Chapter 643
The Primordial Spirit Leaves the Body, Sword Intent Takes Form
"During this period of time, although my martial arts level has not improved significantly, my spiritual sense has improved the most."
As Chen Jie moved forward, he looked at the sword energy surrounding his body.
The sword dharma image seemed to possess a spirit, its surface radiating a crimson-gold light.
The cultivation of the Vajra Indestructible Body has entered the second stage.
His life potential and energy levels increased by leaps and bounds, and his physical constitution also underwent a rapid transformation.
so far,
His innate inner strength and physique were more than twice as strong as when he first broke through to the late stage of the Dingguan realm.
His martial arts level is only one step away from the late-stage Great Perfection of the Divine Indestructible realm.
"Breakthroughs in martial arts realms do not significantly improve my current combat strength."
"What I need now is a peak real battle to unleash my combat power and then transform my life potential once again."
Chen Jie didn't know if a showdown of the best would be enough to truly inspire him.
but,
He was certain that after experiencing a major battle, his combat strength would definitely be stronger than it is now.
A fine sword is forged through tempering, and the fragrance of plum blossoms comes from bitter cold!
Only through life-and-death trials can one reach the pinnacle of combat prowess.
-
Guanzhong, the Western Peak, Mount Hua!
This place is located in Huayin County, bordering the Wei River and adjacent to the Qinling Mountains.
Five peaks stand tall on the mountain, reaching straight into the clouds.
From a bird's-eye view, the five peaks resemble a blooming lotus flower, hence Mount Hua is also known as the Lotus Sacred Mountain.
There are many wonders on Mount Hua, the most famous of which is the Cliffside Immortal Palm.
It's like a giant hand, with five distinct fingers and visible textures, resembling a fairy's hand in the sunlight, so lifelike.
Legend has it that Mount Hua in the Guanzhong region was formed when the Yellow River was blocked by the mountain when it reached this area.
The river overflowed, causing a disaster. Then, the giant spirit in the sky pushed Mount Hua with all its might, treading on Mount Zhongtiao, and with a fierce roar, split the mountain in two.
The mighty river flows eastward, all the way to the sea.
then,
The giant handprint left on the summit of Mount Hua is also known as the palm print of the Giant Spirit God.
The name "Huayue Immortal Palm" comes from this.
at this time,
It is the season of spring warmth and blooming flowers.
The entire summit of Mount Hua was shrouded in mist and rain, creating a beautiful scene that gave people a sense of a fairyland in the clouds.
From a distance, the entire Mount Hua appears to be partially obscured by clouds and mist, making it impossible to discern its true form.
this moment,
At the highest point of Mount Hua, there was originally an extremely steep stone platform.
But now, a pavilion has been built here.
An elderly man with gray hair sat cross-legged in the pavilion.
He was wearing a Taoist robe, and although his hair was gray, he looked very old.
but,
He was in excellent spirits, and his eyes radiated an extremely domineering and sharp aura.
Several women knelt beside the old man, attending to his daily needs.
These women are beautiful, have stunning figures, and are incredibly charming.
They were neither courtesans nor ladies from ordinary families.
It is obvious from the way they served the old man that they were his concubines.
In front of the gray-haired old man lay a dark longsword.
Waaah—!
The spring breeze swept up the mist, enveloping the surroundings.
Surprisingly, the entire pavilion seemed to be surrounded by a protective layer.
The spring breeze dissipated quickly after approaching the pavilion.
No amount of fog could penetrate the pavilion.
The old man sat cross-legged in the pavilion, his eyes slightly closed.
this moment,
He seemed to blend into the clouds and mist atop Mount Hua.
Quiet, serene, in harmony with nature!
Beside the old man lay a dark-colored cat, which looked to be over a meter long, gentle and obedient.
From the side, it appeared that the old man had completely concealed his aura.
