Chapter 2975: Eight Million Divine Soul Thoughts
This sword seal was made of a special material, and even the previous Realm Lord of Jiannan Realm did not know where it came from. However, the will left by Sword Ancestor back then stated that the one who obtained the sword seal would be the guardian of the Sword Realm.
This demonstrated its extraordinary nature.
The sudden flight of the sword seal alarmed Zhang Ruochen.
"Be careful, don't get close. The black light mist surging from the abyss is the Boundless Divine Power of Shangqing Patriarch."
Chi Yao stopped Zhang Ruochen.
The sword seal, which had been unremarkable, flew out and erupted with brilliant light, illuminating all directions.
From the black light mist surging from the bottoms of the two abysses, countless humanoid afterimages flew out, like thousands of ghosts, charging into the sword seal.
Eerie screeching sounds echoed through heaven and earth, and the aura was bitterly cold.
It was too bizarre!
Even gods like Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao, who had experienced great storms, felt a chill run down their spines. They were clearly at Liangyi Sect, yet it felt as if they were in a ghostly underworld.
"What's going on? Are those things the ghosts of Shangqing? Why are there so many ghosts? The aura emitted by each ghost is no weaker than a Ghost General or Ghost King." Xiao Hei's mouth trembled as he spoke.
Chi Yao said, "They are remnant souls! They are part of Shangqing Patriarch's divine soul thoughts, preserved for some unknown reason."
"Why are Shangqing's divine souls charging into that small sword? Is there some connection between the two?"
Xiao Hei looked at Zhang Ruochen.
Among those present, only Zhang Ruochen likely knew the answer.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Look, within those humanoid afterimages, there are white light threads, like blood vessels, interwoven inside the soul bodies. That is a strange power... Hmm?"
The six divine swords circling behind Zhang Ruochen trembled violently, moving uncontrollably toward the two abysses.
"What's happening?"
Zhang Ruochen communicated with the sword spirits of the six divine swords.
"I'm not sure. I feel a familiar force forcibly pulling my body." The tone of Divine Sword Third was quite tense.
Big Brother Sword said, "The sword body is completely out of control."
"There is actually a power in the world that can affect divine swords. No good, I feel that power affecting my consciousness!" Divine Sword Sixth exclaimed.
...
The situation of the six divine swords was dire, as if they were about to be taken away.
Zhang Ruochen quickly took out the "Sixth Patriarch Zen Meditation Painting" and stored them all inside, isolating them from the space here. Then, divine qi surged from his palm, condensing into a gaseous divine chain that coiled toward the sword seal suspended in midair.
"Snap!"
Before it could get close to the sword seal, the gaseous divine chain was shattered by a beam of black light mist.
Xiao Hei grabbed Zhang Ruochen and said, "We should leave here quickly. Go ask Grandmaster to help you retrieve that small sword."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Since Grandmaster sent us to investigate, he clearly intends to test our abilities through this. If we retreat in disgrace, you might not feel ashamed, but I would have no face to see him."
"I, the Emperor, think..."
A sword hum interrupted Xiao Hei's words.
Xiao Hei turned to look and saw the three-inch-long sword seal, controlled by thousands of soul shadows, flying toward him and Zhang Ruochen. The momentum it unleashed was even stronger than the Qingping Sword earlier.
Faintly, eerie laughter could be heard between heaven and earth.
It was as if the gates of hell had opened, and billions of demons were charging forth.
"I, the Emperor, said we shouldn't have stayed here."
Although Xiao Hei complained, he did not flee. He spat out a mouthful of divine flame, turning it into a scorching and bright river of fire.
The temperature of the divine flame was extremely high, burning all the divine patterns in this space into visibility. But it could not stop the sword seal, nor could it threaten the thousands of soul shadows behind it.
Such a terrifying sight made Xiao Hei's heart nearly leap out.
Chi Yao pointed a finger, creating one invisible wall after another in the space.
"Boom! Boom!"
Explosions rang out continuously.
The impact force of the sword seal was indestructible, tearing through space as easily as tearing paper.
The eerie howls from the soul shadows grew louder, even more chilling.
Zhang Ruochen was fearless. He stepped forward, cut his wrist, and let his blood spill onto the "Sixth Patriarch Zen Meditation Painting." Instantly, the painting emitted a brilliant golden light, and the golden Buddha shadow of the Sixth Patriarch appeared.
Zhang Ruochen merged with the golden Buddha shadow of the Sixth Patriarch, picked up the painting, and charged straight at the sword seal.
"Absorb!"
Just as he swung the painting, the sword seal suddenly changed direction, drawing a bright arc and stabbing toward Zhang Ruochen's brow.
Chi Yao and Xiao Hei were both shocked.
But at this critical moment, Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed. A Taiji circle thirty-six zhang in diameter appeared, and his body slid rapidly along the circular path, instantly changing position.
"Whoosh—"
The sword seal struck the "Sixth Patriarch Zen Meditation Painting," causing spatial ripples to surge and sink into it.
