Heaven-Surpassing Divine Emperor

"Elder Zhang, what in the world is going on?"

"Why has the Spiritual Qi concentration in the Sword Pool dropped so much? It’s less than a third of what it was..."

"I worked my tail off to save up one hundred thousand Contribution Points just to cultivate here once. And now this happens? You two Elders had better give me an explanation!"

"That’s right! You owe us an explanation!"

The sudden drop in Spiritual Qi within the Sword Pool prompted the cultivating Sword Sect disciples to storm out and confront Elder Zhang and Elder Zou.

Faced with the indignant crowd, the expressions on Elder Zhang and Elder Zou’s faces were ghastly, their complexions alternating between pale and ashen.

The price for cultivating in the Sword Pool was a staggering one hundred thousand Contribution Points!

Anyone capable of amassing one hundred thousand Contribution Points was either an exceptionally talented prodigy or an individual with a powerful background.

If it were only one or two people, the two Elders could have used their status to strong-arm them into silence.

But they were facing nearly a hundred people!

Among them were plenty of disciples from powerful, distinguished families, and even descendants of the Saint Martial Sword Sect’s own leadership, which made Elder Zhang and Elder Zou’s expressions grow even more grim.

Elder Zhang cleared his throat and said, "Everyone, please calm down. I will personally investigate the matter and give you all an explanation!"

"That’s right, please, try to remain calm. We’ll go right now and find out what the problem is!" Elder Zou added hastily.

"Hurry up. Our cultivation time is precious."

"You’d better have an explanation for us soon!"

Spurred on by the crowd, Elder Zhang and Elder Zou, sweating bullets with anxious expressions, hurried into the Sword Pool.

Having managed the Sword Pool for many years, the two of them knew it like the backs of their hands.

"Elder Zou, you investigate the core of the Spirit Array. I’ll inspect the Sub-Sword Pools!" Elder Zhang said.

Elder Zou nodded, his expression grave. "We have to resolve this quickly. If our superiors find out, we’re both done for!"

"Understood!"

Elder Zhang’s expression was just as grave.

The two Elders began their investigation at top speed. Elder Zou was responsible for the Spirit Array’s core, which was located in the center of the Sword Pool. It was the very spot pinned down by the Celestial Martial Saint Sword, the personal weapon of the Saint Martial Sword Sect’s founding ancestor.

It was a translucent Holy Sword, standing tall within the Sword Pool.

Beneath the Holy Sword, one could faintly make out a dragon-shaped Spirit Vein shimmering with Spiritual Light, pinned down by the blade.

Powerful waves of Spiritual Qi were gushing forth from this dragon-shaped Spirit Vein.

’The Spiritual Qi outflow from the Spirit Array’s core is a bit faster than normal, but other than that, there’s nothing wrong! So where on earth is the problem?’ Elder Zou was completely baffled. The rate at which Spiritual Qi flowed out from the core was only slightly accelerated; logically, the amount of Spiritual Qi in each Sub-Sword Pool should be increasing, not decreasing.

And yet, the Spiritual Qi in all the Sub-Sword Pools had plummeted. ’So where did it all go?’

Just as Elder Zou was wrestling with his confusion, Elder Zhang’s voice rang out, "Elder Zou, get over here, quick! I’ve found the source of the problem!"

"Coming!"

A jolt went through Elder Zou, and he rushed toward Elder Zhang’s location at top speed.

「A short while later...」

Elder Zou found Elder Zhang and asked anxiously, "What’s going on? Did you find the cause?"

"See for yourself..." Elder Zhang said, his face grim.

Before him was one of the Sub-Sword Pools.

And even from behind the tightly sealed stone door of the Sub-Sword Pool, they could sense wisps of Spiritual Qi leaking out.

These stone doors were forged from a special material capable of blocking Spiritual Qi from escaping. The fact that it was leaking out now could only mean one thing: the Spiritual Qi concentration inside this Sword Pool had far surpassed the door’s containment capacity!

’Just how much Spiritual Qi would that be?’

"What’s going on with this Sword Pool? Who’s inside?"

Elder Zou’s expression turned grave, but he saw Elder Zhang give a wry smile, looking as though he’d just swallowed a fly.

Elder Zou was taken aback. "Sub-Sword Pool Seventy-Eight? But... wasn’t the Spirit Array in this pool broken? Is Jiang Chen in there now?"

