173: The sharpest sword

The Profound Black Domain was the ancient Profound Black Dragon's invincible trump card in its realm; within that Domain, Mysterious Ink was the absolute Dominator!

Ye Feiyan had no doubt that with this Divine Ability, Mysterious Ink would be able to fight, and even suppress, a true Peak Great Perfection Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator!

This was her true confidence in daring to propose the strategy of "waiting"!

"Don't worry, little girl."

Mysterious Ink nodded, a glimmer of wisdom flashing in its small eyes.

"I'm very lazy; if I can lie down, I'll never stand, let alone fight."

Ye Feiyan shook her head helplessly at its appearance, but her heart settled considerably.

"I need to go back into secluded cultivation."

She turned and walked towards the quiet room, her steps firm.

"The situation is tense now, I must break through to the Mid Nascent Soul Stage as soon as possible!"

"Only by becoming strong enough ourselves can we control our own destiny in the coming storm!"

Boom!

The stone door of the quiet room slowly closed.

Isolating all external storms... Meanwhile.

Ten thousand li away, at Myriad Spirits Manor.

The atmosphere was even more sorrowful and desolate than at the Beast Taming Sect.

True Lord Jian Chen was the founder of the Manor, the faith and pillar of all Disciples!

Now, the pillar had collapsed.

Daoist Wan Jian, a legend of the East Sea of the same Rank, now looked as if he had aged several hundred years beyond his actual age.

His back was hunched.

His eyes were dim.

Dragging his heavy steps, he did not go to the council hall, but instead took an unfrequented path to the most secluded Immortal Cave, which was shrouded in multiple Restrictions.

He cast a spell, and the Restriction silently opened a crack.

Inside the Immortal Cave, it was very simple, with only a stone bed and a wooden sword.

A young man sat cross-legged on the stone bed.

He looked to be only seventeen or eighteen years old, with clear features, dressed in simple hemp clothes, and his aura was restrained, like a Mortal youth who had not yet embarked on the path of immortality.

The moment he opened his eyes.

The entire Immortal Cave seemed to light up!

What kind of eyes were those!

Clear, pure, yet seemingly containing the sharpest Sword Intent in the world!

Just a glance was enough to make a Golden Core Cultivator's heart tremble!

The young man saw Daoist Wan Jian's aged and sorrowful appearance, but showed no surprise, only letting out a soft sigh.

That sigh was filled with a world-weariness that did not match his age.

"Both Senior Brothers are dead?"

The "Senior Brothers" he referred to were naturally True Lord Jian Chen and Sword Dust.

Because he knew that only if both Senior Brothers were dead would Daoist Wan Jian come to him.

A deep sorrow flashed across Daoist Wan Jian's aged face, and he nodded helplessly.

"All dead."

The young man fell silent.

He was the deepest hidden and most powerful trump card of Myriad Spirits Manor!

A Born Sword Physique!

Daoist Wan Jian had taken three Disciples in his life.

The Eldest Disciple was True Lord Jian Chen, who, with a Mortal body, painstakingly cultivated to the Late Nascent Soul Stage, his Sword Dao reaching god-like levels!

The Second Disciple, Jian Xin, also possessed extraordinary talent, but unfortunately died at the hands of the Yin Spirit Clan.

And this young man was his third Disciple, unknown to outsiders, and his greatest pride in this life!

—Sword Lord!

The sharpest, most terrifying sword hidden in Myriad Spirits Manor!

"Revered Master,"

Sword Lord looked up and asked calmly, "Is it time for me to act?"

His voice was clear and pleasant, yet carried a resolute determination.

As if there was nothing in this world that he could not cut.

Daoist Wan Jian looked at his most accomplished Disciple, a trace of comfort flashing in his turbid eyes, but he still shook his head.

"No."

"Now is not the time."

"The enemy is far more powerful than we imagined."

He briefly recounted everything that had happened in Three Seas City.

Sword Lord listened quietly, his eyes showing no change, as if the Gray-robed Elder who could instantly kill a Nascent Soul Cultivator was merely a slightly stronger ant.

"Then why did you call me?"

"I just want you to..."

Daoist Wan Jian looked at him, enunciating each word:

"—Be prepared to strike."

"Good."

Sword Lord readily agreed, without the slightest hesitation.

He closed his eyes again.

The entire Immortal Cave returned to peace.

But Daoist Wan Jian knew.

That peerless sword hidden in its sheath had already... begun to hum!

Green Bamboo Peak was still as serene as ever.

The Sect's mountain-sealing array had already been activated, an invisible spiritual light barrier enveloping the entire Beast Taming Sect, isolating it from all external prying eyes.

Within the mountain gate, although the atmosphere was oppressive, the Disciples of the various Peaks had all begun an unprecedented period of arduous cultivation.

The death of the Sect Master was like a warning bell, fiercely striking everyone's hearts!

And the Small Courtyard of Green Bamboo Peak seemed like a pure land in this tense atmosphere, quiet and peaceful.

Mysterious Ink still lay lazily on the bluestone, which it had worn smooth and shiny, squinting its eyes, basking in the sun.

Ye Feiyan's quiet room stone door was tightly shut, with no sound emanating from within.

Suddenly.

A Spiritual Qi fluctuation, not particularly powerful but exceptionally pure, slowly emanated from the guest room on the other side of the Small Courtyard.

This fluctuation, from an initial trickle, rapidly became like a surging river, finally stirring up a small Spiritual Qi whirlwind in the courtyard!

Mysterious Ink, lying on the bluestone, finally lazily opened its small, green bean-like eyes a crack.

"Oh?"

"It's finally done."

There was a hint of imperceptible satisfaction in its voice.

"Creak—"

The wooden door of the guest room was slowly pushed open.

A slender figure, with a mix of excitement and joy, walked out.

It was Ding Xiaoxue, who had been in secluded cultivation for many days!

At this moment, compared to two months ago, she had undergone a complete transformation!

Her cultivation had impressively and steadily stepped from Foundation Establishment Great Perfection into the Golden Core Realm!

Her skin had become even more crystal clear, as if it could be broken by a mere touch; her bright, large eyes, when looking around, flowed with spiritual light, and her temperament appeared even more refined and ethereal!

Golden Core Realm, a Lifespan of five hundred years!

From this moment on, she could be considered truly stable on this path of immortal cultivation!

"Senior Mysterious Ink!"

Ding Xiaoxue saw Mysterious Ink on the bluestone, and a brilliant smile immediately bloomed on her face as she quickly ran over, her tone filled with unconcealed excitement.

"I... I succeeded! I broke through to Golden Core!"

"Hmm, not bad."

Mysterious Ink lazily lifted its eyelids, scrutinized her from head to toe, and nodded with considerable satisfaction.

"The Foundation is very stable, and the spiritual power is also very pure, without leaving any hidden dangers due to eagerness for quick success."

"Good, good."

Receiving Mysterious Ink's praise, Ding Xiaoxue's eyes curved into crescent moons as she smiled, happier than if she had broken through herself.

"It's all thanks to the Medicinal Pills and Cultivation Technique you gave me, Senior!"

"Alright, stop flattering me."

Mysterious Ink yawned, then its tone shifted, becoming a bit more serious.

"Little girl, there's something I need to warn you about in advance."