Immortal Road.

"Oh no, this is..."

The two were immediately shocked, staring at the pill that shone with boundless light, as dazzling as the sun.

No! It can no longer be called a elixir.

After consuming 1.08 billion pills, its head and limbs grew back, and it became a new Sword Saint, inheriting all its cultivation and swordsmanship, as well as all the incense poison!

"If Heaven had not given birth to Ma Yuanjue, the way of the sword would have remained shrouded in eternal darkness!!!"

A long shout shook the heavens and the earth; its aura, surpassing even the Nascent Soul stage, swept away the flames in the Nine Revolutions Primordial Furnace like autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves.

The furnace lid on top was blown directly into the sky, and the boundless energy column rose from the ground, even piercing through the fragments of the world and inserting into the depths of the void world!
The original swordsman and the Supreme Lord of the Heavens outside were stunned by this scene.

Sword Saint Ma Yuanjue was just split into that state, how come he was reborn so quickly and his cultivation level increased so much?

That wasn't the end of it. Immediately afterwards, the Tongtian Lingbao Nine-Turn Taiyuan Furnace also began to shake violently. Then, cracks started to spread, and the light radiating from inside could no longer be concealed, escaping wildly through the cracks.

Ka Ka Ka Ka
In their horrified gazes, at a certain moment it could not withstand the internal pressure and exploded with a loud bang!
Splash splash splash splash splash~~~
The sky and the ground were filled with fragments, and rubble flew everywhere like rain, like a grand fireworks display, reflecting on their bewildered faces.

clang clang clang clang
Among the many fragments, the sound of the furnace lid falling to the ground was particularly crisp. This ancient and precious spiritual treasure of the Shangxiao Sword Sect was finally broken from the inside and became dust of history.

As the smoke cleared, a middle-aged man standing tall and straight came into view.

"I am, the Sword Saint Ma Yuanjue!"

He had a head of black hair, a resolute face, a strong aura, and was upright and incorruptible. He possessed all the qualities of chivalry, tenderness, courage, and music, inheriting everything that was supposed to be his.

Only the true Sword Saint's last will was spared!
Breaking through to the Void Realm is unprecedented in the lower realm. Even the Azure Lotus Fairy and the Pure Lotus Hermit could not do it, yet he, a personality born from incense and worldly thoughts, accomplished it!

Who he is now is not important; his identity is the Sword Saint, and the Sword Saint is him.

"I sensed that three more personalities escaped, but it's good that they're gone. Once they're gone, they shouldn't come back."

As they spoke, two sharp gazes turned to Lin Shan first!
!!!

Lin Shan was startled, his heart pounding as he held the pills from Instructor Wu and Master Cen in his hand.

Fortunately, the new sword saint had no other intentions and only glanced at him before letting him go, clearly too lazy to pursue the matter. He then glanced at Jian Guhan again.

"You are his disciples, not mine. Don't even think about making me inherit these burdens. A swordsman has no weaknesses. You may leave!"

Huh?
Does this new sword saint not recognize the old sword saint's disciples?

Lin Shan and Jian Guhan didn't dare to approach him and try to build a relationship, so they quickly turned around and ran away, afraid that he might change his mind.

However, this person completely ignored the two people, instead staring intently at the Supreme Lord of the Heavens and the Original Sword Daoist.

"After being imprisoned and refined for so long, did you two ever foresee this outcome?"

No, never.

They trembled uncontrollably, like weak quails, and could only watch as the Sword Saint approached step by step. The feeling of being threatened and oppressed was something they had never seen before in their lives.

"Senior Sword Saint, it is our duty to help you rebuild from the ashes. If you have any further needs, please feel free to tell us. The entire Shangxiao Sword Sect is ready to serve under your command!"

"To rebuild after destruction was my own doing; what does it have to do with you?"

While the Sword Saint has developed new ways of thinking, he is not actually stupid. An enemy is an enemy, and grudges must be clearly distinguished. Although he has severed ties with the past, the scores that need to be settled cannot be erased!
He suddenly reached out and grabbed at it from afar.

