Chapter 2978: The Spark
The comprehension of the *Wordless Sword Manual* became increasingly difficult the further one progressed, with the time required multiplying exponentially.
However, by dedicating all his energy to sword enlightenment, Zhang Ruochen managed to comprehend Sword Fourteen and cultivate it to Great Perfection in just two hundred years.
"Sword Dao World, One Word Aligns with Heaven."
"Merge!"
Zhang Ruochen drew circles with both hands, then brought them together in a unified embrace. Light traces flew out from within his body, condensing above his head into a three-foot-long light sword.
As time passed, his understanding of the Sword Dao deepened, and the light sword continued to grow.
From three feet to three zhang.
From three zhang to thirty zhang.
...
A hundred years later, the light sword had grown to a thousand zhang in height, suspended in the void like a blade that could cleave the heavens, shining brilliantly like a sword-shaped divine stele.
The others, who had awakened from their cultivation, were all stunned by the sight. Such a light sword contained terrifying power; it could probably split an entire great world with a single strike.
Nalan Danqing, Wan Canglan, Qing Mo, Xian Feizi... the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden stood side by side like nine celestial maidens walking on rippling waves, each with a distinct temperament—some gentle and serene, some heroic and resolute, some ethereal and transcendent.
After a thousand years of cultivation, their cultivation bases had all achieved major breakthroughs, and each was now a powerhouse among Great Saints.
Among them, Nalan Danqing's cultivation was the most unfathomable. Around her snow-white jade neck hung a cyan divine thread, like a necklace, suspending a bead shimmering with divine light.
That was the spiritual power divine pill Zhang Ruochen had given her a thousand years ago when she arrived at the Liangyi Sect.
With her spiritual power, she could not yet refine the divine pill.
But by wearing the divine pill on her person, allowing the pill's energy to naturally emanate and cultivating by absorbing that energy, her spiritual power still grew extremely quickly.
"Is he comprehending the *Wordless Sword Manual*? Why do I feel that the Sword Dao aura emanating from him is vastly different from the *Wordless Sword Manual*?" Wan Canglan said.
Nalan Danqing's almond-shaped eyes gazed at Zhang Ruochen, who sat cross-legged beneath the thousand-zhang light sword. Her gaze was beautiful and refined. "That is his Sword Dao, a Sword Dao that belongs only to him. It seems it is about to reach Great Perfection."
Xian Feizi looked toward the other side, not far from Zhang Ruochen. Chi Yao, dressed in plain clothes, sat within a chaotic sea derived from her own divine qi. Above her head floated layers of celestial realms, majestic and sacred.
She said, "The Empress has condensed a twelfth layer of celestial realms, advancing her cultivation further. I wonder who is stronger now, her or Ruochen the Sword God."
Although they had stepped down from the imperial throne, to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, they still recognized only Chi Yao as their sovereign.
"Whoosh—"
Suddenly, a sword sound, louder than thunder, resounded across Ancient God Mountain.
The thousand-zhang light sword that had been suspended above Zhang Ruochen's head shot through the air, piercing through Kunlun Realm's atmosphere like a meteor, flying into the pitch-black universe.
In the universe, it inscribed the character "One."
This unfamiliar power, emanating from the Liangyi Sect, alarmed all the Great Saint-level powerhouses of Kunlun Realm. They rushed over one after another, wanting to investigate.
Above the clouds of the Fallen God Mountain Range, twelve layers of celestial realms manifested like divine palaces and immortal towers.
Chi Yao's divine shadow appeared above the celestial realms, her voice spreading across Kunlun Realm: "This god has broken through a realm; there is no need for alarm."
"Congratulations, True God."
The Great Saints of Kunlun Realm, no matter where they were, all bowed in the direction of the Fallen God Mountain Range in the Eastern Domain.
They dared not question a god!
In the universe, the thousand-zhang light sword flew thirty million li before gradually dissipating, transforming into wisps of light mist.
Chi Xingtian, sitting in the desert, looked up at the sky and sighed. "A single sword strike spanning thirty million li, with such formidable penetrating power—how can someone below the Great God level achieve this? If that kid reaches the Tai Xu realm, the title of Number One Sword Under the Famous Sword God might change hands!"
He could sense that although Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao had made tremendous progress and their auras were formidable, they had still not reached the Tai Zhen realm and were not considered Great Gods.
It must be known that those who could cultivate to the Tai Zhen realm within a single Eon were few and far between.
Those who reached the Tai Zhen realm in ten thousand years could be counted on one hand throughout history.
...
The One-Word Sword Dao had reached Great Perfection!
Unfortunately, the Taiji circle could never evolve into the Two Forms as described by Daoism. It was as if it were trapped in a chaotic world, unable to split heaven and earth into two.
The cultivation problem remained unresolved.
Currently, Zhang Ruochen could unify the rules of over ten thousand Daos within the Yin-Yang Two Forms, but this state was extremely unstable, collapsing after maintaining it for just one breath.
"Just a little more, and I could succeed in the evolution. But I still haven't found that point which aligns with the laws of heaven and earth. Solitary Yin does not give birth; solitary Yang does not grow. Yin and Yang cannot be completely separated!"
Zhang Ruochen pondered deeply but could not find the answer, and there was no one he could consult.
The path he was walking had never been trodden by anyone before. He had to slowly comprehend it himself, cutting through thorns and brambles to find the answer.
According to Zhang Ruochen's calculations, he had to evolve the Two Forms to reach the Tai Zhen realm. This step had to be crossed, no matter what.
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Chi Yao walked over and asked, "How is it?"
Zhang Ruochen returned the three tortoise shells to her. "The *Innate Dao Methods* of the Taiji Dao, Four Symbols Sect, and Eight Trigrams Sect are all incomplete. The main content is still focused on cultivation techniques, with very little interpretation of heaven and earth or understanding of Daoist thought. They have lost the most essential parts."
