Domain!
It's actually a Sword Domain?
The Heavenly Sword Emperor stared at Chen Chang'an in shock, his eyes filled with madness.
The reason the Heavenly Sword Emperor had successfully broken through to the Sword Emperor realm was because he had comprehended a domain.
However, he had only scratched the surface of the domain, and over the years, his progress had stagnated.
This had always been a lingering frustration for him, but in the entire Tai Xuan Realm, there was truly no one he could turn to for guidance in this regard.
Perhaps such people existed, but the Heavenly Sword Emperor neither knew them nor had he ever heard of them.
Working in isolation, his journey had been anything but easy.
Yet now, before him stood Chen Chang'an, whose Sword Domain was nearly perfect—no, not nearly, but absolutely flawless.
Could it be that this man's Sword Domain had already reached its peak?
"Your… your Sword Domain is so powerful."
"Has it already reached the pinnacle?" the Heavenly Sword Emperor asked excitedly.
"Indeed. You’ve also comprehended a domain, haven’t you?"
"I can sense the power of a domain within you."
"But your domain is too weak—it can’t even contend with mine," Chen Chang'an said indifferently.
"Master, please accept this disciple’s bow!"
Without hesitation, the Heavenly Sword Emperor dropped to his knees before Chen Chang'an. His action left everyone, including Chen Chang'an himself, stunned.
What the hell is this?
Just a moment ago, he wanted to take me as his disciple, and now he’s bowing to me as his master?
What on earth is going on inside his head?
"What’s the Ancestor doing?"
"Why is he kneeling?"
"I think I just heard the Ancestor say he wants to become a disciple?"
"Become a disciple? Under Chen Chang'an? Are you joking? The Ancestor is a Sword Emperor—a Sword Emperor!"
"So what if he’s a Sword Emperor? Isn’t Chen Chang'an one too? And from the looks of it, he might even be stronger than the Ancestor?"
"That must be the case. But given the Ancestor’s temperament, even if he were outmatched, he wouldn’t just surrender, would he? Why would he suddenly want to become a disciple?"
"It’s simple. Chen Chang'an possesses something the Ancestor lacks, so…"
"The Domain!"
"It must be because of the Domain!"
The Heavenly Sword Emperor’s sudden desire to become a disciple left the members of the Heavenly Sword Sect completely unprepared. Ever since his appearance, things had spiraled far beyond their expectations.
He shows up, doesn’t fight, and instead wants to take someone as his disciple. Then, despite being enemies, he doesn’t seek revenge.
Not only does he not seek revenge, but after realizing he’s outmatched, he decides to become a disciple instead?
Isn’t this line of thinking a bit too erratic?
"You’re already at the Great Emperor realm—becoming a disciple isn’t appropriate. Get up first," Chen Chang'an said helplessly.
"No. If you don’t accept me, I won’t get up."
"I must become your disciple."
"If he can, why can’t I?"
The Heavenly Sword Emperor pointed at Ye Zhiqiu in the distance, his expression almost indignant.
You accepted someone so weak, yet you’re rejecting me, someone this strong?
"Fine, fine."
"You want to become my disciple?"
"Alright, then call him ‘Senior Brother.’"
"Go on."
"Understood!"
True to his reputation as a sword fanatic, the Heavenly Sword Emperor didn’t hesitate in the slightest. He turned to Ye Zhiqiu, bowed respectfully, and called out, "Senior Brother."
"This…"
Ye Zhiqiu had never experienced anything like this—a Great Emperor, calling him "Senior Brother"?
Back in the Qingyun Sect, even Lu Qingyun had only addressed him as "Brother Ye," and Lu Qingyun was merely a Half-Step Great Emperor, not yet having broken through to the true Great Emperor realm.
But this time, it was a genuine Great Emperor—a Sword Emperor, no less.
Should he respond?
"What are you spacing out for? Didn’t you hear your junior brother greeting you?"
Prompted by Chen Chang'an, Ye Zhiqiu awkwardly replied, "Junior Brother."
Hearing Ye Zhiqiu’s acknowledgment, the Heavenly Sword Emperor was delighted. This meant he was officially part of the sect now, right? Perfect!
"Also, you have to call him ‘Senior Brother’ too."
"Huh? Him as well?"
The Heavenly Sword Emperor was surprised to see Chen Yunxuan included, especially since Chen Yunxuan didn’t appear to be a sword cultivator.
"Master, this Senior Brother… isn’t a sword cultivator?" the Heavenly Sword Emperor asked, puzzled.
