Hell Emperor.

Chapter 555 Ye Jie - Guiming Sword

"The blood of Xuanwu..."

Upon learning the secret of the deepest part of the sword mark from the Supreme Elder, everyone was dumbfounded and remained speechless for a long time.

It turns out that the true purpose of the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpents Cave was to come here, which lay hidden within the blood of the Xuanwu. The precious blood of a divine beast, especially one like the Xuanwu, contained power unimaginable to ordinary immortals. If the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpents Cave were to obtain it, the consequences would be unimaginable!
After understanding the mystery, everyone looked at Li Feie with more respect. If it weren't for her intervention, which thwarted the conspiracy of the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave, and allowed him to steal the blood of Xuanwu, the continent would have been in grave danger.

The Supreme Elder sighed. The blood of Xuanwu is the greatest secret of the Northern Dark Sword Sect. To this day, only a very few elders of high status in the sect know about this. Now that the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave is coming with great force, this secret can no longer be hidden. It is best to make it public.

The fair-skinned General Jia Chen stroked his chin and said, "Since the blood of Xuanwu is hidden deep within the sword mark, why don't we take it before the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave? Whether we refine it directly or take it to a safe place, it's a viable option."

The Supreme Elder simply shook his head:
"It's useless. Haven't other disciples of the Sword Sect thought of your idea over the past few hundred years? But they all failed... Beyond the sword mark, there remains the terrifying pressure left by the Sword Immortal Bei Chen. That power can even injure Xuanwu. If an immortal can withstand this power head-on, he probably wouldn't need any Xuanwu blood at all. He himself is at the same level as Xuanwu. Those without that power can only sigh in secret outside the sword mark, unable to get even half a step closer."

Seeing the Supreme Elder directly refute him, Jia Chen felt a little embarrassed: "That only shows that in all these years, the Sword Sect has failed to cultivate a single true genius. Can a mere sword mark stump all of you? Can't you find other ways? For example, directly destroy the body of Broken Sky Peak from below?"

The Supreme Elder sighed, "If we destroy the mountain, we can indeed extract the Xuanwu blood remaining beneath the sword mark, but it will also cause the sword mark's power to be completely lost. The disciples of the Sword Sect still need to observe and comprehend the supreme sword intent contained within the sword mark in order to improve their own cultivation. If the power of the sword mark is destroyed, I'm afraid the Sword Sect will never rise again..."

General Jia Chen scoffed, "The Sword Sect is on the verge of destruction under the onslaught of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave. Even the sect leader has died at the hands of the enemy. What future do they have? The right thing to do is to quickly take the Xuanwu Blood. If the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave finishes his rest and leads the sect's experts to attack again, it will be too late for regrets."

The Supreme Elder remained silent. If he had any other choice, he would naturally not allow the sword mark to suffer any damage. However, he had no other option now. Finally, he sighed deeply.
"Alas... If the Guiming Sword were still here, I would risk my old life to reach the end of the sword mark and take the blood of Xuanwu. Without the sword left by Fairy Beichen, even I cannot get close to the core of the sword mark. Only the power of the Guiming Sword can lead a few people to resist the pressure of the sword mark and reach the core of the sword mark."

"what?"

Upon hearing this, Ye Jie was slightly taken aback.

Long before he heard of Bei Chen's name, he had been wondering whether the sword immortal Bei Chen mentioned by the Supreme Elder was the owner of the Guiming Sword. He never expected that it was indeed the same person. Moreover, judging from what the Supreme Elder said, the Guiming Sword was quite useful.

Seeing this, Ye Jie took out the Guiming Sword from the Yin-Crossing Banner, a magical artifact from his cave, and showed it to everyone: "The Guiming Sword you mentioned, is it the sword in my hand?"

The Supreme Elder's gaze fixed on the dark blue longsword, his pupils contracting: "That's... the Guiming Sword? This is impossible, how could you have this sword?"

Upon hearing this, everyone showed surprise, and their gazes involuntarily fell on Ye Jie, who had been overlooked before. Everyone's focus had always been on Fairy Fei'e, who was at the peak of the sixth level. As for Ye Jie, who did not show his abilities, he was unsurprisingly ignored by everyone. It was only now, when he took out the Guiming Sword, that everyone realized for the first time that there was such a person in the team.

Ye Jie did not hide anything and answered truthfully: "Not long ago, I was investigating the missing magic treasure of the Xuan Nu Sect with Fairy Fei E. We found the cave of the great thief Snake Eye and found this sword in Snake Eye's treasure trove."

The Supreme Elder nodded repeatedly: "The sword in your hand is none other than the Sword Sect's most treasured Guiming Sword. Several days ago, the Guiming Sword vanished without a trace. The sect's disciples have always suspected the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave was responsible. Only the notorious thief Snake Eyes could have broken through the Sword Sect's heavy defenses and stolen the Guiming Sword from the heavily guarded Zhenghe Hall. We thought that without the Guiming Sword, we could only destroy the sword mark left by Fairy Beichen. But unexpectedly, you've brought the Guiming Sword back..."

