Swallowing the Stars: Heart of the Martial God

Chapter 230 Supreme Heavenly Blade Intent
In the mysterious space deep within the Sky Eye.

This is a boundless, chaotic void, where a three-pointed, double-edged sword spanning the heavens and earth floats silently in the center.

This celestial blade has an indescribable color, neither black nor white, but a chaotic hue that contains the ultimate truths of heaven and earth.

Countless fine Dao patterns flowed along the blade, each pattern seemingly explaining the ultimate mystery of the universe.

Ling Xuan's consciousness transformed into a tiny point of light, hovering in front of the Heavenly Blade.

Compared to this divine weapon that spans heaven and earth, his consciousness is as insignificant as dust.

Even the now invincible Flame Emperor is still insignificant in front of this Heavenly Blade.

He dared not offend in the slightest, but quietly comprehended the Daoist charm naturally emanating from the Heavenly Blade.

If he weren't the master of the Heavenly Eye, he probably wouldn't even have the right to observe from afar.

He quickly grasped a new artistic conception.

It's a terrifying vision of severing everything, but it's not simply destruction.

This kind of severance carries a certain sacred meaning, as if it is severing shackles, breaking free from constraints, and cutting off everything that should not exist.

Every inch of the Heavenly Blade tells the same truth—what exists is not necessarily reasonable, and when it is time to cut, one must do so without hesitation.

Ling Xuan was so immersed in this realization that he forgot the passage of time.

His consciousness followed the flow of the Heavenly Blade's Daoist principles, experiencing the decisiveness to sever everything and the domineering power to destroy all laws.

Unconsciously, he gained a completely new understanding of the artistic conception of Tianya Mingyue Dao.

Beyond the diagram, the phantom of General Xuan Yan suddenly moved slightly.

"Huh?" A hint of surprise flashed in General Xuan Yan's double pupils. "The aura on this boy... seems to have undergone some subtle changes."

He carefully sensed the aura flowing around Ling Xuan and discovered that it possessed an indescribable charm.

It was a realm of thought he had never seen before, neither the true meaning of the Dark Heaven nor the understanding of any sages, but a completely new realm of thought that even he could not fully comprehend.

“This artistic conception…” General Xuan Yan fell into deep thought, “It seems to contain some kind of supreme charm, but even I can’t see through it exactly… This child has indeed encountered extraordinary opportunities!”

When Ling Xuan's consciousness withdrew from the Heavenly Eye Space, his temperament had already undergone a noticeable change.

His previously furrowed brows relaxed, and his eyes gleamed with wisdom.

The dark runes surrounding his body were no longer violent, but became orderly, as if they had found their core.

"So that's how it is!" Ling Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a chaotic light seemingly flowing deep within his pupils. "The Dark Heavenly True Intent renders all things meaningless, while what I need is an artistic conception that can sever the very foundation of existence! These two seem different, but in reality, they originate from the same source and lead to the same destination!"

He slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers loosely clenched.

Instantly, the destructive Dao energy within the entire Myriad Dao Returning to Ruins Diagram frantically converged towards his palm.

This time, the convergence of Daoist energy was no longer chaotic and disordered, but rather carried a mysterious rhythm.

A solid, three-pointed, double-edged sword began to slowly condense in his palm.

This knife is completely different from the previous ones:
The blade was as black as ink, yet it exuded a sharpness that made everything tremble.

Upon closer inspection, the blackness was not a simple color, but rather a series of countless tiny vortexes swirling within it, each vortex devouring the surrounding light and energy.

Fine patterns appeared on the blade, these patterns contained both the profound meaning of Dark Heaven and the severing intent gleaned from the Heavenly Blade.

The three peaks emanate a Daoist aura that annihilates all laws.

The central main blade points straight to the sky, with the tip of the blade faintly revealing the constant breaking and reorganization of space; the secondary blades on both sides point diagonally into the void, with destructive lightning crackling on their edges, each bolt of lightning containing the terrifying power to sever cause and effect.

Even more shockingly, the aura emanating from this blade resonated with the entire Myriad Paths Returning to the Void Diagram!
"With the void as its soul..." Ling Xuan spoke slowly, his voice carrying a sense of ancient vicissitudes that seemed to pierce through the ages, "This strike will sever the very foundation of existence, plunging all things into eternal darkness!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the three-pointed double-edged sword suddenly burst forth with a dazzling light!

That was not ordinary light, but a sacred radiance that contained the power to sever ties.

Ling Xuan slowly raised his long sword. The movement seemed slow, but it actually contained some kind of profound truth about the universe.

The moment he swung his sword—

There was no earth-shattering momentum, no world-destroying power.

Wherever the sword light passed, everything in the Myriad Paths Return to Ruins Diagram "lost its meaning," not just destroyed, but its very existence was fundamentally denied!
Those runes and Dao patterns that contained the wisdom of the ancients vanished completely after the blade flashed by, as if they had never existed.

This is not destruction, but a fundamental denial of their existence!
"Dark Sky - Return to Ruins Blade!"

The entire Wandao Guixu Diagram trembled violently!
The myriad rays of light transformed into a tangible rain, showering down upon Ling Xuan.

