Seventy-Seven: The Boundless Ancient Cave and the Four Swords of Immortal Execution

It turned out that Zuo Xiaoyaozi of the Boundless Peak and Xiaoyue were actually dual cultivation partners. When Xiaoyaozi teased her in such a manner, Xiaoyue’s cheeks flushed as she retorted, “Junior Brother Xiaoyao, you’re just asking for trouble!”

“Ahem!” Zuo Xiaoyaozi, seated above, hurriedly intervened, and only then did the two remember the presence of so many younger disciples. Such banter was hardly befitting the dignity of their seniority. Still, though the gathered disciples found it amusing, none dared let it show. They stood respectfully, eyes fixed to the ground, faces solemn.

Mutu quickly broke the awkward silence. “Thank you, Martial Aunt, for standing up for me earlier!”

Xiaoyue replied with curiosity, “No need for thanks, but how did you manage to emerge unscathed from Changqingzi’s hand? What realm have you reached? Speak clearly to your Martial Aunt.”

Mutu was momentarily at a loss, thinking to himself how he could possibly explain. Fortunately, Xiaoyaozi changed the subject. “Senior Brother, Senior Sister, for this grand event at Chaotian Peak, are you sending only Xiaozhu?”

Xiaoyue shot him a look, knowing he was intentionally steering the conversation away, but she didn’t press further. With some annoyance, she said, “Our Boundless Peak has always been looked down upon by the other lineages. If it weren’t for Nephew Mu stepping forward today, we might not even have qualified to participate!” She paused, then continued, “Apart from Xiaozhu, all other disciples are to remain here in bitter cultivation. None are to set foot outside Boundless Peak until they reach the True Essence Liquefaction stage!”

The disciples visibly wilted at Xiaoyue’s words. Xiaoyaozi interjected, “Junior Sister, aren’t you forcing ducks onto a perch? Our disciples don’t have outstanding aptitudes to begin with. Forcing them like this may not yield results, and it goes against the principle of ‘still water, effortless action’ that lies at the heart of cultivation.”

Xiaoyue protested, “We’re on the verge of being marginalized by the other lineages, yet you can still remain so calm!”

“That’s not how it should be,” Xiaoyaozi said seriously. “Have you forgotten the original purpose of Boundless Peak? Patriarch Boundless set a rule long ago: our lineage values virtue above talent. The intent was to provide ordinary disciples, whose aptitude may not be exceptional but who have a predestined connection to cultivation, with a chance to pursue the path. Personal achievement was never to be forced.”

Xiaoyue still pouted. “That was our ancestor’s compassion, but the other peaks have exploited this loophole, taking all the best talents for themselves. For centuries, aside from you and the recently arrived Chen Mu, no one of note has emerged from Boundless Peak. At this rate, in another hundred years, we may be struck from the rolls of the Great Void Sect!”

Xiaoyaozi fell silent. He knew that when the founding patriarch had established this rule, it was to give ordinary disciples a chance at cultivation, but he had not foreseen that it would leave Boundless Peak with almost no place in the sect.

“If Junior Brother Xiaoyaozi hadn’t recently broken through from Nascent Soul formation, the sect master might not even have informed us about this assembly!” Xiaoyue fumed.

Afterward, Xiaoyue sent the disciples out, leaving the three elders to confer privately in the hall.

Outside, Xiaozhu and the others gathered around Mutu, peppering him with questions about his years of cultivation, his current realm, and, for those who hadn’t witnessed his duel with Uncle Changqingzi, every detail of what transpired in the great hall. Their blood surged with excitement and only regretted not being chosen to attend themselves.

After some time, Xiaoyaozi emerged and beckoned Mutu to follow him to an ancient cave. “There’s still a month before the tournament at Chaotian Peak. Everyone at Boundless Peak hopes you can bring them honor. After discussing with my senior brother, we’re lending you the Boundless Ancestor’s seclusion cave for your closed-door cultivation. Use this time to comprehend the Supreme Purity Formula.”

He cast a glance at Mutu. “You’re new here, so you may not know the cave’s advantages. It sits atop a vital earth vein, with spiritual energy several times richer than outside.” He pointed deeper into the cave. “But beware: where the earth vein is closest, there’s sure to be fierce winds and baleful energies. Though your cultivation is advanced, you mustn’t let curiosity drive you too far. Should those yin energies invade your meridians, your progress could be forever stunted.”

Mutu nodded solemnly. “I understand.”

Xiaoyaozi nodded back. “Your realm is sufficient. This retreat should be focused on mastering the Supreme Purity Formula. Your defensive and offensive techniques are far too limited—you only know the Sword Control Art I taught you. Once you grasp the Supreme Purity Formula, study some formation techniques. One person’s strength is small, but with formations, you can draw on the world’s energies and triumph over the strong with the weak.”

