The Southern Seal Kingdom was a small and weak country situated in the desert.
It was located in a remote area, the culture was backward, the land was barren, and the economy was poor. Even in a war between mortal countries, the surrounding countries were not interested in invading it.
But ten months ago, a sudden incident of comatose children had changed that.
Although the rogue cultivators’ chaotic battle and the arrival of the Scripture Storage Valley’s flying s.h.i.+p had made this country experience the fear of being dominated by the Immortal Cultivators,
news that 2,000 disciples with spiritual root apt.i.tude appeared and were taken away by the Scripture Storage Valley spread like wildfire.
This piece of land that could nurture spiritual root apt.i.tude disciples naturally became a treasure land in the eyes of many people.
As it turned out, the next Immortal Ascension a.s.sembly was about to arrive. The external affairs personnel of the Immortal Ascension Pavilion and other small sects had arrived early to begin the recruitment event. Their goal was to s.n.a.t.c.h more people before the Immortal Ascension a.s.sembly.
However, to their disappointment, as they used the Immortal Opportunity Stone, they had only tested five children with spiritual root apt.i.tude after half a month.
“Sigh, I’ve been busy the entire day and there’s still not a single one.”
“It seems like those 2,000 children are the limit of the Southern Seal Kingdom’s potential in the following few years. We made a wasted trip this time.”
An outer sect disciple of the Immortal Ascension Pavilion threw the Immortal Opportunity Stone to the side with a gloomy expression.
Originally, they had been full of confidence and wanted to make a huge profit. However, after half a month, they had not even managed to make a single gain.
“Old Luo, don’t be lazy. Come and help!”
In this era of the cultivation world, population was productivity. One more child meant one more person to work. It was very normal for a farmer’s family to have eight or nine children.
Therefore, the workload of these recruiters every year was really quite a lot.
“I know, I know.”
“Eh? Look, someone’s coming again.”
Old Luo leaned back in his chair. Under the urging of his companions, he reluctantly got up and continued working.
He looked up and saw two sword lights flying over from the distant sky.
“Haha, let them come. We can’t be the only unlucky ones.”
Another person looked up into the distance and saw the golden sword lights flas.h.i.+ng brightly. It was extremely eye-catching under the midday sun.
“These are… sword cultivators?”
The sword lights were unexpectedly fast, and it did not take long before they arrived above their heads.
The low-level cultivators on the ground all looked up. The noisy venue suddenly became quiet.
Apart from a few Foundation Establishment cultivators leading the team, the cultivators below were basically all at the Qi Refinement realm.
Although they did not have much experience, the alt.i.tude of the swords was far from what they could reach. This meant that there was a big shot flying above them that they could not afford to provoke.
Swoos.h.!.+
The golden lights on the two flying swords suddenly expanded as the air seemed to tremble slightly. Old Luo noticed that the dust on the roof beside him was falling slightly. Then, a silent pressure suddenly filled his entire body.
A few drops of sweat rolled down his face, leaving a few obvious marks on the ground.
No matter how ordinary he was, he was still a Qi Refinement realm cultivator. If a high-level martial artist could be immune to both heat and cold, he naturally would not be inferior.
He did not feel anything after working under the scorching sun for a long time, but under this pressure, he immediately started to sweat profusely. In just a moment, his clothes were completely soaked.
Looking left and right, all the Qi Refinement disciples’ faces were pale and their teeth were chattering. None of them could maintain their calm.
“Seniors, is there anything… I can help you with?”
A deacon of the Immortal Ascension Pavilion wiped his cold sweat and asked with difficulty.
However, what answered him was a sword light that horrified him!
Golden Scale Light Splitting Sword!
The huge sword light fell and suddenly split into hundreds and thousands in midair. It rained down like a golden shower and enveloped a large area of the ground.
Below was the testing ground for the various sects using Immortal Opportunity Stones.
A large number of children of suitable age were gathered here under the guidance of their parents. The number of people gathered was comparable to that of the train carriages in j.a.pan.
The golden sword light rained down without any room to dodge.
The sound of flesh being pierced and cut rang out. With just one slash, all the mortals and cultivators on the street were reduced to pieces of flesh and blood.
The cruel scene only made people feel that there was nothing more h.e.l.l on earth than this!
