This scoundrel is a bit of a swordsman.

Chapter 157 Unfathomable

"Just a few days ago, right around the time Chen Haoran was murdered, I felt a mysterious force, as if from beyond the heavens, falling like a meteorite. I secretly speculated that the Demon Emperor must have been forcibly brought into that otherworldly realm at that time," Murong Fenghua replied casually.

"What exactly is this sacred land, the Otherworld?" Xiao Xingchen asked curiously.

"There are nine heavens. To ascend from the mortal realm to the ninth heaven, one must venture into the outer heavens. That is the bridge connecting the mortal realm and the ninth heaven, a crucial fortress for transition. Entering the outer heavens is also known as ascending to heaven, which is why you cannot easily step into it in the short term."

"The Otherworldly Realm..." Xiao Xingchen murmured softly, engraving the name of the place in his heart.

Seemingly understanding his thoughts, Murong Fenghua continued,

"You are too weak now, do not presume to explore the otherworld. The Demon Emperor's background is shrouded in mystery, even the Jade Capital Heaven only imprisoned her, not destroyed her. This time, forcibly taking her away may hide a mystery that we cannot know."

"Then wouldn't Chen Miao and Madam Chen be together as well...?"

"Not necessarily. The Outer Heaven is like an insurmountable peak with insurmountable entry thresholds, which Chen Haoran's family members obviously cannot reach. For those who do not meet the threshold, it is like a forbidden area, and no one dares to break the rules and enter."

"So where did they go?"

"That's hard to say, but what's certain is that on the day Chen Haoran died, a shocking event occurred, shrouded in mystery. That event was far more complex than you see it to be; perhaps it was just a series of coincidences, several things collided by chance, creating the current bizarre and unpredictable situation. That's why the court is deliberately keeping this matter vague, because it cannot be investigated too deeply. Once investigated, it will be like a flood bursting its banks, causing huge problems."

"A mysterious force... Could it be that the Martial Emperor is afraid of this mysterious force?"

Xiao Xingchen was startled, and only then did he fully explain the cause and effect. Ever since Chen Haoran's death, Yong'an had been trying to suppress the matter with the Poetry Immortal Gathering. No one dared to even discuss it, let alone investigate. Initially, he thought it was aimed at him, but now it seemed that the Martial Emperor feared that further investigation would uncover that mysterious force, hence his decision to stop there.

"That's roughly it. Now you understand why you were chosen to be the scapegoat? It's because you're the most suitable candidate. As long as you bear this blame, many people will feel at ease."

Murong Fenghua's mind raced, but there were still some things she couldn't say directly. The biggest reason why Emperor Wu targeted Xiao Xingchen was actually because of the qualification to ascend to heaven. Chen Haoran's matter certainly had his invincible calculations, but it was mostly coincidence. However, it was not the time for her to tell these things frankly.

"I understand. So what conditions are required to enter the Outer Heaven?"

"No, you don't understand. You are now like a candle flickering in the wind, weak and feeble. If you want to seek the Demon Emperor, the first thing you must do is become an unparalleled being in the world. Whether it is personal martial prowess or reputation, you must reach the peak. Only one person in a hundred years in the Great Qian Dynasty will have the qualification to ascend to the heavens. You can imagine how rare this qualification is. To obtain this qualification, you must first become the number one in the Great Qian Dynasty. Only then can you have the ticket to enter the Outer Heavens."

"Number one in the Great Qian Dynasty?"

"That's right. In the Great Qian Dynasty, only when everyone is truly convinced of your worth will you be qualified to compete for that one spot. Among them, there will be other chosen ones who will compete with you. Ascending to the Heavenly Realm means truly leaping over the Dragon Gate, transcending the mortal world and freeing oneself from its disturbances. It is the lifelong dream of countless people, including not only the younger generation but also the older generation hidden in the shadows. They are all eagerly awaiting that moment of ascension to the Heavenly Realm. Therefore, your most urgent task right now is to make yourself stronger. As far as you are concerned about ascending to the Heavenly Realm right now, it's simply a pipe dream."

