Free Web NovelChapter 686: Chapter 686: First Entry into Imperial Capital
The Imperial Capital, originally named Sword Capital, was once the primary city of the Myriad Swords Sect. Ever since the Heavenly Sword Dynasty obliterated the sect and seized Sword Province and the city itself, it was renamed the Imperial Capital.
Over the past three thousand years, the Heavenly Sword Dynasty had expanded the Imperial Capital five times. The current city was significantly larger than the former Sword Capital and now featured a magnificent, golden imperial palace.
As the capital of the Heavenly Sword Dynasty, the Imperial Capital was the foremost city among the nine great Daozhous. Its population numbered a full thirty million, and every last one of them was a martial artist; there were no ordinary people here.
The Imperial Capital had no walls, for they were unnecessary. If an enemy were capable of reaching the capital, a mere wall would offer no defense.
Without walls, the Imperial Capital appeared even more vast. It was divided into distinct districts: the imperial palace, the Inner City, and the outer city. The palace was a forbidden zone. The Inner City was home to nobles and high-ranking officials, while the outer city served as the living area for ordinary martial artists.
With the impending Sword Path Conference, even the outer city was now overcrowded. Powerful young sword cultivators were a common sight, and the entire capital buzzed with an extraordinary liveliness.
WHOOSH!
A Golden Chariot materialized out of the distance, swiftly approaching the Imperial Capital before coming to a stop just outside. The Golden Chariot, which could travel unobstructed almost anywhere else, had to halt here. Its passengers would have to proceed into the city on foot.
This was a rule of the Imperial Capital: with the sole exception of the Flying Immortal Great Emperor, no one was permitted to fly at will or traverse the city recklessly. Violators would face severe punishment.
"Sword Capital... I’ve finally returned!"
Gazing upon the city before him, Li Mingliang was overwhelmed with emotion, and old tears streamed down his face.
He was a descendant of the Myriad Swords Sect, shouldering the heavy burden of its legacy. The history of his sect, both its glorious triumphs and its dark tragedies, had been etched into his heart since childhood; he dared not forget a single detail. He had lived in the capital for a time as a child, brought there by his father. The words his father had spoken most often were "Sword Capital."
He had returned now, and while it was not in the most resplendent manner, it was not in the most wretched state either.
"Father, Mother, revered ancestors of the Myriad Swords Sect... the Myriad Swords Sect has not perished! Qingyue and I will ensure its legacy continues!"
Li Mingliang choked with emotion. Standing beside him, Li Qingyue understood her grandfather’s feelings and gently took his hand to offer warm comfort.
While Li Mingliang and Li Qingyue were lost in nostalgia, Su Han had opened his Nine Heavens Eye and was observing the enormous city.
Before his eyes, an extremely complex and arcane Emperor Formation, spanning thousands of acres, slowly revealed itself.
This was the capital of the Heavenly Sword Dynasty. Though it lacked walls, it still had a City Protection Formation. This was no mere Holy Formation, but a far more powerful Emperor Formation.
With his current Formation Mastery, Su Han was unable to see through the entirety of the Emperor Formation, let alone attempt to decipher or control it with the Glyph Secret. The disparity in power was simply too great.
He would only stand a chance of shaking this vast Emperor Formation if he were a mighty expert of the Saint Realm and if his Glyph Secret had been elevated from the Entry Level to a minor level of proficiency.
This must be the result of two Emperor Formations stacked atop each other. One is filled with an ancient aura, likely the original Emperor Formation established by the Myriad Swords Sect, while the other bears a familiar Sword Intent of Ages, presumably added later by the Severing Sky Great Emperor.
Although he was unable to discern the full scope of this Emperor Formation, Su Han was, after all, an Array Master who possessed the memories of the white-haired man and the Glyph Secret, one of the Nine Secrets. He could naturally perceive things others could not.
The stacking of two Emperor Formations made this City Protection Formation even more formidable; its grade had likely reached that of a Superior Grade Emperor Formation.
Although I can’t unravel this formation, I can interfere with a small part of it.
Su Han’s gaze was intense as he stared at the Dual Emperor Formation, the Glyph Secret already beginning to circulate within him.
If the Dual Emperor Formation was a thick, massive dam, Su Han was a tiny termite, completely incapable of making it tremble.
Yet, as the saying goes, a mighty dam can be brought down by an ant’s nest. Su Han was not completely powerless. He could decipher certain formation patterns. Though they constituted a mere drop in the ocean compared to the whole Dual Emperor Formation, they could still provide him with special advantages.
"Let’s go. We’re entering the city," Su Han said.
He stowed away the Golden Chariot and strode forward. Li Mingliang wiped his tears, composed himself, and followed behind Su Han with Li Qingyue, stepping into the Imperial Capital that held such special significance for them.
"Look, isn’t that the Nineteenth Prince?"
"It is! The Nineteenth Prince has finally arrived. I was starting to think he’d miss the Sword Path Conference."
"Shh, keep your voice down! You know what the Nineteenth Prince is like. If he hears us talking about him, we’ll definitely be in for it."
Su Han wore a Golden Crown and a Python Robe. Though he lacked a grand entourage, he was still quite conspicuous, and it wasn’t long before numerous onlookers began to whisper amongst themselves.
The Sword Path Conference was set to officially begin the next day. Had Su Han arrived any later, he would have truly missed the grand event.
Indifferent to the stares and murmurs, Su Han led Li Mingliang and Li Qingyue toward the imperial palace. As a prince, he possessed his own residence and therefore naturally had the right to enter.
"So many experts! I’ve already seen several at the Heavenly King Realm, and none of them look old at all!"
Having calmed himself, Li Mingliang surveyed his surroundings, his eyes widening in shock. This was merely the outer city, yet sword cultivator prodigies were everywhere, each one young yet powerful. Talents that were a rare sight on any other day were a dime a dozen here.
"Your Highness, I just overheard that the Demon Swordsman, Sword Lunatic, and Sword Maniac are also attending this year’s Sword Path Conference. You must be careful!"
Li Mingliang had not forgotten his role. Keeping his ears open, he had quickly gathered several hot topics for Su Han. Among them, the Demon Swordsman, Sword Lunatic, and Sword Maniac drew the most attention. Li Mingliang was well aware of these three individuals’ reputations and quickly relayed what he knew, warning Su Han not to be caught off guard.
Upon hearing Li Mingliang’s descriptions, Su Han found his interest piqued by these three figures. He couldn’t help but marvel. The Central Continent truly fosters extraordinary talent. Even powers that aren’t sword-cultivating sects can produce such formidable sword cultivators. He had never seen so many geniuses back in the Eastern Region.
Regardless of his opponents, Su Han was confident he could defeat them. First place is mine for the taking!
"Heh, so what if you’re a prince? Take a look in the mirror! You think you can hit on me? You’re delusional!"
Just as Su Han’s group stepped into the Inner City, a feisty voice suddenly rang out. Up ahead, a crowd had gathered around some sort of commotion.
"Hmm?"
Su Han’s expression shifted. It wasn’t because of the brash voice, but because he had spotted someone in the crowd—a person he had never met, yet one with whom he shared a deep-seated enmity.
The Third Prince!
