Chapter 680: Void Sword

The ranking competition would be held one month later, which was naturally quite favorable news for the other nine. Possessing the Glazed Sacred Pill, they were all fully confident of breaking through to the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation within a month.

As long as their realm broke through, their cultivation would increase by a large margin. Moreover, they could also cultivate the Glazed Sacred Body, immediately making them the strongest batch of people below the Half-Saint level.

But Lin Yue's cultivation was too low, at most the Fish-Dragon Fifth Transformation. If he took the Glazed Sacred Pill now, it could indeed raise his cultivation somewhat, but he absolutely would not be able to cultivate the Glazed Sacred Body.

As long as Lin Yue was a smart person, he would definitely wait until his cultivation reached the Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation before taking the Glazed Sacred Pill.

Within a month, if his realm did not achieve a massive breakthrough, how could he compete with the other nine in the ranking competition?

The several people who had originally regarded Lin Yue as a formidable opponent all relaxed.

Especially Yang Qi and Mo Yan, who exchanged glances and sighed in relief at the same time. At least they wouldn't end up at the bottom.

Zhang Ruochen, however, looked indifferent. Even if he didn't take the Glazed Sacred Pill now, he had other treasures to raise his cultivation. If he pushed hard, there was still a certain chance of breaking through one realm and reaching the Fish-Dragon Sixth Transformation.

As long as he reached the realm of the Fish-Dragon Sixth Transformation, with Zhang Ruochen's strength, he would still have a great chance of defeating the top figures among the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation.

Because in the ranking competition one month later, the ten of them would compete simultaneously with the top ten of the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation level.

Therefore, led by Qin Yufan and Dao Xuanqi, everyone rushed to the Ten Thousand Caverns Spirit Mountain to watch the sword dao competition of the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation level.

The Half-Saint realm was a huge chasm for all cultivators, blocking countless people outside, unable to cross it in a lifetime, ultimately dying old in the Fish-Dragon realm.

This was a rather despairing matter!

Precisely because the Half-Saint realm was difficult to cross, the number of cultivators who signed up for the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation level sword dao competition was actually greater than that of the Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation level, and it still hadn't ended even today.

Of course, it had still entered the final stage.

Just arriving at the Ten Thousand Caverns Spirit Mountain, Zhang Ruochen saw from afar a man in his thirties standing on the central battle platform, displaying a "Full Sky of Stars" dharma appearance, blasting another Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation powerhouse flying.

On that battle platform, dazzling specks of light, like a sky full of stars, spun around, emitting powerful energy fluctuations.

"Sikong Xingdou!"

...

Below, thousands of inner disciples cheered excitedly, shouting the name of the man on the battle platform.

Zhang Ruochen rubbed his chin with his finger and said, "The outstanding talents of the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation are truly remarkable. If I'm not mistaken, the man on the platform should be a Starlight Sacred Body. Could this person be the strongest among the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation of the Liangyi Sect?"

A Sacred Body at the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation was the most powerful existence below the Half-Saint level. With his strength alone, he could completely sweep through dozens of Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation cultivators.

Zhang Ruochen stood relatively close to Can Dong. Perhaps because they were both disciples of the Longevity Courtyard, their relationship was quite good.

Can Dong's gaze was fixed on Sikong Xingdou on the platform. He said, "The outstanding talents of the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation level should be even more numerous than those of the Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation level. As far as I know, besides a Starlight Sacred Body, there is an even more remarkable existence."

He added, "If that existence were to make a move, I'm afraid this Starlight Sacred Body would immediately lower his head and admit defeat, not daring to contend with him."

Zhang Ruochen was quite surprised and said, "Senior Brother Can Dong must be joking! At the same realm, a Sacred Body is practically invincible. Who can match him?"

"It's really no joke."

Can Dong always had a serious expression. He said, "You've only been a Saintly Disciple for a short time, so naturally you wouldn't know. The Liangyi Sect indeed has such a terrifying figure, arguably the number one outstanding talent of the sect in recent times."

"Although it hasn't reached the level of being unprecedented, at least in the past hundred thousand years of the Liangyi Sect, no one can compare to her."

Zhang Ruochen's expression turned somewhat solemn. He said, "As far as I know, one of the Nine Emperors from eight hundred years ago, the Ming Emperor, studied as a disciple in the Liangyi Sect. Could it be that even the Ming Emperor cannot compare to her?"

The Nine Emperors of eight hundred years ago were still renowned figures even now. Almost all disciples knew that the Ming Emperor had once been a disciple of the Liangyi Sect.

Therefore, Zhang Ruochen's question was naturally reasonable.

"The Ming Emperor in his youth might indeed have been slightly inferior to her. Of course, to become a figure like the Ming Emperor, talent is not the most important thing. To say that she is definitely more outstanding than the Ming Emperor and will definitely go further than him in the future—I don't believe that," Can Dong said.

"Who exactly is it?" Zhang Ruochen asked.

Can Dong said, "The Innate Extreme Yang Body, Gai Tianjiao."

A strange light flashed in Zhang Ruochen's eyes. He said, "So someone really does possess this legendary physique."

