Daqin Zhentiansi

Senior Brother Yang Tao... a renowned expert on the Yangtianzhou Rising Star List...

A half-step Grandmaster... his treasured superior-grade spiritual sword... just shattered like that?!
He only received one sword strike?
Even... that young man in the black robe... didn't move a finger the entire time, he just looked down at the broken and tattered sword in his hand?
The impact of this scene was far more mind-blowing than when Cheng Yue defeated him with a single sword strike!

He finally realized what a terrifying being he had provoked!

Only then did Zhang Yuan finally raise his eyes.

He didn't even glance at Yang Tao, who was kneeling on the ground looking lost and dejected, nor did he pay any attention to the group of stunned Burning Star Valley disciples, as if everything that had just happened was nothing more than a trivial disturbance.

His gaze swept calmly ahead, into the even more desolate and lifeless depths of the Rusty Sword Wasteland, and he said softly, "Let's go."

His tone was flat and devoid of any emotion.

Cheng Yue took a deep breath, suppressed his surging blood and qi, gripped the cold Water Vein Longsword in his hand, and followed Zhang Yuan's footsteps closely.

The two figures quickly disappeared into the hazy blood mist and the even denser smell of corrosion.

Looking at the two figures that seemed to blend into the background of the wasteland, Yang Tao suddenly struggled to raise his head as if his tail had been stepped on.

He roared with all his might, his voice filled with humiliation, resentment, and a hint of despair: "Why...why didn't you kill me?! Do you look down on me?!"

However, all that answered him was the howling, bloody wind.

The figure in the black robe did not pause for a moment, nor did it cause even the slightest ripple.

This utter disregard was like an icicle piercing Yang Tao's last shred of pride, leaving him ashen-faced and collapsing to the ground.

None of the accompanying disciples dared to utter a sound.

……

The first level of the Sword Tomb is the core area of ​​the Rusty Sword Wasteland.

The scene became even more bizarre and menacing.

The air was no longer filled with a faint smell of rust, but with a thick, heavy aura of killing intent, like a blood-red fog.

As far as the eye could see and the horizon stretched out before us was a scene that sent chills down our spines.

A “sea” composed of countless broken ancient swords!
One hundred thousand?

million?

Countless!

Rusty, broken swords of various shapes were stuck all over the wasteland.

The sword tip points upward, the blade tilts, like a thorny thicket frozen in time.

But what's even more terrifying is that this sea of ​​broken swords is not inanimate, but moves with a strange and slow rhythm!
A gigantic sword formation that seemed to be alive!

Each broken sword retains the strongest, most unwilling, and most frenzied fighting spirit and sword intent of its owner's last strike before death!

Countless chaotic, faint sword intents, filled with resentment and killing intent, intertwined, collided, and resonated with each other, converging into an invisible and intangible yet omnipresent storm of destruction that raged throughout the entire area.

This is a forbidden zone for those below the Grandmaster level!
Once you enter the Free and Unfettered Realm, you can't even last a moment!

Looking around, the black earth surrounding the sword formation was littered with many shocking remains and artifacts.

There were fragments of brand-new storage bags, half of a flying sword with dim spiritual light, and fragments of protective magical artifacts shredded by some terrifying force...

More than anything else, there were bone fragments that were completely crushed and minced into meat by this moving blade, and even their souls were torn apart and annihilated by the residual sword intent!
This is a giant meat grinder!
A bottomless abyss that devours life!

The wreckage silently testifies to the instantaneous death of the adventurers.

The extreme fear and pain before death seemed to linger in the air, mixed with the heavy smell of blood and the decaying scent of rusted sword.

Many later arrivals stopped at a distance, gazing at the slowly flowing, shimmering jungle of sword blades with chaotic, cold light, their faces filled with hesitation and horror.

Some people tried to use their magical artifacts to bombard the enemy from a distance, but as soon as the light entered the sword formation, it immediately triggered a chain reaction of several sword lights, and the magical artifacts were instantly cut into pieces.

Someone sent out puppets to scout ahead, but the puppets were cut to shreds in the blink of an eye, like snowflakes falling into fire.

Everyone knows that there must be a great treasure within this sword formation.

