Chapter 21 — The Six Beneath the Wasteland

"The ones who killed him."

Six pairs of eyes opened beneath the Dead Sword Wasteland.

The ground did not explode.

That would have been simpler.

Instead—

the entire wasteland inhaled.

Millions of broken swords tilted toward the earth.

Spiritual energy vanished from the air.

Spatial cracks stopped opening.

Even the wind disappeared.

For one breath—

everything was silent.

Then six chains pulled tight.

BOOM.

The shockwave traveled underground.

Mountains hundreds of kilometers away trembled.

Ye Feng nearly lost his footing.

Jian Wuchen's Clear Wind screamed.

Xuankong stepped forward.

His expression had changed completely.

"Gu Jian."

The black-robed figure looked at him.

"Third Brother."

"What did you seal?"

Gu Jian's covered face tilted slightly.

"I told you."

"The ones who killed Master."

"No."

Xuankong's voice hardened.

"You said six."

"Yes."

"There weren't six."

Silence.

Shen Yuan looked between them.

"How many?"

Xuankong didn't take his eyes off Gu Jian.

"At the final battle?"

"Yes."

"Thousands."

That sounded more realistic.

"Then who are the six?"

Gu Jian answered.

"The six who mattered."

Another chain trembled.

Shen Yuan felt something move beneath them.

Ancient.

Powerful.

Wrong.

His Immortal perception descended.

Ten meters.

One hundred.

One thousand.

Then—

stopped.

A barrier.

Not earth.

Sword Intent.

Seven layers.

Gu Jian noticed.

"Don't."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"Why?"

"They'll notice."

Shen Yuan glanced downward.

"They're awake."

"Not fully."

Fair distinction.

He withdrew his perception.

For now.

Behind them—

Ye Feng lowered Duan Zheng carefully onto the ground.

"Master."

Duan's face was pale.

His shoulders were ruined where chains had pierced them.

Cultivation sealed.

Meridians damaged.

But alive.

Ye Feng's hands trembled.

"Master."

Duan Zheng opened his eyes.

He stared at Ye Feng.

For several seconds—

he seemed unable to believe what he was seeing.

Then:

"You idiot."

Ye Feng froze.

Duan's voice was weak.

"I told you not to look for me."

Ye Feng laughed.

Once.

It broke halfway through.

"You disappeared."

"That was the point."

"You gave me coordinates."

"I gave Jian coordinates."

"On the jade you gave me."

Duan Zheng became quiet.

Ye Feng stared at him.

"You wanted us to find you."

"No."

"Master."

Duan looked away.

"Eventually."

Ye Feng laughed again.

This time—

there were tears.

"You're terrible at disappearing."

Duan Zheng closed his eyes.

"Apparently."

Shen Yuan looked over.

That word had escaped Cloudveil Peak entirely.

Concerning.

Jian Wuchen approached.

Duan opened his eyes again.

Their gazes met.

"Wuchen."

"Elder Duan."

Duan stared at him.

No Qi Refining aura.

No conventional dantian circulation.

No functioning mortal meridians.

Yet—

Sword Intent.

Heart.

Bone.

A foundation he did not understand.

Duan's eyes widened.

"You did it."

Jian Wuchen frowned.

"What?"

"You found another path."

Jian looked toward Shen Yuan.

"My master did."

Duan followed his gaze.

Then saw Shen Yuan clearly for the first time.

White robes.

Young.

Calm.

No detectable cultivation.

Standing beside Xuankong and Gu Jian as though this were an ordinary meeting.

Duan Zheng's expression became strange.

"That's Shen Yuan?"

Ye Feng nodded.

"Yes."

Duan stared.

"I expected someone older."

"So did I."

Shen Yuan heard them.

He chose not to comment.

Gu Jian stepped toward Jian Wuchen.

Clear Wind immediately rose.

Jian caught it.

Gu Jian stopped.

"Good."

