Chapter 286: Chapter 284: The Sword Dao is Accomplished
"The Sect has confirmed the locations of four Tier Three Demon Beasts... There are another five that have been sighted by cultivators within the last fifty years, but it’s not guaranteed that they still reside in their original locations."
Bai Zichen spent several hours thoroughly reading the recently delivered intelligence report on the High-Tier Demon Beasts of the Black Mountain Range.
He could only marvel at how detailed and comprehensive the Qingfeng Sect’s work in this area was. It was meticulous down to the last detail.
For the beasts whose lairs were confirmed, their habits, strength, subordinate demon beasts, and whether any high-value Spiritual Objects could be found nearby were all analyzed in exhaustive detail.
The report even ranked them as potential targets for the Sect’s future reclamation campaigns.
The second category included those whose locations were once confirmed but who hadn’t been seen in recent years. It was uncertain if they had died in conflicts with other demon beasts or had migrated elsewhere.
Yet, there were still sprawling descriptions tens of thousands of characters long for each, and specialists were sent to investigate and gather information every year.
This work was mainly carried out by disciples of the Spirit Beast Hall. It was the first time he’d learned that this obscure hall was responsible for such a task.
For instance, the Tier Three Peak White Ape that Bai Zichen had sensed in Cyan Bull Valley was listed as a top priority target for the Spirit Beast Hall.
But not a single one of the dispatched Wind Listening Disciples had seen the White Ape again.
One of them had found a few strands of white ape fur, but when he went to investigate, he found nothing but an empty lair.
It seemed that fearsome White Ape had simply vanished from the Qingfeng Sect’s sight.
This could only mean the White Ape lived in the core region of the Black Mountain Range.
The Wind Listening Disciples of the Spirit Beast Hall didn’t necessarily have high Cultivation levels; the main selection criteria were being bold yet cautious.
They also cultivated Concealing Breath and Concealment Magic, and were skilled at escaping and fleeing.
But asking them to enter the core region of Black Mountain was truly demanding too much.
The final category consisted of rumors that were little more than baseless speculation.
These were often just a fleeting glimpse by some disciple, a few traces of fur, or similar clues, all heavy with conjecture.
This section took up more than half of the report, but its reference value was extremely limited.
’Demon Beasts with Dragon Race bloodlines are truly rare. Not a single one of the four confirmed Demon Kings can be considered a Dragon Beast... This is a real headache. I can’t just go and slay the Dragon Turtle, can I?’
He had originally thought that since a Tier Three Flood Dragon resided in Feiyue Lake, it shouldn’t be difficult to find another Tier Three Dragon Beast in Black Mountain.
But after finishing the intelligence report, Bai Zichen realized just how exceptionally rare Dragon Beasts were.
Most of the speculative records of Dragon Beasts could be dismissed at a glance; they couldn’t possibly be Dragon Beasts.
From this perspective, Feiyue Lake was truly a treasure trove for producing even Dragon Beasts.
It would be best if he could find a suitable Dragon Beast in Black Mountain. Otherwise, he would have to find another way. He believed the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect should have plenty of intelligence on Dragon Beasts.
However, even if he found a Tier Three Dragon Soul, Bai Zichen couldn’t immediately start the Refining process for the Cyan Dragon Flipping Sea Sword.
With his current Sword Refining Skill, he would fail one hundred percent of the time. He couldn’t afford to waste the Tier Three Sword Refining Materials he had worked so hard to gather.
’The rumors about these few locations are relatively credible, with Dragon Beast scales or blood having been discovered. I can check them out in the future.’
Bai Zichen took up a brush and transcribed the few locations recorded on the Jade Scroll.
But right now, there was another matter at hand, one even more important than searching for a Dragon Beast.
After using the Moon Xuan Sword to grasp the Refining Sword into Silk Realm on multiple occasions, he, who was already far along the path of Sword Qi Thunder Sound, finally sensed an opportunity to elevate his Sword Dao Realm.
The Sword Qi Thunder Sound Realm had trapped Bai Zichen for several decades.
