Chapter 48

Chapter 47

The shocking Zogada Shanghui Grand Sect War, which plunged the Jianghu into a great turmoil.

The mighty Sima Clan, upon lifting their seclusion and stepping out, was truly extinguished by a single word from the Sword Saint, Xiao Jianxin.

The news of the intense duel between the top swordsman of the world, Zha Jiancheng, and Xiao Jianxin sent shivers down the spines of all the swordsmen in the Jianghu.

Despite declaring their power, the news of the astonishing alliance between the Zogada Shanghui, disguised as a merchant guild, and the Wulin Alliance spread rapidly across the land.

Most shockingly to the people of the Jianghu was the advanced technology of the Zogada Shanghui.

When they directly experienced the advanced technology of the Zogada Shanghui, which they had only heard about vaguely, it was truly a feast of innovations that could astonish the world.

As a result, numerous sects and merchant guilds in the Jianghu rushed to the Zogada Shanghui.

Thus, the Zogada Shanghui's famous Yunche series, Hanbing Wine, and Heiqingshui were all sold out for the next three years' production.

Without a revolutionary solution to increase supply, there would be no more products available in the market.

In such a desperate situation, countless merchants had no choice but to return with dejected faces.

However, the Zogada Shanghui Grand Sect War did not leave the people of the Jianghu with only disappointment.

The Sword Tomb!

The traces of the divine left by the Sword Saint of the Zogada Shanghui, announced to the world!

It was the revelation of the sacred site of the Sword Saint, hailed as the foremost of the Three Gods, to the entire world, and it also declared that any swordsman of the righteous path could freely enter the Sword Tomb.

Initially, people were skeptical, but with the certification of the Wulin Alliance, all swordsmen, regardless of who they were, cheered.

After three months, when the festive atmosphere reached its peak, the Zogada Shanghui finally announced the opening of the Sword Tomb to the entire world.

* * *

Shaanxi Province, Gantian County.

Qiuhui Valley.

Standing at the entrance to the path leading to the Sword Tomb, a man was frozen in place, his face filled with emotion, as if he were a painting.

He was none other than Yue Ziliang, a prodigy from Shandong and the young master of the Shuanghu Jianmen.

The Shuanghu Jianmen was one of the few sects in the righteous path that practiced dual-hand martial arts, and it was well-known in the Jianghu for its unique sword techniques.

Yue Ziliang could hardly contain his racing heart.

For those who wield the sword, the Sword Saint is the greatest myth of all time.

Thinking that he would soon witness the great reality after passing through Qiuhui Valley, he was overwhelmed with intense emotion.

Such overwhelming emotion was not his alone.

The numerous swordsmen waiting in line to enter the Sword Tomb must have felt the same way.

Thus, Yue Ziliang took his place at the back of the line with an excited face.

However, the reactions of the swordsmen seemed unusual.

This was because a continuous argument was taking place at the entrance to Qiuhui Valley.

"Ah, no! Ten taels of gold? That much?"

A swordsman was so shocked that he nearly fell over, and Zhang Yilong, a burly man with a large chest, shouted roughly.

"Come on! It's the legacy of the Sword Saint! A cave where the traces of the greatest swordsman of all time remain!"

"But, even so, this is too expensive!"

Zhang Yilong glared at the cliff and said,

"Are you blind? Can you still say that after seeing this?"

His gaze was directed at a kind of elevator hanging precariously from the peak, which seemed to have no end.

Below the elevator, dozens of pulley operators (remnants of the Heitianlian) were waiting in line with pale faces.

"Have you ever seen such a thing? This is the 'elevator' designed by the Zhuge Clan's mechanical skills! How difficult do you think it is to hang such a massive mechanism on a peak that soars into the clouds? It took three months just to install it!"

As Zhang Yilong spoke, his gaze turned to the pulley operators.

"Moreover, look at those gaunt fellows. Don't they look pitiful?"

"But, even so, ten taels of gold…"

"Ah! Do you think ordinary people can pull such a heavy pulley without martial arts skills? Each of these pulley operators is a master at the peak of their art! Do you know how much it costs to hire a peak master from the wandering market?"

Amidst the chaos, another swordsman revealed his curiosity.

"Then I won't ride this elevator. I'll climb up by myself."

Zhang Yilong roared again.

"Ah! Have you reached the divine level in the Wall Climbing Technique? If you fall off the cliff, who will clean up your corpse? No way. You can't pass without paying the entrance fee."

"…"

Indeed, if ordinary people started climbing the high peak, there would be countless accidents, and Zhang Yilong couldn't test everyone's martial arts skills.

But ten taels of gold is equivalent to a hundred taels of silver, a huge sum.

For swordsmen from major sects, it might be manageable, but for ordinary swordsmen, it was a significant amount.

To exaggerate, it was enough to buy a house!

However, having come this far, they couldn't return without any gains, so some swordsmen reluctantly gave up their arguments and took out their money pouches.

Watching this scene, Yue Ziliang soon looked perplexed.

'Ten taels of gold…'

Even if he counted every last coin, he didn't have even three taels of gold, let alone ten.

