Back Then, Someone Severed the Dao and Became an Immortal Here

Sword Master Wang's voice was clear and cold as he stood before the crowd, his Daoist robes billowing.

"The Thousand-Sword Burial Ground was created by the founding ancestor of our Southriver Sword Sect. Sword qi runs rampant here, and beneath the earth lie 1,698 broken swords. Once you enter the Burial Ground, if anyone feels unwell, turn back immediately. Do not linger inside, or you may be injured by the sword qi—if it leaves a hidden danger in your body, it simply isn't worth it."

Sword Master Wang gave a brief warning.

The crowd below grew excited at his words, each person raising their eyes to look at Sword Master Wang.

"The Thousand-Sword Burial Ground—I've heard the Southriver Sword Sect has Five Swords, but I never expected they would be hidden inside the Burial Ground!" a young man exclaimed, eyes shining.

"Rumor has it that countless divine weapons and sharp swords are buried beneath the soil of the Thousand-Sword Burial Ground. Some even say someone once severed the Dao and became an Immortal here! Even if I can't earn a Southriver Sword today, just getting the chance to see this place makes the trip worth it!"

Groups of people stared with shining eyes, already impatient to begin.

The Southriver Sword Sect is full of legends in Capitalview, but only a handful have ever set foot inside the sect or the Thousand-Sword Burial Ground.

Even if they don't end up earning a Southriver Sword, just having entered the Thousand-Sword Burial Ground is enough to brag about once they leave the sect. With this experience, they can build connections and gain real benefits for their future.

"Severed the Dao and became an Immortal?"

Hearing someone mention those four words, Evan Lin—who had been scanning the area, debating whether to head straight for the Thousand-Sword Burial Ground—turned and looked at the speaker. "Is there really such a thing as Immortals in this world?"

Evan asked with curiosity.

Even on the Immortal Martial Continent, where spiritual qi was abundant, breaking through the void, ascending to the heavens, opening the Heavenly Gate, and becoming an Immortal was hellishly difficult.

In ten thousand years, only Evan Lin had managed to reach the Heavenly Gate. Yet even he fell before the final step, unable to cross the threshold.

On Earth, where spiritual qi is so scarce, even if someone did attain immortality long ago, it definitely wouldn't have happened on a small mountain like Heavenly Sword Mountain.

"Call you a country bumpkin, and you really are one. Do you even know where the Southriver Sword Sect's founder learned his sword arts?" Harvey He, who had been chatting with Selina Zhu, glanced at Evan Lin with open disdain.

He was from the He family, which held real influence in Oceanport City. Because of that, Harvey He had access to things most people could only dream of.

As soon as he spoke, countless eyes turned his way.

Most people only knew the name 'Southriver Sword Sect.' Occasionally they'd hear news about some genius who came from there, but few really understood its history.

"The founder of the Southriver Sword Sect?"

Selina Zhu was also drawn in by Harvey He's story.

With all eyes on him, Harvey He felt a surge of pride. Clearing his throat, he began: "The founder of the Southriver Sword Sect was originally a stonemason, making a living by carving tombstones. One day, while fulfilling a commission to make eighteen tombstones, he went up the mountain to find suitable stone and accidentally wandered into the Thousand-Sword Burial Ground. There, he found a yellowed ancient scroll."

"The scroll said that if he could complete a certain thing, he would receive a supreme sword art. With nothing better to do, the stonemason followed the scroll and carved a stone statue. When he finished, he comprehended an incredibly powerful sword technique!"

"The contours of the statue itself were the sword art. Afterward, he found a blacksmith and forged a longsword. He left the mountain, and when he returned, he was already a peerless sword knight. Right here, he founded the Southriver Sword Sect, gathered disciples, and passed down the legacy to this day."

Harvey He spoke with flourish, nodding and gesturing: "Legend has it, the statue he carved was in the likeness of the Immortal who severed the Dao."

"And the reason the stonemason founded the sect here as a sword knight was, above all, to guard that Immortal statue!"

After Harvey's speech, the crowd around him was full of longing and admiration.

Some people, though, found such a mystical story hard to believe.

"Comprehended sword arts from a stone statue?"

Evan Lin narrowed his eyes, pondering inwardly.

From that angle, it actually makes sense—after all, if the Nine Mysteries Immortal Lord of his previous life wanted to embed a sword art into a stone carving, he could have done it.

The only difference is, this is Earth. Could such a figure really exist here?

"This young man's not wrong—our Southriver Sword Sect's founder really was a stonemason, but the story isn't quite accurate. The founder didn't return to the mountain to start the sect after becoming a sword knight. He founded the Southriver Sword Sect on the very day he mastered the sword art."

"Afterward, the founder went down the mountain not just to act chivalrous and make a name for himself, but also to seek out the best blacksmiths and forge over a thousand divine swords."

"People only know about the Five Swords of the Southriver Sword Sect, but in truth, the sect had far more than just five. Besides the Southriver, Misty Rain, Enlightenment, Sudden-Clarity, and Broken Red-Dust Swords, there were swords like Deathbone and Scourged-Remnant, and many others. Most of those swords fell in that one night..."

Sword Master Wang, standing at the front, paused after speaking. His tone grew wistful, as if lost in thought.

"After that night, almost all the swords were shattered and buried in the Thousand-Sword Burial Ground. Only five types remain, and as for the Broken Red-Dust Sword, no one in the sect has ever actually seen it. Its name, though, has been passed down to this day."

Sword Master Wang's voice slowed, as if recounting some ancient, dusty tale.

"Sword Master, what really happened that night? How could so many swords break all at once?"

Someone in the crowd asked.

Everyone could almost picture the tragic scene—countless divine swords shattered in a single night.

No matter how you looked at it, the Thousand-Sword Burial Ground felt like it was hiding endless secrets.

"I don't know the details either."

Sword Master Wang let out a heavy breath and shook his head. "There's no explanation in the sect's records for what happened that night—only that all the divine swords were shattered, and everything returned to its origin."

He finished speaking and was about to lead the group to the Thousand-Sword Burial Ground when, suddenly, his gaze shifted. He spotted a figure swiftly ascending the Coldwater Stone steps from below.

That person moved with impressive speed, his skin fair and handsome features marked by a serious expression.

"Wow! It's Zack Zhao!"