Comprehending the Wordless Sword Manual grew increasingly difficult toward the later stages, with time required multiplying exponentially.
Yet, devoting all energy to sword comprehension, Zhang Ruochen spent merely two hundred years mastering Sword Fourteen and achieving great accomplishment.
“Sword dao world, one character levels heaven.”
“Unite!”
Zhang Ruochen drew circles with both hands, then embraced them into one. From his body flew streaks of light marks, condensing above his head into a three-chi light sword.
As time passed, sword dao understanding deepened. The light sword continually grew.
From three chi to three zhang.
From three zhang to thirty zhang.
…
A hundred years later, the light sword reached a thousand zhang tall, like a heaven-severing blade suspended in void, a radiant sword-shaped divine stele.
Those awakening from cultivation, seeing this sight, were all profoundly shocked. Such a light sword contained terrifying might. Likely capable of cleaving a great world with one strike.
Nalan Danqing, Wan Canglan, Qing Mo, Xian Feizi… the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens stood aligned like nine ethereal immortals, each with distinct temperaments. Some gentle and refined, some valiant and firm, some ethereal and transcendent.
Millennium cultivation brought great breakthroughs for them all. Each a powerhouse among great saints.
Among them, Nalan Danqing’s cultivation was most unfathomable. Around her snow-white jade neck hung a cyan profound thread like a necklace, suspending a divinely radiant bead.
That was the spiritual power divine pill Zhang Ruochen gifted her a thousand years ago upon arriving at the Liangyi Sect.
With her spiritual power, she could not yet refine the divine pill.
But wearing it, allowing pill qi to emanate naturally for absorption, her spiritual power still grew extremely rapidly.
“Is he comprehending the Wordless Sword Manual? Why do I feel the sword dao aura from him vastly differs from the Wordless Sword Manual?” Wan Canglan asked.
Nalan Danqing’s apricot eyes gazed at Zhang Ruochen seated beneath the thousand-zhang light sword. Her gaze beautiful. “That is his sword dao, belonging solely to him. It appears nearing great accomplishment!”
Xian Feizi looked elsewhere, not far from Zhang Ruochen. Chi Yao in plain robes sat in a chaos sea evolved from her divine qi. Above her head hovered layer upon layer of heavens, majestic and divine.
She said, “The Empress has condensed the twelfth layer of heavens. Her cultivation advanced further. Unknown now who stronger between her and Ruochen Sword God.”
Though abdicated from the throne, to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens, they recognised only Chi Yao as empress.
“Whoosh!”
Suddenly, a sword cry louder than thunder resounded across Ancient God Mountain.
The thousand-zhang light sword originally above Zhang Ruochen’s head soared away, piercing Kunlun Realm’s atmosphere like a meteor into the pitch-black cosmos.
In the cosmos, it inscribed the character “One”.
This unfamiliar power erupting from the Liangyi Sect alarmed all Kunlun great saints. They hurried over to investigate.
Above Fallen God Mountain Range clouds, twelve layers of heavens manifested like divine palaces and immortal que.
Chi Yao’s divine shadow appeared above the heavens. Her voice spread across Kunlun Realm. “This god breaks through. No need for alarm.”
“Congratulations, True God.”
Kunlun great saints, wherever they were, bowed toward the Eastern Region Fallen God Mountain Range.
They dared not question a god!
In the cosmos, the thousand-zhang light sword flew thirty million li before gradually dissipating into wisps of light mist.
Seated in the desert, Chi Xingtian gazed at the vast sky, sighing. “One sword thirty million li. Such penetrating power. Below great god, someone achieves this? If this boy reaches Tai Xu Realm, Famous Sword God’s title as first sword likely changes hands!”
He sensed Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao’s vast progress and powerful auras, yet still not Tai Zhen Realm, not great gods.
Know that within one Yuan Hui, gods reaching Tai Zhen Realm are few.
Ten thousand years to Tai Zhen Realm, throughout history, countable on fingers.
…
Character “One” sword dao accomplished!
Unfortunately, the Taiji circle still could not evolve into Daoist Liangyi. As if trapped in chaos world, unable to split heaven and earth, divide yin-yang.
Cultivation issue unresolved.
Currently, Zhang Ruochen could unify tens of thousands of dao rules in yin-yang Liangyi, but this state extremely unstable. Lasting one breath, it collapsed.
“Merely a bit away from success. Yet always missing that point aligning heavenly laws. Lone yin does not arise, lone yang does not grow. Yin-yang cannot fully separate!”
Zhang Ruochen pondered bitterly, no one to consult.
His path unprecedented. Must comprehend slowly, blaze trail himself, seek answers.
By Zhang Ruochen’s calculation, evolving Liangyi required for Tai Zhen Realm. This step must cross regardless!
Chi Yao approached. “How goes it?”
Zhang Ruochen returned the three tortoise shells. “Taiji Dao, Sixiang Sect, Bagua Sect’s Innate Dao Law also incomplete. Main content still merits, little interpretation of heaven-earth, Daoist thought understanding scarce. Lost most essential.”
