Chapter 2025 : Sword Mystery Emperor

Chapter 2026 Sword Xuan Emperor 5,000 Words Channeling a Primordial Treasure with a mana quality comparable to a mid-stage Chaos Unity Emperor consumed an immense amount of energy.

Eldrin (Person Name) recuperated in the Great Desolate Ancient Realm for tens of thousands of years. Only when his magic power had been restored to its peak state did he venture deep into the Chaotic Desolate Sea once more.

This time, Eldrin ventured forth with his sights set on the Abyssal Sword-Sea, foremost among the 3 great wild domains.

Before long, Eldrin arrived beyond the Sea of Swords Abyss, his brow furrowed with solemnity as he gazed toward the churning expanse.

Compared to the Myriad Starry Seas and the Desolate Ancient Land, the Sword Abyss Realm Sea possessed the most formidable strength.

This branch of the Primordial Chaos Tribe was not only 1 of the 10 Great Forbidden Lands of the Primordial Wilderness Domain in ancient times, but had also assimilated countless powerful experts from the Chaos Boundary Sea.

As far as Eldrin knew, within the vast Expanse of the Sword Abyss, it was merely a fallen lineage of the ancient Sword Abyss Immortal Source.

There stood a Sword Saint, a Sword Emperor, and 12 Chaos Origin Emperors.

Among these 14 supreme powerhouses, the 12 Primordial Chaos Emperors were all at the early to middle stages of the Primordial Chaos Realm, with Sword Profound Emperor being the strongest among them.

"Perfect timing."

With this thought in mind, Eldrin fell into a brief contemplation, a pensive expression gracing his features.

At this thought, Eldrin felt a stirring in his heart.

Eldrin acted decisively, instantly activating the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. The treasure, which had long since divided into 12 sacred artifacts, transformed in an instant into an entrapment formation.

Seizing the opportunity, He transformed into a sword radiance that tore through the void and fled toward the fissure in the formation.

Witnessing this scene, Eldrin (Person Name) acted decisively, harnessing the Chaos Primordial Qi Grasping Hand to strike down the Sword Profound Desolate Emperor.

He immediately prepared all his means and retrieved a portion of Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid to lure that Sword Profound Desolate Emperor.

"Now."

A moment later, a faint glimmer lit his eyes as he murmured to himself, "What the Wild Tribes desire most are soul-nurturing treasures and the souls of sentient beings."

"Can we lure it out?"

But with the Primordial Chaos Treasure in his grasp, Sword Abyss Master’s combat prowess was formidable enough to challenge even a Great Emperor. If Eldrin (Person Name) were to confront him head-on, he would likely suffer a severe setback.

In an instant, Emperor Xuan of the Sword sensed impending danger. In a flash, he transformed into 10 1000 streaks of sword light that scattered in all directions, vanishing like phantoms into the boundless heavens.

The Sword Xuan Emperor Hall was situated atop a Primordial Chaos Nest, protected by an exceptionally sophisticated Primordial Chaos Grand Formation capable of withstanding attacks from late-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Lords.

Eldrin murmured inwardly, a trace of solemnity flickering in his eyes.

"I only need to reveal a trace of soul force, and it should be enough to lure it out."

In ancient times, the Sword Abyss Immortal Palace employed a secret art to relocate the entire palace, along with fragments of the desolate primordial realm, into a nascent Chaos Boundary Sea.

Eldrin murmured inwardly, yet a faint frown creased his brow.

Such a figure, whose combat prowess could even rival that of a Great Emperor, would never have fallen into desolation were it not for his profound enmity with that Quasi-Saint.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin veiled himself with chaotic mists, suppressing his aura to its absolute limit. He then strode across the heavens, and before he knew it, had arrived within the ancient realm of the Sword Abyss.

This Sword Abyss Lord possessed unparalleled power of slaughter, acknowledged as the foremost expert beneath the 3 Great Emperors in the primordial Desolate Ancient Domain of yore. Moreover, he wielded the Cang Abyss Ancient Sword (Innate Supreme Treasure), 1 of the 10 legendary innate supreme treasures of that realm....

The Sword Saint, known by his Daoist title ‘Sword Abyss Master,’ was also revered as ‘Sword Abyss Sage Monarch.’ His cultivation had reached the Eighth Heaven of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Realm.

