Chapter 129: The Violet-Gold Years Condense into the Dao Fruit of the Emperor; Eight Thousand Li to the Great Capital

Dali Kingdom.
Star-Gazing Tower.

High above the tower, a gentle breeze stirred. This was an unimaginably massive pavilion. The terrace atop it was like a sprawling plaza paved with white jade bricks, its edges guarded by white jade railings carved with the figures of strange beasts and mythical creatures.

In the very center of this plaza stood a small dais, upon which rose an ancient bronze tree, tens of meters tall.

At this very moment, the sound of wheels rolling softly over stone bricks echoed through the empty terrace.

Two figures walked slowly across the plaza. One sat in a worn, simple wooden wheelchair; the other, with white hair and a white plum-blossom aesthetic, was dressed in plain robes, a pear-wood sword case strapped to his back.

The Sword Pool Palace was located in the Shu region, and the Dali Kingdom sat right beside it, connected to the same lands. The two were separated by a very short distance, making it incredibly convenient for powerful cultivators who could travel a thousand miles a day to pay a visit.

Zhao Huangting had set off from the Sword Pool Palace on his flying sword, arriving at the Star-Gazing Tower of Dali in less than half a day to meet the legendary State Preceptor who single-handedly kept the Dali Kingdom from collapsing.

The State Preceptor sat in his wheelchair, dressed in Confucian robes, his long beard flowing. His face was thin and refined, yet his eyes seemed to contain an endless expanse of starlight.

"Speak, Zhao Huangting. One does not visit a temple without a reason. As a member of the Great Zhao imperial family, you have come in person to the Dali Kingdom and spent three days chatting about heaven and earth. What is it that you truly want?"

The State Preceptor asked with a helpless smile, though his helplessness carried a touch of nostalgia.

His relationship with Zhao Huangting could be traced back to their youth, when they were both young men traveling the mountains and rivers, stepping into the world of martial arts. He, Zhao Huangting, and Su Muzhe had forged their friendship in those days.

Regrettably, after the State Preceptor had his legs crippled by a Yama of the Underworld Prefecture and returned to Dali, he had lost contact with Zhao Huangting. Zhao Huangting, meanwhile, had spent five hundred years drifting through the rise and fall of the Great Zhao’s southern migration.

This reunion was their first in ages, and it was Zhao Huangting who had come seeking him.

"Lu Yishan, so many years have passed, and your tongue is still as sharp as ever. Do I, Zhao Huangting, look like a man with such ulterior motives?" Zhao Huangting rolled his eyes.

Lu Yishan, the State Preceptor of Dali, stroked his beard and laughed.

"You look exactly like one."

Zhao Huangting chuckled, unbothered. "Then I will be blunt."

"Go ahead, I am listening," Lu Yishan said softly, his tone gentle.

He knew that this old friend had ignited the Fires of Nirvana and was now nearing the end of his life. Whatever he asked for, Lu Yishan would likely grant it—a final fulfillment of the bond they shared from their youthful days of wandering the world with high spirits.

"I know you have always wanted revenge on the Underworld Prefecture, which is why you supported the Dali Kingdom. However, the old Emperor of Dali is dead, and the new one is deeply wary of you. Dali has been peaceful for many years under your governance; peace for too long makes people forget the dangers lurking. You must have felt it these past few years. Do you still think you have any hope of taking revenge on the Underworld Prefecture?" Zhao Huangting asked, gazing at the sea of stars in the night sky.

Lu Yishan also looked up at the firmament. The stars seemed to bloom with brilliance in his eyes, each one clearly visible.

"Even if there is no hope, one must create it. The Dali Kingdom can still hold on for now... very soon..." Lu Yishan whispered.

However, Zhao Huangting interrupted him. "Do not deceive yourself. The Dali Kingdom is barely holding its own. Ever since you ambushed and wiped out the Snow Wolf Iron Cavalry of the Yuan-Mongol Empire that was invading Dali, the Yuan-Mongol Emperor will inevitably move to crush your kingdom sooner or later."

"And you know the internal situation of Dali well. The deeper your control over the kingdom, the less the imperial family will open their hearts to you. Not everyone is like the old Dali Emperor, who trusted you without limit."

Lu Yishan fell silent.

"So?" Lu Yishan looked at Zhao Huangting, sensing the hidden meaning in his words.

"You once said that everyone has a destiny star, and by peering into it, one can see many things, including the responsibility a person is born to fulfill in this world."

"Then I ask you to peer into the destiny star of my young friend, An Le." Zhao Huangting smiled. "Just take one look, and you will understand what I mean."

Lu Yishan raised an eyebrow, lifted his hands, and formed a seal. The entire Star-Gazing Plaza instantly brimmed with starlight.

