82: Chapter 82 Nine Heavens Sword Formation Diagram

Not far away, an ancient scroll that was neither gold nor jade hovered in mid-air.

The material the scroll was forged from was unknown—neither gold nor jade, neither stone nor wood—yet its entire body shimmered with a dreamlike luster.

The surface of the scroll was radiant with flowing light, and countless sword shadows, as fine as dust, flickered in and out of existence upon it. They were dense and layered, resembling the endless stars in a vast galaxy.

At times, these sword shadows condensed into a Sword Mountain that pierced the clouds—the mountain peaks were steep, the sword edges like a forest, and every strand of Sword Intent was sharp enough to tear the firmament asunder.

At other times, they transformed into a roaring Sword River—the water surged, the Sword Qi was like waves, and every spray of water was formed from the convergence of thousands of sword lights.

It faintly exuded an ultimate sharpness capable of slicing through the firmament and shattering the galaxy.

This sharpness was formless and intangible, yet it made one dare not look directly at it, dare not approach, and dare not harbor even a shred of blasphemous thought.

It was as if just by taking one more look, one's mind would be severed by that Sword Intent; as if just by stepping one step closer, one would be ground into dust by that killing array.

This was none other than the ancient sword-dao killing array—the "Nine Heavens Sword Array Map."

Once deployed, it could draw upon the Nine Heavens sword power to condense into a killing field.

Within that killing field, Sword Qi rampaged and Sword Intent was like an ocean; even a Late Mahayana Stage Cultivator would find it hard to escape the trap of being killed if they fell into the array, and no matter how heaven-defying your cultivation might be, you could forget about escaping unscathed.

And what held his gaze the most was that newly unlocked Innate spiritual plant.

The Dao Enlightenment Tree.

It was only three feet tall, a tiny plant, yet it exuded a heart-palpitating Dao Aura.

The trunk was as warm and moist as mutton-fat jade that had condensed for a thousand years—the jade texture was delicate, glowing with a faint luster, as if it would seep out sweet spiritual liquid if touched gently.

There were no rough textures on the bark; it was as smooth as a young girl's skin, with every inch exuding warmth and softness.

The leaves, however, seemed to be woven from countless Dao runes—cyan-gold patterns flowed incessantly across the leaf surfaces, dense and unfathomably mysterious.

Those patterns were not carved on; they were Innate, the imprints left upon it by the Laws of Heaven and Earth, the embodiment of the Dao, the Incarnation of the Dao.

Even without wind, it swayed automatically.

With every sway, it scattered bits of crystalline Dao Aura radiance—this radiance was like fireflies, like stars, slowly drifting in the air; as it fell to the ground, it transformed into a soft halo of light that lingered for a long time.

Merely by resting his consciousness gently upon it, Chu Changsheng felt his Sea of Consciousness become clear.

That clarity came suddenly and fiercely, like dust covering the heart being swept away, like the mist obscuring the eyes being blown away in one breath.

His comprehension of the Laws of Heaven and Earth had actually accelerated slightly—those Profound Truths of the Laws that were usually obscure and difficult to understand now became clear, like a young girl who had removed her veil, revealing her true face.

This was a true Innate Spiritual Root!

Cultivating beneath the tree could not only double the speed of spiritual power circulation but also nourish Comprehension Ability and clarify the Dao Heart.

Even those with mediocre Aptitude, as long as they could Cultivate in silence beneath the Dao Enlightenment Tree for three days, could take great strides on the path of immortality, as if enlightened and suddenly seeing the light.

To say it was a supreme treasure that countless Cultivators dreamed of would be underestimating its value.

"It seems the matter of recruiting more Children of Luck must be brought forward on the schedule."

Chu Changsheng set down his white jade teacup.

The cup landed gently on the stone table, emitting a crisp "ding" that was exceptionally clear in the silent bamboo courtyard.

He lifted his gaze, as if it could pierce through the layers of clouds and mist of Qingyun Valley, cross a hundred miles of mountains and rivers, and land directly at the entrance of the Yanyang Secret Realm.

In this gaze, a flash of undisguised anticipation flickered—that anticipation was like a spark, like a faint light, quietly burning in the depths of his eyes.

---

At this moment, outside the entrance of the Yanyang Secret Realm.

Princess Xia Zhiqing was already waiting there, dressed in a black martial outfit.

The martial outfit was tight and neat, outlining her figure as straight as a pine.

A sword was slung across her waist, its scabbard dark and gloomy, the same color as her robe.