In an instant, the countless phantoms formed by the Sword Profound Primordial Emperor dissipated into nothingness, leaving only his true form standing alone on the battlefield.

It was a vast and ancient palace, spanning across the boundless chaos. Upon the plaque above its entrance was carved a line of large characters—Jianxuan Emperor Palace.

"Still, we must proceed with caution."

Compared to the Desolate Ancient Land and the Myriad Star Archipelago, the Sword Abyss Realm Sea had clearly suffered relatively lighter erosion.

"Is this the place where the Sword Profound Primordial Emperor's Dao Sanctuary resides?"

Upon many of the Chaos Nests stood celestial palaces and divine pavilions, with terraced towers and ornate structures rising among them. Within these dwellings, Great Luo Primordial Tribes seemed to lie dormant, emanating astonishingly powerful auras.

If the battle could not be concluded swiftly, once the Celestial Sword Emperor and the Abyssal Sword Sage arrived, Eldrin (Person Name) would have no choice but to flee for his life.

Relying on the Primordial Membrane of the Boundary Sea, they withstood the power of desolation for tens of thousands of kalpas, preserving the legacy and splendor of their sect. For a time, they became the most powerful orthodox tradition remaining in the Primordial Desolate Domain.

Eldrin’s thoughts flickered as he traversed the boundless Sword Abyss Realm Sea, until he unwittingly arrived before a towering palace.

Above these chaotic nests, Eldrin discovered numerous traces of human activity.

This place was composed of countless chaotic nests, seemingly suppressed by some form of power, where even the turbulent waters within had grown noticeably calmer.

"I've been waiting for this move of yours."

After all, that Sword Abyss Master wielded the innate supreme treasure of slaughter—the Cangyuan Ancient Sword—which could pose a grave threat to Eldrin (Person Name).

Even if Eldrin (Person Name) were to exert his full strength and deploy the Abyssal Pearl (Magic Treasure) to assault this Sword Profound Emperor Hall (Location), it would likely be impossible to completely subdue the Sword Profound Desolate Emperor (Person Name) in a short time.

Among these 2 late-stage Chaos Unity experts, the Heavenly Distance Sword Emperor possessed formidable strength, yet he posed little genuine threat to Eldrin.

Of the 2 remaining powerhouses, the Sword Emperor bore the Dao title of ‘Heaven-Distant Sword Emperor’. His cultivation had reached the Seventh Heaven of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Realm, and he had mastered the True Spirit Great Dao—the Heaven-Distant Sword Dao. His strength was truly unfathomable.

Clang—

"Alas, as the Boundary Sea gradually took shape, the power of desolation relentlessly eroded it. In the end, much like boiling a frog in warm water, the Sword Abyss Sanctuary was transformed into a forbidden domain of desolation."

Trapped and with no way out, Sword Xuan Huangdi abruptly opened his eyes. In that instant, a dazzling sword aura tore through the heavens, ripping a gap in the formation right then and there.

The instant Eldrin revealed the Soul-Nourishing Divine Liquid, a blinding radiance erupted within the Sword Profound Emperor Hall. A sword-light capable of illuminating eras shot forth, streaking directly toward the mystical fluid.

In that very instant, Eldrin seized the opportunity, summoning the Abyssal Pearl of Returning Ruin to seal the torn rift. It erupted with an indescribable, supreme suction force, instantly drawing the Sword Profound Desolate Emperor into its depths.

It is done.

The instant the Sword Profound Savage Emperor was suppressed, a flicker of delight surfaced in Eldrin's eyes.

But before he could gather his thoughts, he felt a transcendent sword radiance cleaving through the firmament toward him.

In an instant, Eldrin felt every hair on his body stand on end. An overwhelming aura of slaughtering force pierced through him like frozen steel, flooding his senses with primal danger.

"Hmph—"

Facing such a strike, Eldrin let out a cold snort and decisively summoned the Indestructible Battle Attire to block it. Only then did he turn his gaze toward the depths of the void....

Yet at the endless horizon's edge, a blindingly brilliant supreme sword radiance swept across the firmament. Where it passed, the primordial chaotic expanse was cleaved asunder, torn violently into 2 halves.

