As the birth of a miracle drew closer, there was nothing but the sound of heartbeats and the heavy, almost uncontrollable breathing in the ancient hall.
"Fifth tier, twelfth level!"
"Fifth tier, thirteenth level!"
"Fifth tier, fourteenth level!"
A genius whose potential rivaled that of the founder of the Tian Hua Palace had emerged!
The ancient hall erupted into madness.
"It's not over yet!" someone shouted.
At the fourteenth level of the fifth tier, the young man did not stop, nor did he shatter his waist plaque. Instead, he stepped forward again with his left leg.
In the almost dazed eyes of everyone in the ancient hall, Shuro effortlessly leaped over two tiers and stepped onto the sixth tier.
There was no longer any astonishment in the ancient hall.
"Perhaps he could even comprehend the white jade tablet," a Daoist from an eighth-grade sect said numbly after a long while.
Thinking of Shuro's previous actions, many Daoists nodded in agreement.
"That's Bruno's white jade tablet, the only living tombstone in the Bi Hai. If he comprehends it, his name will surely be among the leading figures of the Tian Nan cultivation world in the future."
"Damei Shitai, congratulations."
"With this child, the Empty Mountain Sect may be able to advance further."
Damei Shitai remained calm. "It's too ambitious to think he could comprehend the white jade tablet. As long as he can comprehend a bronze or silver tablet, this Daoist will be satisfied."
Looking at the hundred-foot white jade tablet in front of him and feeling the true qi compressing and condensing within his body, Shuro felt elated.
Shuro himself hadn't expected to break through the second stage of the Foundation Establishment realm in the Bi Hai. At this moment, he keenly felt the increase in his strength. His physical strength alone surpassed ten thousand jin, while his true qi strength reached a hundred thousand jin. If combined with the surge of blood and qi, his strength alone was no less than that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Fourth Stage disciple.
Next would be the condensation of true qi. Once successful in transforming from a gaseous state to a liquid state, it would mark the completion of the Foundation Establishment, the third stage.
"In the sky above Caelius Capital, on the twelfth floor of the Five Cities. Immortals caress my head, and with my hair bound, they grant me longevity."
Looking at the poem on the white jade tablet, Shuro murmured softly.
"Could this poem have been written by Bruno? 'Immortals caress my head, and with my hair bound, they grant me longevity'... Isn't this a description of the 'transmission of fire' in the cultivation world?"
"Hmm? There's more below." Shuro looked down and continued, "'Lost in worldly pleasures, deeply impoverished by disorderly passions. Ninety-six saintly rulers, their names hang like floating clouds...' Bruno once served as the mentor of my country Tera, 'lost in worldly pleasures, deeply impoverished by disorderly passions,' might refer to this. 'Ninety-six saintly rulers'... What does that mean?"
Shaking his head, Shuro didn't continue to ponder. He wasn't here to reminisce about Bruno.
Turning around, Shuro walked towards a corner overgrown with weeds, guided by the strong sensation he had felt on the fourth tier.
Fifteen steps later, he pushed aside the tall grass and saw a tombstone.
This was the second tombstone on the sixth tier, but it was only the size of a palm, entirely made of wood, black as pitch. Compared to the white jade stone tablet in the center of the sixth tier, it seemed very small, even somewhat... pathetic?
"Finally found you!"
Shuro smiled faintly, and as soon as he sat down, memories flashed through his mind!
The familiar figure appeared once again.
His features were ancient, his figure tall and straight. Despite appearing to be only in his thirties or forties, his temples were already streaked with white, and his eyes revealed a world-weary wisdom. His aura was indescribable—unremarkable at first glance, but upon closer inspection, akin to a towering mountain, exuding a majestic and awe-inspiring presence.
After several days of absence, it was none other than the Nine-Dragon Sovereign.
Over a thousand years ago, in a winter much milder than the present, light rain fell from the sky as the Nine-Dragon Sovereign, clad in a snow-white robe, disheveled hair, and holding an umbrella, walked through the cloud ladder and entered Warden City.
The city resembled a ghost town, eerily empty. The market square was devoid of any souls, silent to the point of being eerie.
With just one glance, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign spotted the young scholar reading at the edge of the training ground.
In the desolate and uninhabited dungeons of the Yin River, the scholar smiled lightly as he recited poetry.
The Nine-Dragon Sovereign gazed at the scholar with the same indifferent and cold demeanor as always. "You're the strongest in this deserted city... the so-called Saint Sovereign of the people of Tian Nan?"
The scholar didn't answer, continuing to drink wine and recite poetry.
