Chapter 473: Seeing Again

"Drained... collapsed..."

Tang Zhao chewed over the two answers Xiangyangzi had given; this was not hard to understand, as one could guess eight or nine tenths of it from the literal meaning.

"Does 'drained' mean draining the power supporting the Sword Momentum? And 'collapsed' means letting the Sword Momentum collapse on its own..."

Tang Zhao thought for a moment, then added, "Since this collapse isn't a head-on collision, could it be the kind of 'four ounces deflecting a thousand pounds,' where one finds a certain fulcrum and pries it, causing it to crumble by itself? A Force Array must have an Array Eye, a fulcrum; does a Sword Momentum have similar key points?"

Xiangyangzi shook its flower disk repeatedly and said, "Your comprehension is quite good; I didn't say much, yet you guessed most of it. Of course, a Sword Momentum doesn't have clear fulcrums or Array Eyes, but it does have weaknesses. It should be said that any sword's technique, Law, and Momentum have weaknesses; in essence, they are all weaknesses of the sword. The sword is inherently an existence that walks a narrow path; it cannot be perfect. That is why it is said that battles between Sword Guests focus on mutual generation and restraint; strength is important, but techniques and tactics are also important."

Tang Zhao nodded; the success of a sword has always been the result of walking to the extreme in a certain direction.

If one aspect is particularly strong, other aspects certainly cannot keep up, otherwise it wouldn't count as "extreme."

Perhaps at the level of an extreme "Sword Dao," the sword is invincible and unstoppable, and no weakness matters anymore, nor does it constitute a weakness. But before reaching such an extreme, every sword can be said to have hard-to-hide shortcomings.

Tang Zhao's sword is still considered balanced and upright, focusing mainly on dignified and powerful combat; it can only be said that it lacks sufficient defense against some rule-based sword arts, leaving room for exploitation. But some swords, such as those "Ouroboros Swords," can be called "extremely powerful, extremely fragile," where the weaknesses are almost "fatal spots"; every battle is a gamble, capable of defeating the strong with the weak, but also capable of capsizing in a gutter.

However, by the time one reaches the level of a Sword Immortal, it has actually been supplemented, being much more comprehensive than a Sword Hero, and with far fewer weaknesses.

After all, a Sword Immortal has three Sword Intents. Except for a few madmen, most swords' three Sword Intents support and compensate for each other. A triangle is a quite stable existence. A Sword Immortal's Sword Momentum is built on these three Sword Intents as cornerstones; it is not biased, and the foundation is also quite solid.

Perhaps another Sword Immortal could discover another Sword Immortal's weakness and find a way to defeat them, but for a Sword Guest or even a Sword Hero to want to exploit this loophole, isn't it overestimating themselves?

Tang Zhao asked directly, "Even if the Sword Momentum has loopholes, it's hard for us to catch them, right? And even if we catch them, we can't deal with them, right?"

Xiangyangzi said, "If a Sword Immortal were using the Sword Momentum in person, you certainly wouldn't be able to break through it. Having said that, if there really were a Sword Immortal or a Middle-rank Sword Deity here, what the hell would you do? Wouldn't you just run for your life? But the person isn't here, is he? This is just a self-operating Sword Momentum. If a Sword Momentum isn't perfect from the start, the longer it runs, the bigger the problems become; the hidden dangers buried at the beginning become obvious problems later on. If the Sword Immortal were here, it would be fine; they could adjust according to the situation at any time. But with the Sword Immortal or Sword Deity absent, after more than a hundred years, it has long since become riddled with holes."

"At this time, as long as you observe the weakness and design a plan, there is always a chance to stake everything on one throw."

Tang Zhao pondered, "Is this what is meant by 'the accumulation of long-standing problems is hard to reverse'? Some ailments are just minor skin irritations at first, but in the end, they intensify and become fatal terminal illnesses?"