And if he returned after coming all the way to Shaanxi?

If he turned back without seeing the traces of the great Sword Saint, he wouldn't be able to sleep for at least a month.

If he had known beforehand, he would have prepared!

Overwhelmed by anxiety, Yue Ziliang bit his nails and pondered, and soon his turn came.

A man of indeterminate age, with a vast chest, spoke casually.

"Ten taels of gold. If you participate, you'll be the last in this group. Once twenty people ride the elevator, you'll have to wait a long time. Decide well. If not, next!"

"Wait, wait!"

Yue Ziliang's voice was filled with urgency as he called out to Zhang Yilong.

"Hmm, you don't seem to have any gold?"

Having dealt with countless swordsmen and arguments, Zhang Yilong could now discern the presence of a customer just by their appearance.

"Um, do you accept valuable items?"

At this, Zhang Yilong's eyes suddenly sparkled.

He quickly unfolded the documents on the table and began to recite the contents.

"Let me tell you what is allowed. Precious swords, precious stones, banknotes issued by the Three Great Chambers of the Central Plains, and if you can prove that you are a disciple of one of the Nine Great Sects or Five Great Clans, or a sect of similar standing, you can pay on credit."

Hearing that credit was possible, Yue Ziliang's face immediately brightened.

"Would a disciple of the Shandong Shuanghu Jianmen be eligible?"

Zhang Yilong, who was looking at the sect hierarchy list personally compiled by Zha Hui, frowned.

"Hmm… it's a bit ambiguous…"

The Shandong Shuanghu Jianmen was a second-tier sect according to Zha Hui's list.

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Yilong seemed to make a decision and relaxed his expression.

"Alright. I'll give you half on credit. I'll take five taels of gold."

"Ah!"

If he was going to do it, why not do it fully? What was the point of just half?

Counting all his silver, he only had about two or three taels of gold.

As Yue Ziliang stood there, perplexed, Zhang Yilong pointed to the twin swords on his back.

"Those swords. They look quite impressive."

"Ah, no, sir!"

Yue Ziliang, startled, took a step back!

These twin Shuanghu Bi Jian were symbols of the successor of the Shuanghu Jianmen, treasures that could not be casually valued.

"Why are you so surprised? Just leave them here and come back with gold to retrieve them later."

"Pawn?"

"Yes. That's also possible."

Biting his lip, Yue Ziliang fell into deep thought.

But in the end, he placed the twin Shuanghu Bi Jian on the ground.

The charm of the name "Sword Saint" was that powerful.

"I'll definitely come back as soon as possible. Please take good care of them."

Zhang Yilong, holding the twin swords, smiled contentedly.

"Hehe! Good decision! May you gain the highest enlightenment in the Sword Tomb and emerge as the Twin Sword Saint!"

Twin Sword Saint!

At these words, Yue Ziliang's heart raced again.

With a flushed face, Yue Ziliang finally boarded the elevator.

The pulley operators, who had been gasping for breath, once again strained with all their might, even using the strength they had as infants.

"Pull! Pull!"

"Pull… Damn it!"

"Ah! Damn!"

The twenty customers on the elevator felt a strange sense of guilt and averted their eyes from the pulley operators.

As the rough curses of the pulley operators faded away,

The elevator finally reached the entrance of the Sword Tomb.

Rattle!

Clunk!

As the mechanism to secure the elevator engaged, the twenty swordsmen looked at the Sword Tomb with excited faces.

Seeing the characters "Sword Tomb" carved in red at the entrance of the cave, they all exclaimed.

"Ah…!"

"Great Sword Saint…!"

Some shed hot tears of emotion, some knelt and bowed deeply, and some even muttered incoherently!

As they displayed a myriad of human reactions, the group that had entered earlier stumbled out.

Their appearance was peculiar, and Yue Ziliang tilted his head in confusion.

"Hmm?"

In their hands were various items hanging from their arms.

Luxurious swords, jewelry, paintings, trinkets, and other items that could be bought at a market or fair.

More peculiarly, they all wore strange leather outfits.

However, their faces, which should have been filled with awe and admiration, exuded a sense of despair and emptiness.

At that moment, a tremendous sound came from near the entrance of the Sword Tomb.

- Come on in!

A powerful voice, perhaps even surpassing the roar of a lion, echoed!

As the twenty members of the group covered their ears and looked bewildered,

A man of about five feet tall, clearly wearing a wig, shouted again.

- The Sword Saint's life-size portrait, the Sword Saint's Shrine, for just four taels of silver! The Sword Saint's Sword, a replica of the sword the Sword Saint used in his lifetime, for twenty taels of silver!

Yue Ziliang and his group, who were excited and moved, all froze with bewilderment.

- Moreover, all the trinkets and jewelry the Sword Saint loved in his lifetime are here! Come and take a look!

Thus, Yue Ziliang and his group stood like statues, staring at the "Sword Saint's Goods" developed by Zha Hui.

Near the entrance of the Sword Tomb,

Zha Hui, leaning against a