Her ink-black hair was slightly stirred by the wind, and a few stray strands brushed across her cheeks, yet they did not disturb her composed demeanor in the slightest.

She gazed at the light gate of the Secret Realm entrance.

The light gate rippled like a water surface, reflecting the surrounding mountain scenery and tree shadows, yet it could not reflect into the depths of her eyes at all.

Her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the hilt of her sword—once, twice, thrice; the movement was very light and very slow, yet it exuded an indescribable patience.

Who knows how much time had passed—

"Swish—swish—swish—"

Three figures suddenly shot out from the light gate of the Secret Realm entrance!

The speed was so fast that only afterimages remained, fast as three meteors streaking across the sky!

Amidst the interweaving light and shadow, even their faces could not be clearly seen; one only felt three sharp Auras like swords drawn from their scabbards, like long rainbows piercing the sun, shooting out from the depths of the light gate!

The next second—

The three of them landed steadily in front of her.

Landing as light as a feather, as light as a breeze, they did not even stir up a speck of dust from the ground.

That ease of handling heavy things as if they were light, that masterful control, made Princess Xia Zhiqing's heart tremble slightly.

Leading them was Xuanyuan Zhanxian.

He wore a black Daoist robe, with a faint Yin and Yang fish pattern embroidered on the hem—the pattern was extremely simple, only black and white, yet it seemed to contain the supreme principles of Heaven and Earth and the profound mysteries of the universe.

His sleeves fluttered gently in the wind, and the Yin and Yang fish flowed along with them, as if alive, as if the next moment they would swim out from the hem and transform into true Yin and Yang Qi.

His Aura seemed rounded and restrained, like a deep lake without ripples—the surface of the lake was as calm as a mirror, reflecting the light of the sky and the shadows of the clouds, revealing neither depth nor bottom.

But upon closer inspection, one could feel the wonder of the Yin and Yang rotation contained within, and there was an inviolable majesty that quietly spread out, making people subconsciously hold their breath and not dare to look directly at him easily.

He nodded slightly toward Princess Xia Zhiqing.

That nod was light and faint, yet it carried a weight that put people at ease.

His voice was as peaceful as water, yet like jade falling on bluestone, crisp and powerful:

"Junior Sister Xia, sorry to keep you waiting."

To his left was Jian Tanghuang.

A gold and red martial outfit outlined her tall and agile figure—the gold was like the scorching sun, the red like raging flames; the two colors intertwined, like a burning fire, like a flowing streak of light.

The martial outfit clung to her figure without any excess, every inch of fabric exuding agility and sharpness.

Although the ancient sword on her back was still hidden in its ink-black scabbard, sharp Sword Intent kept spilling out through the gaps in the scabbard.

The Sword Intent was like silk and threads, yet terrifyingly sharp, causing the air around her to become stagnant—not heavy, but a deathly stillness after being cut.

Even the wind that blew past seemed to be cut into tiny fragments by that Sword Intent; as it bypassed her, it made a faint "hissing" sound, like cloth being torn, like the air wailing.

She just glanced at Princess Xia Zhiqing indifferently and didn't speak.

But the sharpness hidden in that glance was as piercing as a drawn blade—it was not hostility, but Innate sharpness, the arrogance and keenness in the bones of a Sword Cultivator.

To the right was Chu Zhanxiao.

His build was as burly as a towering mountain—broad shoulders and thick back, with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, standing there like an iron tower, like a city wall.

A suit of black armor made him look even more robust; the armor plates were dark and gloomy, without any luster, yet they exuded a suffocating sense of weight.

The blood and Qi around his body were as vigorous as a burning furnace—the blood and Qi surged like tides, hot as magma, and faintly, a pale-gold Dragon-shaped shadow circled and coiled around him, appearing and disappearing, as if it would transform into a True Dragon and soar into the sky the next moment.

Every breath he took carried a muffled sound like deep thunder—"Hoo—hah—"; this sound rolled out from the depths of his chest, shaking the surrounding air, stirring the Spiritual Qi into constant turmoil, as if the next second it would trigger a phenomenon of Heaven and Earth and summon the Nine Heavens Divine Thunder.

He cupped his fists toward Princess Xia Zhiqing.

His fists were as large as sand pots, his knuckles thick and sturdy as iron; when he cupped his fists, there was a muffled "bang," like two huge rocks colliding.

His voice was as loud as a bell, making one's ear tips numb and causing the bluestone slabs beneath their feet to tremble slightly:

"Junior Sister Xia, sorry to trouble you to wait here."

Princess Xia Zhiqing looked at the three of them.