Jian's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"You don't trust me."

"No."

"Good."

Xuankong sighed.

"Why does everyone from our lineage talk like that?"

Gu Jian turned.

"Because trusting people got Master killed."

The humor disappeared.

Xuankong's face hardened.

"Careful."

"Why?"

"You don't know what happened."

Gu Jian became still.

Then—

the wasteland shook again.

One of the seven swords embedded in his back cracked further.

Shen Yuan noticed.

"Those swords."

Gu Jian looked at him.

"Seals."

"On you?"

"No."

"Then why are they inside you?"

"Anchors."

Gu Jian lifted one hand.

The chains extending from his body became visible.

Seven.

Each chain descended into a different region beneath the wasteland.

"Master created seven Guardian Seals."

"After he died?"

"Before."

Xuankong's eyes narrowed.

"I never saw these."

"You weren't supposed to."

"Why?"

Gu Jian looked at him.

"Because Master didn't trust us."

Silence.

Xuankong's expression changed.

"All of us?"

"All nine."

"Even you?"

"Especially me."

Shen Yuan liked Ji Cang more with every new detail.

Reasonable man.

Gu Jian continued.

"Master knew someone had betrayed him before the final battle."

"But he didn't know who."

"No."

"So he prepared the Sword Tomb."

"Yes."

"The seven keys."

"Yes."

"The Guardian Seals."

"Yes."

"And gave seven disciples responsibility."

Gu Jian nodded.

"Each of us received one key."

Xuankong frowned.

"But the Tomb records say seven guardian lineages."

"Because disciples die."

Gu Jian's voice was flat.

"Bloodlines continue."

There it was.

Seven disciples became seven guardian lineages.

Shen Yuan looked at Xuankong.

"Which key did you have?"

Xuankong became quiet.

"Third."

"Where is it?"

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"I destroyed it."

Jian Wuchen's Sword Tomb Key screamed.

Gu Jian's head snapped toward Xuankong.

Even Shen Yuan paused.

"You did what?"

Xuankong met Gu Jian's gaze.

"I destroyed it."

"Impossible."

"I thought so too."

Gu Jian took one step forward.

The ground cracked.

"Why?"

"Because they were hunting us."

"Who?"

"Everyone."

"That's not an answer."

Xuankong's expression hardened.

"The Immortal Realm."

"After Master died, the surviving powers hunted every disciple, every servant, every clan connected to him."

"My key was a beacon."

"So I broke it."

Gu Jian's voice became dangerous.

"The keys cannot be broken."

"I learned that later."

Silence.

Shen Yuan caught it.

"What happened?"

Xuankong sighed.

"It reformed."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

The system reacted.

[Sword Tomb Key information updated.]

[Known Keys: 1/7 physically held by Jian Wuchen.]

[Additional Key historical status detected.]

[Third Key: Destroyed → Reconstituted at unknown location.]

Interesting.

Jian looked at Xuankong.

"Can you sense it?"

"No."

"Could you before?"

"Always."

"And now?"

"Nothing."

Gu Jian slowly relaxed.

"Then it rejected you."

Xuankong's expression tightened.

"Possibly."

"Why?"

"I don't know."

Gu Jian laughed once.

Coldly.

"You broke Master's key."

"I was being hunted by three Immortal Kings."

"You should have run faster."

Xuankong stared.

"Still an ass."

"Still alive."

"Debatable."

Gu Jian ignored him.

Shen Yuan stepped between the conversation before eight thousand years of sibling resentment became inconvenient.

"Six prisoners."

Gu Jian looked at him.

"Yes."

"Names."

"No."

Shen Yuan raised an eyebrow.

Gu Jian continued.

"If I speak their names, they hear."

"All of them?"

"Three definitely."

"Other three?"

"I don't know."

Shen Yuan glanced downward.

"Then describe them."

Gu Jian became silent.

Xuankong answered instead.

"The final battle involved six leaders."

