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Chapter 451: Sword Dao Eleven, Drawing the Qing Tian Sword
Chapter 451: Sword Dao Eleven, Drawing the Qing Tian Sword
In the void, Yue Xi wore a resplendent golden gown that, paired with her towering figure, made her seem like a celestial being descended from a myth.
Her expression was serene, and her eyes calm. Since arriving in the Sword Abyss, she had diligently cultivated, never allowing herself a moment of respite. In just one year, she had made significant progress and improvements.
At her side was Wei Hongye.
Learning that this young junior sister had emerged from seclusion and was about to challenge the Imperial Sword Cliff, Wei Hongye had come to accompany her.
Yue Xi scanned the void across from the Imperial Sword Cliff, where countless figures from the Sword Abyss were gathered. Although the Sword Abyss did not have as many disciples as the Spear Abyss, there were still tens of thousands.
However, she did not see the figure she was looking for.
Yue Xi's brow furrowed slightly, but she quickly regained her composure. If the other person was of such character, even with a nine-ringed dao heart, they would eventually be surpassed by her, perhaps even now.
She reined in her thoughts and walked up to the base of the Imperial Sword Cliff.
On the opposite side, many Heaven Courtyard disciples were watching and discussing Li Tiemu's new disciple.
"I heard that Elder Li brought back two disciples a year ago. I investigated and found out they were both recruited from Conscience Pagoda City. One has an eight-ringed dao heart, and the other a nine-ringed dao heart, both Eternal Dao Hearts. This Yue Xi has an eight-ringed dao heart, while the one with the nine-ringed dao heart is rarely seen."
"Nine-ringed dao heart? Has the other person already reached the Immortal Lord realm?"
"Are you crazy? An Immortal Lord wouldn't be a disciple; they would be an attendant or even nominated as an elder."
"True Immortal Realm, with a nine-ringed dao heart? What kind of mindset does that person have? Do they even know what it means to suffer from mental breakdowns?"
Many Heaven Courtyard disciples whispered among themselves, their expressions growing serious.
By now, Yue Xi had reached the base of the Imperial Sword Cliff. She heard Wei Hongye's telepathic encouragement in her ear, took a deep breath, and then raised her hand to draw her sword.
With a sharp sound, the long sword quivered and leaped into her hand.
She gazed at the towering and sheer Imperial Sword Cliff, where countless names were inscribed, all belonging to the geniuses of the Sword Abyss.
And her name was at the very bottom.
Her eyes suddenly burst with a silvery glow, and her golden gown radiated a brilliant light. A formidable and vast sword intent instantly emanated from her body.
From a distance, her figure seemed enveloped by a sword intent phantom, standing tall and straight toward the sky.
As a member of the Yanhuo Clan, she possessed an extremely high talent in Sword Dao, with an innate sword embryo.
"True Immortal Realm, third stage!"
"Such a powerful sword intent! My sword is trembling in my hand!"
"Is this a Heaven Courtyard disciple? At the True Immortal Realm, third stage, she already has this level of power. I feel that even at the True Immortal Realm, fifth stage, I wouldn't be her match."
"You're overthinking it. Even at the True Immortal Realm, sixth stage, you might not be able to win against her."
Far away, many Earth Courtyard and Mystic Courtyard disciples were whispering in awe.
The Heaven Courtyard disciples, too, were solemn, feeling the pressure emanating from this woman.
Holding her long sword, Yue Xi soared toward the Imperial Sword Cliff.
As she approached the base of the cliff, she felt a majestic and overwhelming aura, like a regal monarch seated on a mountain, with a piercing gaze and a presence that commanded the heavens and earth.
She felt like an ant, moving forward under the scrutiny of a giant. Her sword intent and Sword Dao seemed to reflect in a mirror, suddenly seeming inadequate.
She gritted her teeth, her eyes showing a stubborn resolve. With a fierce determination, she channeled her ultimate power and charged upward, toward the spot above her name.
Behind her, a hazy Heavenly and Earthly Dharma Image, like a divine maiden, appeared, accompanying her sword-wielding form as she flew forward.
The Imperial Sword Cliff radiated boundless power. In Yue Xi's eyes, it was no longer just a cliff but a sword, standing between heaven and earth, making everything else pale in comparison.
She had never seen such a sword, nor had she ever felt such terrifying Sword Qi. Yet, this encounter brought about a revolutionary change in her understanding and perception of swords. However, this transformation also brought a sense of despair—could she ever reach such a pinnacle of Sword Dao?
