The forbidden land behind the Jian Clan had remained untouched for centuries.
Even at noon, a thick gray mist blanketed the valley.
Broken swords littered the ground.
Some were rusted beyond recognition.
Others still radiated faint traces of sword intent despite having been buried for thousands of years.
It was known as the Sword burial valley.
To the Jian Clan, it was a cursed land.
To Jian Chen...
It was a treasure house.
Standing at the entrance, he slowly closed his eyes.
The moment his spiritual sense spread outward, countless remnants of sword intent rushed toward him.
Some were fierce.
Some were domineering.
Some carried endless sorrow.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Even after thousands of years... your wills have yet to fade."
He stepped into the valley.
The instant his foot crossed the boundary, an invisible pressure descended upon him.
Buzz!
Thousands of broken swords began to tremble.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The sound of swords echoed throughout the valley.
Deep underground...
An ancient black sword shook violently, as though responding to a familiar presence.
Jian Chen frowned.
"So, you sensed me too?"
Suddenly
A chilling voice echoed in his mind.
"Who dares disturbed my eternal slumber".
Boom!
A monstrous sword aura erupted from the depths of the valley.
The mist was instantly torn apart.
A phantom figure slowly appeared before Jian Chen.
He was an old man dressed in black robes, his long white hair flowing in the wind.
Although only a remnant soul, the pressure he emitted was enough to make even Heaven and Earth tremble.
His sharp eyes locked onto Jian Chen.
"A mere Body Tempering ant dares enter this place?"
Jian Chen remained calm.
He met the old man's gaze without fear.
The old man was slightly surprised.
"You are not afraid of me?"
Jian Chen smiled faintly.
"In my previous life, I crossed mountains of corpses and seas of blood."
"I have faced Sword Saints, Sword Sovereigns, and even Sword Emperors."
"What is there to fear from a remnant soul?"
The old man's eyes narrowed.
"Previous life?"
Jian Chen said nothing.
Instead...
He slowly raised two fingers.
Using only those fingers, he casually traced a sword movement in the air.
It was simple.
Yet profound beyond words.
The old man's pupils shrank violently.
"T-That..."
"The First Form of the Eternal Sword Scripture!"
"Impossible!"
"That sword art disappeared over ten thousand years ago!"
Jian Chen lowered his hand.
"It seems you have some knowledge."
The old man stared at him in disbelief.
"Who... are you?"
Jian Chen's voice was calm.
"I was once known as..."
"The Sword Emperor."
Silence.
The valley became deathly quiet.
Moments later
The old man suddenly burst into laughter.
"Hahaha!"
"Heaven truly has eyes!"
"I've waited here for over five thousand years..."
"And finally..."
"My successor has arrived!"
He waved his sleeve.
The entire valley trembled.
The countless broken swords rose into the air, surrounding Jian Chen like loyal subjects welcoming their king.
Each sword released a joyful hum.
The old man's expression became solemn.
"My name is Mo Jian."
"I was the last guardian of this valley."
"I swore that only someone acknowledged by ten thousand swords could inherit its legacy."
He looked deeply into Jian Chen's eyes.
"Today..."
"The swords have made their choice."
A ray of black light shot out from the deepest part of the valley.
Boom!
The earth split apart.
A pitch-black sword slowly rose from the ground.
Unlike the other swords, it was completely intact.
Its blade was covered with ancient silver runes.
The surrounding space distorted under its terrifying sword intent.
The moment Jian Chen saw it, his heart shook.
"The... Heaven Severing Sword!"
He had read of this legendary weapon in ancient records.
It was said to be capable of cutting apart mountains, rivers...
Even the heavens themselves.
Mo Jian nodded.
"Not even I could draw this sword."
"It has rejected every genius for thousands of years."
"It has been waiting..."
"For its true master."
The Heaven Severing Sword slowly flew toward Jian Chen.
As it approached, it let out a joyful cry.
Then
It landed gently in his outstretched hand.
The instant Jian Chen grasped the hilt
Boom!
A pillar of black sword light pierced the clouds.
His blocked meridians began to shake violently.
Crack!
Crack!
Crack!
One sealed sword vein after another burst open.
Spiritual energy from the surrounding valley surged into his body like a raging river.
Mo Jian's eyes widened in astonishment.
"The Nine Heavenly Sword Veins..."
"They've begun to awaken!"
Jian Chen gritted his teeth as overwhelming pain spread throughout his body.
But beneath the pain...
He smiled.
At last...
His journey back to the peak had truly begun.