The power of those resplendent sword lights was obviously not limited to this. After they penetrated the flesh and blood body, they even ravaged the ground.
It could be seen that this attacker did not hold back at all.
“Shu Mountain! The Shu Mountain sword cultivators are killing people!”
“Run! Everyone, run!”
The other cultivators who were lucky enough not to be within the sword light range turned pale with fright and scattered outside the city.
Someone with sharp eyes recognized the clothes of the two sword cultivators and shouted. Then, the cultivators ran even faster.
The two Shu Mountain sword cultivators did not pursue them. They only continued to rain sword light on the dense crowd.
Elder Zuo Mo and Elder Zuo Luo had no other intention but to kill!
The might of two Golden Core cultivators was enough to devastate a city.
Amidst the continuous shower of the large-scale sword techniques, buildings collapsed one after another, and guard towers shattered. The flesh and blood of countless people mixed together with this city.
This was the power of the Golden Core!
Not long after, the sobbing city was suddenly shrouded by thick, rolling clouds. Then, bolts of lightning poured down, unleas.h.i.+ng destructive forces that sent the city into the abyss.
Outside the city, a group of cultivators who were fortunate enough to escape the city looked back at the dark clouds behind them in shock. The flickering lightning illuminated their pale faces.
“What… what are they doing?!”
“Ma.s.sacring a city! The Shu Mountain sword cultivators are actually ma.s.sacring a city!”
“Report it! You must report it to the sect! Who has the communication spirit stone?”
“Oh no, they’ve noticed us! Run!”
The group of cultivators began to flee frantically again.
The Shu Mountain Sword Cultivators slaughtered their way through the city!
What big news was this!
This was different from Elder Duan Shuang’s situation back then. When Elder Duan Shuang committed evil, there were no outsiders in the city.
After that, he was chased by the sect’s troops in time, so there was no adverse effect.
The two Golden Core sword cultivators had committed a heinous crime in public.
Once these cultivators escaped, they spread the news.
The reputation of the Shu Mountain Five Elements Peak as the leader of the righteous path would definitely suffer a serious blow!
…
Back in the Medicine Garden Mystic Realm of the Misty Mountain Range.
After Jiang Li and the sword cultivator Chang Wanzhou exchanged praises, they finally walked into the ring.
“Junior Brother Jiang Li, I apologize in advance.”
Chang Wanzhou unsheathed his flying sword. The resplendent sword light flickered as if it would cut him with a single glance.
The values of the Shu Mountain sword cultivators were indeed terrifying. However, the confidence that seeped from their bones could not be concealed.
From the beginning until the end, he had actually never thought that he would lose. He was only worried that he would injure Jiang Li, and it was not in line with his principles.
“Senior Brother Chang, I seek your guidance.”
Jiang Li smiled and did not mind it.
In fact, this confidence and determination to win were qualities that every sword pract.i.tioner had to develop.
From Shu Mountain to the Scripture Storage Valley, the sword cultivators that Jiang Li had seen were almost all of the same character.
Jiang Li had once heard rumors that some sword pract.i.tioners were extremely confident when they left the mountain.
However, once they encountered failure and their drive was dampened, if they were unable to recover their past vigor, then losing half of their strength would be a small deal. It was very likely that they would waste their time and achieve nothing in this life!
Therefore, the cultivation of the mind was really too important to sword cultivators. As a Qi Refinement realm sword cultivator, self-confidence and fearlessness were the typical characteristics they had to possess.
This was the second Shu Mountain sword cultivator that Jiang Li had faced as his opponent.
‘Let me see how strong the Shu Mountain sword cultivators are.’
Raising his hand and pointing forward, the Wood Demon soldiers behind him immediately rushed forward.
Jiang Li had just learned the Demon Awakening Technique, and its level was still too low. It was completely up to luck if the demons he awakened would have a permanent form.
Normally, these awakened soldiers could not last long.
In the previous battle, seven of them had been killed, and eight of them had automatically dispersed while walking. Now, the remaining five wooden soldiers had rushed out, and they were also on the verge of collapse.
However, it was enough to test the waters. Qi Refinement cultivators with insufficient strength might be directly defeated.
