Return Of The Sword God

006

Qing Zilong darted through the Black Mist Forest. Throughout the journey, he did not slow down even for a moment. He was no longer just running; he was moving in perfect harmony with the rhythm of the forest. When a low-level beast lurked behind the bushes, he did not even need to turn his head. Zilong merely tilted his body slightly, letting the sharp claws pass inches from his skin, and continued forward without looking back.

He could sense the location of every creature around him solely through the fluctuations of Qi in the air. He knew exactly when to leap to avoid stepping on tree roots that harbored poisonous energy, and he knew which way the wind was blowing to mask his tracks. The experience Su Qian had gained from thousands of battles in the past was still perfectly etched into his soul, even though the body he currently possessed was still severely limited.

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain range, Zilong stopped directly in front of a silent cliff face. There were no signs of life, only moss-covered stone walls. Yet, the corners of Zilong’s lips curled upward.

"They call this place the Tomb of the Sword King," Zilong muttered, his voice laced with amusement. "In reality, it is merely a facade I created tens of thousands of years ago."

Zilong stared at the stone wall with a distant gaze. In the past, when the alliance of the Gods began to hunt him down, he had to hide all his legacies in a remote place. He had intentionally spread rumors about a Sword King named Tian Luo who had died here, so that his hunters would only search for a tomb instead of a vault containing his true inheritance.

Zilong approached. He did not use physical strength to destroy the cliff, but instead began to regulate his flow of Qi. He traced the hidden symbols on the rock surface with his fingertips, activating energy channels that had been dormant for ages.

"Do you still remember me?" he whispered.

Slowly, the air in front of the cliff vibrated. The thick fog shrouding the stone wall parted, revealing a grand, ancient stone gate. However, as soon as the gate appeared, a suffocating pressure slammed into the ground. It was an automated security system he had installed himself. If an outsider tried to enter, the pressure would crush their bones to powder.

"Still active, I see," Zilong remarked calmly.

He opened his palm and cut it slightly with his fingertip. The moment his blood touched the surface of the gate, the ancient formation trembled. The intense pressure that had been strangling the air suddenly vanished completely, replaced by a welcoming aura, as if greeting the return of its master.

Kreeek...

The stone gate opened slowly, revealing the space within. Unlike what most people would expect—imagining piles of gold or treasure—the hall was defined by its simplicity. In the center of the room lay a circular pool radiating a deep, dense purple light. The Qi inside the room was so concentrated that it appeared foggy.

Zilong smiled with satisfaction. "Fortunately, this Dantian Spring has not dried up."

This was no ordinary pool of water. It was a Dantian Spring, a place once used by Su Qian to expand his energy capacity before breaking through to higher cultivation realms. For a cultivator in the mortal world, a single drop of this water was equivalent to a thousand Qi-gathering pills.

Zilong unslung the old sword from his back and shed his outer garments. He stood for a moment at the edge of the pool, allowing his body to adapt to the energy pressing against his skin. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

Srett.

As soon as his foot touched the water, the pool—which had been calm moments ago—reacted violently. The purple hue deepened to the color of ink. The spiritual energy within the pool exploded, spinning into a vortex that slammed against the walls of the hall.

BOOOOOOM!!

Zilong was caught off guard. His body was thrown backward until he struck the stone wall. Fresh blood spewed from his mouth, staining the cold floor of the hall. He collapsed, gasping for air.

"Damn it..." Zilong wiped the blood from his lips with a trembling hand. His eyes fixed on the violently surging pool. "It seems this body isn't even strong enough to receive my first inheritance..."