The Steward Demonic Emperor

Chapter 898: Sacred Weapon Get

Proofreader: Papatonks

In the peaceful gardens, an old man and a youth walked shoulder to shoulder. The guards didn’t mind them once.

Zhuo Fan saw the coast was clear and gave Danqing Shen a questioning gaze, “Old Dan, how come Shangguan Feiyun has such an easy time controlling the Soaring Sword? Back in Double Dragon Manor the Vaulting Sword got me good. Its power isn’t something just anyone can block.”

“Can’t you tell? It’s because he grew up alongside the sword and understands its nature.” Danqing Shen glanced at him.

It only worked to puzzle Zhuo Fan more, “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Boy, why do you think the factions covet the five divine weapons that can become guardian divine weapons?” Danqing Shen had a smirk on his face.

Zhuo Fan blurted, “Since the five divine weapons are outstanding, can cut anything, making the wielder fight ten at a time and can even kill a stage above the wielder. There’s nothing strange about being called a guardian divine weapon either.”

“Ha-ha-ha, wrong. What you describe there is anything with a sharp edge, not nearly enough for a divine weapon to earn the respect of all experts in the world. Why would the Invincible Sword be afraid and desire them then? I guess you haven’t entered Double Dragon Manor yet. Ha-ha, do you want to know why the nine sects of western lands would just send their disciples thousands of miles away to fight in the Double Dragon Gathering for the chance to cultivate in the Double Dragon Manor?”

“Since Double Dragon Manor monopolized the sacred stones, right?”

Zhuo Fan continued with a frown, “Sacred stones are the fastest way to groom outstanding disciples and guard western lands along with its resources and interests. What other reason is there?”

With a teasing grin, Danqing Shen nodded, “You’re not wrong there. But sacred stones aren’t limited to having a thick spiritual energy, they can also wash one’s marrow, improving a cultivator’s constitution. As for the most important reason, well, ha-ha-ha…”

Danqing Shen pointed at his head.

“Brains?” Zhuo Fan lit up.

Danqing Shen rolled his eyes, “Speaking of brains, there are many wise men out there who can use their heads far better than cultivators. Like Baili Jingwei and other high officials of empires, smarter than cultivators alike. Why is it that the Double Dragon Manor didn’t invite them over?”

“You mean…”

“Insight.”

Danqing Shen’s eyes shone, his voice firm, “Cultivators gain insight in the world around them. It’s a must to learn all the arts and skills out there. The level of insight will make two cultivators feel completely different despite using the same skill and having the same cultivation. Double Dragon Manor is holding their contest to look into the sects for seeds with high insight. I’m sure you noticed by now that power isn’t enough to get you in. While insight and power go hand in hand, it’s not always the case. You’ve seen the four girls’ array at the gathering, how weak it was. Yet they got invited anyway. This is the reason. That array holds the world, giving the four girls value in being nurtured.”

Zhuo Fan raised an eyebrow. Having mentioned Chu Qingcheng’s group, Danqing Shen reminded him of his pain. But he soon recovered, “What’s that got to do with the five divine weapons?”

“Plenty.”

Danqing Shen turned grave, “The divine weapons can open one’s mind, helping the user understand better arts and skills. That’s understanding, not learning. It’s not just handed to you on a jade slip, but something you discover out of nowhere. This is insight. A low insight blocks you from understanding the inner workings of the world and its Dao, while also stopping you from gaining a unique skill of your own.

“It’s why I have twin souls and the Dragon Cleaving Art. Everything stemmed from the insight the Vaulting Sword invested in me. The same applies to Shangguan Feiyun’s Soaring Sword Art he understood from the Soaring Sword. Almost every top expert of the lands has their power stemming from the understanding of the divine weapon. The level of their strength is set apart only by their insight. The most known is Invincible Sword Baili Yutian. That old freak’s Sundering Sword Art has reached perfection. Nothing and no one can stop him. But it’s not enough to make him relax, fearing there might be someone out there that would gain equal insights from other divine weapons like he did. That’s why…”

Shuddering, Zhuo Fan was so overwhelmed he blocked out Danqing Shen’s last words. He came to know a shocking secret. The five sacred weapons weren’t just in the 6th grade, but also contained Sword Sovereign’s sword path.

The mortal domain cultivators were walking the path of the sword Sword Sovereign treaded through these sacred weapons. 

[That’s why Shangguan Feiyun can control the Soaring Sword. He got most of the Soaring Sword’s core sword skill that the Soaring Sword is based on.] 

