Chapter 2109: Breakthrough

Chapter 790

Qin Sang had never had a true master.

The one who guided him most was Wandering Cloud, who was both a mentor and a friend. However, after Qin Sang was teleported to Canglang Sea, they were separated by thousands of miles and hadn't seen each other for decades.

Especially in swordsmanship, Qin Sang had always explored on his own. When had he ever encountered such a dedicated teacher?

Each time, they could accurately pinpoint his weakest points.

Thanks to his cultivation technique, Qin Sang had independently grasped the Sword Qi Thunder Sound. However, without guidance, the process was long, and his progress in comprehending Sword Light Replication had also been slow.

Nevertheless, a lengthy process wasn't without its benefits. Without this experience, he wouldn't be improving so rapidly now.

Now, encountering an excellent mentor, it felt like a culmination of his long-term efforts.

Qin Sang re-entered the passage, though he hadn't fully recovered.

Swords had no eyes; the swordsmen wouldn't kill him, but injuries were inevitable. Especially in the last few battles, several sword wounds were left on Qin Sang's body.

He took a medicinal pill, suppressed his injuries, and walked in without looking back.

This was a rare opportunity, and time was limited. He needed to comprehend as much as possible before the Seven Kills Hall closed.

Stepping back into the passage, the familiar green light descended, and the swordsmen appeared.

This time, Qin Sang was experienced. He wasn't eager to defeat the swordsmen; instead, he cast aside all distractions, forgot everything, and sought to comprehend swordsmanship within the battles.

Time and again he was defeated, and time and again he returned to the passage.

The wounds on Qin Sang's body accumulated. He ignored them, wiped away the blood, took medicinal pills, and then plunged into the passage, eagerly absorbing everything.

His swordsmanship realm was rapidly improving.

By this point, his swordplay was no longer confined to specific techniques. He could wield his sword freely, using the most suitable moves as his heart dictated, barely achieving mastery in swordsmanship.

If he were willing to delve into research, he would have the chance to create his own sword techniques.

Previously, he could only use Sword Qi Thunder Sound as a surprise attack, lacking versatility. Now, he had advanced further: his flying sword appeared and disappeared unpredictably, leaving opponents scrambling.

These weren't what pleased Qin Sang the most.

Qin Sang could clearly feel that he was getting closer and closer to Sword Light Replication!

“Hahaha…”

A burst of hearty laughter suddenly echoed in the passage.

Qin Sang stood tall at the passage entrance, the Ebony Sword hovering before him.

As Qin Sang focused his mind, the Ebony Sword trembled slightly, splitting into a ray of sword light. But then, an ethereal sword shadow slowly emerged!

This flickering sword shadow was the embryonic form of Sword Light Replication!

“As long as I don’t compare myself to freaks like Senior Qingzhu, my talent isn’t that bad! Even among those Core Formation stage sword cultivators, only a minority comprehend Sword Light Replication, right…?”

Qin Sang’s lips curled slightly, a smile on his face.

He hadn’t expected that after countless battles, a flash of insight would allow him to comprehend Sword Light Replication on the spot.

However, he knew that such significant progress was undoubtedly due to the swordsmen's efforts, but also inextricably linked to the 'Primordial Spirit Sword Cultivation Chapter'.

Although it was only an embryonic sword shadow, everything was difficult at the beginning. Qin Sang believed that it wouldn’t be long before he could manifest true sword light, and with just his sword, he might be able to fight opponents above his level!

Legend had it that top sword cultivators could fight ten thousand enemies alone.

One sword strike, ten thousand swords emerge!

Qin Sang didn’t have such grand ambitions; he was satisfied as long as his strength increased.

Qin Sang retrieved his Ebony Sword, looking confidently into the depths of the passage.

The current him could easily defeat the him who had first entered.

He would certainly be able to go further in the passage.

This time, he didn't rush. He sat cross-legged, circulated his cultivation technique, fully healed his injuries, and regulated his breath, adjusting his state to optimal. With a determined gaze, he entered the passage once more.

The opponents he had previously found difficult were no longer a major problem.

Qin Sang smoothly reached the location he had first arrived at, effortlessly defeating the swordsmen. He glanced at the spot where he had previously been defeated, then strode forward.

But Qin Sang soon encountered trouble.

The swordsmen were also growing, becoming increasingly powerful.

Later on, every battle became a fierce one.

Qin Sang's gaze was firm as he stared at the end of the passage, pressing forward step by step, facing the swordsmen with all his might.

Finally… he saw what lay at the end of the passage.

There was no stone door or altar there, but rather a stone staircase leading upward. The light was dim, revealing only four exceptionally smooth, polished steps.

Qin Sang ceased resisting and was teleported back to the passage entrance. He gazed into the darkness, lost in thought.

He was very curious about where the stone staircase led. Whatever lay beyond, he was determined to go. Even if there wasn’t a teleportation array, it must certainly be related to the 'Primordial Spirit Sword Cultivation Chapter'.

Then he glanced at where Senior Qingzhu had placed the jade slip.

“If the stone staircase leads to an ancient teleportation array, wouldn't Senior Qingzhu have already returned to the Minor Cold Domain?”

Qin Sang murmured to himself, feeling uncertain.

As he knew nothing of Qingzhu’s life, everything was mere conjecture. If he could investigate Senior Qingzhu's experiences via Spirit Turtle Island, it might prove helpful.

It was clearly impossible to get through right now.

Qin Sang had only managed to traverse half the distance even with all his effort. He silently calculated that the final guardian swordsmen should possess cultivation comparable to peak late Core Formation stage cultivators, and with their top-tier swordsmanship, their combat power was extremely formidable.

He would need to face two top masters at once.

This put Qin Sang in a difficult position. He understood the swordsmen's strength. Even if he successfully broke through to the peak late Core Formation stage next time he entered, his chances of victory wouldn't be high.

Moreover, he still didn't know how to resolve the issue with his Ebony Sword, and his cultivation could stagnate at any time.

“Wait…”

At this moment, Qin Sang suddenly recalled something. He hastily took out a jade slip—the very one left by Senior Qingzhu.

He looked at 'Planting Primordial Demon Embryo', that demonic cultivation art, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Could Senior Qingzhu have left this particular secret art for a deeper reason?

The demonic seed of an outer-body avatar is refined from a sword soul, and the passage's restrictions don't seal the Ebony Sword. Could it be that because of the sword soul, an outer-body avatar would be permitted to enter?

If he brought a peak late Core Formation stage outer-body avatar, he would have a considerable chance of victory.

With this thought, Qin Sang immediately made a decision.

Regardless of whether there was a chance or not, it was worth the gamble. Refining an outer-body avatar would do him no harm; even if his guess was wrong, he would gain an additional powerful combatant.

He stayed in the passage for a while longer, finally bowing respectfully to the passage, as if to thank the swordsmen for their guidance.

“A single sword path could bring me such a great opportunity, allowing me to comprehend Sword Light Replication… Ancient cultivators, Seven Kills Hall…”

Qin Sang walked out, gazing up at the stone wall with boundless longing.

Looking around, he was momentarily unsure where to go.

His gains from this trip were undeniably significant. Although he hadn't found the teleportation array, discovering the clues left by Senior Qingzhu and locating this passage that might lead to the array was exhilarating enough.

Qin Sang took out his jade token to check and realized he had spent too much time comprehending swordsmanship in the passage; it was almost time to leave.

In such a short time, it was virtually impossible to make any further discoveries in the Sky Pagoda.