Borrowed Sword

Chapter 286 : Founding Emperor

Chapter 286: Founding Emperor

Lin Zixuan listened to her master’s words and was slightly stunned.

“Founding Emperor?”

She recalled something.

The reason why Qin Xuanxiao, the Heir of Prince Rui, had been favored since childhood by Prince Rui and even His Majesty the Emperor was because his facial features bore a striking resemblance to the portrait of the Emperor.

And as he grew older, he had come to resemble the Founding Emperor in that portrait even more.

However, the person in the painting clearly carried a certain ruggedness and boldness.

Qin Xuanxiao, on the other hand, was different—his noble birth gave him an overwhelming air of refined dignity.

Since the Founding Emperor was originally the ancestor of these royal family members, and Qin Xuanxiao happened to belong to his lineage, it was not strange for him to resemble him somewhat.

“But what exactly does Master mean by this?”

After thinking for a moment, Lin Zixuan did not dwell on it further.

For someone like her, whose life had already been arranged, everything in the future was laid out before her.

She only needed to walk along the predetermined path.

Thinking too much was useless—it would change nothing.

This was the destiny her master had set for her.

As a result, she rarely thought deeply about many things and could not be bothered to.

This was also why players often said that 《Borrowed Sword》 had every trope imaginable.

Han Shuangjiang followed the path of a main female protagonist, while Lin Zixuan was practically the delicate little wife of an overbearing CEO.

Clearly a god-tier support, yet she looked more like Qin Xuanxiao’s accessory… or rather, his subordinate?

Her brain could practically be rented out.

After all, she rarely used it.

At this moment, she had already begun thinking about what to eat for dinner.

Ming Xuanji lightly tapped the table with his finger, signaling Lin Zixuan to continue pouring tea.

After a while, the old man said:

“The Eastern and Western Continents’ Grand Competition for the Third Realm is drawing closer.”

“How are the preparations at the academy?”

The girl replied, “Master, I passed by yesterday. Several platforms have already been set up.”

Ming Xuanji nodded.

“Judging by the time, Chu Huaixu and the others should be setting off soon.”

“Zixuan, do you still remember what I previously instructed you?” he asked.

Lin Zixuan immediately replied, “Master, are you referring to the matter of the spirit seed?”

“Correct.”

“That day, I did not explain it to you in detail because the Heir of Prince Rui was present—I feared he might grow suspicious.”

“When Chu Huaixu arrives in the capital, you must find him as soon as possible and have him plant the spirit seed in your body again.”

“This must be done before he enters the Imperial Pool. Have you remembered?” the old man asked.

The petite girl did not ask further. She simply said respectfully, “Disciple remembers.”

In truth, she was quite puzzled.

Why had Master forcibly removed the spirit seed last time, only to have her find Chu Huaixu to plant it again?

What was the purpose of removing the spirit seed back then?

The reason Lin Zixuan cared about this matter was that ever since that day, her master had suddenly aged considerably and had even suffered severe injuries.

She could also tell that her master did not want the Heir of Prince Rui to know about this matter.

Or rather, because this matter might be related to the Imperial Pool, he did not want the Heir to know.

To her, having grown up in Prince Rui’s residence since childhood and begun cultivating under her master at the age of ten—

Both Qin Xuanxiao and Ming Xuanji were the closest people in her life.

Yet clearly, both sides had their own hidden intentions.

Lin Zixuan usually did not ask questions.

If the Heir of Prince Rui told her to hide something from her master, then she hid it.

If her master told her to hide something from the Heir of Prince Rui, then she hid it as well.

This was Lin Zixuan’s way of navigating the world.

—After all, she was stupid.

After chatting a bit more with his little disciple, Ming Xuanji began to send her away.

“Return to the residence,” he said.

The “residence” he referred to was naturally Prince Rui’s residence.

“Yes, Master.” The girl obediently stood up. As she left, she did not forget to take a spirit fruit from the table to eat along the way.

After Lin Zixuan left, Ming Xuanji sat alone for quite a while.

Like a frail old man nearing the end of his years, he would often suddenly lose focus, sitting there blankly in a daze.

After a long time, he let out a faint sigh.

“When the time comes, I will request His Majesty to allow me to enter the Imperial Mausoleum once more under special permission.”

“If I can add more of the Fate of the Nation, perhaps I can forcibly extend my life for a few more years.”

“I have spent most of my life laying plans for the Heaven-and-Earth Calamity. If I cannot live to see its end… I will not be reconciled.”

With that thought, he rose to his feet and flew toward the distance.

Ming Xuanji soon arrived before a six-story pagoda.

He entered the tower.

Inside the pagoda hung painting after painting.

All were portraits—men and women, young and old.

Interestingly, every one of these lifelike paintings had been personally painted by this old blind man.

Each painting also had a few words written on it.

At this moment, he walked straight upward and soon reached the fifth floor.

The higher the floor, the fewer the paintings.

On the fifth floor, there were only forty-nine.

And every person depicted here was a figure of great renown.

There were people from the Dao Gate such as Xiang Yan and Jiang Zhi.

There were also figures from the Sword Sect, such as the Sword Sovereign and Situ Cheng.

There was even the female State Preceptor of Moon Country, as well as Prince Rui—and even the current Emperor.

Ming Xuanji stood before Jiang Zhi’s portrait.

On the painting were written four words—

Heaven, Earth, Human, Demon.

“Too many variables have arisen now.”

“Since Chu Huaixu is coming to Moon Country to participate in the competition, you will likely accompany him personally,” Ming Xuanji said calmly.

“I simply did not expect that after falling into demonic cultivation, you had not acted for so long—yet this time, you have already begun to use your demonic nature ahead of time.”

This painting had originally been placed alongside that of the Sword Sovereign.

Ming Xuanji picked it up, intending to move it to the back row.

But he could not resist performing a quick divination.

Then he let out a soft sound:

“Hm—?”

He smiled slightly and hung the painting back in its original place.

“It seems I have underestimated you, Jiang Zhi.”

After walking a full circle around the fifth floor, the old man adjusted the positions of three paintings.

Then, he proceeded to the sixth floor.

Originally, this floor had only four paintings.

The four depicted were:

Xu Ziqing, Han Shuangjiang, Qin Xuanxiao, and Lin Zixuan.

But now, in the center of the four, there was an additional painting.

It depicted a handsome man dressed in a black-gold robe.

The Xuanhuang Champion—Chu Huaixu.

On his painting were also written several words—

【Variable】.

On Xu Ziqing’s painting, the words were—

【Sword Attendant】.

On Han Shuangjiang’s portrait, the words were—

【Profound Yin】.

These were not difficult to understand.

What was noteworthy, however, was Chu Huaixu’s painting. At first, it had only been placed on the fourth floor. It was only after he became the Xuanhuang Champion that it was moved there.

After the failure of the previous “rectification,” Ming Xuanji realized the severity of the situation—and the terror of this variable—so he placed it on the sixth floor.

As for his beloved disciple Lin Zixuan, the words on her portrait were—

【Heaven-Gifted】.

This likely related to her ability to grant her own power to others.

As for Qin Xuanxiao, the two words written on his portrait were the most peculiar—

【Vessel】.