However, before Lu Yishan could glimpse the destiny star, he felt a sword light roar up from the ground, crashing into the starry sky and causing every single star to shake violently.

At that moment, Lu Yishan’s pupils contracted sharply.

Because, as that sword light collided with the sky, all the stars above shifted slightly. The migration of destiny stars meant that everyone’s fate had fundamentally changed!

A single sword light could cause such a change?

Zhao Huangting, seeing this sword light, felt a familiar aura within it.

"Qingshan... this boy actually did it." Zhao Huangting was filled with emotion. Having worn the Qingshan sword for five hundred years, he was naturally very familiar with the aura of the Qingshan blade.

The Qingshan aura within that light was vastly different—domineering, towering, and possessing an enduring, proud spirit. Yet, he could still catch the familiar scent.

"Qingshan unsheathed, so sharp, the sword light piercing the heavens... enough to cause the rivers of stars to shift and disrupt the constellations."

"I am becoming increasingly curious about the secrets hidden within Qingshan." Zhao Huangting smiled.

He looked at the State Preceptor. "Lu Yishan, think carefully about what I have told you."

"The Yuan-Mongol Emperor sits upon the dragon veins of the Central Plains, gathering supreme national fortune. The Dali Kingdom cannot resist for long... this world needs a spark, and An Le, the one who unleashed this sword light, is that spark—a spark that will eventually ignite the plains."

Zhao Huangting’s voice was low. As he finished speaking, the *She Niu Dou* (Pierce the Constellation) sword in the case on his back suddenly shot out, transforming into a brilliant silver radiance. It enveloped Zhao Huangting, instantly streaking toward the direction of the Sword Pool Palace.

On the Star-Gazing Tower, silence returned. Only Lu Yishan remained, gazing up at the night sky, watching the shifting constellations, mesmerized.

...

Lin'an Prefecture.
Inside the Imperial City of the Great Zhao Dynasty.

The night was deep and quiet, with flickering lamps. The Emperor of the Zhao family sat in the imperial study, reviewing memorials. These documents were filled with odes to prosperity submitted by officials from all the provinces and prefectures of the Great Zhao.

The Great Zhao had migrated south for five hundred years, and its prosperity was evident for all to see. Even though he knew this prosperity was built upon the blood and sweat of the common people, the Emperor did not care. All he needed to see was the prosperity of the Zhao house.

Eunuch Tong stood quietly to the side, holding a lamp to provide light for the desk.

Suddenly, as the Emperor read a particularly laudatory memorial, the corner of his mouth stiffened. He jerked his head up and looked toward the distant night sky.

It seemed as though a streak of sword light had made the entire night sky bright for a split second.

"Tong Guan, did you feel it? That sword light..."

The Emperor stood up, walked to the window step by step, and remained silent for a long time.

Eunuch Tong had naturally caught a fleeting glimpse of the sword light. But because it was too far away, he had felt no terrifying pressure, and thus he dismissed it in his heart. "Your Majesty, perhaps it was just some peerless sword cultivator unleashing their full power?"

The Emperor was very dissatisfied with this answer. The memorial he held, praising the kingdom's prosperity, instantly crumbled into dust.

"That sword light... it has the aura of an emperor. And... the moment it appeared, I felt a strange palpitations, as if the very national fortune of the Great Zhao had been shaken."

The Emperor took a deep breath.

Eunuch Tong was stunned, his heart filled with disbelief. "Whose sword light could shake the fortune of a nation? Could it be that old Sword Saint from the Sword Pool Palace? But even for a tenth-tier cultivator, unless they are like the Yuan-Mongol Emperor who inherited the throne of a nation, how could they influence national fortune?"

The Emperor's face was extremely grim. An image appeared in his mind: the young man in white who had stood on the white jade plaza, severed his palm with a single sword, and ruined his plans.

"Impossible..." The Emperor shook his head.

Although An Le had broken through, he was only at the fifth tier, not even a true grand cultivator. How could he threaten him?

"I, Zhao Tianyan, am the Son of Heaven... the Emperor of the Zhao family!"

"The national fortune of Great Zhao is still very stable. As long as I do not die, no one can shake it!"

The Emperor took a deep breath. He looked at Eunuch Tong. "Send a message to the Heavenly Master's Mansion. Don't they want to become the state religion of the Great Zhao?"

"I... agree."

Eunuch Tong was even more shocked, knowing exactly what this meant.

"Your Majesty... are you certain? Sharing national fortune with a major sect carries immense risks."

The Emperor shook his head. "Tell the Heavenly Master's Mansion to exchange it for a five-hundred-year-old Purple Gold Lotus."