"In the Tian Nan domain, there are ninety-seven deserted cities in the Yin River, each boasting a self-proclaimed Saint Sovereign. Since coming from the Celestial Pole, having fought for ten thousand li, none have been able to withstand my three moves. Of the previous ninety-six cities, all those so-called Saint Sovereigns were slain by me in three strikes. Only this city remains, and you."
The cold wind howled, carrying with it a faintly salty and bloody scent that even Shuro, beyond millennia of memory, could detect.
With a wave of his hand, numerous tombstones flew out, descending towards the southeast of Warden City, piling up like mountains.
Shuro was stunned. So, this was the origin of the Bi Hai? The ninety-six Bi Hai experts turned out to be nothing more than defeated subordinates of the Nine-Dragon Sovereign!
The scholar finally looked up. "Why kill?"
The Nine-Dragon Sovereign pondered for a moment before replying, "For the sake of all living beings."
The scholar sighed. "Nonsense."
As they spoke, the scholar shifted his hips and stood up. When he curled up reading by the training ground, he looked like an ordinary scholar, lazy and relaxed. But when he stood up, dropped his book, his demeanor suddenly changed, like an ancient sword standing between heaven and earth, giving people a sense of ultimate simplicity and returning to the basics.
The Nine-Dragon Sovereign's eyes lit up. "Hmm? Good sword intent! Scholar, what is your name?"
The scholar, dressed in blue, slowly unsheathed a sword from his waist, bowing his head slightly, somewhat shyly saying, "Just to clarify, I am not a Saint Sovereign, just a humble passerby. My name... my name is Bruno."
Indeed, he was Bruno! Bruno, the Imperial Teacher of the Tera Kingdom!
Although Shuro had already guessed it, he was still somewhat surprised to hear Bruno introduce himself.
Then, Shuro remembered the great battle described by Qin Jia Tian that overturned the Tian Nan situation a thousand years ago. It was in this battle that many veteran powerhouses fell, giving later generations endless opportunities. According to Qin Jia Tian's description, that great battle was launched by an unknown secret force, sweeping through the entire Tian Nan cultivation world like a prairie fire... Now it seemed that this secret force was just one person, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign!
"I once comprehended a sword technique in my youth, the Twelve Mystical Techniques of the Heavenly Sword. Since you also wield a sword, let's settle this with a sword fight," the Nine-Dragon Sovereign said, as gusts of Yin wind converged from afar, enveloping sand, wood, and water, gradually condensing into a long sword.
"Are you going to kill me?" Bruno's voice trembled, his legs shaking, his voice hoarse and screaming.
The Nine-Dragon Sovereign was taken aback, as was Shuro.
In the blink of an eye, an incomparably resolute sword aura burst forth from Bruno's hand. This sword, like the Milky Way hanging upside down, absorbed all the sharpness of heaven and earth, the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars, in a single strike, perfect to the point where it was difficult to describe in words.
But it was also almost unsolvable.
"How sly!" Shuro exclaimed.
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However, this nearly unsolvable and sly sword strike was effortlessly dispelled by the Nine-Dragon Sovereign with a flick of his finger.
Stepping forward, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign moved gracefully amidst Bruno's earth-shattering sword qi. Each time it felt like the sword qi would cleave the Nine-Dragon Sovereign in half, yet he always managed to avert disaster, as if the sword wind was silent and unstoppable, but also endless. Time seemed to stretch and contract, feeling both fleeting and endless. By the time Shuro could see clearly, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign had appeared in front of Bruno, his hand dragging the long sword, approaching gracefully.
Yet, even at this moment, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign still hadn't drawn his sword.
"It seems you're not worth drawing my sword for," the Nine-Dragon Sovereign said regretfully.
"Bullshit," Bruno retorted, rolling his eyes.
Suddenly, the mighty sword aura, reminiscent of the Milky Way, shattered into countless pieces, transforming into tens of thousands of sword-wielding figures that surged towards the Nine-Dragon Sovereign from all directions.
With a wave of his sleeve, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign shattered the thousands of sword-wielding figures into pieces. Yet, they continued to flood forward like a tide.
Seeing the Nine-Dragon Sovereign engulfed in the sea of swords, Bruno raised his eyebrows and smirked, "Hehe, I was just teasing you earlier."
"Oh? What's the name of this sword technique?" the Nine-Dragon Sovereign asked.
"I created it myself, the 'Imperial Teacher's Sword'—a thousand troops and ten thousand horses," Bruno boasted proudly.
"Commonplace," the Nine-Dragon Sovereign sneered, flicking his wrist and finally drawing his sword.