But even the most precious treasures require a certain level of life to claim.

On the very edge of this daunting place, seemingly abandoned by the gods, Zhang Yuan and Cheng Yue appeared.

Cheng Yue gazed at the magnificent and terrifying sword formation before him, feeling the chilling aura that gathered the dying fighting spirit of 100,000 dead souls, and his expression became extremely solemn.

The omnipresent sharpness felt as if it could tear the skin apart.

If it weren't for his own steady and resilient sword intent, and the subtle, overwhelming pressure from Zhang Yuan beside him, he probably wouldn't even have been able to stand on the edge.

"Brother Zhang, this formation..."

Just as Cheng Yue was about to offer a reminder, he noticed that Zhang Yuan's gaze had already fallen into the depths of the sword formation.

Zhang Yuan watched the slowly moving, colliding sword formation that emitted a low hum, without any fear in his eyes.

Instead, it revealed a hint of... inquisitive interest?

He did not use any defensive magic items, nor did he even activate his protective qi.

Under the gazes of countless astonished, confused, and even insane eyes, Zhang Yuan took a step and stepped into the death domain known as the "Star Sword Formation"!

"Is he crazy?"

"Who is that?"

"Even Xuan Chengzi is unwilling to set foot here, what kind of courage does this person have to come here to seek death?"

Countless sounds echoed from the surrounding mountains.

Zhang Yuan paid no attention to the discussions in the distance and went straight into the sword formation.

"Om-!"

It was as if a switch had been flipped, triggering a chain reaction!
Like a sleeping giant awakened!
The moment Zhang Yuan stepped into the sword formation, several broken swords around him suddenly emitted a shrill shriek!

Several powerful sword intents of different colors, some sharp, some heavy, some sinister, and some explosive, were instantly activated!
They seemed to have found a common goal, transforming into dazzling, deadly sword light.

Like a swarm of sharks that have smelled blood, they shot towards Zhang Yuan from all directions and from incredible angles at a speed that could tear space apart!

This is just the beginning!
Like a drop of water thrown into boiling oil!

Centered on Zhang Yuan, the sword formation in the entire area was fully activated!
Sword lights containing different killing intents shone like waterfalls, instantly weaving into an impenetrable and all-encompassing net of destruction!

Thousands of swords fired together!

Sword intent surged like a tide!

The terrifying sight made all the cultivators on the edge gasp in shock!
They seemed to see yet another victim instantly reduced to dust!
Cheng Yue's heart leaped into his throat, and his hand unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to risk his life to save her at any moment!

With swords flashing, the changing scenery within the sword formation was no longer visible from outside.

They could never have imagined that Zhang Yuan, who was at the very center of the storm, could move with such simplicity that it was breathtaking.

He simply raised his hand.

Extend one index finger.

A point in mid-air.

"Buzz!"

An imperceptible, yet seemingly all-encompassing, pitch-black dot quietly appeared before his fingertips.

The moment the origin appeared, the entire raging sword formation space suddenly froze!
All the sharp sword lights that rushed towards him within a foot, regardless of their attributes or explosive power, vanished like weary birds returning to their nests or like mud oxen sinking into the sea. No matter how fierce and resolute they were, they were all forcibly pulled and swallowed up by that tiny black dot in an almost unreasonable and domineering manner!
The black spot didn't get bigger, but it seemed like a bottomless abyss.

The web of destruction was laughably fragile before it.

The sword light crashed, cut, and exploded wildly, yet it couldn't budge the black dot even slightly.

Instead, the power and condensed sword intent contained within itself are being rapidly stripped away, dissolved, and devoured!
That black dot is the projection of the will of the Chaos Furnace within Zhang Yuan's body!

"not enough."

Zhang Yuan frowned slightly, seemingly quite dissatisfied with this appetizer.

He did not stop, but instead faced the even more violent sword tide and continued to walk deeper into the sword formation.

As he ventured deeper, the Star Sword Formation completely erupted!

Like a sword lord who has been completely enraged!

The cries of swords merged into a raging torrent!
Tens of thousands of broken swords detached from the ground and floated into the air!

