Yu Ci's choice had its own reliance: among the myriad of cultivators in the world, there may be one in a thousand who excelled in both swordsmanship and understanding talisman techniques like him. However, those who could form a Seed True Talisman with sword aura, might not be found even in tens of millions.

Given these conditions, when faced with a similar Talisman Pattern Fractal, this Seed True Talisman possessed significant referential value. As the saying goes, "to infer other things from one fact," without the "one," where would the "three" come from?

Indeed, his choice was proven correct. The structure of the Seed True Talisman was one of the many ways in which sword aura could be transformed into a symbol. The specific arrangement of Rune Patterns might not be applicable to the practicality of the First Layer Talisman Seal, but the principle of constructing a talisman would never change. Once the principle was grasped, piecing together the Talisman Pattern Fractal was merely a test of basic skills.

In just over an hour, Yu Ci had assembled this Key Fractal to a considerable extent, enough to vaguely discern the overall structure of the Rune Patterns here. What followed was the process of guiding the Qi to confirm whether its operation was normal. Of course, within the Inner Void of the Heart, it was impossible to truly draw Qi to form talismans. All that was required was to drive the mind to take a round trip within.

That was exactly what Yu Ci did. If the fractal combination was correct, he should be able to sense the Traces of Sword Intent left by the predecessor Sword Immortal who arranged the Talisman Seal.

Suddenly, the Inner Void of the Heart brightened, and a streak of Electric Fire cut through the sky, as if someone had swung a brilliant Sword Light in the night sky. Yu Ci's heart was stirred, knowing that the Talisman Form he had pieced together was at least flawless in terms of structural principles.

However, it seemed somewhat different from the chilling sensation when the Talisman Seal was triggered?

Yu Ci once again drove the Rune Patterns, leaving a mark in the Inner Void of the Heart, and turned his head to sense the changes in the external Talisman Seal. At this moment, his heart jolted, and a scene suddenly flowed past his eyes.

This was not an illusion, but the stimulative information from the surrounding of the Parasitic Target conveyed by the ejected Divine Consciousness Starlight. However, the scene was not from any of the three void spaces he had already confirmed.

Yu Ci was startled, and then he understood. This Divine Consciousness Starlight must have fallen into a small Void Rift at the beginning, which was initially ruled out by Yu Ci, left to its own devices. But for some reason, it had transmitted information back.

Before he could figure out where this was, clearer and more stimulating images were etched into his mind.

In that instant, Yu Ci unconsciously entered the perspective of the Starlight Parasitic Target. The feelings of the other's body were also copied over. Stiff, cold, trembling, the skin felt as if it was being pricked by millions of sharp needles, and in his eyes was a dazzling golden light, rapidly occupying his entire field of vision.

In the periphery of his vision, dozens of Sword Ghosts were shrieking, catalyzing into smoke.

Sword Garden?

Almost simultaneously, Yu Ci received another source of information, one all too familiar: little guy!

Suddenly, Yu Ci understood where he was - the Sunken Sword Cave!

For some reason, a path to the Sunken Sword Cave existed within the Void Rift of the Sword Immortal's Secret Domain. The Parasitic Target of the divine consciousness starlight must be a fortunate survivor of the banquet held by the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave.

However, it seemed his luck had run out - the golden light ahead had expanded to the limit of his vision, and from his perspective, there was nothing else.

"Is that... Geng Metal Qi?" Yu Ci recognized it as a massive concentration of Predestined Geng Metal Qi in the center of the Sunken Sword Cave. Tie Lan had mentioned a platform called the "Sword Sacrifice Platform" that contained a ferocious Sword aura of unknown origin.

Before he could finish his thought, a warning sign appeared. A chilling Sword aura pierced through the golden light and straight into his forehead. The Parasitic Target's head instantly exploded like a smashed watermelon.

Yu Ci grunted. Even as a proxy, the sensation of his head exploding was far from pleasant. His vision was a mix of red and black, and the feeling of dizziness was intense. However, he had no time to recover because that chilling Sword aura, somehow, crossed the void and followed the trajectory of the divine consciousness starlight, slashing directly towards him.

"Damn it!"

He only had time to curse before the Sword aura caught up with him, breaking into his Inner Void of the Heart like a burglar, causing a chaotic mess of his Divine Power External Appearances.

With a "clang," the Inner Void of the Heart echoed with the sound of clashing swords. This was the Sword aura radiated by the Seed True Talisman colliding with the invading force. However, the next moment, this Protective Sword Intent was shattered, and the Inner Void of the Heart showed obvious distortion.

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A chill ran down Yu Ci's spine as he finally understood the level of this Sword aura - it far exceeded his imagination.

How had he provoked this entity?

Perhaps sensing the crisis, the Life Death Talisman at the center of his Inner Void of the Heart shone brightly, rapidly absorbing the Primordial Qi of heaven and earth. It quickly transformed, infusing power into the various Divine Power External Appearances in the void. Among them, the Fish-Dragon circling in the void grew significantly, transforming into a huge creature ten feet long and as thick as a water barrel. The claws formed by the Double Hook Palace Tassel also grew larger, and the "Tao Scripture Master Three Treasure" mark on its forehead shone brightly, illuminating the exogenous Sword Intent.

