Ye Jinghong drew both swords, and the sharpness of his Sword Qi made everyone around him narrow their eyes.
He truly deserved his reputation as the legendary Throne of Order of the Ye Lineage. With strength like this, perhaps only the very finest geniuses of their respective factions could contend with him.
The Ten Thousand Swords River seemed to sense Ye Jinghong's provocation.
With every step he took, a sword flew out, releasing sword intent.
At every step, Ye Jinghong carefully savored the various sword moves, comprehending and learning from each kind of sword intent.
Brilliant sword light blossomed. One man with two swords charged forward by sheer force, striking down the swords that flew out one after another.
After two hundred steps, even the personal swords of various Sword Kings began rushing out to slash at Ye Jinghong.
"Not enough, still not enough! Let this sword force come even fiercer!" Ye Jinghong's spirit soared, and he actually entered a state of sudden enlightenment.
The masked sword cultivator looked at Ye Jinghong, who was catching up step by step not far away, and smiled calmly.
"This Throne of Order of the Ye Lineage truly lives up to his reputation. What a pure sword cultivator."
With a raise of his hand, Ye Jinghong had already fought his way past three hundred steps.
Swords howled in long cries, and even the Ten Thousand Swords River seemed enraged now, its waves surging.
Several swords actually flew out together, all hurtling toward Ye Jinghong.
Without the slightest fear, Ye Jinghong confidently met the incoming assault.
"So strong. What a terrifying fellow. Even if I faced this Lord Throne of Order head-on, I probably wouldn't last long."
Ming Ye muttered to himself.
Even the Nine Nether Imperial Dynasty, an old adversary of the Ye Lineage, had to acknowledge Ye Jinghong's strength at this moment.
Ye Jinghong's expression remained unchanged. His twin swords joined, Yin and Yang fused, and they transformed into a new sword.
The sword seemed to have always been a part of Ye Jinghong. At a glance, they gave off a sense of perfect harmony, as though it had been made for him from birth.
"My left sword is named Startling Thunder, and my right sword is named Flying Swan. This sword shall be named Startled Swan."
The several incoming swords were actually forced back by the Sword Qi the Startled Swan Sword released on its own.
With the Startled Swan Sword in hand, Ye Jinghong focused and continued forward.
In the blink of an eye, he reached the five-hundred-step mark.
The ferocity with which he challenged the trial left everyone marveling.
"If Ye Jinghong hadn't deliberately provoked the Ten Thousand Swords River and enraged it, he might have been able to finish all one thousand steps," a watching cultivator exclaimed.
"Perhaps that's the difference between him and us. We only want to test things out safely, but this Throne of Order dares to challenge the assembled swords to battle."
The cultivator beside him patted the spectator's shoulder.
"Ethereal Sword Body, awaken!" Beyond five hundred steps, the sword of an immensely powerful and renowned Sword King appeared.
Ye Jinghong kept unleashing Sword Qi. The Startled Swan Sword seemed to become a blur, and the spectators could no longer even make out his sword moves.
"No! Still not fast enough!" Ye Jinghong kept swinging his sword! Again and again!
At last, he seemed to comprehend something.
"My Dao of the Sword shall follow the path of ultimate speed. As long as I'm fast enough, anything is possible—even Yin and Yang can be reversed!"
A flash of sword light passed. No one saw how that strike was unleashed.
That strike seemed to transcend time and space, cleaving through oblivion.
A Startled Swan strike, oblivion in an instant.
The Sword King's sword was driven back. Ye Jinghong stood where he was, thoroughly satisfied, and bowed toward the river below.
"Thank you for your guidance, seniors. I have found the direction of my own Dao of the Sword."
With that, Ye Jinghong returned to the Ye Lineage disciples.
Waves of sword cries also rose from beneath the river, as though answering Ye Jinghong.
Inside the Sword Heart Tomb, the Old Gravekeeper smiled faintly.
"A fine child, born for the sword. He actually comprehended a Dao of the Sword of his own. My effort in driving that Sword King's sword to exchange moves with you wasn't wasted."
"If not for that white-haired boy I can't see through, you really would be the one most likely to take up Master's sword."
Seeing Ye Jinghong return, Ye Wushuang gently patted his shoulder.
"Not bad, Cousin Jinghong. You found the direction in your heart. Coming to this Heavenly Sword Secret Realm really was the right choice."
A smile also spread across Ye Jinghong's lips. "This journey wasn't in vain. I comprehended my own Dao of the Sword."