He was like an ordinary old man, without any sharp or aggressive aura about him.
but,
Once inside the pavilion, one can feel the suffocating killing intent emanating from him.
Intimidation!
Indeed, only the most powerful martial artists at the pinnacle of martial arts can exude such terrifying pressure.
This is a manifestation of the grand power of heaven and earth, radiating power without anger.
A light drizzle falls, and a gentle spring breeze caresses the face.
The entire summit of Mount Hua was shrouded in mist and rain, like a dream.
but,
The clouds and mist swept by the spring breeze had no effect on the surrounding area of several dozen meters.
Clang!
suddenly,
An elderly man with gray hair waved his finger.
The dark meteorite iron longsword in front of him was drawn from its sheath in mid-air.
boom!
next moment,
An enormous sword-wielding dharma image hovered above the pavilion.
The heavens and earth seemed to tremble, and the surrounding wind and rain were dispersed by a single sword strike.
Waaaaah—waaaah—!
The swordplay was fierce, domineering, and invincible, giving people an endless sense of oppression.
If Li Aoshuang, the former top martial arts expert of the Great Qian Dynasty, were to witness this scene, she would be utterly horrified.
The might of the Sword Saint!
The primordial spirit leaves the body, and the sword intent takes form!
This is a power that only a sword saint can unleash.
A powerful swordsman at the Sword Saint realm can merge the forces of heaven and earth into his own being, while simultaneously astral projection, sword intent taking form, and man and sword becoming one, killing from a hundred miles away.
In this state of astral projection, combat power skyrockets.
but,
The original out-of-body state is destined to be short-lived.
This is why Miyamoto Musashi was unable to unleash a second strike after making one from a hundred miles away.
This elderly man with gray hair, dressed like a Taoist priest, had been meditating cross-legged in the pavilion at the top of Mount Hua for almost half a day.
His primordial spirit left his body and merged with the great forces of heaven and earth, forming a soaring sword intent.
No, to be precise, this is a sword domain.
This kind of sword domain manifested by astral projection is something that no martial artist below the Sword Saint realm can unleash.
Only by breaking through to the 'Sitting in Oblivion' realm in the Refining Spirit realm, and breaking through to the Sword Saint realm in martial arts, can one unleash such a terrifying sword domain.
Whoosh!
Just as the old man was condensing his sword domain.
A figure was seen speeding from the foot of Mount Hua toward the summit.
He stepped on the Seven Stars, and his speed was unbelievable.
Just as the figure approached the pavilion, it stomped its foot and leaped into the air.
Immediately afterwards, he landed in front of the gray-haired old man.
He was wearing a Taoist robe and looked like a Taoist priest, with a long sword at his waist.
Completely different from the aura of the gray-haired old man.
This person exudes a terrifying killing intent; he is fierce, ruthless, and cold-blooded.
Anyone who gets close to him will feel a sense of dread.
Judging from the aura emanating from him, this person's martial arts level is at the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Qi Realm!
In the martial arts world, his strength would be among the top masters.
It should be noted that the Grand Eunuch Kou Yin and Cao Shaoqing were both at the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Realm.
This person was only in his fifties, but unexpectedly, his martial arts level had broken through to the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Qi realm.
This shows that his martial arts talent was extremely high, even surpassing that of the Grand Eunuch Kou Yin and Cao Shaoqing.
His face was resolute, his gaze sharp, and his aura unfathomable.
Although he was wearing a Taoist robe, it could not conceal the terrifying killing intent emanating from him.
If anyone knows anything about the martial arts world in the north, they should recognize him. Duan Shan!
This powerful figure, dressed in a Taoist robe and whose martial arts had broken through to the mid-stage of the Meridian Opening Qi realm, is the most outstanding swordsman in the Northern martial arts world—Evil Sword Duan Shan!
Ten years ago,
Duan Shan travels to the Lingta Ancient Temple of the Western Regions Esoteric Buddhism to fight against Ganuo, a disciple of the Golden Venerable Dharma King.
