Shengui Changsheng: Start from Zhenwuwei and add some points to cultivate immortality

"Master of the Star Sword, you've come at the perfect time." The old man's voice was hoarse, yet carried an undeniable air of authority. "I was just worried that no one would help me pull out the Earth-Splitting Sword."

"Are you a member of the Reverse Time Cult?" Wang Xiaohu gripped the Burning Heaven Sword tightly, the blue mark between his brows slightly burning. The old man's aura was more restrained than the golden-masked man's, yet it carried a profound sense of connection to the earth's veins, as if he himself were part of Broken Mountain.

"The Reverse Time Cult?" The old man sneered, his cane slamming on the ground, causing Optimus Prime's tremors to intensify. "Those fools who dare to try to change the past dare to compare themselves to me? I am the 'Guardian of the Ley Lines,' having protected the Earth-Splittering Sword for over a thousand years."

He raised his hand and waved, and the gem at the top of his cane shot out a beam of red light, striking the runes on the Optimus Prime. The runes instantly merged into one, and the outline of the Earth-Splitting Sword became clearer, its blade emitting an earthy yellow light that resonated with the surrounding rock strata.

"What do you want to do?" Su Qingwan plucked the ice silk strings, her voice filled with vigilance.

"What are you doing?" Madness flashed in the old man's eyes. "This world should return to chaos! The Earth-Splitting Sword can cleave the earth's veins, release the molten lava from the earth's core, and completely purify this decaying world!" He slammed his cane into the ground, and the cliff walls on both sides of the crevice began to rapidly close. "Today, I will let you witness the birth of a new world!"

Wang Xiaohu's expression changed drastically. He could feel the earth's veins being forcibly torn apart by the sword intent of the Earth-Splitting Sword, and the rocks beneath his feet were becoming scorching hot, clearly indicating that the molten lava from the earth's core was approaching. If the cliff walls completely closed, they would all be buried in this narrow passage, becoming sacrifices to the lava.

"Miss Su, help me stabilize the cliff!" Wang Xiaohu shouted, and the crimson sword energy on the Burning Heaven Sword surged, meeting the old man's red light.

Su Qingwan immediately understood, and the pipa's sound became deep and resonant, the sound waves spreading along the cliff face, temporarily stabilizing the closing trend. However, the pressure from the cliff face was increasing, and fine sweat beaded on her forehead; several cracks had already appeared on the ice silk strings.

"Overestimating yourself!" the old man roared, and the gem at the top of his cane burst out with an even stronger red light. The red light intertwined with the earthy yellow light of the Earth-Splitting Sword, forming a huge energy vortex that devoured Wang Xiaohu's crimson sword energy layer by layer.

Looking at the Earth-Splitting Sword at the center of the vortex, Wang Xiaohu suddenly recalled the words of the Ice Clan elder: "The seven divine swords were originally one, but were scattered to various places due to the ancient war. Only those with a shared understanding can awaken their resonance." He took a deep breath and simultaneously infused the Ice-Sealing Sword and the Heaven-Burning Sword into the Demon-Suppressing Sword. Azure, white, and crimson light flowed across the sword, forming a soft yet powerful pillar of light that pierced straight into the energy vortex.

"This is... the resonance of three swords?" The old man's eyes widened, his face full of disbelief.

The pillar of light collided with the vortex, but instead of a deafening explosion, a wondrous fusion occurred. The chill of the Ice-Sealing Sword neutralized the heat of the Earth-Splitting Sword, the sacred fire of the Heaven-Burning Sword purified the malevolent energy in the earth's veins, and the Demon-Suppressing Sword acted as a link connecting the three, forming a balanced energy flow that slowly flowed along the blade of the Earth-Splitting Sword and into the runes of the Sky-Supporting Pillar.

The Earth-Splitting Sword emitted a clear, melodious sword cry, and its earth-yellow light gradually softened, losing its domineering power that had been tearing apart the earth's veins. The red light on the runes on the Sky-Supporting Pillar faded, returning to its ancient, simple blue color, and the closing of the cliff walls ceased.

