228: Everyone, do you want to try the sword in my hand to see if it is sharp?

Fishfang Island.

Central Main Hall.

A Cultivator with white hair and beard was leaning askew on a rattan chair, with two beautiful maids respectfully massaging his calves.

Suddenly, the old man’s eyes snapped open.

A Young Master in green robes abruptly appeared in the hall.

“This humble Cultivator Pang Ran greets Senior.”

The old man quickly stepped forward, bowing in salute.

However, Gu Changsheng did not reply. He sucked with his palm, pressing it on the old man’s head, and a vast amount of information flooded into his mind.

Soul-searching!

The maids nearby screamed in fright.

“Eastern Region… still tens of thousands of miles from Shu Mountain… map…”

A moment later, Gu Changsheng vanished gracefully.

Inside the hall, the old man slowly awoke, surprised to find a Storage Pouch on the ground. He opened it to see it full of spirit crystals.

Suddenly, there was a commotion outside the door, and a line of Cultivators surged in.

“Father, where is the thief?”

“Bastard, how dare you offend my Pang Family!”

Slap—

The old man slapped the leading middle-aged man across the face, his expression grim. “If you want to die, don’t drag this old man with you!”

As he spoke, he narrowed his eyes, and two Sword Qi shot out from his hand, instantly killing the maids who had been in the hall.

“Remember… this matter must never be leaked…”

...Half a month later.

Gu Changsheng swept into Shu Mountain, heading straight for the Forbidden Ground.

“Are you the only one who returned…?”

Sword Ancestor opened his eyes, his aura like that of an old Mortal on the verge of death.

Gu Changsheng thought for a moment, then slightly embellished the events, omitting the true demonic heart crossing and Guangyuan Grotto-heaven, and recounted them bit by bit.

Hearing this, Sword Ancestor sighed softly: “That Ling Xuzi… alas…”

Suddenly, his gaze shifted to Gu Changsheng: “Li Daoyi, you have rendered great service to our Sect by successfully bringing back the demonic heart crossing.

You… would you be willing to become the Sect Head of our Sect?”

It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted.

Even though Shu Mountain had declined, a starved camel was still bigger than a horse.

Becoming the Sect Head meant he could mobilize far more resources than before.

However, it did not align with Gu Changsheng’s philosophy of developing discreetly.

Most importantly, he currently lacked no resources, and his cultivation had reached the Late Stage of the Profound Cave Realm.

What he lacked was only the path to Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm.

Gu Changsheng replied: “This Disciple is devoted to the Dao and only seeks the Great Dao of the Yang Spirit.”

“Indeed…” Sword Ancestor gave a wry smile, his admiration evident in his eyes.

“The difficulty of the Yang Spirit is harder than ascending to the heavens.

To Breakthrough to the Yang Spirit Realm, one must encounter two great calamities.

Firstly, the Heart Demon Tribulation.

Heaven and earth are unkind; when they were born, there was also Yin and Yang. The Yang is the myriad worlds, and the Yin is the Extraterrestrial Demon Realm.

When breaking through, Extraterrestrial Demons invade one’s Divine Thought, and a single misstep can lead to complete failure.

Secondly, the Heavenly Tribulation.

Cultivators seize the fortune of heaven and earth and enjoy a long Lifespan, which is inherently intolerable to heaven and earth.

Especially a Yang Spirit Realm mighty figure, who enjoys two thousand years of Lifespan, which is countless times the Reincarnation of Mortal kings, and the propagation of hundreds of generations of Mortals.

When one’s magic power reaches its limit, it will attract the Heavenly Tribulation.

The stronger the cultivation, the greater the calamity.”

Hearing this, Gu Changsheng silently lowered his head.

The Heart Demon Tribulation was easy to deal with; among the Yellow Springs Great Emperor’s secret techniques were methods to capture Heart Demons and refine them into Devil Heads.

The stronger the Extraterrestrial Demon, the stronger the Devil Head refined.

It was the Heavenly Tribulation instead… “The stronger the cultivation, the stronger the calamity…”

Gu Changsheng said with a wry smile.

His magic power was ten times that of those at the same stage. Didn't that mean the calamity's power would also be ten times that of those at the same stage?

Even he wouldn't dare to say he had full confidence in enduring the calamity.

“May I ask Old Ancestor, if there is a way to resist the calamity?”

Gu Changsheng asked.

“There is, of course.”

Sword Ancestor flipped his palm, and a Sword Tomb filled with broken swords appeared as a phantom in his palm.

“This is my Natal Sword Tomb, a Dao Artifact that integrates offense and defense. It covers the sky and once helped me withstand eighteen bolts of Purple Heaven Divine Lightning.”

Purple Heaven Divine Lightning is a supremely rigid and Yang-aligned evil-dispelling divine lightning, with incredibly vast power.

Eighteen bolts clearly showed the Sword Tomb’s defensive power.

“Resisting calamities in this world is divided into two types: weakening and defending.

For defense, the foremost is the Great Evolution Profound Origin Tortoise Shell of that fellow, the Northern Region Tortoise-backed Dragon. Its back is a rare Spirit Treasure in heaven and earth, with defensive power no less than a defensive Dao Artifact.

Moreover, the tortoise shell is covered with divine patterns, which can deduce calamities and seal the Void Realm with the power of Formation.

It is truly remarkable.

