74: Chapter 74 Ice Soul Visitor, Body Tempering Breakthrough

Clear, crisp sword hums echoed from outside the Immortal Cave.

The sound was not harsh, yet it carried a heart-penetrating icy chill, as if it could freeze the Soul.

Bai Yunzhou opened his eyes as the faint phantom of a green lotus slowly dissipated.

He stood up and pushed open the stone door; a figure stood about thirty feet outside the door.

The visitor was a middle-aged woman dressed in an ice-blue robe, her sleeves fluttering even without wind.

Her appearance was not drop-dead gorgeous, but there was an awe-inspiring Sword Intent between her brows, looking as though carved from ten-thousand-year-old mysterious ice.

Most eye-catching were her eyes—her pupils were light blue, and as her gaze shifted, moisture in the surrounding air actually condensed into fine ice crystals.

Bai Yunzhou felt a sudden chill in his heart.

The woman stood there with her aura restrained like a Mortal, but his Divine Sense instinctively sensed danger.

It was not the violent, bloodthirsty aura of Old Man Xuefu, but a deep, pure ice coldness that was almost on the level of Law.

"Junior Bai Yunzhou greets Senior," Bai Yunzhou cupped his hands in respect.

The woman's gaze fell on him; her light-blue pupils seemed capable of seeing through everything.

A moment later, she gave a subtle nod:

"Han Yue, from Ice Soul Sword Valley."

Her voice was clear and cold, like broken ice clashing together.

"Senior Han Yue," Bai Yunzhou stepped aside. "Please come inside."

Han Yue did not move; she simply raised her hand, and a streak of ice-blue light flew out from her sleeve, floating in front of Bai Yunzhou.

It was a palm-sized token carved entirely from ice jade, with a sword engraved on the front and the characters for 'Body Tempering' on the back.

The token's surface emitted rich waves of Sword Intent, somewhat similar to the aura in the Sword Monument Forest, but even more pure and domineering.

"This is a token for the Sword Intent Body Tempering Pool," Han Yue said plainly. "Holding this token grants you a single untimed entry into the Body Tempering Pool. The Holy Land contribution points deducted will be covered by my Ice Soul Sword Valley."

Bai Yunzhou did not accept it immediately. "Senior's generous gift leaves Junior feeling overwhelmed with gratitude.

May I ask..."

"Ling Shuang is a True Disciple of our valley," Han Yue interrupted him. "You saved her life, so this gift is still not enough to repay that debt.

The Valley Revered Master has decreed: if you ever travel to the Northern Domain in the future, you may enter the Sword Valley to comprehend the 'Ice Soul Sword Monument' for three days."

Bai Yunzhou's heart trembled.

The sword monument of Ice Soul Sword Valley was an existence on the same level as the Qinglian Sword Monument!

Three days of opportunity to comprehend it was of immeasurable value.

He solemnly took the token: "Thank you, Senior. Thank you, Valley Revered Master."

The token felt cold to the touch, but its Sword Intent was gentle and docile, clearly having been specially processed.

Han Yue glanced at him once more. "You possess the Qinglian Sword Body, but its Awakening is less than thirty percent.

Do not be greedy in the Body Tempering Pool.

In Awakening the sword body, the Foundation is paramount."

"Junior will keep that in mind."

"There is one more thing." Han Yue's gaze narrowed slightly. "Ling Shuang sent word that behind Old Man Xuefu, there may be high-ranking figures from the Blood God Cult pulling the strings.

You must be careful within the Holy Land. The Blood God Cult excels in Blood Curse Tracking Arts."

With that said, her figure transformed into an ice-blue sword light that soared into the sky, disappearing into the northern horizon in an instant.

Bai Yunzhou watched the direction in which she vanished and tightened his grip on the token.

Ice Soul Sword Valley... This favor is quite significant.

...

Early the next morning, Sword Enlightenment Peak.

The Sword Intent Body Tempering Pool was located in a natural stone cave at the Peak, guarded on rotation by two Law Enforcement Hall Elders at the entrance.

