The sword seal was made of special material. Even the previous Realm Venerable of Jian Nan Realm did not know its origin. But the lingering will left by Sword Ancestor had called it the mark of the Sword Realm guardian.
Its extraordinariness was evident.
The sudden flight of the sword seal startled Zhang Ruochen.
“Careful. Do not approach. The black light mist surging from the abysses is Ancestor Upper Purity’s Immeasurable divine power.”
Chi Yao blocked Zhang Ruochen.
The ordinarily unremarkable sword seal, upon flying out, erupted with brilliant radiance, illuminating all directions.
From the black light mist at the bottoms of the two abysses flew dense humanoid remnants, like myriad ghosts, rushing into the sword seal.
Piercing roars echoed between heaven and earth, aura chillingly cold.
Too eerie!
Even gods like Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao, who had weathered great storms, felt their hair stand on end. Though in the Liangyi Sect, it felt like a domain of ghosts and souls.
“What is happening? Those things, could they be Upper Purity’s ghosts? So many? Each remnant’s aura rivals a ghost general or king.” Little Black’s mouth trembled as he spoke.
Chi Yao said, “Remnant souls! Parts of Ancestor Upper Purity’s divine soul thoughts, preserved for some unknown reason.”
“Why do Upper Purity’s divine souls rush into that small sword? Is there a connection?” Little Black looked at Zhang Ruochen.
Among them, likely only Zhang Ruochen knew the answer.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Look. In those humanoid remnants, white light threads weave like blood vessels within the souls. That is a peculiar power… hmm?”
The six divine swords orbiting behind him trembled violently, moving uncontrollably toward the two abysses.
“What is this?”
Zhang Ruochen communicated with the sword spirits.
“Unclear. I feel a familiar power forcibly pulling my body.” Divine Sword Old Three sounded tense.
Eldest Brother Sword said, “The sword body is completely uncontrolled.”
“There is power in the world affecting divine swords. No good. I feel that power influencing my consciousness!” Divine Sword Old Six exclaimed.
…
The six divine swords were in dire straits, as if about to be taken.
Zhang Ruochen quickly took out the Six Patriarchs Chan Release Diagram, drawing them all into the scroll, isolating from this space. Then, divine qi surged from his palm, condensing a gaseous divine chain wrapping toward the hovering sword seal.
“Crack!”
Before nearing, the gaseous divine chain shattered under black light mist.
Little Black pulled Zhang Ruochen. “Better leave quickly. Invite Grand Master to act and retrieve that small sword for you.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “Since Grand Master sent us to investigate, clearly intending to test our ability. Retreating shamefully like this, you may not feel embarrassed, but I would have no face to see him.”
“This emperor feels…”
A sword cry interrupted Little Black.
He turned. The three-cun sword seal, controlled by myriad soul shadows, flew toward him and Zhang Ruochen. Its unleashed might surpassed even the earlier Qing Ping Sword.
Faintly, eerie laughter echoed between heaven and earth.
As if hell’s gates opened, billions of demons pounced.
“This emperor said we should not linger.”
Though complaining, Little Black did not flee. He exhaled divine flames, forming a scorching bright flame river.
The flames’ temperature was extreme, revealing all divine patterns in this space. But it could neither block the sword seal nor threaten the myriad soul shadows behind.
Such a horrifying scene nearly stopped Little Black’s heart!
Chi Yao pointed a finger, condensing invisible walls in space one after another.
“Bang bang!”
Explosions rang ceaselessly.
The impact from the sword seal was indestructible, tearing space like paper.
The weird wails from soul shadows grew louder, utterly chilling.
Zhang Ruochen fearless, stepped forward. He slit his wrist, blood sprinkling the Six Patriarchs Chan Release Diagram. Instantly, the scroll radiated brilliant golden light. The six patriarchs’ golden bodies manifested.
Zhang Ruochen merged with the golden bodies, wielding the scroll, charging straight at the sword seal.
“Suppress!”
Just as the scroll swung, the sword seal suddenly shifted, tracing a bright arc, piercing toward Zhang Ruochen’s brow.
Chi Yao and Little Black were shocked.
