104: The Transformation of Leeks, the Heart of the Sword Emperor

As the eyes of the entire world focused on the impending storm in Yanjing, and on the "Martial Arts Tournament of Prodigies" that gathered the entire golden generation, a figure forgotten by the world embarked on a completely different path, one leading to a more ancient, purer power.

One of the Three Great Forbidden Zones of Huaxia, Burial Sword Valley.

This is a forbidden zone for life, a graveyard of steel. It is perpetually shrouded in an endless, visible, sharp Sword Qi. That Sword Qi was formed from the immortal Sword Intent of a supreme existence from ancient times, after his passing, intertwining and evolving with the Heavenly Dao's Laws, enduring for tens of thousands of years without dissipating. Even ordinary S-Class Experts, upon entering this place, would be instantly annihilated by the omnipresent Sword Qi, their Divine Soul and body twisted into fundamental particles.

However, at this moment, a tattered but upright figure was walking step by step, resolutely, towards the deepest part of this deathly forbidden zone.

It was Ye Fan.

Beside him, the mysterious old man, his Sword Attendant, exuded an obscure yet powerful Sword Intent Domain, acting like a pillar, blocking ninety-nine percent of the external Sword Qi attacks for him. But even so, the remaining less than one percent of the stray Sword Qi was still like the sharpest blade, leaving deep, bone-visible wounds on his body, one after another.

His tattered clothes were already stained with blood, and every step left a bloody footprint behind him.

But on his handsome face, there was no trace of pain, only a devout, pilgrim-like determination.

Because he knew that these Sword Qi were of the same Origin as him. Each laceration was a baptism; each sharp pain was a return.

"Emperor, ahead is the Sword Tomb," the old servant's voice trembled with a hint of apprehension, like one nearing home.

Ye Fan nodded, not speaking. He passed through the last layer of the substantial-like Sword Qi curtain, and the scene before him suddenly opened up.

It was a vast, boundless wasteland made of broken swords.

Hundreds of millions of rusty broken swords densely covered the entire valley, forming a chilling forest of steel. On each broken sword, a faint yet extremely pure Sword Intent, full of unyielding spirit and Battle Intent, was entwined. They seemed not like inanimate objects, but an invincible army that had slept for eons, only waiting for the return of their King to awaken again and conquer the Heavenly Dao with him!

And in the center of that endless Sword Tomb, stood a towering sword hill, a thousand meters high, piled up from the fragments of countless Sharp Weapons.

At the Peak of the sword hill, a solitary figure sat cross-legged.

It was a skeleton that had long lost all signs of life, having sat here for untold tens of thousands of years. But even as a mere skeleton, he still exuded a supreme sword might capable of making heaven and earth submit, and the sun and moon lose their light! It was as if he was the Origin of all "swords" in this world, and the end of all "swords"!

In his previous life, he was the Nameless Sword Emperor!

Ye Fan looked at the skeleton, and a complex emotion filled his deep eyes. There was nostalgia, sorrow, and unwillingness, but more than that, there was a resolute determination to reclaim everything that was his.

He stepped onto the sword hill, which was paved with fragments of divine weapons, one step at a time. With each step, the hundreds of millions of broken swords in the entire Sword Tomb would emit a clear hum, as if welcoming the return of their true master.

Finally, he arrived before the skeleton, sat down cross-legged, and faced it.

He slowly reached out his hand towards the skeleton's chest.

There, there was no heart, only a "heart" that was as brilliant as the most dazzling crystal, within which countless sword lights seemed to be born and extinguished, containing endless Sword Dao Laws and profound mysteries... the heart of the sword emperor!

This was the Legacy seed he had formed in his previous life, when he failed in his challenge to the Heavenly Dao and died, using his last strength to condense all his lifelong Sword Dao insights, understanding of Laws, and unyielding Battle Intent!

The moment Ye Fan's hand touched the "heart of the sword emperor."

Buzz—!

At this moment, all the Sword Qi and all the Sword Intent in the entire Burial Sword Valley completely erupted!

Hundreds of millions of broken swords soared into the sky, like a reversed galaxy, swirling and dancing in the air, emitting deafening sword cries full of ecstasy and submission!

Vast, supremely pure Sword Dao Origin energy, along with the immense, sea-like memories and insights belonging to the Nameless Sword Emperor, surged like a breached heavenly river, madly pouring into Ye Fan's already crippled and withered Dantian Qi Sea!

No destruction, no construction; destroy and then rebuild!

Under the washing of this supreme Sword Dao Origin, his shattered Dantian not only did not collapse but, like parched land receiving sacred sweet dew, began to reconstruct in a more perfect and resilient manner!

His aura began to surge at a terrifying speed, defying all common cultivation sense!

Martial Apprentice... Martial Artist... Martial Master... Martial Ancestor... One day later, he returned to the Realm of an A-rank Martial King!

Three days later, he Broke through his Bottleneck, his Qi soaring into the sky, his Sword Intent taking form, officially stepping into the Realm of an S-Rank Martial Emperor!

And this was not the end!

His Cultivation continued to climb rapidly within the Realm of an S-Rank Martial Emperor! One-star... Two-star... Three-star... until finally, it stabilized at the Peak of an S-Rank Martial Emperor! He was only one step away from the legendary Realm of an SSS-Class Demigod!

Not only that, but the countless insights belonging to the Nameless Sword Emperor regarding the Sword Dao, Laws, and combat were also completely absorbed by him, as if he had received a sudden enlightenment.

At this moment, although his Realm was only S-rank Peak, his understanding of the Sword Dao and his application of power had already reached a Grandmaster level of returning to simplicity and acting as he pleased!

After a long time, as all the anomalies slowly subsided, Ye Fan slowly opened his eyes.

In those eyes, there was no longer any confusion or despondency, only the profoundness of the eternal starry sky, and a peerless sharpness that seemed capable of severing all Karma and piercing through all illusions!

He had returned.

The former "Son of Luck," after experiencing complete destruction, was Reborn from the ashes in an even stronger, more perfect form!

He had rebuilt his confidence.

An unshakable confidence stemming from absolute strength!

He slowly stood up, feeling the new power within him, capable of destroying heaven and earth, and the countless miraculous supreme sword techniques in his mind. A cold arc formed on his lips.

'Lin Tian...'

He gazed towards Yanjing, and in his eyes, there was no longer the previous resentment and fear, only a pure, soaring Battle Intent of meeting a worthy opponent!

'In the past, my defeat to you was my 'tribulation.' But now, I have overcome this tribulation, my Heart Demon is gone, and my Dao Heart is at Perfection.'

'Now, I possess the capital to truly fight you!'

He turned around and said calmly to his Sword Attendant, who was already weeping tears of joy, "Let's go."

"Where to?"

"Yanjing."

Ye Fan's eyes shone with unprecedented determination and sharpness.

"The Qin Family's martial arts competition for a bride—how could I miss such a grand event that gathers heroes from all over the world?"

"Yu Bing, wait for me! This time, I will stand before you, openly and honorably, in a manner that neither you nor the entire Qin Family can refuse!"

"And..."

He paused, and Lin Tian's indifferent yet slightly mocking face appeared in his mind.

"...Lin Tian, it's time we settled our score properly at The Peak of the Forbidden City!"