Yet, the exogenous Sword Intent flowed without stagnation, its power once again unleashed, not to slash the many Divine Power External Appearances, but the First Layer Talisman Seal within the void, a seal that had just adopted a new structure.

With a loud thud, the 'homework' Yu Ci had been working on for the past few hours was instantly destroyed. Countless Talisman Pattern Fractals returned to their original state, scattering in the outer region of the Inner Void of the Heart.

Yu Ci watched with a sense of bafflement. So what if it was shattered? This was happening within his Inner Void of the Heart, where thoughts were born and extinguished at will. As long as he remembered the previous steps clearly, he could recreate it all in an instant—just like this!

The half-completed Talisman Combined Form reappeared in the void, identical to the one before. But the moment it materialized, the Sword aura struck again...

"What the hell!"

Yu Ci had previously found the depth of the Sword aura to be as profound as a chasm, as vast as the sea, inspiring awe. But now, he saw it as nothing more than a childish tantrum. Was it invading his Inner Void of the Heart just to shatter the Talisman he had condensed?

After numerous attempts, each ending the same way, Yu Ci was both amused and frustrated. The Sword aura, having exhausted its patience, struck again, shattering the Talisman. The fierce Sword aura then transformed into a clear light, piercing directly into the central Core Talisman Pattern. The next moment, the sky-covering Talisman Patterns Fractal suddenly lit up!

*************

Something's wrong!

In the garden, Wen Shifei and others opened their eyes, looking around with a grave expression. The ground was shaking, the tremors growing stronger, and the Ruins of the Four Directions Pavilion seemed on the verge of collapsing again.

Everyone rose to their feet. In such circumstances, it would be absurd to continue their contemplations. Moreover, when they were sensing the Talisman Seal, they had already noticed a significant change in the distance. In this situation, Yu Ci, who was still sitting on the ground, seemed particularly conspicuous. It was clear that he was still deep in meditation.

Incense Slave reached out to wake him up, but before she could touch his shoulder, the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave let out a low shout: "He might be at a critical point. Don't disturb him."

"So what if he's at a critical point? It's not like we'll have a chance to decipher the First Layer Talisman Seal anyway."

Wen Shifei's words were sarcastic, but he didn't look too good. As a person of his stature, his Cultivation Level might not have reached the peak, and he could tolerate humiliation, but he was naturally proud and would not submit to anyone. The current situation was that someone in the distance, who they didn't know, had managed to insert into the Core Layer of the First Layer Talisman Seal, changing the Talisman, swallowing and spitting out Primordial Qi, and seemed to be on the verge of deciphering it all at once.

Not just there, observing the performance of Yu Ci before his eyes, his research on the Talisman Seal might even be more profound than his own. Such a fact was quite displeasing to him.

What surprised him even more was the reaction of the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave. This old fellow who had lived for tens of thousands of years appeared extremely calm and composed. He simply said, "Looking at that person's actions, he doesn't seem to intend to destroy the First Layer Talisman Seal, but rather, to seize its control, and thus control the entire Sword Immortal's Secret Domain. Although this method cannot be said to be wrong, at this moment, it seems too overconfident... All of you, down!"

After the light-hearted remark, a fierce counterattack followed. Before the eyes of Wen Shifei and others, the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave had materialized, even as a Ghost Entity-like Phantom, a force far beyond their level burst forth, piercing directly towards the Vault of Heaven.

The piercing sound of Tearing Silk resounded, and it seemed as if an invisible giant hand had torn a hole in the sky above the garden, Depths of the Void. It appeared as though a Sharp Eye was illuminating the place, followed by a forceful pressure that was ten times stronger than when the first Talisman Seal was triggered.

The Phantom of the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave flashed and was already a hundred meters away, then dissipated. This powerful pressure followed like a shadow, cutting across the sky and ground. The garden floor had been ploughed into a trench of unknown depth, extending all the way to the place where the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave disappeared. Then there was a sharp sound, and thousands of Sword Energies splashed out, twisting the half of the garden with force. Wherever it passed, all objects turned into dust and ashes, leaving no trace.

"How ruthless!"

Wen Shifei was not talking about the lethality of the Secret Domain Talisman Seal, but about the methods of the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave. What this guy had triggered was not just the stirring of the First Layer Talisman Seal, but even the second layer was not spared. The counteractive power that was stimulated was ten times stronger than before and mixed with the First Layer Talisman Seal, causing great chaos.

Trying to control the Talisman Seal at this time, wasn't that seeking death?

Wen Shifei seemed to hear a regretful scream from afar.

The voice of the Master of the Sunken Sword Cave rang out, and in his calm tone, there was no trace of the damage he had just escaped from the counterattack of the Secret Domain: "Do you see? Under such circumstances, if we consider the Talisman Seal as a cover, we just need to break out, and don't think about doing those extra foolish things!"

The Cultivators deeply agreed.

"Then let's continue... Huh?"

His voice suddenly cut off, because he felt that within the chaotic two layers of the Secret Domain Talisman Seal, a new breath had penetrated into it, without any hindrance or delay. Like a long rainbow crossing the sky, it flashed and disappeared, leaving only a dazzling trajectory.

"He got out... Who was it?"

Di She croaked out a sentence, but no one answered him, and the garden was silent.

...