260: Chapter 260 Breaking Through the Sword Cleansing Pool, Seventh Level of True Martial Realm

Three stone platforms were arranged in the shape of the character "Pin" ( product); the middle one was the tallest, while the left and right ones were slightly lower.

In the center of each of the three stone platforms was a groove, and within each groove lay an object quietly.

On the left platform was a astral essence crystal, entirely azure in color, emitting Astral Sword Intent, which was effective for cultivating astral-attribute Cultivation Techniques or nourishing sword vessels.

On the right platform was a small section of soul-nourishing wood core, only the length of a finger, yet it emitted a refreshing fragrance that had the miraculous effect of nourishing the Soul and repairing damage to the Divine Sense; it was exactly what Ye Tian needed most at this moment.

The groove in the tallest middle platform was empty, containing only a lingering trace of Sword Dao Rhyme.

Judging by its shape, it seemed a sword-shaped item should have been placed there, but it had long since been taken away.

"Is this... perhaps the place where one of Ancient Sword Manor's inherited divine swords was originally kept? The sword has been taken, leaving only the rhyme?"

Ye Tian speculated in his heart.

To be enshrined here, placed alongside the astral essence crystal and Soul-Nourishing Wood, and even positioned in the center, that original sword must have been extraordinary.

He stopped thinking about it and first picked up the soul-nourishing wood core, pressing it against his forehead.

A cool breath immediately flooded into his Sea of Consciousness, nourishing the Divine Soul that was aching from the impact of the sword-bane energy.

The Soul's fatigue and dull pain were quickly relieved.

Next, he picked up the astral essence crystal.

The Astral Power contained in this object was pure and vast, sharing the same Origin as the Star Qi Induction Art he cultivated, and it was a top-grade Material for nourishing sword vessels.

With a thought, he took out the ancient sword pill he had obtained from the Suspended Sword Palace and placed it together with the astral essence crystal.

"Buzz..."

The ancient sword pill seemed to sense the aura of the astral essence crystal and trembled slightly, actively absorbing the energy within. Its dull dark-gold luster became warm and bright at a pace visible to the naked eye, and the trace of spirituality within it became much more active.

At the same time, it fed back a wisp of Sword Intent, which merged into Ye Tian's body and blended with his own Sword Intent, even speeding up the recovery of his internal injuries.

"It really works!"

Ye Tian felt a surge of joy.

He sat cross-legged before the empty middle platform, holding the soul-nourishing wood core in one hand to nourish his Divine Soul, while using the astral essence crystal and ancient sword pill to heal and deepen his connection with the sword pill, all while running the Star Qi Induction Art to absorb the dense Spiritual Qi of this place.

Time passed in silence.

Peace was temporarily restored within the Sword Pavilion, with only subtle energy fluctuations and the occasional soft sound of a light orb being successfully collected.

After about half a day, Ye Tian slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes shone with divine light; although his cultivation was still at the Middle Stage of the True Martial Realm Sixth Layer, his Soul injuries had healed, and his connection with the ancient sword pill was closer. His combat strength had recovered to over ninety percent, and he had even gained a blessing in disguise as his understanding of the "Cloud-Breaking" Sword Intent deepened under the pressure of life and death.

He put away the astral essence crystal and soul-nourishing wood core, which had both shrunk in size, and the ancient sword pill returned to his Dantian to be nourished, seemingly satisfied.

Just as he was about to stand up and explore the next step, the empty middle platform—perhaps because he had spent a long time cultivating in front of it, triggering the lingering rhyme, or perhaps because the aura of the ancient sword pill acted as a catalyst—suddenly saw its residual rhyme ripple like water. It gradually outlined a blurred route map, pointing to a previously unnoticed corner deep within the hall.

At the same time, a faint thought entered Ye Tian's mind: "The Sword Heart is firm, the sword pill has a master... One may enter the 'Sword Washing Pond' to temper its edge and clarify its true nature..."

Sword Washing Pond?

Ye Tian's heart stirred; it seemed there was indeed another hidden world within this Sword Pavilion.

This might be the true Opportunity to help him completely refine and master the ancient sword pill!

He stood up and looked toward the corner indicated by the thought; it looked like a solid wall, but in Ye Tian's eyes now, there was a faint shimmer of light flowing.

It was time to go and obtain the final goal of this trip.

He gave a few instructions to Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape, then followed the route map to the wall.

When he released the aura of the ancient sword pill and touched the wall, a pale blue light gate emerged.

"Wait for me here. If anything strange happens, retreat immediately," Ye Tian said to Hou Xiaojie.

"Be careful, Senior Brother!"

Ye Tian stepped into the light gate.

Before him was an independent space about ten yards square.

The ceiling was a "sky" woven from hazy Sword Qi, casting down a clear radiance.

In the center of the floor was a "pond" about a yard square, filled with liquid silver-white sword essence, shimmering with iridescent light. It carried a rhyme of washing and tempering within its sharp edge.