"Also, Tong Guan, set out immediately. I want you to bring me An Le's head with your own hands."

The Emperor continued to stare at the quiet night sky, as if he could still see that brilliant, dazzling star.

"If necessary, you may join forces with the Underworld Prefecture of Western Liang..."

"I only want this boy's life."

Eunuch Tong bowed sincerely. "As you command."

...

North of the Canglang River.
Yuan-Mongol Dadu.

Deep within the majestic city, a burly figure stood silently, eyes closed. Suddenly, one could see that around him, one dragon vein after another seemed to be captured, struggling but unable to break free.

Suddenly, a sword light shot into the sky.

The burly figure slowly opened his eyes.

"That sword, then?" he murmured.

He closed his eyes again.

"It has been ten thousand years since it fell... even with such unwillingness, nothing can be changed. The world always replaces the old with the new. Those who sleep shall sleep forever."

His calm words carried absolute confidence. He seemed to know what this sword light contained and what it represented.

...

Western Liang Kingdom.

The air was thick with the scent of blood; on the earth, blood seemed to flow like a river. It was like a demonic hell.

A child-like figure sat atop a massive monument built of human skulls. Opening his eyes to look at the sword light, the child’s tongue flicked out from his lips, becoming incredibly long.

"Brilliant as the sun, an enduring, proud spirit... what a domineering sword light..."

"The one who wields this light is a great tonic. If I turn him into my corpse puppet and gain this fortune, even the Yuan-Mongol Emperor would be no match for me. When that time comes, the blood pools of hell will surely wash over every inch of the human world. Death has no order, but the Underworld Prefecture is order."

...

Kunpeng Mountain.

Within the endless expanse of mountains, a pair of vast and ancient eyes slowly opened, observing the sword light that pierced the clouds, scattered the stars, and shifted the constellations.

After a long while, a low and mournful voice erupted through the mountain range, causing countless great demons to tremble.

"Wind! A great wind!"

...

The sword light in the night shocked the entire world.

At this moment, many powerhouses sensed it, just as they had when the last sword aura left behind by the Saint Master was taken. The commotion this time was no less intense.

However, this time it was not caused by the Saint Master.

The Zhenwu Temple, the Heavenly Master's Mansion, the Lanke Temple, the Ganye Temple, and other top martial arts factions were all shaken. Each had its own reaction, but most only felt it was extraordinary, unaware of the true meaning behind the sword light.

Sword Pool Palace.

By the side of the Sword Pool Lake, a great wind rose.

When An Le walked onto the shore step by step, the water of the Sword Pool Lake, which had been suspended in the air behind him, crashed down with a thunderous roar. It sounded as if thousands of sword auras had slammed into the earth at once, like ten thousand thunderbolts striking the world.

The sheer momentum caused countless disciples of the Sword Pool Palace to have their hearts pounding. They, who were already quite respectful toward An Le, felt an endless sense of worship.

Su Muzhe, Wang Yansheng, and Wan Jieliu looked on with bright eyes. Watching An Le emerge from the bottom of the lake, they could feel the extraordinary change in him.

The change in his temperament was the most obvious; it was as if every strand of his hair and every pore had turned into a sharp sword edge. His whole being was now razor-sharp.

He carried a momentum that made people feel both awe and a desire to submit.

An Le, however, did not notice their gazes.

Before him, the light screen prompt appeared.

Thin, azure-blue characters slowly emerged.

【Obtained Era Dao Fruit: Emperor】
【Note: Emperor: The momentum of a human emperor, unwilling to be a mere Son of Heaven. With hidden help, destined to slay immortals.】
【Note: Bringing the four seas into unity, unifying the world, will allow the Dao Fruit to undergo self-transformation.】
【Note: All Dao Fruits can be amplified.】

A wisp of flowing-gold era qi could condense into an Era Dao Fruit.

This time, what he had obtained from the Emperor Stone Statue was a wisp of purple-gold era qi, which had also condensed into a Dao Fruit.

But this Dao Fruit made An Le’s scalp tingle.

Its effects were something An Le had never seen before; it felt like a legacy, and even more like a trial.

"The first point is understandable. Based on the Battle of Heaven, I know that an Emperor is not a Son of Heaven. Being unwilling to be a Son of Heaven means fighting the immortals to the end... The [Emperor] Dao Fruit might provide an extra boost when facing immortals."

"But this is unclear for now. After all, in this world... it is not easy to encounter immortals."

"The second point, unifying the world... allows for self-transformation. Does this refer to the Central Plains? What could an Emperor Dao Fruit transform into?"

"The last point... all Dao Fruits get an increase? Is this passive... so generous?"

