657: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (36)

However, this was just the beginning. The Sword Formation was triggered, and more ice swords swarmed in from all directions like an awakened hive of bees. Instantly, the hall was filled with sword light falling like rain and cold Qi surging like a tide.

Su Han's expression was solemn as he pushed his Movement Technique to the limit. He darted through the rain of swords like a swimming fish, occasionally flicking his fingers to repel incoming ice swords, or joining his fingers to slice apart the obstructing sword shadows. The ice crystal star wheel granted him a Star Power recovery rate far exceeding his peers, and ensured every attack he made carried the sharpness of heavenly abyss Sword Intent. If an ordinary Star Wheel Realm Cultivator were trapped in this formation, they would likely exhaust their Star Power and be pierced by ten thousand swords in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

But Su Han was different.

He could feel that as the battle continued, the dormant spirituality within his Sea of Consciousness seemed to be stirred by the Sword Formation's Sword Qi, causing subtle fluctuations. These fluctuations spread like ripples, resonating with his Sword Intent. Gradually, Su Han found he had a vague sense of the Sword Formation's operating principles, as if he could predict where the next wave of attacks would originate.

"Is this... Senior Sister helping me?"

Su Han’s heart stirred. He decided to release some mental control, allowing his Sword Intent to circulate autonomously. With this release, a sudden change occurred.

The ice crystal star wheel behind him burst into brilliant light. The sword-shaped patterns on it seemed to come alive, detaching from the Star Wheel and flying out, transforming into thirty-six illusory sword shadows around him. These sword shadows possessed spirituality, automatically meeting the incoming ice swords, clashing sword against sword with extreme precision.

Even more astonishingly, after the illusory sword shadows shattered the ice swords, they absorbed the cold Qi scattered during the ice swords' collapse, strengthening themselves. In just a moment, the thirty-six sword shadows had solidified like real swords, their power multiplying.

"Sword Intent Manifestation to defend autonomously?" The Sect Master watching from the side of the hall had a flash of brilliant light in her eyes. "This is not an ability that should belong to the Star Wheel Realm! Is the spirituality of heavenly abyss recovering, or..."

She focused and observed closely, noticing that although the thirty-six sword shadows were influenced by the heavenly abyss Sword Intent, their movement trajectory clearly carried Su Han's style—simple, direct, and seeking maximum efficiency. This was not merely the recovery of a Sword Spirit, but a brand-new creation resulting from the Fusion of Su Han's will and the heavenly abyss Sword Intent.

"Good boy," the Sect Master murmured. "You actually managed to forge a new path."

In the field, Su Han had already penetrated deep into the core of the Sword Formation. The number of ice swords surrounding him had reached three hundred, forming an impenetrable barrier. Ordinary Movement Techniques could no longer evade them, so he simply stopped, held his hands in an embracing posture, and the thirty-six sword shadows responded to his call, circling back to form a Sword Wheel around his body.

"Defend."

The Sword Wheel spun, crushing every approaching ice sword like a millstone. The sound of shattering ice crystal was incessant, like heavy rain hitting plantain leaves. Su Han stood calmly at the center of the Sword Wheel, his ice-blue pupils reflecting the sky full of sword shadows, seemingly in control of everything.

However, the Sword Formation changed again. The remaining seven hundred-plus ice swords stopped attacking blindly and began to combine orderly, forming larger Great Swords. Seven ten-zhang ice Great Swords emerged, surrounding Su Han in the center in a Seven Stars configuration. Where their tips pointed, the cold Qi almost froze space itself.

"Seven Stars Immortal-Slaying Sword." The Sect Master whispered. "Let's see how you break this."

Su Han looked up at the seven mountain-like Great Swords, feeling the terrifying power condensed upon them, knowing he couldn't hold back anymore. He took a deep breath and injected all his Star Power into the ice crystal star wheel.

The Star Wheel's rotation speed reached its limit, emitting a sharp, piercing scream. The thirty-six sword shadows were pulled by the Star Wheel, flying back behind Su Han and merging with the illusory Star Wheel behind him. The next moment, the Star Wheel detached from Su Han's body, shot into the sky, and rapidly expanded in the air, transforming into an ice-blue circular wheel Three Zhang in diameter.