She felt that she might never be able to cultivate such an Ultimate Sword Dao in her lifetime.
This moment of daze affected her Sword Heart, causing her Body Movement Techniques to slow down uncontrollably. By the time she realized it, she found herself standing before the Imperial Sword Cliff.
Whoosh.
A Sword Light swiftly carved her name into the cliff.
This time, her name was three feet higher than before.
Just three feet, yet it leapt over hundreds of names, surpassing numerous prodigies.
When her name was carved, she felt all her strength drain away, her body flying backward, unable to withstand the overwhelming aura. She retreated to the base of the Imperial Sword Cliff, her face pale.
Her chest heaved slightly, her breath heavy, and her hand holding the sword trembled. However, behind her, many pairs of astonished eyes watched her.
In just one year, she had left her name on the Imperial Sword Cliff and leapt three feet higher. This was truly astonishing.
"True Immortal Realm, Third Stage. If her realm were higher, she might reach even greater heights."
"Such Sword Intent can compensate for a tenfold difference in Immortal Power. Challenging a Sixth Stage True Immortal from the Third Stage wouldn't be a problem."
In the distance, the crowd came to their senses and began to murmur.
True Immortal Realm had ten stages, with each stage doubling the Immortal Power!
True Immortal Realm Second Stage doubled the power, Third Stage quadrupled it, Fourth Stage octupled it!
By the time one reached the Tenth Stage of True Immortal Realm, the Immortal Power would be 512 times that of the First Stage!
Under such overwhelming Immortal Power, most Ultimate Powers would struggle to compensate. For instance, Divine Strength Realm, which increased physical power tenfold, would be almost insignificant before a 500-fold increase in Immortal Power!
The same applied to the Heaven and Earth Dharma Image. While it could significantly boost combat strength, most True Immortal Realm cultivators at the Tenth Stage had such Dharma Images, and the higher the realm, the more terrifying the enhancement!
These ten stages were like ten layers of heaven, difficult to cross. Those who could challenge higher realms were exceptional geniuses, like Yue Xi.
"Very good, you've made great progress."
Wei Hongye's figure flew to Yue Xi's side, speaking softly.
Dressed in plain white, she looked dignified and elegant, more like a transcendent fairy compared to Yue Xi's regal appearance.
Hearing her praise, Yue Xi looked up at the Imperial Sword Cliff, her eyes scanning a long distance to find Wei Hongye's name.
Her lips tightened slightly, and her trembling hand steadied. She said to Wei Hongye, "Thank you, Senior Sister, for accompanying me."
"You have great talent. Keep working hard when you return."
Wei Hongye smiled.
Yue Xi nodded, glancing once more at the crowd on the other side of the Imperial Sword Cliff. She didn't see the person she was looking for, feeling a slight regret. Then she turned and followed Wei Hongye back.
Upon returning to her courtyard, Yue Xi called for her steward and had him deliver a message to another courtyard.
Shortly after, her steward returned, his expression somewhat odd. He respectfully said, "Mistress, the steward of the Leisure Courtyard said that Prince Hao left the mountain a few days ago."
"Left the mountain?"
Yue Xi, who was caressing her sword blade in the pavilion by the lake, narrowed her eyes. "Where did he go?"
"The steward didn't say. After all, Prince Hao is a disciple of the Heaven Courtyard, and his whereabouts are not to be disclosed."
Yue Xi's eyes flickered, but she didn't say anything more, only closing her eyes.
Seeing her demeanor, the steward knew it was time to leave and quietly withdrew.
...
In Conscience Pagoda City.
The vast square, compared to a year ago, now seemed much emptier.
This ancient city had long declined, with few travelers passing through, far less bustling than when various factions came here to recruit disciples.
Now, the towering Heart-Questioning Tower stood in the square, with occasional figures entering to test their Dao Heart.
At the edge of the square, there was a small hill.
On the hilltop, two figures leaned against a tree, looking out at an abyss-like cliff shrouded in mist. More smoke was now dispersing into the mist.
Smoke curled lazily as Li Hao barbecued.
Beside him, the old man with the limp smoked opium.
Though their hands seemed idle, Hidden Threads were weaving through the mist ahead.
Soon, the fragrant smell spread, and Li Hao handed a piece of roasted dragon liver to the old man, saying, "Old Han, still no movement?"
