Huangxiu

Chapter 1174 Evolution
He acted on his ideas immediately.

As soon as a divine rune appeared within the sword, he suddenly felt extremely weak.

Even if he hadn't slept for three days and three nights, he wouldn't be this weak and exhausted.

My body suddenly felt as heavy as a mountain, and I could hardly breathe. My vision blurred.

Fortunately, the golden sword remained unchanged, still light yet heavy.

The next moment, a gushing spring flowed into my mind, and my vision suddenly cleared.

The body, heavy as a mountain, became as light as a feather again. Breathing was faint yet infused into the internal organs, each breath clearing away impurities and leaving the body feeling refreshed and full.

This was the spiritual power injected by Chu Liezhao and Leng Tieya, giving him a helping hand.

He continued with the second divine text.

My heart was already slightly heavy, and I vaguely felt that something was amiss.

Leng Tieya had already unleashed the Nine Heavenly Demonic Releases, beginning to draw upon the power of the void and transform it into spiritual energy.

When the second divine inscription was completed, he swayed and almost collapsed.

The gurgling spring in my mind could no longer dispel the waves of weakness that surged within me.

He already understood that this was the limit.

So it was stopped abruptly.

He looked down at the golden sword.

With these two divine runes, it has already undergone a change.

These two characters, one is "社" (shè) and the other is "稷" (jì), are the two divine inscriptions on the Emperor's Sword.

With these two divine runes, it's practically the Emperor's Sword.

He pondered deeply, trying to figure out how this sword differed from the Emperor's Sword.

The difference might be that this sword was forged by himself and belongs entirely to him.

But the Emperor's Sword must return to the Heavenly Sword.

Is this the fundamental difference?
He decided to return to Tianjian Peak.

Without hesitation, he went straight to the front yard and found Gu Junqi.

Gu Junqi readily agreed.

……

Tianjian Peak

In Chu Zhiyuan's courtyard, Li Hongzhao sat by a stone table, holding a golden sword in her right hand and gently stroking the blade with her left hand forming a sword gesture, her bright eyes closed.

Chu Zhiyuan stared intently at her stunningly beautiful face.

A gentle breeze wafted through the courtyard.

It brought the unique fresh air from the mountain peaks, with a faint fragrance of flowers floating in the air.

Under the bright sunshine, the flowers in the flowerbed cast a shadow, which swayed in the gentle breeze.

Time seemed to stand still.

The courtyard seemed to be the whole world.

Li Hongzhao suddenly opened her bright eyes and shook her head, saying, "This is different from the Emperor's Sword."

Chu Zhiyuan's spirits lifted: "What's the difference?"

Li Hongzhao examined the white jade sword in his hand and shook his head, saying, "At first glance, it looks like the Emperor's Sword, but it has no power and is all show and no substance. Moreover... it is not connected to the outside world and I cannot sense the power of the outside world."

"Connected to outer space?"

“The Emperor’s Sword can clearly sense that there is another layer of heaven above the void,” Li Hongzhao said. “That is our Biyuan Heaven.”

Chu Zhiyuan said, "The Emperor's Sword and the Heavenly Sword are connected."

“Yes,” Li Hongzhao said, “This sword looks very much like the Emperor’s Sword, but it is not the Emperor’s Sword.”

Chu Zhiyuan seemed to be deep in thought.

If this golden sword is inscribed as the Jade Heaven Sword, can it break free from the Jade Heaven Sword's constraints? It doesn't just contain the power of three Heavenly Swords.

I'm afraid not.

The Jade Heaven Sword's wondrous abilities are also due to its connection with the Heaven Sword.

The most crucial thing is the Heavenly Sword.

Li Hongzhao tossed the golden sword to Chu Zhiyuan: "Anyway, it's not the Emperor's Sword."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

Li Hongzhao said, "However, your sword is indeed extraordinary."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Of course it's extraordinary."

Li Hongzhao snorted and said, "You already have the Shadowless Divine Sword, why do you still need to use this sword?"

"It's yours."

Chu Zhiyuan untied the Shadowless Divine Sword from his waist and tossed it to her, scabbard and all.

Li Hongzhao caught it: "For me?"

Chu Zhiyuan nodded and said, "With it, I no longer need the Shadowless Divine Sword."

"You obtained this Shadowless Divine Sword from within the sect, exchanging it for merit points. You can't give it to me, can you?"

