Chapter 327: Phantasmic Elephant, the Way of the Wise Sword

Chapter 327: Phantasmic Elephant, the Way of the Wise Sword

The elders of the Tai Miao Sect paled as they witnessed Xu Yan's strength, which had grown immensely in just a few short years.

Who among the proud geniuses of the Spirit Realm could be his match?

Even the guardian elder felt a sense of foreboding as she sensed the formidable threat emanating from Xu Yan.

"Attack!"

The other elders, disregarding the disparity in numbers, joined forces and launched their assault on Xu Yan, unconcerned about the loss of face for the Tai Miao Sect.

The disciples of the Tai Miao Sect hastily retreated, knowing that being caught in the crossfire would result in serious injury or death.

Their hearts trembled as they wondered about Xu Yan's age, for his strength was already so terrifying.

"Xu Yan is so formidable!"

"Yes, he's not only handsome but also incredibly powerful!"

"Indeed, I thought Jade Shidi was already a rare handsome young master, but compared to Xu Yan, he pales in comparison."

"Jade Shidi is far inferior. He lacks the masculine dominance that Xu Yan exudes. Xu Yan is too awe-inspiring, too domineering, and too powerful, summoning true dragons with a mere wave of his hand!"

Hearing the discussions among the senior and junior sisters, the male disciples of the Tai Miao Sect turned green with envy.

Especially that "Jade Shidi," who was feeling utterly dejected!

The battle that erupted shook the entire Tai Miao Sect. Was it the members of the Myriad Ages Alliance who were attacking the sect?

Ya Rong moved, appearing on the battlefield, and her expression changed drastically.

Xu Yan?

At this moment, Ya Rong had already refined the heavenly spirit machine and had become a warrior.

"Bring out Xin Mengrou. I want to ask her clearly about Du Yuying and Yun Miaomiao. Where are they? Has your Tai Miao Sect done something unforgivable?" Xu Yan asked coldly.

In an instant, eighteen giant dragons transformed into eighteen giant swords. Layer upon layer of sword light formed a sword array, encircling the several Tai Miao Sect elders in the middle.

Are they here to find someone?!

Ya Rong felt helpless. Du Yu Ying and Yun Miao Miao were involved in Master Xin Mengrou's secret, so these elders were unaware of their presence when they entered the Tai Miao Sect.

"Stop!"

Ya Rong moved and stood beside Xu Yan. "I'll take you to see the person you're looking for."

Xu Yan raised an eyebrow, and the sword array disappeared. He recognized this Tai Miao Sect woman; during the great battle at the mountain gate of the Qian Wu Temple, she had watched from a distance.

"Ya Rong Shimei, you..." The guardian elder furrowed her brows, astonished by Xu Yan's strength.

"Xu Yan's old friend is with the master." Ya Rong sighed.

The guardian elder's brows furrowed deeper. Why didn't she know about this?

However, Ya Rong was the disciple of her master's brother, and she had always handled affairs for her uncle. Perhaps the identities of those two were unusual.

"But Xu Yan..."

However, as she thought of Xu Yan's arrogance, not only had he trespassed into the Tai Miao Sect, but he had also broken the sect's rule of not allowing foreign men to enter the mountain gate, and even gone as far as to blast an elder away. This was a direct provocation!

If they let this slide, where would the prestige of Tai Miao be?

"I already said at the mountain gate that I'm here to visit an old friend. Your gatekeepers were shouting that I, Xu Yan, had come to block your Tai Miao mountain gate. You can't blame me for that!" Xu Yan interrupted.

Although he had climbed the Tai Miao mountain gate, ultimately, the blame lay with the Tai Miao Sect.

Of course, Xu Yan thought that even if the Tai Miao Sect gatekeepers had asked him who he had come to visit, they probably wouldn't have known about Du Yu Ying and Yun Miao Miao either. He would have ended up in the same situation regardless.

In the end, a confrontation was unavoidable.

The guardian elder paused, ordering someone to bring the guardian warriors to the gate. However, Xu Yan showed disdain for the confrontation and turned to Ya Rong, asking, "Where are they? Lead the way, or have them come and see me."

He had come here for two reasons: to visit an old friend and to inquire about Xie Lingfeng's whereabouts.

"You..."

Ya Rong was about to ask Xu Yan to wait while she informed her master, but she paused and changed her mind. "Follow me."

Turning around, she led Xu Yan towards the peak of Tai Miao Peak.

"Ya Rong Shimei, you..." The guardian elder's expression changed as the peak was the core area of the Tai Miao Sect, off-limits to ordinary elders, let alone an outsider.

However, her expression suddenly froze, and she said nothing more.

Xu Yan raised an eyebrow. Apparently, someone was secretly transmitting a message to her. Was it Xin Mengrou?

Following the winding and narrow mountain path, they made their way towards the peak. Along the way, they passed by some elegant courtyards, residences of the strong members of the Tai Miao Sect.