They no longer moved haphazardly, but as if commanded by an invisible general, instantly arranged into countless small killing formations full of murderous beauty, yet ever-changing!
There are sharp arrows advancing, heavy shields standing firm, meteors falling and killing, and shadowy figures strangling and killing...

The remaining sword intent, baleful aura, and resentment of the dead in the entire area were mobilized and concentrated like never before!
The void trembled, and the sharp edges of ten thousand swords instantly pointed at the same target!
Finally, in the core area of ​​the sword formation, a massive sword intent, condensed to the point of being almost tangible and shimmering with an eerie bluish-gray hue, materialized out of thin air!

The sword intent carried a terrifying aura that could tear apart the soul and sever the cycle of reincarnation. At its core, a blurry figure of a sword cultivator's remnant soul, formed from pure baleful energy, was faintly visible!

The remnant soul held a phantom of an ancient longsword, also composed of malevolent energy, with a small, semi-transparent, incomplete jade pendant inlaid in the hilt!
"Roar--!"

The remnant soul emitted a silent, piercing scream.

"call out!"

That massive, bluish-gray sword intent, which condensed a small portion of the power of the entire "Star Sword Formation," was like a spear of judgment from the deepest hell. It was silent yet incredibly fast, exceeding the limits of perception, ignoring spatial distance, and piercing straight for Zhang Yuan's brow!

Its power was so great that even Cheng Yue, who was far away outside the formation, felt his soul being pierced and torn apart!
"Now!" Zhang Yuan's eyes flashed with a sharp light!
He was no longer merely being passively devoured; his form suddenly became blurred!

In an instant, his aura shifted from the solemnity of a mountain to the fury of thunder!

The illusory image of the Chaos Emperor behind him solidified slightly in an instant!
"Give me—the town!"

Accompanied by a low shout containing the majestic power of an emperor, a huge, chaotic hand phantom that blotted out the sky suddenly appeared in front of the emperor.

Facing that earth-shattering sword intent and the remnant soul behind it, it gripped it fiercely as if it were squeezing a noisy insect!

There was no earth-shattering collision!
Only absolute devouring and suppression!

Wherever the chaotic palm passed, space collapsed silently!

That bluish-gray sword intent was like hail falling into a furnace, instantly being decomposed and melted!
The myriad distracting thoughts and various sword intents contained within were forcibly stripped away and crushed, leaving only the most fundamental and pure energy, which was frantically devoured by the furnace phantom behind the chaotic palm like a stream!

The vengeful spirit that controlled the sword formation let out a desperate cry the moment the chaotic palm was about to strike it. It tried to struggle but was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, and was instantly crushed!
The malevolent sword intent that constitutes its body is also decomposed, purified, and absorbed!
Only the half-jade pendant, which shimmered with a mysterious light and was inlaid on the hilt of the evil sword at the core of its soul, was precisely peeled off by the chaotic hand the instant the evil soul exploded, and turned into a stream of light that fell into Zhang Yuan's palm.

At the same time, a fragmented stream of information about how to mobilize the remaining thoughts of thousands of broken swords, how to guide the overlapping resonance of sword intent, and how to arrange the core killing method of this "Star Sword Formation" was also captured and refined from the crushed fragments of remnant soul consciousness and integrated into Zhang Yuan's sea of ​​consciousness.

Although incomplete, it contains extremely profound secrets of sword formation and killing techniques.

"Om-!"

As the evil spirit controlling the core was obliterated, the thousands of suspended broken swords seemed to lose their backbone instantly, falling to the ground with mournful cries, creating a cacophony of clanging sounds.

The previously suffocating aura of killing intent and the storm of sword intent quickly weakened and subsided.

The core area of ​​the entire Star Sword Formation fell into an eerie silence.

The air seemed a bit fresher, with only the lingering sharp, stinging sensation reminding us of what had just happened.

Zhang Yuan stood still, with the warm, smooth half of the jade pendant lying quietly in his palm, engraved with extremely ancient and mysterious runes.

He closed his eyes and sensed the newly acquired method of controlling the incomplete sword formation in his sea of ​​consciousness, a satisfied look on his face.

