The Sword Emperor Transmigrates-Chapter 256

It’s begun.

Leonard could feel the yin energy flowing through his eight extraordinary meridians swell several times over. The heat from the yang energy of the Vermilion Bird Qi that had tempered his body rapidly dissipated, cooling him as though he were steel plunged in water. Steam hissed from his pores.

Of course, if that had been all, balancing his Deification would not have been so arduous.

As the energy of the Black Tortoise claimed parts of Leonard’s body—his sanctuary—the dormant Vermilion Bird, nestled near his heart, flared to life. Its sharp gaze bore into the intruder, and with a furious flap of its wings, the yang energy coursing through his arteries and veins reclaimed the parts usurped by the yin.

The internal struggle immediately manifested externally.

Crack...! Crackle...!

The parts overtaken by the Black Tortoise turned icy cold, with frost forming on the surface, while the Vermilion Bird’s areas exuded heat so intense that it sent shimmering waves rising.

Ugh...! With my body’s resilience, I should be able to withstand a furnace without issue, but at this rate... my bones will start melting within an hour...! No, maybe even sooner!

Though his body had long transcended mortal limits, Leonard’s brow furrowed deeply as the opposing forces clashed within him. This was no trivial matter. The process of tempering could only go so far—even the strongest steel would eventually shatter if melted and reforged too many times.

Leonard fully realized that his body was being whittled away, and yet he stoically endured the pain without making a sound.

His veins froze, then burned and fused. His nerves snapped, then froze and reattached. This excruciating cycle of destruction and restoration, which would have killed an ordinary person dozens of times over, was something Leonard faced with a detached calm, observing the clash between the two forces.

The Black Tortoise’s energy is clearly at a disadvantage. Although it managed to seize the initiative with a surprise attack on the dormant Vermilion Bird’s energy, it’s clear that the energy itself is inferior against divine power.

Naturally, Leonard realized he would need to sustain the energy of the Black Tortoise.

To elevate it to the level of Deification, without the thrill of battle or the aid of the world’s laws... I must recreate that state on my own. This will be... challenging.

During his battle with Scylla, Leonard had barely glimpsed into the realm of True Gods. He needed the power of a divine sword to elevate his strength to godlike heights. However, that power was something he had yet to fully master or replicate on his own.

His ascension in the battle against Scylla was merely a fleeting achievement, born of extraordinary circumstances and a myriad of conditions aligning perfectly.

By all accounts, something like that should have been impossible.

“Hngh...!”

Leonard forced back his gasp of astonishment as the Black Tortoise’s power surged from deep within him.

One Origin Five Elements Divine Sword

Lunar God of the North

Black Tortoise's Emergence

In his Mindscape, the Black Tortoise stepped forward. The massive turtle forcefully swung its serpent tail, dispersing the hazy heat around it.

The Vermilion Bird, which had been relentlessly driving back the yin energy, faltered momentarily from the impact. Seizing the opportunity, the yin energy swiftly regrouped and counterattacked, biting into the yang energy with fervor.

Leonard’s body, which had grown red-hot below the neck, was finally cooling down, returning to its normal state.

The Vermilion Bird and the Black Tortoise—two divine beasts, both now residing within Leonard’s body, glared at one another. They circled his heart and lower abdomen, their territories clearly defined as if in a tense truce.

...This formation... Could it be?

As the yin and yang energies spiraled together, chasing one another and intertwining, they began to take on a familiar shape. Even someone not from the Wudang Sect with only a rudimentary understanding of Taoism would recognize it.

The Taiji—the concept of yin and yang—representing the origin of the universe, was symbolized by the black-and-white circular pattern.

Crack...!

Witnessing it, Leonard felt a wave of euphoric clarity, as though an immense glacier in his mind had just shattered. Knowledge he had previously understood only intellectually was now reborn as wisdom.

It was a moment of enlightenment. Yin was the energy of contraction, and yang was the energy of expansion. The interplay and coexistence of these two energies gave birth to the Five Elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. From these, the foundations of all things, including the Ten Celestial Stems and Twelve Terrestrial Branches, were formed.

Everything began with the harmony of yin and yang.