A vortex-like void appeared beneath the Nine-Dragon Sovereign's sword, resembling a hidden black dragon lurking in the night, devouring the myriad sword-wielding figures in a breath.
Figures emerged from the other end of the void, brandishing their swords swiftly.
The swords of the two finally clashed.
In an instant, they had exchanged blows twenty times. The Nine-Dragon Sovereign held the upper hand, firmly suppressing Bruno, who, nonetheless, displayed remarkable skill, miraculously averting danger whenever life and death hung in the balance.
"Damn it! This guy is tough!" Bruno cursed, suddenly retreating. He formed a sword seal in his hand, and his demeanor underwent a dramatic change. He seemed like the supreme king reigning over all living beings, strolling among the clouds.
"In the skies of Caelius Capital, among the twelve floors and five cities."
"The immortal touches my head, bestows longevity upon me."
"Lost in worldly pleasures, deeply immersed in chaos."
"The ninety-six Saint Sovereigns, their names mere fleeting clouds... I'm going in!"
With each step, Bruno recited a poem. After four steps, he thrust his sword.
Encountering moonlight, the moonlight turned into a sword.
Encountering starlight, the starlight turned into a sword.
Encountering the flowing wind, even the wind became a sword.
Night turned into a sword.
Snow turned into a sword.
Fragrant flowers turned into a sword.
Shadows of insects turned into swords... The world in Shuro's eyes became a world of swords.
The momentum reached the fourth stage, combining breath, intention, form, and momentum—such was the Sword Intent!
The sword of moonlight, the sword of starlight... Countless swords came from all directions, from every corner of the earth and sky, each imbued with its own profound meaning, manifesting as forms, covering the sky and earth!
Under Bruno's Imperial Teacher's Sword, the Nine-Dragon Sovereign faced enemies from all sides.
"Interesting," the Nine-Dragon Sovereign said, holding his sword with one hand while the other rested behind his waist, watching with interest.
The sword formed from the elements in the Nine-Dragon Sovereign's hand disintegrated into dust. Facing the world-engulfing swords of Bruno, he laughed heartily as he charged forward.
Although he held no sword in his hand, he gave the impression of possessing another sword capable of cleaving through all creation.
Where exactly was this sword?
Shuro's pupils contracted, suddenly enlightened!
The Nine-Dragon Sovereign's sword was hidden in his heart all along. The twelfth move of the Twelve Mystical Techniques of the Heavenly Sword had transcended technique, intention, and momentum, fully belonging to the realm of heart techniques!
Watching the Nine-Dragon Sovereign's sword, memories of an unnamed heart technique flashed through Shuro's mind. His eyelids grew heavy, his hot blood calmed, and gradually, the surrounding world fell silent as he entered a profound state of enlightenment.
In Shuro's mind rose a city, reminiscent of Caelius Capital yet lacking its bustling grandeur, rather, it stood as a stifling fortress.
Within this colossal edifice akin to a beast, a young boy dashed with desperate speed. His aim: to flee this oppressive enclave, to seek out the father who had inexplicably abandoned him, leaving him to languish alone. But how could a mere child hope to escape the towering confines of this citadel? Each return to his meager abode left him drained, passing through corridors of mirth and laughter where he could almost hear the whispered taunts of his peers.
He despised this fortress, resenting being trapped within its confines for a lifetime, resigned to hearing of the legendary world beyond only through the tales of others. Yet he knew he was but a lone and forsaken soul within this fortress, akin to a tiny ant traversing the muddy foothills of a grand mountain, occasionally lifting his gaze to the sky, yearning to soar like an eagle, only to resume his crawl in the mire.
Until one day, he found himself possessed of a power surpassing all within this bastion.
On the outskirts of the fortress, the young lad hammered at its walls with relentless fury.
Thud! Thud! Thud… The beastly walls began to crack under the onslaught of his fists, trembling as they threatened to yield. Finally, the fortress collapsed!
After what felt like an eternity, Shuro opened his eyes. Within the depths of his tear-stained gaze lay a darkness akin to an endless night. Enveloped in an almost otherworldly aura, his chest seemed frozen with ice yet poised to erupt in flames at any moment, igniting all in his path!
It was his first understanding of the Nameless Art, born from a skirmish misunderstood with Luo Fu. Since then, every battle had been guided by the Nameless Art, culminating in witnessing the duel between Nine-Dragon Sovereign and Bruno. It was then that Shuro truly transformed, grasping his own unique technique.
More accurately, it was a half-step: the Sublime Demon Fist… Siege Breaker!
"I am both merciful and merciless, yet I wonder, compared to the Sublime Sword of the Nameless, what power does my Sublime Demon Fist hold? Can it be deemed a technique of any rank?"
