Sword's Cry Shocks the Heavens, Tongtian Attains the Dao

At the foot of Mount Buzhou, the atmosphere was subtle and stagnant.

Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi sat opposite each other at a stone table, seemingly engrossed in the chessboard. The crisp sound of their pieces being placed was barely enough to mask the surging awkwardness beneath the deliberately cultivated calm. Though their Dao bodies had been healed as good as new by Saint Nuwa's power of Creation, the bone-deep frustration and the fear of being dominated by Xuan Wazi remained like a persistent scar, deeply imprinted in their hearts and minds, impossible to shake. Each move on the board felt like a blow to their fragile pride.

Fuxi had already turned around, facing the majestic Mount Buzhou that supported the heavens and earth. However, the slight tremor in his shoulders betrayed his struggle to suppress the laughter that was threatening to burst out. High above in the clouds, Saint Nuwa's presence was ethereal and distant, seemingly nonexistent, yet her silent gaze was like an invisible mountain pressing down on Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi's hearts, making them fidget and unconsciously lower their voices.

Xuan Wazi, on the other hand, appeared relaxed and at ease, leaning against a smooth, giant boulder with his eyes half-closed as if lost in thought. In reality, he was using a wisp of his divine sense to closely observe the green-robed Daoist, Tongtian, who was still immersed in his profound enlightenment nearby. Simultaneously, he was mentally communicating with the system about the gains from their recent "sparring session," feeling quite pleased with the generous amount of "Unfilial Points" he had accumulated.

Time flowed by in this peculiar stillness. The Primordial Era cared not for years; perhaps it was but a blink of an eye, or perhaps millennia had passed.

Suddenly, a drastic change occurred!

A Dao charm of the Way of the Sword, originally contained and harmonious, began to fluctuate violently around Tongtian! Like a stone dropped into a calm lake, it rippled outwards, the waves growing more turbulent, gradually escalating into a monstrous surge!

"Buzz—"

An extremely faint, yet incredibly clear sword hum, like the first cry of a newborn phoenix, clear and pure, instantly shattered the silence at the foot of the mountain, piercing the senses of every powerful being present!

Hong Yun's hand, holding a white piece, paused in mid-air. Zhen Yuanzi's fingers, clutching a black piece, involuntarily tightened. Fuxi spun around abruptly, the lingering smile on his face instantly replaced by solemnity. Even the ethereal presence in the clouds seemed to solidify for a moment. Xuan Wazi, moreover, suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint appearing within them as he stared intently at Tongtian.

From Tongtian's towering, solitary figure, wisps of sword energy, as tangible as solid matter, began to escape uncontrollably. These sword energies were no longer sharp and intimidating as they usually were, but instead exuded a vibrant, life-filled essence, like seeds buried deep in the earth gathering immense power to break through the soil after a harsh winter! The Dao charm around him, which had been nearing perfection, now churned, collided, and sublimated like boiling water!

"Buzz! Buzz! Buzz—!"

The sound of the sword hum grew louder and more frequent, initially like pearls falling onto a jade plate, clear and melodious; then like thousands of swords striking in unison, a clash of metal; and finally, it transformed into the roar of a sword qi storm sweeping across the heavens and earth, containing an ultimate resolve and awe-inspiring aura that could sever karma, shatter illusions, and carve out a sliver of life for all beings!

Tongtian's eyes, closed for who knew how many years, suddenly snapped open at this moment!

"Clang—!"

Two beams of brilliant sword light, as if tangible, shot out from his eyes, soaring straight into the nine heavens. They forcefully pierced the thick sea of clouds above, revealing the azure sky behind it! His entire demeanor underwent a world-shattering transformation. Before, he was like a famous sword hidden in its sheath, known to be a divine weapon but biding its time. Now, the divine sword had been drawn, its cold light illuminating the world, its sword qi reaching for the stars! A grand, pure, incredibly sharp, yet tinged with a hint of compassion for all beings and a desire to defy fate, supreme sword intent erupted from him, sweeping in all directions!

This sword intent was so vast and immense that the surrounding space began to visibly distort and fold, revealing countless transparent sword marks, as fine as hair, that could cut through anything. The spiritual herbs and immortal flowers underfoot bowed down, and the surrounding rocks and cliffs hummed in resonance! Before Hong Yun and Zhen Yuanzi, on the precious chessboard crafted from star cores and Innate Warm Jade, all the pieces trembled violently, emitting mournful cries of being unable to bear the burden, as if they would shatter into dust under the irresistible pressure of the Way of the Sword in the next moment!

"My Dao... is complete!"

Tongtian stood up straight, his Daoist robe fluttering without wind. His clear, sharp voice, like a drawn sword cutting through the sky, resonated in everyone's hearts with the boundless joy and powerful confidence of understanding the Great Dao and breaking through the final veil of confusion. He was enveloped in swirling mists of sword qi and radiant light. His already profound aura, like a breached river, forcefully broke through the solid barrier that had troubled him for so long, instantly stepping into a new, more expansive realm – the perfected stage of a Hunyuan Golden Immortal!

Furthermore, the stability of his Dao Foundation was like Mount Buzhou supporting the heavens; the purity of his sword intent was comparable to the first wisp of Innate Geng Metal Qi at the beginning of chaos! His sharp edge had already clearly touched the threshold of the transcendent and carefree Primordial Grand Unity Golden Immortal!

His gaze was like lightning as he slowly swept across the assembled individuals, his eyes so sharp they seemed capable of piercing one's soul. Finally, his gaze settled on Xuan Wazi, who was leaning against the boulder with a "just as expected" smile. His expression turned solemn, and he actually bowed deeply to Xuan Wazi in a solemn Daoist salute!

"Thank you, fellow Daoist Wazi, for guiding me! This kindness and debt, Tongtian... will remember it forever!" His voice was deep and powerful, filled with sincere gratitude.

This bow was offered with genuine sincerity, without any coercion. If not for Xuan Wazi's seemingly casual, yet core-targeting pointers on "the potential of the Human Race," "teaching without discrimination," and "opening the gates of the sect widely," which were like a guiding light in the chaotic fog of his Dao Heart, he might still have languished for a long time within his own inherent perceptions and the constraints of his identity as one of the Three Pure Ones, never being able to clearly and firmly see the path to establishing his sect and achieving enlightenment, as he could now!

Seeing this, Xuan Wazi's roguish smile softened slightly. He straightened his posture and calmly accepted the bow. He waved his hand casually, but his tone carried a rare seriousness, along with a hint of being an "experienced elder": "Fellow Daoist Tongtian, you are too kind. We are both guests of Zixiao Palace. I am merely a few years older and occupied the foremost seat. Although I did not formally join the Dao Ancestor's tutelage, I have known you fellow Daoists since our humble beginnings. The Great Dao lies before you. I merely saw that you were troubled and offered a casual suggestion. The key is that you yourself have accumulated sufficient depth, and your Dao Heart is sufficiently clear and transparent, allowing you to understand the subtle meaning upon hearing the melody, grasp it instantly, and ignite it with a single touch."