Chapter 3: Annihilation Art
(Words 1308)
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The heritage left to the True Martial Holy Sect by the three Emperors brought the sect to an unprecedented golden age. However, everything in the world follows a law of development, and all things that rise must eventually fall. For thousands of years afterwards, the True Martial Holy Sect did not produce another Emperor. Although it remained a behemoth, it gradually declined from its former glory. It wasn't until 3,000 years ago that a girl appeared and broke this stalemate.
Living in a small village under the rule of the True Martial Holy Sect, this ordinary girl had an unremarkable life for fifteen years until one day she witnessed two powerful warriors fighting in the sky above her village. From that moment on, a new world had been seeded in her young heart.
The girl came to the sect, hoping to become a disciple, but was rejected due to her mediocre aptitude. Undaunted, she knelt on the stone steps outside the sect's gate for a full seven days. Through wind, rain, and scorching sun, she endured without taking a single drop of water or morsel of food. Despite being just an ordinary person at the time, she persisted through this ordeal with unyielding willpower that moved those who witnessed it.
Eventually, a senior disciple took pity on her and accepted her as a named disciple. She was like a frog at the bottom of a well, yearning to jump out and unwilling to remain in obscurity. She was also like an ant crawling between heaven and earth, always crawling forward, until one day she suddenly stood up. People only realised then that they didn't know when this ant had grown to the height of the sky.
In her time, there were many geniuses who were truly remarkable. However, in the end, no one expected that an ordinary girl with mediocre aptitude would sweep through that era. She became known as the "Empress Hongtian".
This is the honorific title of that girl from back then.
Among the countless Emperors of the ages, the Empress Hongtian is definitely one of the most brilliant.
She not only shone in her own era but also had a deep influence on the eras of several Emperors that followed.
The Hongtian Empress led the True Martial Holy Sect to another golden age.
...
Recalling the history of the True Martial Holy Sect, Xu Zimo's eyes were wide. He hoped that one day his name would also appear among the dazzling stars of this epic.
...
All the way to the Scripture Pavilion, located at the core of the True Martial Holy Sect, where all the martial arts and pulse techniques collected since the establishment of the sect are stored.
Unlike what people might imagine, the atmosphere around the Scripture Pavilion is quite relaxed.
There are ancient trees that reach the sky, spirit herbs covering the ground, and flowers competing for beauty. Colourful butterflies flutter around, and rare medicinal chickens patrol the surroundings, tending to the soil, fertilising, and catching insects for the spirit herbs and flowers.
The Scripture Pavilion has a total of eighteen floors. Standing at the entrance, a quaint atmosphere comes to the fore. It stands silently, as if telling people about its history of tens of thousands of years.
The colour of the attic is a mixture of green and light yellow, with magnificent jade buildings and blue tiles with vermilion eaves.
On both sides of the eaves are carvings of various exotic beasts.
There are eagles spreading their wings, flying birds soaring, cheetahs roaring, and ferocious lions.
There is no one guarding the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, but Xu Zimo can feel a daunting atmosphere around him.
Advanced formations are set up around the area. Once intruders are detected, the formations will activate, and even a strong Saint Vein Realm expert may not be able to escape easily.
…
When Xu Zimo inserted the token his father had given him into the slot at the entrance, an elder watching over the scripture pavilion would authenticate the token and grant him permission.
The light screen at the entrance disappeared, and Xu Zimo walked directly into the scripture pavilion.
The first floor was arranged in a simple manner, with tens of thousands of bookshelves arranged neatly.
A dim light screen covered the martial arts and cultivation methods on each bookshelf.
At the front of each bookshelf, there was a small sign indicating the name, purpose, and grade of the corresponding book.
Xu Zimo didn't stay long and went straight to the highest floor of the scripture pavilion, the 18th floor.
The light on the 18th floor was slightly dim, with only four statues.
Each of these four statues seemed to exist in a separate, special space.
Xu Zimo stood in front of the statues, looking from left to right.
The first statue was of a man with long hair, his imposing manner and deep gaze like the sea, his dominance over the world making people unable to resist.
This was a man who stepped on mountains and rivers and shouldered the heavens.
The second statue was also of a man, giving people an extreme feeling, as if he had given up everything and only pursued the end of something.
Proud and unruly, he carried three strange long swords on his back.
The moment you see the swords, you can understand that he is a pure swordsman who has worked hard all his life to reach the pinnacle of the sword path.
"Life under the sword, death under the sword."
The third statue was only a back view, giving people a particularly ethereal feeling, as if it were close at hand but also far away in the distance.
He walked between reality and the void just to pursue the ultimate truth of speed.
The fourth statue was a woman, with her long hair scattered behind her and a veil covering her country-toppling face.
Her style was different and varied. At first glance, she gave you the feeling of being pure and lively, reminding you of a neighbour girl with a ponytail on a summer afternoon. That was the feeling of first love.
At second glance, she seemed like a charming and seductive fairy.
At third glance, she was like a ruthless female war god who killed without blinking, not allowing anyone to stand in her way. Her conviction was firm, and her aura was unmatched.
At fourth glance, she was like a female Emperor who ruled everything, as if all living beings were ants in front of her. With just one glance, all the prosperity in the world was insignificant and worthless.
...
Xu Zimo looked at the statues of the four greatest Emperors in the history of the True Martial Holy Sect, and his heart was solemn.
In fact, he had no intention of practising someone else's martial arts because he had already forged his own path in martial arts in his previous life.
But in order to conceal his secret and not let it be exposed, Xu Zimo still chose the martial art of the Three Swords Great Emperor.
He quite admired the extreme sword path of the Three Swords Great Emperor, which happened to be a good transition for him.
Xu Zimo placed his hand on the statue, closed his eyes, emptied his mind, and tried to comprehend it.
A white mist covered everything, and Xu Zimo could clearly feel a memory merging into his own.
This was precisely the martial art, "Annihilation Art," practised by the Three Swords Great Emperor.
Everything begins with annihilation and ends with annihilation!
Originates from annihilation and ends in annihilation!
After obtaining the martial art he wanted, Xu Zimo was ready to leave.
Before leaving, he subconsciously glanced at the corner of the scripture pavilion, then shook his head and smiled secretly, turned around, and left happily.
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