Remould the Glory of Sword Art

"Your Highness."

"These... are all today’s visiting posts."

On Yunxiao Mountain, Venerable Zhu Yan had both hands tucked in his sleeves, a noticeable smile on his face.

After last night’s great disturbance at Qi Blue Mountain.

The Holy Emperor’s dharma manifested in the world, stirring the entire Third Realm; quite a few Great Divine Ability Users and Great Practitioners witnessed this scene... If the open and hidden contests before this birthday banquet could only be called an undercurrent, then now that undercurrent had reached its peak.

The appearance of the Holy Emperor’s dharma reversed the situation.

Facts have proven...

All those "recruitments" by Nether Sea Venerable were utterly meaningless.

So long as the Holy Emperor is still alive.

Then the imperial throne of Great Ape Mountain will not change hands.

Early this morning, Venerable Zhu Yan delivered a great number of visiting posts; the previously cold and deserted Yunxiao Mountain suddenly had many visitors seeking to display their loyalty.

"Heh."

The Saint Prince meditated with eyes closed, letting out a cold laugh.

He wore golden armor, draped in red robe, majestic and imposing, seated beneath a peach tree on Yunxiao Mountain, his figure veiled within drifting clouds and mist, appearing transcendent and otherworldly, yet his brows were tainted with a trace of murderous ferocity.

During this period, he had been enduring in silence.

When riding the spring wind of success, in the entire Demon Country, there was no one who did not flatter him, no one who did not praise him.

Only when one falls into a trough can one see clearly the hearts of people, see their true faces.

During these days.

He once again saw clearly the "faces" of Great Saint Mountain and those Great Cultivators of the Demon Country.

Under Nether Sea’s pressure.

Only an extremely small number of Demon Cultivators chose to stand on his side.

Years ago.

The Saint Prince had once met his imperial father briefly; at that time he was still young, and the Holy Emperor lightly tapped a finger between his brows, leaving behind a Divine Soul Mark. He had never mentioned the existence of this Divine Soul Mark to anyone... This was the greatest reliance his father had left him. In other Holy Lands, absolute Heavenly Prides like the Saint Prince would certainly have a Protector; the Holy Emperor was to remain in seclusion for long periods, with no leisure to protect his path.

But this mark alone was enough to guarantee the Saint Prince’s safety.

Unless a top Strongest of equal level were to act.

Otherwise no one could shatter this dharma.

Of course.

A flower can only bloom briefly.

Though the power contained in this Divine Soul Mark was formidable, as time passed and years eroded it, the power within the mark would slowly dissipate.

The Saint Prince’s cultivation journey had been incomparably smooth; he crushed and suppressed all his peers’ foes in the Demon Country, never once using this mark...

Now that he has stepped into the Yang God Realm.

The power within this mark remained at only about sixty or seventy percent of what it once was.

After using it last night, the mark retained only a shallow trace of imprint; to summon the dharma again would likely be extremely difficult.

"I won’t meet those who sent visiting posts."

The Saint Prince said calmly, "Mr. Zhu Yan, I’ll trouble you to meet them on my behalf."

By nature he was proud and had always despised those fence-sitters who swayed with the wind.

But the Saint Prince did not blame them.

The struggle of great currents is this cruel...

He could understand their choices.

His current strength indeed could not match Nether Sea Venerable; earlier, for those people to throw in with Nether Sea was only natural.

"Very well."

Venerable Zhu Yan nodded, and said warmly, "Your Highness does not seem very happy."

The venture of last night was both an unexpected move and a remarkable success.

"In just two more days, it will be the birthday banquet."

The Saint Prince shook his head. "These men can switch to my side overnight; naturally they can also, overnight, turn back and reattach themselves to Nether Sea’s side..."

Venerable Zhu Yan withdrew his smile.

He understood what His Highness meant.

Last night’s manifestation of the dharma was merely a slight deterrence.

The truly important thing... is on the day of the banquet, to prove that His Majesty the Holy Emperor is merely in seclusion, and that no mishap has occurred.

"If the True Body had met with an accident, how could the dharma still manifest?"

Venerable Zhu Yan said in a deep voice, "Your Highness... do not worry too much."

"What right do I have to worry about Father Emperor?"

The Saint Prince smiled faintly, with a hint of self-mockery. "It is very hard for me to prove to the world that Father is unharmed. Likewise, it is very hard for Nether Sea to prove to the world that Father has met with misfortune. That is not what I’m worried about."

"Then what Your Highness worries about is..."

"In last night’s havoc at Qi Blue Mountain, I personally saw Nether Sea, and I keep feeling that something is wrong about him."

The Saint Prince extended two fingers and rubbed his brow.

He recalled the scene of their sharp confrontation the night before.

Nether Sea Venerable’s features held the aspect of Dragon Descendants; beyond that, he exuded a breath that made the Saint Prince feel uneasy.

"In truth, in earlier years, I didn’t dislike Nether Sea so much."

The Saint Prince said coldly, "But last night... I truly wanted to beat him to death."

After seeing his true face.

A violent aversion rose in the Saint Prince’s heart.

He very much wanted to disregard the greater situation and fight this ’uncle’ before him in a great war, shattering heaven and earth, forcing out a clear victor.

"This..."

Venerable Zhu Yan gave a bitter laugh, at a loss for words.

"Enough."

The Saint Prince let out a soft sigh. "Sir, let me be alone and quiet for a while."

...

...

"Father!"

"Many retainers have gone to Yunxiao Mountain."

Netherworld Third Young Master knelt before the cave dwelling veiled by the Deep Blue Talisman Array, his teeth clenched in rage. "These bastards have no sense of honor..."

Just a few days ago.

These Great Demons were still drinking happily with him.

How long has it been?

Their faces as they vowed with utmost sincerity were still vivid in Netherworld Third Young Master’s memory, yet in just one night they had gone to seek out the Saint Prince.

"Let them go."

The voice from the cave was extremely indifferent.

Nether Sea Venerable seemed to care nothing for this; as for the situation Netherworld Third Young Master was reporting, he did not show the slightest fluctuation of emotion.

"You may go as well."

Nether Sea Venerable flicked his sleeve, sending Netherworld Third Young Master away.