True Martial Seventh Layer

This was Minor Sword Intent that had broken beyond its embryonic form!

A prodigy of the Sword Dao—the old man had never seen anyone progress so quickly. In the North Spring Sword Sect of old, such a figure would surely have been the Sword Son and, provided his character and conduct were sound, a candidate to become the next sect master.

The old man suddenly felt a little regret. If he had found a way to bring Gu Yuanqing into the North Spring Sword Sect when he first climbed the mountain, would the sect not now have someone to carry on its legacy?

Now, however, the opportunity had passed. Gu Yuanqing's Sword Dao cultivation already surpassed his own.

Gu Yuanqing quietly absorbed the changes brought about by his breakthrough in sword intent. Even without anyone to guide him, comparing his experience with the Cultivation Insights into Sword Dao cultivation in the secret chamber allowed him to recognize his current state.

In this state, his insights from Mountain Observation and his understanding of the Sword Dao intertwined. The aura around him was sometimes light as smoke, sometimes weighty as a mountain; sometimes it revealed a razor-sharp edge, and sometimes it took on the forms of Wind Dao and Rain Dao.

Mountain Observation encompassed more than the mountain itself. It encompassed all things within North Spring Mountain and the ways of nature. Ordinarily, he did not notice these insights; they merely accumulated in his heart day after day. But today, with his sword intent taking shape, they flowed into his Sword Dao like nourishment.

At the same time, the breakthrough in his mind caused the Profound Martial Secret Treasure to resonate and tremble. The qi of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha within it shifted, as though seas had become mulberry fields in the space of an instant.

Heaven and earth within the Secret Treasury grew ever more distinct, and the phantom image of North Spring Mountain gradually sharpened, every flower, blade of grass, and tree reflected within it.

The qi of Heavenly Gang and Earthly Sha drifting outside gradually thinned, and the Secret Treasury's transformation seemed about to stop.

But just then, Gu Yuanqing's Sea of Consciousness trembled. A stream of pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was drawn from beneath North Spring Mountain and poured into the Secret Treasury.

The Secret Treasury's evolution became even more intense, as though it truly intended to give birth to a real world within.

Time passed little by little, and these insights finally accumulated to their peak.

Boom!

His outward communion with heaven and earth and his inward resonance with the Profound Martial Secret Treasure—these two increasingly powerful worlds used Gu Yuanqing's consciousness as a bridge, shattering the barriers between them as they merged and collided!

For an instant, Gu Yuanqing's mind went blank. Then he entered a wondrous state, as though he stood within it yet also transcended all things.

His inner and outer worlds resonated, giving rise to further changes, and a phantom image of North Spring Mountain appeared around Gu Yuanqing's body.

The True Martial Seventh Layer—today, he had attained it!

Gu Yuanqing closed his eyes. Without relying on Mountain Observation, he could still clearly perceive every sight within a radius of a hundred feet.

After another long while, the aura surrounding him receded, and the little courtyard returned to tranquility. Yet had an expert looked upon him now, they would have sensed that Gu Yuanqing, standing quietly in the Courtyard, was like a towering mountain peak, incomparably steady. Closer scrutiny would have revealed an exceptionally sharp aura concealed within.

Gu Yuanqing still did not move. Only after every trace of his aura had settled and all his insights had been branded deep into his mind did he slowly release a breath.

That breath condensed into the shape of a sword in the Void and shot forth, piercing the courtyard wall and leaving a hole behind. It flew another thirty feet before vanishing without a trace.

Gu Yuanqing opened his eyes and relaxed his right hand. Through Mountain-Viewing Object Control, the Kunwu Sword flew back into its sheath.

He clenched his fist, then swiftly spread his fingers, producing a crack through the air. Feeling the faint tingling in his fingers, he murmured, "The True Martial Seventh Layer? It seems my bodily tempering has fallen a little behind."

A smile spread across his face as he spoke.

