The Transmigrator's Cultivation

Arc 15: Heavenly Secret Realm | Chapter 293: Sword Dao Fruit

These two Sword Sovereigns were lofty figures, and they rushed here immediately after leaving seclusion due to an important matter. A ranking list for Golden Core Zhenren was hardly worth mentioning. Moreover, for a prestigious Immortal Sword Sect, how could they bear to admit that their disciples were outperformed by someone from an external sect?

As a result, the younger generation had naturally been striving with all their might, hoping to pull Yun Lie, the “Execution Sword,” down from the fifth position one day. They were even more unlikely to mention him in front of their elders. Besides, Yun Lie was a core disciple of a second-ranked immortal sect, and his status among his peers was quite high. It would be impossible to recruit him into their sect. Reporting this matter to the higher-ups would only bring shame with little benefit. Moreover… many of the younger generation had sharpened their focus on reaching the sword-shaped tree, partly due to the provocation caused by Yun Lie.

The Passionate Sword Young Master smiled faintly and said, “The two Sword Sovereigns merely spent a little extra time collecting sword-shaped leaves for their juniors. If they had pressed on like the Execution Sword lad, they wouldn’t have fallen behind.”

Upon hearing this, the two Sword Sovereigns’ expressions eased somewhat. Being seasoned and astute, they could see that Yun Lie had also paused midway and was even carrying a burden on his back. Still, people in high positions always preferred compliments over opposition. Now that the Passionate Sword Young Master had given them enough face, they naturally wouldn’t argue further.

The three of them, after a brief pause, used their skills to increase their climbing speed by several notches. Gradually, the distance between them and Yun Lie began to close.

Yun Lie, unaware that those behind him had already analyzed his background, felt a growing sense of killing intent within him the higher he climbed. This intent gradually merged with his sword essence, radiating a pure murderous aura from his body. It felt sharp, like a pinpoint of white light on a needle tip or the edge of a newly honed sword, constantly giving off a sensation of bloodlust. His path was the Sword of Ruthless Killing, freezing all emotions and using killing to stop killing—an insatiable desire to kill.

The Seven Emotions Demon had thawed his emotions, allowing him to release his demonic thoughts and absorb demonic energy from the demonic lands to temper his body. However, Yun Lie’s resolve was so unshakable that even though the demon had amplified his inner demonic thoughts, it could not suppress him forever. Yun Lie’s unwavering heart for the sword was indomitable, unbreakable by anything!

As his sword essence surged, that realm of no fear, no joy, no sorrow began to emerge.

The aura around Yun Lie became colder and harsher.

Xu Ziqing, clinging silently to Yun Lie’s back, let out a quiet sigh.

“Shixiong…”

When the sword essence of the third level shattered in front of the seventh-layer branches, Yun Lie stood upon the expansive branches, his face unmoved, his eyes calm and tranquil.

The demonic thoughts that had imprisoned his soul now showed signs of cracking.

Yun Lie swept his gaze around, and thousands of invisible sword intents formed behind him, dense as a forest. With a single thought, these sword intents erupted and swept outward!

It turned out that on this layer of branches, there were still many sword-shaped leaves.

But these sword-shaped leaves were much rarer, each as long as an adult’s arm, resembling spiritual swords growing on the thicker branches.

These sword-shaped leaves were pure white, like the edges of snow-white blades, flashing with cold light.

They all radiated immense power!

Some embodied extreme force, like Thunder Sword Intent, Sun Sword Intent, or Blazing Flame Sword Intent.

Some embodied extreme softness, like Water Sword Intent, Flowing Cloud Sword Intent, or Long Wind Sword Intent.

Some embodied extreme stillness, like Solitary Peak Sword Intent, Boulder Sword Intent, or Ice Sword Intent.

There were also countless other unique sword intents, which could be manifestations of celestial phenomena, emotions, or the myriad things in the world—too many to enumerate.

The moment Yun Lie stepped onto this layer of branches, countless sword-shaped leaves detached from the branches, filled with solidified, formidable sword intent, and rushed toward him like a tidal wave! What followed was the merciless onslaught of his Ruthless Killing Sword Intent against these sword-shaped leaves.

—In the end, they were only at the third level of sword intent and were no match for the fourth-level Ruthless Killing Sword Intent.

Yun Lie stood still and could see the shattered sword-shaped leaves slowly reforming in another area. At that moment, they submitted.

Xu Ziqing whispered, “Shixiong, can they be collected now?”

Yun Lie nodded slightly and replied, “Indeed.” With that, he raised his right arm slightly.

Yun Lie, dressed in white, had his robe sleeves billowing as if stirred by the wind. From the wide openings of his sleeves, countless tamed sword-shaped leaves flew swiftly into them.

In just a short while, all the sword-shaped leaves within a radius of several dozen meters vanished.

At this moment, Yun Lie lifted his head and saw the eighth layer of branches.

This layer of branches was only about ten meters away from the seventh layer.

And though it was just a short distance of ten meters, even a cultivator’s naked eye could see it clearly.

It was a layer that had almost no leaves.

At the same time, it was the layer where the “Nine Dragons Support the Sun” formation was formed.

There were no longer densely packed branches forming a carpet-like layer on that layer. Instead, there were only nine bare branches.