Creating one's own martial technique was the deed of a true grandmaster, a realm Shuro was still far from reaching. Yet guided by the Nameless Art, bolstered by the memories of Nine-Dragon Sovereign, and witnessing firsthand the Sublime Sword, Shuro managed to grasp this half-step.
Recalling the aftermath of Nine-Dragon Sovereign and Bruno's battle, Shuro surveyed the scene.
Nine-Dragon Sovereign stood tall, his garments pristine. Bruno lay prostrate, defeat evident.
"Cease this charade and rise."
"So you've uncovered it all?"
"Rogue."
"Hmph, is swordsmanship truly your weakest art?"
"Need I say more?"
"You… You deceive!"
"If you have the chance, venture to the Celestial Continent, and you shall see that all I speak is true."
Listening intently to Bruno's acquiescence, Shuro's ears perked up.
"There are six individuals, each more terrifying, powerful, and mysterious than the last. In the Nine Realms, they are known as the Universal Sages. My lifelong aspiration is to vanquish them."
"Ah. Go vanquish your sages then. Why come to the Southern Sky?"
"As a fallback. Beneath the Celestial Continent lie various domains. With many already touched by the Sages and few holding true Daoist legacies, the Southern Sky is one such haven. In the days to come, I shall return to the Celestial realm, rise to the occasion, and challenge the Sages. Success or failure, the Southern Sky shall serve as my springboard for a fresh start. Besides this Monument of the Ninety-Six Saint Kings, I have other plans in store. Prepared for the worst, I've left behind the best contingency in the Southern Sky, exhausting the first half of my life in the study of various orthodox and heterodox teachings, enough to unsettle even the Sages."
Bruno finally seized the moment to interject.
Nine-Dragon Sovereign grinned mysteriously as he opened his palm, and a black wooden monument descended, gradually expanding…
The black wooden monument! The Monument Sea Range! As Shuro opened his eyes, they gleamed with an unusual light, reaching out to grasp the monument.
Suddenly, he felt a sense of alertness in his heart.
Rising to his feet, Shuro saw two colossal war blades, one black and one white, descending from the heavens toward him. Following their trajectory, he spotted Yue Qun and Diego, their faces brimming with murderous intent.
Within the ancient hall, cries of alarm rang out.
"What are they doing?" Damei Shitai's eyes widened as she reached out towards the void, intent on rescuing Shuro despite the prohibition of the deserted city!
But another force emerged in secret, rushing forth to block her intervention.
With a tremor in her arm, unable to tear through the void, Damei Shitai knew she had missed her only chance to rescue Shuro.
Turning her gaze, Damei Shitai looked coldly at Andrea, robes billowing, her demeanor fraught with murderous intent!
Andrea remained impassive, seemingly oblivious to the unfolding events.
The disciples of the Empty Mountain Sect, initially shocked, now glared fiercely.
None had expected Diego and Yue Qun to suddenly attack Shuro after Nan Du and the Forgetful Monk had left, betraying the trust placed in them!
"Land is ashamed. The malevolent aura of the Monument Sea is too heavy, leading these scoundrels astray." Andrea expressed her regret, her voice low. "I assure you, upon our return to the mountain, I will report to the Sect Leader and ensure severe punishment for these two, as well as compensation for the losses suffered by the Empty Mountain Sect."
The two Yin-Yang Symbolic Blades were familiar to everyone present.
At last year's Deserted City Auction, Andrea had acquired them for a total of 140,000 Yin Coins. Crafted by the second-ranked Symbol Master in the Southern Sky, they were tailored for cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, capable of withstanding a full-strength blow from a True Pill stage cultivator and killing those beneath the True Pill stage.
The appearance of the Yin-Yang Symbolic Blades, to a certain extent, had sealed Shuro's fate.
At that auction, the Symbol Master himself had demonstrated their power, wielding only one of the blades to level a mountain three miles away! It was almost akin to the destructive force of a True Pill stage cultivator!
A wave of sorrow swept over the Empty Mountain Sect. Hua Xin, Luis, Berta, and Alan gritted their teeth, their eyes tinged with redness.
The disciples of the eighth and ninth-grade immortal sects were mixed in their reactions, some lamenting while others seethed with indignation. The leaders of the Three Great Sects, such as the Infinite Cave Sect, wore complex expressions, a mixture of regret and slight relief. As for the disciples of the Kunting Mountain, they feigned sympathy outwardly but secretly rejoiced in their hearts!