Gu Jian looked at him.

"You remember."

"I watched Master die."

"I remember everything."

The ancient man's voice had lost all humor.

He raised one finger.

"First."

"An Immortal Emperor from the Celestial Registry Palace."

Second.

"The Matriarch of the Void Phoenix Clan."

Third.

"The Lord of the Heavenly Punishment Court."

Fourth.

"An ancestor of the Taihuang imperial line."

Shen Yuan's eyes narrowed.

Taihuang.

The current Immortal Emperor?

"Which ancestor?"

Xuankong shook his head.

"Not the current emperor."

Good.

Fifth.

"The Keeper of the Ascension Mechanism."

That sounded important.

"And sixth?"

Xuankong stopped.

Gu Jian's chains tightened.

The wasteland groaned.

Xuankong lowered his hand.

"We never knew."

Shen Yuan frowned.

"Unknown cultivator?"

"Unknown everything."

"Race?"

"Unknown."

"Realm?"

"Unknown."

"Technique?"

Xuankong looked at him.

"Master couldn't cut it."

That mattered.

Shen Yuan became still.

Ji Cang could sever karma.

Space.

World barriers.

Tribulations.

He had fought Immortal Emperors.

And something resisted his sword.

"What did it look like?"

Xuankong's eyes became distant.

"Nothing."

"Meaning?"

"A silhouette."

"No face."

"No aura."

"No karma."

"No destiny."

Shen Yuan's system interface flickered.

Once.

Then stopped.

Interesting.

Xuankong continued.

"Divine sense passed over it."

"Heavenly Dao didn't react to it."

"Master said..."

The old man's voice slowed.

"...it felt like something that had never been born."

Shen Yuan said nothing.

That description felt uncomfortably close to another kind of existence.

Not Gu Jian.

Not Xuankong.

Something outside calculation.

But there wasn't enough information.

No conclusions.

Not yet.

"Are those six beneath us?"

Xuankong looked at Gu Jian.

Gu Jian nodded.

"Not their bodies."

"What?"

"Their remnants."

"Souls?"

"Some."

"Dao fragments?"

"Some."

"Will?"

"Some."

"Why keep them?"

Gu Jian's answer came immediately.

"Because Master ordered it."

Shen Yuan frowned.

"Why?"

"I don't know."

"You've been guarding them for eight thousand years without knowing why?"

"Yes."

That was either extraordinary loyalty—

or insanity.

Possibly both.

Xuankong looked at him.

"You always were the obedient one."

Gu Jian turned.

"You always were the coward."

The wasteland became awkward.

Jian Wuchen looked at Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan looked back.

Master-disciple relationships could apparently remain complicated for millennia.

Useful warning.

Duan Zheng coughed.

Blood touched his lips.

Ye Feng immediately supported him.

Shen Yuan walked over.

"Let me see."

Duan looked up.

"Peak Master Shen."

"Shen Yuan is fine."

Duan hesitated.

Then nodded.

Shen Yuan placed two fingers near his shoulder.

Immortal perception entered.

The damage was severe.

Three years of imprisonment.

Cultivation forcibly sealed.

Shoulder bones repeatedly pierced.

Meridians damaged.

Dantian intact.

Soul exhausted.

But recoverable.

The system appeared.

Name: Duan Zheng

Cultivation: Nascent Soul — Fourth Stage, currently sealed

Condition: Severe

Meridian Integrity: 43%

Dantian Integrity: 81%

Soul Stability: 57%

Sword Intent: Suppressed

Karmic Contamination: Low

Foreign Seal: Ancient Sword Dao

Recommended treatment: Seventh-grade Soul-Meridian Restoration Pill or higher.

Shen Yuan opened his storage ring.

Ye Feng watched.

"What are you doing?"

"Healing him."

Duan immediately shook his head.

"No."

Shen Yuan looked at him.

"No?"

"Save your medicine."

Shen Yuan stared.

