Shattering the Vanguard's Sharpest Edge

All thirty-six Nascent Soul True Lords encountered their first opponents.

The thirty-six water mirrors displayed the two Nascent Soul True Lords from both front and back. Naturally, the Daluo Sect members were all watching their own cultivators.

In truth, most eyes were gathered on Zhi Zhen. This Nascent Soul True Lord had slain a Spirit Transformation cultivator against the odds—an heaven-defying feat unseen in Central Province for ten thousand years.

Even among her fellow sect members, few had ever seen Zhi Zhen, much less watched her fight. Being able to witness her battle firsthand was an exceedingly precious opportunity.

Cultivators from the other sects were likewise mostly focused on Zhi Zhen.

The first opponent Zhi Zhen encountered wore a black-and-white sword robe. It was Dongfang Liuyun of the Taiji Sword Palace.

Dongfang Liuyun was not discouraged by facing Zhi Zhen. Calmly, he exchanged a few pleasantries with her before drawing the Nine Deaths Sword.

The sword was four feet long, its blade dark and dull, without a trace of gleam. Nine Deaths meant "nine deaths without regret." It was an exceptionally unusual Divine Artifact.

Only sword cultivators whose sincerity toward the sword path allowed them to face nine deaths without regret could wield this sword. Dongfang Liuyun had stumbled upon a chance to enter the Taiji Sword Palace, yet his natural aptitude constrained him, leaving him unable to make much progress.

Gritting his teeth, he chose the Nine Deaths Sword Scripture. He sought the Dao through nine deaths with this sword art, and through supreme perseverance and tremendous fortune, he mastered the Nine Deaths Sword Scripture and obtained this Nine Deaths Sword.

After more than two hundred years of tempering and refinement amid life-and-death struggles, Dongfang Liuyun's swordsmanship might not match those geniuses like Yin Jiuli, but his sword heart