Forge your destiny into a sword, slash your soul and ascend to immortality

Chapter 353 The Fifth Hidden Summer Waterway

For [Thunder] and [Heaven-Slaying], they have already wasted more than 100,000 years in the [Great Abyss].

Once upon a time, the path to the Great Abyss was clear and the road ahead was wide open. In that "void" land, there was a bridge of light occupied by five saints, specially designed for the transcendent cultivators in the Great Abyss.

However, with the eternal slumber of the Five Saints of the Great Abyss, their influence is gradually fading.

Other [Totem] Saints are slowly beginning to crowd out the entire [Great Abyss].

As a result, since long ago, cultivators of the Great Abyss have had to join other "Three Powers and Four Hermits" to gain the support and endorsement of the Totem.

Otherwise, it would be absolutely impossible to break through the "nothingness" and achieve the advancement of "transcendence".

It should be noted that each of the "Three Powers and Four Hidden Ones" has its own characteristics. Among them, the threshold for the "Four Hidden Ones" is extremely high. Whether it is the [Heavenly Rank], the [Imagination Society], the [Dao Branch], or the [Covenant], only the most outstanding cultivators can join after undergoing thousands of tests.

Even the group with the largest number of members, the Oath of Alliance, did not exceed two thousand.

Ordinary cultivators, even those who have reached the threshold of transcendence, cannot even get in.

Only a super genius like [Goddess Ego], who can dominate an entire generation, has any hope.

Therefore, very few cultivators can advance through the "three powers".

As for the "three powers" of [Ye Fei], [Da Yuan], and [Ye Jia], they encompass a total of seven [Da Xu] realms.

The number of beings living and cultivating within it is well over a trillion!
The competition for the promotion to "Transcendence" is a hundred or even a thousand times more intense than that for the "Four Hidden Ones".

Therefore, taking away promotion slots for cultivators from the Great Abyss is a collective act that aligns with the interests of all realms.

Under these circumstances, for cultivators in the Great Abyss to obtain a spot for advancement to Transcendence in other Great Ruins is even more difficult than joining the "Three Powers".

Looking back at the history of [Da Yuan], the only one who truly accomplished this miracle was [Yan Fu], one of the twin stars of [Dao Yuan], the "One Sword, One Demon".

[Thunder] and [Heaven Slayer] were once powerful figures who roamed the [Great Abyss], their names resounding throughout the [Other Shore Ships].

They have witnessed too many exceptionally talented individuals bow their proud heads to the "Three Powers and Four Recluses" for that faint glimmer of hope.

Some have their Dao heart shattered during rigorous and almost humiliating trials, while others have paid an unimaginable price to become silent servants under a certain [totem], yet still fail to advance.

But the true spirit of sword cultivators made it impossible for them to submit to anyone.

The only suitable path for sword cultivators, the [Heavenly Rank], becomes exponentially more difficult as the cultivator's realm advances.

Therefore, despite their many setbacks, they never managed to get promoted.

It should be understood that for cultivators with an iron will, even if their lifespan is endless and they are immortal, they are not indestructible.

There was no way forward, and every day was torture.

This torment, after 100,000 years of sedimentation, has transformed into a cold, deathly stillness that penetrates to the bone marrow and freezes the soul.

Until this moment.

An unexpected promotion opportunity became his lifeline.

[Thunder] No longer observing, dare not wait.

He was willing to risk his life to force his way into this void rift.

The crystal-clear [Heretical Seed] instantly disintegrated upon entering that hidden space, transforming into an incomparably dazzling and violent bolt of lightning.

This was no ordinary thunder, but rather the fundamental sword energy that he had refined and compressed countless times over the past 100,000 years using his natal [Sword Box].

[Primordial Annihilation Divine Thunder Sword Light]!
The two great sword cultivators, [Thunder] and [Heaven Slayer], one cultivated the Dao of [Annihilation] and the other cultivated the Dao of [Destruction].

All of them are based on the lineage of the "Master of Calamity" of the "Pure Yang" school, but each has its own unique approach and development.

They had rehearsed this process of advancing to "Transcendence" and condensing "Outer Path Singularity" countless times.

A long, thunderous roar:
"Use your body to avert calamity, use your spirit to guide the way."

"After ten thousand years of silence, today, the battle begins!"

Then look at that [Primordial Annihilation Divine Thunder Sword Light], which in the dark and mysterious space stirred up a huge bolt of lightning, illuminating everything around it.

In [Thunder's] perception, there was nothing else here except an endless river that came from the past and went to the future.

The waters of this long river are so profound, so ethereal, so serene.

Before his lightning could react, the river water immediately surged up a giant wave, engulfing the lightning bolt.

Within the manifested world of the Great Abyss, the true form of Thunder felt an extremely vast power carrying its own Seed of Heresy, rushing out of the Great Abyss.

In the blink of an eye, he truly crossed the boundary of the Great Abyss and ascended to the heavens!