Every drop of light rain enhanced Ling Xuan's understanding of the Great Dao.

At this moment, Ling Xuan's secret technique broke through the final bottleneck and officially entered the level of twelfth-order secret techniques!

Although the third eye at the center of the forehead is closed, a wisp of chaotic light can be faintly seen flowing within it.

The phantom of General Xuan Yan fluctuated violently, his double pupils filled with unprecedented shock.

"Thirty million epochs... a twelfth-order secret technique..." General Xuan Yan's voice trembled. "The time limit of one billion epochs was actually used in only one-thirtieth of the time! And the profound meaning contained within this secret technique..."

He carefully sensed the Daoist aura emanating from Ling Xuan, and the more he sensed it, the more alarmed he became.

This secret technique not only perfectly integrates the true meaning of Dark Heaven, but also incorporates a realm of artistic conception that he cannot understand at all.

That state of mind is neither destruction nor creation, but a supreme realm that transcends common sense.

“This child…” General Xuan Yan took a deep breath, “is probably truly capable of fulfilling that long-cherished wish that even his master failed to accomplish…”

When Ling Xuan stepped out of the Myriad Dao Returning to the Void Diagram with his newly created "Returning to the Void Blade," his temperament had undergone a tremendous change.

General Xuan Yan stared at Ling Xuan before him, remaining silent for a long time.

This being, who had witnessed the rise of countless geniuses and was considered a saint, was speechless at this moment.

Finally, he spoke slowly, his voice filled with unprecedented solemnity:
"Ling Xuan, your performance has exceeded all my expectations." "Creating a twelfth-order secret technique in thirty million epochs. This achievement is enough to rank among the best even in the history of the Origin Continent."

"What's even more remarkable is the unique artistic conception you've infused into your secret techniques, which even I can't fully comprehend. This shows that you possess an encounter and potential that even I can't imagine."

General Xuan Yan paused for a moment, seemingly considering his words.

Finally, he looked directly into Ling Xuan's eyes and said, word by word:

"Are you ready to face the final trial? This test will determine whether you are qualified... to inherit the core legacy of my Wu lineage."

Ling Xuan nodded confidently. The Wu Kingdom's heritage seemed to be related to the Path of Destruction, and he already had a solid foundation from comprehending the Heavenly Blade Intent. He quickly completed the two trials and tribulations, so he naturally had the confidence to continue.

Original Universe, Metaverse Corporation Headquarters.

A grand celebration is underway.

Ling Xuan's personal disciple, Meng Yan, after years of arduous cultivation, finally comprehended the complete laws of space on this day, becoming another cosmic venerable in the Heavenly Court.

"Congratulations, Venerable Fiery Erosion!"

"Congratulations to the Venerable One on ascending to the position of the Supreme Being of the Universe!"

Congratulations from countless powerful individuals echoed throughout the virtual universe.

Meng Yan—now the Fiery Venerable—stood in the center of the celebration, feeling the surging divine power of a cosmic venerable within him, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"Master... this disciple has finally lived up to your expectations." Venerable Fiery looked towards the direction of the Lingxiao Palace, his heart filled with gratitude for his master, Ling Xuan.

He knew that his smooth breakthrough to the level of a Universe Venerable was largely due to the cultivation guidance and resources left by his master.

The news that humanity has gained another Cosmic Venerable, and that he is a direct disciple of Emperor Yan Lingxuan, has once again caused a stir in the human realm.

"Not bad." Ling Xuan's Nine Nether clone also appeared at the right time to praise the newly breakthrough Fire Venerable.

"Now that you have broken through to the Venerable level, you should take on more responsibilities and obligations. From today onwards, you will come to the Lingxiao Palace to help me with my work."

Ling Xuan was already eager to exploit this disciple. Managing affairs was too troublesome, so he would delegate what he could to others.

"Yes, Master." Venerable Fiery suppressed his excitement and nodded vigorously. After so many years, he had finally gained the approval of his master, Emperor Yan, and could officially enter the Lingxiao Palace to take up his post.

The current Lingxiao Palace is the compensation made by the Mountain-Sitting Guest for Cao Benqi's betrayal of his clan. It is a supreme treasure palace specially crafted according to Ling Xuan's requirements. It is used to guard the headquarters of the Heavenly Court, symbolizing an absolute fortress that can never be conquered, and also symbolizing the supreme status of the Heavenly Court.

The tomb of General Xuan Yan from the Cosmic Ship.

Seeing Ling Xuan nod, General Xuan Yan finally revealed a relieved smile in his double pupils. The phantom raised his hand and pressed it in the void, and dark golden runes around him surged like a tide, transforming into an ancient bronze archway.

The lintel is carved with twisted, chaotic patterns, with a dark crystal embedded in the center. Within the crystal, faint starlight flickers, subtly echoing the radiance of Ling Xuan's third eye.

"This is the 'Gate of the Primordial Ruins,' a secret technique treasure that Master obtained through a crucial contribution. It contains a mysterious inheritance left behind by an unparalleled being."

General Xuan Yan's voice was concise, not mentioning many past details, but only pointing out the origin of the inheritance.

