飘零影音

Arc 15: Heavenly Secret Realm | Chapter 291: Seeing A Relative

Yun Lie wasn’t the only one; every sword cultivator who had reached this place was equally shaken by the tree. Each of them had a premonition that they could reap immense benefits from the sword-shaped tree. This was why so many were willing to face the resentful worms and snakes, risking death, rather than turning back. Such is the relentless determination of a sword cultivator.

The higher they climbed, the greater the gap between the sword cultivators became.

The stronger the sword cultivator, the faster they climbed, leaving others far behind.

At this point, deep reserves of true essence and high realms meant nothing; only mastery of swordsmanship mattered.

The more advanced a person’s swordsmanship was, the sharper their sword energy, allowing them to kill without hesitation.

Yun Lie’s swordsmanship, which had been restrained before he entered his demonic state, was now fully unleashed without any limitations.

As a result, once he unleashed his sword intent, no one dared approach within several feet of him.

Gradually, the first branch grew closer and closer, as if it could be reached with an outstretched hand.

At that moment, all the sword cultivators felt a weight descend on their minds, and countless flying swords seemed to rush toward them, gleaming cold and sharp, each one unmatched in its sharpness.

In just a breath, the flying swords appeared right before them, as if they were about to be shredded by a rain of swords, leaving no remains behind!

Almost everyone was caught off guard. After the fierce battle with the resentful snake, they were too exhausted to dodge easily.

However, Yun Lie’s expression remained unchanged. His eyes flickered, and a burst of invisible will erupted, directly countering the attack!

The first level of sword intent could cause illusions, making one feel as though they were being struck by countless sword lights.

To resist this kind of sword intent, one needed to have a firm will and remain unmoved by the illusion—or use sword intent against sword intent. Only those with profound realms and unshakable minds could prevail.

In the instant of the attack, Yun Lie immediately recognized it. For him, swordsmanship had become instinct, and he promptly unleashed his own sword intent.

It was also at the first level of sword intent.

The two sword intents clashed rapidly, producing what seemed to be a deafening explosion, though it was strangely silent at the same time.

The illusion of countless flying swords created by the first level of sword intent shattered like glass and dispersed.

At the same time, Yun Lie leaped forward, landing on the first branch.

Xu Ziqing had also been attacked by the sword intent, but as he had often trained under his senior brother’s sword intent, he had more experience than many other cultivators and was able to quickly discern the illusion without becoming trapped in it. Before he could even react, Yun Lie had already broken through the first level, allowing Xu Ziqing to follow him and land safely on the branch.

Since the tree was so rare, likely a once-in-a-lifetime sight, Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but be intrigued as he looked around while still on his senior brother’s back. What he saw left him truly astonished.

The outer appearance of the sword-shaped tree’s branches and trunk had seemed a grayish-white from below, but upon reaching the first branch, the surface was lush with green. Under the light, the green hue shimmered, turning into a silvery-white that was smooth and radiant, as though it were flowing. Countless tiny branches were spread out like a carpet, with several thicker branches supporting them, creating an exceptionally beautiful sight.

This kind of beauty was not a gentle or graceful beauty, nor was it the beauty of vitality, but rather a sharp and intense beauty—every small branch stood upright like a sharp sword, each one pointing straight up, proud and unyielding.

Yun Lie raised his hand, and a single leaf fell into his palm. The leaf was about an inch long, shaped like a tiny sword, with a sharp tip that seemed sharp enough to cut through hair.

Xu Ziqing observed curiously, noticing that there seemed to be a strange force trapped within the leaf, unable to break free…

Yun Lie flicked his finger, and with the sweep of sword energy, the sword-shaped leaf was immediately sliced into two.

At the break, a surge of intent suddenly burst forth, accompanied by the sound of a sharp weapon slicing through the air, instantly rushing toward their faces!

Yun Lie’s eyes flashed as he released his sword intent.

The two intents collided, sending ripples through the air.

Yun Lie’s ruthless killing intent quickly tore apart the trace of sword intent, and the scattered fragments of the intent transformed into a small stream that swiftly entered Yun Lie’s forehead.

Yun Lie faintly sensed that his sword intent had grown slightly stronger.

Xu Ziqing, however, had a completely different experience.

When the sword intent burst forth, he felt an intense heat, like the scorching sun burning him to ashes. But this sensation lasted only a moment before it was shattered by another cold sword intent. He immediately understood that this was also sword intent—one related to the blazing sun.

At the same time, Xu Ziqing noticed that the sword intent seemed to brush past them like a gentle breeze, and he realized that his senior brother must have gained something from it. Without hesitation, he spoke up, “Senior Brother, gather more sword-shaped leaves!”

Yun Lie didn’t need the reminder. Almost as soon as Xu Ziqing spoke, Yun Lie had already unleashed a surge of overwhelming sword intent, which swept out like a tornado, scouring the surroundings.

In an instant, countless sword-shaped leaves floated up, and with a sweep of Yun Lie’s sleeve, they were all collected into his storage ring.

Within just a few breaths, Yun Lie had gathered all the sword-shaped leaves within a radius of several dozen feet.