The Supreme Lord of the Heavens' expression changed drastically. He felt the Heavenly Sword in his hand struggling desperately, trying to escape the invisible call. He was clearly the master of the refinement, yet he felt as if he had encountered the Emperor of the Sword Dao!
"A mastery of the Sword Domain is equivalent to becoming a Sword Emperor, a top-tier expert below Sword Immortals in the ancient Sword Dao Era. We are no match for them, run!"

Before they could even finish speaking, neither of them had the courage to fight and turned to run away from the world fragment.

The Sword Saint behind him remained calm and composed, only speaking softly.

"Did I let you go?"

Buzz buzz buzz buzz~~~
In an instant, the Azure Wave Sword Formation around them changed hands. Thousands upon thousands of flying swords became sentient and were turned against the Sword Saint, who seized them and completely sealed off the exit of the world fragment.

Even Lin Shan and Jian Guhan can't get out!
They had tried to tear space apart long ago, but space was as hard as iron.

This is the domain!

Once the domain of a Void Realm expert is unfurled, ordinary people really can't escape. The Supreme Lord of the Heavens and the Original Sword Daoist are now in utter despair. They turn around and watch as endless sword light surges forth, sword energy soaring across the heavens. Everything related to swords turns against them.

Besides the Shangxiao Sword left behind by their ancestor!
"Senior, spare our lives! We know we were wrong!"

These two prominent figures in this world, both at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, knelt before the Sword Saint without any dignity, begging for forgiveness. They looked as pitiful as two dogs.

But in the other party's eyes, there was no principle that one could be spared by changing one's mind. Instead, he stepped forward, raised his hand, and said calmly.

"In your next life, remember to keep your eyes open and don't mess with the wrong people."

"what--"

With a loud roar, the Supreme Lord of the Heavens suddenly sprang into action, his Supreme Sword gleaming with its last brilliance as he launched a surprise attack, aiming to kill the Sword Saint in one fell swoop and turn the tide of battle!

But he only received a response with two fingers, gently gripping the hilt of the sword.

Time stood still.

The sword is still there, but the man, like ice melting and snow thawing, has been blasted into a pile of minced meat.

Ding--

The sword spirit cried out in sorrow, lamenting its former master.

The swordsman standing next to him stared wide-eyed, his lips trembling, his whole body shaking violently, and cold sweat pouring down his face.

He was right beside me, and I could clearly sense what kind of power it was!
Sword Domain.

This is the domain of sword cultivators in the Void Realm. Within this domain, the emperor who wields the sword can kill any enemy!

"Your Majesty"

"Die."

Snapped!
Yuan Jian Dao Ren was like a fly, powerless to resist in the Sword Domain, and was easily swatted to death, which made Lin Shan and Jian Gu Han's hearts pound with fear.

Is this the strength of a Void Transformation stage expert?
The Sword Saint turned his head and glanced at the two of them from a distance.

"Why don't you leave yet?"

They then realized as if waking from a dream that the exit of this world fragment had been invisibly shattered, exposing the outer void, and the domain had been withdrawn in an instant.

Immediately, two streaks of light fled as if in distress, and finally turned their heads to look at the tall and upright figure inside!

Jian Guhan was momentarily dazed, and in that instant, he saw his master's former glory.

He couldn't help but shout out:
"Master, where are you going next?"

The Sword Saint remained motionless, sitting cross-legged in the small world, and responded calmly.

"I am no longer your master. I am about to undergo the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation of the Void Realm. You should leave quickly. Since he gave you that iron sword from the Sword Dao Era, I will not pursue it. From now on, we owe each other nothing!"

Rumble~~~
Thunder suddenly roared overhead, and the Nine Heavens Thunder Pool appeared out of nowhere!
"not good!"

Lin Shan was all too familiar with this; this was a tribulation he was about to undergo. If he got involved, he would be severely injured, if not killed.

