110: Enlightenment through the sword scar wall, reaching the peak of the Nine-Star Dou Zong!

The battle in the Valley of Buried Soldiers was earth-shattering. The soul hall heavenly venerate projection was annihilated by the ancient sword intent, and Heavenly Nether Sect Saint Son and Ice Talisman fled in disarray, leaving behind only devastation and the four heavily injured individuals, including Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen, enduring the weakness from his severe injuries and overexertion, settled Ling Feng, Ling Yun, and Ling Yu in a relatively safe crevice beneath the Sword Mark Wall, feeding them healing pills. The three were gravely wounded but not in mortal danger, only needing time to recuperate.

“Brother Xiao… words cannot express my gratitude!” Ling Feng struggled to get up and bow, but Xiao Chen held him down.

“Focus on healing,” Xiao Chen said calmly. He then sat cross-legged nearby, swallowed several pills, and circulated his cultivation technique, recovering with all his might. His injuries were not light; forcefully using Void Breaking to counter the Dou Zun Projection had nearly drained his Dou Qi and soul power, and his meridians were also shaken. But at the same time, the insights and pressure from battling a powerful expert to the death also loosened the barrier to his realm.

The valley temporarily returned to a deathly silence, with only the occasional whimpering sound of the wind blowing through the Sword Mark Wall, like the whispers of ancient battle souls.

Three days later, the injuries of Ling Feng and the other two had stabilized, and they could now circulate their cultivation on their own. Xiao Chen’s injuries were also mostly healed, and what surprised him even more was that after this extreme blood battle, his Nine-star Dou Zong cultivation was completely solidified, even subtly touching the threshold of Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong! His soul power, tempered by the Indestructible Soul Armor, also became more condensed, and his understanding of the fifth form of Heaven Opening Axe Intent, Void Breaking, deepened by another layer.

“Brother Xiao, if not for your selfless protection this time, we would have long since perished.” Ling Feng, his injuries somewhat recovered, bowed solemnly to Xiao Chen. “This kindness, Heavenly Sword Pavilion will engrave it in our hearts! Should you ever have a need in the future, Ling Feng will not hesitate to face a myriad of deaths!”

Ling Yun and Ling Yu also bowed together, their eyes filled with gratitude and admiration.

“You three exaggerate; we merely helped each other in the same boat.” Xiao Chen helped the three up. “This place is not suitable for prolonged stay; the Soul Hall will certainly not let this rest. Your injuries are not fully healed, so it would be best for you to return to Heavenly Sword Pavilion as soon as possible.”

Ling Feng nodded: “Brother Xiao is absolutely right. What are your plans next, if I may ask?”

Xiao Chen’s gaze turned to the stone wall covered with sword marks, a deep glint flashing in his eyes: “I want to stay here for a few more days. This Sword Mark Wall… has some use for me.”

Ling Feng understood. This Sword Mark Wall contained the insights of ancient sword dao grandmasters, a treasure for anyone cultivating the ‘intent’ realm. He took out a jade talisman engraved with a small sword pattern and handed it to Xiao Chen: “Brother Xiao, this is a guest elder token from my Heavenly Sword Pavilion. With this token, you can receive some assistance within the sphere of influence of my Heavenly Sword Pavilion. If there is an opportunity in the future, you are welcome to visit Heavenly Sword Pavilion as a guest.”

“Thank you,” Xiao Chen accepted the token and put it into his in arms. One more friend, one more path.

After another day of rest, Ling Feng and the other two had largely recovered from their injuries and bid farewell. In the gorge, only Xiao Chen remained.

He walked to the Sword Mark Wall, gazing up at the dense, myriad traces containing various astonishing sword intents, his mind immersed within them. The battle with the soul hall heavenly venerate projection, where the ancient sword intent briefly appeared and annihilated a powerful enemy, had left him greatly shaken. It was an ‘intent’ that transcended skill, reaching the very source of laws, subtly connected to the highest realm of Heaven Opening Axe Intent that he pursued.

“My axe intent is overbearing but lacks agility; it cuts through everything but is missing a touch of ‘creation’ and ‘protection’.” Xiao Chen reflected on the previous battle. Facing the Heavenly Venerate Projection’s fatal strike, he barely resisted with Void Breaking, but it was more about tearing through with brute force than skillfully deflecting. If he could integrate a trace of the sword intent’s ‘penetration,’ ‘endurance,’ and even ‘protection,’ his axe techniques would surely reach a higher level.

He sat cross-legged, his Spirit Realm Soul power, like tentacles, gently caressing each sword mark, sensing the fragments of will remaining within. Fiery, icy, ethereal, profound, sharp, compassionate… various vastly different sword intents, yet all contained the ultimate pursuit of the ‘Dao’ (path).

Days passed. Xiao Chen was like an old monk in meditation, completely immersed in his comprehension. When hungry, he took Bigu Pill (grain-abstinence pills); when thirsty, he drank the clear spring water seeping from the rock crevices. His aura became increasingly introverted, yet faint golden axe intent and silvery-white sword intent phantoms alternately appeared around him, colliding and merging.

