The entry for cultivating immortality states that after dying a hundred times, I attained immortalit

Outside the cave, the sky was still pitch black; the second night in the secret realm was only halfway through.

Jiang Bai looked down to check his [Killing Intent Perception].

The five auras of the Li family still lingered on the outer edge of the poisonous swamp, two of them remaining stable, seemingly asleep.

Clearly, they believed Jiang Bai wouldn't dare show himself and planned to take turns keeping watch until dawn.

"That saved us some trouble."

Jiang Bai muttered to himself as he crawled out of the crevice in the rock.

He ignored him and turned to walk deeper into the poisonous swamp.

After walking a distance and confirming that he was completely out of the Li family's perception range, he changed direction and headed due north.

Poison Ivy Cave is in the southeast direction, so Jiang Shan and his group should be safe.

But there are more important things to do right now.

It is the "remnant of an ancient teleportation array", and there may be a second main flag in the Valley of Burial Swords.

The main force of the Li family has been lured to the poisonous swamp, and the Burial Sword Valley must be vulnerable now.

Chen Lei is dead. Even if the killing formation he set up is still in operation, it has lost its master.

This is a rare opportunity.

Jiang Bai kept moving, maintaining his [Concealing Breath Technique] as he quietly traversed the thick poisonous miasma.

An hour later, Jiang Bai stopped, squatted down, and gently ran his fingertips across a layer of grayish-white sand on the ground.

The sand contained fine metal particles.

This appears to be sword shavings.

He looked up and stared straight ahead.

Two steep, black rock cliffs stand facing each other at the mouth of a valley.

The light at the valley entrance was distorted and blurry, as if seen through a flowing water curtain; it must be an illusion.

Chen Lei had indeed laid a trap here.

Jiang Bai hugged the cliff face, circled around to the side, climbed onto a protruding rock platform, and observed from above.

The illusion array at the valley entrance is not sophisticated; it is merely the most basic "mystery fog," designed to make passersby subconsciously ignore the valley entrance or create the illusion that "this path is blocked."

The key to breaking this formation lies in finding the "gate of life" through which spiritual energy flows.

Jiang Bai recalled the book "An Introduction to Breaking Common Magic Arrays" that his master, Jiang Yuanshan, had given him.

The book mentions that maze-like formations are set up based on the terrain, and the exit points are often related to the natural terrain.

He squinted and carefully observed the distorted light curtain at the valley entrance. He noticed that the ripples on the left edge of the light curtain, close to the base of the cliff, flowed slightly slower than elsewhere, and each ripple subtly moved toward an inconspicuous crack on the cliff face.

That should be where we can break through.

Jiang Bai slid down from the rock platform and touched the crack.

The crack was very narrow, only wide enough for someone to squeeze in sideways, and it was pitch black and bottomless inside.

However, the fact that the [Killing Intent Perception] did not issue a warning indicates that there was no ambush at the entrance.

He took a deep breath and squeezed sideways into the crack.

After squeezing forward for about seven or eight zhang, his figure finally emerged.

Jiang Bai stepped out of the crevice and a wide valley appeared before him.

The valley is long and narrow, with towering cliffs on both sides, and a few pale rays of light seep through a narrow gap at the top of the cliffs.

The valley was filled with swords—or rather, the remains of swords.

Broken swords, rusted swords, chipped longswords, short swords with only half remaining... thousands upon thousands of them were densely packed and stuck diagonally in the black sandy soil, like a tombstone.

Most of these broken swords were rusted beyond recognition, their blades covered with dark red rust spots, and some had even solidified with the sand and soil.

But Jiang Baineng could sense that each broken sword still retained a faint aura of sharpness.

That was the sword energy that the sword master had infused during his lifetime, and even after the erosion of time, it had not completely dissipated.

In the center of the valley stands a stone platform that rises above the ground.

A long sword was stuck diagonally on the stone platform.

This sword was completely different from the scattered broken swords around it. The blade was intact, about four feet long, and entirely black, except for a dark red gemstone embedded in the hilt.

A flag was stuck on the hilt of the sword.

The flag was also jet black, with twisted silver patterns embroidered on its surface, resembling some kind of ancient runes.

This is the second main flag.

Jiang Bai's gaze swept over the area around the stone platform, where intricate patterns were etched with some kind of dark red pigment, spreading out like a spider web and tightly connecting the stone platform with dozens of broken swords around it.

It's actually an array pattern.

