God Bloodline in his body had begun to stir strangely. A similar stir had occurred when he first obtained the Bloodthirsty Sword.

...