Looking at their vastly different yet equally compelling Auras, she couldn't help but sigh inwardly—

In such a short time, they had not only broken through to the Early Stage Golden Core, but had also polished their Realms to be so solid and stable!

This Aura was rounded and integrated as one, and that spiritual power was as condensed as substance, without a shred of floating instability, without a trace of Impurities.

Especially that demeanor that faintly resonated with Heaven and Earth—standing there, they merged with the surrounding mountains, rivers, grass, and trees, as if they were originally part of this world, the Incarnation of the Dao.

It was even deeper than those old Cultivators who had cultivated for hundreds of years.

Far exceeding those of their age.

She hurriedly performed a standard salute in return.

That salute was deep and respectful, her skirt spreading out on the ground like a blooming flower.

Her tone was full of respect and carried a hint of gratitude:

"The three Senior Brothers were on the verge of a Breakthrough, yet were still willing to wait here; it is Zhiqing's honor, not a trouble at all."

As soon as she finished speaking—

She quickly took out two black iron tokens from her bosom and briefly explained the situation of the Tai Miao Ancestral Witches provoking the Great Xia, and the need to immediately enter the Great Wu imperial capital to deal with it.

Her words were fast and urgent, yet clear and organized, without any redundancy.

She held the tokens with her fingertips and handed them forward:

"These are the newly made 'Great Wu Tokens'—holding these tokens, you can enter and leave Wuji City freely, and also mobilize some of the troops in the city, which will make things much more convenient."

Xuanyuan Zhanxian was the first to take the tokens.

They were icy to the touch.

On the black iron, the two characters "Great Wu" were carved with vigor and strength; every stroke exuded an Aura of slaughter, as if they were not carved, but hacked out with swords.

Surrounded by archaic cloud patterns, the lines were delicate and complex, feeling uneven to the touch, as if telling some ancient story.

His fingertips rubbed lightly over the patterns, and a faint, indifferent arc curled at the corner of his mouth.

That arc was very shallow, yet it revealed endless disdain:

"Tai Miao Ancestral Witches? They are nothing but clowns."

After a pause, his voice grew colder:

"Even if they didn't send the tokens, I would have personally gone to meet these so-called 'Ancient Remnant Lineages.' Now, it saves us the trouble of looking for a fight."

Before he finished speaking—

Jian Tanghuang at his side had already let out a cold snort!

This cold snort was squeezed out from the tip of her nose, carrying biting coldness and undisguised killing intent.

She reached out and took the other token, her movements crisp and agile, without a shred of hesitation.

Her knuckles turned slightly white from the force—that white revealed green, and the green revealed ruthlessness; the black iron token seemed about to be deformed by her strength, emitting a faint "creaking" sound.

"Just right!"

She spoke, her tone as cold as ice, like a sinister wind blowing from the depths of the Nine Netherworlds:

"I'd like to see exactly what kind of death-seeking things dare to bully you like this."

As her words fell, the gold and red martial outfit moved without wind—the sleeves fluttered loudly, like a burning flag, like surging flames.

In her eyes, raging flames seemed to interweave and surge; the golden firelight and the red blood-light were entangled together, scorching and dazzling.

This undisguised killing intent could be clearly felt even by Princess Xia Zhiqing standing opposite—like an invisible blade held against her neck, like a cold snake crawling across her spine.

She subconsciously clenched her sleeves, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Princess Xia Zhiqing saw this and felt a shiver in her heart.

Daring not to delay any longer, she hurriedly bowed and led the way, her footsteps quickening:

"Senior Brothers and Senior Sister, the flying boat to Wuji City is already prepared outside the palace gate. Let us depart as soon as possible, so we can investigate the situation in the city in advance and make preparations early."

"By the way—"

Xuanyuan Zhanxian suddenly spoke, his gaze quickly sweeping across the surrounding bamboo forest.

This gaze was as sharp as a hawk, weaving through the bamboo forest, wandering between the tree shadows.

He did not see Chu Changsheng's figure.

His brows furrowed slightly, and his tone carried a bit more inquiry:

"Where is my Revered Master?"

Princess Xia Zhiqing hurriedly stopped and turned to respond:

"Grand Elder Chu already set off for Wuji City, the imperial capital of the Great Wu, a few days ago. He also asked me to inform the three Senior Brothers and Senior Sister—"

She paused, her tone becoming increasingly respectful:

"To hurry and meet up with him after the Breakthrough."

"Revered Master has gone ahead?"

Xuanyuan Zhanxian rubbed the black iron token with his fingertips.