Chu Zhiyuan said, "If it's a cultivation technique, then no; but a sword is acceptable."

“…Then I won’t stand on ceremony.” Li Hongzhao readily accepted the sword, drew it from its sheath, and swung it lightly.

The Shadowless Divine Sword was silent and undetectable. Under the bright moonlight, it was completely devoid of light and cast no shadow on the ground.

"What a fine sword!" Li Hongzhao couldn't help but exclaim.

This is a top-tier divine sword for sneak attacks and ambushes; it's perfect for assassinations.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "If I can't give it to you, then consider it a loan."

Li Hongzhao said, "Let's ask Senior Sister Zhong."

We should carefully inquire about the rules of this sect, so as not to break them.

Chu Zhiyuan stroked the golden sword and looked up at the sky.

Li Hongzhao pondered for a moment, then tied the Shadowless Divine Sword to her waist, looked up at Chu Zhiyuan, her bright eyes sparkling.

Chu Zhiyuan laughed and said, "No need to thank me. I don't need it anymore, and it would be a waste to leave it idle."

Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes at him and said, "No need to say such things... How about this, I will teach you the sword control technique of the Emperor's Sword."

Chu Zhiyuan was surprised: "This can be leaked?"

Li Hongzhao snorted: "Of course it can't be told to outsiders, otherwise we'll have to keep our oath."

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Then forget it."

He desperately wanted to obtain the sword control technique of the Emperor's Sword, as it was of paramount importance to him.

But he didn't want Li Hongzhao to break her oath because of this, as the consequences would be too severe.

Li Hongzhao said, "This is Biyuan Heaven, not our Xiaotianwaitian anymore. The oath is only an oath made in Xiaotianwaitian."

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand: "Never mind."

Li Hongzhao said, "You could never possibly comprehend the inner workings of the Emperor's Sword on your own; it's absolutely beyond your imagination."

Chu Zhiyuan seemed to be deep in thought.

Li Hongzhao said, "Listen carefully."

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand to interrupt her.

Li Hongzhao was puzzled.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "No need, I can figure out this mental cultivation method myself."

"Ha!" Li Hongzhao chuckled.

She glanced at Chu Zhiyuan sideways: "Your comprehension is exceptional, but the inner workings of the Emperor's Sword cannot be grasped through mere comprehension."

She felt that Chu Zhiyuan would never be able to comprehend this mental technique.

It's too strange, beyond imagination.

Even with his extraordinary comprehension, Chu Zhiyuan could not possibly understand it.

"If others can figure it out, why can't I?" Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Li Hongzhao said, "This mental cultivation method might have come from beyond the heavens."

“That was something someone else figured out,” Chu Zhiyuan said. “I want to use this sword to comprehend this mental technique.”

"...Then try to understand it first. If you still can't understand it after a year, I will pass it on to you."

"I can figure it out." Chu Zhiyuan cut off his own escape route.

A do-or-die attitude can spark his inspiration, allowing him to grasp the concepts more quickly.

Li Hongzhao rolled her eyes at him: "Showing off."

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand: "You should hurry up and cultivate. I'm going to the imperial city and won't be back for a while."

Li Hongzhao said, "Next time you come back, I'll be able to catch up with you."

She felt that her progress was getting faster and faster, and that when Chu Zhiyuan came back next time, she might already be at the ninth level.

That phoenix statue is truly wondrous.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "We'll wait and see."

Li Hongzhao laughed smugly, "Next time I come back, I'll have reached the ninth level, and you'll still be at the seventh level. That will be interesting."

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "I have already reached the eighth level."

“…Alright, let’s see who can reach the ninth level first!” Li Hongzhao gritted his teeth.

She felt that she had been complacent and that she shouldn't be afraid of going too fast and not being able to handle it.

He was fast, but Chu Zhiyuan was even faster.

……

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the couch.

A bright moon hangs in the sky.

Moonlight poured into the room, falling on him and on the golden sword on his lap.

The golden sword absorbed the moonlight, becoming even more warm and smooth like jade.

Chu Zhiyuan carefully sensed the golden sword and refined it.

Even though he had already refined the sword, he continued to refine it again and again.

With each refinement, his connection with the sword would grow stronger, and his understanding of the sword would deepen.

A series of flashes of inspiration kept running through his mind, and he vaguely felt that this was the right path.

This is the correct path for the Golden Sword to evolve into the Emperor's Sword or even the Heavenly Sword.

(End of this chapter)