Chapter 681: Storming Ancient God Mountain Again
"Void Sword? How is that possible?"
Zhang Ruochen was naturally quite astonished, never having expected that the half-saint Yuan Long would gift him a defective sacred sword with such an immense origin.
The name of Qiangu Nüdi had been passed down through Kunlun Realm for a hundred thousand years, leaving behind countless legends. The sword she used was naturally renowned throughout the ages.
According to historical records, the Void Sword was a supreme sacred artifact-level battle weapon, possessing tremendous power capable of severing rivers and shattering ruin realms.
Most cultivators only knew that sacred artifacts were divided into hundred-mark sacred artifacts, thousand-mark sacred artifacts, and ten-thousand-mark sacred artifacts. However, few knew that above ten-thousand-mark sacred artifacts existed supreme sacred artifacts.
A single thousand-mark sacred artifact could become the clan-protecting treasure of a sacred clan, intimidating all directions and preventing other forces from daring to offend easily. A Fish-Dragon Ninth Change sacred body wielding a thousand-mark sacred artifact could contend with weaker half-saints.
The power of a supreme sacred artifact was countless times greater than a thousand-mark sacred artifact. The entire Kunlun Realm likely only possessed a few dozen such artifacts.
It was said that the Liangyi Sect's sect-protecting treasure, "Heaven and Earth Sword," was merely two top-grade ten-thousand-mark sacred artifacts. Only when the Heaven Sword and Earth Sword were combined to execute the Yin-Yang Two Forms Sword Formation could they contend with a supreme sacred artifact.
Even so, the Heaven Sword and Earth Sword possessed boundless power, having been stained with the blood of more than one Great Saint. Throughout history, the Liangyi Sect had survived several major calamities almost entirely by relying on the Heaven Sword and Earth Sword to repel powerful enemies and ensure the sect's continued inheritance.
Clearly, the Void Sword was certainly more powerful than the Heaven Sword and Earth Sword—a genuine supreme sacred artifact.
If Half-Saint Yuan Long knew he had given away a supreme sacred artifact to Zhang Ruochen, he would probably be furious enough to die from anger.
"Zhang Ruochen, where exactly is that medieval ruin?"
Xiao Hei's emotions were extremely agitated, revealing two sharp fangs, his eyeballs covered in bloodshot streaks.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Void Sword was given to me by Half-Saint Yuan Long. If you want to know where that medieval ruin is, you'll have to ask him."
"Even if I ask him, he definitely won't answer me, and it will expose the Void Sword. Are you messing with me?" Xiao Hei said somewhat angrily.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm, his gaze once again fixed on the white sacred sword. "This sword looks so ordinary and is covered in rust. How could it possibly be the legendary Void Sword? Let me test it."
Zhang Ruochen took Xiao Hei and the white sacred sword into the Scroll World.
Then, he took out the Abyssal Ancient Sword, channeled all his strength, and fiercely struck down at the white sacred sword.
"Bang!"
The two swords clashed, immediately producing a deafening sound.
The powerful impact force drove the white sacred sword deep into the ground.
Zhang Ruochen picked up the white sacred sword again and found that the rust on the sword's surface had completely fallen off, revealing a bright, snow-white blade.
Even more astonishingly, having endured a blow from the Abyssal Ancient Sword, the white sacred sword was completely undamaged.
Originally, Zhang Ruochen hadn't believed this was the Void Sword, but now he was somewhat convinced.
Xiao Hei stood not far away, sneering coldly: "Don't waste your effort. With the Abyssal Ancient Sword's current grade, how could it possibly harm the Void Sword?"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze shifted to the fat cat. "So what if it's the Void Sword? A sword that has lost its sword spirit—how much power can it still unleash?"
"The Void Sword's sword spirit is merely in a deep slumber, not completely extinguished. As long as the sword spirit can be awakened, it can immediately recover to the supreme sacred artifact grade and sweep through all sacred swords in Kunlun Realm," Xiao Hei said.
"Do you know how to awaken the Void Sword's sword spirit?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Xiao Hei thought for a moment, then said, "The Void Sword's sword spirit was condensed from a single will within Qiangu Nüdi's blood. Hanxue shares the same constitution as Qiangu Nüdi. With her blood, she might be able to awaken the Void Sword's sword spirit."
Zhang Ruochen asked no further questions, temporarily putting away the Void Sword. He would wait until Hanxue returned from her training before attempting to awaken the sword spirit within.
"There's still about half a month until the first day of next month. I can use this time to raise my cultivation a bit more."
On the first day of next month, Ancient God Mountain would again open to sacred transmission disciples for one day.
Zhang Ruochen had already cultivated Sword One to the ninth level, so naturally he wanted to challenge the third mountain. As long as he reached the summit, he could collect the sacred water from the third sacred spring.
Using the sacred water from the third sacred spring, Zhang Ruochen was fully confident that he could cultivate Sword One to the tenth level of Great Perfection before the ranking tournament.
Zhang Ruochen also collected a bottle of Xuanwu sacred blood from the body of the Azure Fire Xuanwu.
At Fish-Dragon Fourth Change, Zhang Ruochen had refined three drops of Xuanwu sacred blood to elevate his cultivation from the initial stage to the peak.
