Sword Essence

When Qin Sufu stepped into the training ground, Kang Dabao and Yue Lin on the clouds were both concerned and their gazes became more focused.

In contrast, Funeng had eyebrows curved like the moon and a joyful expression on his face. The monk thought to himself, "This is probably a righteous cultivator, perhaps even a morally upright one. If that's the case, he'll be the easiest to deal with."

The two exchanged pleasantries without speaking, as usual. Qin Sufu took the initiative and presented a gold-edged jade axe.

This jade axe is clearly much better than the one used by Lord Yin Shan during his lifetime, which shows that Qin Sufu was indeed valued and cultivated by his Yue Household, and that his Yue Lin did not treat him harshly.

In his treatment of the latter, he was no less close to his capable nephews and nieces than Yue Lan.

Qin Sufu formed the Tai Chi seal with one hand and stepped into the Seven Stars Step with both feet. In his other hand, the jade axe hummed and vibrated, and thirty-six moon-white blades of light separated from the axe, forming an Eight Trigrams array, and rushed toward Funeng.

Undeterred, Funeng's brows flashed with a fierce glint. He first turned the Sea-Containing Ice Marrow Bowl upside down, and after a loud Buddhist chant, the ice wall in front of Funeng expanded by another ten zhang, almost filling the entire training ground.

Forcing the Bagua Formation to retreat step by step through various means was not enough. Funeng changed his hand gestures again, and a Cold Star fell from his fingertip to the ground, then spread rapidly.

Frost covered the bluestone bricks, and large icicles broke through the ground of the training ground. It was clear that Qin Sufu was surrounded by murderous intent secrets and was about to be pierced through from the bottom up.

Unexpectedly, the latter showed no sign of panic. He opened his mouth and exhaled a breath of pure air that landed on the jade axe. The white tiger spirit pattern on it came to life for a moment, and a layer of golden light emerged from the Bagua array formed by the moon-white blade light.

With a "boom," the Bagua formation spun rapidly, its momentum seemingly unstoppable. The ice walls and icicles creaked and groaned as they were struck. Funeng's expression changed, and the spiritual light in his Sea-Containing Ice Marrow Bowl vanished as it was shaken and flipped over.

The field is currently covered in snow-white dust, but it does not affect the movements of either the attackers or defenders at all.

"Om!" The sound of Funeng's Buddhist chant came from the depths of the icy mist. Suddenly, the Karmic Fire All Evils Bead hung above the icy mist, and a rain of crimson fire was formed and poured down in an instant.

The clash between ice and fire created countless vortexes, and Qin Sufu was so shocked that his mouth split open, and a mouthful of hot blood spilled onto his already torn Daoist robe.

The once formidable Bagua formation also became difficult to operate, its energy dimmed by the barrage of fiery rain.

Despite being at a disadvantage, Qin Sufu did not sit idly by and wait for death. He tried for a while and found that the power of the crimson fire rain was too great, making it difficult for him to even form hand seals. He then made a decision.

He ran his fingers along the edge of the jade axe, and a stream of Essence Blood seeped into the core of the Law Artifact, fully activating the "Three-Turn Cold Jade Instruction," a mid-grade cultivation Cultivation Method of the Zhou Grade Middle-Grade that he had modified for two cycles of time.

Ignoring the collapse of the Bagua formation, the jade axe suddenly swelled to twelve feet in length. White tiger star patterns appeared on its blade. Qin Sufu roared and spun around, unleashing seven white arcs of light that swiftly shattered the thick ice wall, striking directly at Funeng's true form seated on the lotus platform.

The latter remained calm, tilting the Pure Karma Sweet Spirit Vase in his hand slightly. As a colorless mist arose, a drop of golden spiritual dew also poured out.

The spiritual dew spread out, coating the azure light with a layer of golden radiance. The arc of light from the jade axe was quite powerful, enough to rival the techniques of ordinary False Core, yet it was blocked by this thin layer of mist.

Qin Sufu frowned, while Funeng was all smiles. He then smiled and uttered the word "Om," and the Karmic Fire All Evils Bead returned to his hand. The rain of fire above his head dissipated, but the Like a Mountain pressure on Qin Sufu did not ease in the slightest.

Because Funeng stood up barefoot and gently placed his toes on the blood lotus beneath him. The blood-red lotus petals, formed from the Essence Blood from the tongues of one hundred and twenty evil cultivators, shone brightly, and a mournful wail resounded. The Buddhist scripture "Hum" carved all over the veins of the lotus petals suddenly detached and transformed into countless red blood needles that shot over.

