The moment Ethan placed his palm on the tomb's stone gate, a thousand silver runes lit up across the entrance.
Three sect insignias glowed in response:
A sword piercing a moon the mark of the Sword Sect.
A lightning-wreathed tower the Thunder and Lightning Sect.
And a blooming medicinal flower the Divine Medicinal Valley.
As the ancient Qi barriers cracked open, the heat shifted the desert wind silenced. Even the Mountain Sect disciples retreated, unwilling to disturb what they called the cursed ruin of blades.
Inside, the air was heavy with spiritual density. Vane's breath hitched.
This place is saturated with suppressed energy. Pills, weapons, even formations if we're not careful, we'll trigger them all.
They stepped into the darkness.
Torches lit themselves in response to Ethan's presence, revealing carvings of sword-wielding saints and lightning-wrapped beasts. Vane murmured a sealing incantation. Elena adjusted the spirit-tracking compass in her hand. It pointed forward and slightly down.
Ethan walked with controlled steps.
Then it began.
The first chamber came alive with a blinding flash seven spectral swords shot out of the wall and orbited them, humming with intent.
They're alive,
Elena hissed.
Sword intent very old.
Ethan drew a needle,
but Vane stopped him.
Let him try. This is a test.
The scroll in Ethan's pouch pulsed.
His palm glowed faintly, and a spiral of flame wove around his wrist just like it had in his first breakthrough. He raised his hand and bowed, as though to a master.
The swords trembled then retreated.
They moved deeper.
In the second hall, a spiraling pool lay at the center, glowing with a strange golden-blue light.
Vane gasped,
That's not just a formation.
That's a spiritual and medicinal pool fusion.
Ethan dipped his fingers in
His Qi trembled strengthened.
This pool can be used to brew pills like Truth Pill, Divine Pill, and even the Samsara Pill, Vane whispered.
If the legends are true, the Sword Fairy used this pool to craft pills during the ancient war.
Suddenly, a presence stirred.
A feminine voice echoed through the air.
Who dares enter the resting place of the Blade of Tribulation?
A figure rose from the center of the pool transparent, glowing silver. She was clad in white armor that flowed like water, long hair drifting as if underwater, eyes closed.
Then she opened them.
Her gaze locked with Ethan's.
You have the Flame Vein.
You possess the resonance of Dragon Qi.
You are the one."
She floated forward, and in her hand appeared a sword unlike any Ethan had seen wide, ancient, its blade etched with celestial runes.
I am Aeliria, the Sword Fairy of Heaven's Vale. This is the Dragon Slayer Sword. But it chooses only one in ten thousand years.
The sword rose.
It hovered toward Ethan.
Boom.
The tomb shook.
Outside, a golden beam shot into the sky burning with sunfire.
Elena paled,
That's a Crimson Sun Sect signal flare. They've tracked us here.
Vane drew his blade.
We'll have to fight just to leave.
Aeliria raised her hand, and the ancient door resealed behind them.
She said.
If they want the sword, they must face me.
She turned to Ethan.
And you.