Xiangyangzi said, "That is exactly the principle. By the same token, extracting the power of the Sword Momentum is the same. If the Sword Immortal were here, you extracting the power of the Sword Momentum would be equivalent to directly competing with the Sword Immortal; you would have to drain the Sword Immortal to win. That is the stupidest method, even stupider than a head-on collision. But the Sword Immortal and Sword Deity are not here, and the Sword Momentum is essentially water without a source. Perhaps it has a link to nature and can replenish some Origin Crystal from heaven and earth, but without the 'Sword Dao' blessing, this link is definitely not strong and can certainly be severed. As long as you make the Sword Momentum completely suspended, whether you use a big pipe or a small pipe to drain it, you can drain it dry. The only thing I don't know is whether that Wangliang will have a reaction. If it notices and chases you out, you are definitely no match for it."

Tang Zhao pondered, "It shouldn't chase us out. The Wangliang is on Wangliang Mountain, which is actually already in a state of open sealing. The Imperial Court has a Tongming Hall, which is as famous as Qingtian Temple, specifically for suppressing forbidden lands like Wangliang Mountain. For so many years, at most, an occasional individual from Wangliang Mountain has snuck out to do evil, but I haven't heard of any unusual movement from the Wangliang."

The officialdom of the Imperial Court is rotten to the core, and government decrees can hardly leave Jingcheng, but some departments are actually operating well. For example, the State Preceptor's Nine Heavens Dao Palace, for example, Qingtian Temple, for example, Tongming Hall. The control over Wangliang has been quite effective these years.

He continued, "I can understand the principles you mentioned, and I believe they are correct. But... it's still a bit difficult to operate in practice. Even if a Sword Immortal lowers the threshold, I still can't touch them. For example, severing the connection between the Sword Momentum and nature, for example, observing the weaknesses of the Sword Momentum, for example, using means to crush the Sword Momentum—these are all things where knowledge is easy but action is difficult. I know the principles, but I can't do it, unless..."

Tang Zhao said solemnly to Xiangyangzi, "Unless the senior can lend a helping hand."

Xiangyangzi shook its flower disk and said, "I have to keep watch over the Spirit Hall for Dongjun..."

Seeing that it did not strictly refuse, Tang Zhao knew there was a chance, and said sincerely, "I know the senior is dedicated to keeping watch, transcendent and worldly, and I naturally wouldn't dare to disturb you. I only ask you to go out for a moment, see the Momentum of the Wangliang clearly; you don't have to take action yourself, just guide me a little. Then I will fight with my companions, and you can rest assured in keeping watch. After all, the Zhugong is still in Baiyujing. Baiyujing was originally the moat of Dongjun's mausoleum, and now it is polluted by the Wangliang; wouldn't that also disturb Dongjun's spirit in heaven? If you guide us to eliminate the Wangliang, both Dongjun and you can be at peace forever."

Xiangyangzi let out a long sigh and said, "You juniors, when will you be able to stop relying on us old fellows..."

Its voice was still very childish, sounding at most seven or eight years old, but its airs were no less than seventy or eighty.

Of course, it might actually be seven or eight hundred years old.

Tang Zhao only needed it to agree, even if it said a few cheap words? He had seen many old seniors who relied on their age to act arrogantly, so one more didn't matter. He smiled and said, "I'll clear the way for you, shall we go out?"

Xiangyangzi said, "Don't be in a hurry. Since we are going out, we still have to take some things. I, an old person, haven't taken action for many years and have no savings in my hands. Let's first choose a few things to help out. That is also for Dongjun's great cause; it is very reasonable to take these offerings to handle official business, isn't it?"

It seemed to be asking for Tang Zhao's opinion, and Tang Zhao nodded and said, "That is only natural."

He only restrains himself, he wouldn't force others.

Besides... Xiangyangzi has been guarding the Spirit Hall for over a hundred years; it is surely more qualified to dispose of these things than he is, right? It can dispose of them itself, why ask Tang Zhao, an outsider?

Xiangyangzi said, "Then you come and take them. That Lamp... that cluster of clouds... that Egg... yes, yes, that Bead is an egg... this one too..."