Though Leonard had not yet fully ascended to the Deification Tier or awakened the remaining divine beasts, he had succeeded in governing the two divine beasts and their energies under the principle of Taiji.

“Haa...” His tightly shut eyes opened, releasing a flicker of multicolored light. With a sigh, translucent vapor escaped his lips.

The Vermilion Bird and the Black Tortoise, nestled in his heart and lower abdomen respectively, glared at each other briefly before settling into slumber. Finally, Leonard’s body felt at ease.

“It looks like you succeeded. That was quite the spectacle,” said Laila, clapping her hands with a mischievous smile.

She had watched as his body alternated between freezing and burning, unfazed by the godlike clash within him.

Leonard’s ordeal had been a fierce clash between two True God-level powers, and yet something like that would be nothing to Laila. What would have overwhelmed most people hadn’t even made her blink.

Having taken another step closer to the Deification Tier, Leonard’s enhanced Dragon Eyes revealed something he had not noticed before.

“The Transcendence Tier and Class 7...Could it be, Your Majesty, that you are a magic swordswoman?”

The laws of the world clung so tightly to her that he had been unable to perceive it until now. Only after completing the Black Tortoise’s Deification and honing his sight could he discern the truth—Laila had mastered both swordsmanship and magic to unparalleled levels.

Laila nodded casually at his question, as if it were nothing extraordinary. “Well, in terms of classification, I suppose that’s accurate. Though I only picked up aura cultivation methods and magic for basic health maintenance.”

“Health maintenance, you say?”

“Yes,” she replied with a dismissive snort, her tone indifferent, “Even if I were to suddenly die, a new emperor would be born. But in this era, even a year of instability could be catastrophic. Dropping dead all of a sudden is a big no-no, wouldn’t you say?”

Indeed, the One Beloved by the World was born in the imperial family once per generation, and if the empress were to pass away unexpectedly, it would take quite some time for someone to take her place and assume the throne.

So, the longer the empress lived, the fewer disruptions the empire would face. In these waning days of the world, even a single lapse in leadership due to health could open a fatal breach.

While logically sound, Leonard knew just how absurd her explanation truly was.

To reach this level, surpassing the limits of mortality, while juggling a schedule that might allow only one free day every few months... and she claims it’s merely for longevity? If she’s sincere, then Her Majesty’s talent is easily in the realm of Demigods.

Noticing his gaze, Laila chuckled softly and asked, “Are you curious why I don’t take my training seriously enough to ascend to higher realms? Do you want to hear why?"

“Forgive me, Your Majesty, but yes, I do.”

“It’s not such a grand story that it warrants your apologies.”

Still reclining lazily on the throne, Laila stared at the opulent ceiling and began in a low voice, “You’ve already heard about my constitution, haven’t you? The one passed down from our illustrious ancestors, the reason this empire thrives under my rule—the so-called One Beloved by the World.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“But if you’re wondering whether that love feels like the kind shared between people, between equals, the answer is no. It’s more like how humans see their pet dogs or cats. They love them, but they see those pets as beneath them, not beside them. Then again, I suppose that makes sense. Even in ancient times, there were few who could truly stand as equals to the laws of the world.”

The great, unfathomable world indulgently favored the emperors of Arcadia, much like someone giving candy to a child begging for a treat or draping a coat over them when they’re shivering.

“No one truly knows why the world favors me—or, more accurately, the royal lineage of Arcadia. Perhaps our appearance is pleasing to the world? Or it’s our character? Perhaps it’s a lingering favor due to our ancestor’s feat of subduing the dragons’ rampage. Who knows?”

Empress Laila harbored no great resentment toward this special treatment. Thanks to it, the empire had flourished, and the world had been safeguarded thus far.

The strength of the Three Noble Houses was remarkable, but their accomplishments had only been possible thanks to the vast national resources behind them.

From the materials used for the armor and swords of the Cardenas knights to the seemingly infinite supply of magical reagents drained by Wickeline, the Beloved One of the Arcadian imperial family was the one who ultimately guaranteed everything. They were the foundation that kept the empire from collapsing under such immense consumption.

“The issue lies in not knowing the reason behind this favoritism. One of the most plausible theories concerns the scale of existence of the Ones Beloved by the World.”