When Bai Yunzhou presented the token, the white-bearded Elder on the left showed a flash of surprise in his eyes: "An Ice Soul Sword Valley Tempering Order?

Kid, what connection do you have with the Sword Valley?"

"Junior was fortunate enough to help a Disciple of the Sword Valley escape trouble," Bai Yunzhou said vaguely.

The Elder looked deeply at him without asking further, waving his hand to open the Restriction at the cave entrance. "Go in.

The Body Tempering Pool can hold at most three people at a time, and currently, there is no one inside.

Remember, if you cannot hold out, come out immediately. Do not force it and harm your Foundation."

"Thank you, Elder."

Bai Yunzhou stepped into the stone cave.

The space inside the cave was larger than expected, spanning a good thousand feet in circumference.

In the center was a pool about one hundred feet square, filled with pale-gold water with dense mist rising from its surface.

Most peculiar of all, countless tiny golden sparks floated in the pool water, each spark a strand of pure Sword Intent!

These Sword Intents had different elemental attributes: the incomparably sharp Metal-element Sword Intent, the endlessly resilient Wood-element Sword Intent, the incinerating Fire-element Sword Intent...

They coexisted, collided, and fused in the water, forming a miraculous balance.

Just standing by the edge of the pool, Bai Yunzhou felt the pores across his whole body open as the Green Lotus Sword Intent inside him began to circulate automatically, yearning to absorb the Sword Intent essence from the pool.

He took off his outer robe, leaving only his close-fitting soft armor, and slowly stepped into the pool.

Sizzle!!

The moment the pool water touched his body, countless sparks of Sword Intent surged over like sharks smelling blood!

Severe pain!

It felt as if tens of thousands of fine needles were piercing his skin simultaneously, every single strand of Sword Intent forcibly drilling into his body, tempering his flesh, Meridians, and bones.

What was even more terrifying was that these Sword Intents had conflicting attributes, rampaging wildly inside him as tearing pain spread from every limb and bone.

Bai Yunzhou let out a muffled groan, veins bulging on his forehead.

But he did not back down; instead, he sat cross-legged, letting the pool water submerge him up to his neck.

The Qinglian Sword Body ran at full force!

Within his Dantian, clear green lotus patterns surfaced on the Golden Core.

The lotus petals slowly rotated, releasing a wave of pure Green Lotus Sword Intent with every full turn, guiding, absorbing, and fusing the incoming foreign Sword Intents flooding his body.

[Massive Sword Intent energy detected]

[Qinglian Sword Body Awakening accelerated]

[Awakening Degree: 26%... 27%... 28%...]

System prompts continued to flash.

Bai Yunzhou gritted his teeth, holding onto that last sliver of mental clarity.

He could feel that although those external Sword Intents had varied attributes, they were ownerless objects that merely crashed around on instinct.

The Green Lotus Sword Intent, on the other hand, acted like a skilled mediator, soothing, guiding, and integrating them into his own power one by one.

Time slipped away bit by bit.

The golden sparks in the pool water gradually dwindled, while the Green Lotus Sword Intent inside Bai Yunzhou grew increasingly thick and refined.

Three hours later.

[Qinglian Sword Body Awakening Degree: 32%]

He opened his eyes, a phantom green lotus flashing momentarily deep within his pupils.

His Physical Body strength increased by a full thirty percent!

His Meridians widened by more than double!

More importantly, his control over Sword Intent reached an entirely new level.

With a thought, pale green Sword Qi spontaneously condensed within three feet around him, spinning in circles like lotus petals.

"Spontaneous Sword Qi... this is the sign of Minor Achievement in the Sword Body," Bai Yunzhou murmured to himself.

According to the records in the Qinglian Sword Canon, when the Sword Body reaches thirty percent Awakening, Sword Qi can spontaneously protect the body;

at fifty percent, Sword Qi can be condensed into armor;

at seventy percent, Sword Qi manifests form and can materialize lotuses into weapons;

at ninety percent, the Qinglian Domain transforms, its power multiplying fold;

at ten percent Perfection...