Although Yun Lie was faster than many, he wasn’t the only one moving quickly.

Several other sword cultivators had arrived on the first branch around the same time as Yun Lie, though they were in different areas and did not interfere with one another.

Although they were all swift, those whose swordsmanship was slightly inferior arrived gradually afterward.

Sure enough, not long after, Xi Lin reached the first branch as well. He quickly discovered the secret of the sword-shaped leaves and also began collecting them.

As Yun Lie continued to leap forward and gather more leaves, Xu Ziqing, still on his back, observed the sword cultivators who were gradually reaching the same branch.

Upon closer inspection, Xu Ziqing saw a familiar face. About ten zhang (approximately 30 meters) away from the two of them, a handsome young man dressed in luxurious purple robes leaped toward them. His noble bearing as a scion of a prestigious family was apparent, though he seemed cold and indifferent. Yet, there was an unmistakable pressure of sword energy swirling around him, and a sword aura trailed behind him. The aura carried a pure, sharp energy, with the swift and flowing feeling of the wind—he was none other than Xu Ziqing’s relative, the former first genius of the Xu family, Xu Zifeng, who possessed both a thick and a thin spiritual root!

Since entering the Great World, Xu Ziqing had not seen anyone from the Xu family. He only remembered that Xu Zifeng, with his extraordinary temperament, was taken away shortly after arriving in this realm, though Xu Ziqing had never paid attention to which sect he joined.

But now, seeing the small sword mark on Xu Zifeng’s arm, he immediately recalled the Cen sisters who had guided him and his senior brother before. It became clear that Xu Zifeng had joined the Wanjian Immortal Sect.

As for his younger sister, Xu Zitang, her whereabouts were unknown. However, since her talent in swordsmanship was inferior to her brother’s, and she lacked a strong desire to pursue the way of the sword, it was unlikely that she had joined the same sect as Xu Zifeng.

Xu Ziqing did not know what kind of spiritual roots Xu Zifeng had, but from the wind-related intent in his aura, Xu Ziqing could deduce that he must have water and fire dual spiritual roots.

Seeing Xu Zifeng now, looking full of vigor, his sword pressure astonishing, and being able to come to the Heavenly Secret Realm with his sect, it was evident that he was highly valued within the sect. This was not surprising—while water and fire dual spiritual roots weren’t considered the best in the Qingyun Great World, they could still provide some advantages in cultivating a wind-related sword path.

Xu Zifeng had always been an exceptionally perceptive individual. Even when confined to the small world within the family, he had comprehended sword energy on his own. Now that he had joined a renowned sect in the Qingyun Great World and received guidance from famous masters, it was no wonder that he had condensed a sword aura in just a few years. Furthermore, his cultivation level was likely beyond the Huayuan stage by now.

Xu Ziqing glanced at him once before turning his head away, feeling a bit of admiration in his heart.

He speculated that Xu Zifeng had climbed the sword-shaped tree to comprehend sword intent using the tree’s power. Once he succeeded, his standing in his sect would rise even further.

As Xu Ziqing had predicted, Xu Zifeng was indeed here to comprehend sword intent.

Like Yun Lie before him, Xu Zifeng quickly surveyed the branches, plucked a sword-shaped leaf, and split it open.

In the next moment, a strand of sword intent surged toward him. Xu Zifeng did not dodge but instead formed a sword seal, trapping the sword intent within an invisible cage.

The Wanjian Immortal Sect was the top-ranked sword sect in the Great World. Even the Wuling Immortal Sect couldn’t compare to it in terms of the mysteries of swordsmanship and access to ancient texts and resources.

Other sects may not have known the true nature of the sword-shaped tree, but the strength Xu Zifeng displayed gave Xu Ziqing a few ideas.

…It seemed that the Wanjian Immortal Sect knew some of the unique uses of the sword-shaped tree.

After trapping the sword intent, Xu Zifeng released a sliver of sword aura to entangle the sword intent. After a short while, he frowned slightly and formed another sword seal. The invisible cage exploded, and the sword intent inside shattered.

Then Xu Zifeng picked another sword-shaped leaf and repeated the process.

Xu Ziqing then noticed several other sword cultivators with small sword marks on their arms. Like Xu Zifeng, they had yet to fully comprehend sword intent, but without exception, they all possessed sword auras.

Just like Xu Zifeng, these sword cultivators also formed seals to trap the sword intent bursting from the sword-shaped leaves. Some casually crushed the intent, while others suddenly smiled with joy and reached their hands into the invisible cage. Inside, the sword intent instantly slashed their palms, before drilling into their bodies.

Sweat immediately appeared on the sword cultivators’ foreheads as a stream of energy flowed along their arms and rushed upward, entering their foreheads before stopping.

At this moment, a sharp aura erupted from the sword cultivators, and countless sparks seemed to flash in their eyes.

Xu Ziqing immediately understood.

These sword cultivators were all just one step away from comprehending sword intent. And that final step, which had blocked countless sword cultivators, was their greatest obstacle.

The appearance of the sword-shaped tree was their greatest opportunity!

Translator: Lynn

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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