“Scale of existence... Surely, Your Majesty doesn’t mean—”

“Yes, that very theory. No matter how adorable a pet is, if it grows too large, too powerful, your affection for it might fade away. How many people abandon their dogs when they grow too big and they’re no longer cute? The same could happen if I were to ascend to the Demigod Tier or higher.”

Some people adore large dogs and cats, while others grow indifferent, or even hostile, when their pet gets inconveniently big. Unlike humans, who can communicate and plead their case, this was a one-sided relationship. Arcadia, therefore, needed to tread carefully, lest the world’s favor be withdrawn without warning.

Thus, Empress Laila abandoned her pursuit of further advancement.

“Besides, even if I were to reach the Demigod Tier, or ascend to Class 9, what purpose would it serve? If I were to lead campaigns with myself in the frontlines, the empire would fall into chaos during my absence. If I were to perish in battle, the aftermath would be disastrous. No, managing the state as I am now offers far greater contributions to the larger picture.”

“...I understand now, Your Majesty.”

Daring to question her satisfaction with such a choice was unthinkable. This was too grand and heavy a matter to be trivialized by human emotions like pity or empathy. Laila was fulfilling her duty as sovereign to perfection, and no one was in a position to pity or question her sacrifices.

Leonard carefully shifted the topic.

“Your Majesty, would it be possible for you to aid the other knights in their progress, as you did with my Deification?”

Laila smiled knowingly at his subtle attempt to ease the mood. “Flustered because of your awkward concern, huh? Don’t let my youthful appearance deceive you. I’ve lived several lifetimes longer than you. Or is this perhaps some clumsy attempt at courtship from the Divine Throne candidate...?”

“...Your Majesty?!”

This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.

“Relax, I jest. Ugh, Cardenas men are always too serious. Anyway, the answer is no. The laws of the world are watching over you specifically, which is why I could intervene. For others, my influence would be little more than indirect at best.”

With a moment’s thought, Leonard realized how logical this was.

“My abilities diminish significantly when dealing with anyone at the Demigod Tier. For someone who’s reached the True God level, my influence wouldn’t even register. If it were possible, I would have already mass-produced Demigod Tier warriors to sweep every battlefield clean.”

“I see now that I was short-sighted.”

“That applies to you as well. This time, you succeeded because you were repeating an experience and because the two opposing forces within you intertwined. But next time? Even if you came to me again, it would be futile.”

She pronounced, with the certainty of prophecy, that his journey to fully break into the Deification Tier was a solitary path. There would be no more rare opportunities, no more miracles.

Even after hearing such words, Leonard didn’t shrink away. Meeting her gaze with his own, he replied with steady resolve, “Being graced by Your Majesty’s favor even once is more than I could dream of. As the sword of the Arcadian Empire, I will do everything in my power to shoulder even a fraction of the burden you have borne for so long.”

“...Well, you may go now. Retrace your steps through the hall, and you’ll find your way back to the spatial portal.”

“Yes, Your Majesty. It has been an honor to meet you.”

Having glimpsed a different kind of aspiration beyond that of a martial artist, Leonard paid his respects to Laila with genuine sincerity before stepping back and leaving the chamber.

When the door closed behind him and the vast audience chamber fell silent, Laila, now alone, retrieved several documents from beside her throne. She hadn’t planned to review them on what she had designated as her day off, but here they were.

“As the empire’s final ruler, will I simply fade away? Or will I lead the rise and resurgence of the Holy Empire? I guess only time will tell...”

Even if the conquest of the Nine Hells succeeded, reducing the scale of the Outer God’s invasions, the destruction of the Middle Realm would only be delayed, not averted.

Only the one sitting on the Divine Throne could actually change the tide. The young man who had just stood before her bore the potential to claim that throne, having pledged to lighten the weight of her burdens.

“I have no choice but to believe in him... Though I am actually inclined to do so...” the empress murmured as she stretched her hands toward the grand chandelier above her. Her fingers, unable to reach it, grasped at empty air.

“Hurry, Leonard. There’s little time left.”

The ruler of an empire enjoying its golden age was already warning of the impending apocalypse lurking just beyond reach.