Now, to elevate his cultivation from the initial stage of Fish-Dragon Fifth Change to the peak, he would inevitably need to refine more Xuanwu sacred blood.
Of course, with his current cultivation, the speed at which he refined Xuanwu sacred blood would certainly be much faster than before.
In the Scroll World, four months passed in the blink of an eye.
Zhang Ruochen refined four drops of Xuanwu sacred blood in succession, and his cultivation indeed increased considerably, rising from the initial stage of Fish-Dragon Fifth Change to the middle stage.
"Counting the time, tomorrow should be the first day of the fourth month."
Zhang Ruochen did not continue cultivating. He left the Scroll World and began to adjust his state, preparing for the challenge of the third mountain.
The grand sword dao tournament had already been underway for twenty days, leaving only the Fish-Dragon First Change, Second Change, and Third Change levels still in the final stage. The top ten for the other levels had long been decided.
On the first day of the fourth month, Ancient God Mountain indeed opened again.
Compared to the previous month, the number of sacred transmission disciples coming to challenge had clearly decreased by more than half.
As soon as Zhang Ruochen arrived at the foot of Ancient God Mountain, he immediately caused a huge commotion. Now, almost all sacred transmission disciples of the Liangyi Sect recognized him.
In the past month, "Lin Yue's" reputation was indeed unmatched. Not only had he, as a newly promoted sacred transmission disciple, ascended to the second mountain of Ancient God Mountain, but he had also gained the favor of Qi Feiyu.
During the sword dao tournament, he had shone brilliantly with an undefeated record, earning everyone's recognition.
"Senior Brother Lin Yue is actually coming to challenge Ancient God Mountain again. Could he be aiming for the third mountain?"
"How is that possible? Even in the history of the Liangyi Sect, sacred transmission disciples who reached the summit of the third mountain at the Fish-Dragon Realm are few and far between."
"Why is it impossible? Last month, Senior Brother Lin Yue reached the summit of the second mountain. If he weren't confident about ascending the third mountain, why would he waste precious time to challenge?"
"Exactly. Senior Brother Lin Yue's talent is so extraordinary—how could we possibly imagine it?"
"I think Senior Brother Lin Yue must have some confidence, at least enough to pass the first gate of the third mountain."
Under everyone's gaze, Zhang Ruochen easily passed the first gate of the first mountain and then proceeded toward the summit.
Before noon, all the sacred transmission disciples at the foot of the mountain saw that Lin Yue had already reached the summit of the second mountain and was heading straight for the third mountain.
"Lin Yue's speed in clearing the gates is even faster than last time. His strength has indeed increased considerably." Qi Feiyu stood at the foot of the mountain, beside a maple tree, her beautiful eyes gazing toward the summit.
If Lin Yue could rely on his own power to reach the summit of the third mountain, then she would have to find a way to eliminate him, lest the Liangyi Sect produce a second Gai Tianjiao.
Because she had used concealment techniques, none of the sacred transmission disciples present knew that Qi Feiyu was nearby.
...
Arriving at the foot of the third mountain, Zhang Ruochen was surprised to find that someone had arrived before him.
At that moment, that person stood with his hands behind his back beneath a stone wall, his body straight and imposing, exuding an extraordinary bearing.
Zhang Ruochen carefully observed the man. He was exceptionally robust, with a tall, straight physique and arms as thick as water buckets, covered in solid muscle.
Even from twenty zhang away, Zhang Ruochen could feel an extremely hot, masculine energy emanating from his body.
His body was like a massive furnace, making people afraid to approach.
Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands together and said, "Lin Yue of Changsheng Academy pays respects to senior."
That big man merely waved his hand, appearing quite spirited, and said, "Don't call me senior. I'm not much older than you."
While Zhang Ruochen was sizing up the big man, the latter was also examining him.
This man's eyes were bright and spirited, his two pupils like massive flaming meteorites, containing unparalleled power.
A single glance from him could release immense heat, enough to cause lower-level Fish-Dragon Realm cultivators to spontaneously combust.
The Liangyi Sect truly was a place where hidden dragons and crouching tigers lurked, producing yet another peerless expert.
This man made Zhang Ruochen feel extremely dangerous, and he was quite wary in his heart.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen was fearless and remained very composed. "Senior Brother, would you like to go first?"
"Senior Brother?"
The big man curled his lips, showing an unusual expression, then shook his head. "I've already passed the first gate of the third mountain. To be honest, the only reason I'm still here is to wait for you."
"Wait for me?"
"That's right, to wait for you. After I came out of seclusion, I kept hearing people talk about a sword dao prodigy in the sect who had cultivated Sword One to the ninth level, so I wanted to meet you," the big man said.
Zhang Ruochen hadn't just arrived at the Liangyi Sect yesterday. He had some understanding of the top experts among the sacred transmission disciples, but this person didn't match anyone in his mind.
"Someone who can pass the first gate of the third mountain shouldn't be unknown," Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself.
For now, he could only guess that this big man was a talent secretly cultivated by the Liangyi Sect.
Putting aside further thoughts, Zhang Ruochen walked straight to the base of the thirty-zhang-tall stone wall and began to study the text on it.
The text at the foot of the third mountain was even more complex and harder to understand, as if each character contained infinite sword dao intent.