Daqin Zhentiansi

The raging spatial turbulence began to subside, leaving behind only a chaotic, cracked bronze corridor and several pools of blood that were quickly smoothed over by the space.

Zhang Yuan reached out with his left hand, and his chaotic true essence precisely wrapped around the short, dark cone that had been shot out—the "Formation-Breaking Cone"—and it landed steadily in his palm.

"Let's go." Zhang Yuan looked ahead.

Passing through the ravaged corridor, the true Space Sword Pavilion finally opened its doors.

The pavilion was empty and deathly silent, with shattered bronze plates and suspended dust outlining the tragedy that had once taken place.

Beside a broken giant pillar, Zhang Yuan's gaze fell on a short dagger stuck diagonally next to a mineral vein.

It is about a foot and a half long, and its entire body is dark silver and semi-transparent. The dagger slightly distorts the surrounding light, as if it will melt into the void at any time - Space Rift Blade!
It felt icy to the touch, and the Dao principles it contained within, capable of tearing through space, instantly made Zhang Yuan realize its terrifying power to create spatial rifts.

The mysterious fragment of a page beside him, neither gold nor jade, resembling solidified stardust, exploded in Zhang Yuan's mind the instant his fingertips touched it and he forcibly resonated with it using his own fighting spirit! The immense killing intent and the unique mark of Bai Qi's handwriting burst forth!

The information on the tattered page was etched into my mind like a branding iron: "The seal is in turmoil and cannot be restored, it is no accident... The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and the Burial Heaven Sect have joined forces, and the 'Sword Sacrifice Plan' has been launched... The Sword Tomb's Blood Forging Furnace of Ten Thousand Spirits is drawing the origins of the thirteen fierce swords to devour and merge with each other..."

"Aiming to reforge the ancient, world-destroying demonic weapon...to break through the barriers of this realm and sacrifice all living beings..."

conspiracy!

Using the entire Sword Tomb as a furnace and thousands of cultivators as fuel, all for the purpose of forging that world-destroying demonic weapon that can annihilate everything!

At this moment, the Calamity Fire Sword Talisman in Zhang Yuan's hand was slightly hot, as if it were responding to the raging Calamity Fire itself at the lower level.

The cold, deathly gaze emanating from the sixth floor below, forged from an endless ocean of bones, seemed to penetrate the spatial barrier, becoming increasingly clear.

He gripped the cold, shattering cone and the cracked blade that seemed to burn with spatial ripples, his gaze like a sharp sword piercing through endless darkness, directed towards the deeper part of the ancient pavilion, towards the entrance to the White Bone Purgatory.

The dual light of ice and fire flowing along the spine of the Yuanyue Sword now seemed to carry a bloodthirsty elation.

……

The sixth floor of the Sword Tomb.

Blade & Soul Sea.

Billions of sword spirits converged into a golden ocean, the center of which devoured the light of heaven and earth.

The ground beneath my feet felt cold to the touch, carrying an indescribable sharpness.

Endless light and shadow flashed by and pulled at my side, until finally everything returned to the silent void.

Only the lingering, piercing aftertaste of the soul left behind when passing through the spatial barrier, like a brief but profound brand, proclaims that the place one has set foot on is no ordinary place.

The deathly silence was instantly torn apart!

Billions of sharp, soul-severing shrieks surged into the sea of ​​consciousness—an uncountable resonance of pure sword intent!

Looking up, one sees a vast, boundless, and ever-flowing golden ocean.

This is no ordinary water; it is formed by the convergence of endless "sword spirits."

Every drop, every ray of golden light, is once the imprint of a swordsman's lingering soul, a wisp of undiminished sword intent.

Over the long years, they sank, grew, devoured each other, and merged with one another, eventually forming this "Sea of ​​Sword Spirits" that submerged everything.

Above the sea, pure golden specks of light, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, rise, leap, and collide, annihilating each other and constantly being reborn, emitting a continuous buzzing sound that is enough to make one's soul tremble.

