Chapter 222 : Heaven Sword’s Attention
Chapter 222: Heaven Sword’s Attention
“Since everyone is here, hurry up and begin.” The Heavenly-Thunder Howling Hound spoke impatiently.
The beast race of the Dragon-Que Mountains neither understood formations nor knew how to shatter space to open a stable passage toward the Taiyuan True Realm. They could only share and divide the benefits within the secret realm together with the Five Great Sects.
“Brother Lei need not rush. This secret realm has only just emerged from the void and cannot be entered by force. We must wait until the spiritual mechanism of heaven and earth regains balance before we can open the passage.”
On the Greenwood Sect’s vine boat, a handsome young man dressed in a green Daoist robe let out a soft laugh.
The Heavenly-Thunder Howling Hound lifted its gaze toward the youth and said discontentedly: “Wan Changqing, this one’s surname is Hound, not Lei. And besides, who is your brother?”
Wan Changqing merely smiled, his expression calm.
With the Greenwood Sect and the Blazing Flame Sect gradually encroaching, the beast forces of the Dragon-Que Mountains were declining with each generation and would sooner or later be destroyed.
There was no need for him to be angered by the words of a dying beast.
“Buzz!”
At that moment, a bald, burly man with bronze skin and a bare upper body descended from the Heavy Gold Sect’s warship.
Step!
Step!
Step!
Unlike the utterly concealed aura of Wan Changqing, this bald man made no effort to restrain his Golden Core presence. With each step, the power of the earth’s veins trembled, as though a great mountain were walking.
‘What a formidable body!’ Chen Beiwu’s eyes flashed.
The Heavy Gold Sect was mostly skilled in body refinement.
In his perception, this Golden Core True Person from the Heavy Gold Sect was like a humanoid savage beast. The surging blood and qi exuding from him was in no way inferior to the Heavenly-Thunder Howling Hound—perhaps even greater.
“True Person Yu, how long must we wait before the secret realm can be broken open?” The burly man turned his gaze toward the Earthly Sha Warship.
“In two hours. Once the spatial turbulence subsides, I shall construct the passage.”
Yu Shuiyao’s figure flashed, and together with Yu Zhaoli, she appeared outside the Earthly Sha Warship, blocking the burly man.
The oppressive might of a Golden Core True Person was something Foundation Establishment cultivators could not endure, much less when Ji Shaoyuan was a Golden Core cultivator who had trained in the 【Ten-Thousand Tribulations Golden Body】, forging the Thousand-Tribulation Undying Body.
“Rest assured, these seedlings are not yet worthy of my hands.”
Seeing the warning in the eyes of the two Golden Core True Persons, Ji Shaoyuan stopped in his tracks, crossed his arms over his chest, and closed his eyes.
In secret, he attempted to probe the strength of Mirror Moon Sect’s true disciples with his divine sense, but was blocked by the Earthly Sha Warship’s automatic defensive barrier.
The Golden Core True Persons leading the Blazing Flame Sect and the Profound Sword Pavilion never revealed themselves, silently waiting for time to pass.
Soon, two hours elapsed.
With a sweep of her sleeve, Yu Shuiyao released eighty-one formation flags that turned into countless streaks of light, embedding themselves into the void before the Taiyuan True Realm and drawing upon the might of heaven and earth.
“Crash!”
The constantly twisting space suddenly froze, then swiftly stabilized, revealing a clearly visible spatial portal that overflowed with dense spiritual energy.
“The portal to the Taiyuan True Realm is now open. Disciples, you may enter and bring glory to our sects.”
As soon as Yu Shuiyao’s voice fell, the waiting Foundation Establishment disciples of the Five Great Sects reacted instantly, moving at the first opportunity.
In an instant, countless streaks of rainbow light from their escape techniques swarmed like locusts, rushing into the spatial portal.
“Let’s go. Once inside the secret realm, remember to regroup immediately.”
Hearing Senior Sister Feng’s words, Chen Beiwu did not hesitate. Together with his teammates, he entered the Taiyuan True Realm.
‘Hm?’
Within the Profound Sword Pavilion’s sword boat cultivation chamber, a middle-aged man in plain white Daoist robes, with sword-like brows and starry eyes, opened his eyes with a slight frown.