Zhang Ruochen rolled up the painting and walked toward Chi Yao and Xiao Hei, who were still in shock. "I have even more questions now. Let's go see Grandmaster. He should be able to answer many of our questions."
...
After the peach tree became a god and transformed into the spiritual root of the Kunlun Realm, it grew even thicker. The trunk's diameter was a full twenty li, covered with dragon- and snake-like vigorous roots.
Standing on the ground and looking up,
one could only see the sky full of branches, leaves, and pink flowers, appearing and disappearing among the clouds. The treetop was invisible.
Beneath the tree, divine qi was thick, springs formed lakes, and the fragrance of peach blossoms filled the air.
When Zhang Ruochen saw Yunshen Daozhu again, he found him much weaker than when he had last seen him in the Heavenly Court. Although he was still energetic, the sickly look on his face could not be hidden.
Zhang Ruochen naturally did not know that this was because Yunshen Daozhu had aggravated his old injuries while saving him last time, contending with Qingtian Ancestor.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward to support Yunshen Daozhu, worried. "Grandmaster, can this injury really never heal?"
Yunshen Daozhu smiled faintly. "Being ground down by the Destiny Temple for a hundred thousand years, surviving is already good enough. As for healing... forget it, don't dwell on those things. I just hope I can hold on until you all grow up and can carry the next generation's banner for the Kunlun Realm. I hope so."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen felt a lump in his throat, extremely pained. "Can divine medicine heal you? Even if it only helps a little."
Yunshen Daozhu smiled and shook his head.
Xiao Hei's injuries had recovered, and the usually frivolous him was now in low spirits. "Grandmaster, is your lifespan really running out? I can ask Father for divine medicine; there's one growing in his medicine garden."
"Let's not talk about this."
Yunshen Daozhu waved his hand, smiling. "Release that thing you mentioned and let me see it."
Zhang Ruochen suppressed his low mood, took out the "Sixth Patriarch Zen Meditation Painting," and released the sword seal.
"Hehe!"
Flying out with the sword seal were thousands of soul shadows.
The soul shadows' laughter was eerie, sounding as unpleasant as crying.
Yunshen Daozhu raised his wrinkled, aged hand. Without any visible technique, the ferocious soul shadows were instantly suppressed back into the sword seal.
The sword seal tried to break through the air and escape, but after flying a short distance, it turned back and fell into Yunshen Daozhu's wrinkled palm.
An ordinary palm, yet it was like a heavenly prison.
Thousands of soul shadows were trapped in his palm, colliding left and right, unable to escape.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Are these really Shangqing Patriarch's divine soul thoughts?"
Yunshen Daozhu's eyes were deep. "A total of eight million divine soul thoughts. Shangqing truly reached the Infinite Realm back then."
Zhang Ruochen said, "These divine soul thoughts seem extremely vicious and bloodthirsty. Was Shangqing Patriarch such a person?"
Yunshen Daozhu shook his head. "No. I had some dealings with Shangqing, and at least back then, he was a man with great ambitions and ideals."
"Only two possibilities exist. First, after his death, his consciousness dissipated, and the remaining thoughts gradually gave birth to new consciousness, turning into evil thought entities."
"The second possibility is that after breaking into the Infinite Realm, his nature changed drastically, and he fell into demonic possession, having already become evil by then."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Grandmaster never saw Shangqing Patriarch after he reached the Infinite Realm?"
Yunshen Daozhu shook his head. "The three of them once disappeared for a time. When I learned that Shangqing had reappeared in the Kunlun Realm, he had already been slain by Biluozi. This incident caused a huge uproar. It is said that Saint Monk personally went to ask Biluozi for the reason."
"I was living on Fallen God Island at the time and didn't get too involved in the affairs of the mainland, so I actually know very little."
"The reason I sent you to the Seventh Heavy Mountain is because I know you inherited Sword Ancestor's sword soul and have a deep karmic connection with the Sword Realm."
Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood. "So Grandmaster also believes that Shangqing Patriarch's ability to reach the Infinite Realm is related to Sword Ancestor and the Sword Realm?"
Yunshen Daozhu said, "During the Middle Ages, the Kunlun Realm still had quite a few sword path gods, including some remarkable talents. But the Three Pure Ones were the most outstanding representatives of the sword path, extremely powerful in combat below the Infinite Realm."
"Although Saint Monk and Biluozi also cultivated the sword, the sword was merely their means of attack, not their main path."
"Sword cultivators have unparalleled offensive power, but since ancient times, very few have reached the Infinite Realm through pure sword path. You should understand the reason."
"At that time, the Three Pure Ones had already reached the peak below the Infinite Realm. To go further, they had to seek the Sword Realm."
Zhang Ruochen grasped Yunshen Daozhu's intention. "Grandmaster wants me to go find the Sword Realm?"
Yunshen Daozhu sighed deeply. "Because only you can do it. You have deep ties to both Sword Ancestor and the Sword Realm. No other cultivator has this advantage, including me."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Can't Grandmaster use his spiritual power to detect the location of the Sword Realm?"
