Chapter 1038: Chapter 1037: Six People Besieging_1
Last time he entered Sword King Valley, limited by his realm and comprehension, Shi Xiaole focused on the Sword Way of Speed, using it as the foundation to advance his understanding of the Wind Sword Way.
This time, he resolved to comprehend all ten Sword Ways, starting once again with the Sword Way of Speed.
The pure Sword Way of Speed, considered the pinnacle of all top-tier sword arts, was difficult to initiate and even harder to grasp. Over the years, the essence of the Sword Way of Speed hadn’t diminished much, which turned out to be to Shi Xiaole’s benefit.
Closing his eyes, he quickly slipped into a state of self-forgetfulness.
On the fifth level of the Sword Evaluation Tower at this moment, the Grand Elder and Chen Kang were gazing out toward Sword King Valley.
"It’s really unexpected, I wonder if he has made progress over the past year," Chen Kang murmured.
If it were someone else, he wouldn’t have asked such a foolish question. Having reached the Void Origin Realm, Chen Kang felt profoundly not just the strength but also the slow pace of advancement.
Many times, even a slight improvement required painstaking effort; the rapid advancements of the past were simply impossible.
"Improvement is certain, it’s just a question of how much. As long as he doesn’t exhaust all the essence of Sword King Valley, it’s fine," the Grand Elder chuckled, prompting Chen Kang to laugh as well.
Of course, this was a joke.
Inside Sword King Valley, the sword energies accumulated from nearly a thousand years of the most elite swordsmen in the Martial World, especially the ten deepest ones, included the Garlan Sword Way, Dustless Sword Path, and others. Even with Shi Xiaole’s high talent, it would be impossible to fully comprehend everyone’s essence in just one year.
After all, this move was not only in gratitude to Shi Xiaole but also an extra emotional investment by the Grand Elder. Otherwise, the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor had made greater contributions, yet was given only one year of contemplation as well.
"There are many more matters to attend to next. Chen Kang, you’ve worked hard," said the Grand Elder.
After another glance at Sword King Valley, the Grand Elder and Chen Kang turned and left.
This time, Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain had faced internal and external crises, suffering great vitality loss. It was foreseeable that for the next few decades, or even hundreds of years, it would be hard to see any revival.
But Sword Evaluation Elegant Mountain had always been low-key, and most alarming to those in the know was that despite such a heavy blow, the mountain still housed five Heaven Realm Martial Emperors, not weaker than Blood Emperor’s Cavern, Dragon View Ridge, and others!
So, it would still be a top power, impossible to overlook.
...
In Sword King Valley, the Sword Qi drifted idly.
With Shi Xiaole’s current realm and comprehension, understanding the Sword Way of Speed came too easily, considering that even Sword King Valley’s own Sword Way of Speed was only at an eleven-fold realm, not much higher than the Wind Sword Way.
One and a half months later.
The green sword in his sea of consciousness suddenly vibrated at high speeds, releasing strands of sharp energy that provoked a feeling of unbounded freedom and carefree ease.
The dormant Wind Sword Way finally broke through to the late ten-fold stage!
When Shi Xiaole underwent the heavenly tribulation, there had been signs of breakthrough in the Wind Sword Way, but he greatly underestimated the difficulty of advancing. It took several years of martial transformation, coupled with the refinement of the Sword King Valley’s sword arts, to take this step truly.
If it had been someone else, this process would have been extended by tens or hundreds of times, no wonder progress was so difficult at the Void Origin Realm.
The late ten-fold stage Wind Sword Way, equivalent to the late eleven-fold top-tier sword arts, corresponded to the Earthly Realm level. But Shi Xiaole’s Vigorous Air and martial arts were too formidable. Now, he was one hundred percent certain that his sword arts prowess had reached the weakest Heavenly Realm level.
Even without employing spirit martial arts, he could defeat the Six-Transformed Ghost Emperor.