It pointed out treasures for Tang Zhao to take there, pointing here and there without any politeness, leaving Tang Zhao stunned.

Truly stunned, because almost every time he took a treasure, the Sword Manual in front of him would flip open, rustling out information about this sword. He didn't have time to look closely, but a glance showed at least an Immortal Sword, and he even saw the blurry, non-displayed Li Sword in the Sword Guest column; compared to the Kun Sword, this should be a Saint Sword.

This is really... he had explored the Sword Manual for many years and only flipped three or five pages, but now it flipped more than ten pages at once, each with Dharma Artifacts and Force Arrays, all meeting the conditions for simulated holding. If he has enough physical strength when he goes out later, he could even become an Immortal Sword "tentacle monster."

An Immortal Sword in the left hand, a Saint Sword in the right hand, in the sky or on the ground, who can withstand a battle?

Thinking of that scene, Tang Zhao chuckled to himself twice.

Xiangyangzi looked at him strangely and said again, "Don't get distracted, pry off a few of the Pearls on the wall."

Tang Zhao asked curiously, "Pry off Pearls?"

Xiangyangzi said, "Why do you think this Dongjun's sword mausoleum is called 'Zhugong'? Are those Pearls just for looking good? Dongjun is not a Dongzhu Sword, why would he need Pearls? These are all Origin Crystals left over from that battle."

Tang Zhao exclaimed, "These are Origin Crystals?"

Origin Crystals are crystals condensed from Origin Power. If Internal Energy is like wind, Qi is like fire, and Sword Essence is like water, then higher-level power is like earth—it is a substantial solid, which is an Origin Crystal, the highest-quality energy crystal.

However, it is said that on the path of the sword, a Sword Guest's power has its own high-level energy form, called a Sword Pill, but that is an existence fused with more Sword Intent, belonging to the Sword Guest personally, and is not as universal as an Origin Crystal.

Origin Crystals are not only high-level power, but they are also widely used in the world of Talisman Sword Masters, far more powerful and efficient than Origin Talismans.

The higher the level of the Rune Formula, the more high-level energy it requires. For example, the teleportation array at the top of Qianqiu Tower—Tang Zhao said that exhausting his own reserves might not be enough to fill the needs of one teleportation, but if these Origin Crystals were used, perhaps a few would be enough to fill it.

Tang Zhao has been casting swords with Xue Xianyun and has come into contact with many materials, but he had only seen a few Origin Crystals in Xue Xianyun's collection. In his memory, he only remembered them being at most the size of soybeans, and he never had the chance to touch them, let alone use them to make Rune Formulas. How could he have expected to see countless Origin Crystals in a Spirit Hall?

It can only be said, is this worthy of being a Sword Immortal?

Looking at these Origin Crystals, Tang Zhao couldn't help but swallow his saliva—he hadn't been moved by the various Dharma Artifacts and Force Arrays just now, but now he felt a bit itchy seeing so many Origin Crystals. It can only be said that the same things have different temptations for different people.

Fortunately, he didn't even need to restrain himself. Xiangyangzi wanted him to pry off a few more, so he justifiably took them down one by one, placing them in the Time Jar like a harvest, unable to stop prying.

Xiangyangzi also shouted, "Take more. No matter how good other Dharma Artifacts are, the final blow to erupt power still depends on these Origin Crystals. If you don't take more, you'll be dumbfounded if you fall short by a single move."

Tang Zhao answered happily, "Alright—"

After stuffing a large handful of Pearls, with one wall almost bare, Tang Zhao was just about to say it was enough when he suddenly saw an object, and his heart stirred.

He beckoned, and a ribbon that looked like white light descended from the floating light, falling into his palm and hanging down naturally, flowing vaguely in his hand like honey.

Xiangyangzi was very puzzled; it hadn't noticed this object just now, and at this moment, it couldn't remember whose thing it was, so it asked, "What is this?"

Tang Zhao said softly, "It should be—Bai Ni."

Gently turning his palm, the back of that piece of Bai Ni was dripping with ink—

There really were words!