"Impossible... How could the Earth-Splitting Sword recognize you as its master?" The old man's face was filled with despair. He could feel his connection to the earth's veins being severed by the Earth-Splitting Sword. "I have guarded it for a thousand years, waiting for the moment to purify the world..."

Wang Xiaohu stepped forward, and the Earth-Splitting Sword automatically flew out from the Sky-Supporting Pillar, hovering in front of him. The sword's blade was as heavy as a mountain, yet it carried a gentle aura, clearly acknowledging his will. "Purifying the world isn't about destruction, but about protection," he said, looking at the old man. "You've protected the Earth-Splitting Sword for a thousand years. Haven't you noticed that while its sword intent can cleave the earth's veins, it also silently protects this land, preventing lava from overflowing unchecked?"

The old man froze, looking down at the cane in his hand. The gem at the top of the cane gradually lost its luster, revealing its ordinary stone form. "So... I've been wrong all along..." he murmured to himself, his figure gradually becoming transparent in the light of the Earth-Splitting Sword, "I was blinded by my obsession with destruction..."

As the old man disappeared, the cliff face of the narrow passage returned to calm, and the scorching heat of the molten lava gradually subsided. The Earth-Splitting Sword slowly landed in Wang Xiaohu's hand, hanging alongside the Demon-Suppressing Sword, the Ice-Sealing Sword, and the Heaven-Burning Sword at his waist. The auras of the four divine swords resonated with each other, emitting a faint halo.

"We did it." Su Qingwan breathed a sigh of relief and slumped to the ground. The ice silkworm silk strings finally gave way and snapped with a "crack".

Wang Xiaohu walked to her side and infused her pipa with the earth-yellow light of the Earth-Splitting Sword: "The power of the Earth's veins in the Earth-Splitting Sword can repair all things. Try this."

Nourished by the earthy yellow light, the broken strings of the pipa miraculously reformed, and the silken threads gained a touch of ancient texture, making the sound waves even deeper and more powerful. Su Qingwan plucked the new strings, and the sound waves echoed through the narrow passage, carrying a gentle aura that soothed the earth's veins.

The two rested by the Optimus Prime for half a day, during which Wang Xiaohu took the opportunity to study the sword intent of the Earth-Splitting Sword. He discovered that although the power of this divine sword was known for its domineering nature, it also contained the principle of "combining strength and gentleness"—just as a mountain, though solid, also knows how to give way to a river, thus nurturing all things.

As they left the narrow gorge, the setting sun cast long shadows through the cliff tops. At the foot of the mountain, smoke curled from the chimneys of the town of Shattered Stone, where villagers were busy in the fields, clearly aware of the earth's tranquility.

"Next, let's go to the Endless Sea?" Su Qingwan asked, the pipa in her hand gleaming softly in the setting sun.

Wang Xiaohu nodded, the four divine swords humming softly at his waist, as if anticipating meeting his other companions. "The Vast Ocean Sword is on 'Return to the Ruins Island' in the Endless Sea. It is said to be able to control all the water systems in the world, which perfectly complements the earth vein power of the Earth-Splitting Sword."

The two walked along the mountain path towards the Endless Sea, their figures gradually disappearing into the afterglow of Broken Mountain. The road ahead might hold even more challenges, and the remnants of the Reverse Time Cult might reappear at any moment, but Wang Xiaohu knew that as long as he held the four divine swords in his hands and his unwavering commitment to protection remained unchanged, he had the confidence to face anything.

The resonance of the seven divine swords has only just begun, and their legend has only just turned a new page. His path of training continues to extend, leading to the vast, boundless sea, and to even more places that need protection.

The waves of the endless sea are even more magnificent than in legends.