"Kirin, my friend, you truly are admirable," remarked an elder voice.
Unbeknownst to him, the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor had also entered Sword King Valley, standing just a few hundred meters from Shi Xiaole. Although the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor’s Sword Realm far surpassed most of the sword arts in Sword King Valley, it was not as high-level as the three Supreme Sword Ways and thus still held value in contemplation.
Sensing the changes in Shi Xiaole’s aura, the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor couldn’t help but be alarmed; it seemed the young man had improved again.
"I pay my respects to Elder Heavenly Silkworm," said Shi Xiaole, nodding in acknowledgment before continuing his comprehension, not wishing to waste any time.
This obsession amused the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor considerably; it was little wonder the young man achieved so much. As an elder, he couldn’t lose face in front of a junior. With this thought, the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor also closed his eyes.
Time flowed silently.
After the Sword Way of Speed came the Blazing Sun Sword Way, then the Enchantment Sword Way, Decaying Sword Way, Divine Ice Sword Way, and others. Shi Xiaole’s aura was ever-changing, sometimes dominantly fervent, sometimes indistinguishable between reality and illusion, sometimes like a withered branch devoid of vitality... In the depths of his being, besides the Wind Sword Way, both the Life and Death Martial Way and Illusion Martial Way were elevating.
Especially the Life and Death Martial Way, which rapidly absorbed the surrounding sword essences. Were it not for Shi Xiaole’s strenuous control, it might have drained them in just a few months.
Nonetheless, this still alarmed the nearby Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor.
As the third month drew to a close.
The Illusion Martial Way progressed from the mid ten-fold stage to the late ten-fold stage.
"Could this child’s attainment in the Illusion Way surpass his swordsmanship?" the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor naturally assumed. The earlier commotion was caused by Shi Xiaole’s contemplation of the Illusion Martial Way.
As the fifth month approached.
Shi Xiaole had absorbed a full seventy percent of the seven top-tier Sword Ways, causing even the formidable depths of Sword King Valley to become milder. Yet, the Life and Death Martial Way had not made a breakthrough.
As the sixth month approached.
Shi Xiaole began to contemplate the first of the Supreme Martial Arts, the Dustless Sword Path from the Dustless Sword Emperor.
However, this time, before he could fully engage with it, the Life and Death Martial Way started to rotate uncontrollably, frantically pulling in the essence of the Dustless Sword Path.
"What?"
The Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor, who was contemplating, froze in shock.
What’s going on, could it be that the Kirin and the Dustless Sword Path are unusually compatible?
By the seventh month, the essence of the Dustless Sword Path had been absorbed by a full eighty percent, while the Illusion Martial Way had broken through to eighty percent in the middle phase.
The complete Dustless Sword Path surely contains more essence than this, after all, the Dustless Sword Path of Sword King Valley is but a small fraction of the Dustless Sword Emperor’s sword essence.
Unable to absorb it all, Shi Xiaole shifted his focus to the Garan Sword Way and absorbed another eighty percent. Nearby, the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor was so shocked that he had become numb, completely at a loss for words.
The ninth month began.
As Shi Xiaole absorbed the last of the Supreme Sword Path, the Emperor Extreme Sword Path, his Wind Sword Way approached infinitely close to the peak of perfection, greatly shortening the time for his breakthrough.
"My current strength should be comparable to most second-tier Heaven Realm Martial Emperors,"
Shi Xiaole estimated quietly.
Besides the improvement in his martial arts, being immersed in Sword King Valley for so long had also enhanced his Heart Sword power. Although still far from perfection, it was better than before.
Altogether, he was vastly different from his former self.
"Young friend, you really don’t leave any opportunities for others,"
a somewhat helpless voice reached Shi Xiaole’s ears. Opening his eyes, he saw the wryly smiling Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor and was startled before quickly responding, "Senior, in a moment of absorption, I..."
"No need to explain, we each rely on our abilities,"
the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor waved his hand.