For the past six months, whenever Li Hao had free time, he would come here to compete in Fishing with the old man.
It was rare to find a fishing companion whose Fishing Skill surpassed his own. Plus, the Dragon Sparrow the old man mentioned, which Li Hao had yet to catch, kept him from giving up and never returning. The thought of leaving empty-handed kept him awake at night.
Over the six months, despite the old man's difficult personality and few words, Li Hao managed to open him up a bit while barbecuing and cooking. He learned that the old man's surname was Han, though he never revealed his full name.
"Hmph, aren't you the same?"
Old Man Han snorted, but he didn't hesitate to enjoy the dragon liver.
He uncorked his wine gourd, and the combination of roasted meat and wine made the meal even more delightful.
"Delicious."
By the time he had finished half the dragon liver, paired with his homemade wine, his eyes were already half-closed, and a satisfied smile played on his lips.
Li Hao, too, started eating. The Dragon Monster was from the True Immortal Realm, hunted in the wilderness outside Pagoda City, and the taste was excellent.
"Have a drink."
Li Hao said casually.
Old Man Han, who was already used to this, didn't mind and handed the wine gourd to Li Hao.
He ate Li Hao's barbecue, and Li Hao drank his wine, a fair trade between them.
Li Hao wiped the mouth of the gourd and tilted his head back, savoring the aromatic wine.
Old Man Han glanced at him, snorted again, and took the wine gourd to drink directly from it.
"Your Fishing Skill is too rusty. You're still just at the stage of Entering the Dao, and you haven't truly grasped the essence of Fishing."
Old Man Han said casually.
"Oh?"
Li Hao's interest piqued, and he asked, "What is the essence of Fishing?"
"Everything can be fished, including Immortals, Deities, Demons, the ten thousand races... and even time and age!"
Old Man Han narrowed his eyes as he spoke.
Li Hao had asked the question out of curiosity, but Old Man Han's words struck him like a bell, sending a shock of clarity through his body.
Even time and age?
Li Hao's mind raced, thinking about time and age... How could one fish for time?
What could hold onto time?
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, but suddenly, he seemed to grasp it. Perhaps, only his Fishing Hook could hold onto time.
This time encompassed both Heaven and Earth, and the lives of all beings.
All things are like fish, flowing in their rivers of time. When they are hooked, they are pulled out of their time streams, entering a different trajectory or reaching an end...
The dragon meat in Li Hao's mouth seemed to lose its flavor as his mind became absorbed in these thoughts. His eyes closed involuntarily.
He let the thoughts spread and reverberate in his mind.
The Chaos Divine Fire in the campfire flickered and dissipated, leaving only the smell of roasted meat in the air.
The Hidden Threads Li Hao had buried in the mist disappeared completely.
The mist moved quietly, and a gentle breeze blew, rustling the young man's hair in the tree shadows.
Beside him, Old Man Han, who was drinking to aid his meal, suddenly turned his gaze to Li Hao, pausing in his drinking.
He slowly put down the wine gourd, and his calm eyes gleamed with a faint light.
The mist continued to disperse, and the cloud sea remained serene.
Li Hao's body grew even more still, as if merging with Heaven and Earth.
This was not the ultimate transcendence to immortality, but a different kind of mental fusion.
Everything can be fished, and everything can become a fishing line...
Suddenly, the mist churned, and something massive seemed to be stirring and rolling inside!
Then, the mist cleared, and the thing that leaped out was not a Dragon Sparrow or any other demon, but a towering giant tower.
The tower emerged from the mist, as if being dragged out.
If there were others present, they would have been astonished to see that this tower was identical to the Heart-Questioning Tower in the square!
Only, this tower was complete, with a sharp, sword-like peak!
Suddenly, the tower shook violently, as if being destroyed. Divine Light scattered like colorful streams and iron flowers, splashing everywhere.
The imperial might on the tower also flickered and dimmed.
Beside him, Old Man Han, still smoking, stared at this scene in a daze.
His eyes reflected the brilliant tower, and countless rays of light seemed to flow within them, like the passage of time.
He never expected that Li Hao would fish out a thread of time from the mist, a thread of that long-gone era.
At this moment, Li Hao also opened his eyes, gazing at the Divine Light Tower, now shattered and dim. He watched as it faded from reality, becoming hazy and eventually dissipating like smoke, leaving him in a daze.
The tower wasn't real; it was a 1st Rank Time Projection he had fished out.