The icy metallic touch spread from his fingertips, seeped into his palm, and traveled up along his blood vessels, making him increasingly clear-headed.

A flash of understanding crossed his eyes—

With Revered Master's Mahayana Stage cultivation, there was naturally no need for him to travel with them, Disciples who had just entered the Golden Core.

He lowered his eyes and pondered for a moment.

The contemplation was very short, lasting only an instant, yet it exuded stability and composure.

The Aura beneath his black Daoist robe became increasingly heavy and condensed, like an ancient pool of a thousand years, without a ripple.

When he lifted his eyes again, his tone carried unquestionable certainty:

"Since that is the case, we should catch up as soon as possible, so as not to keep Revered Master waiting."

"Mm-hmm!"

Chu Zhanxiao replied in a muffled voice.

This sound rolled out from his chest, carrying the resonance of metal and stone, shaking the air until it trembled.

The pale-gold Dragon Qi around his body rippled out unconsciously—the Dragon Qi was like smoke and mist, yet heavy as a thousand pounds, so that even the bluestone slabs beneath his feet seemed to be numbed by the vibration, emitting a faint "creaking" sound.

Fine cracks spread between the stone seams, dispersing like a spiderweb.

He clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white—the white revealed gold, and the gold revealed light. His eyes were full of irrepressible eagerness:

To be able to see Revered Master sooner, and to personally teach those Tai Miao Ancestral Witches who dared to provoke Junior Sister Xia a lesson—how could such a good thing be delayed?

Jian Tanghuang tapped her fingertips lightly on the token.

"Tap, tap, tap—"

This sound was crisp and exceptionally clear in the silent valley, like ice beads falling on iron, like jade striking cold ice.

Every tap exuded coldness, and every tap hid killing intent.

"Let's go."

She spoke, her voice indifferent, yet every word was like ice:

"Arriving a day earlier means we can figure out the details of those Ancestral Witches a day earlier. Lest they play any dirty tricks when the time comes, causing us to be caught off guard."

As her words fell—

The ancient sword on her back seemed to have a reaction!

The ink-black scabbard trembled slightly, emitting a faint "humming" sound, like a crouching beast growling, like a sleeping giant dragon turning over.

A wisp of sharp Sword Intent leaked from the gaps in the scabbard; that Sword Intent was formless and intangible, yet terrifyingly sharp!

It cut the surrounding air until it tightened—not stagnant, but a tension after being cut, a trembling before shattering.

Even the grass and trees beside her subconsciously tilted to the side, their branches and leaves trembling, as if avoiding something terrifying.

The four of them no longer delayed.

Following closely behind Princess Xia Zhiqing, they walked toward the flying boat outside the palace gate.

From afar, they saw—

In the center of the square was anchored a silver-white spirit boat.

The boat's body was dozens of zhang long, lying horizontally on the square like a crouching silver dragon, its momentum magnificent.

The boat's body was slender and smooth, its lines as graceful as a bird's wings, every inch exuding exquisiteness and magnificence.

The boat's body was carved with flowing cloud runes—the runes were dense and layered, like a sea of clouds surging, like a galaxy shining.

Sunlight spilled onto it, and the runes refracted fine spiritual light—red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple—dreamlike and illusory, poetic and picturesque.

Even the surrounding Spiritual Qi seemed to be drawn, transforming into faint mists that circled and flowed slowly around the spirit boat, like light gauze, like thin mist, like a Fairy's skirt fluttering in the wind.

At a glance, one could tell it was a high-grade spirit boat that combined speed and defense.

After boarding and taking their seats, Princess Xia Zhiqing took out a cyan Jade Slip and pressed it to her forehead.

The Jade Slip was drippingly green, moist as grease, and when pressed to her forehead, it glowed slightly.

She closed her eyes and pinched a magic formula with her fingertips—the movement was as smooth as flowing water, without a shred of hesitation, every gesture as precise as measured by a ruler, every knuckle as agile as a butterfly dancing.

She softly shouted:

"Rise!"

The voice was not loud, yet it carried an invisible power, like a command, like an imperial edict!

As her voice fell—

The flying boat suddenly let out a low hum!

"Hum—"

This sound was deep and distant, like an ancient bell tolling long, like a dragon roaring in the Nine Heavens, emanating from the depths of the boat's body, shaking the air until it trembled, making one's heart tingle!

A faint white light surged from the bottom—that white light was like clouds, like mist, like the first ray of light at the break of dawn, supporting the spirit boat as it slowly rose into the air.

Bit by bit, and bit by bit.

It was as stable as walking on flat ground.