Daqin Zhentiansi

"Shh! Shh! Shh!"

Hundreds of silent, iron-clad figures in tattered armor appeared out of thin air—the very Sword Slave Legion he had subdued from the core of the Rusty Sea!

The moment it appeared, that unique being, imbued with decay and malevolence, seemed to have enraged the Blood Vine Master in the valley!
The entire ice valley erupted in chaos!

"Sususu!"

As if plunged into boiling oil and then into cold water, the icy cliffs on both sides and the blood-red vines at the bottom of the valley began to dance wildly!
Countless dark red tentacles, like a deadly rain of arrows mixed with blue-purple poison needles, tore through the water and rained down on the intruders!

The swords entangled by the vines also hummed and trembled, driven by the blood vines, pulling on the huge vine body.

Like a giant octopus monster wielding a heavy hammer and a long whip, it smashed down hard on Zhang Yuan and the others!

The collision between the torrent of metal and the sea of ​​blood-red vines erupted instantly!

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

"Pfft! Pfft!"

The Rusty Sea Sword Slave, fearless of death, silently wielded his rusted broken sword to meet the Poisonous Needle Whip!

The sword blade clashed with the resilient vine, producing a dense, rain-like sound of metal striking metal!

The poisoned needles struck the sword slave's iron armor, most of them being blocked by the thick rust, but they still sizzled and emitted corrosive blue smoke.

However, a few poisoned needles pierced through the weak points of the armor and pierced into the body of the sword slave!

However, these puppets, which had long since died and were only driven by the remaining sword energy, were completely unresponsive to the pain and numbness, and their movements were not slowed down at all.

They continued their mechanical and ferocious hacking and slashing, forcefully cutting and tearing apart the vines that had wrapped around them!
The tattered iron armor was corroded, the broken sword was shredded by the tough blood vines, and sword slaves were constantly being hit by the huge vines, their bodies twisted and deformed, and they fell to the ground.

But their fearless charge withstood the first wave of ferocious attacks, acting as a pillar in the midst of a raging torrent, and carved out a small safe zone!

"Brother Zhang!" Cheng Yue roared, his eyes sharp as an eagle's. "I'll clear the way!"

The ancient sword wrapped in gray cloth in his hand was finally fully drawn!

The sword was ancient and heavy, neither gold nor stone, yet it now unleashed a terrifying sword intent as deep and solid as mountains!
"Clumsy Sword - Sever the Flow!"

He shouted and charged forward, his ancient sword slashing down directly at the densest vines in front of him without any fancy moves!

The sword wind was as heavy as a collapsing mountain, and the water was forcefully parted!

"Boom!"

A massive, condensed gray sword aura, like a giant axe splitting the heavens, slashed deeply into the wildly dancing sea of ​​vines!
Wherever it went, the thick, python-like blood vines were torn apart and severed!
Crimson sap gushed out like a waterfall, and the severed vines twisted in agony!
This sword strike, though lacking in dazzling light and shadow, embodies the profound and simple essence of Zhao Zhou's swordsmanship: "One force can overcome all techniques."

They carved out a straight passage, several meters wide, leading deep into the icy valley through the churning, blood-red thorn forest!

The sword energy lingered, pressing down on the blood vines on both sides that hadn't been severed, making it difficult for them to close up for the time being.

"What a sword!"

Zhang Yuan gave a thumbs-up.

Cheng Yue's sword strike was perfectly timed, executed with perfect force and angle, demonstrating his powerful control.

Facing the brutal battlefield and the breach torn open by Cheng Yue, Zhang Yuan's eyes remained indifferent.

He did not immediately pursue, but slowly raised the Azure Water Sword in his hand, which he had just acquired and whose patterns flowed like water ripples!

The mind and the original spirituality of the Azure Water Sword merged instantly.

"Om-!"

The Azure Water Sword emitted a melodious and clear hum.

The sword shone with a brilliant blue-green light, like a pearl suddenly illuminating deep water.

The natural flowing water ripples seemed to come alive, spreading outwards in layers!
As Zhang Yuan pointed his sword and drew it from afar, the water elemental energy of the entire icy pool and valley resonated in submission!

"Click!"

An amazing scene appeared!

The thick layer of frozen ice covering the surface of the icy valley and pool instantly shattered and melted!
It was as if it had been wiped away by an invisible hand!

Immediately afterwards, the icy, bone-chilling waters that filled the canyon boiled under the command of the Azure Water Sword's supreme will!
It's not boiling caused by heat, but rather the water's state being forcibly altered!

The immense water vapor contained within, along with the sap flowing within the blood vine and the deep-seated water element that sustains its life, are all drawn in by an unimaginable, terrifying suction force!

"laugh--!"

With the Azure Water Sword at its core, an invisible, enormous vortex instantly formed!

The surrounding air and pool water made a tearing sound as they were unable to bear the sudden stripping of water elements!
Those crimson vines, writhing and attacking wildly, seemed to have their lives choked!
At a speed visible to the naked eye, their vines lost their plump, almost dripping, full texture!

They became shriveled, withered, and shrunken!
The skin quickly loses its luster and becomes covered in wrinkles!

