"Young Master Ye, when we came back to the Sword Realm Continent so eagerly, besides wanting to participate in rebuilding the Sword Realm Continent, we had another purpose. That is, to find the ancient sword sect that shares our lineage, to trace our roots, to discover our heritage, and then return to our ancestral origins.
Unfortunately, to this day, the two of us still haven't been able to locate the ancient sect to which our own sword path heritage belongs. It seems the hope of returning to our ancestral roots is gone."
Elder Zheng also nodded.
"Indeed, in that great war from back then, almost over half of the sword sects on our Sword Realm Continent were completely destroyed, completely annihilated, their headquarters vanished, leaving not even a single trace of a Remnant Soul.
Our Tianjian Sect and the Divine Sword Sect were relatively fortunate to have retained somewhat intact ruins of our headquarters, a group of Remnant Souls, and even some powerful sect legacies. Our situation is actually among the better ones.
The headquarters of many sword sects were utterly shattered; everything inside vanished without a trace, and the vast majority of members had both their form and spirit utterly eradicated. They truly left nothing behind.
For those sword sects that were completely obliterated, likely only a handful of living members escaped to the outside world. Only after long-term development in the outside world did they manage to preserve some of the heritage."
Sword Elder nodded after hearing Elder Qin and Elder Zheng's words.
"You two, now demonstrate the sword path heritage you cultivate for me to see."
Sword Elder's gaze fell upon Elder Qin and Elder Zheng as he spoke.
"As you command!"
Hearing Sword Elder's words, Elder Qin and Elder Zheng hurriedly answered with respect.
They both knew the Tianjian Sect was one of the three great super sword sects of the ancient Sword Realm Continent. Sword Elder, moreover, was the Patriarch of the Tianjian Sect, counted among the top-tier sword cultivators in the ancient Sword Realm Continent. Though now he remained only as a Remnant Soul, his presence was still overwhelmingly formidable. Hence, they showed deep reverence before him.
"Senior, allow me first."
Elder Qin stepped forward, drew his sword, mustered his spirit, and began performing the sword art he cultivated. In an instant, afterimages of swords layered the air, and sword light surged towards the sky.
"I know now. The sword path heritage you cultivate is from the ancient Eight Trigrams Sword Sect.
To be honest, the Eight Trigrams Sword Sect can be considered a branch of our Tianjian Sect, because its founder was a common elder from our Tianjian Sect.
That common elder had a fierce conflict with another common elder of our Tianjian Sect. He approached the then Sect Master, wanting the Master to judge right and wrong between them, but the Master scolded both elders, penalizing each fifty strikes.
Later, in a rage, that elder left the Tianjian Sect, establishing his own sect outside. That was the Eight Trigrams Sword Sect.
Our Tianjian Sect, of course, knew of the Eight Trigrams Sword Sect's origins. We didn't interfere; we even secretly provided various forms of support, allowing it to develop and grow. After all, speaking loosely, it could be considered a branch of our Tianjian Sect.
Later, after his anger subsided, that elder actively returned to the Tianjian Sect to apologize to the Sect Master, requesting to merge the Eight Trigrams Sword Sect back into the Tianjian Sect. But precisely at that time, our Sword Realm Continent was invaded by powerful enemies.
From what I know, the Eight Trigrams Sword Sect performed quite valiantly in that great war. The entire sect, all its sword cultivators, rose up to resist. Sadly, during the battle, even its headquarters was utterly shattered. The vast majority of its members perished on the spot, and the founding elder of the Eight Trigrams Sword Sect was instantly killed by a powerful enemy, his body and spirit completely annihilated.
I estimate only a very few sword cultivators from the Eight Trigrams Sword Sect escaped. Everything else, including the ruins of the sect headquarters, was lost. So, naturally, it's very hard for you to find any trace of the Eight Trigrams Sword Sect on this continent now."
After watching the sword art performed by Elder Qin, Sword Elder immediately recognized the origin of his sword path heritage; it turned out to be deeply connected to the Tianjian Sect.
"So that means I, too, am a descendant of the Tianjian Sect! Qin Chong, descendant of the Tianjian Sect, pays his respects to the Patriarch!"
Hearing Sword Elder's words, Elder Qin first revealed a sorrowful expression, then suddenly knelt down and kowtowed towards Sword Elder.
Previously, he'd heard Ye Yunfei address Sword Elder as Patriarch, knowing this elder before him was the famed Patriarch of the Tianjian Sect. He never imagined he himself was also a descendant of the Tianjian Sect's line.
"Correct. Speaking that way, you are indeed a descendant of our Tianjian Sect. Rise."
Sword Elder nodded and spoke.
Qin Chong immediately felt a tremendously powerful energy directly lifting his body upright, making him stand straight.
"Since you are a descendant of our Tianjian Sect, stay here from now on and cultivate our Tianjian Sect's sword path heritage."
Sword Elder continued.
"This junior will follow the Patriarch's arrangements in all things!"
Upon hearing this, Qin Chong could not help but feel immense joy and hurriedly replied.
He realized this was a tremendous opportunity for himself. To be able to stay here and cultivate the ancient sword path heritage of the Tianjian Sect—this was a wonderful fate that countless sword cultivators in the world could only dream of.
"Senior, it's my turn."
Elder Zheng saw Elder Qin finding his sect, and that it turned out to be the prestigious Tianjian Sect, filling him with envy. He couldn't wait and spoke urgently.
Elder Zheng stepped forward and also began performing the sword art he cultivated.
"You are a descendant of the ancient Sword Realm Continent's Unfixed Sword Sect."
Sword Elder only needed to watch two or three moves before recognizing the origin of Elder Zheng's sword path heritage and spoke.