But in this critical moment, Zhang Ruochen remained calm. A thirty-six-zhang Taiji circle manifested. His body slid rapidly along the circle, instantly changing position.
“Whoosh!”
The sword seal struck the Six Patriarchs Chan Release Diagram, spatial ripples surging, sinking in.
Zhang Ruochen wrapped the scroll, walking toward the still shaken Chi Yao and Little Black. “Now I have more doubts. Come. Let us see Grand Master. He should answer many questions.”
…
After the Flat Peach Tree achieved divinity, becoming Kunlun Realm’s heavenly spiritual root, it grew even sturdier. The trunk’s diameter reached twenty li, covered in vigorous dragon-snake roots.
From the ground looking up.
Only endless branches, leaves, and pink blossoms seen flickering in clouds. The treetop invisible.
Beneath, divine qi thick. Springs formed lakes. Peach blossom fragrance assailed the nose.
Zhang Ruochen saw the Lord of the Fallen God Island again. Compared to last in Heavenly Court, he appeared much weaker. Though spirited, his face betrayed illness.
Zhang Ruochen naturally unaware this was from old wounds aggravated saving him in battle with Qing Zu.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward supporting him, worried. “Grand Master, is your injury truly incurable?”
The Lord smiled faintly. “Ground ten thousand years in Temple of Destiny, surviving is already fortunate! To heal… forget it. No need think of impossibilities. Now I only hope to hold until you few grow, able to bear Kunlun Realm’s next banner. Hope!”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen’s heart blocked, extremely pained. “Can divine medicine heal you? Even slightly.”
The Lord smiled, shaking his head.
Little Black’s wounds healed. Usually frivolous, now low-spirited. “Grand Master, truly little lifespan left? I can seek divine medicine from Father Emperor. His garden grows one!”
“No talk of this.”
The Lord waved, smiling fully. “Release that thing you mentioned. Let me see.”
Zhang Ruochen suppressed low mood, taking out the Six Patriarchs Chan Release Diagram, releasing the sword seal.
“Hee hee!”
With it flew thousands of soul shadows.
Their laughter chilling, like weeping.
The Lord raised wrinkled aged palm. Without visible technique, the ferocious soul shadows instantly suppressed into the sword seal.
The sword seal tried fleeing but flew only briefly before returning to his wrinkled palm.
An ordinary palm like a heaven-earth cage.
Myriad soul shadows trapped within, charging futilely.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “These truly Ancestor Upper Purity’s divine soul thoughts?”
The Lord’s eyes profound. “Eight million divine soul thoughts total. Back then, Upper Purity truly reached Immeasurable.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I see these divine soul thoughts extremely vicious, murderous. Was Ancestor Upper Purity such a person?”
The Lord shook head. “No! I had some dealings with Upper Purity. At least then, he was ambitious and idealistic.”
“Two possibilities. First, after death, consciousness dissipated. Residual thoughts gradually birthed new consciousness, becoming evil divine thought bodies.”
“Second, after reaching Immeasurable, personality greatly changed. Fell to madness, already evil then.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Grand Master never saw Upper Purity after Immeasurable?”
The Lord shook head. “They three vanished for a time. When I learned Upper Purity reappeared in Kunlun, already slain by Biluo Zi. Caused huge sensation. Said Saint Monk personally questioned Biluo Zi.”
“I dwelt on Fallen God Island then, little involved in continental affairs. Know little.”
“Sent you to seventh layer because I knew you inherited Sword Ancestor’s sword soul, deeply tied to Sword Realm karma.”
Zhang Ruochen realised. “So Grand Master also believes Upper Purity reached Immeasurable due to Sword Ancestor and Sword Realm?”
The Lord said, “In Middle Ancient era, Kunlun had some sword dao gods, not lacking stunning talents. But Three Purities were sword dao’s foremost representatives. Below Immeasurable, extremely powerful.”
“Saint Monk and Biluo Zi also cultivated sword, but as attack means, not primary dao.”
“Sword cultivators’ attack unparalleled. But since ancient times, pure sword dao reaching Immeasurable rare. Reasons you understand.”
“Then Three Purities peaked below Immeasurable. To advance, only seek Sword Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen grasped intent. “Grand Master wishes me seek Sword Realm?”