"Next, I shall retrieve a sword for Lord Son of Heaven at the Sword Heart Tomb, the third trial of this Heavenly Sword Secret Realm."
"Little Phoenix, aren't you going to challenge this Ten Thousand Swords River?" Ye Wushuang lowered his head and stared into Nie Qingcheng's eyes.
Suddenly caught by a gaze that would look deeply affectionate even when directed at a dog, Nie Qingcheng froze briefly before speaking:
"My sights are set only on the Sword Heart Tomb, to see whether I can obtain a few of those sages' swords. The Dao of the Sword isn't my strength. I have no intention of comprehending sword intent in this Ten Thousand Swords River."
"I use a saber, so I won't join the fun. Mostly, I just don't have the time."
Xie Qianli had pulled some food out of who knew where, and his mouth was covered in grease.
Seeing that Situ Xue of Immortal Feather Mountain also seemed to have no intention of attempting this trial, Ye Wushuang gave a wickedly charming smile.
Sure enough, the protagonist always appears last.
Stand back. I'm about to start showing off!
Ye Wushuang stood with his hands behind his back, flicked his sleeve, and revealed the Dragon King's signature crooked smile.
Ye Wushuang used no lightness technique. He simply strolled forward, one casual step at a time.
The Ye Lineage Son of Heaven's movements instantly drew everyone's attention. All of them anticipated Ye Wushuang's performance.
"Oh my god, girlies, this Ye Lineage Son of Heaven is way too handsome! I want to hold him in my arms and spoil him rotten."
A seductive female cultivator of the 36D Great Dao had stars in her eyes.
"Is it just my imagination? Why does every step this Ye Lineage Son of Heaven takes leave me breathless, even though he isn't using any cultivation art?"
A male cultivator asked in confusion.
"It's not your imagination. This Ye Lineage Son of Heaven is gathering momentum. With each step, his pressure grows stronger, like a Human Emperor in this world."
Behind them, a highly cultivated scion of a great clan wore a somewhat shaken expression.
When others gathered momentum, there was always a peak, and they condensed it within a short time.
Yet this Ye Lineage Son of Heaven increased his pressure with every step, as though there were no upper limit.
Ye Wushuang looked calmly at the Ten Thousand Swords River ahead.
"Then let me weigh the wondrous powers of all the keen swords in this Ten Thousand Swords River."
His softly spoken words nevertheless carried an air of dominance.
"Human Emperor Seal!" Ye Wushuang formed a seal with one hand and thrust out a palm, blasting it toward the Ten Thousand Swords River.
In an instant, the Ten Thousand Swords River surged several zhang high.
If Ye Jinghong raising his swords had been mere provocation, then Ye Wushuang could now be said to be riding right on the Ten Thousand Swords River's face.
Even the swords beneath the Ten Thousand Swords River were momentarily stunned by that palm strike.
Brother, are you all right? You hit us the moment you showed up.
If you dare attempt this trial, brat, you're going to suffer something awful.
The Human Emperor's might surged boundlessly as Ye Wushuang flew straight into the Ten Thousand Swords River.
He left everyone with only a view of his back.
His dashing figure left many female disciples gazing dreamily, their hearts fluttering despite themselves.
He would probably appear in many female cultivators' minds tonight.
"That little bastard, acting so handsome." Nie Qingcheng's heart fluttered wildly for a moment.
Seeing Nie Qingcheng's expression, Jin Zhan clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.
"Kekeke, I'd like to see just how many steps you can take." Ming Ye narrowed his eyes slightly, eerie light flickering within them.
"What an interesting person." Among Immortal Feather Mountain's group, Situ Xue, their universally doted-on darling who rarely descended the mountain, had her attention captured by this Ye Lineage Son of Heaven.
"It seems the rumors were true. This Ye Lineage Son of Heaven actually possesses a Human Emperor Body of this era!" The various major factions each pondered this.
"Ah, I never tire of watching this. Every time Master uses a great Human Emperor divine ability, he's still so dashing."
Taiyi sighed in admiration atop Xie Qianli's head.
At that moment, Xie Qianli beneath him was speechless. Why was Brother Ye's pet so unrestrained, riding straight onto his head?
He had thought his eventual fate would be to have a peerless fairy ride on his head with those gorgeous legs.
The first one to ride him in his life was actually a little white beast! Xie Qianli couldn't help wanting to cry but having no tears.