"I think the Seventh Sword Cultivator is more than just a sword cultivator! He's the Ancestor of Swords, and the Sword Intent inheritance from the Sword Emperor Stele is just one part of it. Above the Ancestor of Swords, there must be realms like Sword Immortal, Sword Emperor, or even Sword Saint!" the disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion discussed fervently.

「In the depths of the Sword Tomb.」

"You... you're a Sword Immortal? How is that possible!" The purple-clad girl's eyes widened as she stared at the stele before her. "How could a mere Golden Core Stage cultivator like you comprehend the mysteries of the Sword Emperor Stele!"

This stele wasn't made of stone, but carved from some unknown material. It was one with the Sword Tomb, yet concealed by a formation that blocked all divine sense. Because of this, no one from the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion outside, including her, could perceive what was happening within. However, four large characters were faintly visible on the stele: Ten Thousand Sword Techniques!

"Ten Thousand Sword Techniques? A fitting name. Not bad." Chen Zheng glanced at the Sword Tomb's stele. He raised his right hand, aimed it at the stone, and gently tapped it. Instantly, the stele hummed and trembled as a vast, overwhelming torrent of information poured forth!

"What the fuck!"

"Impossible!"

"What's happening?!"

The Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion cultivators outside stared with wide, disbelieving eyes.

THUMP!

A cultivator in the early Golden Core Stage was so frightened he fell to his knees, trembling too hard to speak.

"Damn it! Damn you! How could a piece of worthless trash like you dare to profane the ancestral relic of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion!" The purple-clad girl snarled, driving her flying sword toward Chen Zheng. But as soon as it neared him, it was completely suppressed. She couldn't break it free and was filled with nothing but endless panic.

"The Ten Thousand Sword Techniques! That is my inheritance! I won't let you steal it!" the purple-clad girl screamed in a panic.

"Oh, the Ten Thousand Sword Techniques?" Chen Zheng casually manipulated the torrent of information from the technique. "I've already glanced through it. There's nothing special to learn from your ancestor's inheritance," he remarked lightly. "Your martial brothers and sisters are all standing guard outside. You should be glad I can't be bothered to deal with them."

With that said, he swiped his hand, and the inheritance of the Ten Thousand Sword Techniques instantly turned to dust.

"You!" The purple-clad girl was utterly stunned, frozen in place.

"For years, your ancestor has been hiding in this Sword Tomb. It wasn't out of fear, but to await the turning of an era to re-emerge. However, this epoch just ended, and the next is still a long way off. He couldn't wait any longer, so he finally came out of hiding. Since you are his reincarnation, I'll give you a choice. I can send you to another epoch. If you're willing to follow me, I will help you reach the Integration Realm. The decision is yours," Chen Zheng said with a faint smile.

"I..." The purple-clad girl fell silent.

"No? Then never mind." Chen Zheng shook his head and casually pointed toward the Sword Tomb. A stream of spiritual light shot into the purple-clad girl's brow as his voice echoed out, "Disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion may choose to remain and cultivate in the Sword Tomb, or you may leave. But remember, you are not to touch anything within the Sword Tomb. This applies even to you."

WHOOSH!

As his words fell, Chen Zheng casually swiped his hand again. The inheritance of the Ten Thousand Sword Techniques completely dissipated.

CRASH!

The entire Sword Tomb trembled.

"I...!" The purple-clad girl came to her senses. Biting her lip, she stared at Chen Zheng before suddenly dropping to her knees with a thud. "Sir, I beg you to take me as your disciple!"

"I only accept male disciples," Chen Zheng remarked indifferently. He then took a single step that carried him hundreds of meters, soaring through the sky and out of the Sword Tomb.

WHOOSH!

The countless disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion outside were startled. A moment later, all eyes snapped toward him in unison.

"Junior Sister! Wake up!" a disciple from her faction shouted in alarm, rushing to her side.

However, the purple-clad girl's eyes were tightly closed, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep.