An Le’s heart was shaken. He didn't know about the first two yet, but the third point was enough to confirm the value of the [Emperor] Dao Fruit. All Dao Fruits being amplified meant a comprehensive boost.

[Ancient Prodigy] and [God-Connecting Sword Body] were already very strong; with an increase, the effects would be even greater.

The help to his strength would certainly be enormous!

An Le’s lips curled into a smile, and he felt much lighter.

Besides the effect of the Dao Fruit, An Le had another major gain: he learned that era qi was also graded.

Gray era qi, flowing-gold era qi, and finally, a higher grade: purple-gold era qi!

He could imagine that purple-gold era qi would be very difficult to find and obtain.

Getting it from the Emperor Stone Statue so easily was likely because he had passed the Qingshan test and cleared away the fog, allowing him to easily pluck the purple-gold era qi.

To obtain more, he might have to find an existence on the same level as the Emperor Stone Statue.

An Le thought for a moment. In the world today, who could be on the same level as that statue...

Perhaps only the Saint Master?

An Le suddenly felt a strong urge to talk to the Saint Master—not for any other reason, but because he simply wanted to be around powerful people.

An Le withdrew his thoughts. Suddenly, a brilliant silver sword light poured down. Zhao Huangting, his plain robes flying, arrived on his flying sword. His eyes were bright, and he had returned from the Dali Kingdom, wind-blown and dusty, landing before An Le.

"Young friend An... did you succeed?"

The lakeside was quiet, save for Zhao Huangting’s soft inquiry.

An Le looked at the old man who had gifted him Qingshan, and smiled gently. "I did not fail your trust."

"Cleared away eleven drops of immortal blood, allowing the dusty sharpness to reappear in the world."

Zhao Huangting did not doubt An Le’s words for a moment and burst into loud laughter.

He looked An Le up and down, naturally noticing the change in his bearing.

The [Emperor] Dao Fruit would invisibly attract people to help. An Emperor was never made by one person alone; when everyone supports you, you become an Emperor.

If Li You'an were here now, his eyes would surely be bright, whispering that the spark had been lit.

Zhao Huangting was filled with emotion. He knew An Le must have seen something in Qingshan to cause such a change in his bearing.

"Let me take a look at Qingshan," Zhao Huangting asked.

An Le did not refuse and handed Qingshan—which seemed to have changed, yet also seemed the same—to Zhao Huangting.

Zhao Huangting’s aged hands grasped Qingshan. It was as if he were grasping his own five hundred lost years.

Perhaps due to five hundred years of companionship, Qingshan felt a sense of familiarity and attachment to Zhao Huangting. His mind intertwined with it, and he seemed to see the remaining images within the blade.

He saw An Le facing the giant sword of an immortal, his proud spirit unyielding, refusing to bow his head or bend his waist.

He used three sword auras of the first-tier peak to support the giant sword, finally using his heart-sword to tear through the fog and behold the immortal.

Even seeing the immortal, he had no fear, drawing upon sword energy from the future to slay the immortal.

He had wiped the first drop of immortal blood from Qingshan.

Then, Zhao Huangting saw more. He saw the stone statue that had been silent for ten thousand years, and he saw An Le carrying the stone statue up the stone steps of Qingshan.

The stone statue wielded Qingshan.

One step, one immortal slain!

His heroic spirit filled the heavens and the earth!

This was true heroism!

Zhao Huangting’s entire body was trembling, the emotion in his eyes growing deeper.

So, Qingshan was related to this Emperor. That peerless figure, who brought the four seas into unity and whose achievements covered the world, was the secret hidden within Qingshan!

At this moment, Zhao Huangting felt a sense of release.

He suddenly understood why he had never been able to unsheathe Qingshan.

It was because he was not the right person; he was not the one awaited by the figure who had been sealed for ten millennia and left such a heavy mark on the river of time.

But after this realization, Zhao Huangting felt no loss.

Instead, because he had witnessed that heroism of slaying an immortal with a single step, the heroic spirit that had been dormant in his heart surged once more!

He looked at An Le with burning eyes.

His surging sword aura rose, and faintly, the Fires of Nirvana seemed to be burning fiercely!

But Zhao Huangting did not care about that anymore.

"Today, I finally know what true heroism is!"

"The more I see this, the more ashamed I feel when I look back at the current Great Zhao. I feel I am not even qualified to have unsheathed Qingshan..."

"However, having seen Qingshan unsheathed today... I have no more regrets!"

"I must go and pursue a true heroic spirit!"

"To seek a mind that is clear and unobstructed!"

"To seek a moment of great satisfaction!"

"Young friend An, it is eight thousand miles to the Yuan-Mongol Dadu. Would you be willing to let me take you to see the magnificent mountains and rivers of the Central Plains?"