Chapter 86: One Sword (Sixth Update)

“Elder, has Xiao Yunlu succeeded?”

Since Xu Xing had left, Chi Jiuyu could only confirm with Huo.

“Mm, she has.”

That youngling’s success might well be expected.

Your trial showed her the door; the realm’s blessing gave her the key; and the life-or-death crisis brought by that old man helped her climb the final step.

But regardless, her own efforts accounted for a vast portion as well.

“What she comprehended is the Principle of Peril—the meaning of life through death.”

As the name implies, the more perilous her situation, the stronger she becomes; if she stands on the brink of life and death, she can even use this to breach the barriers between realms.

Moreover, this enhancement is comprehensive and carries no cost.

“What a suicidal ‘comprehension,’” Chi Jiuyu grumbled.

Does this mean Xiao Yunlu must risk her life every day to progress faster? Call it the Principle of Suicide, not Peril.

“Huh? Why hasn’t she started healing yet?”

Chi Jiuyu sensed something was wrong.

His head was nearly severed—logically, the outcome should’ve been decided already! How could a Qi Refining cultivator possibly regrow limbs?

Within the realm, in the combat space.

“Xiao Fan” hung his head, connected only by a thin layer of skin and the spine—utterly horrifying.

Blood poured continuously, staining his robes, yet he remained standing rigidly, showing no sign of collapsing.

Zhang Yunlu turned back to look at him, puzzled in her heart.

Surely he can’t still be alive after this?

“Heh, ‘comprehension’… you still managed it…” The voice sounded again.

How could this be! Her blade had cut through his throat! Zhang Yunlu raised her sword—her spiritual power, physical condition, perception, and soul strength all surged violently, as if she had returned to the moment when life and death hung in the balance.

Even if a Foundation Establishment cultivator stood before her now, she could cut him down with one strike! Before her, “Xiao Fan”’s severed neck wound began to writhe, and fine pink buds sprouted from both ends.

Those buds, like tentacles, intertwined and twisted, forcibly pulling the severed head back into place; the wound Zhang Yunlu had carved into his throat healed at an astonishing rate.

The scene was profoundly eerie.

In moments, “Xiao Fan” had fully restored.

He twisted his neck, producing a crisp series of “clicks.”

“This time, you truly must die.”

His glass-like multicolored eyes fixed on Zhang Yunlu, utterly expressionless, his voice calm and indifferent—as if stating an inevitable fact.

Die? Hummmmm!!! Again came that sword hum.

“Xiao Fan” felt Zhang Yunlu vanish from his vision—he could no longer sense her movement at all.

A Qi Refining cultivator who has not comprehended the Principle faces one who has—this is utter helplessness.

Even if a regular Foundation Establishment cultivator replaced her, the outcome wouldn’t improve much.

But…

If Huo still refuses to act, she will die here today.

“E Zhuan.”

Hum~ A faint ripple appeared, then dense ink spread outward, radiating in all directions; wherever it passed, everything slowed to a crawl.

Zhang Yunlu’s form was revealed within this force.

The blade had reached the side of “Xiao Fan”’s ear, about to strike—but its motion grew slower and slower, like a tiny insect gradually fossilizing in amber.

“Yuan Chen Mo Nong.”

As those four words were spoken, Zhang Yunlu’s movements froze completely—time itself seemed to halt upon her.

Yet the ink’s advance did not cease.

It breached the boundaries of the combat space, surging like a tide, instantly swallowing the entire realm.

All cultivators, all Tongxuan grass monsters, froze as if paused—only the crimson moon hanging high in the sky remained bright.

Worse still, the ink spread beyond the realm into Xuanjian City; whether they were Soul Transformation cultivators or innocent children who had never stepped onto the path of cultivation, all were frozen at the final moment before the ink’s arrival.

The entire Xuanjian City resembled a black-and-white photograph.

Looking at the motionless figures around him, Li Qingyang’s face turned grim.

He knew this power all too well.

Or rather, every cultivator who had survived since ancient times would recognize this power.

“It’s the ancient Cang clan!”

Damn it! Why would that old thing appear in such a trivial place?

…………

Inside the villa, all color had vanished; Chi Jiuyu stood utterly still.

Huo watched as “Xiao Fan” raised his hand, about to press it against Zhang Yunlu’s forehead.

If that finger touched, she would die without doubt.

Not merely within the realm—she would die utterly, in reality as well.

“No matter the scheme…” Huo sighed softly, “it is time.”

He stepped forward, as if crossing the boundary between reality and the realm.

Within the frozen combat space, “Xiao Fan”’s gaze flickered slightly.

No other figures appeared around him—but he knew Huo had arrived.

“You went to great lengths to draw me out. Now… can you state your purpose?” A voice echoed as if within the mind.

Among all living beings, who is without doubt? “Purpose? All I do is for you.”

Like ancient bells slowly flowing from a deep gorge, thick and low, yet bearing sacred, inviolable solemnity.

The two seemed to converse across vast ages, through Xiao Fan’s body.

“Gui Liu, Suiyue Gaiyi.”

Each word spoken seemed carved into eternal rock, weathered by time, heavy with the weight of ages.

Time appeared to reverse—but it could not affect Huo; he stood on a higher dimension, witnessing the scenes that had once occurred upon Xiao Fan.

He himself brought the Danhua Vase to Xiao Fan, transforming the lingering Cang clan blood into vitality…

Finally, the scene froze at the hospital entrance, where he handed Xiao Fan the jade box containing the Cang clan blood.

Yet in every moment, his own eyes shone like glass, glowing with multicolored light.

“Well?”

All the “Huo”s asked simultaneously, raising their heads to gaze at the higher-dimensional Huo.

“Ancient One, do you think this has meaning?”

“When have I ever done anything meaningless?”

This journey had two purposes.

First: to help Xiao Fan, who carries Cang clan blood, comprehend the Principle and transform him into a Cang clan member.

Alas… it failed.

Even before his cognition was twisted, he began doubting he was no longer human.

But after his perception was twisted, this Xiao Fan stubbornly insisted the Cang clan were merely a branch of humanity.

Alas~ Had it not been for this, He would never have chosen to take over Xiao Fan’s body.

Second: it was for Huo.

“Karma entangled, time altered—I wish to borrow a sliver of your essence,” Gu said calmly.

Huo paused: “Borrow my essence?”

“Indeed.”

A radiant multicolored light flared—each “Huo” stepped out from the scene, following the invisible connection, beginning to pull at something.

The moment Huo entered this place, he could not escape this fate.

Huo’s heart stirred slightly.

A sliver of essence would be harmless—but if this old thing craves it so desperately, it must not fall into His hands.

“If it were only you, I might have let you succeed.”

“Even if another came, the result would be the same,” Gu said calmly.

Before undertaking any of this, He had already prepared for more opponents.

“Is that so?” Huo smiled.

A blinding flash of brilliant light appeared—a sharp, piercing sword beam!

The radiant sword light, with absolute ferocity, shattered all resistance, severed every connection, and swept across infinite time and space!

Gu’s expression changed drastically; his eyes, once as still as a deep well before Huo, now blazed with the most intense hatred.

“Sword Ancestor!!!”

Requesting first subscription!!!

(End of Chapter)