He shook his head and stopped dwelling on it.

The Body Tempering was still ongoing.

About sixty percent of the Sword Intent sparks remained in the pool water, but the absorption speed had noticeably slowed down.

It wasn't that his body couldn't take it, but rather that the Qinglian Sword Body was becoming increasingly "picky" about Sword Intent.

Ordinary Five Elements Sword Intent could no longer bring significant improvements; only Sword Intent containing special Laws could drive the Awakening Degree to grow further.

"I need more refined Sword Intent..."

With a thought, Bai Yunzhou retrieved the remnant of that drop of Blood God Essence from his storage ring.

The dark-red droplet floated in his palm, emitting pure Qi-and-blood waves.

He swallowed it in one gulp.

Boom!!!

Violent Qi-and-blood power detonated inside his body, colliding and blending with the Sword Intent from the pool.

The Qinglian Sword Body revolved frantically, using the Qi-and-blood as fuel to accelerate the devouring and refining of Sword Intent.

[Qinglian Sword Body Awakening Degree: 33%... 34%... 35%!]

The instant the Awakening Degree broke through thirty-five percent, a sudden mutation occurred.

The Qinglian Golden Core inside his Dantian suddenly burst into brilliant green light, and at the center of the lotus, a pale-gold rune the size of a grain of rice slowly condensed into form.

The rune was shaped like a budding lotus, yet it held mysterious and unfathomable principles of the Sword Dao.

[Comprehended Talent Ability: Spontaneous Qinglian Sword Qi (Elementary)]

[Effect: Within three feet of the body, Sword Qi automatically condenses to protect the host, capable of blocking a full-power strike from Late Stage Core Formation.

When actively triggered, Sword Qi shoots out like lotus petals, each strand's power equivalent to thirty percent of the user's full-power attack]

Bright light burst from Bai Yunzhou's eyes.

With a subtle thought, seventy-two pale-green strands of Sword Qi condensed out of thin air within three feet around him, blooming like a lotus.

Every strand of Sword Qi was as solid as a real sword, its tip flashing with biting cold light.

"Go!"

All seventy-two strands of Sword Qi shot out together, blasting into the stone wall of the cave.

Swish, swish, swish!

Seventy-two bottomless holes were blasted into the rock wall, their cuts smooth as glass, with the lingering Green Lotus Sword Intent refusing to dissipate for a long time.

"Good!" Bai Yunzhou couldn't help but exclaim in praise.

And this was merely its Elementary stage.

According to the System description, as the Sword Body's Awakening Degree increased, both the quantity and power of the Sword Qi would grow.

At Major Achievement, a single thought could generate ten thousand swords, like a descending lotus sea strangling all creation.

He retracted his Sword Qi and looked down at the pool water.

The golden sparks in the pool had thinned out significantly, leaving less than twenty percent behind.

Continuing to absorb them would yield negligible results.

"Time to head out."

Bai Yunzhou stood up and left the Body Tempering Pool.

The pool water sloughed off his body without leaving a single drop behind; all the moisture had been evaporated by the Sword Qi.

He put on his robes and stepped out of the stone cave.

The guarding Elder saw him come out, glanced at the pool, and his eyelid twitched: "Kid, you absorbed eighty percent of the Sword Intent essence...

Next time you want to come back, you'll have to wait three months for the pool to recover naturally."

"Junior did not know..." Bai Yunzhou felt a bit embarrassed.

"No matter." The Elder waved his hand. "How much you can absorb is a testament to your ability.

However, remember to inform me in advance next time so I can adjust the fee."

Bai Yunzhou bowed and took his leave.

By the time he walked out of Sword Enlightenment Peak, dusk was approaching.

Riding his sword back to Liuyun Peak, he passed by the Outer Gate Square and found it exceptionally lively today.

