246: Chapter 246 Testing the Sword on the Ancient Road

Seeing that almost everyone had arrived, Jing Wutian took a step forward and cupped his hands toward Zhao Qing. "Commander Zhao."

He then looked at the three cloaked figures and nodded slightly as a greeting.

As the host and one of the key holders, he became the temporary person in charge.

"Nephew Jing."

Zhao Qing returned the salute, his voice steady. "It seems everyone has gained something.

I wonder what your thoughts are regarding the next steps for this place?"

He cut straight to the point, though his gaze drifted occasionally toward the closed side door deep within the hall.

That door appeared ordinary, but everyone could sense faint spatial fluctuations and a sharper Sword Intent emanating from behind it.

Jing Wutian followed his gaze and said in a heavy voice, "According to the ancient records of my Jing Family, passing through this door leads to the 'Ancient Road of Sword Trial'.

At the end of the ancient road, there should be a passage connecting to the suspended main hall, the 'Sword Pavilion'.

However, the ancient road is filled with layers of Restrictions and hidden dangers; we must proceed step by step."

"Ancient Road of Sword Trial?"

Sikong Changhe raised a thick eyebrow, looking eager to try. "Perfect!

I didn't get to fight to my heart's content just now!

What's the deal with this ancient road?"

Ye Yiyi let out a soft chuckle, her eyes shimmering. "Brother Sikong is as impatient as ever.

Big Brother Jing, what kind of 'sword' exactly does this ancient road test?"

She had asked the crucial question.

Jing Wutian said slowly, "The ancient records state that this road tests not only the sword in one's hand, but also the sword in one's heart and one's comprehension of the Sword Dao.

On the road, there are various Sword Intent imprints, mechanical Puppets, and even illusory formations left behind by the Ancient Sword Manor. These target a Cultivator's cultivation, will, Comprehension Ability, and even their Heart-Nature.

It is said that if one can pass the ancient road, they can not only reach the Sword Pavilion but also gain immense benefits for their own Sword Dao."

Hearing this, everyone's expressions varied.

This Ancient Road of Sword Trial sounded like both a dangerous place and an Opportunity.

Ye Tian understood clearly.

This suited his intentions perfectly; he had just obtained the sword marrow and needed to use this to familiarize himself with its power.

"In that case, what are we waiting for? We can't just stand here, can we?"

Sikong Changhe had the most impatient personality; carrying his long spear, he was about to step forward and push the door.

"Brother Sikong, wait a moment."

Jing Wutian stopped him, saying, "The Restriction at the entrance of the ancient road needs to be activated with Sword Intent, and there may be more than one entrance. We might be teleported to different sections of the ancient road and might not be able to travel together."

He looked toward Zhao Qing and the three cloaked figures. "What do you all think?"

Zhao Qing pondered for a moment before saying, "We shall each rely on our own Opportunity then."

Representing the Governor's Mansion, he naturally had confidence.

The three cloaked figures also nodded slightly in agreement.

"Good."

Jing Wutian said no more. He walked to the side door and pointed his fingers, channeling Sword Intent toward the center of the door leaf.

A rune on the door lit up, space distorted slightly, and a glowing vortex appeared.

"I'll go first."

With that, he stepped into the vortex and vanished.

Sikong Changhe laughed heartily, condensed his Spear Intent, and pointed at another rune, opening another vortex before striding in.

Ye Yiyi and Zhao Chengzhi also activated their Sword Intent in their own ways, opening entrances to enter.

Zhao Qing led the people from the Governor's Mansion, and the three cloaked figures also used their respective methods to open entrances, their figures disappearing.

In the blink of an eye, only Ye Tian, Hou Xiaojie, Mini Dragon Ape, and a few Loose Cultivators who were still hesitating and watching remained in the hall.

"Senior Brother, we..." Hou Xiaojie looked at Ye Tian.

Ye Tian didn't speak. He walked to the door and didn't intentionally use Sword Intent; instead, he released his own aura fused with the Dao rhyme of the sword marrow's Origin.

The door seemed to sense something. A rune on the door—the most complex one that no one had triggered before—suddenly lit up, emitting a light more intense than any before, and the vortex it formed was also more stable and profound.

"Let's go."

Ye Tian gave a low shout and, taking Hou Xiaojie and the Mini Dragon Ape with him, stepped into the vortex.