"What a swift sword."

Before Eldrin (Person Name) could think further, the strike landed squarely upon the Indestructible War-Garb (Magic Treasure).

A supreme sword intent pierced through Eldrin’s battle armor, ruthlessly tearing into his chest. A trickle of blood instantly seeped from the corner of his mouth.

Eldrin let out a muffled grunt, then decisively maneuvered the Li Fire Pearl of the Returning Abyss, vanishing instantly into the boundless firmament.

After a dizzying swirl of heaven and earth, Eldrin found himself standing within the Great Wilderness Sanctum.

"What domineering sword intent."

"The combat prowess of Sword Abyss Sage has indeed stepped into the Emperor's domain."

After confirming his own safety, Eldrin recalled the opponent's ultimate sword strike and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

In the battle moments ago, Eldrin was wounded by a sword strike from the Sword Abyss Sage Lord, sustaining considerable injuries, which also allowed him to gauge the Sage Lord's true strength.

Within the realm of the Primordial Chaos Emperor, those who have attained the Great Perfection of this realm may be addressed as the Great Emperor.

The existence of a Great Emperor's domain is often divided into several tiers based on 1's individual combat prowess.

Respectively: Rivaling the Great Emperor, Nascent Great Emperor, Mighty Great Emperor, Supreme Great Emperor, Invincible Great Emperor, and Equal to the Quasi-Saint.

Those said to rival a Great Emperor are typically either the most supreme Eighth-Level Chaos Origin Emperors or those who forcibly broke through with insufficient foundations, possessing roughly 80 to 90 percent of a true Great Emperor's power.

Those who have just entered the Great Emperor realm represent the majority of Great Emperor-level experts. Such individuals do not possess innate supreme treasures, and their combat prowess is the most ordinary among Great Emperors.

The most powerful Great Emperors typically wielded a Primordial Chaos Treasure, enabling them to contend against 2 opponents of equal cultivation realm. The Pure Yang Great Emperor exemplified this tier of mastery.

A top-tier Great Emperor not only wielded a Primordial Treasure, but also possessed combat prowess enabling them to confront 3 opponents of equal cultivation realm simultaneously. Paragons like Emperor Tianyan and the Great Emperor of Primordial Thunder Crows stood firmly within this echelon of power.

And the existence at the Invincible Great Emperor realm could essentially be considered the pinnacle of the Great Emperor domain.

Such individuals possessed combat prowess that astonished the world, capable of fighting 1 against 5 even within the same cultivation realm. Across the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss, those of this caliber could be counted on 1's fingers.

Eldrin had only ever known 1 Invincible Great Emperor—the Great Emperor of the Abyss, a truly peerless sovereign.

In the beginning, when the Black Abyss Emperor mastered the 6 divine forms of the True Spirit, he wielded the Thunder Emperor’s Battle Attire and the Black Abyss Imperial Spear to challenge 7 great emperors—including supreme rulers like the Ancient Thunder Crow Emperor and the Heaven’s Derivation Emperor. All of this was possible because he had attained the combat prowess of an Invincible Emperor.

As for realms beyond the Invincible Great Emperor, there exists only the legendary state said to rival the Quasi-Sage.

An existence capable of rivaling a Demi-Sage would essentially possess combat prowess enabling them to confront 10 opponents single-handedly within the domain of Great Emperors.

Such individuals are essentially only those who have achieved physical sanctification through body refinement that can accomplish this.

Throughout the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss, there were only 1 or 2 such beings. Eldrin only knew that the eldest son of the Ant Emperor, 'Celestial Slaughter Great Emperor', was an existence comparable to a Quasi-Sage.

He had mastered the forms of 7 great True Spirits and once battled a Quasi-Sage for over 1,000,000 years before finally conceding defeat.

This was merely the manifestation of 7 great True Spirit forms. It was said that if 1 could cultivate all 8 True Spirit forms, they would become an existence rivaling—or even surpassing—Quasi-Sages….

The Path of Physical Sanctification, should 1 cultivate the 9 divine forms of the True Spirit and then merge them into 1, would undergo an ultimate transformation in combat prowess, enabling them to leap forth as a being capable of rivaling the Celestial Emperor.