Every subtle collision unleashed a sharpness capable of slicing through fine gold.

Beneath the seabed lies an extremely deep dark gold, where countless ancient, powerful spirits, filled with resentment and hunger, lie dormant and churn.

The only source of light in the world is this boundless and dangerous golden ocean.

All the stars, the dome, and even the halo of the spatial passage that everyone had just stepped out of were completely swallowed up and covered by the greedy and domineering golden light emanating from this "sea of ​​swords," making them appear dim and lackluster.

However, this endless sea of ​​sword intent does not flow evenly.

At the very edge of the horizon, where the focus of the eye is irresistibly drawn—the very center of the vast ocean!

A huge, suffocating vortex formed there!
The vortex spun slowly yet irresistibly, like the entrance to a furnace of heaven and earth, mercilessly devouring all the light and energy around it, and even the space itself took on a distorted texture under this immense attraction.

The depths of the vortex are not pitch black, but an indescribable, deathly white emptiness. One glance is enough to draw your soul into that pure nothingness and leave you in eternal silence!

"The Sea of ​​Ten Thousand Swords Devouring Souls... The Sword Tomb Buries Ten Thousand Swords..." Xuan Chengzi's usually gentle and peaceful voice now carried a hint of solemnity, and even... a deeply hidden wavering.

His whisk moved without wind, its clear light swirling before him to form layers of light curtains, desperately resisting the omnipresent soul-severing power permeating the air.

Just as he was about to finish speaking!
“Boom—crash!”

The golden sea seemed to explode!

Like the Milky Way tilting over, a "giant wave" composed entirely of the most violent, swift, and chilling golden sword spirits erupted from beneath the calm sea without warning!

The target clearly tore through the void, heading straight for Zhang Yuan, who was standing at the very front!

The speed of this giant wave exceeded the limits of visual perception. One moment it was dozens of feet away, and the next moment its suffocating, soul-freezing sharp coldness had already invaded the skin!

Amidst the crest of the wave, several indistinct, grotesque spirit figures with hollow eyes burning with golden flames coalesced. They were the combined forms of countless ferocious and remnant souls, radiating a naked intent to destroy!

"Brother Zhang!"

A thunderous roar!

A gray figure, more resolute and heavier than the golden sword wave, burst forth at the critical moment!

Cheng Yue!

His ancient sword, like a door panel, was positioned less than three feet in front of Zhang Yuan.

"Chichichichi——!"

A dense barrage of sharp sounds exploded instantly!

That was the terrifying sound produced by countless tiny sword spirits, each imbued with a killing intent, crashing wildly against the gray sword aura rising from Cheng Yue's body.

The heavy, gray sword energy fluctuated violently, like tough leather pierced by countless invisible needles.

However, the two most concentrated and ferocious golden sword spirit phantoms hidden in the torrent, like living venomous snakes, strangely bypassed the blocking sword and rushed straight at Cheng Yue's face and chest!

"Uh!"

Cheng Yue only had time to forcefully turn his head to avoid a fatal blow to his head, but his body could not completely dodge.

"Pfft! Pfft!"

The sound of two sharp metal blades piercing flesh was incredibly dull!
A sword spirit, solid as a golden needle, pierced deeply into Cheng Yue's left shoulder blade!
The other one tore open a gash in his lower abdomen, attempting to crawl inside!

"Senior Brother Cheng!" Sun Ming, Zhou Yue, and other disciples of Zhao Zhou roared, their eyes bloodshot, as they tried to rush forward to rescue him.

"Don't come any closer! Guard your mind!"

Blood gushed from Cheng Yue's teeth as he growled to stop him.

His body was instantly covered with a layer of twisting, writhing, living golden patterns, like tiny snakes crawling under his skin.

The intense pain caused the veins on his forehead to bulge, and large beads of sweat instantly poured out, only to be evaporated by the sword energy emanating from his body.