It is said that this Dragon Tortoise has already passed through eight calamities, and the hundred thousand ice rivers of the Northern Region all revere it.”

Gu Changsheng silently rolled his eyes.

A Heaven and Earth True Spirit who had passed eight calamities, a Yang Spirit Realm mighty figure.

If he went to ask for the tortoise shell, he would probably be slapped to death by a single tortoise claw.

“Another type… weakening the calamity…”

Sword Ancestor’s eyes showed a nostalgic expression.

“It is rumored that a painan stone once appeared in heaven and earth, capable of melting famous mountains and incorporating them into itself, thereby repelling its own calamities, making it intolerable to heaven and earth.

However, of the Great Evolution’s forty-nine, one escaped.

It is said that the Myriad Spirits Old Ancestor, who passed eight calamities, achieved the Dao through this stone.

Unfortunately, this person perished in the ninth calamity a hundred thousand years ago, and his main body is nowhere to be found, perhaps destroyed.

If one could find one or two fragments of it and forge them into a Spirit Treasure, it might weaken the power of the calamity.”

Sword Ancestor’s tone was quite wistful.

Gu Changsheng, however, frowned more and more as he listened.

A stone gaining sentience… melting famous mountains… this sounded exactly like… Black Mountain… Could this stone be a brand new True Spirit born from the Myriad Spirits Old Ancestor after his demise?

‘The Yang Spirit Realm is still far off… for now, I should push my cultivation to the Peak of the Late Stage Profound Cave Realm…’

Half a day later.

The demonic heart crossing was distributed one by one, and the Shu Mountain Disciples, tainted by Devilish Qi, gradually recovered their senses from the chaos.

Moreover, many Disciples refined the Devilish Qi purified by the demonic heart crossing, greatly increasing their cultivation.

In an instant, Shu Mountain showed signs of revival.

Destruction Sword Vein.

“What? I’m the Sect Head?”

Le Xiaoyao’s eyes widened like copper bells, and he quickly waved his hands: “What virtue or ability does this Disciple possess?”

“It’s not me who wants you to be the Sect Head, but Sword Ancestor who wants you to be the Sect Head.

Who dares not listen to his old man, Sword Ancestor?”

Gu Changsheng feigned anger.

Less than half a day later.

Nine chimes of a bell resounded throughout Shu Mountain.

“By Sword Ancestor’s decree, Le Xiaoyao, the Revered Master of the Destruction Sword, is promoted to the position of Sect Head, and the Void Metal Sword Revered Master is the Grand Elder of Shu Mountain, overseeing Shu Mountain.”

As soon as these words came out, the entire Shu Mountain was in an uproar.

“What? Sword Revered Master Le promoted to Sect Head? Although he is a Profound Cave Realm Cultivator, his destruction sword technique is quite remarkable, but his Foundation is ultimately shallow, and he has not made significant contributions to our Sect. How can he convince the Disciples of the Sect?”

“That’s right.

Le Xiaoyao’s cultivation is only in the Early Stage, far from being a match for a great Cultivator of the Late Stage Profound Cave Realm.

If he is promoted to Sect Head, wouldn’t it make others laugh at us?

At that time, where will the face of our Shu Mountain be placed?”

“In terms of merit and seniority, Elder Mo Jian is the most qualified to be promoted to Sect Head.”

“Elder Lu Jian has worked hard and justly administered rewards and punishments. My Drunken Heart Sword is willing to nominate him to be the Sect Head!”

“This Seat recommends the Heaven Sword Revered Master…”

The position of Sect Head represented immense power and resources.

Various factions began to contend, not mentioning Li Daoyi’s name at all.

Instead, they secretly rejoiced in their hearts. If Li Daoyi had intended to take the position of Sect Head, they would indeed have found it difficult to refuse, but it was his Disciple.

Simply ridiculous.

Immediately, the solemn and majestic main hall became as noisy as a Mortal market.

“Revered Master…”

Le Xiaoyao’s face was full of embarrassment.

Not being able to command respect was just like this.

Gu Changsheng still looked calm and composed, slowly rising: “Disciple, do you remember what Revered Master told you… We Sword Cultivators, if we don’t sing, we’re silent; if we sing, we stun the world!”

Clang—

A sharp and incomparable Sword Qi swept across the Void Realm, grazing the scalps of the three Elders—Heaven Sword, Mo Jian, and Lu Jian—and plunged into the Void Realm.

“Li Daoyi… you!”

“Attacking fellow Disciples without authorization is a great taboo!”

“Are you trying to rebel?!”

Just now, if the Sword Qi had deviated slightly, the three of them would have lost their heads. Thinking of this, they felt chills down their spines, and cold sweat seeped from their foreheads.

Gu Changsheng, however, smiled slightly.

Only a tremor was heard from the Void Realm.

The Formation covering the entire Sect gate shattered like a bubble.

This was Shu Mountain’s mountain-guarding great Formation.

Previously, when the vassal Sects attacked, they had to expend countless means and costs to barely break through it.

Now, in front of Gu Changsheng, it only took one sword.

Immediately, everyone was greatly shocked, their faces filled with terror.

Gu Changsheng pulled out a sword-shaped token, from which emanated the aura of the Yang Spirit Realm Sword Ancestor.

“Seeing the Sword Token is like seeing Sword Ancestor.

Everyone, would you like to test if the sword in my hand is sharp?”

Gu Changsheng smiled slightly, yet it sent shivers down everyone’s spines.