For a moment, he was also deeply moved and could hardly control himself!

He could hardly believe that the opportunity he had sought for ten thousand years had come to him so easily.

But he dared not waste this invaluable opportunity and immediately devoted himself to the advancement of [Transcendence].

High above the heavens lies the endless void, the vast ocean of the Great Dao.

The [Eternal Silence Divine Wind] was fierce, yet it could not touch the lightning at all.

"The opportunity has arrived, the path must be opened! Sword, come!"

The divine soul of [Thunder] let out a roar that shook the heavens.

All power was compressed, forged, and solidified around his [Primordial Annihilation Divine Thunder].

"Boom!"

Billions of dark purple lightning bolts were born high in the sky. They were no longer scattered electric snakes, but rather like molten iron being forged by an invisible hammer, converging towards the center.

Thunder roared and laws thundered, and the rudimentary form of a sword began to slowly emerge amidst the storm of destruction.

The sword's body, compressed from the most primordial annihilation divine lightning, is a dark purple, almost black, and imprinted with countless Dao runes, emanating from a profound [annihilation] essence.

The sword's edge consists of two intersecting rings of lightning, like shackles binding destruction, or like the pivot that triggers countless calamities.

The hilt of the sword faintly reveals ancient stone textures, which are the result of Lei Ming's undying Dao heart cultivated for 100,000 years, making it indestructible and impervious to all tribulations.

The process of condensing this thunderous greatsword is itself a process of stabilizing and sublimating the [Outer Path Singularity]!
He wasn't creating something external; he was forging his own Dao, his soul, and everything else into this sword!
This sword is his Dao fruit, his means of transcendence!

He is advancing in a way that best embodies the spirit of a sword cultivator!

"Congeal!"

Finally, high in the sky, all the strange phenomena instantly disappeared.

The fleeting image of the rushing river of time quietly recedes.

The raging thunderstorm subsided silently.

Only a single, jet-black, ten-foot-long thunder sword remained, standing silently there.

Successful.

[Thunder] used his body as a furnace and his god as a craftsman, drawing time to temper him, and taking all paths as materials to forge the [Silent Thunder Sword], a seed of heresy!
I have finally achieved the long-awaited [Transcendence] rank.

He became the second person, after Jing Qian, to achieve transcendence without relying on the support of a totem or going to that "nothingness" place.

[Thunder] could clearly feel that a profound Dao essence was being poured into him from the void through his [Silent Thunder Sword].

These meanings from beyond the boundary flowed into his body along this unique river.

His cultivation level is rapidly increasing!

At the same time, a strange message entered his consciousness along with the magical power of the river. In the mortal realm of the Great Abyss, Thunder suddenly opened his eyes and looked at Heaven Slayer standing opposite him.

Looking at his friend's earnest hope, he then spoke:
"I have been promoted!"

[Zhu Tian] had already sensed his change and immediately asked:
"What exactly is going on?"

Is there still room for me to get promoted?

[Thunder] nodded and quickly said:
"On the other side of this void rift lies the Heavenly River Secret Realm opened by my Great Abyss [Time Order Venerable Saint]."

"It is under the control of his subordinate, the Lord of Xiayang!"

"We cultivators of the Great Abyss may all enter and establish our own heretical paths!"

[Zhu Tian] immediately pressed for an answer:

Are there any entry requirements? Are there any restrictions?

[Thunder] nodded and continued:

"The Heavenly River Secret Realm has just reopened and its vitality has not yet recovered."

"The number of Transcendent cultivators that can be supported is only three, and they have not yet returned to their peak."

"Now that I have obtained the first opportunity, I must bear the cost of my magical power and primordial energy to nourish the Heavenly River, restore its strength, and enhance its foundation until it can support the fourth [Transcendence]."

"However, for you and me, this is hardly a threshold!"

"Let alone one [Transcendent] level of magical power, I would be willing to have five or ten!"

"This is a rare opportunity. There are only three promotion positions available in the entire Great Abyss right now. Don't hesitate, grab the second one as soon as possible."

[Zhu Tian] nodded, then said:
"The next one is naturally mine!"

Having said that, the sword intent of [Destruction] began to circulate within his body at an unprecedented pace.

An even more extreme and insane promotion is brewing.

The spirit of the sword cultivators is sweeping across the Great Abyss, which has been ruled by the totems of other realms for far too long, with the most unruly attitude.

……

This so-called inheritance of the [Time Order Saint] and the Heavenly River of the [Lord of Xiayang], needless to say, is the [Sumeru Heavenly River] that Jing Qian constructed with the power of [Sumeru] for his own advancement.

There are too many secrets about his cultivation system that cannot be revealed to the outside world.

At this very moment, within the [Sumeru Heavenly River], Jing Qian's divine sense was quietly "watching" the newly born [Annihilation Thunder Sword], which stood like a pillar stabilizing the sea in a corner of the Heavenly River.