Duan Zheng apparently had no idea who he was dealing with.

He took out an eighth-grade Ninefold Soul Restoration Pill.

Duan's eyes widened.

Ye Feng froze.

Even Xuankong looked over.

"Eat."

Duan stared at the pill.

"That's eighth grade."

"Yes."

"You can't casually—"

"Eat."

"I—"

Ye Feng took the pill from Shen Yuan.

"Master."

Duan looked at him.

Ye Feng smiled.

"Open."

Duan's expression became offended.

"I taught you swordsmanship."

"And you slapped me at a funeral."

"You deserved it."

"Probably."

"Ye Feng."

"Open."

Duan glared.

Then obeyed.

Ye Feng pushed the pill into his mouth.

Duan looked betrayed.

The medicine dissolved.

Powerful restorative energy spread.

His damaged meridians began healing.

The wounds through his shoulders closed.

His soul stabilized.

The ancient seal resisted.

Shen Yuan touched it.

The seal broke.

Duan Zheng gasped.

Nascent Soul cultivation returned.

Not fully.

But enough.

He stared at Shen Yuan.

"You..."

"Better?"

Duan flexed his fingers.

"Yes."

"Good."

The system chimed.

[No Disciple Cashback triggered.]

Shen Yuan nodded internally.

Expected.

Duan wasn't his disciple.

No issue.

Ye Feng bowed deeply.

"Thank you."

Shen Yuan waved it away.

"Take care of him."

Duan looked between them.

Then at the pill bottle still in Shen Yuan's hand.

"How many of those do you have?"

Shen Yuan checked.

"Twenty-three."

Duan became silent.

Xuankong laughed.

"I like him."

"You met him today," Gu Jian said.

"Enough."

Jian Wuchen walked toward Gu Jian.

The First Key floated between them.

"Why did the key bring me here?"

Gu Jian looked at it.

"Because one of the others is below."

Silence.

The system had already hinted.

Possible Sword Tomb Key detected.

Jian's eyes sharpened.

"Which?"

"Seventh."

Xuankong's expression changed.

"Yours."

Gu Jian nodded.

"Still?"

"Yes."

"After eight thousand years?"

"Yes."

"Why didn't it pass to your lineage?"

Gu Jian became quiet.

"I have no lineage."

Xuankong's face changed.

Gu Jian looked toward the broken swords around them.

"I never had children."

"Never took disciples."

"Never left."

"For eight thousand years?"

"Yes."

Xuankong stared.

"Idiot."

Gu Jian looked at him.

"Coward."

"At least I saw sunlight."

"At least I kept my key."

Xuankong's eye twitched.

Shen Yuan stepped in again.

"Where is it?"

Gu Jian pointed downward.

"At the center."

"With the six prisoners?"

"Yes."

"Convenient."

"It wasn't meant to be retrieved."

Jian frowned.

"But the Tomb told me to gather all seven."

Gu Jian became still.

"The Tomb spoke to you?"

"Yes."

Xuankong laughed.

Gu Jian looked at him.

"What?"

"It spoke to him too."

Gu Jian's covered face turned toward Shen Yuan.

"Why?"

Shen Yuan shrugged.

"It likes me."

Jian Wuchen coughed.

Xuankong laughed harder.

Gu Jian stared.

Then:

"No."

Fair.

"The Tomb said all seven keys must return before the Ninth Gate can open," Jian explained.

Gu Jian remained motionless.

Then slowly looked toward the earth.

"Then something changed."

"What?"

"Master's final command."

Xuankong's expression sharpened.

"What was it?"

Gu Jian quoted:

"Do not gather the Seven until Heaven bleeds."

Silence.

Jian looked at his key.

Shen Yuan remembered Duan Zheng's hidden record.

When the Ninth Sword walks the mortal earth, the severed road shall bleed again.

He looked upward.

"Heaven bleeds."

Xuankong's eyes narrowed.

