Chapter 2182

Many human sword Dao supremes relaxed all at once.

Their restraint and unease vanished instantly.

The Sword Immortal Maiden truly lives up to her name—being with her brings no pressure, just like chatting casually with a couple of sword Dao friends, with no hierarchy, no imperial majesty, merely an ordinary sword cultivator.

Today you are stronger; you ought to be a true Sword Immortal Maiden.

Someday I will be stronger—does that mean I cannot become a true Sword Immortal Maiden?

It is as clear as day: no need for later-acquired loftiness, innately divine, supreme and noble; sword cultivators judge superiority by the sword, rank by the sword.

"Heavenly Dao fellow Daoist,"

"In my view, your sword Dao cultivation is the highest among the myriad Heavenly Sword supremes—would you be willing to exchange a few sword moves?"

Jiang Ding gazed at the many sword cultivators of the Heavenly Sword Star Domain, a spark of interest arising, and said.

The unique sword Dao from foreign lands always brings a sense of novelty, perhaps offering better insights.

"Sword Lord, this..."

The Heavenly Dao Sword Supreme felt deeply moved; after a moment, he forced a bitter smile.

He had once been supremely confident, looking down on the four great star domains, even believing he had a one-in-a-hundred chance against the true Sword Immortal Maiden in battle—but now, having truly seen her, he had lost his confidence.

"No matter, just for enjoyment."

Jiang Ding saw his worry and comforted him.

"Really?"

The Heavenly Dao Sword Supreme's eyes lit up.

Clang!

In truth, he could no longer wait for a reply, already impatiently drawing his sword and charging forward like a rabid dog lunging for food.

This sword was vast and boundless like the Heavenly Dao itself—formless, substanceless, carrying terrifying frenzied killing intent, omnipresent, all-encompassing, penetrating the souls and marrow of all beings, like the wrath of Heaven.

This sword reached the utmost in regulatory authority, sword, sword technique, sword intent, and sword soul of the sword cultivator personally—its killing intent was frenzied beyond compare, as if facing a lifelong mortal enemy, with no semblance of sparring.

The myriad sword Dao supremes held their breath, watching this sword.

Clang!

Jiang Ding likewise drew his sword.

This sword was neither hot nor cold; the blade contained one-tenth of the Heavenly Dao Sword Supreme's magic power and divine sword intent, its various law-defying flying swords not sharp in appearance, similarly only one-tenth the level of the Heavenly Dao Sword—yet theoretically, the latter should shatter on contact.

Ding!

Ding ding ding...

The two flying swords danced in the air, clashing billions of times in an instant.

Though clearly moving faster than the reaction limit of ordinary supremes' divine sense, every detail remained distinct—allowing all sword cultivators to see every detail of the two flying swords, from the sword's strike to the operation of regulatory power on the blade, the application of regulatory authority power, the condensation and concentration of sword intent... and so on, all should reside in the divine souls of the myriad sword cultivators.

After watching a while, the myriad sword Dao supremes revealed fervent expressions.

They saw that the flying sword with only one-tenth the aura of the Heavenly Dao Sword—whether slashing, chopping, or thrusting—was exquisite to the extreme; though possessing only one-tenth the opponent's power, it could concentrate into sharper force, striking every node of the opponent's sword technique, one against ten thousand.

As if creating something from nothing, as if a miracle and divine craftsmanship.

This is the pinnacle of sword technique!

This is sword technique approaching that of immortals!

Clang!

The two flying swords clashed countless times, then retreated dozens of steps with a resonant clang—both unharmed, not even a single hair's breadth of force leaking out.

"Thank you, Sword Lord, for your guidance!"

The Heavenly Dao Sword Supreme showed reverence.

He knew he had lost, lost utterly, yet felt no discouragement, for from this instructive sword duel he had gained immensely—his sword technique, stalled for five hundred thousand years, had achieved a great breakthrough.

"Haha!"

"Fellow Daoists, why not draw your swords?"

Jiang Ding laughed loudly.

The myriad sword techniques of the Heavenly Sword Star Domain likewise gave him many insights, stirring some thoughts in his heart.

