Chapter 445: Chapter 444: One Sword From The West, Outer Heaven Flying Immortal (Mayor Ye asks for subscriptions and monthly tickets)
The Three Purities Flower is an extraordinarily rare spiritual herb, its main distinguishing feature is its ability to briefly enhance one’s perception.
To help Su Yanru recover, Shi Xiaole had once ventured alone deep into the Silver Snowfield. With the aid of a young girl named Ye Yiyi, he had managed to pick one of these flowers.
It was precisely thanks to that Three Purities Flower that he was able to significantly improve his Sword Heart Realm in just two days and eventually kill the Spicy Scholar and the Blood-Clad Swordsmen, Wei Yan.
Generally, once the Three Purities Flower matures, it can only be preserved for three days. However, Jade Sword Pavilion had extraordinary means - the hole they had dug out was visibly coated with a special medicinal fluid, and a piece of colored glaze was used to block it, allowing the Three Purities Flower to bloom continuously without withering.
"Thirty whole Three Purities Flowers, enough for me to ponder for sixty days."
Shi Xiaole was overjoyed.
His system contained a lot of stored food, so he was not worried about going hungry. The real problem now was how to use these thirty Three Purities Flowers to their fullest extent.
"The fifteenth stroke of Death Claiming, which I’ve only perfected to eighty percent, can be improved upon. Climbing up the Sword Realm is also of the utmost importance."
Looking around and seeing that no one was coming to bother him, Shi Xiaole guessed if it was because he had passed the most trials, thus earning a special treatment from the Hidden Sword Pavilion.
Not wanting to waste time, he immediately plucked a Three Purities Flower from the nearest hole, popped it into his mouth and began to practice the fifteenth stroke of Death Claiming.
...
"That makes five."
After succeeding in defeating five humanoid light shadows in a row, Shen Wumei was a bit excited.
According to his master and grandfather, this achievement would have been considered a once-in-a-decade occurrence even thousands of years ago in the Jade Sword Pavilion. But this was not Shen Wumei’s final goal.
Once he absorbs enough nutrients, his aptitudes should be able to advance further. At that time, he will not be any less than those top-notch geniuses.
...
"Cross Lightning Slash!"
Yang Feng’s opponent was the fourth humanoid light shadow. He raised his long knife high over his head and then quickly slashed it in rapid succession; a cross-shaped light of the knife infused with an electric current whistled out.
Through countless life-and-death fights, Yang Feng finally grasped the essence of lightning. The Straight Lightning Slash had even evolved into the stronger Cross Lightning Slash.
Bang!
Despite deflecting eighty percent of the force, the fourth humanoid light shadow still flew dozens of meters away.
"My current strength is more than fifty percent stronger than before."
Yang Feng had a smile at the corner of his mouth, greatly satisfied with this slash.
In terms of strength, he had barely made the cut as a semi-top-tier genius in Xuanwu State before. Now, he is no worse than many top-tier geniuses.
Perhaps one’s talent is predestined from birth, but not opportunities. Yang Feng strongly believes that as long as he strives hard, there’s no reason he can’t keep up with the rest.
"I wonder how Brother Shi is doing?"
All of a sudden, Yang Feng thought of Shi Xiaole. In his opinion, given Shi Xiaole’s stunning talent, he must have also achieved considerable gains.
...
"In the past, I focused too much on the flexibility of the Green Willow’s Truth, but neglected its rigidity."
The Crown Sword Marquis muttered to himself. Seeing the fourth humanoid light shadow charging at him, he suddenly stabbed out with his sword.
To the naked eye, strands of Green Willow Sword Qi condensed into a larger willow branch that was taut and straight. With a hiss, it actually pierced right through the fourth humanoid light shadow.
Except for Shi Xiaole, the rest were still battling fiercely in the twenty-six spiritual illusion arrays. Because this batch of contestants was carefully selected elites with extraordinary talents, they all had gains of varying degrees.
...