Immediately, he grabbed Jian Guhan and ran away. "Hurry, or it will be too late!"

"master!!!"

This kid is still thinking about his master. It seems he has deep feelings for Ma Yuanjue. Even though he knows that the person in front of him is just a new substitute born from the breeding of countless impure thoughts, he still roars with all his might. His stubbornness is heartbreaking.

Lin Shan forcibly took the boy away from this place and returned to the main world.

Looking further out, thick bolts of lightning continuously struck down, surging into that hidden fragment of the world. This might be the first person in the last tens of thousands of years to break through to the Void Realm in the lower realm!
Back at the Shangxiao Sword Sect's base, the allied forces were still cleaning up the battlefield.

The entire Xun Gu Sect was looking up at the stars, and the lightning tribulation of the Void Transformation stage was frighteningly bright in the dark night. Without exception, Lu Xiuming, Master Zhankong, Black Skull Demon Lord, Ancestor Lu Que, Mu Yan and others were all immersed in watching this grand tribulation from beyond the heavens!

Other allies, such as Demon Dog Lord, Serpent Venerable, and Shouzhuo Divine Lord, were also surprised, not knowing what had happened there.

When everyone saw Lin Shan return, they quickly pulled him aside to ask him what had happened.

"Forget it, it's better if you all don't know."

Lin Shan didn't want to say more. Few people in this world knew the details of the Sword Saint's affairs, and there was no need to make it public. Let this secret remain buried forever.

However, at this moment, he vaguely sensed something was wrong and noticed that on a distant mountain peak, there were two figures far away from the crowd, quietly watching the celestial feast.

Having abandoned Jian Guhan, Lin Shan arrived here alone, only to discover that the two were actually the great demon Qu Gong, and...
A banished immortal from the mortal world!

This big shot in the straw hat has always been a playboy, appearing and disappearing like a dragon, his whereabouts elusive and uncertain. No one knows when he suddenly arrived here.

At this moment, with his hands behind his back, his eyes, as clear and unobstructed as an ordinary person's, seemed to be able to see through the heavens and into all the secrets within the fragments of the vast void world.

Do you remember what I said before?

The great demon Qu Gong stretched his neck with both heads, looking around while muttering to himself:

"What did you say, Master?"

"That sentence."

Which sentence is that?

"Ouch~"

Suddenly, Qu Gong and Gong Qu were slapped. They both cried out in pain, not understanding why they were being hit when they were just watching the show.

At this moment, Lin Shan walked over, bowed respectfully, and greeted him as a senior.

"Ah."

The man in the straw hat gave a soft hum and continued to tap the gong.

"Keep thinking, if you can't figure it out, all these years of teaching you have been for nothing!"

"No, Master, you didn't even give me a hint. What am I supposed to figure out?"

The great demon was so aggrieved that tears streamed down his face. It seemed he had been beaten a lot since he was a child. The man in the straw hat believed that strict teachers produce outstanding students, but in the end, this student became more and more stupid the more he was beaten.

"What about that kid Lin? Do you remember him?"

"I???"

Lin Shan was baffled. Why was I suddenly being dragged into this? You never taught me, and I'm not your apprentice. How could I possibly remember you saying anything?
and many more!

He suddenly looked up at the night sky. The massive tribulation in the heavens was nearing its end. All eighty-one tribulations had been completed. If the Sword Saint could hold out until the end, it meant that he had successfully transcended the tribulation and completely stabilized his Void Realm.

He didn't need to explain the next part; it was nothing more than heavenly dew and divine rewards!

“When I was undergoing my primordial spirit tribulation last time, you protected me and said that if cultivators in the lower realm wanted to catch up with the geniuses of the upper realm and bridge the huge gap at the starting line of innate talent, they had to rely on heavenly tribulations and the rewards of the heavenly Dao in order to catch up!”

Lin Shan suddenly realized.

"Therefore, the advantage of the lower realm over the upper realm is that you will receive a reward from the Heavenly Dao every time you break through a realm!"

The man in the straw hat smiled and let out a long sigh.

