In the vast and boundless Barbarian Secret Realm of the Kunlun Realm, there lay a life-forbidden zone where not a blade of grass grew.
Gazing out, yellow sand covered the ground, with wisps of black mist floating in the air.
Chi Xingtian and Mu Lingxi stood in the desert. Both received Zhang Ruochen’s divine thought simultaneously.
Mu Lingxi’s eyes brightened with joy. “Godfather, Zhang Ruochen has come to the Kunlun Realm. Let us go to the Liangyi Sect to find him.”
Chi Xingtian snorted lightly, arms behind his back, gazing far into the distance. “Go? Have you forgotten what you should be doing most right now?”
“I know, of course. Cultivate. Nothing but cultivate. But Zhang Ruochen said he will activate the Sun Dial. With the Sun Dial’s aid, would it not allow faster cultivation of the second divine source?”
Then Mu Lingxi giggled. “He transmitted to you too, correct? If cultivating in the Sun Dial, would your injuries not heal faster, restoring you to peak condition?”
Chi Xingtian scoffed. “I heard the Sun Dial currently only supports Butian Realm gods in cultivation. Zhang Ruochen harbours no good intentions inviting me. Likely feels he lost in the Star Huan Heaven deal, wants back the Heavenly Demon Stone Carvings. His tricks can only fool silly girls like you.”
Mu Lingxi was about to retort.
Chi Xingtian’s tone turned stern. “With your current cultivation, closed-door cultivation is meaningless. To advance further below divinity, you must push yourself to death’s doorstep, unleashing greater potential.”
“Beneath this desert lie the ruins of the Jiuli Divine Hall, fraught with danger yet accompanied by great opportunities. I shall wait at the desert edge. You enter alone from the northwest direction to explore.”
“Whatever gains you reap depend on your ability!”
Mu Lingxi looked at Chi Xingtian with pitiful eyes. “Godfather, it is very dangerous. I feel going to the Liangyi Sect for cultivation is also a good choice. Consider it?”
“With such mentality, how become a supreme powerhouse in the future?”
Chi Xingtian waved his arm. Divine qi surged, forming a hurricane that directly sent Mu Lingxi deep into the desert.
“Must push you! Jiuli Divine Hall right before eyes. Why borrow Sun Dial for cultivation? Abandoning root for branches.”
He muttered to himself, tone quite disdainful.
…
Receiving Zhang Ruochen’s divine thought, everyone arrived successively.
The Sun Dial activated. Time mark light points enveloped all seven layers of Ancient God Mountain. Time flow slowed rapidly.
After brief greetings, all entered cultivation states. They had brought divine stones and elixirs. Millennium seclusion was profoundly significant to them. None wished to waste time.
Only Zhang Ruochen, Zhang Hongchen, and Chi Kongle remained below Ancient God Mountain, continuing to await other cultivators.
“It seems your mother will not come!” Zhang Ruochen said somewhat disappointedly.
Zhang Hongchen released spiritual power to probe, sensing no aura of her mother Ling Feiyu. “She will definitely come. Perhaps delayed by something in Heavenly Court!”
Chi Kongle said, “She will not come. Because she knows my mother is in the Liangyi Sect. How dare she come?”
Zhang Hongchen bit her snow-white teeth, glaring angrily at Chi Kongle. “What did you say?”
“Kongle!”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression solemn. “Forgot what I told you before? She is your younger sister. You should treat her better. As elder sister, with cultivation ahead, you should protect her, not say such words.”
These recent days, Zhang Ruochen had stayed with Zhang Hongchen, teaching her sword dao and Path of Truth. This greatly displeased Chi Kongle, who found Zhang Hongchen increasingly irritating.
Even rebuked by Zhang Ruochen, she showed no intent to apologise, leaving the Liangyi Sect alone.
This time, Zhang Ruochen neither stopped nor pursued her.
With Chi Kongle’s current cultivation, closed cultivation held little meaning. Moreover, in Kunlun Realm, no fear of her encountering danger.
Most importantly, Kunlun Realm was her homeland, a vibrant great world. Environment, culture, survival philosophy vastly differed from Hell Realm.
Letting her wander alone, see worldly warmth and coldness, mortal lives, was actually beneficial.
Zhang Hongchen clenched fists, eyes reddening, holding back tears.
Zhang Ruochen guessed her thoughts, deeply guilty. Softly, “Come with me to Star Huan Heaven?”
“What about Mother?” she quickly asked.
“She?”
Zhang Ruochen gazed at the vast sky. “She likely unwilling to go with me.”
“As long as you speak, she definitely would. Mother told me much about you. I could hear she loves you deeply. Often I saw her dance sword alone at midnight, then gaze dazedly at Yellow Springs Galaxy in the cosmos. Sometimes, even tears fell.” Zhang Hongchen said.
Zhang Ruochen seemed to see the scene she described. Heart twisted in pain. “Back then I asked her. She refused me.”