The dancing vines, as if their bones had been removed, hung limply down, their resilience greatly reduced!

The deadly dark red tentacles and blue-purple poison needles, like dried-up insects, fell helplessly off the vine!
Before the secreted scarlet juice could even drip, it was forcibly sucked away as wisps of water vapor in the air!

"Crash!"

Without the support of the water element, the edges of the blood vine passage, which had been split open by Cheng Yue and temporarily suppressed by sword energy, saw a large number of vines break and collapse like withered straw!
A huge, strange ice rock, wrapped and entwined with vines and roots, was revealed at the bottom of the valley!

The ice stone was translucent, and the solidified blood light could be faintly seen flowing in the center!
Those cultivators who were previously entangled by the blood vines and on the verge of despair suddenly felt the tightness around their bodies disappear, and the paralyzing toxins that were corroding their bodies seemed to stop spreading!
They watched in astonishment as the once ferocious blood vines withered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Looking again at the figure in black robes wielding the Azure Water Sword, as if controlling a water god, his eyes were filled with unbelievable shock and the ecstatic joy of surviving a calamity.

"The water...the water has been drained?!"

"That sword! It's the power of that sword!"

"My God... what level of power is this? It can even forcibly seize the water element of this demonic vine?!"

"Zhang Qingyang! He... he's practically the emperor of this water!"

Exclamations of surprise rose and fell, filled with boundless awe.

They recognized Zhang Yuan.

The power that the Azure Water Sword displayed in Zhang Yuan's hands completely refreshed their understanding of the way of water control!
The blood vine withered and died quickly, and the crisis was averted.

Yin Xiaozi commanded the remaining sword slaves to quickly clear the area, while simultaneously gathering the ancient swords that had been "absorbed" and nourished by the blood vines for a long time and were stained with strange blood light.

Zhang Yuan and the others then headed towards the center of the Ice Valley, to the huge ice rock enveloped by the roots of the blood vines.

Upon closer inspection, a pure and sharp sword intent faintly emanated from it.

Cheng Yue and Yin Xiaozi joined forces to break through the surface of the frozen vines and roots and the remaining ice, revealing the full appearance of the ice stone.

It was not just a simple ice stone; at its core were dozens of fist-sized, dark blue, and teardrop-shaped strange minerals.

Inside the ore, there seemed to be tiny, solidified water vortices slowly rotating, or perhaps it was sealing away the flowing light of countless sharp sword shadows.

"Sword Soul Stone!" Cheng Yue's eyes lit up, revealing a burning desire. "Legend has it that such a rare stone is sometimes born in the Sword Tomb, capable of storing powerful, scattered sword intent imprints and unclaimed sword dao memories! It's priceless!"

Zhang Yuan scanned the area with his divine sense and nodded slightly.

He casually made a grasping motion, and three sword soul stones of similar size, each with the strongest sword intent fluctuations, flew into the hands of the three people.

Yin Xiaozi also respectfully took a piece. It was icy cold to the touch, but then a strange spiritual pull came through.

The three immediately sat cross-legged, their divine senses sinking into the sword soul stone in their hands.

In Cheng Yue's sea of ​​consciousness, raging waves crashed against the shore, with towering waves stretching endlessly. A blurry figure stood alone atop a solitary cliff, facing the overwhelming raging tide. The ancient sword in his hand was as calm as stone, and when he thrust out the sword, it was as heavy as a dam!
It's not a direct confrontation, but rather a triggering action!

The sword intent was profound and powerful, instantly guiding the surging ocean tide to flow back and overlap...

In the end, it actually swept away the earth-shattering giant wave, causing it to devour itself!
This is the Tide-Drawing Chapter of the "Tide Sword Technique"!

Yin Xiaozi, on the other hand, saw a deep, dark trench, with surging undercurrents like countless dark dragons tearing each other apart.

A black shadow, moving with ghostly speed, darted through the crowd, its slender sword elusive and unpredictable.

The sword light merged with the dark current, creating whirlpools and using the current as a blade. Silently, it cleaved a lurking deep-sea giant shark into countless pieces, the blood instantly swallowed by the dark current.

The techniques are ruthless, containing the vicious secrets of drawing water to corrode bones and destroying the body's defenses.

Deep within Zhang Yuan's sea of ​​consciousness lay the most magnificent scene.

A storm rages across the boundless ocean!
The waterspouts, stretching from the sky to the sea, are like giant pillars supporting the heavens, numbering a total of twelve!

At the center of the waterspout, a blurry figure stood tall and imposing.

He was dressed in ancient, azure armor and held a heavy sword that flowed with deep blue light.

He drew in and compressed the storm's terrifying power, condensing it onto his greatsword!
As if summoned by an irresistible force, the twelve water tornadoes roared wildly and coiled around the giant sword, transforming into twelve spiral water patterns on the sword's surface!
When the power had accumulated to its limit, the figure suddenly swung his sword!

"Boom——!!!"

It's not about slashing at a certain place, but about slashing at the ocean itself!

A giant sword, imbued with the power to destroy the heavens and the earth, slashed into the sea!

The sea surface did not separate, but it collapsed instantly!

