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Yu Ci watched as the cultivator opposite him plummeted like a stone, and with no one else leaping to the fray, he exhaled in relief. The man's cultivation was commendable, yet he was a loner, which saved a lot of trouble. Yu Ci then turned his attention to the sword in his hand, which swayed gently, its surface alive with a flowing luminescence, as if imbued with vitality.

A flicker of perplexity crossed Yu Ci's face, stirred by the sword aura's peculiar circulation. With a single strike, he had ended the life of a mid-stage Golden Elixir cultivator. The force of the swordplay was unprecedented, yet the sensation was inexplicably muted. In plain terms, the thrill of vanquishing a formidable foe with one blow was strangely absent.

After some thought, he made a wise inquiry, "What do you think of this sword strike?"

The reply was succinct: "The sword aura is impure."

"Ah, please enlighten me."

"You've sensed it too, why not ponder it more deeply?"

Yu Ci smirked, "Time is of the essence..."

What a fine excuse indeed! His words left his counterpart momentarily stunned, who then remarked, "Your sword aura follows the path of mist, why needlessly append the Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form, creating a muddled mix?"

"Is that so?"

"I don't know how you've integrated the Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form, but to refine such bloodline divine power, one must understand the Dragon Nature. The dragon's nature is threefold: first, greed – it consumes qi to achieve immortality, drawing the Primordial Qi from all directions to nourish itself without end; second, resilience – unparalleled in resistance, impervious to blade and flame, immune to heart demons and evil qi; third, pride – embodying the utmost yang, it dwells above the nine heavens, creating wind with a breath, thunder with a whisper, regarding the world with disdain, almost without equal. Such a creature, born with immense divine power and spirit, carries this deep within its bloodline, undiminished over eons."

Hearing this, Yu Ci's brow furrowed deeply, a tinge of gloom in his realization, "So, the Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form is better suited to the Rainbow Sword Intent."

"Narrow-minded! The so-called mist and rainbow distinctions are but crude categorizations for ease of description. Yet in recent years, some have taken these as absolute, following them slavishly for fear of misstep, and in doing so, they've completely forgotten the more crucial principles. Isn't that laughable?"

Recent years?

A thought flashed through Yu Ci's mind, further confirming that the senior before him was indeed an outsider from the Sword Garden. But now, Yu Ci was more interested in the "crucial principles" the other had mentioned, and he eagerly asked, "I wish to hear more details."

"Why need an elaborate explanation? You already know it's about 'purity.' Whether it's rainbow or mist, without 'purity,' there is no 'transformation.' Rainbow speaks to 'broad intent,' mist to 'subtle entry'—it's all the same principle... It's strange, the last time I saw you, your sword aura, though not perfect, was refined. How is it that you've regressed?"

Yu Ci was left speechless, without an answer.

"Let's not dwell on it for now, we should hasten on our way. I've resolved your doubts to save time, after all."

Yu Ci acknowledged and spurred the Ghost Yarn Cloud, proceeding along the established route. After a moment of silence, the senior thought of a possibility, "In Return Village, aside from replicating the Flying Immortal Sword Scripture, what else did you do?"

"Indeed, just so..."

There was nothing to hide, yet when Yu Ci spoke of it cursorily, the other couldn't help but let out a laugh:

"Young one, you truly are peculiar. To forsake the God Slaying Sting True Method that resonates with your sword aura, in favor of the True Essence of the Heavenly Dragon—is it not a loss that outweighs the gain... Hmm, perhaps it's also a path worth taking."

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

"God Slaying Sting True Method?"

"That is the sword technique of the God Slaying Sting."

As they soared upon the clouds, escaping swiftly through the sky, the other explained to him: "Consider the God Slaying Sting, one of the sharpest killing techniques in this realm. However, due to its difficulty to master, there's always the risk of its lineage being severed. Miss Hao Dian, a figure in the Cultivation World most adept with the God Slaying Sting, thus resolved to restore it to an unprecedented sword technique, to be passed down to future generations.

For this purpose, she deliberately went against her nature, patiently embroidering, starting from the basics and gradually progressing, extracting the deathly aura of a hundred creatures, the demonic energy from the hearts of men, the bloody aura of monsters and demons, the evil aura of Outer Realm Sky Demons, and the murderous aura of slaying Heavenly Dragons. With these as the foundation, she wove the God Slaying Sting technique into five gauzy scrolls. At last, she gathered the Secluded Splendor of the Five Techniques, embroidering the God Slaying Sting True Method. Alas, halfway through her endeavor, she was summoned by Qu Thunderbolt-Free to wield her sword on a western campaign... and never had the chance to finish."