Heaven Trailing Sect’s High Venerable’s words came to mind just then. He was near the Vaulting Sword and understood in three days his unique skill, Heaven Trailing Sword.

Only his contact with the sacred weapon was very short, making his understanding lacking compared with Shangguan Feiyun and Danqing Shen who had great insights on top of being around the weapons for longer.

This was not to say the Heaven Trailing Sword wasn’t in a league of its own. Now that was a unique skill!

It meant that Shangguan Feiyun and Danqing Shen, who spent their days understanding the sacred weapon, more fully comprehended the Sword Sovereign’s sword. They of course were even more amazing.

Zhuo Fan now lost all his disdain for the top brass of the mortal domain. Looking at it from a certain angle, they were training in the arts of Sacred Domain, with the knowledge a Sovereign left behind.

Zhuo Fan turned serious, regretting how he had the Vaulting Sword with him for two years yet it was used as nothing more than a glorified paperweight, having learned nothing from it. Even if the sword spirit got swapped, the knowledge was still there somewhere.

He didn’t pick up swordsmanship all this time since he didn’t want to practice it and also because he saw no one around him worthy to teach him. Now though, the sacred weapon had inside a Sovereign’s legacy. How could he just let this monumental occasion slip by?

[That’s for later though. What takes priority is the job: sealing the World Wind Tunnel and giving this town the slip with young Sanzi.]

Seeing him deep in thought, obviously oblivious to his words, Danqing Shen rolled his eyes, “Anyways, be extra careful. Divine weapons are treasured anywhere in this world. The Shangguan clan isn’t here to get the Soaring Sword back just cause it’s sharp, but escape from Invincible Sword’s oppressive yoke, while also bearing the responsibility for future experts. This applies to all lands. If you plan on going after the divine weapon, know that not just Shangguan Feiyun, but even Baili Jingwei will come for you!” 

“I know that. I’ll be extra careful.”

Zhuo Fan chuckled with a carefree smile.

Danqing Shen nodded after a long look. He knew just how smart Zhuo Fan was and that he had his own plans, so he just reminded him.

He then left Zhuo Fan in his room.

The next day, Shangguan Feiyun came to knock on his door to give him a tour of the premises and complete the map.

Zhuo Fan milked his new role for all its worth in the meanwhile, exploring the manor’s every corner. Raising questions and earning answers to any and all things he didn’t know or understand. The only thing missing were the holes the mice left in Shangguan Feiyun’s room. Other than that, he knew the place like the back of his hand. 

In face of Zhuo Fan’s brazen and absurd requests, Shangguan Feiyun’s group acted off-handedly, answering every time. While grumbling inside.

[This spy is getting a bit out of hand here. He’s even asking about the guards’ shift change for god’s sake! Do we look like idiots to you? Anyone with half a brain will know you’re Shangguan clan’s spy the minute you ask that. What are you doing even asking them?] 

Shangguan Feiyun noticed Zhuo Fan didn’t ask out brazen attitude, but out of awkwardness.

Just when Baili Jingwei was having enough of this poor excuse of a spy, Zhuo Fan’s next question took the cake, “I wonder if there are any secret escape tunnels out of the manor.”

[Not telling!]

Shangguan Feiyun’s face twitched and chuckled, “Grandmaster Gu, how can Flying Cloud manor have something like that? Why are you asking anyway?”

“Run.”

Zhuo Fan spoke with utter conviction, “I heard the manor was under attack by assassins a while back. I need to know so I can flee if they come again.”

Shangguan Feiyun gave him a long look. This was a sore spot for him.

[Why is he so cheerfully asking about it? Isn’t he scared I’ll suspect him?]

Baili Jingwei was far more astute.

[Grandmaster Gu isn’t as green as I thought. He knows how to probe for information.] 

“Flying Cloud manor has the Sword King. There’s no thief who’d dare enter here. And we’ll be returning to the imperial capital soon. We’ll need Grandmaster Gu to look after the Crown Prince’s condition soon.”

Baili Jingwei’s meaning was clear. 

[I came for the Crown Prince and have no time to dawdle around. Do what you need, attack the manor while at it, but I’ll be going either way.]

Zhuo Fan smiled and nodded, meeting Baili Jingwei’s eyes and sharing agreement.

The five days flew by and Zhuo Fan’s map was made whole as a result. Though he wasn’t exactly keen on giving it to the Shangguan clan.

As the Soaring Sword and the Jade Falls happened to be in the same place, he and them now had a conflict of interests. He needed lots of time for his job and that meant the Shangguan clan had to fight it out with Shangguan Feiyun, preferably elsewhere…