His entire body was stiff as a stone statue cast in gold paint, except for his hand gripping the sword, which was so hard that his knuckles were white, and streaks of blood with a golden sheen seeped from between his fingers.

This is the destiny of Zhao Zhou, a sword cultivator.

Almost at the same time that Cheng Yue was attacked.

"Om-"

The space seemed to freeze for a moment.

A dazzling, clear light, yet carrying an unparalleled determination and extraordinary fervor, suddenly appeared behind him! It pierced straight into Zhang Yuan's back!

This light, imbued with the purest Xuanmen aura, was no longer the gentle radiance that protected everyone, but rather carried a sharpness and greed capable of piercing through mountains!

It's Xuan Chengzi!

Deep within his once clear eyes, a strange light, like fine gold dust, surged, and his gentle and peaceful demeanor was completely replaced by a kind of obsessive greed!

His hands were extremely steady, and the whisk was nowhere to be seen. In its place was a slender and clear jade ruler—the "Breaking Illusion Clear Light Ruler," a protective magic weapon of Qingxu Temple!
But now it has become a deadly blade!

"Fellow Daoist Zhang! Quickly lend me the 'True Explanation of Sword Dao' so I can have a look! I wish to offer it as a sacrifice to help the Sword Spirit Master fully awaken and forge an unparalleled immortal sword!"

Xuan Chengzi's voice was hollow and fanatical, filled with a twisted, seductive quality, no longer befitting the style of a Daoist disciple of the Immortal Sect.

"court death!"

Wu Daoling's hair and beard bristled as he roared in fury. Behind him, three thousand sword-armored warriors shone with a burst of mysterious light, and thousands of sword energies were about to be unleashed!

"Heh heh! Even the immortal Daoist has betrayed us! Good, excellent!"

Yin Xiaozi's eerie laughter was filled with twisted pleasure, and the dark green demonic energy around him instantly solidified.

His ten fingers, like claws, transformed into streaks of poisonous demonic light, striking Xuan Chengzi's vital points with lightning speed, his eyes flashing with a fierce light as he vented his hatred for the long-term suppression by the immortal sect.

Zhang Yuan seemed detached from the perilous situation.

He didn't even glance at Xuan Chengzi behind him!
The Yuanyue Heavy Sword emitted a deep and resonant sword sound in his hand.

On the sword, the ice crystal patterns and burning star cracks that had just been forged in the fifth level of the sword pavilion instantly became bright!
The icy blue and crimson light streams intertwined and burst forth, transforming into a massive halo that swept across all directions. The violent ice and fire elemental forces, mixed with the unparalleled repulsive force of the chaotic true essence, exploded with a deafening roar!

"clang--!"

The deafening clang of metal clashing was deafening!
Xuan Chengzi's jade ruler thrust forward seemed to have collided with an ancient divine mountain, and an unparalleled force of recoil surged upwards along the ruler!

His whole body trembled violently, and he let out a muffled groan. Half of his Taoist robe tore apart inch by inch, revealing the jade armor protecting his body underneath. The jade light of the armor quickly dimmed, and he was sent flying backward at a speed even faster than when he came, as if he had been struck in the chest by an invisible heavy hammer!

That domineering Daoist aura, with its alternation of ice and fire and the annihilation of chaos, ruthlessly shattered the golden temptation churning in his sea of ​​consciousness, bringing a brief moment of clarity, which was replaced by boundless horror and regret.

"boom!"

The power erupting from the Ice and Fire Roulette swept in all directions, blocking the path of all those who came to help, and briefly creating a chaotic vacuum around Zhang Yuan.

"Roar--!!!!!"

In that split second, from the center of the enormous vortex that was devouring the light, came a sound that surpassed all sword spirit shrieks, as if it originated from the deepest primordial sea.

Sea level is rising dramatically!

A real golden "mountain" has emerged from the sea!

Was that a "fish"?
Do not!
Its size is beyond the realm of common sense!

Its entire body is composed of solidified golden sword intent and light, its shape vaguely resembling that of an ancient giant whale and a prehistoric ferocious Kun.

