Chapter 93: No Longer Omniscient

“That year, I was just like you. At the final moment, I failed to restrain myself, and my killing intent leaked out.”

“In the end, all my efforts came to nothing.”

Elder Wei spoke calmly, as if he were recounting an old story that had nothing to do with him.

Yet those two understated sentences were tantamount to openly admitting that he had once attempted to slay the Emperor... and failed.

“How much of this Regicide Sword Art have you remembered?”

Elder Wei asked casually. At the same time, he flicked his hand, sending a solid stream of force through the air and into Li Shun’s chest.

Li Shun’s body trembled violently, and he immediately coughed up another mouthful of dark-red stagnant blood.

Only then did he realize that the turbulent and obstructed qi and blood within his body had once again begun flowing smoothly. Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he closed his eyes and rapidly replayed the entire sword dance he had been forced to perform earlier.

“I've memorized about seventy percent of the sword forms and techniques. As for the sword intent...” Li Shun opened his eyes and shook his head helplessly.

Hearing this, Elder Wei merely nodded silently, showing no discernible change in expression.

“Starting today, come to my courtyard every afternoon at three. I will teach you for seven days. How much you can learn will depend on your own fortune.”

Li Shun looked as though he wanted to speak but hesitated.

Seeing this, Elder Wei let out a mocking chuckle.

“Do you think that because swords can no longer harm people in Great Qian today, this sword art has become useless?”

“What utter nonsense!”

“All paths under heaven are interconnected. If you master my Regicide Sword Art, then even if you never walk the sword path in the future, it will still bring immense benefits to whatever cultivation method you pursue. Furthermore...”

Elder Wei’s gaze suddenly sharpened.

“Swords may no longer wound the body, but they can still slay the heart!”

Before his words had even finished echoing, Elder Wei moved without warning.

Holding the rough branch in his hand, he pointed it directly at Li Shun’s forehead.

In that instant, the world in Li Shun’s eyes seemed as though someone had poured ink across it.

Everything plunged into darkness.

All things around him vanished. Within that boundless sea of thick darkness, it felt as though he were the only person left in existence.

Scenes from his bleak past came crashing toward him like a breached flood.

His parents' inexplicable disappearance during childhood, leaving only three brothers to depend on one another.

The terror and despair that had seeped into his bones when he first learned he would be exiled to Lengshan County for labor service.

The countless days and nights in that freezing wasteland, feeding Lengshan Grass with his own blood essence, living a life worth less than dirt.

All the despair he had buried deep within his heart was magnified infinitely by an invisible force and surged forth all at once.

It was so overwhelming that Li Shun's mental defenses nearly collapsed.

An intense desire for death rose uncontrollably within him.

‘Perhaps it would be better to die.’

‘Then everything would finally be over.’

Nothing in the world had anything to do with him anymore.

There was nothing left worth cherishing.

No hope for life.

No fear of death.

At that moment, Li Shun was utterly disheartened.

Just as he was about to take action and end his own life, the endless darkness around him suddenly receded like a withdrawing tide.

Warm sunlight once more poured in from every direction.

The deadly loneliness and coldness within his heart were instantly dispelled.

All thoughts of suicide vanished without a trace, as though they had never existed.

Only when a gentle breeze brushed against his face did Li Shun awaken as if from a dream.

He finally realized just how terrifying the illusion he had experienced truly was.

“How was that sword strike?” Wei Wuqi withdrew the long branch and asked calmly.

“A sword that slays the heart. Its profundity rivals the work of creation itself. Truly inconceivable.”

Li Shun was still breathing heavily. After carefully recalling what he had just experienced, he offered sincere praise.

For perhaps the first time, a trace of satisfaction appeared on Wei Wuqi’s usually cold face.

“This sword has nothing to do with cultivation level or realm. It is purely a contest of will and heart.”

“Even if you are only at the Mortal Physique Realm, as long as your heart is stronger than your opponent's, you can strike directly at their Dao Heart with a single sword.”

“Well?”

“Do you wish to learn it?”

