Deep within the Sword Tomb, Lin Yuan grasped the sword hilt with his right hand.
Even so, he could clearly feel the sword trembling slightly.
If he weren't continuously using the 'Supreme Sword Sensing Chapter' internally, he had no doubt that this sword would have flown away on its own.
"It's just a lifeless thing, yet it has such a spirit?" Lin Yuan couldn't help but marvel internally.
In the Universal Human Alliance, the only things that could compare would likely be starship battleships made with bio-fusion technology.
"However, no matter how much spirit it has, it's still lifeless."
Lin Yuan noticed that the sword's resistance was weakening.
In just a moment, it stopped trembling, obediently resting in his hand.
Only then did Lin Yuan turn around to look behind him.
Not far away, stood the current head of the Heavenly Master Mansion, a chubby Daoist, and Daoist Pingyang, all at the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm, quietly observing Lin Yuan.
To be precise, they were staring at the 'True Martial Sword' in Lin Yuan's hand, their faces filled with complicated emotions—be it relief, shock, or reminiscence.
"Master of the Mansion."
A look of unease appeared on Lin Yuan's face as he was about to bow.
"No need."
Cang Qing Zhenren stepped forward and helped Lin Yuan up.
"Since you have been chosen by the True Martial Sword, you are the inheritor of this generation's True Martial Path and the future Heavenly Master of our Heavenly Master Mansion," Cang Qing Zhenren said solemnly.
The journey to the Sword Tomb had concluded.
Lin Yuan did not return to the Daoist Academy halfway up the mountain.
Instead, Cang Qing Zhenren personally led him to a dwelling at the mountain's summit.
Along with Lin Yuan were four young Daoists.
From casual conversation with Cang Qing Zhenren, Lin Yuan learned that the swords chosen by these four young Daoists were remarkable, even if they couldn't compare to the 'True Martial Sword' chosen by Lin Yuan.
They were still significant, left behind by the past Heavenly Masters of the Heavenly Master Mansion.
They had a great chance of stepping into the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm in the future.
"Senior Brother Shanfeng, what do you think the Master of the Mansion intends with this?" Qingping, a small Daoist, clung closely to Lin Yuan.
This little follower had surprisingly been chosen by a sword left by a past Heavenly Master, becoming one of the four.
"Don't worry, it's definitely a good thing," Lin Yuan said casually.
From some casual remarks by Cang Qing Zhenren, Lin Yuan deduced that the five of them were undoubtedly going to be nurtured as 'seeds' by the Heavenly Master Mansion.
Especially Lin Yuan, who had been chosen by the True Martial Sword, was directly proclaimed by Cang Qing Zhenren as the 'future Heavenly Master.'
What does it mean to be the Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion? Even after five hundred years, the world could not forget the terror of a Heavenly Master.
As long as the Heavenly Master Mansion produced a Heavenly Master, they were invincible in the world.
According to Lin Yuan's understanding, the pinnacle of combat strength in this world was the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
Perhaps a rare talent could barely take a small or half step beyond it.
But only the Heavenly Masters of the Heavenly Master Mansion can truly surpass the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
This is why the Heavenly Masters are invincible in the world.
Even Lin Yuan wanted to know what allowed a Heavenly Master to surpass that step.
According to Lin Yuan's calculations, to surpass the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm would take at least fifty years, even with heaven-defying comprehension as a help.
So how did the Heavenly Masters achieve it? Could every Heavenly Master of the Heavenly Master Mansion possess such heaven-defying comprehension as Lin Yuan? That clearly seemed impossible.
After delivering Lin Yuan and the four others to their dwelling, Cang Qing Zhenren reminded them not to wander around at night and then left.
Lin Yuan sat on his bed, casually placing the True Martial Sword in front of him.
By now, the sword had calmed down completely.
"This sword must contain the secret of the Heavenly Masters," Lin Yuan mused as he gently caressed the sword hilt with his right hand.
At the same time, a trace of true energy began to probe into the depths of the sword.
Boom! The scene around Lin Yuan suddenly changed.
He found himself in a vast, dark void.
To his left was a blazing fiery orb like the sun, and to his right, an abyss exuding endless cold.
The power of the sun and the moon filled the entire space.
"What is this?" Lin Yuan's pupils narrowed slightly, and his mind was flooded with countless insights.
In an instant, a torrent of insights surged through his mind.
Lin Yuan became completely immersed, his thoughts fixated on the dual powers of the sun and moon.
He had no idea how much time had passed before he slowly opened his eyes.
"So that's it," he murmured, finally understanding why the Heavenly Masters of the Heavenly Master Mansion could surpass the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
It was because of this True Martial Sword.
Within the sword, the powers of the sun and moon were manifested externally.
This was a direct path beyond the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
The Heavenly Masters of the Heavenly Master Mansion spent night and day observing the sun and moon powers within the sword, realizing an essence far beyond the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
Thus, surpassing it was naturally not difficult.
"Twenty years," he calculated.
"No, no more than ten years, and I'll be able to break through the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm."
Lin Yuan's heart surged with excitement.
Actually, just understanding any one of the powers of the sun or moon could allow a breakthrough to the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
This was the path taken by past Heavenly Masters of the Heavenly Master Mansion.
But Lin Yuan's ambitions were large; he wanted to cultivate both the sun and moon powers at the same time, thus extending the time needed significantly.
If Lin Yuan were to focus on only one, given his heaven-defying comprehension, he estimated it might take just a year, or even a few months, to break through to the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
"I'm mistaken," Lin Yuan thought after observing the essence of the sun and moon powers.
He quickly realized that his method of breaking through to the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm was wrong.
Years ago, Lin Yuan had quietly broken through to the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
But his foundation upon entering the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm derived mainly from the martial world he had traversed previously.
It's not exactly wrong, but breaking through to the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm this way sets a difficult road ahead.
"If I use the sun or moon power as the foundation to enter the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm, and then attempt to unite yin and yang," Lin Yuan mused, quickly forming a plan.
He decided to break through to the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm again.
For others, attempting to break through the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm again might mean abandoning one's cultivation and starting over.
But with his heaven-defying comprehension, Lin Yuan quickly figured out a method to rearrange his true energy into sun or moon power perfectly.
The process would incur some loss, but it was far better than starting from scratch.
"This sword... Could the True Martial Great Emperor truly have existed?" Lin Yuan's gaze fell once again on the sword before him.
The essence of sun and moon power contained within the sword can guide a living being to surpass the Heavenly Phenomenon Realm.
Thus, the one who forged it must possess unimaginable power.
The next day, Lin Yuan and the other four young Daoists gathered outside.
Cang Qing Zhenren stood not far away with two other Heavenly Phenomenon Realm experts.
"Alright, you five are the future hope of our Heavenly Master Mansion," Cang Qing Zhenren spoke, his gaze lingering briefly on Lin Yuan.
Clearly, in Cang Qing Zhenren's eyes, the other four were of minimal importance.
As long as Lin Yuan, the future Heavenly Master chosen by the True Martial Sword, was present, that was enough.
However, owing to the Mansion's rules, the other four were included.
"Next, I will take you to the Treasure of the True Martial Path. It is where the past Heavenly Masters of our Mansion have secluded themselves for cultivation. It holds records of their cultivation paths and insights."
Cang Qing Zhenren said gently.
At this, the four young Daoists' faces lit up with excitement.
At Mount Longhu, the Heavenly Master was already a 'myth.' Being allowed to visit a place where Heavenly Masters once cultivated was a deeply desired opportunity for any Daoist from the Heavenly Master Mansion.
(End of Chapter)