A Long Grind to Daoist Monarch

Chapter 414 - 251: Defying Conventions in Public, Sword’s Succubus

Senior Brother Kou is still in the mortal world!

Feeling the stirring of the divine weapon within his brow, a bizarre and absurd thought leaped into Chunyu Cultivator’s mind.

He couldn’t help but take a sharp breath of cold air, his heart stirred like crashing waves.

"The Nanming Li Fire... the previous Sword Master was actually Senior Brother Kou!"

The former Daoist of the Meridian Sword Sect, who began to emerge and show his prowess at the age of fourteen.

Legend has it that on the day he entered the Mountain Gate, the three divine weapons originally enshrined in the Ancestor Hall,

Thousand-Year Grudge, Void Illusion, Nanming Li Fire.

All shot sword lights into the sky, surging into the Big Dipper!

So much so that Sect Leader Yan Xin emerged from seclusion to personally examine his roots and talents, determining his fate and gifts.

Confirming the three top-level roots "Unrivaled Swordsmaster," "Bright Sword Heart," "Sword Eye Free from Defilement," he was directly elevated to a true disciple.

Making him the youngest true disciple in the history of the Meridian Sword Sect.

At seventeen, Kou Qiuyue formally apprenticed under Sect Leader Yan Xin while simultaneously being promoted to Upper Sect Daoist.

The then-not-yet-promoted His Highness Prince Sui and the not-yet-deposed Crown Prince Yong both sent congratulatory messages and gifts.

Afterward, he roamed the world, making a huge name for himself.

Rashly challenging the Divine Power Secret Realm in an unnamed place, single-handedly overcoming the Sevenfold Tribulation, his sword prowess shook the Red County Divine Land.

The Supreme Emperor, who had not yet secluded himself to study his powers, upon learning of this, issued a decree full of praise.

Among them was a particularly high evaluation—

Gained seven or eight parts of the Dao, already on the pinnacle of Sword Dao.

When Kou Qiuyue entered the Divine Capital and competed with heroes at the Simurgh Platform.

His title "Sword Daoist" was universally recognized, deservedly so.

One could say that the Meridian Sword Sect, which was previously ranked amid the top seven Upper Sects,

rose to prominence due to this one Sword Daoist.

Almost rivaling the esteemed Five Directions Emperor Palace!

This is why, even though Kou Qiuyue perished ten years ago, branded as a traitor who deceived his master and destroyed his ancestors,

he still commands respect from many true disciples and inner sect disciples.

"Divine weapons have spirits, unless they are encountered by the true Master of War, no matter how refined they are, they can only exert sixty to seventy percent of their power.

Even if Senior Brother Mo possesses ’Mystic Spirit My Heart,’ naturally understanding weapon mastery.

The divine weapon he can fully control is only ’Void Illusion.’

Thousand-Year Grudge and Nanming Li Fire are merely held in trust."

Chunyu Cultivator composed himself, pinched his fingers together, and lightly tapped his forehead.

He quietly circulated the sect’s secret Sword Nourishing Technique, calming the excited Nanming Li Fire Sword.

"I have been nurturing and refining this divine weapon for three years, never seeing it behave like this."

The true disciple of the Sword Sect murmured quietly to himself, unable to understand the specific reason.

After pondering for a long time, there was only one reliable explanation left!

The Nanming Li Fire sensed its original Sword Master.

Thus, it wanted to abandon him and leave.

"Senior Brother Kou... is he really still alive?"

Under the hat, Chunyu Cultivator’s expression turned complex.

Regarding Kou Qiuyue, the Sword Sect was divided into two factions.

One group believed that Kou Ni committed heinous sins, deserving of death, and should be punished.

The other group felt that Senior Brother Kou joining the Turbid Tide might have hidden reasons of great significance.

Furthermore, on the day the Sect Leader executed the Daoist, the Longevity Lamp belonging to the Daoist in the Ancestor Hall did not immediately extinguish.

Instead, it held out for seven days before gradually dimming and turning into a wisp of blue smoke.

This rumor spread widely, with many details recounted vividly, leading some Sword Sect disciples to believe it wholeheartedly.

Even a true disciple like Chunyu Cultivator was half skeptical, half convinced, finding it difficult to ascertain Kou Daoist’s life and death.

"If it’s truly Senior Brother Kou... what should I do?"

Chunyu Cultivator’s eyes flickered; a reunion with an old friend should be joyful, but regardless of the reasons for the chaos at the Mountain Gate ten years ago,

Kou Daoist slaughtered his fellow disciples, annihilating several main seats and true disciples, severely damaging the sect’s vitality—this was a fact.

One must know, within the Dragon Court Fourteen Mansions, each place has Upper Sect or Taoist Sect presiding.

They occupy famous mountains and great rivers, receive blessings from the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, extending their branches and continuing their lineage.

Rumor has it that at the founding of the nation, the Supreme Emperor offered sacrifices to heaven and conferred positions to Daoist Officials, scheming to suppress and weaken the great sects’ power.

To prevent these sects, which often measure time by millennia, from growing too large and uncontrollable, becoming hidden threats.

In these hundreds of years, Daoist Officials consistently held the reins of power, considering themselves the claws and fangs of governance, stationed in great cities of the prefecture, forming alliances with the Eight Pillars of the Realm, and becoming the largest faction within the Court.

Conversely, the great sect true disciples, initially esteemed as the top of the three elites, have seen their status decline, no longer holding the same haughty regard for kings and princes as before.

Some thirty years ago, when Kou Daoist overshadowed the Divine Land with his sword and dominated Celestial Water, never mind Zhao Pijiang, even Erzhu Long, who was conferred the title of Duke, had to respect the Meridian Sword Sect’s authority and work under its favor.

But now, even though the Meridian Sword Sect is aware that the Hidden Pavilion’s true owner is the Female Wealth Deity Zhu Mingyu of the Celestial Water Prefecture, backed by Zhao Pijiang,

openly offering a reward for the Sword Sect’s true disciple Qiu Qianchuan is done under the General’s secret order.

Yet, the Meridian Sword Sect had to feign ignorance, even going so far as to feign rage and recruit assassins.

"They truly say, the Sword Sect’s rise and fall is all due to the Daoist."

Chunyu Cultivator sighed deeply; he pondered for a moment, releasing the Nanming Li Fire Sword nurtured between his brows, letting it seek out whoever was causing the divine weapon to stir.

Whoosh!

The fiery pattern suddenly flashed, shooting out blinding brilliance like a sheet of light, spreading like an overwhelming flame covering a hundred miles, then swiftly gathering into a fiery blade three feet long.

It hovered in the air for about ten breaths, then determined a direction and shot straight ahead!

...

...

"Gathering a divine seed and mastering two unclear level sword techniques, this journey to the Inner Scenic Land has been quite rewarding."