"Unfixed Sword Sect?"
Hearing Sword Elder's words, Elder Zheng couldn't help but be stunned. He had never heard of this sect's name.
"Senior, the master who taught me swordsmanship never mentioned to which ancient sect of the Sword Realm Continent my sword path heritage belonged. Because my master inherited the sword art from my patriarch, and my patriarch also never revealed the origin of our cultivated sword path heritage.
My patriarch once said that if outsiders learned the origin of our sword path heritage, it could bring great calamity to our line. So I've never heard of the Unfixed Sword Sect."
Elder Zheng explained.
"Your patriarch was likely worried that if the Blade Realm learned the origin of your line's cultivated sword path heritage, they would come searching to eliminate you.
Your patriarch's caution was correct. Over the years, the Blade Realm has been doing everything possible to hunt down the scattered descendants of the various sword sects from our Sword Realm."
Sword Elder nodded in agreement.
"The Unfixed Sword Sect was a relatively low-profile sword sect in the ancient Sword Realm Continent, but that doesn't mean its strength was lacking. Within the Unfixed Sword Sect, there were several rather powerful sword cultivators. Ordinary people didn't dare provoke them easily.
I'll tell you the precise location of the Unfixed Sword Sect's ancient headquarters. Go and search for it yourself.
However, based on what I know, the Unfixed Sword Sect's ancient headquarters was completely shattered. I don't know if anything remains at that location now."
Sword Elder spoke again, and as he did so, he pointed a finger, sending a strand of Soul Power information to Elder Zheng.
"Thank you, Senior."
Elder Zheng hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
"To think... the ancient sect to which my sword path heritage belonged has been utterly shattered.
No wonder I searched for so long on the Sword Realm Continent without discovering anything."
Elder Zheng sighed with a somewhat crestfallen expression.
"Regardless, you are a descendant of our Sword Realm Continent. Your roots are here. From now on, you are also a part of our Sword Realm."
Sword Elder consoled him.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Elder Zheng quickly said.
"The rest of you also demonstrate the sword path heritage you cultivate. Let me see from which sword sects you descendants originate."
Sword Elder's gaze then shifted to the other Sword Realm descendants.
Those Sword Realm descendants hurriedly came forward, each performing the sword arts they cultivated.
As one of the top-tier sword cultivators of the ancient Sword Realm Continent, Sword Elder was highly familiar with the sword path heritages of the various different sects from that era. Every single sword art performed by the Sword Realm descendants was recognized by Sword Elder at a single glance.
"Excellent. So many of them are actually descendants of our Tianjian Sect."
Once all the Sword Realm descendants had demonstrated their cultivated sword path heritage, Sword Elder discovered, to his pleasant surprise, that about one-third of them were descendants of the Tianjian Sect.
"The Tianjian Sect of old was one of the strongest sword sects on the Sword Realm Continent. In that great war back then, the number of sword cultivators from the Tianjian Sect who survived was certainly greater than those from other sword sects. So, comparatively, the influence they developed outside and the descendants they trained would also be greater."
Hun Lao commented to Ye Yunfei.
"Indeed, that makes sense."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"Senior, thank you for your guidance. I plan to go and return to my ancestral roots now. This is one of my purposes for returning to the Sword Realm."
A man stepped forward, speaking respectfully to Sword Elder.
"That's good.
Senior, Young Master Ye, please allow us to go and return to our ancestral roots now."
The other sword cultivators also began to speak one after another.
"Senior, Young Master Ye, I will now also go to take a look at the location of the ancient headquarters of our Unfixed Sword Sect. After all, this is one of my main purposes for coming to the Sword Realm."
Elder Zheng also spoke.
"Very well, you all may go."
Sword Elder nodded.
"Everyone, we all must be careful. We must pay attention to safety and protect ourselves. I worry the Divine Sword Sect will continue to act against us."
Elder Qin immediately spoke up.
"Don't worry. I have just notified the other forces on the Sword Realm Continent. Starting now, virtually all the Remnant Souls on this Sword Realm Continent will actively watch over you, protect you.
Because you are the new blood of our Sword Realm, one of the hopes for the future rebuilding of our Sword Realm.
I believe, starting from now, the Divine Sword Sect will no longer dare to act rashly against you."
Sword Elder said.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Hearing Sword Elder's words, Elder Zheng couldn't help but feel great joy.
He knew Sword Elder held very high prestige on this Sword Realm Continent. He could most likely persuade the other Remnant Souls on this continent to jointly protect them, the descendants of the Sword Realm.
"Go quickly. Truthfully, a considerable part of the sword sects to which you belong have not been completely annihilated; at the very least, they still have some ancient Remnant Souls left. Those are your ancestors.
I have already informed them of the situation. Right now, your ancestors are waiting for your return."
Sword Elder spoke once more.
"Thank you, Senior!"
Upon hearing Sword Elder's words, a portion of the Sword Realm descendants immediately revealed excited expressions because Sword Elder had already told them that the sword sects they belonged to still retained quite a few ancestors' Remnant Souls.
Soon, all Sword Realm descendants other than the descendants of the Tianjian Sect left the Tianjian Sect headquarters, heading off towards their respective sword sect headquarters to return to their ancestral roots.
"You are all descendants of our Tianjian Sect and also the hope for our Tianjian Sect's future. Starting now, you will stay here and cultivate the sword path."
Looking at these Tianjian Sect descendants before him, Sword Elder slowly spoke.
The Tianjian Sect headquarters had become a wasteland of ruins. For a long time, only a few Remnant Souls moved about on these ruins. But now, this batch of flesh-and-blood descendants had arrived, infusing these ruins with vitality and hope.