Yunshen Daozhu shook his head. "Great spiritual power does not mean knowing everything. The Dark Great Triangle Star Domain happens to be one of the star domains that spiritual power cannot see through."
Hearing this, countless thoughts arose in Zhang Ruochen's mind.
Even Grandmaster's spiritual power could not see through the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain or find the Sword Realm within it. Could any other expert in the Heavenly Court or Hell do so?
If the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain could be used by him, it would be a perfect hiding place to avoid all dangers in the world.
Yunshen Daozhu said, "Sending you to find the Sword Realm is actually hoping you can go find Yuqing and Taiqing."
"They are still alive?" Zhang Ruochen was moved.
Yunshen Daozhu said, "If they also reached the Infinite Realm, then they must still be alive. I don't have much time left. If one day I suddenly pass away, the Kunlun Realm will still need someone to support it, at least until you all grow up!"
Xiao Hei's emotions fluctuated greatly. "Grandmaster, you'll be fine. You're so powerful that even death can't touch you. My fate is mine to command, not heaven's!"
"What nonsense are you talking about!"
Yunshen Daozhu seemed unwilling to affect everyone's mood. With a full smile, he raised the sword seal and the eight million evil divine soul thoughts in his hand. "These soul thoughts contain some strange sword path energy, which should be the reason Shangqing was able to break through to the Infinite Realm. Now, I will refine it and give it to you, so you can find the Sword Realm more easily."
That strange sword path energy was the white light threads Zhang Ruochen had seen inside the soul thought bodies earlier.
Yunshen Daozhu extracted all the white light threads from the eight million soul thoughts, but it only amounted to a single drop.
This drop of white liquid was extremely bright, containing a pure sword path power Zhang Ruochen had never seen before.
Even with Yunshen Daozhu's knowledge, he stared at it for a long time before sighing, "Could this be the legendary Sword Source?"
Zhang Ruochen could not stay calm and exclaimed, "One of Sword Ancestor's Eight Ultimates, the Sword Source?"
"I'm not sure!"
Yunshen Daozhu said, "But just this one drop, if it fell to the ground, could pierce through the Kunlun Realm. Your palm cannot hold it. I'll seal it into the sword seal."
"Whoosh!"
The white liquid slowly merged with the three-inch sword seal, emitting dazzling light.
Finally, the two completely fused, and dense white light threads appeared on the sword body, blindingly bright.
Yunshen Daozhu handed the sword seal to Zhang Ruochen. "This seal should be of great use. If you go to the Sword Realm, you must bring it with you."
Standing aside, Chi Yao, who had been silent, suddenly spoke. "I think I am more suitable to go find the Sword Realm. Zhang Ruochen is no longer a cultivator of the Kunlun Realm."
Xiao Hei was somewhat dissatisfied and mocked, "Ha! Woman! When there's a benefit, you grab it faster than anyone."
Chi Yao said, "That's right. The Sword Source and the Sword God Temple are likely in the Sword Realm. Naturally, I want to compete for this opportunity. Zhang Ruochen, isn't your most important task right now to solve your own cultivation problems? I have already borrowed the incomplete copies of the 'Innate Dao Method' from the Taiji Dao, Four Symbols Sect, and Eight Trigrams Sect for you. Stay in the Kunlun Realm and study them well!"
"Shua! Shua! Shua!"
She threw three tortoise shells to Zhang Ruochen and then reached for the sword seal in Yunshen Daozhu's hand.
How could Zhang Ruochen not understand her intention?
Finding the Sword Realm was not easy.
Since ancient times, countless cultivators had been lost in the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain. It could be said that this journey was fraught with danger. Even if it wasn't nine deaths and one life, five deaths and five lives was still possible.
Zhang Ruochen's figure flickered, using Spatial Displacement to take the sword seal from Yunshen Daozhu's hand first, meeting Chi Yao's sharp gaze. "Finding the Sword Realm is not urgent. I can cultivate first and go after I break through. That way, I'll have a better chance."
Yunshen Daozhu watched them argue, squinting with a smile. "Ruochen's advantages are not possessed by any other cultivator. He is the most suitable to go, and the risk is the lowest. Moreover, as he said, this matter is not urgent."
"For now, there is actually an even more important matter!"
"What important matter?" Chi Yao asked.
Yunshen Daozhu looked up at the starry sky above. "The Starry Sky Defense Line is about to be breached. When that happens, several ancient civilizations will be destroyed."
"This is a major event sweeping the entire universe, intricately connected to every force and every cultivator. I want to know, how do you see this matter? With such a major event erupting, what can we do?"
"You don't need to be evasive. The Hell Realm, Xinghuantian, and the Kunlun Realm are no different. Just speak from your own standpoints and express your opinions."
Yunshen Daozhu was like a teacher testing his students, patiently waiting for their answers.
...
I originally planned to write two chapters and post them together, but I only finished one and a half. Sigh, writing two chapters in one day is so difficult now.
I'll keep trying tomorrow to see if I can manage two chapters.