In his sea of consciousness, the dark golden battle axe phantom was no longer solely fierce; the light flowing around its edge gained a touch of agility and variation, sometimes like a gentle breeze caressing willows, sometimes like continuous fine rain, and sometimes like an unyielding rock. The method of exerting force for the fifth form, Void Breaking, also quietly perfected during this comprehension, making the activation of the Power of Space even more refined.

On this day, as the first ray of morning sun shone on the Sword Mark Wall, Xiao Chen suddenly opened his eyes! His gaze was no longer merely sharp, but now held a profound depth that encompassed all phenomena and discerned their essence!

He pointed his fingers like a blade and gently slashed at the void in front of him!

There was no earth-shattering sound, only a subtle, transparent ripple that twisted light, silently spreading! Where the ripple passed, the air seemed to be pushed aside by an invisible force, forming a brief vacuum, even devouring sound! The next moment, the ripple dissipated, and everything returned to normal.

“Space distortion… no longer brute force tearing, but more refined guidance and control.” A smile played on Xiao Chen’s lips. This hand-blade contained his new understanding of Void Breaking; its power might not have increased, but its consumption was lower, its control more precise, and its practicality greatly enhanced!

More importantly, he felt that the barrier to Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong, after this deep comprehension, was now as thin as a cicada’s wing! With just one opportunity, he could break through in one fell swoop!

“It’s time to leave.” Xiao Chen stood tall, feeling better than ever before. He took one last look at the Sword Mark Wall, bowing slightly to the void, thanking the unknown ancient sword dao grandmaster for the gift left behind.

Turning around, he stepped forward. Xiao Chen’s figure disappeared into the mist in the depths of the gorge. He decided to continue deeper into this desolate mountain range, seeking an opportunity for breakthrough, and also avoiding a possible large-scale search by the Soul Hall.

Several days later, in a primeval forest deep within the mountain range, Xiao Chen encountered a seventh-tier intermediate magical beast whose strength was comparable to a Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong—a Fissure Earth Demonic Ape! The Demonic Ape was ten zhang tall, immensely strong, incredibly defensive, and its violent earth-attribute energy was enough to split mountains and crack stones!

A fierce battle erupted! Xiao Chen did not use the killing moves of the Nine Axes of Heaven Opening, but instead integrated his newly comprehended axe intent into his ordinary attacks, engaging in close-quarters combat with the Demonic Ape! He treated the Demonic Ape as the best whetstone, honing his control over power and the variations of his axe intent.

After hundreds of rounds of fierce fighting, Xiao Chen had several new wounds on his body, but his eyes grew brighter and brighter! Finally, at the moment the Demonic Ape unleashed a violent ‘Earth Splitting Fist,’ Xiao Chen had a flash of inspiration. Instead of dodging, he unleashed a palm-blade containing the new artistic conception of ‘overcoming hardness with softness’ and ‘guiding and deflecting force,’ precisely striking the power node of the fist force!

“Bang!”

The Demonic Ape’s massive body stumbled, and the violent fist force was diverted to the side, pulverizing a small hill! Xiao Chen, on the other hand, used the momentum to retreat, completely unharmed!

It was at this moment of perfect control over power and clear mind that the nine Dou Qi stars in his Qi Sea suddenly trembled violently, their light surging and their volume expanding once again! The barrier of Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong naturally shattered with a roar!

A vast surge of Dou Qi swept through his entire body like a tsunami! His aura instantly skyrocketed, stabilizing at Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong! He was only one step away from the legendary realm of One-Star Dou Zun!

“Roar!” The Fissure Earth Demonic Ape sensed Xiao Chen’s suddenly strengthened aura, and a trace of fear flashed in its scarlet eyes. It roared, turned, and disappeared into the depths of the dense forest.

Xiao Chen did not pursue. He stood still, feeling the surging power within his body and a clearer perception of the energy of heaven and earth. Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong! This was a qualitative leap! Now, with his many trump cards, he was confident enough to contend head-on with a One-Star Dou Zun!

“Dou Zun (Battle Venerable)…” Xiao Chen looked into the distance, his gaze burning. That was a completely new realm, involving the initial application of the Power of Space and the comprehension of laws. He knew that the path ahead would be more difficult, but also more exciting.

“It’s time to go to the core region of the Central Plains,” Xiao Chen decided. Staying in the remote Northern Region would ultimately be a closed-door cultivation. The Central Plains core was the true stage where experts gathered and opportunities abounded. There, he might find the breakthrough opportunity he needed, and also the fated enemies he had to face.

He identified a direction and, facing away from the mountains, took firm steps. His silhouette stretched long in the setting sun, carrying an unyielding determination. The winds and clouds of the Central Plains core were about to be stirred by this newly advanced young man at the Peak Nine-Star Dou Zong!