Hundreds of people were gathered in the center of the square, watching something.

Scanning with his Divine Sense, Bai Yunzhou raised an eyebrow.

It was Han Qiu.

He was standing on a temporarily erected high platform, with three Disciples of impressive aura standing behind him.

A jade wall stood in front of the high platform, with several lines of large characters rolling across it:

"Sincerity recruiting teammates to jointly explore the 'Gloomy Forest'."

"Requirement: Late Stage Core Formation or above, skilled in sword arts or Formations."

"Reward: 3,000 contribution points per person, obtained treasures distributed according to contribution."

"Note: Must pass a strength test."

The crowd below exploded into hushed discussions.

"Senior Brother Han Qiu is recruiting in person?

The Gloomy Forest is a Rank 4 dangerous realm; it's said there are Nascent Soul Yao Beasts lurking there!"

"The reward is so generous...

Three thousand contribution points would take me half a year to save up."

"Didn't you see the requirements?

You need to be at Late Stage Core Formation or above, and you still have to pass the test.

Word is the test is extremely hard; over twenty people have already been rejected today."

Bai Yunzhou initially didn't want to pay attention and was about to leave, but his Divine Sense caught a familiar aura.

It was Song Xinghe.

He was standing at the outer edge of the crowd, looking rather grim.

Deng Mufeng beside him was whispering something, seemingly trying to persuade him.

Bai Yunzhou landed and walked over.

"Senior Brother Bai!" Song Xinghe's eyes lit up when he saw him, then dimmed again.

"What happened?" Bai Yunzhou asked.

Deng Mufeng sighed: "Xinghe wanted to take this task, but Han Qiu...

deliberately made things difficult.

The test requirement was to take three sword strikes from him. Xinghe took the first strike and suffered minor injuries."

Bai Yunzhou looked at Song Xinghe.

Song Xinghe gritted his teeth and said, "That test is completely unfair!

His first strike utilized seventy percent of the qiushui sword's power. I used the Xinghe Sword Technique to block it head-on; although I was injured, I blocked it.

Yet he claimed my 'Foundation is unstable and unfit for heavy responsibility,' and disqualified me on the spot."

"What about the second strike?" Bai Yunzhou asked.

"The second strike..." Song Xinghe's voice dropped low, "was against a Disciple named 'Wang Meng'.

That guy was at Late Stage Core Formation and wielded a heavy hammer. He took two strikes from Han Qiu, and on the third, his hammer flew out of his hands, yet Han Qiu said his 'courage was commendable' and passed him."

Deng Mufeng added: "We observed it—Han Qiu's testing criteria aren't fixed at all.

For those he likes, he lets them slide;

for those he dislikes, he hits them hard.

Because Xinghe is close to you, Senior Brother, he..."

Bai Yunzhou's eyes grew cold.

He turned his gaze toward the high platform.

Right now, a female Disciple happened to be going up onto the platform for testing.

She wielded dual swords, possessed a Late Stage Core Formation cultivation, and her sword techniques were nimble and fluid.

Han Qiu only used fifty percent of his power for all three strikes, and the female Disciple blocked them with ease.

"Not bad," Han Qiu smiled. "Junior Sister Liu's sword technique is exquisite. You pass."

Someone below the stage muttered, "The favoritism is way too obvious..."

Han Qiu's ear twitched, and his cold gaze swept over: "Whoever has an objection, step up onto the stage and try."

The person pulled back his neck, not daring to utter another word.

Bai Yunzhou hesitated no longer; he parted the crowd and stepped onto the high platform.

"It's Bai Yunzhou!"

"He's here!

Now there's going to be a good show!"

"I heard he killed a Core Formation Perfection Cultivator in Black Wind Cave yesterday, and even escaped from a Nascent Soul Cultivator's hands..."

Discussions erupted on all sides.

Seeing Bai Yunzhou, Han Qiu's pupils narrowed slightly before regaining composure: "Junior Brother Bai also wants to test?

