Meng Fan truly couldn't understand. With such power, one could easily make a name for oneself, even establish a sect!
Why choose to be a thief?
Or perhaps, whether a person is good or bad has nothing to do with their strength.
No matter how powerful one becomes, their nature doesn't change.
But from Meng Fan's perspective, he thought that even if he were a "bad person," once he had enough strength, he would seek to consolidate power and cleanse his reputation.
Of course, using his own thoughts to speculate about others was extremely naive and laughable!
Meng Fan shook his head, no longer pondering these unsolvable complexities.
However, he still remembered the name Ximen Zhaixing.
Without a doubt, this was definitely a figure who could dominate a region.
If they ever crossed paths in the future, he would definitely… avoid him.
He couldn't afford to provoke him!
***
Moments later, Senior Disciple Jin returned to the Scripture Pavilion, and Meng Fan also went back to the Sword Pavilion.
As soon as he arrived at the Sword Pavilion, he heard Elder Lin's voice.
"Come up!"
Meng Fan had been comprehending the Sword God Stele for ten days and nights and had just returned. Naturally, Elder Lin was eager to know what progress Meng Fan had made.
After all, he had spent a considerable amount of resources, and it still pained him a bit.
Only if Meng Fan's progress was significant enough could it alleviate his physical and emotional pain.
Meng Fan greeted Senior Disciple Luo and then headed straight to the second floor of the Sword Pavilion.
Elder Lin was still sitting cross-legged on a mat in the corner. Most of the time when Meng Fan came to the second floor of the Sword Pavilion, Elder Lin was in this posture, like an old monk in meditation.
At Elder Lin's current realm, he no longer needed to sleep. Meditation was the best form of rest and also allowed for cultivation.
In fact, not just Elder Lin, but Meng Fan at his realm was also similar.
Cultivators were generally like this.
"Master!" Meng Fan saluted Elder Lin.
Elder Lin smiled and gestured for Meng Fan to sit.
Meng Fan sat down on the mat opposite Elder Lin.
"What did you gain from comprehending the Sword God Stele for ten days and nights?" Elder Lin asked directly.
If Meng Fan's gains were not substantial, he would be truly disappointed.
But reason told him that Meng Fan's gains couldn't be small.
This disciple of his had never disappointed him before.
"Master, I have perfected the 'Heavenly Sword' and the 'Myriad Swords Art.' I can discuss and explore them with you." Meng Fan said.
Although he said "discuss and explore," it was actually just him teaching Elder Lin.
But since Elder Lin was his master, he had to be polite and formal.
Hearing Meng Fan's words, Elder Lin's eyes lit up with joy.
He didn't stand on ceremony with Meng Fan and quickly said, "Tell me quickly!"
Meng Fan didn't hold back and shared his insights on the "Heavenly Sword" and the "Myriad Swords Art" completely with Elder Lin.
The "Myriad Swords Art" was very complete because Meng Fan had previously received teachings from Elder Wang.
The "Heavenly Sword" was purely his own insight. It wasn't as comprehensive as the "Myriad Swords Art," but it was still quite substantial.
After a long time, after Meng Fan had thoroughly shared these two sword techniques with Elder Lin, Elder Lin was completely immersed in studying them and no longer paid attention to Meng Fan.
As for whether Meng Fan had made any other progress, he no longer cared.
Seeing Elder Lin engrossed in studying the sword techniques, Meng Fan could only stand up and salute, "Master, I'll head down now?"
Elder Lin waved his hand without even looking up at Meng Fan.
Meng Fan even felt that Elder Lin hadn't heard him clearly, and the wave was just a subconscious action.
Meng Fan left the second floor of the Sword Pavilion helplessly and returned to his room.
He didn't continue cultivating but lay on his bed and slept.
Although meditation and cultivation could also eliminate fatigue, after comprehending the Sword God Stele for ten days and nights, Meng Fan didn't want to cultivate anymore; he just wanted a good sleep.
***
He slept until he naturally woke up. The sky was already bright. Meng Fan got up, washed, and then went back to the second floor of the Sword Pavilion.
As expected, Elder Lin was still engrossed in the "Heavenly Sword" and the "Myriad Swords Art," just like yesterday.
Meng Fan didn't disturb Elder Lin and quietly retreated to the first floor.
Judging by the situation, Elder Lin would need to "retreat" for a few days to thoroughly study these two sword techniques.
After all, Elder Lin didn't have Meng Fan's talent, and studying these two sword techniques would definitely take a lot of time.
Back on the first floor of the Sword Pavilion, Meng Fan began to polish his long sword.
The essence of the sword within him had been exhausted and needed replenishing.
Moreover, even if he didn't think for himself, he had to think for Hong Qi.
Actually, Hong Qi needed the essence of the sword more than he did!
After polishing over a dozen long swords, Meng Fan still hadn't encountered a Sword Wraith.
Feeling a bit helpless, Meng Fan directly picked a Spiritual Sword, looking for some excitement.
For Meng Fan now, there was no danger in touching a Spiritual Sword; he could handle it with ease.
He only polished Ordinary Swords out of a principle of not wasting anything.
He planned to polish every long sword in the Sword Pavilion, not wasting a single bit of the essence of the sword.
[Sword Name: White Wind]
As Meng Fan expected, the moment he touched the Spiritual Sword, a Sword Wraith rushed towards him.
Then he absorbed the Sword Wraith, and the Sword Wraith Memory appeared.
***
A young man in luxurious clothes appeared within the high walls of a deep palace.
The Imperial Palace!
This was the Cold Palace.
Meng Fan watched the memory, which was always from the young man's perspective.
Or rather, from the perspective of the White Wind Sword in the young man's hand.
This was the Imperial Palace, but not the Great Dragon Empire Meng Fan had encountered before. It was the more distant Great Qing Empire.
The Shu Mountain Sword Sect and the Great Dragon Empire were both in the Northern Region of the Tianyuan Grand World.
But the Great Qing Empire belonged to the Central Region of the Tianyuan Grand World.
Northern Region, Southern Region, Eastern Region, Western Region, Central Region!
Among these five regions, the Central Region was the most vast and prosperous, often referred to as Shenzhou.
The land of Shenzhou!
Suddenly seeing memories related to the Central Region, Meng Fan was quite interested.
The Central Region was vast, with many empires.
Besides the empires, there was also a terrifying divine dynasty, the Great Sun Divine Dynasty!
In the Central Region, these empires and clans, in a sense, all belonged to the rule of the Great Sun Divine Dynasty.
This showed how powerful the Great Sun Divine Dynasty was, practically suppressing the entire world!
The young man in the memory was named Zhao Buhui, a prince of the Great Qing Empire.
His mother was banished to the Cold Palace, and he grew up there, completely neglected by the Great Qing Emperor.
This harsh environment forged Zhao Buhui's tenacious character and a mind far beyond his peers!
At seventeen, his mother passed away.
The Great Qing Emperor took pity on him and released him from the Cold Palace.
In the following years, Zhao Buhui diligently cultivated and built his power.
During these years, he pretended to be filial and loving with the Great Qing Emperor.
Proofreader & Editor: Peter Pan