The Lord sighed long. “Because only you can. Your ties to Sword Ancestor and Sword Realm deepest. No other cultivator has your advantage, including me.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Grand Master cannot use spiritual power to locate Sword Realm?”
The Lord shook head. “Powerful spiritual power not omniscient. Dark Triangle Star Domain precisely one spiritual power cannot penetrate.”
Hearing this, countless thoughts arose in Zhang Ruochen.
Even Grand Master’s spiritual power could not penetrate Dark Triangle Star Domain or find Sword Realm within. Could Heavenly Court, Hell, or others?
If Dark Triangle Star Domain usable, it would be a hiding place evading all worldly crises.
The Lord said, “Sending you seek Sword Realm actually hopes you find Jade Purity and Grand Purity.”
“They live?” Zhang Ruochen moved.
The Lord said, “If they reached Immeasurable, surely live. I cannot last long. If one day I suddenly depart, Kunlun needs someone to hold, at least until you grow!”
Little Black emotions surged. “Grand Master, you will be fine. So powerful, even death cannot take you. My fate I control, not heaven!”
“Nonsense!”
The Lord seemed unwilling to dampen moods, smiling fully. Raised sword seal and eight million evil divine soul thoughts. “These divine soul thoughts hold peculiar sword dao energy, likely reason Upper Purity broke to Immeasurable. Now I extract it for you. Thus easier find Sword Realm.”
The peculiar sword dao energy was the white light threads like blood vessels Zhang Ruochen saw in divine soul thoughts.
The Lord extracted all white light threads from eight million thoughts, yielding merely one drop.
This drop of white liquid shone extremely bright, containing pure sword dao power Zhang Ruochen had never seen.
Even with the Lord’s insight, he gazed long, sighing. “Could this be legendary sword source?”
Zhang Ruochen could not calm, exclaiming. “One of Sword Ancestor’s eight absolutes, sword source?”
“Unclear!”
The Lord said, “But this drop, if fallen to ground, could pierce Kunlun Realm. Your palm cannot hold. Thus, I seal it in sword seal.”
“Whoosh!”
White liquid slowly fused with three-cun sword seal, light blinding.
Finally fully merged. Sword body dense white light threads, dazzling.
The Lord handed sword seal to Zhang Ruochen. “This seal surely great use. If to Sword Realm, must bring it.”
Silent nearby, Chi Yao suddenly spoke. “I feel seeking Sword Realm more suitable for me. Zhang Ruochen after all no longer Kunlun cultivator!”
Little Black somewhat displeased, mocking. “Heh! Woman! Benefits come, faster than anyone to seize.”
Chi Yao said, “Indeed! Sword source and Sword Divine Hall likely in Sword Realm. This opportunity, I naturally contest. Zhang Ruochen, your current priority not first resolve your cultivation issues? Taiji Dao, Sixiang Sect, Bagua Sect Innate Dao Law remnants I borrowed for you. Stay in Kunlun, comprehend well!”
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
She tossed three tortoise shells to Zhang Ruochen, then reached for sword seal from the Lord.
How could Zhang Ruochen not understand her intent?
Seeking Sword Realm, far from easy.
Since ancient times, countless cultivators lost in Dark Triangle Star Domain. This journey perilous, if not nine deaths one life, at least five deaths five lives.
Zhang Ruochen flashed, spatial shift, taking sword seal first from the Lord. Met Chi Yao’s sharp eyes. “Seeking Sword Realm not urgent. I can cultivate first, go after breakthrough. Greater assurance!”
The Lord watched them vie, squinting smile. “Ruochen’s advantage unmatched by others. He most suitable, least danger. Moreover, as he said, not urgent.”
“Currently, actually more important matter!”
“What important matter?” Chi Yao asked.
The Lord looked up at starry sky. “Starry sky defence line about to breach. Then many ancient civilisations fall.”
“This cosmic sweeping event ties intricately to all forces, every cultivator. I wish know your views? Such great event erupting, what can we do?”
“No need evade. Hell Realm, Star Huan Heaven, Kunlun Realm no difference. Speak from own standpoint.”
The Lord like a teacher testing students, patiently awaiting replies.