"The Severed Barrier."

Gu Jian turned.

"What?"

Shen Yuan explained.

"The higher realm observed Cloudveil."

"An Immortal-grade territory formed."

"The barrier cracked."

"Golden light came through."

Xuankong's expression changed.

Gu Jian went perfectly still.

"How large?"

"Small."

"How long?"

"Seconds."

"Did anything descend?"

"Only observation."

Gu Jian looked toward Jian Wuchen.

Then the First Key.

Then Shen Yuan.

"The command has been fulfilled."

Xuankong shook his head.

"Maybe."

Gu Jian's chains tightened.

"No."

His voice changed.

Certainty.

"Master wasn't poetic."

Shen Yuan liked that.

"He said Heaven bleeds."

"The barrier bled golden light."

"He said gather the Seven."

"The Tomb woke."

"The First Key returned."

"The Seventh is reacting."

The ground trembled.

Far below—

something pulsed.

The First Key flashed.

A second light answered beneath the earth.

Jian Wuchen's eyes widened.

Gu Jian whispered:

"Eight thousand years."

For the first time—

his voice cracked.

"I can finally leave."

Then—

one of the six presences below laughed.

Gu Jian froze.

Xuankong's expression changed.

The laughter came through the ground.

Male.

Calm.

Amused.

"Can you?"

Every chain snapped tight.

Gu Jian staggered.

One of the seven sword seals in his back shattered.

Blood sprayed.

Xuankong moved instantly.

He caught him.

"Seventh Brother!"

Gu Jian dropped to one knee.

Shen Yuan's perception descended.

The barrier below was weakening.

Something was pulling.

Not at Gu Jian.

At the Seventh Key.

The system exploded with warnings.

[WARNING.]

[Sealed entity attempting to seize Sword Tomb Key.]

[Key ownership conflict detected.]

[Ancient seal integrity: 71%.]

[69%.]

[65%.]

Too fast.

Jian Wuchen stepped forward.

His First Key erupted.

"How do we stop it?"

Gu Jian forced himself upright.

"Don't let the Seventh Key leave the seal chamber."

"How?"

"Go down."

Xuankong stared.

"Absolutely not."

Gu Jian turned.

"Then we lose it."

"I'll go."

"No."

"Why?"

"The chamber rejects anyone without a key."

Xuankong's expression hardened.

"I had one."

"Had."

That landed.

Jian Wuchen stepped forward.

"I have one."

Shen Yuan answered immediately.

"I'm going with you."

Gu Jian shook his head.

"The chamber will reject you."

"Probably."

Xuankong looked at him.

"You're going anyway."

"Yes."

"Of course."

Another seal shattered.

[Seal integrity: 52%.]

Gu Jian slammed one hand into the ground.

A sword formation appeared.

Seven circles.

One opened.

A staircase descended into darkness.

Sword Intent poured upward.

Jian Wuchen's face went pale.

The pressure alone was enormous.

Shen Yuan walked toward it.

Gu Jian grabbed his wrist.

The instant he touched the Primordial Autonomous Dao Body—

he froze.

His covered face snapped toward Shen Yuan.

"What?"

Shen Yuan looked at his hand.

Gu Jian released him.

"What is that body?"

"Complicated."

Xuankong groaned.

"Don't start."

Gu Jian stared.

Then the third seal shattered.

No time.

"Fine."

He pointed down.

"First Key bearer enters."

"Your master can try."

"If the chamber rejects him—"

Shen Yuan smiled.

"I'll discuss it with the chamber."

Gu Jian didn't know what that meant.

Xuankong did.

He almost felt sorry for the chamber.

Almost.

Ye Feng stood.

"I'm coming."

"No," three people said simultaneously.

Ye Feng stared.

"My master—"

"Is safe," Duan Zheng said.

Ye Feng turned.

Duan was standing now.

Weak.

But standing.

"Go with Jian," Duan said.