The essence of myriad sword intents was forcibly stripped of impurities and crushed into mixed thoughts by the Chaos Furnace, leaving only the most primal essence and energy of sword intent.

It greatly nourished Zhang Yuan's Chaotic True Essence and Divine Soul Origin, making his Chaotic Emperor Form more solid and deepening his understanding of the myriad sword intents.

The remnant spirit of the Soul-Severing Sword, the core evil soul that wields it is not a physical sword, but a phantom formed by the sword intent and resentment of the "Soul-Severing Sword" condensed from its soul body.

Most importantly, there is the broken jade pendant inlaid on the sword guard.

Its texture is neither gold nor jade, it is warm to the touch, and it contains a strange power that is extremely obscure, cold and lifeless, yet closely connected to the soul. The ancient runes engraved on it are exceptionally profound.

This half of the jade pendant is no ordinary object. It seems to not only nurture or enhance a certain soul power, but also resonate strongly with a deeper part of the Sword Tomb, like a broken key.

The incomplete "Star Sword Formation" mastery method is a fragmented technique extracted from the core evil spirit's remnant will. It is a method for controlling the remaining will of countless broken swords in this area, guiding and layering different sword intents, and arranging and changing sword formation killing moves.

Although incomplete, it offers a glimpse into the whole picture. Its core ideas and some ingenious techniques are of great reference value for Zhang Yuan to understand complex sword formations and even to control a larger amount of sword intent power in the future. It can be regarded as an unexpected "instruction manual".

Zhang Yuan plundered the core essence of the "Star Sword Formation," a technique that countless cultivators feared like a tiger, with an absolutely overwhelming force.

He casually unlocked a perilous and dangerous area, and stepped into the most core and treacherous part of the first level with ease.

The last remaining structure of the Star Sword Formation collapsed completely with a deafening wail.

The massive "Sword Hill," formed by thousands of swords piled up, disintegrated like a landslide amidst deafening roars and choking dust storms.

Countless sword fragments, buried deep within and shimmering with various colors of spiritual energy, along with the countless skeletons that had once been trapped there, were exposed nakedly to the sudden bright light, like a tomb that had been forcibly opened.

That was caused by the dissipation of the fierce sword intent that had shrouded this place for eternity after the core of the sword formation was plundered.

Before the dust had even settled, the crowd at the edge of the ruins was instantly agitated, as if pierced by invisible needles.

As the sword formation collapsed, everyone saw Zhang Yuan standing in the center of the formation.

At this moment, every gaze was filled with shock and disbelief.

The Star Sword Formation, which had blocked the entry of countless elites into the Sword Tomb for many years, has been broken...

"I understand, he, he is Zhang Qingyang—"

"Zhang Qingyang of the Great River Sword Sect!"

"The first place winner of the Blood Sea Trial, the prodigy of the Great River Sword Sect, it turns out to be him!"

Finally, someone recognized Zhang Yuan's identity, and exclamations of surprise filled the air.

"hiss--!"

"It's him! Black robe, carrying a heavy sword...it's definitely him!"

"Zhang Qingyang! The Zhang Qingyang who slew a half-saint demon in the Blood Sea Demon Cave and topped the Crystal Tablet Ranking!"

Someone gasped, their voice trembling with disbelief.

"Heavens above! The Star Sword Formation that no one dared to touch... it was actually... broken by him?!"

Another voice shrieked sharply, as if the world were upside down.

"No mistake! That scourge of the Great River Sword Sect has personally come to the Sword Tomb! Look, he's right in the center of the ruins!"

"It's over, it's over! This jinx is here too. How can we possibly survive in the Sword Tomb, where there's already a nine-out-of-ten chance of death?!"

The gasps of alarm rose and fell like cold water poured into boiling oil, exploding around the ruins, and fear and awe instantly enveloped every witness.

Their gazes were fixed on the young man in the black robe amidst the dust.

Zhang Qingyang's name had already spread far and wide along with the legend of the Blood Sea Trial.
Witnessing firsthand how he single-handedly destroyed the Star Sword Formation, which even Grandmasters feared, brought an impact far greater than any rumors.

However, at the eye of the storm lay a chilling calm. Zhang Yuan remained oblivious. (End of Chapter)