(AN.: I was away during the weekend (well long weekend), so I couldn't finish up a chapter and my fingers are way too "manly" to type on a phone. :D Anyway, apologies!)
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"[Slaric] The methods of the legendary Sword Emperor are extraordinary to be able to condense such a marvelous sea of pure mana! I am sure the benefits of cultivating in this essence sea must be immense." In the crowd, a skinny looking robed man, presumably a disciple of one of the major sects murmured deeply with bright eyes.
"[Slaric] Hahahaha!"
"[Slaric] How utterly ridiculous! How ignorant!"
The moment he said that, the crowd started mocking him.
The person who first spoke blushed and craned his neck, refuting, "[Slaric] What did I say wrongly?"
"[Slaric] The energy within this sea is extremely rich and pure. However, exactly because of that, it also possesses it is also extremely ferocious and wild, untamed. Submerging would also mean you have to be strong enough both mentally and physically to receive such a blessing!"
"[Slaric] Hmpf! With your tiny frame, you will most likely explode a few steps into the mystic sea!"
"[Slaric] Hehe, there have been countless elites who have been buried in the waves of the mystic sea throughout the annals of history. You can try entering if you're not afraid of a fate even worse than death."
Listening to the sneers and remarks, Aiden was enlightened. This was the reason why there were marks of sharp weapons on the reefs. It was because the spirit sea contained endless amounts of a mysterious source of pure untamed energy, this world's purest form of mana and disciples, warriors, adventurers… cultivators of this world with weaker physiques just could not handle it at all!
If they stood too close to the shore, one might not be able to escape if a huge wave crashed and engulfed them within.
A figure said in a deep voice, "This is a test left behind by the Sword Emperor. Legends say that one will have to cross the mystic sea and ascend the sword mountain if they want to obtain the Sword Emperor's inheritance!"
Aiden looked into the distance – the mighty, majestic mountain stood erect at the end of the mystic sea, truly far away and unreachable.
"[Slaric] Hmm… That's all? That doesn't seem to hard…" He muttered.
The skinny-looking reptilian man pointed to the saber mountain and declared proudly, "[Slaric] We can just ride our flying artifacts. Even though the Sword Emperor's mountain is far away, there's no way we wouldn't be able to reach it before nightfall!"
"[Slaric] You hear this idiot?! Hahahaha! The crowd laughed once more.
Someone shook his head and explained.
"[Slaric] If the test left behind by the Sword Emperor was so simple, there wouldn't only have been a single person who received part of his inheritance from the ancient era till now, right?"
Before he finished, another figuzre arrived from far away, looking excited.
Summoning a vibrant, dark blue tinted sword from his storage bag attached to the right side of his belt, that person leaped into the air and channeled his inner energy before shouting softly, "Go!"
At the command of his word, the strange sword suddenly transformed, taking the shape of a flying board made. Strange, mysteriously shaped lines lit up at the bottom of the artifact before the figure and its peculiar vehicle turned into a streak of light and with blazing speed began crossing the mystic sea, flying straight towards the sword mountain.
Most of the figure in the gathered crowd had mocking expressions and smirked coldly, as if waiting to see a joke. Even Aiden, after listening to the back and forth of these unknown figures, figured that the situation was nowhere near as simple that a mere flying ornament could solve it. If so, this place wouldn't have remained such a legend and shrouded with mystery even after a century of endless trials.
Just as Aiden was pondering what would happen and before he could complete his thought, the person froze in midair above the mystic sea and paused for a moment before falling in. No matter how that person struggled and tried to frantically channel his inner energy in midair, it was useless.
He was swallowed by the raging waves before he even fell into the mystic sea.
"Aaaaargh!!!" He floated on the mystic sea and let out an occasional scream before vanishing after a brief moment. The surface of the water was stained with blood that was gradually washed away by the surging waves.
The skinny reptilian man who first declared that he wanted to ride his flying artifact across the mystic sea turned pale as sweat poured down from his forehead while he breathed hurriedly.
Aiden was secretly shocked as well at the scene that played out before him.
Such vicious, and cruel sight! This… 'mysterious' sea was truly out to kill. It was as if it was a ruthless, cold predator, just lying in wait for their prey to walk into its trap!
That explains why nobody has tried to cross it so far despite the large crowd of colorful people standing here.
A robed figure, presumably a disciple of some sect at the side explained, "[Slaric] Flying is forbidden in the skies above the spirit sea. Even if you manage to enter it, you will still fall into the water."
"[Slaric] You're only asking for trouble trying to come up with tricks in the face of an emperor!" Someone else sneered.
The skinny reptilian man composed himself and asked again after a brief moment, "[Slaric] In that case, only disciples of martial sects that honed the body such as Crystal Palace and the like can cross the mystic sea?"
"[Slaric] No that is not right." Another, elderly looking robed man explained. "For the sea and for that matter to the Sword Emperor, it doesn't matter what sect you are from. For him we are all similar… Only those that have an affinity, or mastery towards the way of the sword are qualified to cross the mystic sea. Any other cultivator will be minced to death by the wild, raging mana if they try to cross it forcefully!"
"[Slaric] That's right. I heard that in the past, a paragon from some of the top sects tried to cross the mystic sea to challenge the Sword Emperor's authority. Before he was even 100 meters in, he was sliced apart by the wild raging energy and buried within the mystic sea."
Listening to everything Aiden now understood. He had a rough understanding towards this strange and mysterious place.
This was most likely a pocket world, a seperate dimension with its own unique laws.
First, one could not fly over.
Second, one had to be at least adept at the 'Way of the Sword'. This world seemed to have a way to find out. Perhaps some ancient method to scan one's body, spirit, or talents?
Third, only those with a physique strong enough to withstand the baptism of the wild mana can cross the mystic sea and pass the Sword Emperor's test.
p
Right then, Aiden's gaze shifted towards a dark black reef by the shore.
A man in blood-colored robes sat there with a long straight blade placed horizontally across his knees. His eyes were shut and his drenched black hair swayed casually, dancing to the tunes of the blowing wind, covering his face.
Of the dozens or perhaps hundreds of figures gathered in this place, this man was the only one who dared to sit on a reef by the shore regardless of the waves. Even though his clothes were long drenched, he seemed oblivious to the fact.
There were more than ten corpses behind this person, some of them had clearly just died not long ago.
When he looked at the person's back view, Aiden felt like he had seen this man somewhere before but could not recall where.
After pondering for a moment, he looked at a cultivator beside him and asked softly, "[Slaric] Excuse me but… Who's the blood-robed person there?"
"[Slaric] Hmm? Who? That? Oh… That's a savage character."
The man whispered warily. "[Slaric] Do you see those corpses behind him? Those were like us, people who wanted to cross the mystic sea. However, they chose to start too close to him and were killed by him!"
"[Slaric] Huh?" Aiden looked dumbfounded. "Just because of that?!" He furrowed his brows slightly.
If that was the only reason why this man went on a massacre, he was definitely not just savage.
As if understanding his thoughts, the man pursed his lips and said. "[Slaric] He is supposedly from the heir of the Ruthless Sword Sect. That group does not need a reason to kill."
The more he listened the more Aiden furrowed his brows and frowned.
The man at the side continued. "[Slaric] There's a high chance he's going to cross the mystic sea and obtain the inheritance. I heard that the legendary figure who managed to obtain the Sword Emperor's inheritance in the past was from Ruthless Sword Sect as well."
All of a sudden, the blood-robed figure who was seated on the reef with his eyes shut stood up and turned around slowly, looking straight at Aiden's direction.
For some unknown reason, Aiden could sense some hostility coming from that gaze…
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