A stone tablet by the pond bore the inscription "Sword Washing Pond," with a note: "Use the ten-thousand-year sword essence of this pond to wash away dust and grime, see the true self clearly, and attain a Clear Sword Heart."

"What a great place!"

Ye Tian sat cross-legged by the pond. With a thought, the ancient sword pill rose from his Dantian and hovered in his palm, filled with a longing for the sword essence in the pond.

He adjusted his state, guarded his mind, focused his will, and slowly guided the ancient sword pill into the sword essence pond.

*Sizzle*

The sword pill entered the pond and hovered in the center.

The calm surface of the pond instantly boiled!

Countless streams of liquid sword essence surged toward the sword pill, wrapping it in a silver-white cocoon of light.

From within the cocoon came the sounds of a "thump-thump" heartbeat and "clink-clank" forging.

The rhymes of washing and enlightenment from the pond were also fed back to Ye Tian through their mental connection.

*Boom!*

Ye Tian's mind roared, and the scene before his eyes changed drastically!

He saw the "life" of this sword pill...

From a wisp of strange metal containing the rhymes of "sharpness" and "immortality," it was gathered by an ancient Sword Cultivator who took Star Essence and Earth Core Fire to forge it in a Sea of Thunder for thousands of days into an embryo, then nourished it with a Natal Sword Soul, traveling across the world, drinking blood and absorbing intent, until spirituality gradually emerged...

Until it participated in a great ancient war, its master fell, and the sword pill's spirituality was severely damaged and became dormant, drifting through the Void Realm before being found and nourished by the ancestors of Ancient Sword Manor...

Fragmented and grand images displayed the sword pill's "Original True Nature," its "immortal" resilience, its "cut through everything" sharpness, and its "spirituality" that would not perish through ten thousand tribulations.

Ye Tian's mind was immersed in the realization. Part of the Sword Dao Origin within the sword pill began to slowly merge into his bones, Bloodline, and Divine Soul, subtly transforming his Physique and evolving it toward a direction more compatible with the Sword Dao.

At the same time, the surging and pure liquid sword essence energy also flooded into Ye Tian's body through the feedback from the sword pill and direct absorption.

The barrier of the True Martial Realm Sixth Layer Middle Stage began to vibrate violently under this dual internal and external pouring.

Outside the Sword Washing Pond, time flowed on.

Hou Xiaojie and the Dragon Ape waited anxiously.

Others in the hall also noticed the movement of the light gate.

"Brother Ye's aura disappeared after he entered, but the Sword Qi fluctuations from that light gate are terrifying!" Sikong Changhe said.

"The Sword Washing Pond is a secret place for tempering one's natal sword vessel. Having gained this Opportunity, Ye Tian will surely take another step forward," Jing Wutian said in a complex tone.

Zhao Qing and the others from the Governor's Mansion continued their attempts to collect the floating light orbs.

About three hours later.

Within the Sword Washing Pond, the silver-white cocoon wrapping the ancient sword pill shone with immense light!

The sword essence of the entire Sword Washing Pond surged into the cocoon like a whale drinking water.

*Crack!*

The cocoon shattered, and a Sword Intent sharp to the extreme erupted!

*Zheng!*

A clear and stirring sword cry that pierced the heavens rose into the sky!

The "sky" of the Sword Washing Pond space shook violently, and countless wisps of Sword Qi cheered and bowed in worship.

The sword cry penetrated the space and reached the outer hall!

Everyone looked toward the light gate in horror!

That Sword Intent made their very Souls tremble!

*Boom!*

At the same time, within Ye Tian's body, the barrier of the True Martial Realm Sixth Layer Middle Stage shattered!

Surging True Qi rushed through new Meridians, his Dantian expanded, and both the quality and quantity of his True Qi skyrocketed!

His cultivation had broken through to the Early Stage of the True Martial Realm Seventh Layer!

Not only that, but by borrowing the feedback of the sword pill's Origin and the tempering of the Sword Washing Pond's sword essence, he had even faintly touched the threshold of the Dragon Elephant Art's seventh level. His Physical Body strength soared, allowing him to take on the Late Stage of the True Martial Realm with his Physical Body alone.

He was confident that if he encountered those two Old Ancestors from before again, he would definitely not be in such a pathetic state.

Of course, winning against them was still impossible.

After all, those two were old monsters who had lived for a thousand years; whether it was combat awareness, experience, or methods, they were not something a twenty-year-old kid like him could compare to!

The cocoon completely shattered, and the reappearing ancient sword pill had completely changed its appearance!

It was still the size of a longan fruit, but its entire body was a deep, restrained dark gold, with patterns slowly flowing on the surface, containing a galaxy within.

It hovered quietly above the now-empty Sword Washing Pond, emitting a vast light and sharing a connection of heart and mind with Ye Tian.

Ye Tian opened his eyes, and thousands of sword shadows flickered and died within his pupils, finally returning to two points of deep dark-gold starlight.

He reached out his hand, and the ancient sword pill landed lightly in his palm, its refinement completely successful!

His cultivation had also broken through to the Early Stage of the True Martial Seventh Layer!

"So this is the power of a natal sword pill..."