Staring at the Yin-Yang Twin Blades about to descend from afar, Andrea breathed a sigh of relief in secret, thankful for the wise decision to have his two disciples carry the blade talismans. It was also because Diego and Yue Qun had not dispersed the mist, exposing their every move to the eyes of the people in the ancient hall; otherwise, they would not dare to act so boldly.
Shuro's origins were mysterious, and both his temperament and comprehension were exceptional, his potential limitless. Most crucially, he had incurred his wrath, and as a precautionary measure, even if he was a once-in-a-millennium genius, he had to be eliminated. Sacrificing two disciples to eliminate a future threat was definitely a worthwhile transaction, Andrea thought to himself.
"You scoundrel! You big scoundrel!" The angry voice of a child echoed from outside the ancient hall, drawing everyone's attention.
Emerging from the shadows outside the hall was a robust figure, wielding a long spear on his back with a young boy perched on his shoulder, his eyes bloodshot.
The burly man had not yet entered the hall, but just taking half a step created a majestic aura that shattered the dust in the entire hall into pieces.
"Who is he?"
"I don't know, never seen him before. But he looks like a formidable warrior for sure."
"You guys don't even know him? He's a renowned figure in the Southern Sky cultivation world, Adamo the Dream Immortal, the Southern Sky's ruthless character!"
"Ah! Adamo the Southern Sky's ruthless character! It's him!"
The disciples of the various sects in the ancient hall looked at Adamo with admiration. For them, the cultivation world outside their sects was still very distant. Every time the elders and senior brothers talked about the masters and legends of the cultivation world, they would be filled with excitement. Now, before their eyes stood one such figure, Adamo the Southern Sky's ruthless character, ranked among the top twelve on the Infant Transformation Immortal List!
Huaxin, Luis, Alan, and Berta were also very excited. The name of the Southern Sky's ruthless character, a legendary figure in the cultivation world, ranked even higher than Damei Shitai.
Almost everyone felt a hint of curiosity. What was the renowned Southern Sky's ruthless character doing here?
Edoardo, looking at the youth about to be cut down by the blades in the Monument Sea Range, tears streaming down his face, turned to Andrea, waving his small fists: "You must stop them! Stop them now!"
Andrea's face showed reluctance as he sighed, "Indeed, it's all because of my lax discipline. I am also to blame."
"You…" Edoardo clenched his teeth, glaring fiercely at Andrea, but unsure of what to say.
"Why waste words with such hypocrites?" Adamo set down his beloved son, glanced at the two blades about to fall on the Monument Sea Range, his gaze chilling.
Adamo had already seen in the Wind Hall that Andrea would not let things go easily. Although he had not shown himself these days, he had been secretly protecting Shuro all along. The more he interacted with Shuro, the more he liked this clever but worldly-wise young man. But he never expected Andrea to leave the assassins until the last moment.
The sudden appearance of the two blade talismans was too unexpected, and in the blink of an eye, they were about to crush Shuro. Even Damei Shitai in the ancient hall couldn't save him, let alone him outside the hall. At this moment, it was too late to save him!
Looking at Andrea, Adamo's calm eyes harbored intense murderous intent.
"Don't wander around here."
Putting down Edoardo, Adamo raised his head, and the imposing spear weapon fell into his palm. Suddenly, his robust figure shot out, tearing through the void and stirring up chaotic currents.
In a tenth of a second, Adamo appeared in front of Andrea. His figure instantly grew larger, and in the eyes of everyone, he resembled a towering mountain charging forward!
Adamo roared like a ferocious beast, and in an instant, he thrust his spear. The spear's edge was wrapped in dense black light, like a surging river, intending to engulf Andrea. Even the faint aura emitted by the spear's edge knocked down all the disciples around him, demonstrating its overwhelming dominance!
Andrea did not expect Adamo to disregard the prohibition and take action. Although his cultivation was profound, at the Infant Transformation Second Stage, he was one level lower than Adamo. In terms of combat power alone, he was definitely no match for Adamo, the ruthless character of the Southern Sky.
In this critical moment, Andrea twisted his wrist, forming protective seals with his left hand and summoning protective talismans from the Kunting Mountain with his right hand.
A burst of dazzling white light erupted, blocking Adamo and Andrea.
With a twist of his wrist, a Dao Infant surged out from the top of Adamo's head. With a light breath, the Dao Infant emanated six shadowy arms, each holding a spear handle.
All of this happened in less than a blink of an eye.
"Die!" Adamo roared.
The power of the spear surged, instantly increasing eightfold and bursting forth!
The white light shattered, the protective talismans split into pieces, and Andrea's chest bone broke, his flesh torn, as he flew backward.