“Surely you were not forceful enough!” Zhang Hongchen said.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What did you say?”
Zhang Hongchen replied, “Mother’s pride extremely high, acts more forcefully than men. If you not firm enough, not more forceful than her, why should she go with you? You should not even ask if willing. With your cultivation, forcibly take her. What could she do?”
“Sometimes, woman says unwilling, but heart very willing. Awaits only your firmer attitude. The more forceful and firm your attitude, the more she can convince herself inwardly to abandon all and leave with you.”
“If you not firm enough, she only thinks you ask casually, not truly wishing to take her.”
Zhang Ruochen looked anew at Zhang Hongchen, staring long. “Perhaps you are right. Back then, I indeed lacked firmness, lacked forcefulness, failed to give her sufficient security.”
Then Zhang Ruochen neither god nor backed by figures like Tianlao and Nine Heavens. How dare take Ling Feiyu to Hell Realm?
Now he had some confidence, a place in this universe, his own voice.
“I will certainly give your mother an accounting. This millennium, cultivate well. Any cultivation doubts, ask me anytime.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhang Hongchen replied, “I will definitely cultivate hard. I must catch up to Chi Kongle. Millennium should suffice!”
Zhang Ruochen inwardly sighed. No wonder imperial children rarely harmonious, often fighting to death.
Too many palace consorts, too many conflicts!
Conflicts directly passed to next generation.
Fortunately Zhang Ruochen no throne for them to inherit, or far worse.
To prevent future tragedies, truly needed a “principal wife” to suppress all. Zhang Ruochen had little energy to waste resolving family internal disputes.
Such matters spreading would invite mockery.
“Who more suitable?”
Zhang Ruochen muttered thus, stepping toward Sun Dial.
Entering cultivation state, Zhang Ruochen ceased pondering trivialities. Energy fully invested.
Not only comprehending Innate Dao Law remnants, but transporting all Liangyi Sect Daoist classics, reading and studying one by one.
Additionally, from Sword Pavilion seventh layer, took Wordless Sword Manual. Planned use this opportunity transform character “One” third-grade sacred will into character “One” sword dao.
Cultivate his own sword dao.
Wordless Sword Manual stood like sword mountain on ground. All could comprehend and cultivate.
Time passed day by day…
Spent three hundred years, Zhang Ruochen mastered Sword Twelve. Sword soul strengthened several times. Sword dao rules vastly increased. Sword dao attainment advanced further.
Seven hundred years later.
From Zhang Ruochen’s head rushed billions of light swords, forming thick beam soaring beyond heavens.
In Liangyi Sect, myriad swords rang.
Across entire Eastern Region, all sword cultivators’ carried swords uncontrollably unsheathed, hilts like heads bowing toward horizon.
Cultivating below same Sun Dial, Blood Spirit Immortal glanced at him, muttering. “So quickly mastered Sword Thirteen! Third-grade sword dao sacred will aids sword comprehension so greatly?”
In truth, Blood Spirit Immortal at great saint realm could already execute Sword Thirteen.
But how many years had he cultivated?
His first divinity, even comprehended Sword Fourteen on Wordless Sword Manual.
Yet Zhang Ruochen from Sword Twelve mastery to Sword Thirteen mastery, merely four hundred years. Moreover these four hundred years, he devoted more energy to studying Daoist classics.
Such rapid sword comprehension speed. How could Blood Spirit Immortal not be shocked?
“From character ‘One’ sword dao mastery, only final step.”
With mastering Sword Thirteen, Zhang Ruochen clearly felt sword dao advance again. Sword dao sacred will, sword soul, sword intent, sword dao rules, sword soul nearing fusion.
Of course, sword soul here not Sword Ancestor’s seven soul swords, but Zhang Ruochen’s own cultivated sword soul.
Once sword dao mastered, each sword strike a sword dao divine ability, automatically mobilising sword soul, sword soul, sword intent, sword dao rules.
Thought moves, create a sword technique.
If possessing sword dao profound mysteries, Zhang Ruochen truly a sword god.
However, profound mysteries held little meaning for Zhang Ruochen. Via Taiji circle, he could mobilise worldly rules. Taiji contains all, naturally sword dao, thus mobilise worldly sword dao rules.
Character “One” sword dao independent beyond Wuji Divine Dao, yet fused within.
Sword dao, Biluo Zi and Saint Monk Xumi’s attack means. Latter created own sword technique, Time Sword Method.
Character “One” sword dao, Zhang Ruochen’s attack means.
All worldly sword moves return to character “One”.
“Since only one step away, next fully commit to cultivating character ‘One’ sword dao.”
Dense divine thoughts flew from Zhang Ruochen’s body, forming myriad figures across sky. Some continued comprehending Wordless Sword Manual. Some danced sword in void. Some cultivated Time Sword Method. Some absorbed worldly divine qi strengthening sword soul.
