Batian Martial Soul

Chapter 14624 The Great Lord

The city gate was a hundred feet high, with three ancient and vigorous characters inscribed on it, the strokes of which carried a sense of killing intent:
Border town!
Upon entering the city, Ling Xiao was slightly taken aback, a look of surprise on his face.

The city was not as bleak and desolate as he had imagined. On the contrary, the streets were bustling, with shops lining the streets and a lively atmosphere.

Among the pedestrians were not only human cultivators, but also the Feathered Race with seven-colored wings on their backs, the Fire Spirit Race surrounded by raging flames, the Crystal Race with crystal-clear bodies, and the burly Stone Demon Race...

Cultivators from various races moved about in an orderly fashion, creating a thriving scene.

"Surprised?" Mu Qianxue couldn't help but laugh when she saw his expression. "Did you think that the Holy Temple was an isolated organization that only knew how to wage war and kill?"

Ling Xiao nodded honestly: "I really didn't expect that."

As the two were talking, they arrived at the White Jade Square in the center of the city, at the end of which stood a magnificent White Jade Palace.

There were no guards on either side of the palace gate, only a crystal-clear ancient tree standing quietly. Its trunk was as translucent as glass, its canopy blocked out the sky, and its branches were covered with star-like fruits, each exuding a powerful Daoist charm that resonated with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

"We've arrived." Mu Qianxue stopped outside the hall, her expression turning solemn. "The hall master is already waiting inside."

Ling Xiao gazed into the depths of the palace, clearly sensing a vast, star-like aura. This aura was gentle yet unfathomable, seemingly containing the laws of the entire world, making him dare not underestimate it in the slightest. He whispered to Mu Qianxue:

"If we can't reach an agreement and the Palace Master takes action, what are my chances of escaping?"

"Guess?" Mu Qianxue blinked, her tone slightly teasing.

Ling Xiao gave a wry smile, straightened his robes, took a deep breath, and stepped into the palace.

The hall was spacious and empty, with no superfluous furnishings, except for an old man in blue robes sitting cross-legged on the central cloud platform.

An ancient chessboard floated in front of the old man, with black and white pieces arranged in a staggered pattern, forming its own world and subtly reflecting the movement of the stars in the heavens, exuding a profound Daoist charm.

"Sit." The old man did not raise his head; his voice was as gentle as a spring breeze, yet it carried a power that penetrated the heart.

Ling Xiao sat down on the futon opposite him as instructed, his gaze involuntarily falling on the chessboard.

"Do you know how to play chess?" The old man finally raised his eyes, his gaze as deep as an ancient well, as if he could see through people's hearts.

"I only know a little bit," Ling Xiao said modestly.

"Then let's play a game." The old man smiled slightly, and with a wave of his hand, a white piece transformed into a stream of light and fell onto the chessboard.

Ling Xiao picked up a black piece, pondered for a moment, and then gently placed it down.

The moment the chess piece touched the board, he suddenly felt the surrounding space change drastically... This was no ordinary game of chess, but a grand game of chess with heaven and earth as the board and the principles of the Dao as the pieces!

Each move requires drawing upon one's understanding of the laws of heaven and earth; a slight misstep can result in being suppressed by the opponent's laws, damaging one's spirit and soul.

The old man's moves were swift and seemingly casual, yet each step was in harmony with the workings of the Heavenly Dao. Beneath the seemingly peaceful chessboard lay lurking dangers, with the Dao principles intertwining and colliding, putting Ling Xiao under immense pressure.

At first, he could barely keep up with the pace, but after thirty moves, fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his soul was trembling slightly.

“You’re more interesting than I thought,” the old man suddenly said, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

“I thought a genius swordsman of your age would be sharp and unyielding. But you… your sharpness is hidden in your sheath, your passion is concealed in your heart, you act with composure and know how to make choices. You are only at the initial stage of the Breaking Realm, yet you have already touched the threshold of ‘returning to simplicity’. That’s rare, truly rare.”

Ling Xiao wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a wry smile, "Senior is too kind. In front of you, my cultivation and understanding are nothing more than showing off my limited skills."

"Why compare yourself to me?" The old man shook his head. "I have cultivated for over eight hundred years to reach my current level. If you live to my age, your achievements will surely far surpass mine."

The two continued to play their pieces while talking, and then played for another ten or so moves.

Ling Xiao suddenly spoke up: "To be honest, I never imagined that one day I would be sitting here playing chess with the higher-ups of the Holy Temple."

"Because there are people behind you whom we cannot see through." The old man spoke frankly and without any concealment. "If you were alone, without the Demon Lord Black Sky Sword in your hand, and without a powerful protector behind you, today would not be a game of chess, but an interrogation."

“Senior is quite straightforward.” Ling Xiao smiled.

“Talking to a smart person is a waste of time by beating around the bush.” The old man looked directly at Ling Xiao, his tone becoming solemn. “I can represent the Holy Hall Master and all the power of the faction. Now, let’s talk about cooperation.”

Ling Xiao's expression turned serious, and he nodded, saying, "I would like to hear the details."

"I want to see the Demon Lord's Black Heaven Sword with my own eyes," the old man said bluntly.

Without the slightest hesitation, Ling Xiao summoned the Demon Lord Black Heaven Sword, which appeared out of thin air on the chessboard. Its dark blade emanated a faint demonic aura, intertwining with the Daoist principles on the chessboard, yet it held its own in no way.

The old man did not reach out to touch it, but observed it intently for a long time, a complex expression appearing in his eyes, including amazement, envy, and a trace of apprehension:
"It is indeed the legendary key to the outside of the Nirvana Realm, containing the laws of breaking through boundaries... Young friend, you are truly blessed."

"Instead of being blessed with good fortune, I am plagued by misfortune." Ling Xiao sighed softly. "Since obtaining this sword, I have not had a few days of peace. Powerful enemies from all sides have come one after another."

"Fortune and misfortune are intertwined; this is the way of Heaven," the old man said calmly, withdrawing his gaze.

"The conditions for cooperation are simple: you share the secrets of the world beyond Nirvana contained in this sword with us, and the Holy Temple will provide you with a wealth of cultivation resources, all-round protection, and even send top experts to guide your cultivation and help you break through to a higher realm as soon as possible."

"Is it that simple?" Ling Xiao was somewhat surprised; he had expected more stringent conditions.

"Of course, if you are willing to donate this sword to the Holy Temple, that would be the best outcome," the old man said with a smile, his tone carrying a hint of probing.

Without hesitation, Ling Xiao pushed the Demon Lord Black Heaven Sword towards the old man, his expression calm: "Then I will give it to you, senior."

The old man's smile froze abruptly as he looked intently at Ling Xiao, his eyes filled with inquiry: "Are you serious?"

“Absolutely true.” Ling Xiao nodded. “This sword is ultimately a hot potato for me, so it would be best to give it away.”

The old man remained silent for a long time before suddenly bursting into laughter: "It seems that the karma associated with this Demon Lord Black Heaven Sword is even more terrifying than I imagined, making you so eager to get rid of it."

He ultimately did not take the sword, but simply waved his hand: "Young friend, please go and rest in the side hall first. As for the matter of cooperation, I will discuss it with the elders before we can discuss it further."

Ling Xiao rose, bowed, and turned to leave the main hall.

After he left, Mu Qianxue and a young man in white robes emerged from the side hall. The young man had a golden vertical line between his brows, his eyes were sharp as swords, and his aura was incomparably sharp; he was actually a top-tier realm lord.