Unfortunately, we've already recruited enough people."

"I'm not here to take a test," Bai Yunzhou said calmly. "I'm here to demand justice for Song Xinghe."

"Justice?" Han Qiu laughed. "I set the testing standards, so where does the injustice come from?"

[part:gemini-3.5-flash-lite]

"Then we will go by your standards." Bai Yunzhou looked at him, "I will receive three swords from you."

If I receive them, Song Xinghe passes;

If I cannot receive them, we will turn around and leave.

Han Qiu's eyes flickered.

Han Qiu had already heard about Bai Yunzhou's combat achievements in Black Wind Cave.

Three swords to slay a Perfection Core Formation, Qinglian Sword Body specifically restrains evil techniques...

But that was aimed at blood-slaughter Cultivation Techniques.

His own qiushui sword was an orthodox Sword Cultivator Legacy, not fearing restraint.

Furthermore, he had recently nourished his qiushui sword Intent to Major Achievement, and he was just lacking an opponent to test his sword.

"Good." Han Qiu slowly drew his qiushui sword, "Since Junior Brother Bai is interested, let us try it out."

However...

Blades and swords have no eyes; if Junior Brother is injured, please do not blame me.

"Please." Bai Yunzhou stood in place, not even drawing his sword.

There was an uproar off the stage.

"He is not drawing his sword?"

"Isn't this too arrogant?!"

"Han Qiu's qiushui sword is a supreme-grade Low Grade Magic Treasure!"

"I heard that Bai Yunzhou has a spatial Spirit Treasure. Is he planning to use that?"

Anger flashed in Han Qiu's eyes.

Not drawing his sword—this was blatant contempt!

"The first sword, Qiushui Changtian!"

The sword moved like a dragon, and an azure Sword Qi slash emerged, its Sword Intent as long and continuous as a river, instantly enveloping a radius of three zhang around Bai Yunzhou.

With this sword strike, Han Qiu used eighty percent of his power, and the Sword Qi contained the "hidden needle in cotton" of qiushui sword Intent.

Gentle on the surface, sharp on the inside.

Bai Yunzhou moved.

He did not draw his sword, only raising his right hand, pressing his fingers together like a sword, and pointing forward.

Chi!

A pale green Sword Qi shot out from his fingertips, only the thickness of a thumb, yet as dense and solid as substance.

The Sword Qi collided with the Sword Qi aura.

There was no explosion, no loud noise.

The azure Sword Qi aura encountered its nemesis, shattering inch by inch from the point of collision, turning into countless dots of light that dissipated.

And that pale green Sword Qi, its remaining momentum undiminished, surged straight for Han Qiu's face!

Han Qiu's expression changed drastically, horizontally blocking with his sword.

Clang!!

The Sword Qi crashed into the qiushui sword, producing the sound of metal clashing.

Han Qiu retreated three steps before stabilizing his figure, the hand holding the sword trembling slightly.

The area below the stage fell into dead silence.

Everyone widened their eyes.

A single finger sword...

Just like that, it broke Han Qiu's eighty percent power strike?

And even forced him back three steps?

"What kind of Sword Qi is that?"

"So dense!"

"It seems... to have condensed spontaneously?"

"I didn't see him urge any spiritual power!"

Han Qiu took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

He knew that he had underestimated Bai Yunzhou.

That Sword Qi just now, seemingly simple, actually contained Sword Intent pure to the extreme, and... it was condensed spontaneously!

"Minor Achievement Sword Body..." He gritted his teeth, "You awakened a special sword body?"

Bai Yunzhou did not answer: "The second sword."

Han Qiu no longer held back.

He gripped the sword with both hands, and the spiritual power around his body frantically poured into the qiushui sword.

The sword body hummed, the azure radiance flourished intensely, and the faint sound of waves echoed out.

qiushui sword Intent Major Achievement, Azure Sea Tidal Birth!

The sword light transformed into an illusory projection of an azure ocean, tides rising and falling, with each wave stacking another layer of Sword Intent.