After a brief moment of dizziness, Ye Tian found himself in a wide corridor.

On both sides of the corridor were pitch-black stone walls whose tops were out of sight, embedded with Spirit Stones that emitted a faint glow. The floor was made of heavy bluestone slabs.

Hou Xiaojie and the Mini Dragon Ape followed closely behind, safe and sound.

It seemed this entrance teleportation allowed companions, but they were clearly separated from Jing Wutian and the others.

The corridor was silent, with only the sound of their footsteps echoing.

The Sword Intent in the air was even stronger than in the main hall.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a corner appeared ahead.

Just as they turned the corner, dozens of light spots suddenly lit up on the stone walls on both sides. In the next instant, dozens of streaks of Sword Qi shot out from the left and right!

The Sword Qi had various attributes—scorching, icy, sharp—interweaving into a web of death that covered the entire corridor!

"Careful!"

Ye Tian shouted. The liuguang sword instantly unsheathed, transforming into a screen of azure light that protected Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape behind him.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The Sword Qi struck the light screen formed by the liuguang sword, producing a dense series of crisp sounds.

Ye Tian's wrist was steady, and his sword light flowed, parrying and shattering the incoming Sword Qi.

He was utilizing the defensive stance of the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art; the sword light divided, appearing as one strike but actually striking dozens of times in an instant to counter every streak of Sword Qi.

At the same time, thanks to his Martial Dao Will, every parry was perfectly timed, achieving the best effect with minimal force and very low consumption of true yuan.

This wave of Sword Qi attacks lasted for about ten breaths before stopping.

Ye Tian's breathing was steady, and he was completely unharmed.

Hou Xiaojie patted his chest, still feeling lingering fear.

The Mini Dragon Ape looked at the stone walls curiously, seemingly trying to find the source of the Sword Qi.

"This should be the first trial of the ancient road, targeting cultivation and basic sword techniques."

Ye Tian judged.

An attack of this level might be a threat to an ordinary True Martial Realm Early Stage, but for him, it was just a warm-up.

Continuing forward, they encountered several different trials.

Sometimes sharp spikes would suddenly emerge from the ground, containing earth-attribute Sword Intent.

Sometimes they would fall into an illusory sword formation that disturbed the mind.

Other times, they needed to decipher incomplete sword manuals on the stone walls, comprehending the key points to open the path ahead.

Relying on his exquisite sword techniques and powerful Divine Sense, Ye Tian resolved them one by one.

He even intentionally guided Hou Xiaojie to handle some of the weaker trials to hone his combat abilities.

The Mini Dragon Ape would occasionally spit out pale flames to help neutralize some energy-based traps; its flames seemed to have a special purifying effect on energy bodies.

During this process, Ye Tian's application of the Taiyi Light-Splitting Sword Art became increasingly proficient, and he gained a deeper understanding of the trace of ancient Sword Intent contained within the sword marrow. His cultivation became more refined under the tempering of actual combat.

Although he didn't Breakthrough immediately, his Foundation became more solid, and his combat power rose steadily.

Time within the ruins seemed to flow differently than outside. After about half a day, they finally reached the end of this corridor.

Ahead was a huge circular platform. The edges of the platform were shrouded in mist, and below was a bottomless Void Realm.

And in the center of the platform, someone had already arrived.

It was Sikong Changhe!

He stood there holding his spear, with some traces of battle on him, but his aura remained vigorous. He had clearly just undergone a series of trials as well.

Seeing Ye Tian's group emerge, a flash of surprise crossed Sikong Changhe's eyes, followed by a wide grin. "Haha, Ye Tian, it's you!

I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly!"

Ye Tian smiled slightly. "Hasn't Brother Sikong also arrived?"

"Of course!"

Sikong Changhe patted his chest, then looked at Ye Tian with burning eyes. "Hey, Ye Tian, this platform seems to be a node of the ancient road. There might be more trials coming up.

How about the two of us trade a few blows first?

Let me see just how sharp your sword really is!"

He was a battle maniac, and the trials of the ancient road just now clearly hadn't satisfied him.

Looking at the Battle Intent-filled Sikong Changhe, Ye Tian knew this fight was unavoidable, and he could also use it to verify his current strength.

He nodded and said, "Since Brother Sikong is in such high spirits, I shall accompany you.

We shall stop once the point is made."

"Good! Straightforward!"