"Who said all my disciples have to be sword cultivators?"
"Stop overthinking it. Just call him ‘Senior Brother.’"
"Yes, Master."
"Senior Brother."
"Uh… Junior Brother."
"Senior Brothers, I am the Heavenly Sword Emperor—you know, the Sword Emperor?"
"I’m strong. Extremely strong. If anyone ever gives you trouble, just come to me."
"We’re all brothers in the same sect now—I’ll definitely have your backs."
"By the way, seeing how young you two are yet already possessing such cultivation, you must be prodigies, right?"
"You…"
Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu exchanged glances. Clearly, the Heavenly Sword Emperor didn’t recognize them.
"Actually, the people under your command know all about our talents. You can ask them," Chen Yunxuan said with a smile.
Huh?
They know?
"What do you mean?" the Heavenly Sword Emperor asked, turning to the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Sect Master.
"Ancestor, these two are named Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu."
"I know that."
"They are seventeen and nineteen years old, respectively."
Seventeen? Nineteen?
Hearing their ages, the Heavenly Sword Emperor was dumbfounded.
Are you serious?
This young?
"You’re not joking, are you? A seventeen-year-old at the first level of the Cave Void Realm, and a nineteen-year-old at the eighth level of the Nascent Divinity Realm?"
"How… how is that possible?" the Heavenly Sword Emperor asked in shock.
"Ancestor, you’ve been in seclusion, so you wouldn’t know—the Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Rankings have appeared."
"Your… these two Senior Brothers of yours are the first and second on the Mortal Ranking!"
The Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Rankings have reappeared?
The Heavenly Sword Emperor was stunned. He had heard rumors about these rankings but never expected them to manifest again—and that the two before him were the top prodigies on the Mortal Ranking?
Holy shit, this sect of mine… is amazing!
The top two on the Mortal Ranking are my Senior Brothers? That’s beyond impressive!
Even if their current cultivation isn’t high, they’re young—their potential is limitless. They’re destined to become supreme powerhouses in the future.
"Excellent!"
"Absolutely excellent."
"Remember this—from now on, these two hold the same status as me in the Heavenly Sword Sect."
"Call them ‘Ancestor.’"
What?
Ancestor?
Weren’t they enemies just a moment ago?
Now they’re suddenly Ancestors?
Are you serious?
The Heavenly Sword Sect’s Sect Master and the others exchanged bewildered glances, utterly lost.
But then again, the ones who died were all from your Xie family. If you don’t care, why should we?
"As the Ancestor commands."
"Greetings, Ancestor Chen Yunxuan."
"Greetings, Ancestor Ye Zhiqiu."
Chen Yunxuan and Ye Zhiqiu could only smile awkwardly. The shift in status was too abrupt—they needed time to adjust.
"And this one!"
"My Master!"
"What… what should we call him?"
The Heavenly Sword Emperor was now at a loss. If they called him "Ancestor," what should they call his master?
"Ancestor’s Master"? That didn’t sound right. "Master Ancestor"? Still not quite.
"Whatever you call me doesn’t matter."
"First, let me ask you—Xie Yuyan was killed by Chen Yunxuan, and Xie Yunfei died by my hand."
"Are you really fine with that?" Chen Chang'an asked curiously.
"Well… Xie Yuyan’s actions were despicable—she deserved death. As for Xie Yunfei…"
"Ah, life and death are fated. It's fine. My Xie family surely has other members. Losing one or two isn’t a big deal."
The Heavenly Sword Emperor was a man utterly devoted to the sword, placing little importance on familial bonds.
It wasn’t that he was cold-blooded or heartless—he simply didn’t care. His heart belonged solely to the sword.
Moreover, Xie Yuyan’s actions had violated his principles. Even if Chen Yunxuan hadn’t killed her, the Heavenly Sword Emperor wouldn’t have spared her had he found out.
It was just a pity that Xie Yunfei had to die. But what could be done? He sought to kill, while Chen Chang'an sought to save—it all came down to strength.
"That’s a fair point. There are plenty of people anyway. Losing one or two doesn’t matter."
Hearing Chen Chang'an’s words, Chen Yunxuan felt slightly awkward. Was the ancestor referring to him?
No, surely not. Otherwise, why would the ancestor have come in person? He must still care about him. Yes, that had to be it.
"Master, what about our Sword Domain? Should we—"
"Hold on."
"Arrange a place for me. I need to… give these two a lesson!"