"It doesn’t work."
Shi Xiaole awoke from his meditation in the second half of the day after ingesting the Three Purities Flower.
His perception had indeed improved significantly, but the completion of the fifteenth stroke of Death Claiming still felt out of reach.
"I was a bit presumptuous. A complete fifteenth stroke of Death Claiming should be a top-notch sword technique, and with my current knowledge and foundation, how could I possibly complete it?"
Completing a sword technique is as difficult as creating one.
The principle is the same as building a house. Whether you’re building or repairing a house, you need to have a comprehensive and deep understanding of the structure of the house.
Failed to perfect the fifteenth stroke of Death Claiming, he naturally couldn’t elevate his Sword Realm, which also required an extensive foundation.
"The best choice now should be to cultivate a top-notch sword technique."
Shi Xiaole felt both excited and somewhat lost.
The cost of purchasing a low-grade top-notch martial arts technique is at least fifty thousand reward points, while a mid-grade one costs seventy-five thousand points. He currently has seventy-one thousand two hundred points, which means he is not far from affording a mid-grade top-notch martial arts technique.
The concept of a mid-grade top-notch martial arts technique is far more precious than a low-grade one by several times.
However, while it’s said that he’s only short a few thousand points, it’s not necessarily easy to reach that amount.
Moreover, once picked, the Three Purities Flowers here can only be preserved for three days. It would be such a waste to let them spoil.
"If I don’t start cultivating a top-notch martial technique soon and use these Three Purities Flowers to enhance it to the highest realm, even if I do get hold of an excellent martial technique in the future, I won’t stay alive to enjoy it."
Thinking of Golden Saber Marquis, Silver Spear Marquis and the others, Shi Xiaole made up his mind.
In this perilous Hidden Sword Pavilion, increasing his strength by just a little bit is an extra lifeline. As long as he stays alive, he’ll definitely be able to acquire secret manuals in the future.
With his spiritual consciousness sinking into the system space, Shi Xiaole glanced at the third floor of the Martial God Hall. Amongst a multitude of stone walls, he quickly made his choice after scanning through them once.
Ding.
"This technique is a low-grade top-notch level and requires sixty-one thousand two hundred points to purchase. Host, do you wish to proceed with the purchase?"
The mechanical voice of the system echoed.
"Confirmed."
The reward value plummeted, but Shi Xiaole did not feel the slightest distress.
"Congratulations to the host for successfully purchasing the lower-tier first-class sword technique, Ye Gucheng’s Outer Heaven Flying Immortal!"
A flash of light appeared within the stone walls, and a new mantra was added to Shi Xiaole’s mind.
And his soul, seemed to have departed this world, visualizing the slim white figure standing on the top of the Forbidden City under the full moon of the fifteenth lunar month.
The sword is a flying immortal, and the man is a flying immortal.
No one could comprehend the loneliness of Ye Gucheng.
Once traversing above others, once experiencing the biting cold from the altitude. Ye Gucheng’s sword technique has already reached the state of transformation. He has no desire for the rest of his life. Therefore, he wanted to pursue a greater ambition, help the Prince of the South to seize power, so that his monotonous life is not so boring.
Yes, assassination of the emperor, disruption of the imperial court, were but an intriguing game to spice up the life of this haughty and proud legendary swordsman.
If it weren’t for Lu Xiaofeng, who had four eyebrows and loved meddling in other people’s business, he would have already succeeded.
Some people innately care little about life and death, whether it be others’ or their own.
So when the plot was exposed, in the face of the encirclement of thousands of troops, Ye Gucheng still calmly dueled with Ximen Chuixue. Knowing that whether he wins or loses, it would end in death. So why not die at the hands of Ximen Chuixue?
At least his glory as an unrivaled swordsman will not suffer the disgrace of the ordinary!
That streak of shocking rainbow illuminated the last moments of Ye Gucheng’s life, fulfilled the Sword God, and also left a perpetual regret in Lu Xiaofeng’s heart.