To return to our story, let us set aside those invincible figures for now. Even the Sword Abyss Sage Monarch, whom he had crossed blades with earlier, was an existence of unparalleled might.

He was merely at the eighth level of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Realm, yet by harnessing the power of his Primordial Chaos Treasure, he had attained combat prowess comparable to that of a newly-ascended Great Emperor.

Once his cultivation steps into the Emperor Realm, his combat prowess will undoubtedly undergo a staggering qualitative transformation.

By that time, the power of the Sword Abyss Sage Monarch would likely step directly into the realm of a powerful Great Emperor, perhaps even that of a supreme Great Emperor.

"Sword Sovereign, peerless in slaughter."

"If this Sword Abyss Sovereign could be made to serve me, he would undoubtedly become a sharp blade in the future."

Eldrin's thoughts flickered rapidly, a glint of resolve kindling within his gaze.

Fleeing from the Chaos Desolate Sea this time, Eldrin grew ever more aware of the importance of being powerful.

The human race was truly too weak. Not only did they lack even a single Quasi-Sage to stand guard, they possessed merely 5 Great Emperors in total.

In stark contrast, the demon race not only possessed 10 great emperors, but each of them wielded a Primordial Chaos Treasure to anchor their destiny. It could be said that every single 1 was a formidable Great Emperor.

Under such circumstances, had the 100 Immortal Races and the Divine Race not intervened, Eldrin likely wouldn't have even managed to flee into the Chaotic Desolate Sea.

On the other hand, if the human race possessed 10 Great Emperors and had several Quasi-Sage Elders holding the fort, how would the demon race dare to act so insolently?

Forget about Quasi-Sages—if the human race could produce 10 Great Emperors, then under the leadership of the Black Abyss Emperor, they could completely push back the demonic tribes.

The numbers were insufficient. No matter how formidable the Black Abyss Emperor was, there inevitably came a point where even his power reached its limits.

After all, those capable of cultivating the Emperor's Domain were all peerless prodigies who dominated their respective eras, were they not?

Each of them had cultivated their foundation to the absolute limit, leaving no significant disparity in combat prowess among them.

Even an invincible Great Emperor could, at most, contend against 5 opponents simultaneously—and only those who had just attained the Great Emperor realm without possessing a Primordial Supreme Treasure.

If the opponent were a powerful Great Emperor wielding a Connate Supreme Treasure, capable of rivaling 3 Great Emperors combined, they would truly be considered a heaven-defying Invincible Great Emperor.

In truth, aside from those who achieved the Fleshly Body Sanctification, few could advance further in the Ethereal Divine Form due to the unique nature of their cultivation paths. It was exceptionally rare for an Invincible Great Emperor to emerge through conventional methods.

A Great Emperor who has mastered the Dao can reach the pinnacle, generally attaining the level of a top-tier Great Emperor. However, an invincible Great Emperor who fully commands the Dao is nearly a legend, as it is fundamentally almost impossible for anyone to achieve.

In other words, within the Emperor's Domain, fighting 1 against 3 was already the absolute limit.

At this thought, Eldrin felt a renewed sense of anticipation toward this Sword Abyss Sacred Lord, though it was tinged with solemn gravity.

"Given the strength of Sword Abyss Sage, I fear it would still be difficult for him to suppress it."

Eldrin's thoughts flickered briefly before he suppressed them once more. "Enough. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

"First, we must restore the Sword Profound Savage Emperor's consciousness. As for the Sword Abyss Sage Lord, we can arrange for him another day."

With this thought, Eldrin summoned the Sword Profound Desolate Emperor, then used the power of the Human Soul Tome to cleanse its desolate energy.

Thus time flew by, and after several 100 1000 years had passed, the desolate power within the Sword Profound Barren Emperor was finally cleansed without his notice....

"Many thanks."

After the desolate power within him was cleansed, the Sword Profound Emperor awoke from his dazed state and offered Eldrin (Person Name) a solemn, deeply respectful bow.

Eldrin smiled faintly and said, "How do you feel?"

"The primordial spirit erosion is not too severe. It should recover in a few dozen kalpas."

Swordmyst Emperor slowly spoke, a trace of serenity flickering in his gaze.