Qin Sufu dared not be careless and summoned a large, dark brown pouch. As soon as the pouch opened, a strong gust of wind blew out, causing the blood needles to be blown about wildly and broken in half in mid-air.

However, Funeng's methods went far beyond that. The Vajra phantom engraved on the lotus seat opened its eyes wide and manifested. A Vajra phantom, ten feet tall, came wielding a vajra pestle. The vajra pestle struck down fiercely, and although the large-bellied pouch was a rare and top-grade Spirit Artifact, it was also pierced through with a single blow.

Qin Sufu had only recently acquired this Spirit Artifact, so he hadn't yet mastered its nurturing or refinement, let alone developed a deep connection with it. Its sudden destruction caused only a fleeting look of pain on his handsome face. He quickly used the jade axe to slice away the remaining blood needles, his fingers flashing, causing a brilliant golden light to emanate from the axe's blade as he slashed towards the Vajra illusory image.

Upon seeing this, Vajra's angry eyes nearly leaped out of their sockets. He held his vajra, which was over ten feet long, against the axe blade. Unexpectedly, the latter's ferocity far exceeded his expectations. The vajra broke in two, and Vajra's illusory image was also slashed with a long scar.

Only after the roar reached his ears did a serious expression appear on Funeng's face, "No, this Qin fellow's skills are far superior to the previous three! Is this intentional on their part, or have they truly found so many outstanding individuals?"

Funeng didn't know if Qin Sufu still had any trump cards up his sleeve, but he knew that he couldn't let things drag on like this. After all, he was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and even if he cultivated a Zhou Grade Cultivation Method, it would be difficult for him to last long in this kind of battle.

Thinking of this, Funeng made a decision in an instant.

Om!

Funeng chanted Buddhist mantras, and the flesh on the middle of his forehead burst open, but no blood fell; instead, a golden Buddhist light flowed out. As the wound on Funeng's forehead opened to the size of a finger joint, a white lotus seed immediately emerged from within the flesh.

The lotus seed took root next to the blood lotus base, and a white lotus, much larger, sprouted from the soil, easily enveloping the blood lotus.

A pure and ethereal aura enveloped the area, erasing all traces of the fierce battles that had just taken place, and even the bluestone slabs of the entire training ground were imbued with a sense of holiness.

"It truly is the Pure Lotus First Ground Aspect!" The Juntian Bird in the clouds murmured, a hint of worry appearing in its voice for the first time ever.

Several cultivators also turned their gazes in that direction, staring intently at the top inheritance of this great sect in the Snow Region.

Kang Dabao sighed inwardly. This direct descendant of the great temple was truly extraordinary, clearly having cultivated this Dharma form to a profound level. No wonder he had earned the favor of the True Person. He also felt a pang of worry for Qin Sufu.

Yang Wuwei and Cao Xianlu frowned, clearly somewhat surprised by Funeng's actions. After all, back at the Cloud Water Sect, even after winning eight consecutive battles, Funeng's methods against Xianlu were still superior.

During the growth of the white lotus, Qin Sufu's jade axe abandoned the Vajra illusion and turned to strike, but it was all caught by the lotus petals.

Despite his inability to achieve any significant results, Qin Sufu remained calm. Yue Lin had prepared numerous contingency plans for him, hoping he would make a name for himself during this round of battles.

Qin Sufu diverted a sliver of his attention from the jade axe, intending to first use talismans and Funeng, so as to unleash his ultimate move. However, during this process, Qin Sufu heard a series of bewitching and annoying chanting sounds in his ears.

Qin Sufu knew that he needed to shut out his six senses at this time, but this chanting was indeed skillful, and ordinary methods could not prevent it from entering the opponent's mind.

Qin Sufu felt the chanting growing louder and louder, making him feel restless and on the verge of exploding.

As the fragrance of lotus blossoms filled the entire training ground, a long-buried old story suddenly surfaced in Qin Sufu's mind.

Just moments ago he was resolute, but a hint of surprise involuntarily appeared in his eyes. Then his expression changed drastically, and his hand gestures became chaotic. In the end, he could barely maintain the operation of the jade axe.

"Don't blame me! Don't blame me! I was just acting expediently in a time of emergency!!"

"Haha, I knew it! These self-proclaimed morally upright monks are the most hypocritical of all. Their hearts are filthy, their inner demons hidden for years. A gentle touch is all it takes to unleash them. How could they withstand the torture of my chanting?!"

Funeng, of course, would not let this opportunity pass. Suppressing his joy, the Vajra phantom roared and stretched out its giant hand, covering Qin Sufu's body, which was already on the chopping block.

Funeng had calculated this all along. If this blow landed squarely, the son-in-law of the Yue Household might still survive, but his future would be uncertain, and he might even fall into ruin.