Chi Yao said, "So, you still have to go to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization. The *Luo Shu*, the strange classic of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, is said to be the origin of the Daoist lineage. All Daoist classics trace back to it. When do you plan to leave?"
"I'll set off after I bid farewell to Grandmaster," Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao said, "I'll go with you! Don't refuse so quickly. My trip to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization is actually on the orders of the Tai Shang Elder, and it's for official business, not personal matters."
"Official business?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao said, "Do you know that although the Hanhai Civilization was destroyed, its spark was preserved?"
"You mean to say that a group of civilization sparks from the Hanhai Civilization survived? Where are these sparks?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"In the Southern Universe, at the Haiyun Realm."
Chi Yao continued, "Because the Haiyun Realm offered the most favorable conditions to the Hanhai Civilization, and its cultivation environment was most suitable for aquatic lifeforms."
"The ten civilizations on the front line were all allowed to preserve their sparks. However, the number of spark lifeforms can be at most one hundred million, selected from various clans and cultivation levels, tasked with carrying on the civilization's legacy."
"Currently, the Rakshasa Star Pillar Realm is already very close to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization. It's time for the Heavenly Beginning Civilization to choose a habitat for its sparks. Kunlun Realm is willing to accept them, so the Tai Shang sent me to negotiate."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "The Heavenly Court is still somewhat humane in this regard. But why is it that various worlds have to compete for the sparks?"
"In such a situation, the ten civilizations on the First Starry Sky Defense Line should be very weak. Shouldn't they be begging the major worlds to take in their sparks?"
Chi Yao said, "These ancient civilizations all had glorious eras in the past and should not be underestimated. For example, the Hanhai Civilization, which is considered relatively weak among all ancient civilizations, still offered a divine artifact as a reward for sheltering its sparks."
"The Hanhai Civilization actually has a divine artifact and is willing to give it away?" Zhang Ruochen was quite surprised.
Chi Yao said, "The Hanhai Civilization only has this one divine artifact, which is their clan-protecting treasure. Although they promised it, they won't hand it over to the Haiyun Realm immediately. It is currently kept in the Heavenly Palace."
"Only after one Eon, when the sparks of the Hanhai Civilization have developed and grown in the Haiyun Realm without suffering oppression, will the Heavenly Court hand over the divine artifact to the Realm Lord of the Haiyun Realm."
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Haiyun Realm has made a huge profit! Not only did they gain the most outstanding talents of the Hanhai Civilization, but they also got a divine artifact. The price they paid is almost negligible."
Chi Yao said, "But for the Hanhai Civilization, this is already the best outcome. After one Eon, the spark lifeforms of the Hanhai Civilization will surely have integrated with the native cultivators of the Haiyun Realm, forming countless connections, so there's no need to worry about oppression."
"As for the divine artifact... the divine artifact was never going to be kept anyway!"
Zhang Ruochen nodded inwardly. "The Heavenly Beginning Civilization is one of the top ten ancient civilizations in terms of strength, with even deeper foundations and countless outstanding cultivators. The reward they offer for their sparks is probably even more precious than a divine artifact!"
"Exactly. That's why Kunlun Realm wants to win them over," Chi Yao said.
...
Cultivating for a thousand years under the Sundial, only three years had passed in the outside world.
During these three years, Zhang Ruochen had not spent all his time on cultivation. Every New Year's Eve, Lantern Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival, he would spend time with Chi Yao, Chi Kongle, Chi Kunlun, Zhang Hongchen, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, and various friends, entering the mortal world to celebrate together.
Unfortunately, he couldn't see Mu Lingxi and Ling Feiyu. It was time to leave again.
This trip to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, although arranged by the Tai Shang, still carried considerable danger. Zhang Ruochen did not bring Chi Kongle and Zhang Hongchen. He only instructed Chi Kunlun before leaving to take good care of his sister.
Xiao Hei had originally wanted to travel with Zhang Ruochen, but since the news that he was the son of the Ice King had spread across the world, and he lacked Zhang Ruochen's ability to deceive heaven and cross the sea, going to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization would only result in being suppressed by the Boundless realm gods of the Heavenly Court.
"Go to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain and wait for me. Make preparations in advance. After I finish my business in the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, I'll come and meet you," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei was confused. "Preparations for what?"
Zhang Ruochen hinted, "Which great world is closest to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain?"
"The Yaksha Clan Ancestral Realm!"
"Exactly! The Yaksha Clan Ancestral Realm is too close to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain. If we really find the Sword Realm inside in the future, the Yaksha Clan will become our biggest obstacle. So, either we destroy them or bring them under our control."
Zhang Ruochen patted Xiao Hei on the shoulder. "I think that with your status as the son of the Ice King, you should be able to suppress the Yaksha Clan."
Xiao Hei felt that Zhang Ruochen was setting him up, but he had no evidence. "You underestimate the Yaksha Clan too much! In the ancient past, the Yaksha Clan was one of the ten clans of the Hell Realm. Even though they have declined now, they still have ancient gods sitting in charge. Subduing them is no easy task!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Then think of more ways! Even if you can't subdue them now, lay the groundwork for subduing them in the future. I'm not just eyeing the Yaksha Clan, but also the Hundred Clans Royal City behind them."
Xiao Hei glanced at Zhang Ruochen and felt that his gaze was very frightening at that moment, filled with immense ambition. This was clearly an attempt to subdue the hundred clans on the edge of the Hell Realm for his own use.
If you added Xinghuantian and the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain...
That would connect everything into one piece!
Was Zhang Ruochen trying to carve out a third cosmic starry sky of his own between the Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm Universe?
...
There will be another chapter tonight.