Seeking Senior's Guidance

The swordsman's spirit was none other than Lu Shuangyan, the one who created the Death-Claiming Sword Technique.

However, the title of fourth on the Ancient Heavenly Ranking brought with it a variety of extraordinary Mind Power, like layers of glass, covering and sealing him down, firmly suppressing him within the Heavenly Ranking.

These iridescent glass pieces also have a subtle corrosive effect on the soul.

This is why Lu Shuangyan struggles so much even to open her eyes or make a sound.

Buzz!!

Chu Tianshu pressed his palm onto the Heavenly Ranking, and the outline of his entire palm began to hum.

The waves of the Great Void Divine Art rippled across the entire Heavenly Ranking, feeding back to find weaknesses and flaws.

However, the aura within this Heavenly Ranking is chaotic and unpredictable, with countless types of turbid thoughts and energies.

Even with his Great Void Divine Art and the ability to calculate the Mountain Collapse Combat Calculation, he couldn't immediately find a flaw that could be exploited.

Chu Tianshu had anticipated that he wouldn't find a weakness for the time being; he was merely testing the strength of the Heavenly Ranking first. He wasn't discouraged and gracefully retreated.

"Phoenix Nirvana Sword Strike!"

The cyan soul image suddenly emitted a bright red light, and the blazing Sword Intent Transformation from the "Death-Claiming Sword Technique" instantly soared to its peak.

From afar, it resembles a tiny, red star, emitting slender, needle-like red rays in all directions.

His figure moved abruptly, fixing itself on the area where the fourth-ranked person on the Ancient Heavenly Ranking was located.

The sword finger slowly pierced into the Heavenly Ranking.

But as soon as it pierced less than half an inch, the entire Heavenly Ranking was filled with shimmering light, which gathered in concentric circles to fill the gap.

Chu Tianshu's internal energy flowed continuously, and the resistance from the Heavenly Ranking grew stronger and stronger.

Seeing that the two sides were locked in a stalemate, Chu Tianshu's eyes flashed, and he suddenly placed his left palm on his right arm and pulled it forward.

A beam of emerald green shot out from the gap in the right hand's sword-finger gesture.

This ray was incredibly condensed and unyielding. With a whoosh, it painstakingly pierced through the barrier of the Heavenly Ranking and landed lightly on Lu Shuangyan's right shoulder.

The moment it touched Lu Shuangyan's soul, the ray softened slightly and transformed into a crystalline silk thread.

"I am Chu Tianshu."

Chu Tianshu smiled as he channeled his inner energy to prevent the silkworm threads from breaking, using them to steadily transmit his voice.

"It's relatively easy for the soul to change size. Try to shrink and crawl out along this thread."

Upon hearing this, Lu Shuangyan couldn't help but smile, "It really is you."

"However, I've been trapped here for too long, and my soul is bound and restrained by the environment, so I can't shrink even if I wanted to."

Chu Tianshu clicked his tongue.

If he shrinks down from the outside and tries to break in completely, it will inevitably cause a more violent reaction from the Heavenly Ranking, which is not a good strategy.

"I'm already incredibly lucky to have lived this long, and to be able to see my old friends again is truly exhilarating."

Lu Shuangyan said, "Whether we can escape or not, let's not talk about that for now. I have something to remind you."

"The Heavenly Ranking is unreliable—"

Before her death, Lu Shuangyan had only cultivated to the level of perfect mind and spirit, which is the realm of Single Flawlessness.

However, what he cultivated was the Leakless Innate Nature; there are some obvious differences between the lifespan of his physical body and the lifespan of his soul.

After his physical body died of old age, his soul drifted and entered the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer.

When the world's masters were alive, there were quite a few who could enter the Yanxia Realm with their divine souls.

Back then, they were living people; their souls entering this realm would only feel uncomfortable, and no one would stay here for long.

After Lu Shuangyan's physical body died of old age, she re-entered this world and suddenly felt that the sense of rejection was much lighter. It seemed that if she stayed here, her soul could be extended again.

At that time, the Heavenly Ranking had already been established, and he was subject to its Heavenly Ranking, only allowed to move around the area around Heavenly Ranking. He didn't find it strange, and focused on seclusion under the Heavenly Ranking, where he successfully stepped into a higher realm.

But at the very moment he broke through, the Heavenly Ranking actively increased its suction force, drawing him into its corresponding title.

"I'm certain that it wasn't a natural change within the Yanxia Realm, but rather the work of the Heavenly Ranking."

Lu Shuangyan's expression was solemn as she said, "At that moment, the Heavenly Ranking gave me the same feeling as the Evil Spirit summoned by the Demonic Sect Leader and the Flowing Cloud Manor Master back then."

Chu Tianshu looked surprised and puzzled as he examined the Heavenly Ranking.

Even at such close range, he couldn't tell that the Heavenly Ranking was Evil Spirit.

"You mean, this list is intelligent?"

Lu Shuangyan said, "Whether they have wisdom or not is hard to say, but they definitely have instincts. However, these instincts cannot be displayed all the time, somewhat like—a bloated person in the mundane world who sometimes can't move his body."