Ye Feng froze.

Everyone looked at him.

Duan continued.

"You came here for me."

"You found me."

"Now his problem is bigger."

Jian looked at Ye Feng.

Duan smiled faintly.

"Go."

Ye Feng tightened his grip on his sword.

Then nodded.

Xuankong stepped toward the staircase.

Gu Jian stopped him.

"You can't enter."

"I can try."

"No."

"Seventh Brother."

"Third Brother."

Their eyes met.

Gu Jian's voice softened.

"Stay."

Xuankong became still.

"Why?"

"Because if we fail..."

Gu Jian looked at the six chains.

"...you need to kill me."

Silence.

Xuankong's expression emptied.

"No."

"You know what the Guardian Seal does."

"No."

"Third Brother."

"I said no."

Gu Jian stepped closer.

"If all seven anchors break, the six below will use me as the gate."

Xuankong's face became pale.

"You knew."

"For eight thousand years."

"You knew this would happen?"

"I knew it could."

"And you stayed?"

"Someone had to."

Xuankong grabbed his robes.

"You stupid—"

Gu Jian laughed.

The sound was quiet.

Almost human.

"Still a coward."

Xuankong's hands trembled.

Gu Jian touched his shoulder.

"Still alive."

Silence.

Then he pushed Xuankong back.

"Let them go."

Xuankong slowly released him.

Shen Yuan looked at Jian Wuchen.

"Ready?"

Jian looked into the darkness.

His Sword Heart pounded.

His Sword Foundation trembled.

He had stabilized for less than a day.

Shen Yuan had told him three.

This was a terrible idea.

"Yes."

Shen Yuan nodded.

"Good."

Then he took something from his storage ring.

A dark-blue robe.

Jian frowned.

"Master?"

"Put this on."

"What is it?"

"Protection."

The system appeared.

Void-Weave Immortal Robe

Grade: Immortal — Low

Functions:

— spatial stabilization.

— physical defense.

— soul defense.

— automatic protective barrier.

Suitability for Jian Wuchen: 97%.

Jian stared.

"Immortal?"

"Yes."

"Master—"

"Put it on."

"Isn't this excessive?"

Shen Yuan looked at the staircase filled with ancient killing intent.

"No."

Jian accepted it.

The robe recognized him.

Light flowed.

It transformed to fit his body.

The system chimed.

[Genuine disciple investment detected.]

[Current disciple danger: Extreme.]

[Resource suitability: 97%.]

[Immediate survival value: Extremely High.]

[Calculating cashback...]

Shen Yuan watched.

100×.

500×.

1,000×.

Then—

[3,000×.]

[Reward obtained.]

[Void Sovereign Mantle.]

Shen Yuan checked.

Void Sovereign Mantle

Grade: Immortal King — Low

A defensive mantle woven from stabilized void law.

Functions:

— extreme spatial resistance.

— high-level soul protection.

— automatic dimensional anchoring.

— resistance to forced teleportation, spatial severance, void collapse.

— may protect nearby designated targets.

Shen Yuan smiled.

Useful.

Very useful.

Xuankong saw the robe appear in Shen Yuan's hand.

His eyes widened.

"Where did you get that?"

"Investment."

"What does that mean?"

"Complicated."

Xuankong stared.

Shen Yuan put the mantle away.

Later.

[Protective Master-Disciple Event detected.]

[Optional investment successful.]

[Event ongoing.]

Good.

Shen Yuan stepped onto the staircase.

Jian Wuchen followed.

Ye Feng followed him.

The darkness swallowed them.

The staircase descended much farther than expected.

One hundred meters.

One kilometer.

Ten.

No one spoke.

Broken swords lined the walls.

Each one pointed upward.

Jian Wuchen could feel them.

Not dead.

Sleeping.

Ye Feng walked beside him.

"How are you?"

"Fine."

"That's a lie."

"Yes."

His Sword Foundation hurt.