The stacking of nine waves possessed power comparable to a full-strength strike of an Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator!

With this sword, Han Qiu used ten percent of his power, and even burned a small amount of essence blood.

He wanted to determine victory and defeat in a single strike!

Bai Yunzhou finally got serious.

His right hand gripped into the void, and the liefeng sword automatically unsheathed, falling into his palm.

Qinglian Sword Canon Fifth Form, Qinglian Blooming!

When the sword light rose, a ten-zhang Qinglian bloomed before him.

The lotus petals opened layer by layer, each layer containing pure Green Lotus Sword Intent.

At the center of the lotus, a spot of golden light condensed; that was the "Sword Heart Rune" just comprehended in the Body Tempering pool.

The two swords collided.

Rumble!!!

The deafening roar spread across the entire plaza.

The azure ocean and the cyan lotus fiercely confronted each other, the shockwave generated by the collision of Sword Intents spreading outward. The protective Formation around the high platform flickered violently, almost collapsing.

Three breaths later.

The ocean illusion began to collapse.

The lotus slowly rotated, absorbing and purifying the collapsing Sword Intent entirely.

Han Qiu let out a muffled grunt, blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth as he retreated seven steps, the qiushui sword almost slipping from his hand.

As for Bai Yunzhou, he stood in place, not moving a single bit.

The liefeng sword in his hand pointed diagonally at the ground, cyan light flowing across the sword body, completely undamaged.

Superiority was instantly judged!

The crowd below the stage completely boiled over.

"He won!"

"Bai Yunzhou won!"

"Two swords!"

"He only used two swords!"

"Senior Brother Han Qiu is a Late Stage Core Formation Peak Cultivator!"

"That Qinglian..."

"Such terrifying Sword Intent!"

"Even separated by the Formation, I feel a palpitation in my heart!"

Han Qiu's face was ashen, the veins on the hand holding the sword bulging.

He knew he had lost, and he had lost thoroughly.

Bai Yunzhou hadn't even used his full strength; that Qinglian had only bloomed three layers of petals.

"The third sword is unnecessary." Bai Yunzhou sheathed his sword, "Song Xinghe, passes."

Han Qiu gritted his teeth, staring at Bai Yunzhou for a moment, and finally squeezed a word out from between his teeth:

"Good."

He turned around and whispered a few words to a Disciple behind him.

That Disciple nodded, took out a mission token, and handed it to Song Xinghe.

Song Xinghe took the token, looking excitedly at Bai Yunzhou.

Bai Yunzhou nodded slightly and walked down the high platform.

The crowd automatically parted a path, everyone's gaze toward him filled with awe, envy, and dread.

When he walked to Song Xinghe's side, Deng Mufeng whispered, "Senior Brother, Han Qiu will not let this rest easily."

"I know." Bai Yunzhou looked into the distance.

Han Qiu had already put away the high platform, leaving in a hurry with several trusted Disciples, his back revealing a cold and gloomy aura.

"But he does not dare to move against me right now." Bai Yunzhou said calmly, "At least, before the bet three months from now, he dares not."

Because of that sword strike just now, the strength Bai Yunzhou displayed had already exceeded Han Qiu's estimation.

Perfection Core Formation, Minor Achievement Sword Body, Green Lotus Sword Intent Major Achievement.

Such strength, even within the Holy Land inner sect, could Rank in the middle tier.

If Han Qiu wanted to win, he had to Breakthrough to Nascent Soul within three months, or... resort to some shady methods.

"When you take on missions, you must be careful." Bai Yunzhou instructed, "Gloomy Forest is a Level 4 perilous land; Han Qiu choosing this place probably has a deep meaning."

Song Xinghe nodded heavily: "Senior Brother can rest assured, I will travel together with Senior Sister Deng, and we will look out for each other."

"Mn."

Bai Yunzhou flew away on his sword.

He did not return to his Immortal Cave, but instead flew toward the Mission Hall.