The closer they got to the peak, the more flowers lined the path, and the more beautiful they became. Amidst the misty clouds, they were like a dream, a hazy and phantasmic beauty.

"You can go up by yourself. Below the peak, there are two elegant courtyards, which are the residences of the people you're looking for." Ya Rong stopped and said.

"Okay."

Xu Yan nodded, fearless and undaunted by the possibility of a plot. His strength was his confidence, and even if his power was insufficient to deal with potential dangers, he still had the divine jade talisman given by his master.

The higher they climbed on Tai Miao Peak, the more ethereal and unreal the surroundings felt.

"Hmm?"

Xu Yan suddenly paused, his eyes narrowing as he looked towards a certain spot on the mountain. Something seemed amiss there.

"Is it the secret place of the Tai Miao Sect?"

Without any intention to explore, as it was the Tai Miao Sect's secret, he continued climbing.

The two courtyards soon came into view.

Elegant courtyards with blooming, vibrant flowers; in front of the courtyards stood two beautiful women—Du Yu Ying and Yun Miao Miao.

It had been many years, and the two women had become even more beautiful and enchanting.

Yun Miao Miao, in particular, was even more captivating than when she was in the Peerless Pavilion. It was as if she was constantly plucking at the heartstrings of others.

"Master Xu!"

Du Yu Ying revealed a happy smile, her jade-like face flushed.

"Master Xu!"

Yun Miao Miao's voice reached out, piercing through the heart and plucking at its strings.

"Miss Du, Miss Yun, it's been a long time."

Xu Yan smiled and took a step forward, only to suddenly stop!

Something was wrong!

He took a deep breath, his gaze turning solemn as he extended his spiritual sense. However, the scene before him appeared to be completely normal.

"Master Xu, come quickly."

Du Yu Ying took a step forward, intending to lead him into the courtyard.

But Yun Miao Miao also stepped forward, and the two women glared at each other, arguing through secret sound transmission.

Their faces grew colder, and their hostile postures became more apparent.

"I met Master Xu first, so I should be the one to reminisce with him first!"

"Hmph, when Master Xu came to my Peerless Pavilion, I welcomed him with all my heart. It's only right that I get to reminisce with him first."

Soon, the two women were about to fight to settle the matter!

Xu Yan's brows furrowed as he carefully examined his surroundings. He felt as if he had fallen into some sort of illusion or phantasm.

However, his spiritual sense and eyes perceived everything as real—the courtyard, the flowers, and the environment. Only the two women seemed fake.

"Something's wrong. What kind of technique is this?"

Xu Yan's heart chilled. This was no ordinary martial arts attack; it was an illusion, a phantasm, similar to an illusion technique, but not entirely the same. It seemed to be a false phantasm created by relying on a real environment.

"This shows that my mental fortitude still falls short."

"The Sword Heart Realm, where my heart is the sword, and all things can become my sword, even illusions."

"But ultimately, it was only after entering the illusion that I countered it. How can I ignore these illusions and see through these false apparitions?"

"Master said, the Wisdom Sword Realm—the wisdom sword slays inner demons, severs emotional ties, and shatters the ego... Cutting through all obstacles and unknowns."

"With a wisdom sword in my heart, I purify my self, and all things are one with me, free from delusion and self-deception."

Xu Yan's heart stirred with enlightenment. In this moment, a flash of insight crossed his mind, as if he had finally understood the path to cultivating the Wisdom Sword Realm.

Upon entering the Wisdom Sword Realm, any illusion or obstacle would be nothing but bubbles, with no place to hide from his heart's sword.

At this moment, Xu Yan calmly sat down, observing the two women locked in combat. Their clothes were torn, their postures graceful, and every move they made was enchanting, presenting a captivating and alluring sight.

Though illusions were not real, they could create the most beautiful scenery in the world.

They could touch the depths of one's heart, awakening one's deepest desires, or their darkest fears.

Xu Yan was in no hurry to escape the illusion; instead, he chose to contemplate himself within it, further clarifying the path to cultivating the Wisdom Sword Realm.

This was an opportunity.

Having understood the path to cultivating the Wisdom Sword Realm, once he perfected the Sword Heart Realm, he could attempt to break through to the Wisdom Sword Realm.

The profound and mysterious Wisdom Sword Realm no longer seemed out of reach but something he could cultivate!

In this moment, Xu Yan's heart raced with excitement. His trip to the Tai Miao Sect had not been in vain!

Regardless of who was behind this illusory spectacle or their intentions, it no longer mattered. Instead, it had brought him insight and shown him the path to the Wisdom Sword Realm.

At the peak of Tai Miao Peak, Xin Mengrou was perplexed. What was Xu Yan doing, sitting down like that? It seemed as if he was watching a show, and he appeared to have seen through the illusion!

"Where is the flaw?"

Xin Mengrou pondered.

