Primordial Divine Emperor-Chapter 51 - 50: The Seventh Sword Peak and Thirty-Seven Holy Peaks
The breeze caressed their faces, surrounded by ethereal mist, with pavilions and towers, and the tinkling of spiritual springs.
It must be said that the Divine Sword Sect is indeed a sacred place of the immortal family. As Ye Xiaofan and his two companions followed the senior brother of the Divine Sword Sect, everywhere they passed exuded a sense of mystery.
"Ahead is the living area under the Little Jiu Peak. Every year, before new disciples join the various peaks, they temporarily reside here. I’ve already selected a quiet place for you. Junior brothers and sisters, please follow me."
The senior brother of the Divine Sword, with distinct features, said proudly. Ever since he knew Ye Xiaofan was the successor of the Sword Saint, his attitude underwent a complete change.
"Thank you, Eleventh Senior Brother. Eleventh Senior Brother is very considerate," the three repeatedly thanked him.
The four walked together, naturally learning the name of this senior brother—Mo Shiyi. He entered the Divine Sword Sect four years ago by passing the outer sect examination and remains the lowest-ranking duty disciple in the inner sect.
However, Mo Shiyi’s easygoing personality quickly allowed him to become friends with the three, introducing them to a lot about the Divine Sword Sect along the way.
This Mo Shiyi possessed a talent beyond the ordinary: his adeptness at making a wide range of friends, much like Shangguan Wan’Er, with whom he got along particularly well.
According to Mo Shiyi, though he did not hold a high status in the Divine Sword Sect, he had the most extensive network and was known as the "Divine Sword Hundred Knowledge Scholar," claiming there was nothing about the Divine Sword Sect he didn’t know.
Of course, Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen took his words with a grain of salt, but it was undeniable that someone good at fostering relationships would be well-informed.
"Junior brothers and sisters, if there’s anything you don’t understand or wish to know in the future, feel free to ask me. If others can’t provide you with answers, you can count on me," Mo Shiyi said with a gleeful smile.
Nangong Jianchen chuckled bitterly at his words, "I’m afraid Eleventh Senior Brother doesn’t offer free answers. Are your fees the highest in the Divine Sword Sect?"
As soon as Mo Shiyi spoke, Nangong Jianchen and Ye Xiaofan realized he was just a news broker, and a habitual one at that.
Being exposed in public didn’t embarrass Mo Shiyi, who instead let out a cheeky grin, pinching his thumb with his pinky finger, saying, "There might be a small fee involved, but I assure you, I’m the cheapest one. If you look for me for information in the future, I’ll give you a discount."
"Then we thank Eleventh Senior Brother in advance," Ye Xiaofan said with a smile.
Mo Shiyi waved his hand repeatedly, "Ah, no need to be so formal. I’m not good at anything except being loyal to friends. From now on, for your information, I’ve decided to offer you an 80% discount."
The three could only play along and applaud. After chatting enough, Mo Shiyi arranged their temporary residence and took his leave, leaving them a few communication talismans to stay in touch.
Ye Xiaofan and his companions watched Mo Shiyi gradually disappear from sight, shaking their heads helplessly, but agreed it was worthwhile to keep in touch with someone like him since information can be crucial at times.
After bidding each other farewell, they turned and entered their own courtyards.
Ye Xiaofan and Nangong Jianchen’s courtyards were almost adjacent, and Shangguan Wan’Er’s was across from them, not far apart, each with its own gate and courtyard.
You couldn’t deny that being one of the top ten sects, the Divine Sword Sect was indeed grand and majestic. With eighty to ninety thousand new disciples, each having their own courtyard, required eighty to ninety thousand individual courtyards.
Of course, not all new disciples were arranged under Little Jiu Peak. When leaving the martial arts arena of the Divine Sword Peak, Ye Xiaofan saw that eighty percent of the favored sons and daughters of Heaven headed in different directions.
Nonetheless, at least the three had settled in temporarily.
Over the next three days, Ye Xiaofan was the most idle, while the other extraordinary talents had to undergo testing and evaluation during these three days to decide which peak to cultivate on. He wasn’t required to take part.
Since Ye Xiaofan was the sole direct disciple of the Sword Saint, he was destined for the South Peak. Having already confirmed his cultivation at the South Peak, he didn’t need to participate in testing and evaluation.
Thus.
While Nangong Jianchen, Shangguan Wan’Er, and all the heaven’s favored sons and daughters went to the martial arts arena of the Divine Sword Peak for testing and evaluation.
Ye Xiaofan, under Mo Shiyi’s guidance, briefly visited some spirit peaks to witness the true terror of the Divine Sword Sect.
Even though he was only able to visit some minor spirit peaks, it was still an eye-opener, especially watching the veteran disciples who were cultivating, leaving him dazzled.
"He’s practicing one of the Three Thousand Kill Arrays of the Divine Sword Sect. As for the name, I’ve forgotten it."
"This senior brother is a talisman master. Don’t underestimate these talismans; at critical moments, they can save lives. Just a single spiritual escape talisman costs three thousand low-grade spirit stones."
