"As expected of me."
Han Xuanji slowly opened his eyes.
The Soaring Firmament Sword circled through the air beside him, humming with delight, seemingly celebrating his breakthrough.
With a thought from Han Xuanji, the Soaring Firmament Sword shot into his palm and vanished into his body.
"So this is the realm of Sword Intent Forms a Domain?"
A smile crept onto Han Xuanji's lips.
Sword Intent Forms a Domain.
In his memories, even Lingxiaozi, a genius blessed by the heavens, had only entered this realm at Late Void Return, making him the most legendary sword prodigy of his age. Yet Han Xuanji had already grasped it at the Spirit Transformation Realm.
With this power in his grasp, his strength had undoubtedly climbed another step.
With a single thought, his Sword Intent Domain could easily cover over a thousand li.
This power was enough to let him challenge those above his level. Within his Sword Intent Domain, he could not only suppress his opponent's power but also strengthen his own attacks.
If he used the Soaring Firmament Sword together with the Soaring Firmament Sword Instruction, even slaying a Void Return expert above his level would be no problem!
Even so, Han Xuanji did not grow arrogant.
Dangerous work like challenging opponents above one's level was better left to the protagonist.
He preferred crushing his opponents with superior cultivation and killing them in an instant.
At that moment, Han Xuanji heard swords ringing outside his cave abode and opened his eyes. A sweep of his Divine Sense revealed the astonishing phenomenon.
He froze. Could he have caused all this commotion?
Han Xuanji hurriedly drew back his Sword Intent and restrained his presence.
The phenomenon soon came to an end.
But it had caused an enormous stir.
Many people discussed which big shot had caused the commotion.
Because it had covered such a vast area, no one noticed that it had originated from Spirit Elegance Peak.
That allowed Han Xuanji to breathe a sigh of relief.
He had actually set up a concealment formation, which usually masked the commotion from his cultivation.
This time, it really was his mistake. He had never imagined he could cause such a huge disturbance.
Time slowly passed.
Two more years slipped by in the blink of an eye.
During those two years, Han Xuanji checked in at the Soaring Cloud Palace every day.
He had to admit that the Dao resonance here was considerably stronger than at the Scripture Pavilion. Not only could he check in repeatedly, but the rewards were all of good quality.
This delighted Han Xuanji.
The items he obtained from checking in were all of a high grade, including quite a few top-grade Spirit Stones and Spirit Transformation Law Artifacts.
Among them were also some treasures that aided cultivation.
For example, ten-thousand-year-old sandalwood, mind-calming precious orbs...
There were also quite a few inheritances of powerful Cultivation Methods, each an unparalleled divine art that led straight to the Immortal Ascension Realm.
After comparing them, however, Han Xuanji found that the True Scripture of Ascension, his primary Cultivation Method, suited his constitution better.
There was one auxiliary Cultivation Method that pleased him greatly.
It was the Heaven-Shrouding Technique. Though its name was exceptionally domineering, it was actually a Cultivation Method similar to the Myriad Phenomena Instruction.
At major accomplishment, it could shroud the heavens and hide the sun. At perfection, it was said that neither sun nor moon could be seen and no heavenly secrets would be revealed. It had already gone beyond ordinary methods of concealing one's presence, encompassing the Dao of heavenly secrets and karma. Han Xuanji had never encountered this kind of Cultivation Method before.
Fortunately, his comprehension was extraordinary, so he did not encounter too many difficulties cultivating it.
Of course.
Han Xuanji also understood that cultivation was the foundation. He had not stopped cultivating during those two years and had already reached the Spirit Transformation Realm Fourth Layer.
One day.
When Han Xuanji went out, he heard other disciples discussing major events under heaven.
Although their cultivation levels were not high, they paid considerable attention to the major affairs of the cultivation world.
Though this world had no phones or internet, it had similar means of transmitting information.
There were even organizations dedicated to selling such information.
"I heard the Great Xia imperial family's infighting is fierce?"
"Yes. The struggle for the throne has always been brutally cruel. Who knows how many people will die this time? A lot of Rogue Cultivators are also hoping to help a dragon ascend the throne and borrow the nation's fortune to cultivate."