After Body Tempering, he needed a true life-and-death battle to consolidate and temper his soaring strength.

And on the light screen of the Mission Hall, a new mission had just refreshed:

[Hunt "Golden-Winged Thunder Roc"]

[Location: Thunder Valley (Level 5 Perilous Land)]

[Requirements: Perfection Core Formation and above, proficient in speed]

[Reward: 5000 contribution points, Thunder Roc Inner Core belongs to the killer]

[Status: Unclaimed]

A Level 5 perilous land meant that Middle Stage Nascent Soul Yao Beasts haunted the area.

The Golden-Winged Thunder Roc was precisely the king among Early Stage Nascent Soul Yao Beasts, possessing extremely fast speed and mastery over lightning, making even ordinary Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators unwilling to provoke them.

Without hesitation, Bai Yunzhou reached out and pressed against the mission information.

[Claimed successfully]

[Mission time limit: Ten days]

[Failure penalty: Deduction of 1000 contribution points]

He turned around and left the Mission Hall, transforming into a cyan sword light pointing straight towards Thunder Valley.

Meanwhile, in a certain corner of the Holy Land, Han Qiu was standing in front of a black-robed Elder, bowing and reporting.

The Elder had his back turned to him, his aura as deep as an abyss, shockingly at the Nascent Soul realm.

"Revered Master, Bai Yunzhou has already achieved Minor Achievement Sword Body and Major Achievement Green Lotus Sword Intent.

The bet three months from now, this Disciple... has no certainty."

The Elder slowly turned around, revealing a sinister face.

If Bai Yunzhou were here, he would definitely recognize that this person was none other than the Guest Elder of Youquan Valley in the Holy Land, Qin Mo!

Qin Zhan's paternal uncle, with Middle Stage Nascent Soul cultivation.

"Minor Achievement Sword Body..." Qin Mo sneered, "So what?

No matter how strong the Qinglian Sword Body is, it cannot defeat a true Nascent Soul."

He took out a blood-colored Medicinal Pill and handed it to Han Qiu.

"This is the 'Blood-Burning Realm-Breaking Pill'. After taking it, one can forcibly Breakthrough to Nascent Soul within three days.

The price is... the loss of three hundred years of Lifespan, and being permanently stopped at the Early Stage Nascent Soul."

Han Qiu took the Medicinal Pill, his hand trembling slightly.

Three hundred years of Lifespan...

After a Cultivator reaches Core Formation, their Lifespan is five hundred years.

He was now one hundred and twenty years old; if he took this pill, it would be equivalent to having only eighty years left to live.

Furthermore, he would never be able to Breakthrough to the Middle Stage Nascent Soul in his lifetime.

"Revered Master, this..."

"What, reluctant?" Qin Mo's gaze was icy, "Do you think losing the bet is as simple as just losing face?

The qiushui sword is your Elder brother's personal sword. If you lose to Bai Yunzhou, your Elder brother's status in the Sword Hall will be affected.

Furthermore...

Bai Yunzhou must die.

Alive, he is too big a threat to Youquan Valley's plan."

Han Qiu gritted his teeth, finally putting away the Medicinal Pill: "This Disciple understands."

"Go." Qin Mo waved his hand, "Three months from now, I want to see Bai Yunzhou's corpse."

"Yes."

Han Qiu retreated.

Qin Mo looked out the window, a flash of blood-red light in his eyes:

"Qinglian Legacy...

Heh, three hundred years, that lineage of Sword Monarch Qinglian should also be exterminated."

At the same time, eight hundred miles outside the Holy Land, at a certain barren mountain.

Old Man Xuefu sat cross-legged in a cave, with a blood-colored bronze mirror floating before him.

An ambiguous figure emerged in the mirror, recognizable only as a humanoid wearing a blood robe, their aura unfathomable.

"My Lord, the mission failed.

The Qinglian Legacy escaped, and Ling Shuang of Ice Soul Sword Valley was also rescued." Old Man Xuefu said respectfully.