Under his cover, the other party naturally could not sense his presence.

On the contrary, he witnessed the entire ascension process of his own family's [Thunder] ancestor.

This was a good opportunity for him to reflect on his own cultivation, and he gained a lot from it in a short time.

More importantly, he could clearly sense that from both the external path and the main body of [Thunder], there was a continuous stream of precious resources nourishing the system he had painstakingly built.

The [Silent Thunder Sword] absorbed a full twenty percent of the Great Dao's essence from the void, which was then given to Jing Qian's [Heretical Imagery].

This greatly accelerated Jingqian's cultivation of "transcendence".

The [Thunder]'s advancement, which consumed [Sumeru True Water], was replenished by the magical power continuously channeled into him from the mortal world by his own body.

It can be said that Jing Qian used his own [Sumeru Heavenly River] to guide [Thunder] to ascend into the void and complete the advancement of [Transcendence].

Not only did they not lose money, they actually made a huge profit.

A being who has transcended all limitations can increase his cultivation speed by 20%.

If Jing Qian were bolder, and the foundation of the [Sumeru Heavenly River] were stronger...

If he created three to five hundred "Transcendent" laborers, wouldn't he be able to complete his cultivation at dozens of times the speed?
The essence of the [Sumeru Heavenly River] is deeply connected to the origin of the [Sumeru] dimension.

With these transcendent cultivations providing vital energy, the ascension speed of the entire Sumeru dimension will naturally surge.

Since Jing Qian began his Taoist practice, he has always been on a winning streak, crushing all his opponents along the way.

But right now, the new cheat he developed in the [Transcendence] realm is simply too overpowered, ridiculously strong.

As the number of "Transcendent" beings he gathered increased, his "Sumeru Celestial River" began to snowball.

His promotion speed can increase dramatically!
Moreover, these transcendent cultivators were inherently under his control and belonged to his camp.

This in itself also implies enormous power and greater opportunities.

Jing Qian finally understood why the various [Totem] Saints had stirred up the [Eternal Silence Divine Wind] to monopolize the [Transcendence] advancement opportunities of the "Three Powers and Four Concealments" in the "Void" land.

You totems probably also regard your "Transcendence" and "Other Shore" as opportunities to support your own spiritual practice.

Once this thought arose, it was like a lightning bolt flashing in the darkness, instantly illuminating the cruel truth of the operating rules of the Great Abyss and even all the myriad worlds.

The so-called "protection," "guidance," and "orthodoxy" may, at their most fundamental and core level, be a far grander and more secretive "harvesting" that has lasted for countless epochs!
【Totem】The Venerable Saints, perched high in the clouds, are not merely maintainers of order, but also the greatest beneficiaries of this vast 'pasture'.

They went to great lengths to select the fattest 'lambs' to bring under their control.

The lambs thought they had received protection and advancement, but in reality, all the Daoist wisdom and vital energy they gained and accumulated in their subsequent cultivation were invisibly nourishing the [Totem], becoming resources for it to climb to higher realms.

"Excellent methods, excellent vision!"

Having glimpsed the hidden secrets of this world, Jing Qian couldn't help but admire the rigor of this world's system and the formidable methods of those with great cultivation.

Fortunately, he has found another way and has created a completely independent system on his own.

Not only does he not have to be exploited, he can also turn around and exploit others.

This makes his spiritual practice fundamentally different from all other forms of "transcendence".

In essence, his actions were undoubtedly an attempt to undermine the power of the various "Totem" leaders.

This undoubtedly places him in opposition to all [totems]!
Such a direct conflict of interest is bound to escalate into a life-or-death struggle.

If it were any other cultivator in his position, they would probably be terrified and unable to control themselves.

But Jingqian, without a care or concern, did not falter at all.

He's already starting to think about how to recruit more people!

The space in the [Sumeru Heavenly River] is limited, so only the more powerful [Transcendence] seeds are worthy of working for him.

That sounds rather cruel and mercenary.

In reality, as Lei Ming said, the promotion opportunities that Jing Qian could provide were the real treasures that these old-timers who had no way to get promoted were willing to exchange for ten or a hundred times the price.

In Jing Qian's perception, the advancement of [Zhu Tian] was also incredibly smooth, without any problems whatsoever.

With only one spot left, he already had a target in mind.

He raised his hand and waved it, releasing another burst of magical power.

Following his guidance, the magical power flashed rapidly into the Great Abyss Heavenly River.

Jing Qian, seated at the source of the Milky Way, is like a totem, easily deciding the birth of a being of transcendence.

For a time, it also greatly influenced his Daoist heart.

And the unique True Water Heavenly River that he created in the name of "Lord of Xiayang" also began to expand rapidly.

In the future, he made a great name for himself in this void, and continued to rise until he became the fifth "hidden" among the "Three Powers and Five Hidden Ones" [Xia Shuidao], and thus truly set sail!
(End of this chapter)