The news spread quietly.
It was not announced to the entire sect.
There were no drums. No public declaration.
Yet within a single night, the inner disciples all understood—
The Sword Tomb would open.
At dawn, the inner court gathered.
Not all disciples were present.
Only those summoned.
The training square was wide and silent, its stone ground marked with years of sword practice.
Lin Feng arrived early.
As always.
He stood at the edge of the square, observing.
Not the people—
But their stances.
Their breathing.
Their presence.
Each of them had been chosen for a reason.
There were ten in total.
Some stood alone.
Some in pairs.
None spoke loudly.
Lin Feng recognized a few.
A tall disciple in gray robes stood near the center. His posture was upright, his sword worn openly at his side. His aura was steady, but carried a faint edge—like a blade that had been drawn too many times.
Han Lei.
Known for his direct style.
No wasted motion.
No unnecessary thought.
Not far from him stood a woman in dark blue.
Her sword was thin, almost delicate.
But her presence was not.
She stood with her weight slightly forward, her gaze calm but observant.
Qin Yue.
Precise.
Measured.
Difficult to read.
There were others.
Each different.
Each dangerous.
Then—
A familiar presence approached.
Jian Mo.
He walked into the square without drawing attention.
No announcement.
No display.
But the moment he arrived—
The atmosphere shifted.
Several disciples straightened.
Others glanced toward him briefly.
Lin Feng did not move.
Jian Mo's gaze passed across the group—
Then stopped on him.
For a moment—
Nothing was said.
Then Jian Mo gave a slight nod.
Lin Feng returned it.
No more was needed.
Footsteps echoed.
The Elder Council arrived.
At their front stood the Grand Elder.
The square fell completely silent.
His gaze swept across the ten disciples.
"You have been chosen," he said.
His voice was calm.
But carried weight.
"Not because you are the strongest."
A pause.
"But because you are capable."
His eyes lingered briefly on Lin Feng.
Then Jian Mo.
"The Sword Tomb will open today."
A faint ripple passed through the group.
Some had expected more time.
The Grand Elder continued.
"Once inside, you will not be guided."
"No elder will interfere."
"No rule will protect you."
Silence deepened.
"Within the tomb," he said, "every sword carries will."
"Some will test you."
"Some will reject you."
"And some…"
His voice lowered slightly.
"…will kill you."
No one spoke.
No one stepped back.
Good.
The Grand Elder turned.
"Follow."
They moved.
Through the inner halls.
Past the stone gate.
Into the cavern Lin Feng had entered the night before.
But now—
It felt different.
Heavier.
The tremor beneath the ground was stronger.
The other disciples felt it too.
Their steps slowed slightly.
Han Lei frowned.
"What is that…"
No one answered.
They reached the center.
The elders took their positions.
The Grand Elder raised his hand.
The ground beneath them began to shift.
Not violently.
But steadily.
A low rumble echoed through the cavern.
Then—
The stone floor split.
A narrow path opened.
Descending.
Dark.
Cold air flowed upward from below.
Carrying with it—
A presence.
Sharp.
Ancient.
Lin Feng's eyes narrowed.
That was not just sword intent.
That was… accumulation.
Years.
Decades.
Centuries.
The Grand Elder spoke.
"This is the entrance."
He looked at each of them.
"Once you descend…"
"…you choose your own path."
A pause.
"Do not follow blindly."
"Do not hesitate."
"And do not assume you understand what you face."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"If you lose your footing…"
"…you will not return."
Silence.
Then—
"Go."
No one rushed.
Han Lei moved first.
Direct.
Without hesitation.
He stepped onto the descending path.
Qin Yue followed.
Light.
Silent.
One by one, the others entered.
Jian Mo walked forward calmly.
Before stepping down, he paused.
He glanced once at Lin Feng.
Then continued.
Lin Feng was last.
He stood at the edge of the opening.
The darkness below was not empty.
He could feel it.
Countless presences.
Not alive.
But not gone.
He stepped forward.
And descended.
The path was narrow.
Uneven.
The deeper they went—
The colder it became.
The light from above faded quickly.
Soon—
Only faint torches along the walls remained.
The air grew dense.
Not suffocating.
But heavy.
As if every step carried weight.
Then—
They reached the bottom.
The path opened.
Into a vast underground world.
The Sword Tomb.
Blades.
Everywhere.
Some embedded in stone.
Some standing upright in the ground.
Some broken.
Some whole.
Thousands.
No—
Tens of thousands.
Each one different.
Each one carrying its own presence.
The air trembled faintly.
As if the swords were aware.
Watching.
Waiting.
Han Lei stepped forward.
The moment he did—
A sword near him trembled.
Then—
Leapt.
It flew toward him.
Fast.
Uncontrolled.
Han Lei reacted instantly.
His blade came up.
Clang.
The impact forced him back half a step.
The sword fell to the ground.
Still.
But the message was clear.
This was no graveyard.
This was a battlefield that had never ended.
Qin Yue moved carefully.
Her steps were light.
Avoiding unnecessary disturbance.
But even so—
Two swords near her vibrated.
She adjusted her path immediately.
Did not engage.
Good judgment.
Lin Feng stepped forward.
The moment his foot touched the ground—
Everything changed.
A ripple spread outward.
Subtle.
But undeniable.
Several swords nearby trembled.
Then—
Stopped.
As if… uncertain.
Lin Feng's eyes sharpened.
He did not move further.
He listened.
Felt.
The presence beneath everything.
Deeper.
Far deeper.
Something was there.
Watching.
Jian Mo had noticed it too.
He turned slightly.
"Do you feel it?"
Lin Feng nodded once.
"Yes."
A pause.
Jian Mo's gaze shifted toward the depths.
"That's not normal."
Before Lin Feng could respond—
A sharp sound echoed.
Metal scraping against stone.
From deep within the tomb.
Everyone froze.
Then—
A pulse.
Strong.
Heavy.
Ancient.
Several swords around them trembled violently.
Some lifted slightly from the ground.
Then dropped.
Silence followed.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
But all understood—
This was not coincidence.
Something inside the Sword Tomb—
Had awakened.
And it had already noticed them.
Lin Feng looked into the darkness ahead.
His grip tightened on his sword.
The path forward was no longer just about inheritance.
It was about survival.
And whatever lay ahead—
Was waiting.