But he recognized the tower—it was the Heart-Questioning Tower.
He had fished out the moment when the Heart-Questioning Tower was destroyed.
At this instant, a notification from the Panel sounded in his mind.
[You have comprehended the Fishing Origin Mindset]
[Fishing has been upgraded to 1st Rank]
[You have gained 38,282 Fishing Experience...]
The notifications continued, but Li Hao remained immersed in the insights he had just gained.
Time, ages, he had actually felt it.
Among the Nine Sequences, time was the hardest to grasp. Ying Xiaoxiao, whom Elder Wang sought, was most likely the reincarnation of a Timeless Heavenly Maiden, naturally mastering the Time Origin Path.
Now, he, too, had the fortune to touch upon it.
"Fishing, it actually allowed me to comprehend the Dao of Time..."
Li Hao was deeply moved, increasingly sensing that the Artistic Skills he mastered seemed to carry some profound meaning.
At this moment, a flood of information surged into his mind, including details about Fishing and the Great Dao of Time's Origin.
Li Hao slowly absorbed and digested it all.
Old Man Han sensed the change in Li Hao's aura and sat quietly beside him, smoking his pipe. The smoke enveloped his face, making his expression indiscernible.
After a long while.
Once Li Hao had absorbed all the information, he opened his eyes, feeling slightly tired. He then looked at Old Man Han.
Seeing that the old man seemed lost in thought, Li Hao slowly stood up, bowed deeply, and paid his respects:
"Thank you, Senior, for your guidance!"
Li Hao faintly sensed that his enlightenment was somehow connected to Old Man Han, more than just a simple word of advice.
Old Man Han snapped out of his reverie and, seeing Li Hao's earnest expression, a rare hint of warmth appeared in his eyes. This expression was one Li Hao had only seen a few times over the past half-year, usually when he handed him roasted meat.
"You are very wise. With just a little guidance, you can grasp such profound truths. That is quite rare."
Old Man Han rarely praised anyone, but he did so now.
Hearing these words, Li Hao felt he had not made a mistake in seeking guidance. He sat down and asked:
"Old Han, you must be a very powerful expert, right?"
Old Man Han neither confirmed nor denied it, saying calmly, "Being very powerful is not something to boast about. Otherwise, I wouldn't be stuck here, too afraid to seek revenge."
As he spoke, a self-deprecating smile appeared on his lips.
Li Hao naturally didn't believe him. Even if the old man was telling the truth, the aura he gave off was no less formidable than Elder Wang's.
"You have an enemy."
"Who doesn't have an enemy in this life?"
Old Man Han found Li Hao's words endearingly simple and couldn't help but smile slightly, though he quickly returned to his usual indifferent expression. A hint of world-weariness appeared in his eyes as he gazed at the sea of clouds and said:
"What did you feel when you saw what you fished out?"
"You mean the Heart-Questioning Tower?"
Li Hao thought about the Time Projection he had fished out and the massive palm that had descended from the sky, destroying the Heart-Questioning Tower. He sighed, "The existence that could destroy the Heart-Questioning Tower must be at the Immortal Emperor level, right?"
Old Man Han didn't deny it, saying slowly, "Pagoda City has guarded the Deep Sea for many years. Long, long ago, the Heart-Questioning Tower was already an Imperial Artifact. But during the Catastrophe ten thousand years ago, it was at the forefront and suffered suppression. The Imperial Artifact dimmed, and the Imperial Soul was also weakened..."
He chuckled to himself, "Ask the heart, ask the heart. The Heart-Questioning Tower questioned the true hearts of the world, yet it lost its own Imperial Heart, leaving only half of it behind..."
Li Hao remembered what Elder Wang had told him: an Imperial Artifact has an Imperial Soul, and the Imperial Soul has an Imperial Heart. If the Imperial Heart is lost or damaged, the cultivation level will also decline.
"Even with half of it left, there is still hope."
Li Hao said.
Old Man Han looked at Li Hao, "Hope?"
"Even if the Imperial Heart is completely shattered, it can be reformed. Perhaps it can even surpass its former state. Destruction is not necessarily a bad thing. Eternal indestructibility is not always good, as it implies stagnation..."
Li Hao said with a smile.
Old Man Han's eyes seemed to narrow slightly, and he murmured to himself, "Reform... surpass the past..."
After a moment, he suddenly chuckled, then burst into laughter.