A sword comes from the west, the Outer Heaven Flying Immortal.
Ye Gucheng finally became the streak of white cloud in the sky, pure and unblemished, untouched by the secular world, wandering between heaven and earth.
Shi Xiaole let out a long sigh and muttered to himself, "How can such a sword technique be concealed?"
As one of the four unbeatable sword techniques in the world, the Outer Heaven Flying Immortal does not possess the lethal power of the completed Death Claiming Fifteen Swords, nor does it rival the dominance of the Divine Sword Technique created by Yan Nantian, nor does it have the purity of the Natural Sword. But it possesses the extreme brilliance that these three techniques do not.
With Shi Xiaole’s comprehension, at first glance, he could only remember the mantra of the Outer Heaven Flying Immortal.
Fortunately, with the added influence of the Three Purities Flower, his thoughts were incredibly active, and he quickly started practicing in the octagonal pavilion.
...
After a protracted battle with the sixth humanoid light shadow, Shen Wumei was unable to win. Perhaps when the time came, after she was once again repelled, the phantom array in front of her eyes suddenly collapsed, leaving her standing in the maze.
Almost simultaneously, the other twenty-five people also returned to their original positions.
"My knife technique has finally improved."
The Golden Saber Marquis was beaming with joy.
Dividing the training of lower-tier first-class inner strength and knife techniques inevitably leads to swaying focus. Thus, in the last two hundred years, the Golden Saber Marquis had only cultivated his inner strength to perfection, whereas his Golden Light Earthly Mysterious Slash remained at a highly accomplished state.
This time, after overcoming four stages, his stagnated knife technique had improved. So how could he not be happy?
"We must find the way out quickly."
Fearing further complications, the Golden Saber Marquis wasted no time and rushed ahead.
"Where is Brother Shi?"
Yang Feng and the Crown Sword Marquis exchanged glances, asking.
The Crown Sword Marquis frowned, "Could something have happened? Let’s check other places."
Not long after, those who were searching for the exit in the maze heard a great noise. They saw jade screens lifting above them, revealing a large lawn in front of them.
How could a lawn survive for so long underground in the Jade Sword Palace for several thousand years without sunlight and water?
A figure flashed by. Someone rushed to the lawn ahead of the others, and sat down cross-legged, starting to practice. It was Shen Wumei.
Seeing that he was unharmed, more people, full of curiosity, entered. To their surprise, they found a force flowing from the lawn to their feet, not only improving their dark wounds, but also gradually enhancing their cultivation.
"Could this be the legendary Jade Sword Terrace?"
Someone was trembling all over.
The Jade Sword Terrace was a legend of the Jade Sword Palace. It was said to be a piece of turf obtained from an unparalleled secret realm, possessing capabilities beyond ordinary comprehension.
Figures rushed over, and soon all twenty-six people had arrived.
Everyone’s injuries were healing rapidly. Vigorous air automatically circulated through the meridians in their bodies, gradually growing stronger.
Including Shen Wumei, Crown Sword Marquis, Yang Feng, and six others, a phantom sword materialized above each of their heads. The rate at which they absorbed the power from the lawn was several times faster than the others.
"Absorb it to your heart’s content, hahaha..."
No one noticed, but the corner of Shen Wumei’s mouth moved slightly, as if he was laughing.
Ten days.
Twenty days.
The food that everyone had carefully stored had long since been exhausted, but after absorbing the power from the lawn, they not only didn’t feel the slightest hunger, but instead were bursting with strength.
From time to time, some people would spar to improve their absorption of the lawn’s power.
And so a month passed.
Almost simultaneously.
In a certain octagonal pavilion, the sword light crisscrossed. Every thrust was as if wind, thunder, and glaciers were moving together, dazzling to the point of being unimaginable. At a particular moment, all of the sword lights converged on a single point, bursting with a brilliant sword light that seemed to impel time itself to stand still.