She glanced at Du Yu Ying and Yun Miaomiao by her side, suspecting that their behavior and attitudes might have created an opening in the illusion.

As her thoughts turned, the illusion seemed to become even more realistic. The two women, who had been fighting, moved closer to Xu Yan, as if asking him to make a choice.

"It's time to end this!"

Xu Yan murmured, raising his hand. With a single sword strike, he ended the illusion without hesitation or delay. The two women instantly disintegrated.

Xin Mengrou's eyebrows furrowed as she watched. This young man was too decisive, and she wondered if he wasn't afraid that they might be real.

Moreover, he had acted without hesitation, his expression unchanged, as if the beauties before him were mere skeletons, and he felt no reluctance in destroying them.

Xu Yan took a step forward, and the mountains and rivers manifested beneath his feet. The illusion shattered like a bubble, and though the scenery before him remained largely unchanged, it was no longer an illusion but reality.

The two elegant courtyards remained, but Du Yu Ying and Yun Miaomiao were gone. However, he spotted two familiar figures.

Cui'er and Wushuang.

"Young Master Xu?!"

Cui'er rubbed her eyes, her face filled with disbelief, before her cheeks flushed, and she rushed over.

"Young Master Xu, it's really you! It's been so long, Cui'er has missed you so much!"

Cui'er was excited, not even thinking about notifying her mistress.

The young girl had changed a bit; she seemed more beautiful, and her strength had grown significantly.

She had reached the Great Heavenly Human Realm.

Although she had only recently entered this realm, given her age, her cultivation and talent were not bad and comparable to some ordinary heaven's pride.

Wushuang pursed her lips. This kid had actually come to the Tai Miao Sect and was even allowed up here.

"This kid has quite the reputation in the Spirit Realm, known as the number one heaven's pride. His infamy precedes him, and it seems he still remembers these two girls. He's quite sentimental."

Wushuang wondered about Xu Yan's master.

"I wonder how his master is doing."

Xu Yan's master, that mysterious expert, should be at the pinnacle of strength.

"It's Cui'er," Xu Yan smiled and asked, "Where's Miss Du?"

"Miss is at the peak, with Ancestor," Cui'er replied, her hands fiddling with her clothes. She was about to invite Young Master Xu into the courtyard when Xu Yan looked up at the peak and said, "Then I'll go find Miss Du. You should know where Xie went, right?"

Without waiting for Cui'er's reply, Xu Yan took a step forward and headed straight for the peak.

Cui'er froze, and Wushuang was equally stunned. In her heart, she cursed, "Xu Yan, you brat! You came here to inquire about Xie Lingfeng's whereabouts, completely oblivious to a beauty's heart!"

"I've heard that Tai Miao Xin Mengrou is incredibly powerful. I, Xu Yan, have come to seek guidance!"

As Wushuang and Cui'er looked on in shock, Xu Yan's feet gave rise to a golden dragon, which roared and charged towards the peak.

It was as if he was riding the dragon, sword in hand. Xu Yan's sword intent surged, and his killing intent soared, directly challenging the peak!

The illusion from earlier had sparked his insight and helped him understand the path to cultivating the Wisdom Sword Realm. However, Xu Yan was not one to take a hit without retaliating. Even if Xin Mengrou hadn't attacked directly, she had still tested him with the illusion.

In Xu Yan's eyes, this was a provocation, and he couldn't let it slide.

At the peak, Du Yu Ying and Yun Miaomiao abruptly awoke from their cultivation, their eyes falling on the golden dragon soaring through the air and the proud young man standing atop it.

They felt both delight and worry.

Yun Miaomiao glanced at the ancestor by her side, unable to see her face or discern her expression, which only added to her anxiety.

"They say Xu Yan is arrogant, and indeed he is!"

Xin Mengrou's voice was like a dream, and petals drifted down from the peak. Each petal contained the power of the heavens' laws.

The countless petals, like raindrops, were both illusory and sharp, carrying a chilling killing intent.

"Impressive!"

Xu Yan's heart stirred. Aside from Wu Tiannan, Xin Mengrou was the strongest opponent he had ever faced.

Of course, he couldn't be sure of Wu Tiannan's true strength, as he had never seen him fight. When they first met, Xu Yan had felt that Wu Tiannan was an old fox who seemed to be hiding his true power.

Roar!

The golden dragon roared, its dragon might shaking the heavens. Xu Yan raised his sword, and the sword light parted like the turning of life and death, the sword intent surging.

Puff!

The petals shattered, the sword light broke apart, and the golden dragon was left riddled with holes.

Boom!

The golden dragon disintegrated, the sword light dimmed, but the petals continued to fall.

Swish!

Suddenly, the stones and grass beneath Xu Yan's feet transformed into sharp swords that soared into the air, slicing through the falling petals. More and more swords appeared, forming a torrent that surged towards the peak.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end