"Rumor has it that Great Xia's third prince has returned from cultivating overseas. His hands and eyes reach the heavens, and his cultivation is unfathomable."
"The Heavenly Sword Sect's sword scion of this generation has also emerged. The first time he made a move, he slew a Spirit Transformation Realm Devil Cultivator and caused quite a stir."
"The Heavenly Devil Cult's Formless Hall has also begun operating on a large scale again. Every disciple of the Formless Hall is an expert in assassination. They seem to be planning to support one of the princes' ascension to the throne and have done a lot of dirty work.
"I heard some senior True Disciple brothers are often attacked when they go out. I'd say it was the Formless Hall's assassins."
Han Xuanji was inwardly startled as he listened to the disciples' discussion.
The Nine Provinces Continent was boundlessly vast, with sects standing in great numbers and countless experts.
Beyond the Nine Provinces, there was also an overseas cultivation world, and other continents were rumored to exist as well.
The Divine Profound Sect was located in Eastern Cang Province and had once been its undisputed foremost sect. The Heavenly Sword Sect, meanwhile, was a rising star. It had gone from a first-rate sect to the ranks of the very best and showed signs of overtaking the Divine Profound Sect.
Beyond that, the Heavenly Devil Cult was watching like a tiger eyeing its prey. Although its headquarters were in Northern Nether Province, the Heavenly Devil Cult had always been the Divine Profound Sect's mortal enemy and had continually targeted it... Now it had even joined the struggle for the Great Xia throne. If the Heavenly Devil Cult succeeded, the Divine Profound Sect's situation would surely grow even more difficult.
Han Xuanji felt that his choice to keep a low profile had been the right one after all.
If he were the bird that stuck its head out, he might be assassinated by the Heavenly Devil Cult one day.
"Cultivating the immortal Dao requires wealth, companions, methods, and a place to cultivate. Though I, Han Xuanji, am all alone with no one to support me, I entered Spirit Transformation through my own efforts. I have never been inferior to anyone in my life."
"System, check in!"
[Congratulations to the host for successfully checking in at the Soaring Cloud Palace and obtaining "30,000-year-old Purple Firmament Spirit Grass."]
"A 30,000-year-old spirit medicine?"
Han Xuanji marveled inwardly.
He had checked in for quite a few treasures before, but those spirit medicines were only a few thousand years old. They were of little help to a Spirit Transformation cultivator and hardly worth using.
But this 30,000-year-old spirit medicine had undergone a qualitative change. It was a rare treasure even for him.
"The Soaring Cloud Palace really does have a lot of treasures."
Han Xuanji nodded slightly.
Purple Firmament Spirit Grass was an exceptionally rare spiritual treasure of heaven and earth. Its stalk was like purple jade, and it usually grew only in extraordinary places where thunderstorms never ceased.
It needed to absorb the power of lightning tribulations to mature. For every thousand years of maturation, another lightning pattern appeared on its leaves. This particular Purple Firmament Spirit Grass was densely covered in lightning patterns and contained exceptionally profound Principles of the lightning Dao.
If a cultivator with a Thunder Spirit Root consumed it, they would reap enormous benefits and have a chance of awakening a cultivation constitution related to the lightning Dao.
When Han Xuanji was in Thunder Spirit Valley, he had once come across a specimen. However, it was only a few hundred years old and of little use to him, so he had not picked it.
This 30,000-year-old spiritual treasure of heaven and earth, however, could undoubtedly be called an immortal medicine. Every specimen possessed the power of creation.
Without giving it much thought, Han Xuanji returned directly to his cave abode, intending to refine it completely.
"If I absorb this immortal herb in its entirety, perhaps I can make my Myriad Tribulations Thunder Body transform."
Han Xuanji's thoughts surged.
He already possessed a lightning Dao constitution. If he absorbed the vast amount of lightning origin contained in the Purple Firmament Spirit Grass, it would not only greatly benefit his body but also bring his Myriad Tribulations Thunder Body a step further.
As these thoughts passed through his mind, Han Xuanji swallowed the spirit herb and immediately circulated the Limitless Thunder Method. The lightning origin power contained in the Purple Firmament Spirit Grass was swiftly refined.