Of course, he wasn’t truly blaming Shi Xiaole. In his view, not being able to compete was his own lack of ability, blaming others was the act of a coward. Moreover, the three Supreme Sword Paths weren’t as valuable to him as he had imagined, just slightly stronger than his usual cultivation.
"Young friend, visit my Heavenly Silkworm Residence when you have time. The martial journey is lonely; we can discuss and make progress together,"
after some thought, the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor extended an invitation, for he had few friends, as there weren’t many who qualified to be his friend, but Shi Xiaole was definitely one of them.
"Certainly."
Shi Xiaole naturally would not be foolish enough to refuse. He was not a reclusive person, and as long as they shared similar dispositions, the more friends, the better.
Before the year was up, Shi Xiaole and the Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor both left Sword King Valley, which left the Grand Elder who had just managed all the affairs and was about to sigh in relief completely puzzled.
What happened, did the two encounter a bottleneck? That’s possible, after all, the Sword Qi in Sword King Valley is too much; sometimes, an information overload requires a period of rest and recovery.
Little did he know, when Chen Kang went to inquire, he returned with a strange expression and struggled for quite a while before saying, "Grand Elder, it’s better if you see it for yourself."
By the time the Grand Elder arrived deep within Sword King Valley and sensed everything here, his entire old face twitched, "Who did this?"
Chen Kang remained silent.
The Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor had entered Sword King Valley many times before without causing such a mess. Was there even a need to ask?
"So, it is my miscalculation?"
the Grand Elder muttered to himself.
With Sword King Valley in this state, how could they curry favor with Martial World swordsmen in the future? The impact would certainly be greatly reduced.
Chen Kang shook his head, "May I ask the Grand Elder, do we want to befriend a future Sword Emperor, or thousands of excellent swordsmen?"
The Grand Elder was stunned for a moment, then pointing at Chen Kang, he suddenly burst into hearty laughter.
Chen Kang laughed as well.
"Damn, a few months ago, I noticed Blood Emperor and others harboring murderous intentions against the Kirin. Last time he brought it up indirectly, asking when Kirin would leave seclusion. I fear they might have set a trap outside for him."
The Grand Elder seemed to remember something, his expression suddenly changed greatly.
The Heavenly Silkworm Sword Emperor had left a day before Shi Xiaole; otherwise, there wouldn’t be a need to worry.
"Grand Elder, we must ensure that Kirin comes to no harm."
Chen Kang stated coldly.
The two of them understood each other well and immediately transformed into two streaks of light and flew out.
...
Shi Xiaole had no immediate plans to visit the Heavenly Silkworm Residence. This time, he decided to first go to the Western Sea to rescue Ling Jingsi.
Of course, before that, there was a ’minor matter’ to deal with.
Soaring alone to the top of a mountain peak, already far from Sword Evaluation Mountain, Shi Xiaole stopped and his lips curled up slightly.
"Kirin, you really picked a place,"
a cold and piercing voice echoed around, bone-chillingly icy. A flash of red, and an elder appeared in front of Shi Xiaole—it was the Blood Emperor.
At the same time, on Shi Xiaole’s left and right, two powerfully aured figures appeared as if by magic, none other than Hanguang Emperor and Divine Might Great Emperor.
And behind Shi Xiaole, three more figures appeared, each emitting an aura even more formidable than Blood Emperor’s.
"Kirin, this will be your final resting place,"
the Blood Emperor sneered coldly.
The Righteous Path and evil forces battle had already been raging for over nine months, with an escalating intensity. The Righteous Path maintained a firm advantage, and under these circumstances, Blood Emperor and the others gave up on inviting that recluse and sought help from their sects instead.
Therefore, the three powers, each under different pretexts, secretly dispatched a first-rate Heaven Realm Martial Emperor to assist. They were the strongest they could send, a total of six people, and they did not believe they couldn’t kill Shi Xiaole.