Swoos.h.!.+
An extremely thin golden sword light instantly slashed across the necks of the two wooden soldiers.
Without even having time to react, the two wooden heads were sent flying.
This was despite the fact that the Wood Armor Technique that Jiang Li had executed was still active. They had defense that had reached the Foundation Establishment realm, yet they were actually defeated in a single strike!
Amazing!
Jiang Li stretched out his hand and grabbed the sword light, and then he squeezed it into a ball of spiritual qi before dispersing it.
He could sense that there was definitely the Sword Heart’s amplification in this sword light.
Although Jiang Li’s sword cultivator clone was also called a genius, he was actually only average when placed on the Shu Mountain Five Elements Peak.
The speed and extent of his Sword Heart awakening could only be considered outstanding. There was still a certain gap between him and the few top geniuses.
In fact, the reason why the sword cultivator clone could enter the top five under the age of 30 was not because of his Sword Heart, but because of the Spirit Surging Technique that Jiang Li had planted in his body.
Relying on the endless supply of high-grade spiritual qi, he could unleash powerful sword techniques without any hesitation to crush his opponents.
As for this Chang Wanzhou, he was the number one Qi Refinement realm disciple of the Shu Mountain Metal Sword Peak. When he was at the Qi Refinement realm, he had already awakened his Sword Heart, and it was obvious that he was even more skilled than the clone.
The attack just now was not the Sword Heart Slash. He had only lightly activated the Sword Heart to greatly increase the defense penetration ability of his sword technique.
Two more sword lights flashed, and the remaining three Wood Demons had their heads removed. They fell to the ground and turned into rotten wood.
Shu Mountain lived up to its reputation. Just this sword technique alone made it difficult for the other Qi Refinement disciples in the Scripture Storage Valley to match him.
After dealing with the wooden soldiers, Chang Wanzhou formed a hand seal and pointed at Jiang Li.
“Junior Brother Jiang Li, what weapon do you use?”
He actually did not use the opportunity to attack first. Seeing that Jiang Li was unarmed, he even reminded him to take out his weapon.
“Since Senior Brother Chang is using a sword, I’ll use that too.”
Jiang Li’s interest was piqued. At the same time, he wanted to experience it himself and learn how the other party used his Sword Heart.
Speaking of which, after the sword cultivator clone returned to the sect, he had always been busy with various cultivation missions and had never had the time to properly study his Sword Heart.
Now that he saw another Sword Heart user, he naturally had to secretly learn the tricks of using it.
The spiritual qi in his hand lit up, and a green spot quickly sprouted, growing to a length of 1.2 meters.
After that, the leaves fell off, and when it was held in Jiang Li’s hand, it had already transformed into a slender and ancient pitch-black wooden sword.
“Junior Brother Jiang…”
Chang Wanzhou frowned and was about to ask if Jiang Li was belittling him, but before he could say anything, the terrifying spiritual qi that erupted from the black wooden sword made him swallow his words.
He had a suspicion now, was the person standing in front of him really only at the Qi Refinement realm?
“Senior Brother Chang, be careful!”
Jiang Li’s figure instantly vanished, and the black sword transformed into a stream that stabbed forward.
Ding!
The two blades faced each other. The tip of the metal-attribute flying sword perfectly pressed against the top of the wooden sword.
The two forces began the purest confrontation.
One side had an unstoppable wave of thick and violent spiritual qi, while the other had a strand of sword qi that was extremely sharp and unyielding.
However, in less than a second, the metal-attribute flying sword was sent flying by Jiang Li’s wooden sword.
The other party’s sword qi was powerful, but it was not to the extent where it could cross the huge gap and resist the Great Demon King Jiang Li.
After easily sending the metal sword flying, Jiang Li took the opportunity to slash at his opponent.
The dark green sword light… or rather, the Nine Nether spiritual qi that had been compressed by the wooden sword slashed forward violently. It directly started from under Jiang Li’s feet and cut the arena into two.
Chang Wanzhou, who had dodged the attack at the critical moment, felt a lingering fear in his heart.
What happened just now? He was almost killed on the spot.
“Senior Brother Chang, don’t underestimate me.”
If people respected him, he would respect them back. Chang Wanzhou had modestly given way several times, so Jiang Li would not attack for a trivial advantage. He held the wooden sword for a while and allowed the other party to recall the flying sword to regain his composure.