At the True Martial Seventh Layer, one could already be considered a powerhouse. Even many generals and commanders in the Great Qian Dynasty's army lacked such cultivation.

Between the sixth and seventh layers lay a heavenly chasm—the divide between heaven and earth and the inner and outer worlds of the human body. Countless True Martial Cultivators remained trapped there, yet today, through a fortunate convergence of circumstances, he had broken through so easily.

"Once I've had a little more time to familiarize myself with these powers and turn them into fighting strength, perhaps I won't need to fear anyone below a Grandmaster!"

At last, Gu Yuanqing had gained a measure of confidence. He would no longer be meat on another's chopping block!

He returned to the stone table, pulled up a chair, and sat down. After taking a sip of the now-cold tea, he leaned back and gazed up at the bright moon, feeling his entire body and mind relax.

Imprisoned here, with his life and death in others' hands, he had lived on the mountain as though he did not much care. Yet an invisible pressure had coiled around his heart every moment. Only now did that pressure finally dissipate.

He sat there for a long while without thinking of anything, then entered the state of Mountain Observation once more.

At that moment, North Spring Mountain felt different in his mind again. Everything had become more intricate and vivid.

Gu Yuanqing's consciousness wandered through North Spring Mountain, and he suddenly noticed a change at its foot.

The Forbidden Army Camp below stood on a small hill connected to North Spring Mountain. Ordinarily, few men guarded the mountain gate, but several narrow paths circled the mountain, and Forbidden Army squads regularly patrolled them.

Today, however, all the patrolling troops had disappeared, and only a handful remained at the mountain gate.

These past few days, they had not been as relaxed as before, chatting idly. Every man wore a grave expression and occasionally looked toward one side of the Forbidden Army Camp.

Has something happened? Or has some important figure arrived, so they've redeployed the Forbidden Army to protect them?

Gu Yuanqing speculated inwardly, then reined in his impatience and waited quietly to see whether he could hear any news from these Soldiers.

After a long time, one soldier finally could not resist asking in a low voice, "Old Feng, do you think something really might be wrong with the Demon Realm Seal? The commander has sent all our men over there. It looks to me like they're ready to form the Divine Eagle Great Formation at any moment to suppress any demonic beasts that escape."

Another, older soldier looked somewhat more relaxed. He replied, "Don't worry. The seal isn't so easily broken. It's only demonic qi leaking out. This has happened three times over the past hundred years, and every time it's been a scare without any real danger. The commander is merely preparing against trouble.

"Besides, this Demon Realm Fissure has never had any major problems since it was discovered. We've barely even seen a few of the most ordinary ferocious beasts or magic beasts crawl out. Otherwise, it would be the Demon Suppressing Army stationed here, not our Divine Eagle Guard."

The Demon Realm? Gu Yuanqing's heart jolted, and he sat upright. He had only encountered that term in books, and every mention had been accompanied by a calamity that plunged living beings into misery.

"No wonder North Spring Mountain is called a forbidden ground, yet all the Forbidden Army troops are stationed below it. There's actually a Demon Realm Fissure here."

The term was far removed from ordinary people's lives. According to the records, the most recent such incident in the Great Qian Dynasty had occurred a hundred years ago, when Remnants of the Crimson Dragon Cult attempted another grand sacrifice. Fortunately, the Imperial Court discovered it in time, and a Grandmaster arrived. The leaking demonic qi contaminated less than half a village, and the few ferocious beasts that crawled out of the passage were all slain before a disaster could unfold.

Demonic qi was utterly different from the Heaven and Earth Vital Energy of this world. Only True Martial Cultivators could resist it, and remaining entirely unaffected required the True Martial Seventh Layer, using the Profound Martial Wonderland to keep it out.

"I hope nothing goes wrong. Otherwise, if demonic qi seeps in, who knows whether the Spirit Mountain I've only just formed will be affected? The living creatures nearby will suffer too."

Gu Yuanqing's expression also grew somewhat grave.