"Yes!"

"Sword Lord!"

The myriad sword Dao supremes rejoiced in their hearts.

Clang!

Clang clang clang!

One after another, the flying swords of the myriad sword Dao supremes were drawn, killing intent soaring to the heavens, like immortal enemies, forming a Heavenly Dao Sword Array from their very hair, slashing toward the azure-clad youth in the sky.

Flying swords like a tide, sword qi like water, filling the entire sky.

"Excellent!"

Jiang Ding drew his sword, one man and one sword facing the myriad sword Dao supremes.

He swung one sword—clearly just one sword—yet all supremes seemed to see it slashing toward themselves, involuntarily tensing their minds.

The myriad flying swords formed a sword array like clouds merging into mist, and a single radiant flying sword clashed.

The tinkling sound of blade striking blade was as pleasant as dripping spring water, echoing in the empty valley.

After an unknown time, as the Taiqing Flying Sword descended again, the flying swords of the myriad sword Dao supremes all retreated, precisely falling into their respective supremes' sword sheaths.

The myriad sword Dao supremes fell into a dazed state, greatly enlightened.

"Sword Dao,"

"With sharpness, with swiftness, using the sword to move the power of heaven and earth, only I, only the sword..."

Jiang Ding spoke loudly and clearly, recounting his own sword Dao insights.

At the same time, he proposed his own ideas to the many sword Dao supremes, offering suggestions on what kind of sword Dao cultivation methods they should further comprehend, which immortal Dao scriptures they should read, and so on.

A long time passed.

The palace fell silent, and the last echo of sword Dao resonance faded away.

The Heavenly Dao Sword Venerable, the Calamity Heaven Sword Venerable, and other sword Dao supremes then awoke as if from a dream, all bowing in unison: "Thank you, Sword Master, for expounding the Dao!"

Their hearts were filled with gratitude.

This single lecture on the Dao surpassed countless sword Dao cultivators' life-and-death struggles!

A great opportunity!

This is the great opportunity the Sword Immortal Maiden has for sword cultivators!

"This is all due to your fellow Daoists' profound past accumulations,"

"I merely offered a few pointers at the gate."

Jiang Ding waved his hand and said: "You are all heaven's chosen sword cultivators of Shen Zhou, endowed with exceptional talent and brilliance. Since you have come here, just cultivate your Dao in peace."

"If you wish to engage in sword duels and slaughter, then go fight on the front lines;"

"If you wish to comprehend the utmost pinnacle of immortal Dao scientific research in the boundless cosmos and starry void, then go work in the Great Dream Sword Realm;"

"If you seek heavenly treasures and earthly riches, wealth to pass down to your descendants, then you may likewise go manage worldly enterprises... everything is possible, depending entirely on your thoughts. I will treat you all equally."

"Whatever the supremes of Bei Dou Xing Yu possess, you too shall have."

"Do you, fellow Daoists, believe this or not?"

Jiang Ding asked with a smile.

"We believe!"

"Sword Master!"

The Heavenly Dao Sword Venerable and others replied without hesitation.

If the Myriad Laws True Immortal Maiden had said this, they would have given the same answer, but they would not have believed it in their hearts.

Under the Myriad Laws True Immortal Maiden, the best opportunities would certainly be given first to the Myriad Laws royal lineage and the True Immortal Maiden's direct descendants, only then gradually spreading to various cultivators in a tower-like hierarchy. These newly affiliated sword cultivators would naturally be ranked lower in that hierarchy.

This is only natural human sentiment, and they would not feel it unjust.

But in the presence of the Supreme Grand Sun Sword Immortal Maiden, they immediately trusted this statement.

This is the tacit understanding among sword cultivators.

This is the Supreme Grand Sun Sword Immortal Maiden's utmost fairness and integrity.

Of course, "utmost fairness and integrity" is a positive phrasing; a more neutral way to say it is, "Heaven and Earth are not benevolent, treating all things as straw dogs!"

The Sword Immortal Maiden will not favor any sword cultivator specially; he will only favor those who are stronger and more excellent, with personal bias reduced to almost nothing.

(End of Chapter)