"Brilliant! Brilliant! Well said, eternal indestructibility is not always good. No wonder your Dao Heart has reached the ultimate level of eternity..."
Old Man Han looked at Li Hao. Only he knew that the young man before him was not a nine-ringed Dao Heart but a ten-ringed one!
He was fully aware of the attention a True Immortal Realm cultivator with a ten-ringed Eternal Dao Heart would receive, as well as the threats that would come with it.
For it already meant that the person had the qualifications to step into the Quasi-Emperor Realm.
One more step forward, and it would be the Heavenly Emperor Dao Heart!
"Today's barbecue was truly enjoyable!"
Old Man Han said with a smile, then took another Wine Gourd from the Heavenly Earth Space and tossed it to Li Hao. "Not enough to drink, right? This one's for you."
Li Hao caught it and stared at him. "Didn't you say this wine is hard to brew and you only had one gourd?"
"It is indeed hard to brew and takes a very long time..." Old Man Han chuckled lightly, a touch of reminiscence in his voice, but without any hint of regret. "But what I have in abundance is time..."
Having waited for a hundred thousand years, could he possibly lack time?
He laughed heartily, and his gaze towards Li Hao softened.
He had initially thought Li Hao was just a lucky young man, but he had underestimated him.
"Good one."
Li Hao was speechless at this. The old man was truly good at hiding things. He had eaten so much of Li Hao’s barbecue, yet he was so stingy and ungracious!
After the remaining barbecue was finished, Li Hao got up, brushed the withered grass off his buttocks, and said, "It's about time. I should head back to the sect."
"Go ahead, go ahead. Oh, right, take this."
Old Man Han waved his hand, then seemed to remember something. He fished out a small, pitch-black tower and handed it to Li Hao.
It was indeed a small tower, no bigger than a thumb, with a rough outline, as if it were made from black mud.
Li Hao took it, played with it on his thumb like a hat, and asked, "What is this? An Immortal Weapon?"
"An Immortal Weapon?"
Old Man Han laughed, saying, "You can think of it that way. Just keep it safe and don't lose it. It might save your life in a critical moment."
So, it was a life-saving item... Li Hao, seeing this, didn’t hesitate to accept it. "I'll take it. When my cultivation is higher, I'll return it to you."
"I hope that day comes."
Old Man Han smiled.
Li Hao waved goodbye to him, agreeing to come back for another fishing session.
He got up and returned to Pagoda City, heading to the Teleportation Array near the city gates to return to the Great Dream Nine Abyss Branch.
On the way back, Li Hao brought up his Panel and looked at the newly acquired Fishing Origin Mindset.
Now, both his Flesh Dao and Yudao had reached the first rank of the tenth level.
It was time to enhance his Sword Dao.
Li Hao didn’t think much about it. Apart from Flesh Dao and Yudao, Sword Dao was the power that had contributed the most to him, especially in terms of attack.
As he allocated points, a flood of information rushed into his mind.
[Sword Dao enhanced to the first rank of the tenth level.]
Numerous Sword Dao insights flooded his mind.
At the same time, the various Sword Arts he had previously comprehended underwent a tremendous transformation and deepened understanding as he digested these insights.
He had already touched upon the essence of Divine Guide.
As for Immortal Pulls the Sword, which he had previously only barely grasped at the beginner level, it had now reached the peak level!
This clearly showed that Immortal Pulls the Sword was a Sword Art at the True Immortal Realm level, and it was one of the top-tier Sword Arts.
The Blue Sky Sword Technique, one of the Ten Supreme Immortal Techniques he had inherited in the Heavenly Calamity Imperial Hall, was still at the beginner level, but now it had reached Perfection!
To advance to Perfection, one needed the threefold essence of Sword Dao.
Now that Li Hao’s Sword Dao had reached the first rank of the tenth level, his Sword Dao essence had already achieved the threefold stage.
The enhancement of these two Sword Arts also changed Li Hao’s aura, making him more ethereal and sharp. However, as he digested the insights, he reined in all these changes.
Now, even without the Taowu Immortal Weapon, Li Hao felt that his killing power would be extremely formidable.
Just the combination of Immortal Pulls the Sword and Qing Tian would be unimaginably powerful.
By the time he returned to the Sword Abyss, Li Hao had fully absorbed everything.
He flew to the mountaintop, passing over the sheer Imperial Sword Cliff, and took a look around.
(End of Chapter)
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