169: Star Core Backlash, Blade Soul Warning

Inside the exclusive guest hall arranged by Dragon Emperor Zi Yan in the Ancient World.

Li Ao sat cross-legged, his aura even more condensed and profound than when he left the Flame Abyss. His cultivation at Peak Five-Star Dou Zun was now completely stable, and even the barrier to Six-Star Dou Zun had subtly loosened. The nirvana star core floated in the center of his Qi Sea, like the core of the Universe, slowly rotating, absorbing and expelling pure Nirvana Origin power, nourishing his Physical Body and Soul.

However, beneath this immense power, a hidden worry, like a submerged reef, quietly emerged.

He attempted to activate a high-tier Dou Technique recorded in the Nirvana Heavenly Scripture—the [Hand of Nirvana]. With a thought, a majestic grey Qi flowed from his palm, coalescing into a giant hand covered with profound patterns. Wherever the giant hand passed, space slightly twisted, light was annihilated, emitting a chilling aura of demise.

Its power was undeniable, easily capable of crushing an ordinary low-tier Dou Zun.

But just as Li Ao tried to precisely control this giant Hand of Nirvana, changing its form to capture something, an anomaly occurred!

The grey Nirvana energy suddenly became violent, like a wild horse unbridled. Not only did it instantly shatter his pre-set energy structure, but it also backfired, a cold and deathly intent surging upwards along his Meridians, directly striking his Soul!

“Hmph!”

Li Ao grunted, his face paling, and he forcibly dispersed the Dou Technique. His internal Qi and blood churned. He clearly felt that in that instant, his emotions—the will controlling the power—seemed to be eroded by the pure Nirvana Intent, becoming cold and indifferent, viewing all things as mere trifles.

This was not the first time he had felt this sign of “loss of control.” Ever since the nirvana star core completely recognized him as its master, while his power surged, the overbearing and corrosive nature of this Law, originating from the end of the Universe, also began to truly manifest. It seemed to be subtly transforming Li Ao, intending to assimilate him into a “Nirvana Vessel” that only knew destruction and lacked emotion.

“Is it because my understanding of the Nirvana Law is not deep enough to fully control it? Or is it… that this path itself contains huge hidden dangers?” Li Ao frowned deeply, an alarm blaring in his heart. He recalled that in the final moments in the Flame Abyss, if not for his concern for Xiao Yi Xian’s true spirit, guided by an incredibly firm will, he might have been overwhelmed by the nascent power of the nirvana star core.

Power is good, but if one loses oneself, how is that different from a Puppet?

Just as he was restless and pondering repeatedly—

“Zheng!”

A barely audible yet incredibly clear Saber Cry, as if from before the primordial wilderness, suddenly exploded in the deepest part of his Soul!

This sound… was a Saber Cry!

Li Ao trembled all over and immediately immersed his mind into his Sea of Consciousness. In a corner of his Sea of Consciousness, largely occupied by grey Nirvana Qi, a cracked, dim light cluster, almost extinguished, was stubbornly flickering. It was the core of the blade ancestor system, which had accompanied him in his Transmigration but was subconsciously set aside due to the dominance of the Nirvana Law!

At this moment, this broken blade soul was trembling with unprecedented frequency, emitting an anxious and sorrowful hum. The hum was no longer the mechanical coldness of previous mission releases, but rather a warning and… a call, as if from instinct!

A vast and ancient fragment of intent, accompanied by the Saber Cry, forcibly rushed into Li Ao’s consciousness.

He “saw” a fragmented scene:

In the boundless dark Void Realm, stars were dim and shattered like burnt ashes. A vague, towering figure strode across the debris of the star river. He held no physical weapon in his hand, only the Saber Intent, condensed to the extreme, capable of severing Karma and splitting Chaos! A pure, unyielding, and all-destroying Blade Way will!

The figure raised his hand and swung his “saber.”

There were no dazzling lights, no earth-shattering roars. Only a subtle trace cut through the ultimate darkness. The Nirvana Power, capable of annihilating all things, and the ultimate Law that ended everything, upon contact with that Saber mark, surprisingly intertwined obediently like a hundred rivers returning to the sea, becoming part of that Saber light, adding to it the supreme power of creating new life after destruction!

Where the Saber light passed, there was no dead silence, but rather, after absolute “severance,” a faint possibility of “creation” was left behind!

“The Blade Way is the bone, carrying all Laws! Nirvana is the fuel, tempering the true self!”

“Chasing after trifles will ultimately lead to nothing!”

Boom!

The scene shattered, and the intent dissipated. Li Ao suddenly opened his eyes. In his left eye, there was a wildly surging, deathly grey Nirvana glow attempting to annihilate everything, while in his right eye, a newly ignited, faint but resilient golden Saber Intent radiance shone! He gasped for breath, cold sweat instantly soaking his robes, but his gaze, which had been confused and worried, turned into complete clarity and lingering fear!

“I was wrong… I’ve been going in the wrong direction all along!” His voice was hoarse, with a hint of tremor.

“The Nirvana Law should never be an external object replacing my Blade Way! It should be the fuel, the whetstone, the tool to temper the saber in my hand and the intent in my heart! The true Origin is this unyielding saber heart of mine, it is the saber in my hand that will cut through all obstacles!”

“The Blade Way is the sovereign, Nirvana is the subject! I shall command Nirvana with my will! Not be assimilated by Nirvana and lose myself!”

The phantom of the ancient Blade Ancestor’s saber strike, which cut through the Nirvana star river, was like a resounding bell, completely awakening him from his intoxication with rapid power. The mournful warning from the blade ancestor system made him realize that if he continued to prioritize Nirvana and neglect his foundation, what awaited him was not the Peak throne, but the tragic fate of becoming a slave to the Nirvana Law.

Li Ao slowly raised his right hand, his five fingers forming a loose fist. This time, he did not draw on any Nirvana Power, but purely condensed his almost forgotten Saber Intent. A faint but incredibly pure golden glow, carrying the determination to sever everything, painstakingly emerged from his fingertips. Although it lacked the terrifying momentum of the Nirvana Law, it carried an indomitable and unquestionable aura of sternness!

At the same time, the restless nirvana star core in his Qi Sea, upon the appearance of this new Saber Intent, which carried an absolute “self” will, paused slightly, and the cold, backfiring intent receded like a tide.

Not suppression, but… acknowledgment?

Li Ao had a sudden flash of insight and tried to carefully draw a wisp of Nirvana Qi, using this faint Saber Intent as the core.

Grey-gold Qi once again intertwined at his fingertips, but this time, the grey was no longer dominant. Instead, it was like a loyal Protector, closely encircling that golden core of Saber Intent, stable and harmonious.

“Indeed…” Li Ao’s eyes burst with astonishing brilliance.

The path was now clear.

Seclusion! He must immediately enter seclusion!

He needed to reawaken the dormant blade soul, to correct the misguided path, and to truly begin integrating the Nirvana Law into his foundation—the Blade Way!

He glanced towards the inner hall, where Medusa was protecting him, and Xiao Yi Xian’s true spirit was slowly being nurtured within the nirvana star core.

For them, and for himself, he had to become stronger, and on the right path!

Li Ao took a deep breath, his eyes becoming incredibly firm. He closed his eyes again, completely immersing himself in a deeper harmonization and comprehension of Saber Intent and Nirvana Power.

Inside the quiet room, a faint saber hum began to echo, starting its first true resonance with the profound Nirvana Qi.

The nirvana star core’s backlash transformed into a wake-up call and an opportunity to recast his saber heart. The legend of Black Saber Li Ao would begin here, embarking on a completely different, yet much broader, path to the Peak.

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