Each branch was so thick that it would take four or five people to embrace it fully. On each branch, nine sword-shaped leaves had materialized—though it might be more accurate to say that these leaves were so thin they were like cicada wings, exposing the powerful sword intent contained within.

They were countless times more powerful than any of the leaves seen before.

Yun Lie’s gaze became exceptionally focused.

Xu Ziqing followed his gaze and saw something very strange.

It was about the size of a human head, iron-gray in color, shaped like a wheel, round on the outside, and concave on the inside.

It looked extremely ugly, but the aura it faintly exuded made one feel as if they were witnessing a master of swordsmanship continuously practicing a profound and mysterious technique. It seemed like a sword move, yet also like a mere state of mind. It felt illusory, yet incredibly real.

The paths it traced seemed to reveal some kind of unique ultimate truth, but that truth was not imposed on anyone—it was an extremely pure intent.

Xu Ziqing’s pupils contracted suddenly, and his heart began to pound. This thing would surely be of great use to Shixiong!

At that moment, Yun Lie spoke, uttering four words: “Sword Dao Fruit.”

The Sword-shaped Tree, a supreme object of Sword Dao, was born from the blood and essence of countless sword cultivators, condensing the essence of their thoughts and intents.

Every 100,000 years, nine Sword Dao Fruits would form. Anyone fortunate enough to obtain a Sword Dao Fruit would gain extraordinary benefits from it.

Within it was the “Dao.”

Yun Lie did not hesitate. The moment he recognized the Sword Dao Fruits, he immediately shot upward, rushing toward the eighth layer of branches!

At the same time, three figures swiftly flew after him, and in the blink of an eye, they were only a few feet away!

Their movements were silent, but for some reason, even though everyone’s true essence was still bound on the seventh layer of branches, the fatigue that had already set in suddenly vanished.

Xu Ziqing understood that the higher they went, the more dangerous it would likely become. He didn’t notice anyone following, nor did he rashly turn around, but he still made a move. He released all the remaining spiritual energy in his bloodline. “Rongjin, protect my entire back!”

In an instant, the bloodthirsty demon vines that had previously only wrapped around him and Yun Lie split into dozens of strands. These vines were not as thick as they were during hunting but were thin and resilient, weaving together like a net, completely covering Xu Ziqing.

Xu Ziqing noticed the light around him dim slightly, and his heart eased a little. Although many sword cultivators were upright and honorable, he couldn’t let his guard down.

In a situation where everyone’s true essence was restricted, Rongjin’s durability remained unchanged.

It protected his back, which meant it was also protecting his Shixiong’s back.

At the very least… it would allow his Shixiong to act without too many concerns.

That Sword Dao Fruit—his Shixiong must obtain it!

When Yun Lie ascended to the eighth layer of branches, he unhesitatingly pointed with a finger.

In an instant, a powerful and pure sword intent burst forth, piercing toward the nearest Sword Dao Fruit!

As expected, the nine sword-shaped leaves around the Sword Dao Fruit immediately formed a sword array, entangling with Yun Lie’s sword intent.

If one wanted to obtain the Sword Dao Fruit, one had to fully subdue this sword array!

Yun Lie was not afraid of this. In the eyes of someone who had achieved the fourth realm of sword intent, this sword array was not formidable.

So, after just a few breaths, the sword array shattered, and the sword intent shot straight toward the Sword Dao Fruit!

At that moment, the sound of wind suddenly came from behind Yun Lie.

It was an extremely faint sound, with an even more subtle hint of killing intent.

But it was precisely this trace of killing intent that revealed the presence of someone behind him.

Yun Lie, who practiced the ruthless and murderous Sword Dao, was most sensitive to killing intent.

No matter who, no matter what, no matter when—as long as there was killing intent, it was nearly impossible to escape his notice.

Almost at the same moment, Yun Lie didn’t turn around but instead countered with a full release of his sword intent! He could not hold back, for anyone capable of climbing to the eighth layer of branches was a master of the fourth realm of sword intent. If he hesitated even slightly, he would be leaving behind nothing but his corpse!

Yun Lie’s judgment was correct. The sword intent he unleashed immediately collided with the sword intent from behind, and the resulting violent airflow even forced him to retreat several meters to reduce the impact. Then, his figure wavered slightly, and he turned around.

The one who attacked him from behind was a handsome, silver-haired young man.

This young man was shrouded in a faint, almost imperceptible aura of viciousness, and his Sword Dao contained his ruthless heart.

Without a doubt, he was a decisive and formidable figure!

At the same time, Xu Ziqing also saw the silver-haired young man.

The terrifying aura emanating from this young man was something Xu Ziqing had only ever sensed from his Shixiong—yet he had never faced it so directly as he did today.

His Shixiong would gradually release pressure to let him adapt, but this silver-haired young man only wanted to destroy both him and his Shixiong together!

This made him suddenly feel suffocated.

The silver-haired young man stood in place, but there were now two more people beside him.

One stood shoulder to shoulder with him, while the other stood a few feet away, vaguely separated.

One was an ally, while the other… was unknown.

As Xu Ziqing saw the three of them clearly, his heart began to sink.

His Shixiong was alone, but the enemies numbered three.

Yes, even the one who seemed less familiar with the other two was clearly not standing against them.

And, evidently, this silver-haired young man truly regarded his Shixiong as an enemy.

So at the very least, that other person would not be a friend either.

Translator: Lynn

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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