"This senior brother is practicing alchemy; let’s keep our distance. Alchemy can be very dangerous, with pill furnaces exploding almost daily in the Divine Sword Sect. We’d suffer a great loss if we got hurt."
Through Mo Shiyi’s introduction, Ye Xiaofan gradually realized that cultivation wasn’t just about advancing one’s realm; auxiliary professions were also important.
For instance, if one knew how to set up killing arrays, it could sometimes result in taking on ten or even a hundred opponents alone. Terrifying killing arrays could even allow one to kill across different realms.
As for talismans, elixirs, artifact refining, and so on, they also have irreplaceable roles.
"I’ll have to try these out when I get the chance in the future," Ye Xiaofan thought, his heart moved.
However, Mo Shiyi instantly poured cold water on him.
"Stop dreaming, Junior Brother Ye. It’s not that I underestimate you, but these depend on talent, especially for alchemists, talisman masters, and array masters. It’s not something you can do just because you want to, or the sect wouldn’t bother testing and evaluating new disciples and dividing them by peaks."
"I haven’t even started cultivating, so how can you say I can’t do it?" Ye Xiaofan retorted.
Mo Shiyi puckered his lips at his words, "You? Let’s just forget it. How wide can you sense the Fire of Heaven and Earth? Or, how many levels of soul strength are you currently at? Or, how many types of attribute power in heaven and earth can you communicate with? None, right?"
Facing Mo Shiyi’s questions, Ye Xiaofan was utterly confused since he had never heard these terms in Ye Village.
Seeing Ye Xiaofan remain silent, Mo Shiyi raised an eyebrow and said, "These professions require hell-level talent, involving comprehension, perseverance, spiritual strength, and more. Stop dreaming."
Ye Xiaofan heard and spread his hands helplessly. Although he didn’t continue to argue, he remembered what Mo Shiyi had mentioned: Fire of Heaven and Earth, soul strength, and attribute power.
Time trickled by slowly.
In the blink of an eye, three days had passed.
On this day, Nangong Jianchen and Shangguan Wan’er found Ye Xiaofan to share their joy.
After the testing and evaluation, Nangong Jianchen entered the Divine Sword Peak, while Shangguan Wan’er went to the Beast Peak.
"Beast Peak? Wan’er, with your talent, you shouldn’t have gone only to the Beast Peak," Ye Xiaofan said incredulously.
Mentioning Shangguan Wan’er’s placement, Nangong Jianchen said helplessly, "Her testing and evaluation results qualified her for Divine Sword Peak, Spirit Sword Peak, Array Peak, and Beast Peak. Yet, this girl chose Beast Peak. Brother Ye, isn’t she infuriating?"
After Nangong Jianchen finished speaking, he still had a trace of frustration on his face. It was clear the two might have had an intense argument before this.
"Brother Nangong, you don’t understand. What’s so good about those divine peaks? Beast Peak is the treasure trove of the Divine Sword Sect," Shangguan Wan’er said nonchalantly, "Think about it. Which peak in the Divine Sword Sect needs to interact with all the others the most? It’s undoubtedly the Beast Peak."
"Any mounts they tame are brought to the Beast Peak to remove their wildness. In doing so, I can get to know countless extraordinary prodigies of the Divine Sword Sect."
"Moreover, there’s no weak peak in the Divine Sword Sect. Even at Beast Peak, I can cultivate and access high-tier cultivation and martial techniques. Don’t forget, the Peak Master of Beast Peak is the seventh expert of the Divine Sword Sect, and there, I might even encounter the Second Ancestor Spirit."
Shangguan Wan’er spoke with a face full of enchantment.
Seeing Nangong Jianchen’s frustration, Ye Xiaofan was equally speechless. However, everyone has their aspirations, and even though the two felt regret, they could only accept Shangguan Wan’er’s choice.
The three stayed in Ye Xiaofan’s courtyard for the entire night.
At dawn the next day, after Shangguan Wan’er bid them farewell, she eagerly headed to the Beast Peak.
By noon, Nangong Jianchen also went to the Divine Sword Peak. Over ninety percent of the new disciples below Little Jiu Peak reported to their respective spirit peaks, yet Ye Xiaofan still hadn’t received any news about moving to the South Peak.
Not until the afternoon did someone finally arrive to inform him to go to the South Peak, and it was once again Mo Shiyi tasked with notifying and accompanying Ye Xiaofan as his guide.
They reached the foot of the South Peak by dusk.
Compared to the bustling activity of other divine peaks, the South Peak appeared extremely desolate and quiet. The mountains were covered in withered yellow, emphasizing a sense of bleakness.
Had he not known that the First Generation Sword Saint lived atop, Ye Xiaofan might have thought he’d arrived at a barren peak.
Mo Shiyi, however, gazed at the towering mountain before him, his face filled with rare sentiment and unspeakable respect, as if questioning Ye Xiaofan while seemingly recalling something, he said:
"South Peak, Junior Brother Ye, do you know how this South Peak came to be?"