The azure sea surged and crashed against the "Wanghai Reef," sending sprays several meters high into the air, the air thick with a salty, damp scent. Wang Xiaohu and Su Qingwan stood atop the reef, gazing at the distant horizon where the sea met the sky—Guixu Island lay hidden behind that mist, its silhouette said to only briefly appear on the first day of each month during the "high tide."

"The boatman said that Guixu Island is the resting place of the Vast Sea Sword." Su Qingwan hugged the pipa box tightly to her chest to prevent the sea breeze from getting in. "A hundred years ago, fishermen saw a giant blue sword rise from the seabed. The wave patterns on the sword could stir up the tides and capsize any fishing boats that approached." Wang Xiaohu looked at the faintly visible undercurrents beneath the sea surface. The four divine swords at his waist trembled slightly, especially the Earth-Splitting Sword. Its earthy yellow light resonated with the seabed veins, allowing him to vaguely sense the location of Guixu Island. "Tomorrow is the first day of the month. When the tide comes in, we'll take a boat there."

That night, the two settled in a fishing village by the sea. When the old fishermen in the village heard that they were going to Guixu Island, they all warned them: "That island is the forbidden land of the sea god. No one who goes in ever comes out alive! A while ago, a group of strange men in gray robes forced us to go out to sea. As a result, the boat capsized as soon as it reached the fog, and not even their bodies floated back."

“They’re from the Reverse Time Cult.” Wang Xiaohu’s heart skipped a beat. “They’re also looking for the Vast Ocean Sword.”

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the sea indeed showed signs of receding tides. The seawater, which had been flowing eastward, began to flow westward, forming a peculiar whirlpool. The mist at the center of the whirlpool gradually dissipated, revealing the outline of an island—the outline of Guixu Island was more ethereal than that of ordinary islands, as if it were floating above the sea. The seawater around the island was a mix of different shades of blue, as if it had been layered by some force.

The two boarded a speedboat provided by the fishermen and sailed towards Guixu Island with the rising tide. The closer they got to the island, the more vibrant the colors of the sea became—light blue, indigo, navy blue… layer upon layer, like a giant sapphire. As they approached the island's shore, a wall of water suddenly rose from the surface, blocking their path. Countless faces appeared on the surface of the water wall—the faces of the missing fishermen and the time-reversing cultists.

“It’s the protective barrier of the Vast Ocean Sword.” Su Qingwan plucked the pipa, and the sound waves from the ice silk strings crashed against the water wall, creating ripples. “These faces are souls trapped by the barrier.”

Wang Xiaohu took out the Earth-Splitting Sword, and its earth-yellow sword energy struck the water wall, actually carving out a gap. But the gap was quickly filled by seawater, and the faces of those people showed expressions of pain, as if they were enduring a tremendous pull.

“We can’t force our way in.” Wang Xiaohu sheathed the Earth-Splitting Sword. “The barrier is connected to the souls; forcibly destroying it will cause their souls to scatter.” He looked at the Demon-Suppressing Sword, its blade shimmering with four-colored light. “Perhaps… it needs the resonance of all four swords to appease the barrier.”

He drew all four divine swords simultaneously, and the four colors of light—blue, white, red, and yellow—intertwined at the bow of the ship to form a light curtain. The light curtain merged into the water wall, and the expressions on the faces gradually calmed down. The water wall began to slowly recede, revealing a passage paved with seawater of various colors, leading directly to the beach of Guixu Island.

The moment they stepped onto Guixu Island, both felt a gentle force enveloping their bodies—the air on the island was moist and fresh, and the sand on the beach was white, feeling like walking on clouds. In the distance, at the center of the island, stood a crystal palace, its top inlaid with a huge blue gemstone that radiated the same light as the sea.

“The Vast Ocean Sword must be in the Crystal Palace.” Su Qingwan pointed to the palace. “The brilliance of the gemstone is very similar to the legendary wave pattern.”

The two walked towards the palace. The vegetation along the way was all aquatic, yet it could grow on land, blooming with colorful flowers and emitting a faint fragrance. When they reached the palace gate, a woman in a blue gauze dress emerged from behind a crystal door. Her hair flowed like seaweed, and her eyes were pure blue, as if they contained the entire ocean.