Xiao Xingchen frowned deeply, then suddenly realized that the so-called Nine Heavens were not just a joke, but a real place.

"So what should I do?"

"At the Poetry Immortal Tournament, go and claim the title of champion first. The influence of this tournament is earth-shattering. Winning the title will greatly help your future ascension to the heavens. As for your swordsmanship, you should have the martial arts inheritance left by the Demon Emperor. You can cultivate it step by step."

The casual reply weighed heavily on Xiao Xingchen's heart. Although he had memories of his past life, he knew that first place was not so easy to obtain. This Poetry Immortal Competition was a fierce battle, not just a simple contest of poetry, but also a fierce competition among various behind-the-scenes forces. How could they possibly let someone with no background win first place?

"You're joking, of course. First place isn't something you can just get so easily,"

He sighed helplessly.

“I never joke around. Just do what you need to do, and I'll take care of the rest. I can't guarantee you first place, but I can assure you that if you do get first place, no one can take it away from you.”

"Why are you staring at me like that? I am Murong Fenghua. If you don't know me, go out and ask around for my name. Even though I am currently in dire straits, they still have to give me this much face."

Xiao Xingchen was once again shocked by Murong Fenghua's confidence. This seemingly ordinary and unremarkable deposed empress occasionally revealed a kind of domineering sharpness, which was sharper than his sword. This made him wonder, "She must be radiant when she is young, right?"

"Thank you. Do you know anything about the ritual?"

Xiao Xingchen asked again,

"Sacrifice is the root of disaster. It's better if you don't know this, and you shouldn't provoke it, otherwise, there will be endless troubles."

It was still that same nonchalant answer, but Xiao Xingchen could only manage a helpless, bitter smile.

"But someone applied the power of the ritual to my forehead,"

"What?" Murong Fenghua's expression changed drastically for the first time. She sat bolt upright, spilling wine from the jug. She quickly reached out and pressed on Xiao Xingchen's pulse. A gentle force, like a trickle, flowed down her arm into Xiao Xingchen's body. After examining him, her gaze turned icy cold for the first time.

"Who did this?" Xiao Xingchen shook his head.

"It was a man in black robes, and they also had a very important figure named the Supreme One,"

"Sir?"

Murong Fenghua suddenly stood up, lost in thought. She slowly walked to the entrance of the main hall, looked up at the inky night sky, and murmured to herself, "Could it be him?"

"who is it?"

Xiao Xingchen stared intently, eagerly awaiting an answer. He knew he had come to the right place tonight; the late Empress seemed like a divine being, as if all mysteries could be solved here. However, Murong Fenghua did not reveal anything further, but instead solemnly instructed him...

"You don't need to interfere in this matter. I will investigate it myself. The ritual suppressed by the source runes in your mind is temporarily safe. If I can confirm that it was their doing, I will definitely have them remove it for you."

"You even know about Origin Runes?"

At this moment, Xiao Xingchen's heart was filled with a stormy sea, which was difficult to calm down.

Source patterns, something that seemed shrouded in mystery to him, were something she could so easily discern in a single sentence.

"I've only heard a little about it. It must be a fortuitous encounter bestowed upon you by the Demon Emperor. The power of the Sword Immortal, the Origin Runes, the Demon, the Sacrifice, and that blade from beyond the heavens—any one of these powers could make you an unparalleled master. Yet you have concealed them all within your spiritual platform. Your future path is destined to be arduous, but fortunately, you have met me. Since you have bowed to me three times, I will naturally not stand idly by. For now, let you cultivate your sword."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xingchen felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He solemnly rose and was about to bow down when Murong Fenghua's wine pot stood before him like an insurmountable mountain.

"Wait a minute, don't rush to worship me. I have already answered your question, now it's your turn."