“I have been too arrogant. Junior Brother Jiang Li, please don’t hold back. The Shu Mountain sword cultivators are not afraid of failure.”
‘Don’t hold back? I’m really afraid you’ll be slashed to death if I do that.’
Jiang Li smiled and raised his sword to attack once more.
Through his sword cultivator clone, he had naturally peeked at many wood attribute sword techniques from the secret collection of the Shu Mountain Five Elements Peak.
However, he did not cultivate a flying sword and had no time for that. Therefore, he had never cultivated those extremely precious Shu Mountain Sword Techniques.
However, speaking of which, it was not that he did not know how to use a sword at all.
When he was a martial artist, the Level 3 mortal martial arts “Mountain Splitter” was still on his interface.
As it was a mortal technique, it was quite ordinary without many exquisite moves.
However, in the hands of the current Jiang Li, it was enough to force the Shu Mountain sword cultivator into a sorry state.
Every time the two swords collided, the one who was sent flying would definitely be the other party’s sword. The dignified Shu Mountain Sword Technique was unable to even parry Jiang Li’s attacks.
After another collision, the sword cultivator, Chang Wanzhou, summoned the flying sword back into his hand. He executed his movement technique and retreated repeatedly, pulling apart a buffer distance from Jiang Li.
Immediately, spiritual qi surged into the flying sword endlessly. He even bit his finger and forced out his blood essence to smear it on the flying sword!
Spirit Division! Tripart.i.te Golden Light Sword!
From the expanded flying sword, two golden sword lights that had condensed into corporeal bodies suddenly flew out and floated beside him with the might of the Tripart.i.te Sword Formation.
This was the trump card of the Golden Light Sword, Chang Wanzhou—Single Man Sword Formation!
The swords of the two sides collided again. However, this time, Chang Wanzhou’s sword turned from one to three.
The profundity of the Tripart.i.te Sword Formation was that the swords were intertwined with each other as they advanced step by step. Sometimes, the three swords would attack continuously, and sometimes, when combined, it was impossible to guard against.
Due to the fact that there was no need to consider the restrictions of telepathy, the power of the Single Man Sword Formation was actually even more terrifying than having three people control three swords in a formation.
Even Jiang Li, who was controlling his strength to be in the Foundation Establishment realm, was firmly entangled by the Tripart.i.te Golden Light Sword and could not break free for a short period of time.
Genius! During the Scripture Storage Valley’s sect martial arts compet.i.tion, even many Foundation Establishment cultivators had not been able to do this.
Jiang Li was surprised by the other party’s talent.
However, how could Chang Wanzhou not be shocked by Jiang Li’s strength!
That was only a mortal martial technique, right? It was clearly a mortal martial technique!
It was one thing for Jiang Li to be strong, as he was an extremely talented body cultivator.
However, it was clearly the simplest form of slas.h.i.+ng and stabbing. Why did it always appear at the spot where his sword had to pa.s.s?
Could it be that although the other party did not have a Sword Heart, his understanding of sword techniques and sword arts was actually above his? He had completely seen through his sword formation and sword trajectory?
In reality, Jiang Li had indeed seen through his opponent’s sword trajectory.
However, he did not rely on his understanding of sword techniques, but purely on his Golden Core Dao Heart.
With the enhancement of his Golden Core Dao Heart, whatever exquisite sword array was nothing in his eyes.
Following the instinct to slash left, slash right, and stab right. It was that simple.
Jiang Li was not in a hurry to defeat his opponent. Instead, he controlled his strength and guided his opponent to continuously use his Sword Heart talent.
The sword cultivator clone also connected to his consciousness and learned to comprehend the other party’s Sword Heart from the first person’s perspective.
The golden light and wooden sword continuously collided intensely in the arena just like that for a moment. The spiritual qi and sword lights that scattered in all directions tore open deep ravines in the arena.
Such a dazzling and exciting battle made the audience at the foot of the mountain unwilling to blink, afraid to miss a single scene.
This was the peak battle they had imagined. In the previous three rounds, the battle had already ended before they could process anything that happened. There was nothing to see.
However… since when did this Great Demon King Jiang Li learn how to use a sword?