Chapter 157 — The Secret

A strange light suddenly flashed in Master Ghost's eyes, as though he had thought of something, and he said, "The beast-demons' strength surpasses what anyone in the world expected—above all that Beast Sovereign at their head. To this day no one has seen him strike, and none know how deep his cultivation runs. But to command so many beast-demons of such mighty demonic power, the man must surely be a peerless figure who shakes heaven and earth. In the coming battle, I fear the beast-demons hold seven parts in ten of the odds."

Ming Li's pupils contracted slightly. He was silent a long while, then said, "And the orthodox path's three parts—do they all rest upon the Immortal-Slaying Sword Array?"

Master Ghost smiled faintly and said, "Precisely. The Immortal-Slaying Sword Array of the Canglan Sect is truly an anomaly—even after a thousand years, it remains the foremost transcendent art-array in the world. If the orthodox path is to win, I fear all their hopes rest upon that array; otherwise so many worthies of the orthodox path would not have come to Mount Canglan, passing by every other place to get here."

Ming Li raised his head silently, his face a tumult of feeling, as though he had recalled something from the past; a faint pain showed on his features.

Master Ghost read his expression and suddenly said, "Though you came from Qingyun in your early years, there are certain secrets of Qingyun that I fear you still do not know."

Ming Li's expression shifted; he turned his eyes upon Master Ghost as though to see clean through the man, and only after a good while did he say slowly, word by word, "I am listening."

Master Ghost glanced at Ming Li. His tone was calm, but the look in his eyes seemed to carry deep meaning, and he said, "The Immortal-Slaying Sword Array of Mount Canglan is of a power that transcends the mortal and touches the sage—enough to slay demons and quell devils—and for a thousand years it has been the Canglan Sect's treasure for guarding the mountain. Legend has it that this array was born of the nameless ancient scroll that Canglan Zi, founder of the Canglan Sect, obtained. A thousand years ago, when the peerless prodigy Qing Ye appeared in the world, he secluded himself in the Illusory Moon Cave-Heaven for thirteen years; he emerged white-haired, and with his own hands established it—gathering the spiritual power of Qingyun's seven peaks into the array, transforming the killing breath of all things under heaven into swords, and so standing unmatched beneath the sky."

He paused, and then his voice seemed to drift a little, yet his eyes remained fixed hard upon Ming Li, and he went on slowly: "And this world-shaking, peerless array cannot be worked without a divine weapon."

Ming Li said sternly, "The ancient sword Immortal-Slayer?"

Master Ghost nodded and said, "The very same! Where the ancient sword Immortal-Slayer came from has always been shrouded in mystery; to this day I fear even those of Mount Canglan could not say clearly. But one thing is certain: the first time the ancient sword Immortal-Slayer appeared in the world was after Qing Ye emerged from thirteen years' seclusion in the Illusory Moon Cave-Heaven—and the sword was in his hand. And all along, this divine weapon has never been kept on the person of the Qingyun Sect Master, but has been placed in the Illusory Moon Cave-Heaven in the rear mountains of Canglan."

Master Ghost stopped, and the gloomy house fell for a time into silence. Ming Li looked at him deeply and said slowly, "How do you know so much?"

Master Ghost waved a hand and said, "Never mind about me—but what I have told you is indeed the truth. And so the secret of the Canglan Sect's Immortal-Slaying Sword Array most likely lies within that Illusory Moon Cave-Heaven, which only the Qingyun Sect Master may enter." He smiled and said, "Do you understand?"

Ming Li said nothing, only watched the man in silence. After a good while he said coldly, "Just who are you?"

Master Ghost stood with his hands clasped behind him and said slowly, "In any case, only remember that I am not your enemy—that is enough."

Ming Li regarded him a moment, then suddenly turned and drifted slowly out. As his figure was about to vanish, his voice seemed to come from afar—yet it might have been the wind; it could not be heard clearly.

Master Ghost stood alone in the darkness, motionless. That mote of ghost-fire slowly dimmed, and at last went out altogether, and the gloomy house sank once more into stillness.

Only after a while, from the place where the figure stood in the dark, came the sound of low, cold laughter.