After providing further instructions, Xiaoyaozi soared away on his sword. Mutu wasted no time, entering the ancient cave and settling on a dry stone platform. He began circulating his true essence, instantly sensing the cave’s extraordinary nature. Even after a single round of meditation, he could feel spiritual energy gathering around him, warm and abundant.

He then retrieved the jade bead and studied the Supreme Purity Formula. In the past, even a year or two of seclusion might not have sufficed to master it, but now, blessed with the Dragon King’s innate “Imprint Technique,” he could understand most of it at a glance. After practicing only twice, he had thoroughly internalized its contents, save for a few spells requiring a higher Nascent Soul cultivation; the rest he had fully mastered.

Only then did Mutu realize that so-called cultivation was the art of drawing the five elements and the dual forces of yin and yang—ubiquitous energies of water, fire, earth, and the like—into the body to refine oneself, then learning to control and deploy them for defense and attack.

One day, while practicing the Supreme Purity Formula and the sword control art within the Boundless Cave, Mutu suddenly felt a strange stirring, as if something deep within the cave was calling to him. Remembering Xiaoyaozi’s warning, he suppressed his curiosity and focused on cultivation. Yet the summons grew stronger with each passing day, until finally, he could resist no longer. With his guard up, he ventured deeper into the cave.

After only a few steps, crossing a stone ridge, a wave of cold swept over him. It was still bearable, but he noticed that the inner cave walls gleamed like white jade—smooth, moist, and utterly unlike the outer cave. Inside, thunderous booms echoed, rebounding along the stone walls until the noise was deafening.

Relying on his formidable cultivation, Mutu summoned “Qingming,” his flying sword, and advanced slowly under its light. After half an hour or so, he reached a junction where four passages branched off in all directions. He froze, uncertain which to take. As he hesitated, a powerful premonition surged within him, guiding him to turn left into a pitch-black tunnel.

The further he went, the louder the thunder became, until it whined and shrieked like a tempest howling over jagged rocks. Suddenly, Mutu halted—there was no path ahead. He stood at the edge of a precipice, beyond which lay a fathomless abyss. Fierce winds and baleful yin energies roared up from below like the wailing of vengeful spirits.

Steeling himself, Mutu realized this must be the very heart of the earth vein. Judging by the ferocity of those winds, flying into the chasm would surely mean being torn apart, never to return.

With no choice, Mutu turned to leave, only to catch a sudden flash of golden light from the corner of his eye. On closer inspection, there was nothing unusual, but his careful gaze finally picked out a subtle difference in the stone wall. He cautiously pressed against it, and the wall swung open to reveal a narrow entrance. Beyond lay a stone chamber.

“Could there be some treasure within?” Mutu wondered. Remembering Lu Daoxuan’s theory that he had the fortune of the Time-Space Administration behind him, he mustered his courage and stepped inside.

No sooner had he entered than he was startled—a single ancient sword hung suspended in midair. Looking around, he saw three more swords, each one different, arrayed to his front, back, left, and right. Mutu’s heart sank. “This looks bad—I must have wandered into a sword formation set by some ancient cultivator.” Now that he had studied the Supreme Purity Formula, he knew how deadly such formations could be. He quickly called out, “I don’t know which senior’s cultivation ground this is. I am Chen Mu, disciple of the Boundless Peak under the Great Void Sect. Please forgive my intrusion!”

The chamber was spacious but easily surveyed at a glance. Receiving no answer, Mutu examined the four swords more closely. Each was suspended on the wall, apparently without any formation array. Gathering his courage, he stepped forward to inspect the first sword.

It was archaic in design and seemed to radiate a peerless aura, as if it could cleave the heavens and sunder the earth. Two ancient characters were inscribed on its blade. Thanks to his background in history, Mutu recognized them at once—“Jue Xian,” Sever Immortal.

“Sever Immortal?” He was stunned by the familiar name but couldn’t immediately recall why. Moving on to the second sword, he felt an overwhelming, majestic force emanating from its blade, which bore two characters: “Zhu Xian,” Slay Immortal.

Mutu’s heart pounded. He muttered, “The Four Immortal-Slaying Swords?” Rushing to the other two, he found one inscribed with “Lu Xian,” Massacre Immortal, and the other with “Xian Xian,” Trap Immortal. Wasn’t this the legendary Four Immortal-Slaying Swords?

He stood rooted to the spot, his mind reeling. “The Four Immortal-Slaying Swords, the celestial weapons of the Supreme Master Tongtian from the legends? Heavens! Could the tales of the Investiture of the Gods be true after all?”