Chapter 173: Chapter 173: Reconstructing the Tiangang Sword Formation (4th Update)
The Twenty Thousand Sword Barrier entails twenty-six sword intents, stretching from the first Sect Leader of Mount Shu, Daoist Taiqing, to the present day, where all twenty-six Sect Leaders have left behind their distinctive sword intent on the stone wall.
The twenty-seventh Sect Leader, Grandmaster Taiyuan, has not yet reached the time to leave his sword intent.
Lu Changsheng sat cross-legged in front of the Twenty Thousand Sword Barrier, observing the sword intent left by the twenty-first Sect Leader, Grandmaster Taixu, as well as that of the seventh Sect Leader, Grandmaster Tailin.
According to the annals of Mount Shu, both these Sect Leaders possessed the Spirit Sword Physique, making the sword intent they left on the Twenty Thousand Sword Barrier particularly suitable for the current Lu Changsheng.
Lu Changsheng was unable to comprehend even the slightest part of the sword intent left by the Ancestral Master of Mount Shu.
The sword intent of Immortal Green Lotus carried the essence of fiery lotus, while the sword intents left by other Sect Leaders of Mount Shu each had their strengths, and biting off more than one can chew is ill-advised.
Lu Changsheng contemplated the sword intent of Grandmasters Tailin and Taixu, using it to cultivate the Primordial Sword Scripture.
“Both Grandmaster Tailin and Taixu had fully tapped into the potential of the Spirit Sword Physique, their sword intent pointing directly to the essence of Sword Dao.”
Watching the sword marks left behind by the two Sect Leaders of Mount Shu, Lu Changsheng was still greatly shocked.
As Grandmasters Tailin and Taixu achieved great accomplishment in their Spirit Sword Physique, they stood towering between heaven and earth. Their sword qi surged freely, Daoist robes fluttering; with a single slash, the sky would shatter and the earth would split, rivers reversing their flow.
“These two Sect Leaders of Mount Shu must have penetrated immortal-level sword techniques; the sword intent they’ve left behind contains the essence of such immortal sword techniques.”
When Lu Changsheng was at the Dao Palace realm, he could only grasp the basics upon observing the Twenty Thousand Sword Barrier; but now, he could comprehend deeper principles of Sword Dao.
“It is said that Grandmaster Taixu, a hundred thousand years ago, had fully mastered his Spirit Sword Physique, yet he failed during the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation, falling short of completion. With his cultivation, he still failed, showing just how difficult it is to transcend the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation and ascend to the Immortal Realm.”
Lu Changsheng had faced the Threefold Heavenly Tribulation; the Innate Taoist Body had attracted a treacherous Threefold Heavenly Tribulation that nearly caused his downfall, proving the difficulty of the Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation far surpassed that of the threefold.
It seems that he will have to prepare well before undergoing tribulation in the future.
Lu Changsheng spent three consecutive days observing the sword intent, then began to cultivate the third layer of the Primordial Sword Scripture.
Apart from a sweeping old handyman, Ten Thousand Swords Peak was deserted, allowing Lu Changsheng to confidently cultivate the immortal-level sword techniques.
The old handyman worked nine to five, sweeping up fallen leaves around the Twenty Thousand Sword Barrier.
As Lu Changsheng cultivated the Primordial Sword Scripture, a flicker of surprise momentarily passed through the turbid eyes of the old handyman.
However, after a brief pause, he continued sweeping the leaves with his broom, as if all was at peace with the world, eternal and unchanging.
With the Twenty Thousand Sword Barrier, his Innate Taoist Body, and the dual cultivation of returning to fundamental comprehension of Sword Dao, after three months of training at Ten Thousand Swords Peak, Lu Changsheng progressed to the fourth layer of the Primordial Sword Scripture.
The old handyman continued his daily routine of cleaning Ten Thousand Swords Peak. When Lu Changsheng mastered the fourth layer of the Primordial Sword Scripture, the old handyman’s body shook as if shocked by the speed of Lu Changsheng’s cultivation.
Lu Changsheng, holding a tree branch, swept it across the sea of clouds, cleaving them apart with invisible sword qi.
Even without the use of a treasure, Lu Changsheng was able to unleash sword qi at any moment.
“With no sword in hand but a sword in the heart, you have only just entered the path of Sword Dao,” a voice full of vicissitudes sounded.
Lu Changsheng turned around and saw that it was the old handyman who swept the ground at Ten Thousand Swords Peak.
This person had approached undetected, greatly surprising Lu Changsheng in the process.
As Lu Changsheng’s Divine Sense swept over the man, he found no trace of cultivation, which was incomparable to the unfathomable abilities of Grandmaster Taiyuan; this person was no different from a mortal.