Chu Tianshu suddenly realized.

Once he heard that, he understood that comparing him to someone who is bloated and flabby was an understatement.

If this Heavenly Ranking were to develop into Evil Spirit, it would likely be a born "vegetative state."

The Evil Spirit born from the Death-Claiming Sword and Demonic Saber Art were merely the catalysts for these two extraordinary moves.

The foundation of the Heavenly Ranking was a list jointly created by Prince Xuan Taizu, leading all the civil and military officials and the army to pay homage.

The hearts of the people will certainly share some common ground at that time, but the complexities will also be far greater.

Chu Tianshu pondered, "That's right. If this Heavenly Ranking is a normal Evil Spirit, then people like Laoming Temple who have gone mad from their cultivation should be considered its followers and should be transformed into Evil Spirit, instead of just turning into those inhuman, insane beings."

Lu Shuangyan let out a complex sigh.

"I have seen Evil Spirit with my own eyes, so as soon as I was swallowed by the Heavenly Ranking, I immediately focused my mind and concentrated on slaying the evil, using only the brute force method to withstand it."

"Later, Changti, Prince Xuan, and Yuhua were all listed on the list. I had a vague feeling about it, but I couldn't communicate with them."

"They probably used some complex and ingenious methods to try to escape, but how could one person's efforts compare to the complexity of this Heavenly Ranking?"

"Prince Xuan and Changti were both corrupted and disappeared one after another. Only Yuhua, who was quick to adapt, seems to be holding on, but his condition is worse than mine."

Chu Tianshu looked up at the three names above.

The deeds behind those three titles are numerous and detailed.

Especially the first two; the more carefully you look, the more stories will emerge. Even if they were dead, it would probably take three days and three nights to finish reading about their lives.

Only they themselves know how many of these stories are true and how many are false.

Chu Tianshu shook his head slightly.

"The reason you and Yuhua were able to last longer might actually be because, in the minds of later generations, your image is more innocent."

In the minds of the world, the image of Yuhua is that of the most typical sage, who served as an official for three years before departing without a trace.

Lu Shuangyan never served as an official in the imperial court; she was merely a swordsman who wanted to maintain peace in her region and preserve the martial arts tradition so that people could learn from her.

Venerable Changti served as the leader of Buddhism for most of his life, while Prince Xuan Taizu was an emperor who reigned for over a century.

The sheer weight and complexity of the fame and achievements these two individuals had to bear are unimaginable.

"I can sense that your name was originally empty—where is your name?"

Lu Shuangyan was halfway through her sentence when she looked down to sense the Great Immortal Zongheng, but couldn't detect him, and then she chuckled.

"That's right. Now that you've shown yourself, your name should be on this Present Ranking."

"In short, no matter where you've been all these years, when you approach the end of your life, you must be wary of the Heavenly Ranking. Perhaps you can devise some methods to resist its control."

Chu Tianshu also laughed.

"I resist it?"

Chu Tianshu said, "It's more likely to resist me."

The Heavenly Ranking may seem enormous, capable of being leveraged by countless martial artists without ever running out of resources, but in reality, it is merely a convenient channel for exporting power.

The Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer is the true place where the Mind Power of humankind are stored.

Once refined by mortal masters, the power of the Heavenly Ranking can exert a very strong effect.

However, without undergoing that refinement, even if the Heavenly Ranking itself could be revived and used to bombard Chu Tianshu, who had just entered this realm, it would not have been able to do so.

It's like a small river trying to wash away a steel nail.

The problem is that for Chu Tianshu, who is like a steel nail, cutting this small river in half is harder than climbing to heaven.

"Given the current state of the world, I've always felt that a form of existence like the Heavenly Ranking is not conducive to people truly utilizing the advantages of the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer."

Chu Tianshu muttered, "Before, I wanted to create a suitable situation and try to refine it, but I didn't expect that this Heavenly Ranking would also harbor an Evil Spirit— "

Lu Shuangyan stared at the silk thread, and felt that from a microscopic perspective, endless, iridescent glass was growing edges and corners, trying to grind the silk thread off.

Once the silkworm's silk is damaged, new energy can repair it.

He was worried; in just a short while, he didn't know how much of Chu Tianshu's power he had already used up.

This old friend of mine always seems carefree and relaxed, but he's actually quite restless.

Even in this day and age, this old friend would probably have no shortage of enemies, and excessive losses would be a bad thing.

"Alright, if you want to leverage the reputation of the Death-Claiming Sword God, I will do my best to help you, which should make your guidance smoother."

Lu Shuangyan grasped the silkworm thread. "I won't be refined to death this year. There's still time. Let's stop here for now."

Before he finished speaking, he had already pulled open the silken thread.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the Heavenly Ranking crushed the remaining gaps and filled in that tiny hole.

Bass!!

Chu Tianshu withdrew his sword, his expression somewhat helpless, but his heart was filled with warmth.

He could feel the care from his old friend.

