Chapter 1020: Secret of the Heavenly Palace (2)
Editor: Henyee Translations

While drinking and chatting, the Sword Master said, “Emperor Yu’s ambition is extremely great. In recent years, he has continuously attacked all the forces in the world. Now, other than our four major forces, there are only three provincial sects left. If we let him continue, I’m afraid it won’t be long before he attacks our four major forces.”

The Cliffmaster sighed. “We’ll have to face it sooner or later. Compared to Emperor Yu, who founded the country in the beginning, the current Monarch Mountain is more bold and capable. In terms of battle, we’re indeed inferior to him. However, it’s impossible for him to eliminate the four major forces alone. Once the four major forces join forces to resist, the Demon Nation will definitely mobilize.”

Shen Ping had heard of this news from time to time. It was all told to him by his wife, Huo Ru. In the five years since he returned from the Heavenly Palace, the Monarch Mountain had made a huge move. The sword sects, forces, and some families that did not obey the dynasty had all been eliminated. The once unknown Demon Hanging Division was getting stronger and stronger.

It was said that there were more than a hundred Earth Immortals and two Immortals guarding it.

But one could not just judge it on the surface. Compared to the various sects and forces in the world, the Demon Hanging Division was really doing something. They were cleaning up the local demons and preventing many commoners from being attacked by demons.

On the other hand, the previous factions did not care about cleaning up the demons in their territory at all. In some places, they even colluded with the demons, causing the resentment of the people to boil. Even the government could not control them.

Among them, there were many sects and forces that were affiliates of the Sea Moon Cliff, the Sword Whisper Tower, the Heavenly Sound Temple, and the Seeping River Academy. Every year, they had to pay taxes to support the four major forces.

Wealth, companionship, law, and land. It’s the same in any world. The more powerful a faction was, the more terrifying their accumulation of wealth would be.

In his heart, Shen Ping agreed with Emperor Yu’s actions, but he knew that with Emperor Yu’s ambition, this was not the only thing he wanted. Speaking of which, he was also a swordsman and was the ultimate enemy of Emperor Yu.

“Marquis Zhenbei, you have already broken through to the Immortal Realm. If the four of us join forces, please help. Otherwise, if Emperor Yu continues like this, we cultivators will fall into darkness forever and be completely enslaved by the Yuhua Shen Dynasty in the future. At that time, all swordsmen and cultivators in the world would have no future,” the Sword Master said.

The Cliffmaster snorted. “The cunning rabbit dies, the lackey is cooked, the birds are gone, and the good bow is hidden. Just watch. Sooner or later, those from the Demon Hanging Division will be dealt with by Emperor Yu.”

Shen Ping glanced at the two of them. “Have you thought about what Emperor Yu would do if Monarch Mountain can’t eliminate the four major factions with its strength?”

The Sword Master said, “Emperor Yu can only seek cooperation with the Heavenly Palace. Only the Heavenly Palace has the strength to destroy the four top forces. If I’m not wrong, Emperor Yu will use the Diagram of Mountains and Rivers as bait and let the Immortal Realm experts of the Heavenly Palace take action.”

The Cliffmaster nodded. “This is the only path he has.”

Shen Ping thought for a moment and said, “I’ve been to the Heavenly Palace.”

The two of them were stunned. The Sword Master could not help but say, “Are you talking about the Heavenly Palace in the Northern Ice Fields?”

“That’s right. Are there other heavenly palaces?”

“Of course there are. The Heavenly Palace in the Northern Ice Fields is the most mysterious and the hardest to approach. We can’t even resist the cold wind. I didn’t expect you to be able to resist it. There are Heavenly Palaces in the Penglai of the East Sea, the Skycliff of the South Sea, and the desert of the West Border. Among them, the one that has the closest contact with the mortal world is the Penglai of the East Sea.”

Speaking of this, the Sword Master looked at Shen Ping and said, “Since you went to the Heavenly Palace in the Northern Ice Plains, what happened?”

“The Heavenly Palace is indeed powerful. Furthermore, there was a longevity-level powerhouse. I exchanged a few blows with him and was not his match,” Shen Ping said honestly.

The Cliffmaster widened his eyes. “You can actually fight a longevity-level powerhouse… Impressive. Could it be the sword technique of the Diagram of Mountains and Rivers?”

“That’s right.”

“No wonder.”

The two of them felt relieved, but at the same time, they were a little envious.

The Sword Master said emotionally, “There are thousands of sword techniques in the world, but the only ones who can really cultivate to the Immortal Realm are us four top factions. As the Heavenly Palace appeared, the number of Immortal Realm experts gradually increased. However, the Supreme Sword Technique is still grasped by us four top factions. Other than that, it’s the Heavenly Palace.