The pressure increased with every step.

Heart Meridian pulsed.

Bone Meridian vibrated.

Clear Wind trembled.

Shen Yuan looked back.

"Still walking?"

"Yes."

"Good."

They continued.

Eventually—

the staircase ended.

A door stood before them.

No handle.

No lock.

Nine sword marks covered it.

Eight visible.

The ninth blank.

Jian's First Key floated.

The door opened.

Shen Yuan stepped forward.

The moment his foot crossed the threshold—

the world attacked him.

Sword Intent descended from every direction.

Enough to erase a Body Integration cultivator instantly.

Shen Yuan's robe moved slightly.

That was all.

The chamber became silent.

A voice spoke.

"IMMORTAL."

Shen Yuan looked around.

"Yes."

"FORBIDDEN."

"Why?"

"IMMORTAL."

"You already said that."

"FORBIDDEN."

Jian Wuchen looked at his master.

Shen Yuan sighed.

"Listen."

The chamber shook.

"LEAVE."

"No."

Sword Intent gathered.

Shen Yuan raised one finger.

"Before you do something embarrassing—"

The chamber attacked.

A sword formed.

Ancient.

Massive.

It descended.

Shen Yuan caught it.

Two fingers.

Silence.

Jian Wuchen closed his eyes.

Ye Feng stared.

Shen Yuan looked at the sword.

"Can we discuss this now?"

The chamber did not answer.

"Good."

He released it.

The sword vanished.

The door behind them closed.

Apparently—

the chamber had reconsidered.

Jian Wuchen looked at Ye Feng.

Ye Feng whispered:

"Does this happen often?"

Jian thought.

"I've known him three days."

"Right."

"Yes."

They continued.

The central chamber was enormous.

Seven stone platforms surrounded a black pit.

Six were empty.

One held a sword-shaped key.

The Seventh Key.

Chains wrapped around it.

Black threads pulled from below.

The First Key flew from Jian Wuchen.

The two keys resonated.

Hum—

The Seventh Key moved.

One black thread snapped.

Then another.

Something below screamed.

The chamber shook.

The system appeared.

[Sword Tomb Key detected.]

[Fragment: 7/7 designation.]

[Current seal status: Contested.]

[Compatibility with Jian Wuchen: 100%.]

Jian stepped forward.

The moment he did—

a figure appeared between him and the key.

A man.

Golden robes.

No face.

Xuankong's earlier description echoed.

Immortal Emperor.

One of the six remnants.

The figure raised one hand.

Jian Wuchen froze.

His soul screamed.

Shen Yuan appeared in front of him.

The pressure vanished.

The faceless figure looked at Shen Yuan.

Then—

spoke.

"You are not part of this."

Shen Yuan smiled faintly.

"He's my disciple."

The figure paused.

"Then you will lose him."

Shen Yuan's smile disappeared.

"Try."

The golden figure lifted one hand.

Immortal law filled the chamber.

For the first time since receiving Immortal cultivation—

Shen Yuan felt something genuinely powerful directed at him.

Not dangerous.

But enough to notice.

He became interested.

The figure attacked.

A golden palm descended.

Shen Yuan raised his own.

They collided.

BOOM!

The chamber cracked.

The golden figure staggered.

Shen Yuan did not move.

The remnant became still.

"Impossible."

Shen Yuan sighed.

"I've heard that recently."

He closed his hand.

The golden palm shattered.

Then he stepped forward.

One step.

Space folded.

He appeared directly before the remnant.

One finger touched its forehead.

"Sleep."

The golden figure exploded into light.

Not destroyed.

Thrown back into the pit.

Chains erupted.

Dragged it downward.

The chamber became quiet.

Jian Wuchen stared.

Ye Feng stared.

Shen Yuan looked at the Seventh Key.

"Take it."

Jian moved.

His hand closed around the key.

The moment he touched it—

everything changed.