All eyes were filled with joy as they turned to Ye Jie. The return of the sect's sacred artifact gave everyone hope.

Seeing that Ye Jie had completely stolen the limelight, Jia Chen was slightly displeased. He snorted coldly and asked the Supreme Elder, "Is this the sword of Fairy Beichen? How exactly is it to be used?"

The Supreme Elder calmed his excitement and answered truthfully: "The Guiming Sword still bears traces of the Northern Dust Fairy's refining. Even if others take it, they cannot use the power of the artifact itself. Only by getting close to the sword marks will the power of the Guiming Sword be truly revealed."

After a pause, the Supreme Elder continued, "According to the sect's previous tests, the Guiming Sword can absorb the surrounding sword intent pressure on its own, allowing others to pass through smoothly. However, the range is extremely small, barely accommodating three people. If there are more people, the Guiming Sword cannot absorb the sword pressure in time, and even a sixth-level immortal would be at risk of being shattered to pieces!"

"Three people?" Jia Chen glanced at Ye Jie and said contemptuously, "Since you have taken back the Guiming Sword, return it to the Supreme Elder. The Supreme Elder, the highest-ranking Fairy Fei'e, and I will go to retrieve the Xuanwu Blood. The rest of you can stay here and wait."

Upon hearing this, before Ye Jie could say anything, Li Feie objected. The Xuanwu bloodline was clearly an extraordinary opportunity, not to mention the chance to reach the core of the sword mark and deeply comprehend its supreme sword intent. She couldn't simply hand it over. Even if she could join the team, there were other companions beside her.
"Wait a minute, when did the selection of personnel have to be according to your plan? In order to retrieve the stolen magic treasure from the great thief Snake Eyes, we risked our lives and fought fiercely with the sixth-rank snake demon guarding the gate. We didn't know how much risk we took to win. We should at least be the ones to choose the personnel."

General Jia Chen's face showed displeasure, but he still spoke with a stern expression:

"I made this choice for everyone's sake. Venturing deep into the sword scar is no small matter, not to mention the danger of obtaining the Xuanwu's blood. If we are not careful, the consequences could be unimaginable. If we don't send the person with the highest cultivation level, are we going to send the person with the lowest cultivation level? Is this how the successors of the Xuan Nu act, only sending those with low cultivation levels to take risks while they reap the benefits?"

"you!"

Seeing that it would damage the reputation of her sect, Li Feie immediately became furious. A thunderclap exploded in the sky, and the power contained in the thunder alone made the people nearby tremble with fear.

General Jia Chen's expression changed slightly. After all, Li Fei'e had repelled the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave, and was able to win despite being above her level. Her strength was comparable to that of a seventh-rank cultivator. Offending her would bring no benefit whatsoever. So he changed his tune and said:
"In that case, who is the candidate for Fairy Fei'e? Why don't you tell us so we can all hear it?"

Li Feie took a deep breath. Although the Guiming Sword could resist the supreme pressure from the sword marks, its effectiveness was limited, and it could only carry three people.
“During the previous battle, my master activated the power within the sword mark in an emergency. It seems her cultivation technique must be related to Fairy Beichen. Perhaps entering the depths of the sword mark will help in obtaining the Xuanwu blood; she is undoubtedly the most suitable candidate. Furthermore, the Palace Master Ziwei risked immense danger to reclaim the Guiming Sword, and given his acquaintance with the Xuanwu's daughter, he should also be included in the task of venturing deep into the sword mark.” After a pause, Li Feie added, “As for the final selection, let's leave it to the Supreme Elder. He is likely very familiar with the situation within the sword mark, and with his guidance, there shouldn't be any unexpected problems.”

Upon hearing Li Feie's choice of person, General Jia Chen's expression turned cold.

General Jia Chen had heard much about the sword marks left by the Northern Darkness Sword Sect. As long as one could enter the core of the sword marks with the help of the Guiming Sword, one could gain unimaginable insights into the sword path. Furthermore, the blood of the Xuanwu remained deep within. Even for an immortal like him who had already reached the peak of the sixth level, refining even a wisp of it would be extremely beneficial. He absolutely could not miss this opportunity and had to seize it.

To his surprise, Li Feie's selection directly excluded him. How could he accept this? His gaze fell on Ye Jie, whom Li Feie was pointing at, and he coldly snorted:
“I do not object to Fairy Fei’e giving her spot to Master. Even in the Sword Sect, those who can arouse the power of sword marks are extremely rare. But to ask me to give my spot to that Ziwei Palace Master who came from who-knows-where? I’m sorry, I cannot do that.”

