279: Chapter 279 Absorbing Sword Essence to Break Through, Eighth Level of True Martial Realm

Ye Tian signaled for the Dragon Ape to help.

The Dragon Ape used its left claw to carefully push aside the heavy beast bones and debris.

As the covering was moved away, a stone slab about three feet square, covered in dust and dried blood, was fully revealed.

The stone slab was made of a strange material, and its surface was carved with a deep sword scar about two feet long!

It was unknown how many years this sword scar had existed; its edges were somewhat blurred, but the sliver of sharp, terrifying Sword Intent contained within still faintly emanated through the ages of time!

Just by making eye contact, Ye Tian felt a stinging pain in his eyes, as if they had been pricked by a needle!

The level of the Concept in this sword scar far exceeded his current understanding; it was even more profound than the Sword Intent of the ancient sword pill's Origin!

Moreover, this Sword Intent gave him a faint sense of familiarity.

It originated from the same source as the wisp of aura from the Taichu Sword Scripture clues in his mind!

The fragment had now become scalding hot, nearly burning Ye Tian's palm!

It hummed and actually floated up on its own, slowly drifting toward the sword scar. Finally, it fit perfectly into an inconspicuous groove at the end of the scar!

"Click."

A faint mechanical sound rang out.

The entire stone slab suddenly lit up with a faint glow!

Immediately after, countless fine points of light rose from the sword scar, intertwining above the stone slab to vaguely form a constantly shifting phantom Star Map!

One corner of the Star Map partially overlapped with the location of the Taichu Sword Scripture clues in Ye Tian's mind, but it was more precise, pointing to a specific location deeper within Zhelong Hill!

At the same time, a large number of fragmented thoughts regarding "swords" and "Origins" flooded into Ye Tian's Sea of Consciousness through the connection between the star fragment and the sword scar!

"Is this... a Legacy imprint left by an ancient Sword Cultivator?

Or a mixed mark of a map and a sword mantra?"

Ye Tian's heart shook violently. He quickly steadied his mind to rapidly digest this sudden, massive flow of information.

He vaguely understood that this sword scar was likely left by an ancient powerhouse who Cultivated the Taichu Sword Scripture or a related Sword Dao while fighting a powerful being in this place!

It not only sealed a trace of Sword Dao true intent but also recorded a Star Map path leading to a deeper secret land, and might even contain the partial true essence of one of the Taichu Sword Scripture's forms!

This Opportunity was too great!

But at this moment, he was heavily injured and weak. He had no time to contemplate it in detail and could only forcibly memorize the Star Map path and some of the most core Sword Intent fragments.

However, just as he was desperately circulating his Mind-Cultivation Technique to accommodate this information, the activated sword scar seemed to sense the high-level aura of the ancient sword pill within Ye Tian's body and his own resilient Martial Dao Will. It actually took the initiative to split off a wisp of ancient sword essence, which, mixed with a portion of the fragment's power, fed back into his body through the connection!

Although there was only a wisp of this sword essence, its quality was terrifyingly high, instantly rushing into Ye Tian's dried and damaged Meridians!

"Ah!"

Ye Tian had no time to react and let out a painful groan, his body trembling violently.

This external force was too strong. Had he been at his peak, he might have been able to slowly guide and refine it, but his Meridians were currently fragile and his heavy injuries unhealed. This sword essence rampaged through his body; wherever it passed, his barely connected Meridians cracked again, causing heart-wrenching pain!

"Master!"

The Dragon Ape turned pale with fright, yet it didn't dare to rashly intervene with its Yao power, fearing the conflict between the two forces would make Ye Tian's situation even worse.

Ye Tian gritted his teeth so hard that blood seeped from his gums.

He knew that this was both a crisis and an Opportunity!

If he endured it and refined this sword essence, his recovery might accelerate, and his cultivation might even advance!

If he couldn't, the result would be shattered Meridians and the total loss of his cultivation!

"Settle... for me!"

Ye Tian roared in his heart, his Martial Dao Will erupting fully to forcibly restrain and guide the violent sword essence within him.

Simultaneously, the Star Qi Induction Art circulated frantically, working with the chaos bead to strive to repair the Meridians being battered by the sword essence.

Beads of blood began to seep from Ye Tian's seven orifices, and the veins beneath his skin bulged, making him look hideous and terrifying.

The Dragon Ape paced around anxiously but was completely helpless.

Time passed bit by bit.