Ling Xuan stared at the bronze archway, clearly sensing the immense pressure emanating from behind it—a pressure unlike the severing intent of the Heavenly Blade, more like the all-encompassing chaotic origin, containing both destructive power and an endless rhythm of life.

He took a deep breath, and the dark runes around his body automatically condensed into a protective light barrier as he stepped into the archway.

The scene before my eyes suddenly changed; there were no palaces and pavilions as I had imagined, only an endless gray void.

There is no distinction between up, down, left, or right in the void; only countless points of light float and drift. Each point of light carries a vast amount of information. Upon closer inspection, they are actually flowing Daoist scenes: there are the trajectories of the birth and death of stars, the patterns of interwoven laws, and even the complete cycle of life from birth to death.

"I am the spirit of the secret arts, ordered to select a successor." An aged voice echoed in the void.

Ling Xuan looked around but couldn't find the speaker. The light spots became even more dazzling, vaguely forming the outline of a giant beast: it resembled a Qilin but had six legs, its back was covered with chaotic scales, and it had forked jade horns on its head. When its eyes closed, there were phantom images of the sun and moon alternating.

This behemoth was not a physical entity, but rather formed from countless points of Daoist light, and each breath it took caused the surrounding void to tremble slightly.

"Junior Ling Xuan has come to seek the secret techniques left behind by the supreme being." Ling Xuan bowed respectfully in accordance with the inherited etiquette.

Thoughts surged within him, the spirit of the secret technique.

In the original work, only the "Lieyuan Technique" left by Yuan was guarded by a secret spirit. Could it be that my opportunity is the "Lieyuan Technique"?
However, even if it's not the Lieyuan Technique, it shouldn't be too far off.

The six-legged behemoth slowly opened its eyes. Its left eye blazed like the sun, while its right eye was as cold as a star. Its gaze swept over Ling Xuan, penetrating his protective runes and revealing the Dark Heaven True Meaning deep within his soul. "Bearing the true meaning of the Dark Heaven lineage, your talent is excellent, and you are well-suited for this secret technique."

The spirit of the secret arts spoke with approval, "But to obtain the secret technique, you must pass three trials, each with the risk of death. Are you willing to undergo them?"

“This junior is fearless,” Ling Xuan said firmly. “Since I seek the Great Dao, what danger should I fear?”

"Alright." The spirit of the secret technique nodded, its six legs treading through the void, and the light spots around its body suddenly scattered, transforming into three huge light screens that floated in front of Ling Xuan.

The first light screen displays countless flowing runes, seemingly chaotic yet subtly forming a cycle; the second light screen contains a pulsating chaotic fire, within which souls struggle; the third light screen is a void, with only a faint light appearing and disappearing in the center.

The six-legged behemoth opened its eyes, its gaze, as bright as the sun and as cold as a star, sweeping over Ling Xuan: "The first trial is to comprehend the 'Hidden Secret Runes.' These runes consist of 3,600 basic patterns. You must first understand the origin fluctuations of each pattern, then integrate them into your own Dao rhythm, and finally imprint them into a foundation with your soul power. There is no fixed time limit for this process, but only by completing the imprinting within a million epochs can you truly pass the trial."

As soon as he finished speaking, the light spots around the giant beast dispersed, transforming into three thousand six hundred flowing secret patterns that circled around Ling Xuan like a galaxy.

These runes have no fixed form; sometimes they transform into black holes that devour light, and sometimes they condense into nebulae that stretch out. Each one resists external probing, as if it has its own consciousness and is avoiding Ling Xuan's soul probing.

Ling Xuan calmed his mind, activated the Dark Heaven True Intent to envelop his soul power, and transformed it into an invisible thread, carefully wrapping it around the first secret rune.

But the moment they made contact, the secret runes suddenly burst forth with intense light, shattering the soul threads and sending a stinging sensation through the depths of their souls.

He was not discouraged. After adjusting his breathing, he once again extended his soul power. This time, he did not force the exploration, but followed the rhythm of the secret runes and gradually aligned with them.

In the first 100,000 epochs, Ling Xuan struggled against the "resistance" of the secret runes.

He spent 50,000 epochs figuring out the fluctuation pattern of a secret rune representing "spatial folding"—it required simulating the spatial oscillations at the beginning of chaos to stabilize the rune; another secret rune containing "time flow" took him 80,000 epochs in a state of mental confusion, and several times his previous understanding was wasted due to misjudging the rhythm, forcing him to start all over again.

As the millionth era approached, Ling Xuan finally grasped the essence of the last secret rune.

This secret rune is the most special, always in a "half-dispersed, half-condensed" state, and no matter how hard you try, you can't make it completely stable.

Just as he was lost in thought, the Daoist essence of the Heavenly Blade suddenly surged from the depths of his soul—he recalled the feeling of "severing the shackles" when he first comprehended the Heavenly Blade, and a thought struck him: "The hidden runes are inherently 'hidden without a trace,' perhaps we don't need to pursue complete stability?"

P.S.: Speed ​​things up, let Lord Luo come out tomorrow.

(End of this chapter)