Chi Yao said, “Thus, you must still go to Tianchu Civilisation. Tianchu’s extraordinary classic Luoshu called origin of Daoist lineage. All Daoist classics trace to it. When depart?”
“After bidding farewell to Grand Master.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao replied, “I accompany you! Do not refuse hastily. Going to Tianchu is Taishang elder’s intent, for public matters, not private.”
“Public matters?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Yao said, “You know, though Vast Sea Civilisation fell, sparks preserved?”
“You mean Vast Sea Civilisation retained civilisation sparks? Where are these sparks?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“Southern Universe, Haiyun Realm.”
Chi Yao continued, “Because Haiyun Realm offered Vast Sea most favourable conditions, cultivation environment most suitable for aquatic beings.”
“First frontline ten great civilisations all permitted retain sparks. But spark beings limited to one billion, selected from various clans, realms, bearing civilisation continuation duty.”
“Currently, Asura Star Pillar Realm very close to Tianchu Civilisation. Time for Tianchu choose spark habitat. Kunlun intends accept them. Thus Taishang dispatched me to contend.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded. “Heavenly Court doing this still somewhat humane. But why worlds contend for sparks?”
“In such situation, first defence line ten civilisations should be very weak. Should they not beg great worlds shelter sparks?”
Chi Yao said, “These ancient civilisations once extremely glorious eras, not to underestimate. Like Vast Sea Civilisation, relatively weak among ancient, yet offered one divine artefact as spark protection remuneration.”
“Vast Sea Civilisation had divine artefact, willing gift?” Zhang Ruochen quite surprised.
Chi Yao replied, “Vast Sea only one divine artefact, clan-suppressing treasure. Though promised, not immediately hand to Haiyun Realm. Currently held in Heavenly Palace.”
“Only one Yuan Hui later, if Vast Sea sparks develop strong in Haiyun Realm without bullying, Heavenly Palace hands divine artefact to Haiyun Realm Venerable.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Haiyun Realm profits greatly! Not only gains Vast Sea outstanding talents, but divine artefact. Cost nearly negligible.”
Chi Yao replied, “But for Vast Sea, already best outcome. One Yuan Hui later, Vast Sea spark beings surely integrated with Haiyun native cultivators, myriad connections. No worry bullying.”
“As for divine artefact… originally unkeepable!”
Zhang Ruochen inwardly nodded. “Tianchu top ten ancient civilisation strength, deeper foundations, countless outstanding cultivators. Their spark remuneration likely more precious than one divine artefact!”
“Precisely. Thus Kunlun must contend them over.” Chi Yao said.
…
Millennium cultivation under Sun Dial, outside merely three years passed.
These three years, Zhang Ruochen not devoted all time to cultivation. Each year’s New Year’s Eve, Lantern Festival, Mid-Autumn, with Chi Yao, Chi Kongle, Chi Kunlun, Zhang Hongchen, Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens… and various friends, entered mortal world, spending together.
Unfortunately unseen Mu Lingxi and Ling Feiyu. Again departure time.
This journey to Tianchu Civilisation, though Taishang arranged, still considerable danger. Zhang Ruochen brought neither Chi Kongle nor Zhang Hongchen. Only upon leaving, instructed Chi Kunlun care well for sister.
Little Black originally wished accompany Zhang Ruochen. Unfortunately his Ice Emperor son identity known worldwide, lacking Zhang Ruochen’s heaven-deceiving ability. Going Tianchu Civilisation, un-suppressed by Heavenly Court Immeasurable gods would be strange.
“You await me in Dark Triangle Star Domain. Prepare everything in advance. After Tianchu Civilisation handle matters, join you.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Little Black bewildered. “Prepare what in advance?”
Zhang Ruochen hinted. “Great world closest to Dark Triangle Star Domain which?”
“Yaksha clan ancestral realm!”
“Correct! Yaksha ancestral realm too close to Dark Triangle Star Domain. If future truly find Sword Realm within, Yaksha clan greatest obstacle. Either destroy them or take for own use.”
Zhang Ruochen patted Little Black’s shoulder. “I feel with your Ice Emperor son identity going, should suppress Yaksha clan.”
Little Black felt Zhang Ruochen scheming him, unfortunately no proof. “You underestimate Yaksha clan too much! Yaksha clan in ancient past one of Hell Realm’s ten clans. Even now declined, still ancient god presiding. Subduing them, how easy?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then think more ways! Even now cannot subdue, lay foundation for future. I eye not only Yaksha clan, but their behind Hundred Clans King City.”
Little Black glanced Zhang Ruochen, finding his current eyes extremely fearsome, containing powerful ambition. Clearly wishing subdue Hell Realm edge hundred clans for own use.
If add Star Huan Heaven and Dark Triangle Star Domain…
This connected into one expanse!
Was Zhang Ruochen intending between Heavenly Court and Hell universes carve own third-party cosmic starry sky?