It formed a terrifying vortex with a diameter of over a hundred miles and an unfathomable depth!
Space itself was distorted and deformed by the sword's power!
The dark and profound pulling force at the center of the vortex seemed to be devouring everything in the world!
This is the "Tide Sword Technique," which draws upon immense power to transform the power of the deep sea into the power of returning to nothingness!
The scene suddenly changes!

Deep-sea lava fissures!

The earth's fire and the icy water collide violently!
A thick layer of white vapor instantly filled the field of vision, reducing visibility to extremely low levels!

The alternation of extreme cold and extreme heat creates a terrifying destructive force that tears everything apart!
The blurry figure reappeared, standing at the confluence of the torrent and the subterranean fire.

The sword in his hand was no longer a single light blue, but had become dark like solidified lava, yet the blade still had water patterns on it!

His sword-wielding movements became extremely slow, solemn, and carried a peculiar rhythm.

Each swing of the sword simultaneously triggered an explosion of subterranean fire and a bone-chilling cold current!

Two extremely opposing forces form a delicate balance at the core of his sword intent.

Each time the sword swept across, the balance point would explode, turning into icy blue flames or a swirling storm of icy ice!

The sword's edge instantly shredded the surrounding chaotic lava behemoths and ice monsters into dust!
This is the deeper meaning of the "Tide Sword Technique": the rotation of water and fire, and the mutual support of ice and fire!

The first two scenarios are applications of the immense power of nature.

However, the last fragment that flashed by was extremely short, yet it contained an even more suffocating and murderous intent.

A blood and flesh millstone in a battlefield of ten thousand troops!
Amidst the carnage and bloodshed, the sword-wielding figure charged into the enemy ranks!
This time, the swordplay was no longer grand, but rather subtle and profound.

The longsword in his hand became incredibly agile. With each thrust, slash, swipe, and flick, the tip of the sword vibrated rapidly within a very small range, drawing not the mighty power of heaven and earth, but the surging blood of the surrounding soldiers!

That tiny tremor acted like a fuse, instantly igniting the immense blood energy within several soldiers!
"puff!"

With a soft thud, a fist-sized hole suddenly exploded in the chest of a seemingly ordinary soldier, his flesh and vital energy instantly drained and detonated!

Immediately afterwards, like a plague spreading, the soldiers around him began to explode and die one after another without warning!

When the body fell, it was as dry as a stick!

The figure wielding the sword seemed to become the Grim Reaper in the tide of flesh and blood, wielding a chilling power of microscopic water elemental collapse!

This is a hidden killing move concealed in the "Tide Sword Technique," which triggers the Blood Burst Source!

The scene abruptly ends here!

Zhang Yuan suddenly opened his eyes, and a fleeting image of endless swirling waves and erupting subterranean fire flashed in the depths of his pupils.

He looked down at the azure sword soul stone in his palm; its luster seemed to have dimmed somewhat.

"Tides, Ruins, the Cycle of Water and Fire... and... hemorrhage?"

Zhang Yuan's mind was racing, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

"The records are incomplete, but the essence of this meaning and power... is the path to enlightenment! This trip was worthwhile."

He looked up into the depths of the icy valley, where the air was still thick with cold.

However, in his perception, spatial fluctuations leading to the third level of the Fiery Heart Hell were already faintly visible at the end of the Ice Valley.

"Let's go, Xuan Chengzi must be getting impatient."

Zhang Yuan flicked his sleeve, collecting the remaining sword soul stones along with his spoils. His tone was calm, yet it carried the determination to break through the abyss of ten thousand fathoms and reach the molten heart hell.

The Azure Water Sword trembled slightly in his hand, as if in response to the more dangerous yet higher-level challenge that was about to come.

Cheng Yue and Yin Xiaozi solemnly obeyed the order and followed closely behind.

Behind them were the withered remains of blood vines, the shocked and awe-inspiring gazes of the surviving cultivators, and the gradually calming ripples in the icy valley.

------------------

Melting Heart Hell.

The scorching, distorted feeling at the entrance had not yet completely dissipated when the four of them stepped into the third level of the Sword Tomb.

Fiery Heart-Melting Prison.

The world before my eyes was a crimson red.

A river of scalding lava meanders through the landscape.

Like the pulsating veins on this desolate, scorched earth, it steams up rolling heat waves and pungent sulfurous fumes.

The air was scorching hot enough to melt steel, and the omnipresent malevolent energy mixed with violent fire elemental power created a suffocating pressure.

The ground beneath my feet was covered with dark red cracks, as if it were about to erupt with destructive lava at any moment.

The first dangerous place they landed at was the infamous "Sword Stele Forest" of the Molten Heart Prison.

Originally, this place should have been filled with countless stone tablets bearing the ancient sword intent, for people to observe and comprehend.

But at this moment, a sudden change occurs!

The stone tablet that catches the eye is not a silent, lifeless object.

They looked as if they had been tempered by lava, their entire bodies displaying a fiery dark red color.

The surface of the stone tablet was no longer marked with profound sword inscriptions; instead, it was covered with cracks resembling flowing lava. (End of Chapter)