Every time it emerges from the sea, a large section of the golden sea formed by billions of sword spirits sinks in, and the massive number of sword spirits turn into golden streams, which are swallowed by its enormous, abyss-like maw!
Its skin flowed with liquid golden light, and countless tiny, twisted, writhing sword spirits "grew" on it, like scales formed by living creatures.

And deep within its throat, which is as dark as a tunnel entrance, a faint yet soul-shaking projection of light is faintly visible!
It was in the form of a broken sword, long, incomplete, and curved, with blood-red runes like cracks covering its blade. It was shrouded in ominous, thick black aura, as if it were formed from the despair of all the wailing of the souls and the ferocity of endless slaughter.

Just by gazing at this projection, one can feel a chilling coldness that freezes the soul and a malevolent power that melts the will—the Fiend Soul Sword!
One of the thirteen evil swords that devour all living beings to nourish itself!

This "Sword Whale" is nothing more than a terrifying outer shell that it controls, greedily devouring countless sword spirits for nourishment!
The Sword Whale's projection gaze pierced through the surging golden waves, coldly locking onto Zhang Yuan.

Its massive tail slowly rose, stirring up an even more violent golden storm—the prelude to the next terrifying impact!

The golden patterns on Cheng Yue's body spread wildly like a malignant tumor, threatening to devour the last vestiges of his original consciousness.

Xuan Chengzi briefly regained consciousness, then fell into the churning golden sea, looking utterly disheveled, his face ashen, his eyes filled with an indescribable complexity and regret.

Yin Xiaozi covered his palm and retreated to the edge of the turbulent water, filled with surprise and uncertainty.

The sword whale pressed down like a collapsing mountain, the projection of the evil sword bobbing in its throat, swallowing and spitting out a chilling killing intent!
This is almost a hopeless dead end!

Zhang Yuan stood before the golden, raging storm, his black robes fluttering, his face expressionless, as if he could not feel the terrifying pressure that was crushing the starry sea.

Just as the sword whale's massive jaws opened wide and its suction reached its peak, countless golden sword spirits surged wildly into the depths of its throat, causing even space to collapse inward—

"Om-!"

A sharp sound suddenly pierced the air!
It was not created by Zhang Yuan!

Just then, the Thousand Fiends Gathering Soul Banner, which was flowing with viscous death energy, was suddenly seized by an invisible force and flew out of Yin Xiaozi's hand, who was briefly separated by the repulsive force of ice and fire!

"Use your demonic soul as a guide, and command all evil!"

Zhang Yuan's cold and ruthless decree was like a law from the heavens, disregarding distance and directly imprinted on the deepest part of Yin Xiaozi's soul!

"Buzz!"

The boundless chaotic true essence, carrying an irresistible will, instantly poured into the Myriad Evil Soul Gathering Banner!

This demonic treasure, which feeds on devouring vengeful spirits and malevolent energy, was forcibly controlled by a higher and more domineering primal force. The banner instantly swelled a hundredfold, transforming into a massive, blood-black banner that blotted out the sky!
The demonic shadows on the flag, wailing with a thousand souls, were forcibly suppressed and crushed by the chaotic aura!
Giant banners flutter!

A powerful surge of malevolent energy erupted, forming a vortex!
Instead of directly confronting the Golden Sea of ​​Sword Spirits, it precisely and forcefully "cut off" a large area of ​​the outermost, relatively weak and chaotic torrent of low-level Sword Spirits!

Just like a magnet attracting iron!

In an instant, nearly a third of the golden sword tide, which was of a rather mixed and turbid color, was drawn in and swept up by the huge banner vortex, transforming into a roaring torrent of black and gold, temporarily breaking away from the sword whale's natural attraction trajectory!
This change, seemingly chaotic and disruptive, actually disrupted the Sword Whale's stable rhythm of devouring the sea of ​​swords to replenish itself! (End of Chapter)