In the end, Duan Shan's 'Bitter Sea Sword Technique' proved superior, defeating Gano.
of course,
Duan Shan is not only the head of the Duan family in the northern martial arts world, but also a disciple of the "Bitter Saint".
at this time,
Evil Sword Duan Shan flew up from the foot of Mount Hua and knelt respectfully before the gray-haired old man.
"Master!"
Swish!
As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of air surged around them.
The clouds and mist outside the pavilion actually dissipated beneath the sword domain.
The dark longsword instantly appeared before him and went into its sheath.
call!
The elderly man with gray hair exhaled and adjusted his breathing.
He looked up at Duan Shan and said calmly, "What brings you here?"
Click!
A piercing sound rang out.
Fifty meters away from the gray-haired old man, a huge rock split open with a resounding crash.
Sword Saint Technique - Boundless Sea of Suffering!
A sword strikes through the air, invisible and silent!
That sword strike was incredibly fast!
The black cat beside the old man instantly arched its back, its fur bristling, and stared coldly into the distance.
After sheathing his sword, the old man's breathing calmed down.
but,
The aura emanating from him still sends chills down one's spine.
Duan Shan knelt before the old man, bowing with a look of worship on his face.
He knew very well that his master's martial arts level had broken through to the level of Sword Saint.
His spiritual refinement realm has even broken through to the second stage of "sitting in oblivion"—severing ties!
The previous sword strike, "Boundless Bitter Sea," expanded the sword domain to over fifty meters away.
Unlike slaying someone a hundred miles away with a single sword strike, this is the control of a sword domain.
It looks like,
He didn't move at all, but his sword energy instantly killed enemies fifty meters away.
A sword flashes by, then withdraws in an instant.
This was an invincible sword strike he forged after his primordial spirit left his body, condensing the power of heaven and earth to its limit.
Duan Shan kowtowed to his master and said:
"Master, I believe that in a little while, you will be able to break through to the third stage of the Meditation Realm—the Mind Gathering!"
"Then you will be able to return to Kunlun!"
The elderly man with gray hair sighed helplessly and shook his head.
His voice echoed atop Mount Hua, like an ethereal sound from the void.
"It's very difficult! The later the Refinement of Spirit realm goes, the more precarious each step becomes, and breakthroughs are extremely difficult."
"This is going against the will of Heaven, breaking the rules and constraints of Heaven and Earth."
"Since I broke through to the Sitting Meditation Realm last time, I have been in seclusion and cultivating diligently for thirty years before I was able to barely break through to the second stage of Sitting Meditation, Severing Ties!"
"The third stage of sitting in oblivion, 'gathering the mind,' is a hurdle. I don't know if I can break through to the 'gathering the mind' state before I pass away."
"Having reached this level in martial arts, a breakthrough is needed."
“It is difficult to cultivate one’s state of mind and gather one’s primordial spirit. Only when one reaches the state of forgetting oneself will one discover the power of the universe.”
"Breaking free from the shackles of heaven and earth and truly shattering the void is by no means an easy task."
An old man with gray hair stood in a pavilion atop Mount Hua, looking up towards the east.
His expression was unusually calm.
The Seven Stages of Sitting in Oblivion: Faith and Reverence, Severing Ties, Calming the Mind, Simplifying Affairs, True Observation, Tranquility, and Attaining the Dao!
Each stage represents a transformation of the primordial spirit, an evolution of the mind, and a sublimation of consciousness.
The Bitter Saint – Solitary!
The old man with gray hair was the traitor of the Kunlun Sword Sect, known as the Bitter Saint, one of the Three Saints of Kunlun!
His martial arts prowess has reached the level of Sword Saint, and his spiritual refinement has also broken through to the second stage of the Forgetfulness Realm, the Severing of Fate.