"That’s right, it is Jiang Chen. And if I’m not mistaken, he’s the one who caused this whole mess!" Elder Zhang said through clenched teeth, a cold light glinting in his murky eyes. "I told you we shouldn’t have let that little bastard in. See? Now look at the disaster he’s caused!"

"..."

Elder Zou was speechless. "This is no time for blaming people. We have to figure out how to solve this. Those ’little ancestors’ are waiting for us outside. If we don’t resolve this quickly, we’re both done for!"

"And what’s your brilliant idea? Are we supposed to just break down the stone door?" Elder Zhang retorted dismissively.

’Break down the stone door?’

Elder Zou’s face darkened. The Sword Pool was designed from its inception to prevent tampering. Each Sub-Sword Pool was interconnected, forming a single, integrated system.

Destroying even one of the stone doors would disrupt the entire Sword Pool’s equilibrium.

The consequences would be unthinkable.

The two of them exchanged a look, realizing that the only way forward was to have Jiang Chen open the door from the inside.

Elder Zou gave a bitter smile. "Elder Zhang, I’ll leave this matter to you."

"Are you sure about that?"

Elder Zhang raised his grizzled eyebrows, looking at Elder Zou with a mocking smile.

It was as if he were saying: ’Damn it, I royally pissed off Jiang Chen not too long ago. You want *me* to persuade him now? Aren’t you just trying to add fuel to the fire?’

Elder Zou said in frustration, "Fine. But you’ll owe me a favor for this!"

"I know!"

Elder Zou took a deep breath, walked up to the door of Sub-Sword Pool Seventy-Eight, and after a moment of careful consideration, said, "Jiang Chen, it is I, Elder Zou!"

"I’m in seclusion. I don’t have time!"

Jiang Chen’s calm voice came from behind the stone door.

"Jiang Chen, I have something important to discuss with you. I hope you can pause your cultivation. You can continue once the matter is resolved, how about it?" Elder Zou said with a frown.

From behind the stone door: "..."

The corner of Elder Zou’s eye twitched, a hint of anger flaring in his gaze.

He was an Inner Sect Elder, in charge of the Sword Pool. Who would dare speak to him like that on any other day?

But right now, there was nothing he could do about it!

He could only patiently continue, "Jiang Chen, you must know what’s happening. If this isn’t handled properly, it won’t end well for either of us. You’d best..."

"Sorry, I can’t hear what you’re saying. I’m going back to my cultivation, Elder Zou!" Jiang Chen’s tone was still unhurried.

Elder Zou’s face darkened.

Elder Zhang, who was standing to the side, couldn’t take it anymore. Flushed with anger, he roared, "Jiang Chen, I command you to come out of that Sword Pool right now, or else..."

"Elder Zhang, was it? Your memory really must be failing. When I asked you to change my Sword Pool, you stubbornly refused and insisted I stay here. It’s only been a few days. Have you forgotten your own words already?" Jiang Chen asked, his voice full of amusement.

Even though they were separated by a thick stone door.

The two Elders could clearly picture the gloating expression on Jiang Chen’s face.

"Damn it!"

Elder Zhang’s face was grim as he threatened viciously, "Jiang Chen, I’m warning you. If you don’t come out of that Sword Pool, you will regret this!"

"Oh? Is that a threat, Elder Zhang? I’m stubborn. That kind of talk doesn’t work on me!" Jiang Chen snorted disdainfully.

"Jiang Chen, get out here!"

"Jiang Chen, don’t do something you’ll regret!"

"Do you think I won’t go to the Law Enforcement Hall and request a Judgement against you right now?"

"Jiang Chen, I’m begging you, please just come out, alright?"

"We can talk about anything!"

The two Elders had tried every trick in the book, but Jiang Chen didn’t even deign to grunt in response. For him, silence was golden, and he was determined to see it through.

The two exchanged a look, and a bitter smile appeared on their faces.

They finally understood the meaning of that old proverb—it’s easier to invite a demon in than to send it away.

"What now?" Elder Zhang looked at Elder Zou.

Elder Zou shrugged and smiled wryly. "What else can we do? The kid clearly has us over a barrel. We have no choice but to compromise..."

"Bow down to that brat? I... I can’t stomach it!" Elder Zhang clenched his fists, his teeth grinding in frustration.

Elder Zou said helplessly, "Do you have a better idea?"

"I..."

Elder Zhang opened his mouth, then let out a defeated laugh. He stood before the stone door, his voice now incomparably meek. "Jiang Chen, I admit defeat. Just tell me. What will it take for you to come out?"