The "Five Thunder Locking Spirit Sword Diagram" recorded in Chen Lei's jade slip is probably a killing formation set up based on the broken sword in this place.

Jiang Bai pondered for a moment, then took out a spirit stone from his storage bag, weighed it in his hand, and flicked it towards the stone platform with his finger.

The spirit stone flew to a point three zhang above the stone platform.

"Buzz—"

Thousands of broken swords in the valley trembled simultaneously!

Rust flakes fell off the sword, and streaks of sword energy, some bright and some dark, burst forth from the blade, soaring into the sky and weaving into an impenetrable net of sword energy in mid-air.

The spirit stone was instantly pierced by dozens of sword energies and blasted into dust.

The sword energy did not stop there; instead, it was like an enraged swarm of bees, shooting indiscriminately in all directions!

Hiss hiss hiss hiss!

The sound of something cutting through the air was as dense as rain.

Jiang Bai's pupils suddenly contracted, and he instantly activated [Swift Shadow Step], his figure violently retreating backward.

The sword energy shot after him, grazing the ground where he had just stood, carving several furrows a foot deep in the ground.

The sword energy only gradually subsided when they retreated to the vicinity of the valley crevice.

But the sword formation in the valley did not stop operating. The broken swords still trembled slightly, their tips all pointing towards the stone platform in the center of the valley, as if guarding something.

"It's an automatically triggered defensive formation..." Jiang Bai frowned.

This formation is even more troublesome than the one recorded in Chen Lei's jade slip.

It seems that not only is there the "Five Thunder Locking Spirit Sword Diagram" here, but Chen Lei also used the sword energy remaining in the broken sword to set up a killing formation with a wider range.

To take the main flag, one must break through this barrier.

Jiang Bai didn't hesitate for long.

Now that we're here, there's no reason to back down.

He moved his wrist, and the poison pattern on his right arm quietly flowed, gathering the toxins that had just recovered to his palm.

He gripped the hilt of the Thunder Fang Sword with his left hand, and lightning flowed across the blade.

Then, he stepped into the valley.

"Buzz—"

The broken sword trembled once more!

This time, the sword energy was no longer indiscriminately fired, but was all locked onto Jiang Bai, the intruder.

laugh!

The sword energy came from the left. Jiang Bai dodged to the side, and the sword energy grazed his body, leaving a deep mark on the rock wall behind him.

Then came the second, the third, the tenth...

Sword energy was densely packed in all directions, above, below, left, and right.

Jiang Bai pushed his [Swift Shadow Step] to its limit, leaving a trail of afterimages in the valley as he weaved and shifted between the gaps in the sword energy.

But there was just too much sword energy.

A dark red sword aura shot from a tricky angle. Jiang Bai twisted his body to dodge, but his calf was still grazed.

Despite the sharp pain, he didn't furrow his brow or stop his pace, continuing to charge forward.

But the sword energy became increasingly dense.

Thirty feet is a distance that can usually be covered in just a few breaths, but now it feels like an insurmountable chasm.

Another wave of sword energy struck, this time seven strikes launched simultaneously, sealing off any space to dodge left or right. Jiang Bai had no choice but to parry with his sword. Clang clang clang clang—the Thunder Fang Sword collided with the sword energy, exploding into a series of sparks.

Although the sword energy was shattered, the recoil made his arm go numb.

This can't go on.

The sword energy is endless; I will eventually be exhausted and die here.

Jiang Bai suddenly closed his eyes.

Immerse all my attention in [Killing Intent Perception].

I could clearly perceive the trajectories of the sword energies, as well as the subtle gaps between them created by the flow of the formation.

Three sword energies appeared to the left front, spaced three feet apart, with gaps lasting for about half a breath.

Five sword energies intersected and blocked from the right rear, but the bottom one was half a beat slower.

Directly in front of him... Jiang Baidong was moved.

He didn't open his eyes, relying entirely on his senses. His figure moved like a ghost to the left front, slipping through the gap between the three sword energies. As his foot landed, he landed precisely on the trajectory of the sword energy to his right rear, which was a beat slower, using the momentum to propel himself forward again. One step, two steps, ten steps... He no longer blocked, no longer forced his way through, but instead, like a leaf drifting in the wind, he moved with the flow of the sword energy waves, dodging the sharpest attacks at the last possible moment.

Occasionally, when there was something truly unavoidable, he would lightly tap with the Thunder Fang Sword to alter its trajectory. In this state, spiritual energy consumption decreased drastically, and his movement became even smoother. Twenty zhang, fifteen zhang, ten zhang… he was getting closer and closer to the stone platform.