The old handyman said to himself, “Sword Dao is divided into three realms. The first realm is that of mortals, where a sword exists in hand and heart, achieving Unity of Person and Sword.”
“The second realm signifies the initial entry into the Sword Dao, with no sword in hand but a sword in the heart.”
“The third realm is the Great Accomplishment of Sword Dao, where there is neither sword in hand nor in heart.”
“Of course, this is just a classification of realms I’ve heard of in passing. As for whether there are higher realms, it remains unknown.”
“…”
However, Lu Changsheng always felt that this person was not so simple.
To be allowed to work in the vicinity of the Ten Thousand Swords Peak, one must be a trusted person of Grandmaster Taiyuan; otherwise, they likely wouldn’t qualify.
The old handyman was just joining in the conversation and then continued sweeping up the fallen leaves as if nothing had happened.
“To have no sword in hand, and likewise, no sword in heart, this realm is too profound.”
Lu Changsheng did not know how to reach such a mysterious state.
Well then, it was time to return to Qingyun Peak to cultivate the fifth layer of the Tiangang Sword Formation.
Lu Changsheng returned to Qingyun Peak and continued his cultivation.
In the following months, Lu Changsheng would reward his disciples with Flying Swords and other magical artifacts, and at other times, with Elixir Pills, Talismans, and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
Before he knew it, two years had passed since he returned from Huang State.
Outside Mount Shu, Lu Changsheng left Qingyun Peak to test his swords in an uninhabited wasteland.
In two years, Lu Changsheng had refined the fifth layer of the Tiangang Sword Formation, with the Immortal Swords “Blazing Extermination” and “Morning Light” as the formation’s core, assisted by twenty-eight Innate Treasure Flying Swords, forming a five-layered Sword Array.
Sword Qi shot up to the sky, and radiance stretched for ten thousand zhang.
By continuously rewarding his disciples with Flying Sword treasures, Lu Changsheng had finally amassed two Immortal Swords and twenty-eight Innate Treasure Flying Swords.
Lu Changsheng reconstructed the Tiangang Sword Formation based on his enlightenment at the Ten Thousand Swords Peak.
It could also be said that Lu Changsheng was creating a Sword Array suited for himself.
Thirty Flying Swords chimed together; under Lu Changsheng’s control, the Formation seems to come alive, endlessly transforming, as fierce Sword Qi carved countless fissures into the earth.
“It took two years, but I’ve finally reconstructed the Tiangang Sword Formation. The reconstructed formation has become the one that best suits me, and its power is even greater.”
The Sword Array that Lu Changsheng reconstructed with two Immortal Swords and twenty-eight Innate Spirit Treasure Flying Swords was terrifying, having reached the category of an Immortal-level Sword Array.
“If I had six Immortal Swords and reconstructed the sixth layer of the Tiangang Sword Formation, then it would indeed be an Immortal-level Sword Array.”
The task was significant and the journey long. Lu Changsheng needed to find four more Immortal Swords for the Tiangang Sword Formation to reach its peak power.
“My cultivation is also about to break through to the fourth layer of the Void Refinement Realm.”
“I must continue Body Tempering and cultivate the Hundredfold Desolate Force.”
Lu Changsheng worked against time. With a wave of his Daoist sleeve, he summoned the Yin Yang Dragons Cauldron, filled with Body Refinement Elixir, and began Body Tempering, practicing the Nine Revolutions Divine Demon Body Refining Skills.
At Qingyun Peak, Shen Xiaoyao had acquired the Pure Yang Body in the Immortal Ruins, greatly improving his talent. Lu Changsheng bestowed Power-infusing Initiation upon him, increasing Shen Xiaoyao’s Spiritual Energy refining speed even further.
Shen Xiaoyao activated the heart method of the True Manual of Storms, causing a strong wind to rise on Qingyun Peak. The power of the sun transformed into a beam of divine light, covering Shen Xiaoyao, who was meditating at the peak’s summit, and being absorbed by his Pure Yang Body, turning into pure True Qi.
With the constant supply of the sun’s power, Shen Xiaoyao could attempt to break through to the Dao Palace realm without any concerns.
“The potential of these few direct disciples on Qingyun Peak is truly astonishing.”
Daoist Earth Hound had transformed back into his original form, a big yellow dog, and was lazily basking in the sun on a large boulder, finding it unbelievable that Shen Xiaoyao could absorb the sun’s power for his cultivation.
The talents of several disciples on Qingyun Peak were excessively monstrous.
At this moment, Shen Xiaoyao had already started to open up his Dao Palace.