Jia Chen scrutinized Ye Jie carefully, and couldn't help but sneer:
"His cultivation level is only at the mid-stage of the fourth level. In the outside world, the mid-stage of the fourth level might be considered someone important, but in the eyes of us sixth-level immortals, he is nothing more than an ant that can be crushed with a flick of the wrist! To put it bluntly, he is nothing but a piece of trash. If he goes to the depths of the sword scar, he probably won't even know how he died. What qualifications does he have to replace my spot?"

Seeing Jia Chen slander Ye Jie like this, Li Fei'e was furious and couldn't help but stomp her foot. However, Ye Jie remained calm and composed, showing no impatience despite Jia Chen's disdain. Only when Li Fei'e looked at him did he speak:
“You may have misunderstood something. I never said I would return the Guiming Sword to you. Snake Eyes stole this sword, and now it is in my hands. It is mine now. If you want this sword, you will have to buy it back yourselves.”

"what?"

Upon hearing this, not only Jia Chen, but even the Supreme Elder was stunned. The Guiming Sword originally belonged to the Sword Sect. When Ye Jie brought it back, everyone thought that the divine artifact had been returned to its rightful owner. Little did they know that he had no such intention at all.

"Outrageous! How can you take what belongs to others and claim it as your own?" Jia Chen glared at Ye Jie, his aura as a peak sixth-level cultivator pressing down, attempting to intimidate him with the crushing power of his cultivation level.

However, Ye Jie remained unmoved. Having witnessed the oppressive aura of the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave, he considered the Divine General Jia Chen to be nothing more than that.

"Snake Eyes stole your Guiming Sword. You should go to Snake Eyes to get it back. This sword is an unclaimed item that I and the successor of Xuan Nu risked our lives to find. Even if I were to hand it over, I'm afraid the successor of Xuan Nu, who put in so much effort, wouldn't agree. Or are you planning to forcibly take it? If word gets out, I wonder what other immortals will think of the Beiming Sword Sect?" Ye Jie replied slowly.

Upon hearing this, the Supreme Elder's expression also darkened, and his sword aura, which he no longer concealed, pressed down on Ye Jie.

Under the pressure of two sixth-level immortals, anyone else would probably have been so frightened that their legs would have gone weak and they wouldn't even have the slightest thought of resistance. But Ye Jie remained calm and composed, as if he was not experiencing any pressure, but rather a gentle breeze.

"Ok?"

Seeing that Ye Jie remained unmoved, the Supreme Elder, after testing him, also vaguely sensed that something was wrong. Ordinary fourth-level immortals could not withstand his sword pressure, but Ye Jie did not change at all. Not only that, even the successor of the Mysterious Maiden did not refute his previous words.

All these unusual signs conveyed a message to the Supreme Elder: Ye Jie was not what he appeared to be, and that he must be hiding some kind of trickery behind the scenes.

With years of experience, the Supreme Elder immediately identified the problem. He gradually subdued his aura. If the Returning to the Netherworld Sword could be retrieved, it would truly be thanks to the successor of the Mysterious Maiden. Anyone who dared to forcibly seize the Mysterious Maiden Sect's possessions would face endless troubles in the future, even if they survived this calamity.

On the contrary, General Jia Chen was furious. Given his status as a general, he couldn't simply seize it by force, especially since doing so might offend the other disciples of the Mystic Maiden. He could only say:
"If you refuse to hand over the Guiming Sword and delay the time, and the Lord of the Ten Thousand Serpent Cave returns with his other powerful members to seize the Xuanwu Blood, causing widespread suffering on the continent, what will be your punishment?"

Ye Jie merely glanced at him: "You're wrong. You're the one who's in the way. If you hadn't been causing trouble, we probably would have already taken the Xuanwu blood. What is your punishment?"

General Jia Chen was so angry he laughed: "I'm in the way? I'd like to see what tricks you have up your sleeve. If you're so capable, let's fight right now!"

Seeing the tense atmosphere, the Supreme Elder slowly spoke up: "There's no need for a fight. They found the Guiming Sword, so let them try it out. I'll just wait here."

Hearing the Supreme Elder's words, General Jia Chen took a deep breath, his eyes filled with hatred as he looked at Ye Jie.

"Since the Supreme Elder has said so... fine! However, if you have accomplished nothing and have only wasted time, you will have to apologize to everyone in the Sword Sect after you come out, and you will also have to kowtow to me to admit your mistakes!"

Ye Jie raised an eyebrow: "What if we successfully obtain the blood of Xuanwu?"

“That’s impossible!” Jia Chen said firmly.

"What if?" Ye Jie pressed.
"How are you doing?"

"If we succeed, you will take out the Six Harmonies Mirror from your person as an apology for being blind," Ye Jie said slowly.

(End of this chapter)