57: Third Life: How Am I the Villain? (Twenty-One)

Something miraculous happened!

The surrounding Evil Qi, which was originally violent, chaotic, and indiscriminately battering everyone, seemed to have encountered a true monarch and actually began to become "docile"!

It remained vast and sharp, but it was no longer filled with such aggression and chaotic will. Instead, as if constrained by an invisible force field, it began to become orderly, flowing slowly and in a relatively gentle manner toward the seated Overlord Blade Sect Disciples!

At the same time, Xu Yuan infused his insights from refining the crystals and comprehending Saber Intent—especially the key points on how to guide Evil Qi to temper Saber Intent rather than being eroded by it—into the guided Evil Qi in a manner similar to "mental transmission," allowing the Disciples to comprehend it themselves.

"This... what is this?!"

Every Disciple felt the change in an instant!

The Evil Qi, which had previously put immense pressure on them and was unbearable, was still powerful at this moment, but it had become much more "friendly." It was easier to guide into their bodies, circulate according to specific methods, and efficiently temper their Saber Intent and Qi!

Moreover, there seemed to be a hint of inexplicable "guidance" within the Evil Qi, making their understanding of Saber Dao become clearer and smoother!

It felt as if a peerless Saber Dao Grandmaster was personally washing and refining their Saber Intent, preaching the Dao and teaching them!

"Quick! Seize the Opportunity to Cultivate!"

Zhao Zheng was the first to react. He let out a low, excited growl and immediately operated his Cultivation Technique with all his might, greedily absorbing this "tamed" Evil Qi.

The other Disciples also reacted one after another. Overjoyed, they immediately discarded all distracting thoughts and threw themselves fully into Cultivation.

This time, they no longer felt pain and pressure; instead, they experienced a sense of unbridled comfort!

Their Saber Intent condensed at an unprecedented speed, their Cultivation Foundation was constantly being solidified, and even many Disciples who had been stuck at a Bottleneck felt signs of a Breakthrough to Foundation Establishment!

But what shocked them even more was that, while Cultivating, they could occasionally perceive a faint, lingering trace of Saber Intent emitted by the upright figure in front of them.

That Saber Intent... seemed to contain some indescribable supreme logic. Although it was only a trace of aura leaking out, it made them yearn for it, as if they had seen the infinite nature of Saber Dao!

Even just observing and comprehending it allowed them to benefit greatly!

The admiration and gratitude all Disciples felt for Xu Yuan reached an unprecedented level!

Daozi Highness was not only unfathomably powerful but also possessed such magnanimity and means, willing to exhaust his mental energy to guide the Evil Qi, protect their Cultivation, and even share his own insights!

This grace was akin to a rebirth!

Xu Yuan stood before everyone, his expression calm, continuously guiding the Evil Qi.

For him now, this was also an exercise in controlling his own Saber Intent, especially by using that higher-level "perspective," which allowed him to control his own power with even more precision and subtlety.

Under his protection, the strength of all Overlord Blade Sect Disciples was increasing rapidly at a speed visible to the naked eye.

About half an hour later, the last four Overlord Blade Sect Disciples also successfully arrived at the assembly point, and without time for conversation, they quickly joined the Cultivation group.

At this point, all thirty Overlord Blade Sect Disciples had gathered!

After another while, Xu Yuan sensed that everyone had reached their limit for absorbing Evil Qi, so he slowly retracted the Saber Intent that was guiding the Evil Qi.

The Disciples also woke up from Cultivation one after another, all of them vigorous and full of energy, with bright gleams in their eyes and a bit more sharp, fierce Evil Qi aura about them; their overall strength had increased significantly!

They all looked at Xu Yuan in unison. Without needing to say anything, they simultaneously bowed and saluted:

"Many thanks to Your Highness for your fulfillment!"

"We are willing to follow Your Highness through fire and water!"

Xu Yuan stood before everyone, his gaze calmly sweeping over the faces filled with excitement and gratitude due to their increased strength.

He did not humbly decline but smiled faintly and calmly accepted this bow.

He deserved this bow.

In this life, he had become the Overlord Blade Sect Daozi, enjoying the Sect's full cultivation, revered status, and endless resources. Therefore, protecting his fellow Disciples and leading the Sect toward prosperity were responsibilities and obligations he should bear as "Daozi."

Thus, Xu Yuan was willing to exhaust his mental energy to guide the Evil Qi, protect everyone's Cultivation, and share his insights.

Just as in his previous life, as a member of the Xu Family, even if he had been lucky enough to achieve Foundation Establishment, he did not forget his roots and was willing to return to the remote Thousand Cloud City to protect the Family for a hundred years. This was his practice of the Dao of "Family."

Power and responsibility are equivalent; effort and reward are balanced.

If the heart is clear and the thoughts are smooth, then the Dao Heart will be unimpeded, and the practice will be without stagnation.

This was Xu Yuan's Dao.

It was not purely selfish, nor was it indiscriminate benevolence; rather, it was a responsibility and reward with clear boundaries.

"Since you have joined under my command, I should naturally protect you," Xu Yuan said slowly, his voice calm yet carrying a convincing power. "Your increase in strength is the increase in strength of our Overlord Blade Sect."

"The Secret Realm will be open for three months in total, and the places of Opportunity within are by no means limited to just the Burial Mound of Soldiers."

Xu Yuan's gaze swept over the crowd.

"Now that you have used the Evil Qi here, your Saber Intent has been tempered, and it will be difficult to make significant progress in the short term. It is the perfect time to free up your hands to compete for other resources in the Secret Realm!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up!

Indeed, they felt that their absorption of Evil Qi was nearing saturation and they needed time to slowly digest it.

And there were other Opportunities in the Secret Realm, such as Spiritual Plants, Ores, and Seniors' Immortal Caves. It was the perfect time to sweep them clean before other Sects!

Daozi Highness's foresight was indeed comprehensive!

"Zhao Zheng."

"Your subordinate is here!"

"You are responsible for coordination. Divide the manpower into three teams. One team will be led by you personally, responsible for exploring the eastern area, focusing on searching for 'Black Crystal Ore' and 'Ghost Soul Grass'; one team will explore to the west, paying attention to potential Immortal Caves left by Seniors; the last team will follow me to coordinate from the center, while steadily advancing toward the Blackwater Abyss, searching for resources along the way. All three teams should maintain contact via the induction discs and provide support at any time."

Xu Yuan made arrangements quickly, his thinking clear and his goals specific.

"Yes! We will strictly follow Your Highness's orders!"

Zhao Zheng immediately accepted the order and quickly finished distributing the personnel.

After the Cultivation at the Burial Mound of Soldiers and Xu Yuan's combination of grace and authority, all the Disciples were now obedient to orders and prohibitions, operating with extremely high efficiency.

"Move out!"

As Xu Yuan gave the order, the three teams, like three sharp blades, quickly shot off in different directions.

Xu Yuan led ten Disciples and advanced toward the Blackwater Abyss unhurriedly, his Divine Sense spreading out like mercury spilling onto the ground, carefully searching for any resources that might exist along the way.

Under the perception of his powerful Divine Sense, many hidden Spiritual Plants and Ores had nowhere to hide.

While other Sects were often still at their own base camps, the three teams of the Overlord Blade Sect were sweeping the resources in the Secret Realm efficiently, like a comb.

Days passed by.

The Overlord Blade Sect Disciples' Storage Pouches gradually bulged, and they harvested countless Spiritual Plants, Ores, and Yao Beast Materials.

And when the Disciples of other Sects finally intended to start exploring the Secret Realm, they realized that the current Blackwater Secret Realm was terrifyingly clean!