During the process, Han Xuanji felt as though electricity were coursing through his entire body. His physical body underwent a transformation of some kind, and his cultivation presence rose steadily.
He did not know how much time passed.
Han Xuanji opened his eyes and carefully examined his condition. His physique was at least twice as strong as before.
His strength and speed, in particular, had improved considerably.
"Not bad. My constitution has undergone a transformation."
"My realm has also reached the Spirit Transformation Realm Fifth Layer."
"This time, I've really struck it rich."
Han Xuanji was ecstatic.
When he had first obtained the Myriad Tribulations Thunder Body through a check-in, it could only be considered a relatively powerful spirit body. Now it was worthy of being called a lightning Dao saint body.
With this constitution, lightning Law Techniques at the same level would probably find it difficult to hurt him, and he would be able to face his tribulations with greater composure.
Even without an Immortal Spirit Root, cultivating the lightning Dao with this constitution would make reaching the Tribulation Transcendence Realm no great difficulty.
Great Xia, at a branch of the Heavenly Devil Cult.
Inside the hall.
Bronze beast-head lamps hung in the hall, spewing ghostly green flames. The atmosphere was rather oppressive.
Venerable Qingming, the Heavenly Devil Cult's First Protector, reclined sideways on a seat of green jade. Looking at a figure seated below him, he spoke slowly:
"Holy Son, do you know that impatience is the greatest taboo when raising gu?"
Facing this Spirit Transformation Ninth Layer expert, Chen Sheng did not dare rely on his status as Holy Son to act rudely. He said in a deep voice:
"Protector, our Heavenly Devil Cult has lost three Spirit Transformation cultivators. If we don't respond in some way, it will do far too much damage to our reputation. The people in the cult will surely be dissatisfied."
"Mm... what you say isn't wrong."
At this, Venerable Qingming pondered for a moment.
"I can send some of the cult's elites to assist you. Don't disappoint me."
The deaths of three Spirit Transformation cultivators would be like the sky falling for some medium-sized sects. But to the Heavenly Devil Cult, which already ruled Northern Nether Province, it was merely a loss of face, not something to make them particularly angry.
Even so, Venerable Qingming had concerns of his own. If he failed to produce some results, it would indeed be difficult to command the others' respect, and he would inevitably be criticized when he returned to the sect.
"Rest assured, Protector Qingming. I will surely make the Heavenly Devil Cult's might known."
Chen Sheng said confidently:
"Let the living beings in these cities become the nourishment for my breakthrough to Spirit Transformation."
Protector Qingming nodded slightly. He did not doubt this.
Though Chen Sheng's tone was confident, even somewhat arrogant, he did indeed have the means to back it up.
As the Heavenly Devil Cult's Third Holy Son and its youngest, he was already close to Spirit Transformation after two hundred years of cultivation. His master was also the Heavenly Devil Cult's Third Elder, a Void Return Realm Devil Cultivator.
"But if the Divine Profound Sect sends out Spirit Transformation experts, I hope you won't stand by and do nothing, Protector..."
"Rest assured. If a Spirit Transformation Realm expert from the Divine Profound Sect makes a move, I naturally won't stand by either."
Protector Qingming spoke calmly.
As a Spirit Transformation Realm Ninth Layer cultivator, he was reasonably confident. So long as his opponent was not a Void Return Realm cultivator, he feared no one.
As for Void Return Realm great powers, even the shockwaves from a clash between beings of that level could alter the terrain for a thousand li. They were all high-ranking members of their sects and would not readily appear to fight.
Once experts of that level became involved, it would also mean that the two forces were getting serious, and might have to fight until one side or the other was dead.
Their target this time was naturally not the Divine Profound Sect itself. Rather, they planned to slaughter everyone in several major cities under its protection.
Quite a few cultivation Aristocratic Clans were gathered in these cities, and many Divine Profound Sect disciples came from them. It would be killing people and attacking their hearts, bound to deal a severe blow to the Divine Profound Sect's morale.
"The cult leader said he has already sent experts from the Formless Hall to investigate the Devil-Slaying Sword Venerable. If I get the chance, I want to see whether that man's Flying Immortal Sword Instruction is stronger, or mine."
Protector Qingming's eyes flickered as numerous thoughts flashed through his mind.