Noticing the change in atmosphere, Shen Chu immediately stepped forward and ordered the sect master to prepare a quiet place.
The sect master naturally did not dare delay and personally selected one of the best places within Drifting Mist Pavilion.
Meanwhile, the hall master looked at Elder Han and ordered his immediate arrest.
Several elders stepped forward, and Elder Han did not resist.
He was merely an elemental core cultivator. Even if he wanted to struggle, he knew that the hall master could suppress him with a single palm.
Soon, Elder Han was escorted away.
The hall master then looked toward the fourteen outer sect disciples. All of them were still staring blankly at the direction Riven had disappeared in.
Seeing their foolish expressions, even the hall master couldn't help but smile bitterly.
He suddenly asked.
"Do any of you know the identity of the person accompanying the ancestor?"
The disciples immediately snapped out of their stupor. Jerry hurriedly clasped his hands.
"Hall Master, we truly do not know. Previously, Senior merely traveled together with us to Drifting Mist City."
"He even pointed us toward the location of the qi-strengthening fruit tree."
The hall master was stunned, and then he finally understood where the fruits had come from.
No wonder the treasure capable of driving even core formation cultivators mad had simply been pointed casually out by the mysterious senior.
Shaking his head, he dismissed the disciples.
Among those fourteen disciples, ten possessed qi-strengthening fruits. If they consumed them properly, reaching core formation in two or three years would not be impossible.
Perhaps today's disaster had instead become their greatest opportunity.
...
Meanwhile, Shen Chu personally led Riven and Sword Immortal to the spiritual lake.
The water beneath the platform glowed softly, with light getting reflected beautifully upon the surface.
At the center of the spiritual lake stood a small platform. Elegant chairs and a stone table had already been arranged, with fine tea carefully prepared.
After Riven and Sword Immortal sat down, Shen Chu stood several steps away and bowed. "If the immortal masters simply give your orders."
Riven smiled and said, "There is no need to stand so far."
Shen Chu smiled awkwardly but still remained where he was, and seeing this, the Sword Immortal chuckled lightly.
Then his expression gradually became serious.
Riven looked toward him.
"So."
"What was it you wished to discuss?"
Sword Immortal sighed softly, "Senior, I wish to ask a favor."
Shen Chu's eyes widened when he heard those words.
The Sword Immortal, the strongest existence in the plane... had addressed Riven as Senior.
Even though he had already guessed that Riven's origin, along with his strength, was extraordinary, hearing it directly still shook his heart.
Riven looked at him calmly.
"What favor?"
The Sword Immortal slowly removed the sword hanging at his waist and gently placed it upon the table.
The sword looked simple and unremarkable, yet Shen Chu's pupils contracted, feeling an indescribable pressure from it.
Riven looked at the sword and said, "You are even giving me your immortal artifact. The favor you seek must be quite heavy."
Sword Immortal smiled bitterly and said, "Senior, the favor I'm asking is..."
"...merely freedom."
Riven's expression changed as he heard this, and he asked, "Are you sure you understand what you are asking about?"
Sword Immortal had a light smile on his face as he said, "I have been roaming in this world for too long and have lived long enough."
"I think it's time for me to leave."
"I cannot age, I cannot grow old, and I do not even know how long I will live."
"Nor do I know how much longer I must continue."
"The path I have walked so far has shown me a kingdom's rise and fall, sects prospering and turning to dust, bloodshed, and betrayals."
"I'm now feeling shackled, and my spirit has become heavy."
His hand gently rested on the sword.
"But my intuition tells me that senior can guide me to a peaceful destination."
Silence followed, and even Shen Chu's heart became heavy.
The man before them stood at the peak of the world, yet he spoke only of weariness.
Riven closed his eyes.
After a while, he nodded.
"What you seek..."
"I can grant."
The Sword Immortal's eyes brightened.
"But."
Riven opened his eyes.
"There is something I wish to ask."
The Sword Immortal immediately nodded.
"Whatever the senior asks."
Riven looked directly at him.
"The cultivator from another plane, did he come for you or for something else?"
Sword Immortal's expression immediately turned serious.
"Those people are here for the cultivation techniques of this plane."
"They will try everything and come to this plane to get the best cultivation techniques from here so they can return back to this plane."
Riven narrowed his eyes.
"Is it connected to the curse using immortal root on the heavenly tribulation of this plane?"
Sword Immortal nodded. "Yes, Senior, those cultivators belonged to this plane."
At this moment, Shen Chu stepped forward.
"Forgive me for interrupting, Sword Immortal."
"But... the curse on cultivation techniques. What is this about?"
Sword Immortal smiled, "There is no harm in telling you, and as for the curse, neither you nor anyone else from this plane has to worry about that."
"It's been over four thousand years since the curse was placed on cultivation techniques."
He raised his head and looked at the sky.
"Four thousand years ago, this plane was vastly different."
"There used to be twenty-five supreme sects, and every hundred years, the sects fought for supremacy."
"The victor would lend its name to that century."
"The last victor... was the Divine Sword Sect."
His eyes became complicated.
"But they ruled for only ten years."
"When the truth behind their victory was revealed, the remaining twenty-four sects united, and they tore the Divine Sword Sect apart."
Shen Chu listened quietly.
"The twenty-five sects each possessed ancient inheritances, but only ten of them possessed true Immortal Scriptures."
"Originally the Divine Sword Sect didn't have any, but by chance, they discovered one."
"Not only did they discover a true Immortal Scripture, but they also got their hands on an Immortal Root alongside it."
The Sword Immortal continued.
"When the Divine Sword sect was on the brink of destruction, the Immortal of the Divine Sword sect, who was also the holder of the immortal root, cast a curse costing him his immortal root and his immortality."
"From that day onward, anyone practicing the cultivation methods of that era would attract heavenly tribulation upon breakthrough."
"It didn't matter whether it was a qi gathering or even a foundation establishment cultivator, everyone got the same treatment."
Shen Chu's face became pale as even cultivators of his level feared heavenly tribulation, so how could an ordinary cultivator survive?
"The entire world descended into chaos, and countless sects perished."
"Eventually... they abandoned this plane."
"Outside this plane, the curse held no power, so they left."
"But before they left, they decided to leave some seeds that could develop in this plane."
"They hoped future generations of their sect would rediscover their techniques."
"After centuries passed, those seeds died without even taking a single step on the cultivation path."
The Sword Immortal smiled.
"But the world did not die, and new geniuses emerged as they became the backbone; new cultivation systems were born."
"The old paths were abandoned, and new techniques were created. And thus..."
"A new cultivation era began."
Shen Chu unconsciously straightened his back because he himself belonged to this new era.
The Sword Immortal sighed.
"But compared to those behemoths outside, it is still insufficient."
"They descend every thousand years, watching the progress and waiting for the time when they could return to this plane."
Sword Immortal then looked at Shen Chu and said, "Now the cultivation in this plane has reached Spirit Sovereign."
"It is commendable they have reached so far in four thousand years."
"But it still is not enough. Every time they come, I try my best to drive them away, but their number keeps on increasing, and I don't fall into their hands."
"And if I ever fall into their hands..."
Saying this, he pushed the sword toward Riven.
Riven remained calm and asked, "You have told me such a long story. But tell me, where do you stand in all of this?"
Sword Immortal smiled with pride and loneliness.
"I'm the last survivor of... The Divine Sword Sect."