"Ruzi can be taught."

Qu Gong then understood his master's meaning, somewhat belatedly realizing it, but also feeling that something was amiss.

"Master, didn't you say before that cultivators in the lower realms could close the gap with the geniuses of the upper realms in the Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Primordial Spirit stages? But you didn't mention the Void Transformation stage?"

The man in the straw hat got angry as soon as he heard him arguing. He was so rude to bring up something that shouldn't be brought up. What an idiot!
"Useless! Do I even need to say that?"

He gave Qu Gong a look of disappointment, then pointed at Lin Shan.

"You tell me!"

Lin Shan shuddered in fright and immediately stood at attention, swallowing hard.

"The three realms of Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Primordial Spirit are for catching up with the geniuses of the Upper Realm. However, if one can break through to the Void Transformation stage in the Lower Realm and receive additional rewards from the Heavenly Dao, one can surpass the geniuses of the Upper Realm! I wonder if what you say is correct?"

"Look at them!"

Enraged, the man in the straw hat slapped Qu Gong again, and the boy cried out in pain. It took Lin Shan a while to realize that the man was holding a fishing rod!
Is he unhappy after his fishing trip and taking it out on his family?
"It's generally impossible to reach the Void Transformation stage in the lower realm, because the late stage of the Primordial Spirit realm is basically the limit, and no matter how much you cultivate, you can't make any further progress, let alone break through to the Void Transformation stage."

At this point, the man in the straw hat looked towards the sky.

"That was a discarded pawn of the Sword Dao Era, a surprise prepared for the Upper Realm. That's why those old fogies were willing to spend so much money, just to make an example of them. You don't need to know the intricacies of it, but you should understand the principles."

"Master, you said something about an ancient relic from the Sword Dao Era that can help people break through to the Void Transformation stage in the lower realm. Can you do that?"

Qu Gong shamelessly approached, clearly having forgotten the pain of his past wounds. With that big, clumsy, and lewd look, which master wouldn't want to beat him up?
"Nonsense! If I did that, what would be the point of you practicing asceticism yourself?"

The man in the straw hat scolded himself in annoyance, wondering how he could have taken in such an idiot.

"I have told you the method to surpass the geniuses of the upper realm. How you achieve it is up to you. It doesn't matter if you can't achieve it. You will break through sooner or later anyway, but you will not receive any additional heavenly rewards from the lower realm."

"The Immortal Realm belongs to the Great Thousand Worlds. Only by breaking through to a higher realm than the Immortal Realm can one gain the attention of the Heavenly Dao of the Immortal Realm. The mortal realm offers no benefits or enhancements. The Immortal and the Mortal are separated. Below the True Immortal realm, regardless of cultivation level, all are mortals!"

"In other words, those at the Void Transformation stage can only reap benefits in the lower realms; they can't get anything in the Immortal Realm!"

He turned around and stepped into the darkness, leaving only his voice echoing in their ears.

"Born in the lower realm, you still have the opportunity to gradually transform yourself through hard work and receive the rewards of Heaven, relying on the power of the world to cultivate your immortal roots!"

"But in the environment of the Immortal Realm, if your spiritual root isn't an immortal root at birth, then you'll never be able to become an immortal!"

"Class stratification is predetermined. The only way to break free from all shackles is to climb up step by step from the lowest of the low."

"Otherwise, what do you think is the purpose of sending Heavenly Court nobles at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage from the Upper Realm to descend to the mortal realm?"

These words echoed in the wind for a long time, leaving the two of them stunned.

They then exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with horror.

The upper realm spent a huge sum of money to send people down to break through to the Void Realm in the lower realm and obtain the Heavenly Dao's reward that did not belong to the natives of the Immortal Realm.
Do you guys even want people to live?!
Even if these lower-level beasts of burden manage to catch up with their opponents through the three realms of Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Primordial Spirit, they will still fall behind in the Void Transformation stage and will still be inferior to their opponents once they ascend to the higher realms.

This won't do! (End of Chapter)