Eldrin nodded slightly. As expected of the Sword Xuan Emperor, who possessed 3 True Spiritual Roots—the damage to his primordial spirit was far less severe than that of the Dragon-Turtle Wasteland Emperor and the Lingxi Emperor.

At this thought, Eldrin stated his purpose to Sword Xuan Emperor and then spoke frankly, "To be honest, this Emperor wishes to take you under my command as a Divine General. What say you?"

Sword Xuan Emperor's gaze flickered, a trace of world-shocking sword intent shimmering within his pupils.

Yet moments later, recalling Eldrin's previous methods, he gave a slight nod and said, "With your strength and methods, coupled with the life-saving grace, you are indeed qualified to be the 1 I pledge allegiance to."

"However, I have 3 conditions."

A faint glimmer flickered in Eldrin's (Person Name) eyes before he spoke, "Speak."

Swordmyst Sovereign nodded, then spoke: "First, you must never compel me to act against my conscience."

"Secondly, regarding my fellow disciples of the Sword Abyss Immortal Palace, I beseech you, Fellow Daoist, to aid in their revival. At the very least, ensure they may be reborn after their demise."

"Third, should the day come when my strength surpasses yours, I shall have the right to depart of my own volition after repaying this debt of gratitude."

"Agreed!"

Eldrin nodded slightly. For someone of Sword Xuan Emperor's extraordinary talent, he was remarkably tolerant and approving.

Swordmyst Sovereign gave a slight nod, his expression serene as he spoke, “Since that is the case, I shall henceforth follow under your command, Sovereign.”

"From this day forth, you shall be the third Divine General under my command."

Eldrin smiled faintly, then bestowed a batch of healing elixirs to Sword Abyss Emperor before allowing him to depart in haste.

At that moment, Emperor Lingxi approached, glanced at the departing Emperor Jianxuan, and remarked with a smile, "Even after awakening from his dazed state, Emperor Jianxuan remains as stern and unsmiling as ever."

"Those who walk the path of the sword must embrace either ultimate passion or absolute detachment."

Eldrin (Person Name) spoke slowly, then shook his head and said, "The Sword Profound Emperor follows the Path of Emotionless Sword Art, where all worldly attachments in his heart have faded into detached serenity."

Spiritstream Emperor smiled faintly and glided gracefully to stand before Eldrin. Her lithe form leaned close to him as she whispered with orchid-scented breath near his ear, "Then what Dao do you cultivate?"

"What path do you cultivate?"

Eldrin pondered briefly, then smiled and pulled her into an embrace.

"I am the Dao!"

After rescuing Sword Mystic Emperor, Eldrin did not immediately move against the Annihilation Desolate Emperor, as the souls of the 3 had yet to fully recover.

Of course, even without taking immediate action, Eldrin (Person Name) did not remain idle.

In the years that followed, Eldrin visited the Myriad Stars Archipelago on multiple occasions during his leisure time. There, he suppressed the wild emperors of the archipelago while searching for the Primordial Heavenly Spiritual Root.

Each time he suppressed a Desolate Emperor, he would bring them back to the Great Desolate Ancient Realm. After purging the power of desolation with the Book of Human Souls, he allowed their spirits to undergo dissolution.

In this way, he not only saved these Primordial Emperors but also weakened the forces under the command of the Annihilation Desolate Emperor.

Thus, after approximately 1 kalpa, Eldrin (Person Name) had successfully converted over a dozen Desolate Emperors of the Myriad Star Islands, leaving only the Solitude-Extinguishing Desolate Emperor as a commander without an army.

Throughout this process, Eldrin also seized over 2 100 and 60 primordial Heavenly Spiritual Roots (Spiritual Root).

He had even seized a full 30-6 strands of the precious and extraordinary Primordial Qi of Creation, drastically replenishing his own depleted resources.

With these resources, Eldrin elevated the Abyssal Seal into an embryonic Primordial Chaos Treasure.

After the breakthrough was complete, each of the 12 treasures derived from the Abyssal Seal had manifested a Great Dao Divine Chain. Combined, they now possessed a total of 12 Great Dao Divine Chains.

Logically speaking, a Primordial Chaos Treasure Embryo need only surpass 9 Great Dao divine chains to merge into a single Great Dao divine form, ultimately transforming into a genuine Primordial Chaos Treasure.