However, his true body was already Leakless Strength and possessed multiple dantians, which allowed him to absorb and release the primordial energy of heaven and earth from the natural world, continuously replenishing it and reinforcing his soul from a distance.

Even if we spend a few days here, it won't be a big deal.

But now is definitely not the time to discuss this in more detail.

The space Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer and the sky is a dark background, with many colorful clouds drifting by.

At that moment, in the darkness in the distance, a figure was rapidly approaching, like a deep blue comet.

This man had a thin face and white hair, wore a blue robe, and held a guqin (a seven-stringed zither). The seven strings of the guqin were all made of ice and jade, crystal clear and blue, and varied in thickness.

"Wan Longsheng of Beihai, first met the Great Immortal Zongheng."

Wan Longsheng's face was as thin as rotten wood, his skin was pitted and uneven, but his white hair was thick and his voice was pleasant, like that of a young man, warm and clear.

He greeted them verbally and gave a slight bow.

"----You're welcome."

No need for such formalities.

Chu Tianshu bowed slightly and looked at the sunset glow behind Wan Longsheng.

The distances and directions within the Mist and Rosy Clouds Realm Layer are quite different from those in reality.

One can only determine which place in reality corresponds to a certain spot in the Yanxia and haze through mental perception.

The place Wan Longsheng just visited was filled with vibrant colors, reflecting a mind rife with thoughts of extravagance and pleasure, while the objects of worship were mostly those of Prince Xuan and other founding monarchs and ministers.

"Your true identity is not in Beihai, but in the capital?"

Chu Tianshu smiled.

"Everyone knows you and Qianyang are at odds, and Xie Luoxian is Qianyang's disciple."

"The capital is under my threat, and you've rushed there so early. Are you trying to take advantage of the chaos, or are you trying to help Xie Luoxian?"

Wan Longsheng gazed leisurely at the Heavenly Ranking, his fingers lightly pressing the strings of his zither, then slowly releasing them without making a sound.

"I'm just curious about the existence of the Great Immortal. He was able to remain hidden from the world for many years, deceive the Heavenly Ranking, and leave his name among the ancients. The Great Immortal must have studied the Heavenly Ranking quite well."

"Now that you've openly revealed yourself, what plan do you have to seize control of the Heavenly Ranking?"

Chu Tianshu suddenly looked up, and the entire environment seemed to brighten.

His gaze caused such a commotion around him, naturally prompting Wan Longsheng to instantly look back at him.

Their eyes met, and Wan Longsheng could no longer conceal the killing intent in his eyes.

"Heh heh heh, you're the one who considers the Heavenly Ranking a piece of your own bag. Do you think that if I try to seize the Heavenly Ranking, I'm stealing your treasure?"

Chu Tianshu's gaze swept over the guqin. "But you and Qianyang used different methods, right? That's why he tolerated you so much, wanting to see how things progressed, instead of calling his disciples to gang up on you right away."

Wan Longsheng his eyebrows and smiled.

"Indeed, Qianyang intends to first devour all the true names on the Ancient Heavenly Ranking and control the figures on the Present Ranking. He can then easily control the spiritual essence of the Heavenly Ranking. However, I want to bypass the surface and go directly to the spiritual essence of the Heavenly Ranking to tame it."

"But whether it's Qianyang or me, we both have enough respect for such a mysterious senior as the Great Immortal."

Wan Longsheng's murderous aura was no longer concealed; his white hair was now disheveled.

"If we cannot eliminate the Great Immortal first, I fear that the two of us will fight like the snipe and the clam, and in the end, the Great Immortal will become the fisherman!"

Two figures suddenly appeared behind Wan Longsheng.

A woman, beautiful and charming, with black hair and snow-white skin, wearing a gold hairpin and brocade robe, carrying a jade sword.

The other was handsome but had a sinister air, and he held a long, black-sheathed sword.

When Wan Longsheng flew over, the two men followed quietly behind, concealing their presence. Their figures were almost overlapping, and no flaw could be seen from the front.

But if Chu Tianshu simply raised his gaze, it would illuminate the surroundings, rendering hiding pointless.

Gu Qiuxing caught a glimpse of Wan Longsheng out of the corner of his eye, and his grip on the knife tightened.

It wasn't until Wan Longsheng showed up that he learned Wan Longsheng had infiltrated the capital and intended to join forces with him.

However, now is not the time to think about that; Chu Tianshu is indeed the number one enemy.

Xie Luoxian, with her bright temperament and melodious voice, acted as if she were visiting a close friend even on the eve of battle.

"Senior, it was a miscalculation to suddenly visit the Heavenly Ranking in your soul form."

"More than two hundred years ago, a group of Southern Shaolin monks left the monastic life and devoted themselves to practicing a unique style of external martial arts. It is said that this was the legacy of their predecessors, which shows that their path differed from that of most martial artists of the time. Physical strength is clearly an important part of your foundation."

Xie Luoxian laughed, "Just now we sensed something, looked up and found that your soul was adrift, yet you still dared to challenge the Heavenly Ranking."

"We were both surprised and delighted, and overjoyed, we immediately abandoned everything and set off to seek your guidance, senior!"