The array patterns on the ground around the stone platform began to glow with a dark red light. The broken swords connected to the array patterns trembled more violently, and the sword energy they emitted became darker in color and more powerful. But Jiang Bai's perception also became clearer. He could even "see" which broken sword each sword energy came from, and its strength was related to the integrity of the broken sword itself and the amount of residual sword intent.

The densest and fiercest sword energy was located directly beneath the stone platform—that was the core of the formation.

Jiang Bai suddenly opened his eyes! A stone platform stood just three zhang ahead. But on the ground before the platform, the array patterns glowed a vibrant red, and a phantom slowly materialized. It was a blurry humanoid figure, its body swirling with pale golden energy, within which fine sword energy swirled.

The phantom had no facial features, but it held a shadow sword in its hand that was identical to the ancient black sword on the stone platform.

Sword spirit. Or rather, a protective entity formed by the array drawing upon the remaining sword intent of this place.

The phantom raised its hand, and the shadow sword pointed at Jiang Bai in the distance.

"Swoosh—" A golden sword aura, condensed to the point of being tangible, shot through the air, its speed more than twice as fast as the previous sword aura!

Jiang Baixin's heart tightened, and he dared not take the attack head-on. He unleashed the full power of [Swift Shadow Step] and dodged sideways.

The sword energy grazed past his waist, the resulting gust of wind causing his Taoist robe to flutter loudly.

The phantom missed its first attack, then rose gracefully into the air, slashing repeatedly with its shadow sword.

Three golden sword energies shot out, blocking Jiang Bai's retreat.

Jiang Bai swung his sword to parry.

clang!

The Thunder Fang Sword collided with the first sword energy, causing the sword to vibrate violently.

The second and third sword energies followed one after another, with even greater momentum.

Jiang Bai gritted his teeth and retreated rapidly. At the same time, he raised his right hand, sending two iron caltrops coated with corrosive poison straight at the illusory figure.

The barbed wire passed straight through the illusory figure as if it were nothing, and finally embedded itself in the rock wall behind it.

This sword spirit was originally formed from pure sword energy and array power, and had no physical form, so the poison had no effect on it.

Trouble.

Jiang Bai was panting, his hand holding the sword trembling slightly.

If they can't win by fighting head-on and poison attacks are ineffective, is retreat the only option?

But with the main flag right in front of him, how could he be willing to give up?

He looked up at the dark banner on the stone platform, then at the phantom figure standing with a sword, and his gaze gradually calmed down.

The phantom raised its hand again.

This time, it gripped the sword with both hands, raised it above its head, and golden energy surged wildly into the shadow sword, causing the sword to shine brightly. A chillingly sharp aura began to gather—clearly, it was about to unleash a killing move.

This sword strike cannot be dodged.

But Jiang Bai did not dodge.

Instead, he took a step forward, his left hand holding the Thunder Fang Sword at his side, while his right hand slowly rose, his five fingers loosely clenched, as if he were about to catch that earth-shattering sword with his bare hands.

The phantom image finished gathering its power and the shadow sword crashed down!

The golden sword energy transformed into a crescent-shaped arc of light, tearing through the air and slashing straight at Jiang Bai's head with a piercing shriek!

Just a moment before the sword energy struck his body—

Jiang Bai activated the [Concealing Breath Technique].

It's not used to conceal one's presence, but rather to compress one's aura to its extreme, and then... completely conceal it.

The person seemed to have "disappeared" from the spot.

It didn't truly disappear; rather, in the sword spirit's perception, the once clear target suddenly transformed into a lifeless stone, a silent blade of grass, or a void of air.

The golden sword energy lost its lock, and its trajectory deviated by a barely perceptible amount.

It's now!

Within Jiang Bai's body, the [Desperate Counterattack] was suddenly triggered!

A surge of violent power erupted from his limbs and bones, instantly dispelling the sluggishness caused by his injuries. He leaped up, ignoring the slanted sword energy, and charged straight at the stone platform!

After the phantom unleashed its sword strike, it froze for a moment—a gap in the array's operation, its only weakness.

Jiang Bai swept across three zhang, his right hand outstretched, and grabbed the blade of the ancient black sword on the stone platform!

The moment my fingertips touched the blade, a chilling, sharp sensation washed over me, and my palm was immediately slashed, blood gushing out.

But he did not let go.

His five fingers gripped the sword tightly, his arm muscles bulged, and all his strength exploded at this moment!