To Wei Wuqi’s surprise, hesitation still appeared on Li Shun’s face.

“Hm?”

“If you have something to say, then say it. Stop acting like a timid woman!” Wei Wuqi barked, glaring at him.

“Senior, there is something you may not know. The reason I was able to leave the Imperial Mausoleum's sealed earth this time was entirely because of Elder Mu’s assistance. I also promised him that I would handle a matter on his behalf.”

“In truth, the primary reason I came to visit you today was to inquire about Elder Mu’s condition.”

“He seems to have been injured by something called the Shoushan Copper Seal and has completely lost contact with the outside world...”

Li Shun quickly recounted the entire story.

“Elder Mu...”

Wei Wuqi froze momentarily.

Then realization dawned upon him, followed by a cold sneer.

“So it's him.”

“Hmph.”

It was clear that the two men shared a long and bitter history. Their relationship could hardly be called friendly.

“Don't worry,” Wei Wuqi said coldly. “His life is bound together with the Imperial Mausoleum's sealed earth. As long as the seal itself isn't completely destroyed, he won't die.”

Seeing the visible relief on Li Shun's face, Wei Wuqi frowned and couldn't help but add a warning.

“That Mu fellow... he's no good person. Being buried beneath that seal is no more than what he deserves. Don't be fooled by his pitiful appearance.”

Li Shun's expression remained unchanged.

Wei Wuqi sighed and waved his hand dismissively.

“Forget it. That's a matter of your Mu Clan. Why should an outsider like me interfere?”

“He asked you to handle something for him? After all these years, a few more days won't matter.”

“You'll stay here and finish learning the Regicide Sword Art before leaving. That's my decision.”

Wei Wuqi's stubborn streak had evidently surfaced. For once, he issued a forceful command rather than a suggestion.

Li Shun looked helpless, but seeing Wei Wuqi's increasingly dark expression, he could only agree.

“What now? You still have questions?”

“Why do you have so many problems? If you've got something to say, spit it out!”

Though impatience was already beginning to show, Wei Wuqi still endured and listened.

Li Shun nodded.

“There is one more thing I wish to know.”

“The Method of the Empty Vessel, Bereft of Self that you taught me... if cultivated to its highest realm, would it be capable of concealing someone from the Qian Emperor?”

“Oh?”

Wei Wuqi's expression changed slightly.

He narrowed his eyes and carefully scrutinized Li Shun once more.

Li Shun met his gaze calmly and directly, showing neither fear nor avoidance.

“I'll tell you plainly.”

“No.”

Wei Wuqi answered without hesitation.

“Not just the Method of the Empty Vessel, Bereft of Self. Every concealment technique beneath heaven is meaningless before Mu Wujiu.”

“If you truly carry some secret that cannot be exposed...”

“Then it would be best if you never appeared before him for the rest of your life.”

“In fact, it would be even better if you never set foot in the Sacred Capital at all.”

His words carried a deeper meaning.

“Of course, you don't need to worry excessively.”

“Ever since the Four Sages Entered the Capital, Mu Wujiu no longer possesses the ability to survey the entire world.”

“You're actually quite fortunate.”

“If you had lived during the period when he had just completed his breakthrough and stood at the absolute peak of his power...”

“Then every secret you carried would likely have been exposed long ago.”

Wei Wuqi stared intently at Li Shun, seemingly hoping to discover something.

But he was destined to find nothing.

“Enough. You may leave.”

“Remember to come back tomorrow.”

After a long silence, Wei Wuqi suddenly seemed to lose interest. He waved his hand and dismissed Li Shun.

Li Shun respectfully cupped his fists and bowed before taking his leave.

...

Year Ninety-Nine of the New Calendar. The Four Sages Entered the Capital.

Although they had been suppressed by the Qian Emperor and had vanished from sight ever since, Wei Wuqi's words suggested that the Emperor himself had also suffered grievous injuries in that battle.

Perhaps the reason he appeared less and less frequently over the years was because the wounds he sustained back then had never truly healed.