He had reached the Second Realm of Sword Dao right after his Foundation Establishment, and now, with his Mid-Stage Core Formation Cultivation, he was still stuck in the same place.
Or rather, he had only taken a few tiny steps forward within the same realm.
Compared to his rapid advancement in Cultivation, his Sword Dao Realm, which had once been his strong suit, was no longer prominent due to the lack of progress in recent years.
But through battle after battle, Bai Zichen’s comprehension of Sword Qi Thunder Sound had continuously deepened and strengthened.
This was especially true after the Moon Xuan Sword used its Origin Power, allowing him to experience the Refining Sword into Silk Realm, a realm beyond his own. His insight and vision were now far beyond that of an ordinary Sword Cultivator at the Sword Qi Thunder Sound Realm.
「Three days later.」
Bai Zichen was holding the Moon Xuan Sword, his face having a jade-like luster. Several beams of Sword Light circled around him endlessly, accompanied by the sound of thunder.
And as time passed, the roaring thunder grew quieter, and the might of the Sword Light grew weaker.
If a cultivator unfamiliar with swordsmanship were present, they might mistake him for a novice Sword Cultivator with feeble Magical Power and weak Sword Light.
’Even within Refining Sword into Silk, there are different levels of mastery... As a Tier Four Flying Sword, the Moon Xuan Sword mobilized its Origin Power to help me reach a state close to Great Success in Refining Sword into Silk. The Sword Silk could thread a needle, penetrating anything, just a hair’s breadth away from the realm of One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws.’
After several failed attempts to break through, Bai Zichen, in a fit of frustration, finally understood the reason.
He had set his goal too high, which was why he couldn’t cross the threshold.
Sword Light as thick as a chopstick was considered entry-level Refining Sword into Silk. But Sword Light driven to be as fine as a strand of hair, incomparably sharp, shattering anything it grazed and destroying anything it touched, was also Refining Sword into Silk.
He lowered his goal. The few Tier Two Flying Swords around him shrank into beams of Sword Light as thick as chopsticks, weaving back and forth like wandering dragons.
’Finally, I’ve stepped into the Refining Sword into Silk Realm... The title of peerless Sword Dao genius that those people from the Tianhe Sword Sect have been hyping up for so long... starting today, I’m finally somewhat worthy of it.’
With a wave of his hand and a light point of his finger, more than a dozen sword-holes appeared on a Sword Testing Stone that was shaped like a person lying prone.
Three breaths later, the greenstone shattered without a sound, leaving a pile of stone chips on the ground.
Before, it would have been simple for him to shatter such a large Sword Testing Stone, but it would have inevitably created a loud roar.
The moment his Sword Dao Realm advanced, everything was different.
Effortlessly, with perfect control.
’Refining Sword into Silk is vastly different from the first two realms of the Sword Dao. Only upon reaching this level can one truly feel the transcendent combat power that comes with being a Sword Cultivator.’
Bai Zichen was well aware of the impact of Refining Sword into Silk; he himself had benefited from this realm and had experienced its power many times.
He had a feeling that he was about to enter a period of rapid improvement in the Refining Sword into Silk Realm.
This was because after decades of accumulation, now that he had broken through, all he needed to do was familiarize himself with the Third Realm of Sword Dao.
He didn’t expect to master Sword Light Division in the short term. As long as he could cultivate Refining Sword into Silk to the stage of Great Success, it would be enough to elevate his combat strength to a new level.
Just imagine it: with his own realm combined with the Origin Power of the Moon Xuan Sword, he could unleash terrifying, supremely sharp lethality in an instant.
As far as he had seen, no Magical Treasure could withstand the silk-like moonlight; it cut through them all as easily as slicing through tofu.
Bai Zichen estimated that only a Spiritual Treasure could survive a strike from the Moon Xuan Sword when it was in its Refining Sword into Silk state.
But looking across the entire Cultivation Realm, those with Core Formation Cultivation who possessed a Spiritual Treasure were few and far between—only a handful of lucky individuals with heaven-defying fortune.
