[Dongfang Mingyue embarks on the journey home.]

[If not necessary, she doesn’t want to go back.]

[The power of the Emperor in Dongzhou is waning day by day, and decades ago, an unequal treaty was signed with the Western State "Empire". Now, the dukes of the world divide and rule independently, all honoring the new Seven Swords. The Emperor can only govern the territory remaining in Shaking Light City.]

[Swordsmen, as creators of civilization, apart from bearing the heavy responsibility of slaying giant beasts, are dedicated to spreading civilization and educating all things in the world. They created writing, nurtured civilization, tightly binding the Hundred Races together, collectively forging the glorious civilization of Zhuxia in Dongzhou.]

[Three thousand years ago, a Sword Saint crossed the sea, spreading Zhuxia civilization to the Western State, which was in the "Barbaric Wilderness" era at the time. Ancient Sword Saints stopped war with their swords, guarding the peace of the world, making the flower of civilization bloom everywhere, flourishing splendidly.]

[Conflict has always been bound by an invisible bottom line.]

[A century later, people gradually realized that the strength of the Sword Saints was declining generation after generation. The "worldly power" they could command had shrunk from the storm that swept the heavens to insignificant little tornadoes that could only rage in a small area.]

[The reason behind this is unknown, and no one investigates deeply.]

[However, it doesn’t matter. The Sword Saints still possess the shocking ability to easily take the enemy’s head amid thousands of soldiers.]

[Most of the rulers possess considerable self-awareness; they may be indifferent to others’ lives and heads, but they cherish their own greatly.]

[Precisely because of this, over these thousands of years, they have behaved themselves, not daring to challenge the majesty of the Sword Saints lightly.]

[Until a hundred years ago, a kingdom in the Western State suddenly received the "Angelic Revelation", completing a technological revolution within merely thirty years, unifying the Western State, establishing a vast empire.]

[And the "Angel" assisting the Empire does not do so without demands. He requires "Source Ore", a highly precious material among swordsmen.]

[For this reason, the Empire must annually offer a large amount of "Source Ore" to the "Angel".]

[That year, Ah Feng became one of the Flying Swallow Thirteen and selected for me a piece of "Dark Titanium Alloy" from the Feiyan Treasure Vault, which is indeed one of the "Source Ore".]

[Subsequently, the Empire began to excavate those precious "Source Ore" everywhere. These ores possess massive radiation, blocking technological detection methods, only to be mined by manpower.]

[And these precious untreated "Source Ore", if not handled by strong individuals of "High-tier Knight" or "Sword Saint" level, will cause light hair shedding and vomiting blood, heavy pus-filled body erosion, resulting in unbearable pain at the slightest contact.]

[Thus, the land of the Western State is filled with cries of suffering, countless people succumb to disease and death. Although voices of resistance arise, under the "Angel Armament" of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, they are like ants trying to shake a tree.]

[These four knights possess the strength of Ancient Sword Saints.]

[The Empire, within mere decades, exhausted half of its population, finally depleting the "Source Ore". Afterward, their gaze then turned to the Hundred Nations of Dongzhou, where the "Source Ore" is most abundant.]

[Inevitably, a vast battle erupted. The previous generation’s seven Sword Leaders all perished, and three of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse died in battle. On Dongzhou, the new Seven Swords have emerged prominently.]

[Yet the Emperor, revered by the Hundred Nations, saw through it a means to sanction the community of "Swordsmen".]

[With pompous words, the Emperor claimed to act for world peace yet concluded an unequal treaty with the Empire, pushing as many as eight million people into the abyss of mining "Source Ore".]

[What disappears is not just eight million vibrant lives but also eight million shattered families, leaving cries of suffering everywhere.]

[Relying on the Empire’s strong support, the Emperor uses this to balance the world’s swordsmen, arrogantly viewing it as a manifestation of "Emperor’s Heart Skill".]

[This is why "Dongfang Mingyue" does not want to return home.]

[Her father is an unfeeling political entity.] 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

[The Emperor wants to emulate the Western State Empire, sweeping away all swordsmen, unifying the world, establishing the "Eastern Empire", where temporary sacrifices are acceptable.]

[Dongfang Mingyue’s full-body armor is crafted by the Western State’s hand, exquisite and breathtaking in craftsmanship.]

[Wandering outside for over a decade, Dongfang Mingyue is twenty-eight now, but her beauty remains, surpassing even her former brilliance.]

[Seeing Dongfang Mingyue’s return, the Emperor nodded with satisfaction. Back then, he named her Princess Mingzhu because of her beauty, akin to Dongzhou’s dazzling pearl. "I wish to ally with the Empire, wipe out the seven great rebels; daughter, you shall marry the Empire’s new Apocalypse Knight."]

[Upon hearing, Dongfang Mingyue furrowed her brows: "The Empire’s ambition is like a wolf and tiger, the last generation’s Seven Swords battled with lives, struggling to slay three Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, slightly curtailing their booming ambition of annexing Dongzhou. As Princess Mingzhu, how can I marry the enemy?"]

["What enemy?" Upon hearing this, the Emperor’s face instantly darkened like water, sternly rebuking, "The Empire came from afar, seeking friendly coexistence with Dongzhou, planning the grand unity."]

["Those so-called traitorous rebels are just petty clowns attempting to disrupt peace plans between the two nations! You, as a princess, should prioritize the bigger picture, whether you marry or not, you must marry!"]

[Dongfang Mingyue’s beautiful eyes were filled with disappointment: "If the Shaking Light Ancestor knew..."]

[The Emperor became enraged, interrupting her words:

["He passed the Seven-Star Divine Sword to those lowly people, making our clan live under the shadows of Sword Saints for millennia, like a sharp sword always hanging at our throats, causing me to tread carefully and anxiously over these decades."]

["Did he ever consider the feelings of our descendants? Did he ever spare a thought for us?"

[The Emperor’s attitude was resolute, disregarding Dongfang Mingyue’s objections, and left with a wave of his sleeve.]

[In the sleeping chamber, Dongfang Mingyue’s gaze was hollow as maids adeptly groomed her with delicate hands. Her reflection showed red lips radiant as a drop, eyebrows and eyes picturesque as if a goddess descended to earth, captivating all who saw her, intoxicating their heart and soul.]

[But this is not her, Dongfang Mingyue!]

[She gently wiped away the brilliance of her red lips, staring at the remnants on her fingertips, resembling a smear of "blood", she slowly closed her eyes.]

[Dongfang Mingyue, in her breath, hid her Heart Spirit in the Demon Sword, appearing upon a mountain peak, gazing at the figure standing with hands behind, at the pinnacle.]

["Mr...." suddenly, Dongfang Mingyue felt unprecedented grievance and helplessness.]

["Tell Ming Yue, what should be done?"]

Ning Wushuang stared at Dongfang Mingyue, speaking slowly: "Not following my heart."

...