The First Key merged with the Seventh.

Not physically.

Their light connected.

The Sword Tomb appeared around Jian's consciousness.

Nine gates.

Two open.

Seven closed.

Then—

the Seventh Key flew toward one of the distant pillars.

A new symbol lit.

The Tomb's voice spoke.

"TWO HAVE RETURNED."

Jian's eyes widened.

"FIVE REMAIN."

Then—

"THE NINTH WALKS."

Jian froze.

"What?"

Shen Yuan heard it too.

The chamber shook.

"THE NINTH WALKS THE MORTAL EARTH."

A door appeared in Jian's consciousness.

Not one of the Nine Gates.

Another.

Hidden behind them.

It opened slightly.

For one instant—

Jian saw someone.

A swordsman.

Back turned.

Broken sword in hand.

Standing before a severed sky.

Then the figure turned.

Jian's heart stopped.

The face—

was his own.

The vision vanished.

Jian staggered.

Shen Yuan caught his shoulder.

"What did you see?"

Jian stared ahead.

His face pale.

"Me."

Silence.

"What?"

"I saw myself."

Ye Feng frowned.

"Where?"

Jian swallowed.

"At the Severance."

The system reacted.

[Major Destiny Event detected.]

[Disciple Jian Wuchen has encountered future-path resonance.]

[WARNING.]

[Vision does not necessarily represent predetermined future.]

Good.

Shen Yuan immediately focused on that.

Not destiny.

Possibility.

He looked at Jian.

"A vision isn't an order."

Jian met his eyes.

Shen Yuan continued.

"You choose your path."

The Sword Heart steadied.

Jian breathed.

Then nodded.

"Yes."

The system updated.

[Master-Disciple Bond strengthened.]

Then—

the pit below erupted.

Six chains pulled upward.

Shen Yuan turned.

Something had changed.

Not because of the Seventh Key.

Because of the vision.

The faceless golden remnant screamed from below:

"THE NINTH HAS BEEN FOUND!"

Another voice joined.

Female.

Ancient.

"KILL HIM!"

Third.

"BREAK THE KEY!"

Fourth.

"CALL HEAVEN!"

Fifth.

Laughter.

Sixth—

silence.

Then a black thread emerged from the pit.

Shen Yuan's expression changed.

Karma.

The same kind that killed Xue Ming.

It did not attack Jian.

It did not attack Shen Yuan.

It shot upward.

Through the chamber.

Through the wasteland.

Toward the sky.

A signal.

Shen Yuan moved.

He reached for it.

Too late.

The black thread vanished.

The system flashed.

[WARNING.]

[Cross-realm karmic transmission completed.]

[Destination: Immortal Realm.]

Silence.

Ye Feng looked at Shen Yuan.

"What did it send?"

The system answered.

[Message content partially reconstructed.]

Four words appeared.

Shen Yuan read them.

His expression became serious.

Far above the Mortal Realm—

inside the Celestial Registry Palace—

an ancient black altar lit for the first time in eight thousand years.

Immortal officials froze.

One by one—

seven sword symbols appeared.

Then a message burned across the altar.

THE NINTH HAS RETURNED.

A second line followed.

THE FIRST KEY BEARER LIVES.

Then—

a third.

JI CANG'S DAO HAS A NEW MASTER.

Silence filled the palace.

And thousands of kilometers away—

inside an imperial throne hall—

Immortal Emperor Taihuang opened his eyes.

For the first time in centuries—

he stood from his throne.

"Seal the ascension routes."

An official trembled.

"Your Majesty?"

Taihuang looked toward the Mortal Realm.

His expression was unreadable.

"Find Ji Wushang."

"And the Mortal Realm?"

The Immortal Emperor became silent.

Then:

"No one descends."

The officials stared.

They had expected an invasion order.

Taihuang's next words were quieter.

"Not until we know..."

His eyes narrowed.

"...who is standing beside the Ninth Sword."