Since the Desolate Era, the Heavenly Dao Academy has stood tall. Its four branch campuses sprawl across the east, south, west, and north continents.
The academy has produced countless powerhouses over the ages. With a philosophy of inclusive education tailored to each student’s nature, it has become the dream destination for countless young cultivators.
To be admitted into the Heavenly Dao Academy is considered an honor in itself.
…
Xu Zimo glanced briefly at the group. Aside from the scholarly elder in a Confucian robe, the academy group had five students, three males and two females.
They sat by the window, ordered a few simple dishes, and quietly chatted among themselves. Their voices were too low for Xu Zimo to hear clearly.
After their meal, the group didn’t stay at the inn and soon departed.
With their exit, the tavern’s tense silence broke, and it returned to its usual noisy hum.
“You think the Heavenly Dao Academy came to this small city because of that matter?”
“Most likely. Recently, strong cultivators have been passing through more frequently. Never thought that Grand Origin Sect incident would escalate like this.”
“So… should we go watch the commotion?”
“Forget it. That place is a ticking time bomb. Without real power, showing up is a death wish. We should just lay low and stay safe.”
Hearing the murmurs around him, Xu Zimo fell into brief thought.
He called over the inn’s waiter and asked a few questions.
“You’re asking about the ancient ruins, right?” The waiter suddenly understood and smiled. “It's been the talk of the whole city lately.”
“Go on,” the God Emperor added.
“To the north of our Ragefire City, there's a sect called Grand Origin Sect. It's a modest third-rate force based on Grand Origin Mountain. Not long ago, the mountain collapsed for some unknown reason. A radiant light shot into the sky. Rumors say it’s the site of a powerful cultivator’s ancient remains. Since then, many powerful individuals have been traveling through our city, heading that way.”
“Grand Origin Mountain…” Xu Zimo murmured.
“Yes, sir. If you're heading to Whitebone City, you'll pass through that area,” the waiter added.
“I’d recommend taking a detour. It’s safer. The mountain's been seized by powerful factions, and no one is allowed near.”
“Got it,” Xu Zimo nodded.
While they were speaking, night had fully fallen, and two new people entered the tavern.
Both wore coarse gray robes with white cloth bands wrapped around their wrists.
One carried a curved blade strapped to his back, fully wrapped in white cloth.
The other held a long sword, unsheathed, but also bound in sword cloth. The three-foot blade still gleamed sharply through its wrappings.
They were about the same height, had the same hairstyle, and looked strikingly similar, almost certainly twin brothers.
As they entered, a faint aura of blade and sword qi radiated from them.
“Two of your best rooms,” said the blade-wielding man calmly.
“Of course! Would the guests like to order food as well?” the waiter asked with a forced, cheerful smile.
The man with the blade didn’t answer. Instead, he glanced toward the back of the tavern’s first floor.
His gaze sharpened, and a burst of blade intent shot from his eyes, slicing through the air itself.
All chatter in the tavern fell silent. At the back, a man who had been laughing moments earlier suddenly had blood spill from his neck, his head fell onto the table.
His tablemates stared in stunned disbelief.
“He was too noisy,” the blade-wielding man said flatly.
“You’re looking for death!” one of the man’s companions shouted. The three remaining immediately grabbed their weapons and charged.
But the blade-wielder didn’t move.
His eyes suddenly widened, unleashing an overwhelming blade intent across the tavern.
Before anyone could react, the three attackers froze in place.
“Take us to our rooms,” the sword-wielder said blandly.
“Ah… right this way,” the waiter stammered, casting a glance at the frozen men.
A moment later, blood gushed from their still bodies. In the blink of an eye, they were reduced to chunks of flesh on the floor.
“Ugh…” A few guests vomited on the spot.
The blade-wielder turned his gaze on the waiter, making him shiver involuntarily.
“Right this way, sirs,” the waiter said with a trembling smile.
As the two walked upstairs, the God Emperor took a sip of wine and chuckled.
“Interesting… he’s grasped the Sharp Blade Intent.”
Xu Zimo continued eating, unbothered by the pile of flesh nearby.
Blade intent comes in many forms: flame blade, ice blade, speed-focused flying blade...
But the Sharp Blade Intent was known as the most lethal of all.
“And the swordsman beside him is no slouch either,” Xu Zimo mumbled while chewing.
As the duo ascended to the second floor, most tavern patrons lost their appetite.
Someone whispered cautiously, “Don’t those two seem… familiar?”
“Familiar how?” another asked.
“The Sword-Saber Divine Lords,” the first replied.
“No way! They're legends!” someone else protested.
“But the way they looked… it’s just like the stories say.”
“Even the Heavenly Dao Academy only sent students for training. Why would people like them come?”
The Sword-Saber Divine Lords were famous long ago, both were God Meridian realm powerhouses.
Twin brothers from birth, one fell in love with the way of the saber, the other devoted himself to the sword.
They trained together, supported each other, and eventually mastered their respective Dao paths, earning their feared titles.
As the tavern filled with murmurs and speculation, Xu Zimo and the God Emperor finished their meal and went upstairs to rest.
…
The night passed quietly.
By dawn, under the soft light of morning, Xu Zimo and the God Emperor departed for Whitebone City.
They traveled north from Ragefire City, and by midday, arrived near the Grand Origin Mountain region.
Ahead, a weathered stone stele stood among thick vegetation.
Cracks covered its surface, but the characters “Grand Origin Sect” were still faintly legible.
About a kilometer north of the stele lay the ruins of a collapsed mountain, still clearly visible.
At the mountain’s entrance, a large group of people stood guard, keeping a tight watch on the area.