The person in the mirror was silent for a moment, and when they spoke, their voice was hoarse like metal friction:

"No matter.

The plan required time to begin with.

The Qinglian Legacy appearing is rather a pleasant surprise...

Back then, Sword Monarch Qinglian beheaded three Venerables of our Blood God Cult; this grudge should be repaid by his Legacy."

"What should this subordinate do?"

"You continue to lurk and monitor the movements of the Holy Land.

Three months from now, the Holy Land outer sect grand competition...

That is the best opportunity."

"Yes."

The bronze mirror's light dissipated.

Old Man Xuefu stood up, walked to the cave entrance, and looked toward the direction of the Holy Land, blood light surging in his eyes:

"Bai Yunzhou...

Next time, you will not have another chance to escape with your life."

Liuyun Peak Immortal Cave.

Bai Yunzhou sat cross-legged, with the liefeng sword floating in front of him.

On the surface of the sword body, the faint Qinglian patterns were already clearly visible.

After being tempered in the Body Tempering pool, this spiritual sword that had followed him for a long time finally began to transform toward the level of a Magic Treasure.

He took out a piece of "Star Iron", which was an Artifact Refining material found in the one-eyed Elder's storage ring.

Pill fire ignited in his palm, a flame unique to Core Formation Cultivators with extremely high temperature, capable of melting refined gold.

The Star Iron slowly melted in the pill fire, turning into a pool of silver-gray liquid.

Controlled by Bai Yunzhou's Divine Sense, the liquid was evenly smeared onto the liefeng sword, repairing the minute damages to the sword body while simultaneously enhancing the sword's hardness and toughness.

This process lasted for an entire night.

When the first ray of morning sunlight shone into the Immortal Cave, the liefeng sword emitted a clear and resonant long cry.

The sword body was silver-gray tinged with pale cyan, the sword edge flashing with cold light, faintly sparkling with starlike dots of light.

[liefeng sword (Top-tier Spiritual Artifact → Low Grade Magic Treasure Prototype)]

[Characteristics: Wind-type amplification (+30% speed), Green Lotus Sword Intent bearing (Sword Intent power +20%)]

Bai Yunzhou put away the sword with satisfaction.

With this initially transformed sword, plus the Qinglian Sword Body and the spontaneous Sword Qi ability, even facing a true Early Stage Nascent Soul, he had the strength for a battle.

Not to mention, he still had the trump card of the green ruler Spirit Treasure.

"Thunder Valley..." He looked towards the south, "The Golden-Winged Thunder Roc will be just right for testing the new sword."

He stood up and pushed open the stone door.

Zhou Zhiting was practicing fist techniques in the courtyard. The Blood Battle Eight Desolations Fist had reached the Major Achievement of the third layer, every punch carrying a tragic battlefield slaughter aura; wherever the fist wind passed, the air exploded and hummed.

Seeing Bai Yunzhou come out, she retracted her fist and saluted: "Senior Brother."

"I am going out for a trip, short as three days, long as ten days." Bai Yunzhou said, "You stay on the Peak and Cultivate well.

If anyone comes to look for trouble, you can go find Song Xinghe or Deng Mufeng."

"Where is Senior Brother going?" Zhou Zhiting asked with concern.

"Thunder Valley, to hunt the Golden-Winged Thunder Roc."

Zhou Zhiting's expression changed: "That is a Level 5 perilous land!

It is said there are Nascent Soul Yao Beasts..."

"Precisely because there are Nascent Souls, it is worth going." Bai Yunzhou smiled, "When I return, I will bring you Thunder Roc feathers as a gift."

With that, he rode his sword up, transforming into a cyan stream of light that disappeared into the horizon.

Zhou Zhiting looked in the direction he left, clenching her fists tightly:

"I too want to become stronger...

Strong enough to fight shoulder-to-shoulder with Senior Brother!"

She turned around and continued practicing her fists, putting all her strength into every single punch.