“Rumor has it that there’s a sword technique in the Heavenly Palace that can be cultivated to longevity-level. Therefore, the four Heavenly Palaces all have experts in the Longevity Realm. This is also the foundation of the Heavenly Palace that can transcend the world. However, they have never interfered with the mortal world. This is the rule.”

Shen Ping’s lips twitched. “If they didn’t interfere with the secular world, why did they surround and kill my father?”

The Cliffmaster said, “Your father rose too quickly. Although he was not as talented as you, he was also the best in the world back then. Compared to the two Heavenly Palaces, the Northern Ice Plains and the Desert of the Western Frontier, Penglai of the East Sea and the Skycliff of the South Sea have been secretly searching for geniuses. Naturally, they would target your father. If I’m not wrong, they also looked for you.”

Shen Ping nodded. “They did. They wanted me to hand over the sword technique of the Diagram of Mountains and Rivers, so I killed them.”

The corners of the Sword Master’s mouth twitched, “Those from the Penglai Heavenly Palace in the East Sea also came to look for me, but I rejected them. They did not dare to act recklessly.”

The Cliffmaster continued, “Even if Emperor Yu cooperated, it’s most likely with Penglai in the East Sea. After all these years, it’s very likely that he has already reached a cooperation. Otherwise, with Emperor Yu’s calm personality, he wouldn’t do this.”

Shen Ping asked, “How do you know that the four Heavenly Palaces have experts in the Longevity Realm?”

The Sword Master hesitated for a moment and slowly said, “Actually, the ancestors of the four great factions came from the Heavenly Palace. There are records of this.”

Only then did Shen Ping come to a realization. Before the two of them left, he expressed his attitude. If Emperor Yu bullied the sect, he could attack. However, he would not interfere in matters outside the sect.

Both of them immediately understood Shen Ping’s bottom line. And they had just left when Palace Master Yan of Seeping River Academy came. “Xian’er was taken away by the Heavenly Palace!”

Shen Ping was stunned. “What’s going on?”

Palace Master Yan explained the reason. All these years, Seeping River Academy had been preparing for Fairy Li Jiang to break through to the Immortal Realm. However, to take this step, they needed many precious items. Among them, the Heavenly Palace could provide more than half. Then, the Heavenly Palace used the excuse of nurturing Yao Xian to take her away.

“There has never been such an example in the Heavenly Palace. In the past, when other experts broke through to the Immortal Realm, the Heavenly Palace would mostly give them precious items to nurture. The condition was only that after they broke through to the Immortal Realm in the future, they could join them and become mortals.”

There was a danger in breaking through to the Immortal realm.

One had to fuse his will, spirit, sword essence energy, and so on into one. Then, he had to break through the shackles and communicate with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth. Some geniuses could break through on their own, while others needed external help. In order to ensure that nothing went wrong, Seeping River Academy chose to use external items to guarantee that Fairy Lijiang would definitely break through.

In the end, such a thing happened.

Shen Ping was not anxious. Instead, he said casually, “Palace Master Yan, this matter is your Seeping River Academy’s matter. It should be handled by you. Why are you looking for me?”

Palace Master Yan said helplessly, “The Heavenly Palace wants to obtain the sword technique in the Mountain and River Painting, and this matter started because of you. Yao Xian only knows the Water Splitting Sword Technique. How can she hand over the supreme sword technique in the Mountain and River Painting?!”

“Which heavenly palace?”

Seeing Shen Ping ask this, Palace Master Yan did not hide anything and replied, “It’s the Penglai Immortal Palace in the East Sea.”

Shen Ping continued, “In that case, your Seeping River Academy has a good relationship with the Penglai Immortal Palace of the East Sea? Behind Jin Tang is the Penglai Immortal Palace of the East Sea?”

When Palace Master Yan heard this, she knew that Shen Ping might have obtained some information from the Sword Master and the Cliffmaster. Hence, she nodded and said, “That’s right.”

Shen Ping waved his hand. “In that case, as long as I don’t appear, they won’t do anything to Fairy Lijiang. Don’t worry. Besides, the Heavenly Palace has a longevity giant. It’s useless for me to go.”

Palace Master Yan opened her mouth but did not say what she was thinking. In her opinion, since Shen Ping had already cooperated with the Sword Whisper Tower, the Sea Moon Cliff, and the Monarch Mountain, there was nothing wrong with working with the Heavenly Palace. After all, the main objective is to teach, so it didn’t matter how many he taught.

How would she know that Shen Ping only taught the sword techniques of the Mountain and River Painting itself? He had only taught the first half of the Taiyi Sword Dao. Be it the Sword Master, the Cliffmaster, or the Emperor Yu, they had not learned it at all.