Above the circular wheel, the sword-shaped patterns shone brilliantly, as if countless divine swords were about to break out of the wheel.

Su Han formed hand seals with both hands, exhaling and shouting, "heavenly abyss Sword Wheel, Slay!"

The ice-blue circular wheel moved in response, crushing the Void Realm like a giant millstone as it met the seven Great Swords. The first Great Sword struck the circular wheel, generating a deafening roar, and its body shattered inch by inch. The circular wheel continued its momentum, crashing into the second, then the third... A series of explosions echoed throughout the hall. When the circular wheel crushed the seventh Great Sword, it was itself covered in cracks and its light dimmed. But it had completed its mission—the Thousand Illusions Ice Sword Formation was broken.

Su Han waved his hand, retrieving the Star Wheel. As the Star Wheel entered his body, his face paled, and he staggered back three steps, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. That last strike had nearly drained his Star Power and placed a considerable burden on his Meridians.

"Not bad," the Sect Master's voice came, carrying approval. "Using the cultivation of the Early Stage Star Wheel Realm to break thirty percent of This Seat's power in the Thousand Illusions Ice Sword Formation, you are the first person since the establishment of the Qingyun Sect."

She waved her hand, dispersing the remaining ice crystal in the hall, walked up to Su Han, and handed him an emerald Medicinal Pill: "Take this and regulate your Qi for an hour."

Su Han took the Medicinal Pill and swallowed it. Immediately, a warm current surged into his limbs and bones, rapidly repairing his damaged Meridians. He sat cross-legged, circulated the Azure Cloud Art, and guided the medicinal power.

The Sect Master watched from the side, a myriad of thoughts in her eyes. After a long time, she said softly, "heavenly abyss, this person you chose... perhaps he truly can lead you down an unprecedented path."

Having finished regulating his Qi, Su Han opened his eyes and saw the Sect Master still waiting in the hall.

"How do you feel?" the Sect Master asked.

"My Star Power has recovered seventy percent, and the damage to my Meridians is fine," Su Han answered truthfully.

The Sect Master nodded: "In the battle just now, you exposed a few problems. First, although your Sword Intent is strong, its application is crude, failing to exert its true power; second, your Star Power circulation is still sluggish, likely because you recently broke through and your Realm is unstable; third, and most importantly—your reliance on the heavenly abyss Sword Intent is too heavy."

Su Han was startled: "Too heavy a reliance?"

"Your final strike just now borrowed at least seventy percent of the heavenly abyss Sword Intent's power," the Sect Master said lightly. "This isn't bad, but if it becomes a habit, your path of cultivation will stray. Sword Spirit Symbiosis, Symbiosis, the emphasis is on the word 'Symbiosis' ( common, together). It's not about you relying on her, nor her depending on you, but rather the two mutually achieving and growing together."

She paused, then continued: "In these three months, This Seat requires you to do three things. First, stabilize your Realm and polish your Early Stage Star Wheel Realm cultivation to Perfection; second, study all the Dao of the Sword classics in the 'Sword Canon Area' on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion—not seeking mastery, but seeking to broaden your horizons; third, and most importantly—communicate with the spirituality of heavenly abyss."

"Communicate?" Su Han questioned. "Senior Sister is still asleep."

"Being asleep doesn't mean communication is impossible," the Sect Master said. "With Sword Spirit Symbiosis, your Souls are already connected. It's just that your cultivation was insufficient before, preventing you from actively establishing a communication channel. Now that you have condensed a Star Wheel, you are qualified to try. Every day at the Zi Shi (midnight), when the Yin Qi is strongest, sink your mind into your Sea of Consciousness, call the name of heavenly abyss, and share your experiences and insights with her. In time, there will be a response."

Su Han's eyes lit up: "This Disciple understands."

"Go now," the Sect Master waved her hand. "Return to this hall three days from now at this time. This Seat will impart the Ice Heart Sword Canon to you."

The Ice Heart Sword Canon! Su Han's heart trembled. This was one of Tianya Peak's Foundational Absolute Arts, not easily passed down to non-Core Disciples. Was the Sect Master actually going to impart it directly to him? (End of chapter)