There was a hint of wistfulness in the other's voice: "Had the God Slaying Sting True Method been completed, it would have been a marvel on the misty path of the Sword Way. But even as an unfinished piece, it's an extraordinary technique. Especially through this method, one can wield the Primordial Formless Sword, this peerless divine blade... By the way, do you have the Primordial Formless Sword in your possession?"

Yu Ci did not nod. He was a man who seldom regretted his tough decisions, but at this moment, he felt a regret so deep it turned his insides green.

According to the other, he had indeed exemplified the phrase 'a loss that outweighs the gain' to the utmost. Had he known this earlier, no matter how difficult it was to comprehend the Dragon Slaying Transforming Radiance Veil, he would have persevered, at least not ending up in this awkward and nondescript state.

As they conversed, the Ghost Yarn Cloud had already traversed tens of miles of void, arriving at the fissure leading to the next space. Crossing this threshold meant they were halfway through their journey. Yu Ci could no longer afford to dwell on his regrets. He learned from his past lesson and steadied his Heart-Mind to prevent stepping into the void after passing through.

Having secured the Ghost Yarn Cloud, Yu Ci sidestepped into a crevice barely two feet wide, yet his footsteps found solid ground.

Narrowing his eyes, Yu Ci scrutinized his surroundings with meticulous care. Contrasting the boundless azure sky he had just witnessed, the terrain here was markedly intricate, resembling a wild, primeval forest. Towering trees reached for the heavens, vines entwined in an elaborate dance, and the undulating hills painted a scene of summer splendor. Yet, due to the seal off, not a trace of life's essence could be felt.

The next Void Rift was twenty li away. As Yu Ci prepared to set out, a sudden premonition halted him; his breath caught in his throat, and his aura contracted to its utmost limits.

There were people—a whole group of them.

Yu Ci sensed their presence but could not yet ascertain their origins. It was then that one of them spoke, "The young one has just entered the crossroads of the Sword Way; it is crucial to correct his path in a timely manner."

Yu Ci was taken aback; this was hardly the time for such discourse.

"There are two methods to purify sword aura: one is through stillness and clarity, and the other through action and refinement. The former requires seclusive cultivation within the Meditation Room, years upon years, which does not suit you. The latter, however, is most opportune."

Yu Ci's heart raced with excitement, but he quickly regained his composure, "I have no time for this!"

"Do you not often say, 'Sharpening your axe will not delay the work of cutting wood'? My urging you to purify your sword aura is to pave the way for aiding Xuan Huang. As you are now, coming within a li of the Xuan Huang Killing Sword spells death! I speak these words now to prevent future complications."

Yu Ci furrowed his brow, "You did not mention this earlier."

"I also did not anticipate such a glaring flaw in you."

The other replied indifferently, "The Xuan Huang Killing Sword, imbued with the bloodthirsty qi of countless calamities, burns with fervor and is particularly sensitive to robust yang energy. The Qi of the Heavenly Dragon True Form you've assimilated is among the most potent yang bloodlines in existence. Even with the technique of qi concealment I've taught you, it cannot be fully masked. If you cannot approach, your subsequent strategies will fail. The urgent task at hand is to refine your misty sword aura and the Heavenly Dragon bloodline, at least superficially. There is no better method than actual combat."

Yu Ci scoffed, "An unnecessary complication, let's not invite trouble we cannot shake off."

"Perhaps. However, it seems this group is intent on troubling you."

No sooner had the words left his lips than a chilling wave swept through the forest, like a stream about to freeze over, the cold piercing to the marrow. Yu Ci knew then—he had been discovered.

"Thirty-six branches part from their origin, to which direction does the heartless ice and snow incline?"

A verse, whimsical as a nursery rhyme, brushed past his ear, leaving Yu Ci bewildered, grasping for its meaning. In this moment of distraction, a voice cold as ice shards followed the melody, echoing through the woods:

"Behead them!"

Two layers of sound waves overlapped, their nature abruptly shifting. With a low hum, they transformed into over a dozen Sonic Blades, slicing through the air. In that instant, the temperature of the summer-infused forest plummeted, and a layer of white frost formed on the leaves and vines.