"Outsiders, you have finally arrived." The woman's voice was as gentle and ethereal as waves lapping against rocks. "I am Xiling, the guardian of the Vast Ocean Sword, and I have been waiting here for a thousand years."

"You knew we were coming?" Wang Xiaohu asked, somewhat surprised.

Xi Ling nodded, the light of the four divine swords reflected in her blue eyes: "The resonance of the seven divine swords has already shaken the four seas. I can read your aura from the ocean currents—the Star Sword Master, the Qin Sword Fairy, and... the path of protection in your hearts." She stepped aside to make way, "The Vast Ocean Sword is deep within the palace, but you must first pass the 'Tidal Trial' to prove that you are qualified to possess it."

Deep within the Crystal Palace lies a vast water hall. Floating in the center of the hall's pool is a massive blue sword—the Vast Ocean Sword. The wave patterns on its blade are incredibly lifelike, as if real seawater were flowing across it. Around the pool are engraved runes identical to those outside Guixu Island, their light shifting with the ebb and flow of the tide.

"The Tide Trial tests 'balance'," Xi Ling's voice echoed in the water hall. "You must stand on three floating stones in the pool and maintain your balance as the tides rise and fall. If you can make all three floating stones emerge from the water at the same time, the Vast Ocean Sword will recognize you as its master."

The floating stones in the pool were only the size of a palm. As the runes flashed, the water level in the pool rose and fell, sometimes submerging the floating stones, sometimes only revealing a corner of them. Wang Xiaohu and Su Qingwan exchanged a glance, and simultaneously leaped towards the floating stones—Wang Xiaohu stood on the left, Su Qingwan on the right, and the floating stone in the middle was temporarily empty.

The water level began to rise, quickly submerging their ankles. Wang Xiaohu channeled the earth vein power of the Earth-Splitting Sword, attempting to stabilize the floating stone, but found it would slide with the current, the harder he tried, the more violently it swayed. Su Qingwan tried to soothe the water with the sound of her pipa, but was repelled by the force of the rising tide, her fingertips going numb.

“We cannot use brute force,” came Xi Ling’s voice. “The true essence of the tides is to follow, not to resist.”

Wang Xiaohu's heart stirred. He recalled the sword intent of the Earth-Splitting Sword—a balance of strength and gentleness, going with the flow. He no longer forced himself to stabilize the floating rock, but instead adjusted his center of gravity with the rhythm of the water flow, and the floating rock beneath his feet gradually stabilized. Su Qingwan also understood, and the sound of her pipa became as gentle as a stream, harmonizing with the rhythm of the rising tide, and the floating rock on her right also stopped swaying.

Just then, the floating stone in the middle suddenly sank, and the water level in the pool rose sharply, almost submerging the two of them. Wang Xiaohu and Su Qingwan simultaneously reached out and grasped each other's wrists—his earth vein power and her sonic power were transmitted through their palms, forming an invisible barrier above the floating stone in the middle, forcefully stopping the rising water level.

"boom--"

As the water level dropped, three floating stones emerged from the surface simultaneously, and the light from the runes became stable and soft. The Vast Ocean Sword in the center of the pool emitted a clear, melodious sword cry, automatically flying out of the water and hovering before the two. The wave patterns on the sword's blade lit up, resonating with the light of the four divine swords to form a five-colored light curtain that enveloped the entire water hall.

"You have passed the trial." Xi Ling's eyes were full of relief. "The Vast Ocean Sword has recognized your Way of Balance."

Wang Xiaohu received the Vast Ocean Sword and felt a cool power flow into his body, perfectly merging with the power of the other four divine swords. He could feel that he had established a connection with the world's water systems, and could even faintly hear the sound of distant ocean currents.

"The people of the Reverse Time Cult..." Su Qingwan recalled the face on the water wall. (End of Chapter)