The sounds of battle outside seemed to gradually quiet down; it was unclear whether it had ended or the battlefield had shifted.

Inside the nest, there was only Ye Tian's heavy, pained breathing.

Just as Ye Tian felt he could no longer hold on and his consciousness was about to be submerged by the intense pain and violent energy, the ancient sword pill in his Dantian suddenly trembled slightly, emitting a suction force.

That rampaging ancient sword essence actually surged toward the ancient sword pill.

The ancient sword pill accepted all comers, absorbing it like a bottomless pit. A dark gold luster flowed over its surface, making it appear more profound. At the same time, it fed back a stream of Sword Dao Origin power that was perfectly compatible with Ye Tian.

This power rapidly repaired his damaged Meridians, nourished his parched Dantian, and tempered his Physical Body and bones.

The circulation speed of the Star Qi Induction Art within him grew faster and faster. The Spiritual Qi of Zhelong Hill, carrying its malevolence, was forcibly sucked into his body and transformed into pure true essence after the dual purification of the chaos bead and the ancient sword pill.

The crisscrossing wounds of varying depths on Ye Tian's body healed and peeled off at a visible rate under the influence of the ancient sword pill's Origin power and his own powerful blood energy, revealing new skin.

His pale face also gradually regained a hint of color.

His aura began to steadily rise from its lowest point!

An unknown amount of time passed.

"Boom!"

A certain shackle within Ye Tian's body was broken!

His Dantian Qi Sea expanded instantly, and his Meridians became even more resilient than before through the repeated process of damage and repair!

A powerful sense of strength filled his entire body!

He had actually achieved a Breakthrough!

And in one leap, he went from the Early Stage of the Seventh Stage of the True Martial Realm directly to the eighth stage!

Not only had Ye Tian recovered sixty to seventy percent of his injuries, but his cultivation had also taken a significant step forward!

Although his Realm was not yet fully stabilized, his combat power had mostly returned. He had even gained a blessing in disguise: his Physical Body and Meridians, having been repeatedly tempered by the ancient sword essence and the ancient sword pill's Origin, were stronger than ever.

This was simply an unexpected surprise!

He stood up and stretched his limbs, feeling the surging power within him as if he had been reborn.

"Master! You broke through?! That's wonderful!"

The Dragon Ape was overjoyed.

Ye Tian patted the Dragon Ape's large head, his heart also full of relief and lingering fear.

This time, it truly was a narrow escape from death.

He looked at the stone slab, whose light had now dimmed, and the fragment embedded in it, which had become unremarkable. He solemnly removed and stored it.

This sword scar and Star Map were of immeasurable value.

"Xiao Long, how are your injuries?"

Ye Tian looked at the wounds on the Dragon Ape's right claw and back. "I'm fine, much better!"

The Dragon Ape waved its claw. Its Physical Body was powerful, and its recovery ability was naturally amazing. Coupled with the Medicinal Pills, its injuries had indeed improved significantly.

"Good."

Ye Tian looked sharply toward the nest entrance. "It's time for us to leave."

The commotion outside has stopped, but danger is surely still there.

According to the Star Map's guidance, there should be another exit or passage deep within this nest leading to the more core areas of Zhelong Hill.

That is perhaps our true destination and the only chance to shake off our pursuers."

He had to go there!

Not only to find clues about the Taichu Sword Scripture but also to find an absolutely safe place to fully stabilize his cultivation, digest the gains from this Breakthrough and the sword scar, and treat the Dragon Ape's injuries.

However, just as Ye Tian and the Dragon Ape were preparing to search for the passage deep in the nest...

"Rumble!!"

The entire nest suddenly shook violently!

Stalactite-like objects from the ceiling came crashing down.

A sharp roar full of endless rage came from the entrance of the nest, followed by the dull thud of a heavy object hitting the rock wall!

It was the Bat King!

It was back!

And it seemed to be heavily injured, making it even more crazed!

At the same time, a low voice drifted into the nest: "Little mouse, you're hiding quite deep... I can smell your scent."

"And that little monkey... the blood of a Huahai Realm Yao Beast must be very nourishing..."

It was that terrifying existence filled with a bloody, murderous will!

He had dealt with the trouble outside and had come looking!

Moreover, he could actually faintly sense Ye Tian and the Dragon Ape's presence through the nest?!

Ye Tian and the Dragon Ape's expressions instantly became incredibly solemn.