’Speaking of which, no one would believe that someone with the talent to attract a Tier Four Flying Sword would only truly step into the Refining Sword into Silk Realm today... I wonder if, by coordinating with the Moon Xuan Sword’s Origin Power, I can now glimpse the threshold of One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws.’
The few strands of Wandering Dragon Sword Threads returned to his Daoist Robe, leaving only the Moon Xuan Sword resting across his lap as he communicated with its Sword Spirit.
With such a great advancement in his Sword Dao Realm, it was only natural to communicate with his most important Flying Sword.
The Moon Xuan Sword was no ordinary Flying Sword; it possessed a certain degree of autonomy and could adapt on its own when facing enemies.
If it misjudged its master’s strength, it could easily lead to a situation during Combat where a tiny error resulted in a massive discrepancy.
’Unfortunately, the spot for my Lifebound Flying Sword was given to the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword... Otherwise, if I were constantly nurturing it with my Pill Qi and merging our Divine Senses, I would be aware of the slightest change. There would be no need for this kind of communication.’
Moonlight flowed down, enveloping Bai Zichen completely. The entire courtyard was filled with pure moonlight, obscuring all other colors.
...
In a dim, subterranean palace, a huge coffin at the center let out a CREAK as its lid was pushed open from the inside by a large hand.
It was a hand without flesh, a jade-like skeletal hand with long knuckles. It seemed ancient and eternal, captivating the gaze of any who saw it, making it impossible to look away.
"HEH HEH... Slumber in life, persist in death... So this coffin truly is the Underworld Nether Coffin, holding the great secret of an Ancient Immortal’s reincarnation and re-cultivation!"
A tall, skeletal figure slowly stood up from the coffin. It looked around in confusion, two points of nether fire flickering in its eye sockets, showing a hint of Spiritual Wisdom.
It reached out, grabbed a long robe, and draped it over its body.
Within its Sea of Consciousness, multiple segments of Divine Sense were colliding, causing the White Bone True Man to let out an involuntary groan of pain.
Or perhaps, the one who had just climbed out of the Underworld Nether Coffin was no longer the White Bone True Man.
Just like his predecessors, when he was on the verge of his Divine Sense sinking into oblivion and becoming a Puppet, the White Bone True Man had actually succeeded in cultivating the White Bone True Demon Body, giving him the capital to resist the Nether Qi within the coffin.
As he felt his body rapidly changing and growing stronger, the White Bone True Man forced himself to try and leave, only to find that he was firmly locked inside the coffin.
At the same time, powerful Divine Thoughts, passed down from who knows what era, rushed into his Sea of Consciousness and began to take over.
The White Bone True Man quickly understood that these were the Divine Thoughts of cultivators who had used the coffin in the past, long before the Ghost Spirit Sect had obtained the Ancient Coffin.
It was also because of these cultivators’ Divine Thoughts that he learned the Sect’s suspicions were correct: this object was indeed the renowned Underworld Nether Coffin.
It seemed to be involved in a world-shaking secret, an important tool for an Ancient Immortal’s reincarnation and re-cultivation.
Why it had become what it was today was not something the Divine Thoughts left in the coffin could explain.
Only when the transformation of the White Bone True Demon Body was complete did the Underworld Nether Coffin release its restraints, allowing the White Bone True Man to open it.
However, his Divine Soul had already been fused with the Divine Thoughts of several cultivators. His behavior, thoughts, and memories were all affected; it was debatable whether he could still be considered the White Bone True Man.
"Core Formation Perfection, and the White Bone True Demon Body is a Demon Body passed down from the Demon Realm, possessing infinite Demon’s Might..."
The White Bone True Man slowly walked towards the entrance of the Earth Palace, and countless Yin Candles swayed and flickered wildly.
With such strength, as long as he didn’t face a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he was practically invincible.
And as long as he had a few Tribulation Crossing Secret Treasures to help resist the Celestial Thunder, even the Nascent Soul Stage was not an unattainable prospect.
Just as he was about to step out of the Earth Palace, the White Bone True Man whipped his head around.
In front of the Underworld Nether Coffin, only two Ghost-Faced Nether Flowers remained.
During his seclusion, another one had withered, rotted away, and returned to the Nether Soil.
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