Chapter 145: Century Spirit Milk Transforms into Holy Spirit Pearls!

Hu~!

A ironwood golem wielding a massive axe flashed red light in its eyes, then swung the axe violently, slicing through the air with a dull roar toward Chen Mu!

Chen Mu did not dodge or evade; the Star-Splitting Sword drew from its sheath, and a sharp flash of swordlight cut through…

Kuaang~!

The axe, along with the golem's arm, was severed and twisted by a single swordstroke. Then another flash of swordlight— the ironwood golem toppled over and rolled down the steps.

Bang!

Pang Yunrui growled as he swung his twin halberds like a human tyrannosaur, smashing a spear-wielding golem backward off the steps.

Xiu-xiu-xiu~

Shen Ge's sword moved with light grace, his figure flickering like mist; his blade precisely tapped the weak joints of the golems, dismantling them effortlessly.

Dang~ Dang~ Dang!

Qin Liangjing's long spear moved like a dragon, thrusting like lightning; its domineering power swept away golem after golem.

The four of them each displayed their unique skills, like four sharp knives, charging into the ironwood golem formation and steadily pushing toward the mountain peak.

…

Dang~ Dang~ Dang~

Chen Mu held the Star-Splitting Sword, its swordlight flashing like lightning, easily repelling an ironwood golem that charged at him with a blade.

These golems possessed tremendous strength and astonishing defense; blades below mid-grade spiritual weapons could not harm them, and they fought without fear of death— a true trial for ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Yet after slashing the third golem aside, Chen Mu's eyes flickered with a strange glint.

He realized these ironwood golems were exquisitely constructed; though their movements were slightly rigid, their fundamentals were solid, their strikes powerful and heavy, and more importantly—

They were incredibly resilient, the perfect targets for honing his sword techniques!

Though the mid-grade spiritual weapon Star-Splitting Sword could injure them, it could not truly "crush" them outright; only with precise sword techniques and refined force application could he efficiently break them.

"A rare opportunity!"

Chen Mu's heart stirred; his earlier urgency to pass through instantly calmed.

He no longer chased speed, but deliberately slowed his pace, stepping forward to meet each activated ironwood golem.

The Star-Splitting Sword seemed to come alive in his hands; the essence of the Battle-Heaven Sword Art flowed through his mind.

He no longer merely sought to knock them back or destroy them—he began using these painless, tireless golems to feed his strikes, test his techniques.

From handling one golem at a time, to drawing two, then three…

Swordlight swirled around him—sometimes like the Duan Tianhe surging, vast and open; sometimes like a star-river flowing, devious and strange; sometimes like a star-river settling, solemn as Rushan.

Under pressure, Chen Mu continuously adjusted the angle, force, speed of his strikes, and his comprehension of the Battle-Heaven Sword Art's intent.

Shen Ge, Pang Yunrui, and Qin Liangjing saw this and understood Chen Mu was using the golems to train his sword; they did not disturb him.

They each employed their own methods to crush the golems blocking their path, their figures gradually overtaking Chen Mu as they raced swiftly toward the peak.

Chen Mu was utterly focused, completely immersed in his "sparring" with the ironwood golems.

Sweat soaked his robes; his arms grew numb from countless impacts, yet his eyes grew brighter, his sword techniques smoother and more natural, many previously obscure points suddenly clarified.

After a moment, when he used a flawlessly precise sword technique to simultaneously pierce the core joints of three golems, causing them to collapse instantly, Chen Mu stopped swinging his sword, standing still with blade in hand; an invisible sword intent seemed to surge skyward, then instantly retracted.

The Battle-Heaven Sword Art had successfully reached the Realm of Perfect Mastery!

His swordcraft had ascended another level!

Feeling the sword intent and true qi within him now respond as effortlessly as limbs, Chen Mu nodded in satisfaction.

His goal achieved, Chen Mu no longer delayed; his body moved, and swordlight exploded!

Shua-shua-shua~

The Battle-Heaven Sword Art, now in the Realm of Perfect Mastery, surged in power; the remaining ironwood golems could no longer offer the slightest resistance.

Chen Mu swept through them like a storm through dry grass, swiftly clearing the path and ascending the peak.

Yet the scene atop the peak made him pause slightly.

The expected calm after passing the trial did not appear—instead, a chaotic battlefield.

Dozens of cultivators who had passed ahead now fought fiercely on the relatively narrow platform atop the mountain!

Blades flashed, shouts and curses rang out endlessly.

More strangely, the moment Chen Mu stepped onto the peak, he felt a powerful array suppression crush over his entire body; his Duan Tianhe true qi seemed shackled, sluggish and hard to mobilize or project outward!

Here, one could rely only on pure martial skill and physical strength for combat.

The advantage of Ditan Realm experts was drastically weakened; their power was suppressed to roughly the level of late Foundation Establishment.

Chen Mu scanned the battlefield and recognized several familiar faces.

The other three Ditan Realm experts who had entered the ancient ruins—Guan Shanhai, Zhou Tong, and another elder—were now each surrounded by multiple Foundation Establishment cultivators, fighting desperately, their Ditan Realm cultivation and experience useless, barely holding their ground.

Pang Yunrui and Shen Ge were also in the fray, fighting back-to-back against a group.

Chen Mu quickly spotted Qin Liangjing standing at the edge of the battle, not participating, and immediately flashed over to him.

"Big Brother Qin, what's going on? Why are they fighting?" Chen Mu asked, puzzled.

Qin Liangjing, seeing Chen Mu arrive, exhaled in relief, then grimaced and pointed toward a concave stone altar at the center of the chaos.

There, suspended in the hollow of the altar, floated three pearls, each the size of a pigeon's egg, emitting a soft seven-colored glow and radiating an indescribable purity of life energy.

Merely gazing at them from afar made one feel utterly refreshed, as if one's very life essence was rejoicing.

"They're fighting over the Holy Spirit Pearls."

Qin Liangjing explained, "Based on the inscriptions left here, I deduce this place was originally a ritual pool used by the ancient sect to reward outstanding new disciples who passed the three trials—its purpose was to cleanse the body with 'Century Spirit Milk,' which rapidly restored true qi and improved one's constitution."

"But after thousands, even tens of thousands of years, the Spirit Milk pool dried up, and its most refined essence condensed and evolved into these three Holy Spirit Pearls!"

"The vitality and spiritual efficacy within these pearls far surpasses the original Century Spirit Milk—they possess the miraculous power to cleanse tendons and marrow, transform the body, even for mortals!"

"Even for Tiangong Realm experts beyond Ditan, they hold significant value! Truly priceless—such treasures naturally drive people mad."

At those words, Chen Mu's heart gave a sudden lurch.

Marrow washing, bone forging, shedding the mortal body and swapping the bones?

He thought of the child in Miao Xiuxiu's belly, soon to be born—his little nephew.

If he could obtain this thing for a newborn baby, how immensely solid would that child's martial foundation for the future be? Its effect would undoubtedly be far better than using it on an already grown martial artist!

The chance of obtaining another Divine Power Card was far too small.

Yet the Holy Spirit Pearls right before his eyes were within reach!

His gaze fixed on the three Holy Spirit Pearls radiating an alluring halo, and Chen Mu's eyes grew resolute.

"Clang!"

The Lone Star Sword leapt from its sheath once more, letting out a clear, ringing sword-cry.

"Brother Qin, wait here for a moment."

Chen Mu said a word to Qin Liangjing, then his body shot like lightning, plunging without the slightest hesitation into the chaotic melee, his sword-light aimed straight at the most fiercely contested central zone!