Had Yu Shuiyao and Yu Zhaoli been present, they would have recognized this man at once as one of the candidates for Pavilion Master of the Profound Sword Pavilion—the Heaven Sword, Gu Wuji.
Gu Wuji’s rise had been rather legendary.
His spiritual root aptitude was ordinary, and he had been nothing more than a farmer in the countryside. At thirty years of age, he had accomplished nothing. Yet by a twist of fate, he rescued a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Profound Sword Pavilion and stepped onto the cultivation path.
Unlike other cultivation prodigies who soared like dragons and phoenixes, Gu Wuji was the classic example of a slow bird that flew steadily—a late bloomer among cultivators.
In seventy years, he comprehended the realm of Sword Qi Thunder Sound. At the age of one hundred, he forged an over-limit Foundation Establishment, setting a new record in the Earth Proliferation Territory for surpassing-limit Foundation Establishment cultivators.
In another ninety years, just before his life limit approached, he comprehended the realm of Sword Light Division. At the age of one hundred ninety, he forged a second-grade Golden Core.
Now, over four hundred years later, Gu Wuji was already at the pinnacle of Golden Core, having comprehended the third realm of the Sword Dao—Profound Understanding of Sword Intent. With a single sword strike, he could defeat all Golden Cores within the Earth Proliferation Territory.
His strength was second only to the number one Golden Core cultivator, the True Person of Myriad Treasures, and at any time, before the decline of his lifespan, he could take the final step to ascend as a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
“Do you recognize this man?” Gu Wuji flicked his finger lightly, and a strand of sword light transformed into the likeness of Chen Beiwu.
“This face is unfamiliar. I have never seen him before.” Gu Jianfeng shook his head.
“This one’s strength is formidable, unmatched among Foundation Establishment cultivators—a suitable whetstone for your sword.” Gu Wuji raised his eyes slightly, looking at his most valued disciple.
“Master, compared to Luo Yongjie, who would prevail?” Gu Jianfeng’s expression grew solemn.
“The two cannot be compared. Luo Yongjie, I can see through. But this one—I cannot fathom his strength.”
At this, Gu Wuji’s gaze turned complicated: “If you use him to hone your sword, you may perish with your sword shattered, or you may forge your sword heart and comprehend the Profound Understanding of Sword Intent.”
Hearing this, Gu Jianfeng furrowed his brows tightly.
An hour ago, he had crossed swords with Luo Yongjie, and the result had been a draw.
The reason for such an outcome was that, with the Taiyuan True Realm about to open, neither of them fought with full strength, treating it only as a warm-up, lest it affect their exploration. But even so, it proved Luo Yongjie’s formidable power.
Yet his master’s words made it clear—the Mirror Moon Sect’s true disciple sent this time might far surpass Luo Yongjie.
If he targeted this person, he might well end up dead and his Dao destroyed.
Seeing his disciple’s uncertain expression, Gu Wuji slowly closed his eyes: “Go. Bring glory to the Profound Sword Pavilion. As for whether you choose him as your whetstone, your sword will tell you the answer.”
Gu Jianfeng cupped his hands respectfully, exited the cultivation chamber, and with his junior brothers, rode his sword light, charging into the Taiyuan True Realm.
……
“Buzz.”
With a sudden twist of heaven and earth, Chen Beiwu found himself teleported to an unfamiliar sea region.
‘A temporary spatial passage is indeed a random teleportation.’
With a thought, Chen Beiwu opened his Spirit Beast Pouch, and Golden Egg’s figure appeared at once.
“Cluck!”
Immersed in the boundlessly dense spiritual energy of the Taiyuan True Realm, Golden Egg’s expression visibly grew excited.
“Do not stray too far. The means left by the True Monarch before his death can easily kill even a Golden Core True Person.”
After saying this, Chen Beiwu closed his eyes slightly. His hand seals shifted swiftly like butterflies among flowers as he used the Supreme Spiritual Treasure Karmic Scripture of Cause and Effect to divine the fortune of the four directions.
“The southeast is auspicious. Let’s head that way—we should find something good.”
Standing atop Golden Egg, Chen Beiwu transformed into a dragon-subduing venerable, riding his fish-dragon mount as he sped toward the southeast.
As for regrouping with his team, Chen Beiwu glanced at the Lingxi Pill, which had dimmed due to the great distance, and chose to set that aside for now, prioritizing treasure-hunting instead.