Unfortunately, the Great Dao divine chains within the Abyssal Seal were not integrated with each other; instead, their powers remained relatively scattered and had not yet transformed into a singular Great Dao divine form.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 1 The biting northern wind swept across the mountain peaks, carrying with it flurries of snow that danced in the air. Lin Xuan stood at the edge of the cliff, his white robes fluttering violently in the gale. His gaze was fixed upon the distant horizon, where the last rays of the setting sun painted the clouds in hues of crimson and gold. "1 100 years," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible above the howling wind. "1 100 years of cultivation, and I'm still trapped at the 7th level of Qi Refining." He clenched his fist, feeling the spiritual energy coursing through his meridians. It had been exactly a century since he transmigrated into this world of cultivation. In his previous life, he was a top graduate from a prestigious university, but here, his knowledge seemed almost useless. Suddenly, a crisp voice interrupted his thoughts. "Senior Brother Lin! The sect leader has called for an emergency assembly at the Grand Hall!" Turning around, he saw a young disciple in blue robes approaching hurriedly. The disciple bowed respectfully before continuing, "The Heavenly Demon Sect has launched an attack on our northern borders. All core disciples are required to gather immediately." Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. The Heavenly Demon Sect - their sworn enemy for thousands of years. This could be both a crisis and an opportunity. "Inform the sect leader I'll be there shortly," Lin Xuan replied calmly, though his mind was already racing. He needed to check his resources before heading to the assembly. Returning to his humble abode, he opened his storage pouch. The contents made him sigh - merely 1,250 spirit stones, a dozen or so healing pills, and his trusted magic treasure, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. It wasn't much for a core disciple of his standing. Suddenly, a mysterious voice echoed in his mind. [Host's determination detected. The Almighty Cultivation System is activating...] Lin Xuan froze. After a 100 years, his golden finger had finally arrived! [System activation complete. Welcome, host. Your current cultivation: 7th level of Qi Refining. Available system functions: Mission Board, Shop, Cultivation Simulator] A translucent interface appeared before his eyes, displaying various options. Without hesitation, Lin Xuan selected the Mission Board. [New Main Mission: Defend the Azure Frost Sect] [Mission Requirements: Repel the Heavenly Demon Sect's invasion] [Rewards: 50,000 system points, 1 Heavenly Grade cultivation technique, advancement to Foundation Establishment realm] Lin Xuan's breath hitched. The rewards were astronomical! With 50,000 system points, he could purchase countless resources from the system shop. The Heavenly Grade technique was something even Nascent Soul elders would fight over. But most importantly - direct advancement to Foundation Establishment! He had been stuck at Qi Refining for decades. This was the opportunity he had been waiting for. Gripping the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss tightly, Lin Xuan strode toward the Grand Hall with renewed determination. The snow crunched beneath his feet, each step filled with purpose. The assembly hall was already packed with hundreds of disciples when he arrived. Elder Wen, the sect leader, stood at the podium, his expression grave. "...The enemy forces number over 3 1000, led by at least 5 Foundation Establishment experts," Elder Wen announced, his voice echoing through the hall. "We've received intelligence that they're after the Ancient Dragon Seal hidden beneath our ancestral hall." Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire. The Ancient Dragon Seal was said to contain the power of an ancient true dragon. No wonder the Heavenly Demon Sect would risk an all-out attack. Elder Wen's gaze swept across the assembled disciples. "We need volunteers for a special mission - to protect the ancestral hall at all costs. The mission will be extremely dangerous..." Before Elder Wen could finish, Lin Xuan stepped forward. "I volunteer, Sect Leader." All eyes turned to him. Murmurs of surprise filled the hall. "Lin Xuan? But he's only at the 7th level of Qi Refining..." Elder Wen studied him for a moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well. You shall be part of the defense team. Remember - the ancestral hall must not fall." As Lin Xuan accepted the mission token, the system interface flashed before his eyes again. [Side Mission Accepted: Protect the Ancestral Hall] [Current Progress: 0%] [Additional Rewards: 5,000 system points upon completion] A faint smile touched Lin Xuan's lips. The game had just begun.