The Innate Extreme Yang Body was even more powerful than the "Undying Sacred Body" and the "Four Spirits Treasure Body." It was an extreme physique, and only the Five Elements Chaos Body could be slightly more powerful.

If someone truly possessed the Innate Extreme Yang Body, they would indeed be a terrifying existence, capable of crushing a Sacred Body in combat.

At the same time, the Innate Extreme Yang Body was one of the five physiques Xiao Hei was searching for.

Qi Feiyu glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Gai Tianjiao is Gai Hao's older sister and also the undisputed Senior Sister of the Liangyi Sect. If you encounter Senior Sister in the ranking competition, you must never offend her. If you anger her, no one can save you."

Zhao Wuyan's expression stirred, and he quickly asked, "The Gai Tianjiao that Junior Sister Qi mentioned—could she be the one ranked first among the Four Beauties?"

Zhao Wuyan spent most of his time in seclusion cultivating, so he naturally didn't know much about the sect's secrets. Only today did he learn that the Liangyi Sect had an Innate Extreme Yang Body.

"That's right," Qi Feiyu said.

"Could she really be more beautiful than Junior Sister Qi?" Zhao Wuyan found it hard to believe.

In Zhao Wuyan's view, Qi Feiyu was already like a celestial maiden descended to earth, a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms. How could there be a woman more beautiful than her?

Hearing Zhao Wuyan's words, the several Saintly Disciples and Azure-Robed Elders who had seen Gai Tianjiao couldn't help but laugh.

Xu Changsheng snorted coldly, glaring at Zhao Wuyan, and said, "If Senior Sister hears your words, she'll at least slap you across the face. No matter what you think, at least in my view, Senior Sister's beauty is unique. No one can compare to her."

Qin Yufan laughed and said, "Senior Sister's biggest taboo is anyone daring to say she isn't beautiful enough. Zhao Wuyan, you just need to understand that Senior Sister is the most beautiful woman in the entire Liangyi Sect. As long as you remember that, it will definitely be a good thing."

Hearing everyone's evaluation of Gai Tianjiao, Zhang Ruochen became even more curious about that Senior Sister. If he had the chance, he might go and meet her.

...

At the Ten Thousand Caverns Spirit Mountain, they watched the decisive battles of the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation level until nightfall, when Zhang Ruochen returned alone to the Purple Cloud Spirit Mountain.

Zhang Ruochen did not immediately enter the Scroll World. Instead, he sat in the courtyard, took out the white ancient sword that Yuanlong Half-Saint had given him, held it in his hand, and carefully examined it.

During the day, although he thought the white ancient sword was quite worn, he sensed that the sword's material was extremely extraordinary, definitely not comparable to an ordinary Sacred Sword.

However, at that time, he was worried that Yuanlong Half-Saint might take back the Sacred Sword, so he didn't show any unusual expression.

"Whoosh!"

Zhang Ruochen mobilized the Saint Qi within his body and slowly infused it into the sword body. Immediately, layers of inscriptions emitted bright light, emerging from the sword's surface.

A full half-hour passed, but the ancient sword showed no further change. Zhang Ruochen gradually felt strained, with beads of sweat as big as beans appearing on his forehead.

Helplessly, Zhang Ruochen slowly withdrew the Saint Qi and let out a long breath.

"Sure enough, I can't awaken the sword spirit within the sword. What a pity."

Zhang Ruochen held the sword hilt and swung the sword in the air, forming a semicircular arc like a brilliant crescent moon.

The sword was quite a good sword.

But a sword without a soul, no matter how good, was ultimately just a mortal object.

Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to sheathe the ancient sword, suddenly, from outside the courtyard, came Xiao Hei's startled cry.

Xiao Hei had just returned to the Purple Cloud Spirit Mountain. Seeing the sword in Zhang Ruochen's hand, it was as if it had been electrocuted, all its fur standing on end.

"How did this sword end up in your hands?"

Xiao Hei was extremely agitated. Its legs kicked, and with a whoosh, it pounced toward Zhang Ruochen, extending a pair of claws to snatch the white ancient sword.

Although Zhang Ruochen didn't know why Xiao Hei was so agitated, he still tossed the sword and threw it to him.

Xiao Hei's two claws tightly clutched the white ancient sword.

Its round, glossy cat eyes suddenly became somewhat moist. It didn't look like a cat at all, but rather like a person reminiscing about the past.

Strangely enough, the originally rust-covered Sacred Sword, when held by Xiao Hei, trembled slightly.

The sword's spirit did not awaken and then fell silent again.

Zhang Ruochen asked, "What? Do you recognize this Sacred Sword?"

"Zhang Ruochen, this sword... where did you get it?"

Xiao Hei raised its head, its bright eyes fixed tightly on Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen became even more certain that Xiao Hei must know the sword, or know its owner. He said, "A Half-Saint of the Liangyi Sect gave it to me. He said he found it in a medieval relic."

"Where is that medieval relic?" Xiao Hei asked.

Zhang Ruochen said, "First, tell me, what is the origin of this sword?"

Xiao Hei stuck out its tongue and licked its lips, clearly hesitating.

After a long while, it said, "This sword is called the 'Void Sword.' It was the personal sword of Qiangu Nüdi."