Ten Thousand Swords Pay Homage to the Sect!
Those words were no exaggeration!
In mere moments, the sky above Golden Ao Island was blanketed, blotting out the sun.
As far as the eye could see, sword radiance crowded the heavens, boundless as a sea of mist, beyond counting.
No matter how desperately the disciples tried to suppress them, their Companion Swords within their seas of consciousness still tore into the sky, spanning the nine heavens.
It was not merely an astonishing spectacle.
Streams of sword radiance soared like azure dragons, piercing heaven and earth.
Vast swaths of auspicious light cascaded down, imbued with an ineffable holiness.
Everyone felt something stir within them, their Divine Senses becoming clear.
At that moment, their understanding of the sword Dao deepened noticeably.
"Junior Brother Changqing seems to be reciting poetry, yet his words contain profound Dao resonance that greatly benefits our cultivation."
"What a formidable aura! Just what cultivation level has Junior Brother Changqing reached?"
"The sword intent within me has been completely suppressed."
"Heavens, is this the aura of a sovereign of the sword Dao?"
"With a single utterance, Junior Brother Gu Changqing has made all our Companion Swords submit to his aura?"
Astonishing!
Utterly astonishing!
Even now, Gu Changqing continued to sway and stagger.
Yet everyone sensed the fierce, domineering aura of a sword Dao sovereign emanating from him.
The ordinary Outer Sect disciples trembled, their scalps tingling fiercely.
Even personal disciples such as Zhao Gongming nodded slightly, their hearts shaken.
Such sharp, magnificent sword intent surpassed them all.
It was not only the Jie Sect Disciples who were thrown into an uproar, unable to regain their composure.
Beyond Golden Ao Island, the waters of the East Sea churned, raising terrifying waves a hundred thousand feet high.
Heavenly swords descended, cleaving across the vast blue waters.
Such a world-shaking spectacle drew the attention of countless cultivators, leaving them marveling.
"What powerful sword intent! Truly worthy of a Saint's Lineage."
"Even if this sword intent falls short of a sage's, it must belong to a personal disciple of the Interception Sect."
"Indeed. In my judgment, Daoist Duobao must be cultivating. After all, he is Tongtian's foremost personal disciple. He must have comprehended the essence of the sword Dao as well."
Some looked on with envy, others with astonishment.
Even a sage's disciples were far stronger than ordinary unaffiliated cultivators.
Meanwhile, within the Interception Sect...
Everyone also heard the discussions of those outside.
Duobao could not help lowering his head, his face filled with shame.
What merit or ability do I possess to deserve that?
How was that praise? Every word pierced his heart.
Looking at Gu Changqing, Duobao suddenly came to his senses.
What foremost personal disciple of the Interception Sect?
Junior Brother Changqing's mastery of the sword Dao was so far beyond his own that he could not even glimpse his back.
Beside Duobao, Zhao Gongming's expression shifted as something occurred to him.
"Senior Brother Duobao, we ought to spend more time with this junior brother in the future."
Watching Gu Changqing stagger away, swaying three times with every step, Zhao Gongming spoke gravely.
Hearing this, Duobao gave Zhao Gongming an odd look and said:
"Oh?"
"Back in Biyou Palace, didn't you say Junior Brother Gu Changqing needed to be taught a lesson, Junior Brother Gongming?"
Zhao Gongming's face instantly filled with embarrassment.
Had he known Junior Brother Changqing concealed his abilities so deeply, he would never have dared make such a "wild boast."
After a long while, Gu Changqing finally disappeared from everyone's sight.
Only then did the phenomena filling the skies above Golden Ao Island dissipate.
Clang...
Clang...
More than a hundred thousand immortal swords fell, ringing out sharply.
The Jie Sect Disciples, still lost in shock, finally snapped out of their daze.
Once they recovered, the Three Xiao were the first to follow Gu Changqing's footsteps toward his cave abode.
Duobao, Zhao Gongming, and the others followed as well.
It went without saying that, having witnessed Gu Changqing's formidable mastery of the sword Dao, they all wished to discuss the Dao with him and benefit their cultivation.
At the very least, a single utterance from Gu Changqing today had brought their master Tongtian to sudden enlightenment.
It was easy to imagine how his standing within the Interception Sect would soar in the future.
Befriending Gu Changqing could only benefit them.
Upon reaching the entrance to Gu Changqing's cave abode, everyone stopped.
Such a scene would have been unimaginable for any other Outer Sect disciple.
After all, the Eight Great Personal Disciples held extraordinary status. Even if they barged straight into an Outer Sect disciple's cave abode, its owner would consider it a tremendous honor.
Yet now, Duobao and the others were exceedingly courteous.
"Junior Brother Gu Changqing?"
"Hehe, as your senior brothers and sisters, we have paid far too little attention to you before."
"I have an innate spirit root, which I have come especially to give you, Junior Brother Gu Changqing."
Smiling, Duobao stood outside the cave abode and called softly.
As soon as he finished, Golden Spirit Holy Mother chimed in beside him:
"Precisely, Junior Brother Gu Changqing. As fellow disciples, we ought to be closer."
"Please come out and meet us, Junior Brother Gu Changqing..."
Yet whether it was Duobao or Golden Spirit Holy Mother...
Long after both had finished speaking, not the slightest response came from inside the cave abode.
The Eight Great Personal Disciples exchanged glances.
What was going on?
Had Gu Changqing not returned to his cave abode?
But they had clearly watched him return here earlier.
After a moment's consideration, they walked slowly into the cave abode, led by Duobao.
Only upon entering did they see the scene within.
But when they looked closely, they all froze, their faces filled with helplessness.
Gu Changqing lay sprawled inside without the slightest concern for appearances, snoring steadily.
An empty wine jar lay beside his hand.
A rich wine fragrance permeated the entire cave abode without cease.
Over the past two thousand years, the cave abode had practically become steeped in the scent of wine.
"Well... Junior Brother Gu Changqing has drunk himself completely unconscious."
Yunxiao shook her head with a laugh.
It seemed their trip had been in vain after all.
Just then, Wudang Holy Mother, another of the inner sect's personal disciples, stirred and spoke in surprise:
"Oh? Doesn't the divine resonance of the sword Dao seem stronger inside Junior Brother Gu Changqing's cave abode than outside?"
Hearing this, the others extended their Divine Senses to investigate.
A moment later, they all nodded.
"Senior Sister Wudang is right."
"The divine resonance of the sword Dao here is more than ten times stronger than outside."
"Perhaps this is an outward manifestation of Junior Brother Gu Changqing's sword Dao cultivation."
"In that case, why don't we cultivate here while waiting for Junior Brother Gu Changqing to wake?"
That final suggestion came from Bixiao.
Ever since witnessing Gu Changqing's extraordinary bearing, she had developed a tremendous interest in him.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Thus, the Eight Great Personal Disciples sat down inside Gu Changqing's cave abode.
The divine maidens in particular added a beautiful sight to the outer sect, drawing the gazes of the male disciples, who could not look away.
They contemplated the divine resonance of the sword Dao within the cave abode while quietly waiting for Gu Changqing to awaken.
The sight filled the Outer Sect disciples with envy.
Receiving such attention from the Eight Great Personal Disciples was something every Outer Sect disciple dreamed of.
But all they could do was watch.
In the Primordial World, strength reigned supreme, as it had since ancient times.
Only someone as powerful as Junior Brother Gu Changqing could enjoy such a "special honor."
Yet none of them had expected this.
Gu Changqing's drunken slumber lasted a full thousand years.
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