"Get up!"

"Clang!!!"

The ear-piercing sound of metal scraping against metal echoed through the valley, making people's eardrums ache.

The ancient black sword was forcibly pulled out of the stone platform!

The instant the sword left the platform, thousands of broken swords in the valley simultaneously emitted a mournful tremor before falling completely silent. The red light of the array patterns on the ground rapidly dimmed and extinguished.

The golden phantom remained frozen in mid-air before slowly dissipating like smoke and dust, disappearing without a trace.

The sword energy ceased.

Jiang Bai knelt on one knee on the stone platform, panting heavily. The state of [Desperate Counterattack] began to fade, and a strong sense of weakness surged over him like a tide, almost overwhelming him.

But he smiled.

He looked up at the dark flag still stuck in the hilt of his sword.

Reach out and grab the flagpole, then pull it out forcefully.

Second main flag, obtained.

Jiang Bai put the flag into his storage bag before looking down at the ancient sword in his hand.

The sword is four feet long, entirely black, and has two simple characters engraved on the blade near the guard: Burial of the Mountain.

The sword was heavy, at least twice as heavy as the Thunder Fang Sword.

The blade wasn't sharp; it was even somewhat blunt. But when you held it in your hand, you could feel a heavy, mountain-like aura hidden deep within the blade.

However, the sword is not complete.

Jiang Baineng could sense that there were several tiny cracks inside the sword, as if it had been barely repaired after a fierce battle.

The dark red gem on the hilt was also dull and lifeless, barely managing to stay intact.

Even so, the quality of this "Burial Mountain" sword far surpasses that of the Thunder Fang Sword.

It is at least a mid-grade magic weapon, and may even be a high-grade damaged weapon.

Jiang Bai put his sword into his storage bag and was about to get up to meditate when he suddenly heard faint voices coming from the direction of the valley entrance.

"That commotion just now... came from Burial Sword Valley?"

"Wasn't Senior Brother Chen Lei setting up an array inside? Could someone have broken in?"

"Go check it out!"

Jiang Bai's face darkened.

Someone is coming.

He's currently in a state where he's already used his "Desperate Counterattack" ability and is not suited for further combat.

Jiang Bai leaped down from the stone platform, his figure flashing as he hid in the shadow of a pile of broken swords nearby.

The Shadow Cloak covered his body, and he activated the [Concealing Breath Technique] at full power.

A few breaths later, four figures squeezed in through the crack at the entrance of the valley.

All four were cultivators from the Li family, their cultivation levels between the fourth and fifth levels of Qi Refining. Upon seeing the silent, broken sword in the valley and the numerous sword holes scattered above the stone platform, their expressions changed drastically. "The main flag is gone!" "Where's Senior Brother Chen Lei?" "This...why has all the sword energy stopped? Has the formation been broken?"

The middle-aged cultivator at the head of the group had a livid face. He strode to the stone platform, squatted down, touched the edge of the sword hole, and looked at the dim array patterns on the ground. He gritted his teeth and said, "Someone broke in first, broke the array, and took the flag."

"Who did it? Jiang Bai?"

"Who else could it be but him!" another cultivator roared. "Senior Brother Chen Lei is probably already..." He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear.

The four men looked at each other, their eyes filled with anger and a hint of barely perceptible fear.

If Jiang Bai could even break through the killing formation set up by Chen Lei, then just how strong is he?

"Search!" the middle-aged cultivator gritted his teeth. "He must have been injured while breaking the formation, so he couldn't have gone far. Turn this valley upside down and find him!" The four of them split up and searched the valley carefully.

Jiang Bai held his breath and remained motionless in the shadows.

A young cultivator searched the area near the pile of broken swords where Jiang Bai was hiding. His gaze swept over the shadowy spot, he hesitated for a moment, but still walked over. Jiang Bai slowly tightened his grip on the hilt of the Thunder Fang Sword with his right hand.

The young cultivator walked to the pile of broken swords, reached out and pushed aside a few rusty swords, peering inside.

The shadows were empty. The instant Jiang Bai drew his sword, he slid to the other side, clinging to the rock wall and moving near the crack at the valley entrance.

The young monk found nothing and turned to search elsewhere.

Without further delay, Jiang Bai flashed into the crevice.

Once outside the crack, it was already getting light.

He didn't linger and sped off towards the Poison Ivy Cave.

The furious curses of the Li family cultivators could be faintly heard behind them, but they could no longer catch up.