In the Great Qian Dynasty, he was a legendary figure who rarely appeared in the martial arts world. His whereabouts were mysterious, and he was like a dragon whose head is seen but not its tail.
at this time,
The spirited Duan Shan was like an obedient child in front of his master when they were traveling alone.
The teachings of a sword saint are extremely valuable to any martial artist.
Anyone who receives guidance from the Sword Saint will benefit from it for a lifetime.
After breaking through to the pinnacle of martial arts, the realm of seeing the divine and being indestructible, one's entire life potential undergoes a complete transformation.
They have even surpassed the strongest human beings, and their abilities are unfathomable.
Their martial arts philosophy and understanding of the profound mysteries of martial arts far surpass those of ordinary martial artists.
If one is not a direct disciple or has a blood relationship with the Sword Saint, it is almost impossible to receive instruction or guidance in the Sword Saint's martial arts.
"Duan Shan, didn't you leave the Guanzhong region recently? When did you come back?"
He took out a white cloth and gently wiped the dark longsword in his hand.
His aura had been subdued, and he no longer appeared to be showing off his sharpness.
but,
Anyone who gets close to him can feel that his body is like a volcano, ready to erupt at any moment, giving people an extremely terrifying sense of oppression.
The traitor from Kunlun, the Bitter Saint, traveled alone and lived in seclusion on Mount Hua for many years.
He always had many concubines around him, serving his daily life.
Unlike those who practice asceticism, he never mistreats himself.
Sword Saint!
This level of martial arts skill is completely different from that of ordinary martial arts practitioners.
Relatively speaking, the martial world was the mortal realm to the Sword Saint.
His mind had already detached itself from worldly affairs, and he no longer cared about anything mundane.
His mind was focused on refining his primordial spirit, free from worldly entanglements.
Only by cultivating the Refining Spirit Realm to the seventh stage of the Forgetfulness Realm can one attain enlightenment and ascend to the other shore.
The path of martial arts cultivation has always been against the will of Heaven; if you don't advance, you fall behind!
Once a martial artist breaks through to the pinnacle of martial arts, they usually stop paying attention to worldly matters.
Just like Li Aoshuang, the "Sword Master of the Surprising Clouds" of this generation, after breaking through to the Divine Realm, she no longer cared much about worldly affairs.
She was forced to leave seclusion only when the Great Qian Dynasty faced a life-or-death crisis.
Chen Jie's situation is completely different; he's too young!
He couldn't be completely detached from worldly affairs like that.
Duan Shan was a disciple of the Bitter Saint and also the top martial arts master in Guanzhong.
Under normal circumstances,
Unless there is something particularly important, Duan Shan would never easily climb to the summit of Mount Hua.
"Master, something terrible has happened!"
Duan Shan took a deep breath and reported, "According to the report from my spies in Kunlun Mountain, Junior Brother Shan Tu has most likely been killed."
"The soul tablets of the guards who followed their junior brother to Kunlun were all shattered."
"The soul lamps of all eight Dark Guards have been extinguished; not one has been spared."
"Junior Brother's soul lamp has also been extinguished!"
Upon hearing this, the Bitter Saint's gaze suddenly turned cold: "What did you say?"
Swish!
Next, he took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and began to calculate with his fingers.
A moment later, he looked up at the Kunlun Mountains.
"Hmph! The secrets of heaven are blocked, making it impossible to calculate!"
call!
He took a deep breath and asked menacingly:
"Have you found out who did it? I left a sword intent on Tu'er, which can unleash the combat power of a quasi-saint."
"Who could have killed Tu'er and all eight of his bodyguards?"
"There are very few people in the martial arts world who can do this."
Duan Shan shook his head and reported with his head down:
"No results found, there's no information at the moment, but—!"
He said coldly, "Speak!"
Duan Shan thought for a moment and said, "Someone saw Qian Wang Chen Jie's whereabouts in the Kunlun Yaochi Holy Land—!" (End of this chapter)