With the outcome still undecided, if Fei Nanying, acting as the arbitrator, were to rashly intervene, he would lose face. This Funeng; on the contrary, it would be something he would be happy to see.

Jiang Qing, with his limited experience, was concerned for his fellow Daoist, and his eyes showed surprise, which was one thing;

Even Yue Lin, who was False Core for many years, couldn't keep his composure. He gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, and within just a few breaths, fine sweat began to seep from his palms.

With a "bang," the giant hand in bronze stopped a foot in front of Qin Sufu, and a chessboard blocked his way. Its owner did not linger with Funeng, picked up Qin Sufu and fled from the training ground.

"Senior Fei, Fellow Daoist Kang's actions are probably against the rules, aren't they?" Funeng's smile froze, and he questioned coldly.

Although Qin Sufu was the son-in-law of the Yue Household, he was ultimately conscripted by Jun Juntian Bird, so Fei Nanying was unwilling to see anything happen to him. Although Kang Dabao's private rescue was against the rules, it did resolve his awkward situation.

"Besides, what is a mere temple protector? Does he even deserve to question me?" Fei Nanying sneered inwardly. He ignored Funeng, only glancing at Kang Dabao and casually uttering the word "nonsense." Seeing the latter bow in respect, he let it go.

Funeng was naturally dissatisfied, but Fei Nanying to him. He simply said in a low voice, "In this round, Funeng wins."

Immediately afterwards, a cold glint appeared in Fei Nanying's eyes. Only after being swept by this icy gaze did Funeng realize the mistake he had made earlier.

Fortunately, Fei Nanying did not press the issue. After escaping a calamity, Funeng's resentment subsided. He simply clenched his fists, preparing various techniques for the next opponent to enter the training ground.

Be careful!

"Don't worry, senior brother! I won't do anything reckless."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Qing nodded slightly, withdrawing his concerned gaze from the still bewildered Qin Sufu, and, carrying the instructions of Sect Leader Kang Da, shouldered his sword and went into battle.

As Jiang Qing entered, Fei Nanying's expression changed.

In fact, like Kang Dabao, he was somewhat puzzled by Jiang Qing's selection.

Although Fei Nanying could see that Jiang Qing was a promising person, he was still only a mid-stage cultivator who had been in the Foundation Establishment for twenty or thirty years. It was somewhat surprising that he could participate in this round of battles Funeng.

However, this matter was decided by the Juntian Bird, and there must be a reason for its decision. Even though Fei Nanying has now formed Middle-Grade Golden Core, he cannot interfere in the slightest.

"Jiang Qing of the Chongming Sect greets fellow Daoist!" Jiang Qing cupped his hands in greeting.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist! Funeng luck!" Having experienced the previous incident, the monk had shed his previous gentle and polite facade. He greeted the monk with a light shout, and then simultaneously made hand seals. The body of the Karmic Fire All Evils Bead trembled, and a large burst of bluish-purple flames suddenly shot out, covering the Vajra phantom and giving it another layer of fire armor.

At the same time, a brand-new vajra, still wreathed in flames, returned to the hand of the Vajra phantom. After obtaining it, the Vajra phantom, without pause, raised it and smashed it down fiercely. The sound of air being torn apart caused the blood-red lotus platform within the white lotus to spin, and countless Qi and Blood needles re-condensed and shot out.

Jiang Qing faced immense pressure upon his arrival, causing the Sect Leader Kang Da, who had just handed over Qin Sufu to the Yue Household cultivators, to feel somewhat worried.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Qing, who Funeng the upper hand, remained calm and stood still, holding his breath and concentrating.

With a flick of his fingers, Jiang Qing caused the Sword-Sharpening Stone, which had been hidden inside his white robe, to tremble slightly, and the flying sword on Jiang Qing back began to hum.

With a clang, a silver glint rose from the scabbard with incredible speed, then, ignoring everything, it thrust fiercely toward Funeng's neck, severing his head.

In the training ground, rows of spirit jade slabs crumbled inch by inch under the pressure of the sword. The sound of the sword light piercing the sky drowned out the roar of the Vajra, and even made Funeng's eyes show a hint of surprise.

"How is this possible?!" Yue Lin, who had landed beside Qin Sufu, was also a sword cultivator, but he was even more shocked than Funeng. His pair of dim old eyes were wide open like copper bells, and he could almost be described as dumbfounded.

"This is... Sword Essence?" Fei Nanying was acting as arbitrator off the sidelines, gasped and uttered a question. Juntian Bird had descended from the clouds at some unknown time, answered from the side, "It is indeed Sword Essence."