"Could it be... Could the Ten Thousand Sword Techniques have been a fake?! That brat was just putting on a show, using it to deceive us into thinking he had obtained the true inheritance! That damned bastard! He deserves to die!" An elder from the purple-clad girl's faction flew into a rage. Lifting his head, his eyes filled with murderous fury, he let out a furious roar at the departing Chen Zheng.

BOOM!

As the roar resounded, a flying sword shot across the sky, slashing fiercely toward Chen Zheng. It was the flying sword of a peak Nascent Soul Stage Sword Cultivator!

"Courting death." Chen Zheng shook his head slightly. With a casual wave of his hand, the oncoming flying sword shattered into dust. The elder's body instantly exploded, and his terrified Nascent Soul tried to flee.

"Master, save me!"

With their elder dead, the remaining disciples were utterly horrified.

HISS!

At this, the observing cultivators from the other sects finally reacted.

WHOOSH!

Countless streams of divine sense swept toward the area.

"The Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion's Sword Tomb... it actually opened! Haha! That brat is finally out. I've been waiting for him for a long time!"

"Hmph! A mere Foundation Establishment Stage piece of trash dares to try and seize treasures in the Ten Thousand Swords Valley. He's simply courting death!"

"That kid is dead for sure! He didn't just steal the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion's inheritance, he also killed the Sword Tomb's guardian beast! That beast was at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage. Even if he did get the Ten Thousand Sword Techniques, his combat power would only be at the Nascent Soul Stage at best, not enough to contend with the guardian!"

A torrent of cold voices rose.

CRACKLE! CRACKLE!

At that moment, thunderclouds began to roll across the sky.

BOOM!

A colossal phantom of an azure dragon emerged from within the clouds.

"That is...!"

"A Heavenly Tribulation? A lightning tribulation! That kid has triggered a Heavenly Tribulation!"

"He actually dares to undergo tribulation here? Does he not know that outside the Sword Tomb of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion, no other place in this land is protected by the Heavenly Dao!"

The onlookers exclaimed in shock. At the same time, some of the cultivators revealed mocking smirks.

BOOM!

The azure dragon phantom dove straight down!

"Haha! The tribulation lightning is targeting that kid!"

"What a dumbass!"

"He's going to be vaporized!"

The jeers and mockery grew louder.

Amidst the chorus of ridicule, the crowd only heard Chen Zheng's casual voice ring out. "Heavenly Tribulation, you are far too weak. You pose no threat to me. However... your lightning is somewhat useful. I happen to be short a few Thunder Spirit Stones, so I suppose I'll reluctantly endure this for you." And with that, he opened his mouth and swallowed the descending azure dragon phantom whole!

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

In the blink of an eye, the dark clouds in the sky began to churn wildly.

"What?"

"He's actually undergoing tribulation! He's only at the Foundation Establishment Stage and he dares to face a tribulation? Isn't that just courting death?"

"Heh! Does he really think undergoing a Heavenly Tribulation is as simple as eating and drinking? An idiot like that will still be an idiot even if he succeeds!"

The onlookers murmured amongst themselves again. But in the next moment, they all fell silent. The Heavenly Tribulation had truly descended. It wasn't just the azure dragon phantom; now there were also fist-sized fireballs plummeting from the sky! The entire Sword Tomb shook violently under the assault.

BOOM! BOOM!

One after another, the fireballs smashed against the mountain walls. Suddenly, the cliffs for several thousand meters around the Sword Tomb began to crack, with huge fissures spreading rapidly outward!

"Retreat!" someone shrieked.

"AHH—"

Others screamed in agony as several figures were sent flying backward.

THUMP! THUMP! THUMP!

They crashed heavily onto the ground, splattering blood everywhere.

"Ah! Don't kill me! I was wrong, this has nothing to do with me!"

"I wasn't involved either! It's not my fault! Spare me, please!"

"No! Don't run away!"

At that moment, chaos erupted.