Seeing Fei Nanying turn his head to look at him, his eyes still showing surprise and doubt, Juntian Bird then explained, "However, this Sword Essence was not emitted by this handsome young man himself, but rather left in the long stone on his chest."

"That's a sword cultivator's heirloom?" Fei Nanying instantly understood, and Juntian Bird nodded in agreement, then added:

"That must have been left by a Golden Core sword cultivator of considerable skill. The True Disciple hidden within were not deliberately concealed, but only qualified individuals who have studied them for a long time can glimpse their mysteries."

However, this handsome young man was also very lucky. Even if the long stone on his chest would be useless after this, this experience with Sword Essence would be of immense benefit to his cultivation.

This is an opportunity that even disciples of the Sword Sect would fight tooth and nail for. If the right opportunity arises later, then it will be a natural progression for him to cultivate Sword Essence on his own in the future.

Fei Nanying immediately understood. He saw the sword light annihilate the Vajra phantom, shred countless blood needles into dust, and shatter the Golden Light shields generated by the two Spirit Artifacts, Funeng Yi Bo and Yi Ping.

Just as they were about to strike down the arrogant monk who had been showing off for so long, another lotus seed sprouted from the heart of the white lotus beneath his feet, giving rise to a row of Golden Light warriors wielding spirit shields.

The cracking sounds lingered for a long time, and the shadowy Golden Light warrior and the sharp sword light dissipated together, leaving behind an indescribable burning smell.

A wound, about a foot long, appeared intermittently on Funeng's chest, and blood flowed out with each breath.

After fighting for so long, this was the first time Funeng had lost his composure due to the pain. The monk suppressed the excruciating pain in his abdomen, gritted his teeth, and summoned four severely damaged Spirit Artifact. Judging from his anxious appearance, it was clear that he was going to fight Jiang Qing to the death.

The chanting from within the white lotus heart resounded once more, causing Sect Leader Kang Da to tense up. Many Golden Core in the arena also frowned, clearly indicating that even in the eyes of these high-level cultivators, Funeng's Dharma form was not easy to break.

Funeng chanted incantations, the red lotus patterns on his tongue appearing and disappearing, the chanting even more disturbing than before. Unexpectedly, Jiang Qing merely retreated to a corner of the training ground, sheathed his sword, and admitted defeat. "Senior Fei, Fellow Funeng Neng's skills are superb; this junior is no match for him and humbly concedes defeat."

"Oh?" Fei Nanying agreed to Jiang Qing's request without thinking, and could only watch with a smile as Funeng punched cotton, with no other options.

Seeing this, Kang Dabao felt both proud and gratified. He was proud that Jiang Qing had achieved such results, and gratified that after all these years, Jiang Qing had begun to act with composure and wisdom.

It's comforting to know that if he had followed his old ways and fought the extremely powerful Funeng to the very last moment, he certainly wouldn't have backed down or surrendered.

Juntian Bird's eyes gleamed as he leaned close to Fei Nanying and advised, "After you go down there, quickly check if there are any suitable girls left in the household who can be married off."

Yang Wuwei was both delighted and surprised to see this. However, he knew that after these two incidents, Funeng would likely be furious, and his cousin would probably suffer a terrible fate next.

As Yang Wuwei had predicted, as soon as Yang Wudi Fang Yi position in the Six Formations, the furious Funeng didn't even bother to say hello. He immediately unleashed four Spirit Artifacts at once, along with the Vajra phantom that was fiercely swinging the Vajra Pestle. They nearly smashed the dragon-patterned iron rod in Yang Wudi's hand into iron filings.

This time, in just sixteen breaths, Yang Wudi was unable to even unleash his long-prepared talisman and was defeated in a panic. In this sense, this eldest son of the Yang Household was defeated even faster than Zhou Yun in the first battle.

Seeing this, Yang Baoshan and Yang Yongcheng, the two senior cultivators, could only sigh and laugh helplessly. In this way, it was their own family members who were taking the blame for others.

Moreover, Yang Wuwei of the Yang Household will still be the one to fight in the Seven Formations. Although he is considered the strongest among the three members of the Yang Household, it is difficult for anyone to predict how long he Funeng, who is already fighting fiercely.

"Senior Fei, it's time for the seventh round!" Funeng Neng urged repeatedly from the training ground, seemingly unaffected by the previous fierce battles.

Fei Nanying glanced at him, feeling displeased, but still waved his hand, urging Yang Wuwei to take a deep breath and land in the training ground.

(I'll be giving a policy briefing tomorrow, so I might have to take a day off. The next chapter should wrap up the rotation war.)