Chapter 789: Breakthrough

Qin Sang had never truly had a master. The one who guided him most was Yun Youzi, a wanderer who was both his mentor and friend. However, after Qin Sang was transported to the Azure Sea, they were separated by tens of 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 pinpoint his weakest points.

Thanks to his cultivation method, Qin Sang had independently grasped the Sword Qi Thunder Sound. However, without guidance, the process was lengthy, and his progress in comprehending Sword Light Division had been slow. Nevertheless, a long process wasn't necessarily without benefits. Had it not been for that experience, he wouldn't have improved so rapidly now. Having found such an exceptional mentor now, his prior efforts were finally paying off.

Qin Sang re-entered the corridor, though he hadn't fully recovered. While the swordsmen wouldn't kill him, injuries were inevitable, especially in the last few battles, which had left several sword wounds on his body. He took a medicinal pill to suppress these injuries and walked in without a backward glance. This was a rare and fleeting opportunity; time was limited, and he needed to grasp as much as possible before the Seven Kills Hall closed.

Stepping back into the corridor, the familiar blue light descended, and the swordsmen appeared. This time, Qin Sang was experienced. Instead of rushing to defeat the swordsmen, he cast aside all distracting thoughts, forgot everything else, and focused on comprehending swordsmanship through battle. He was defeated again and again, returning to the corridor repeatedly. Qin Sang accumulated more and more wounds on his body, yet he ignored them. Wiping away the blood and taking medicinal pills, he plunged back into the corridor, eagerly absorbing everything.

His swordsmanship realm was rapidly improving. At this point, his sword strikes were no longer confined to a specific technique. He could wield his sword as he pleased, employing the most suitable moves at will, which could barely be considered having entered the inner sanctum of swordsmanship. If he were to dedicate himself to research, he would have the opportunity to create his own sword techniques. Previously, he could only use Sword Qi Thunder Sound as a surprise attack, lacking variations. Now, having progressed further, his flying sword would appear and disappear like a phantom, forcing opponents to scramble frantically. Yet, these were not what delighted Qin Sang the most. Qin Sang could clearly feel himself getting closer and closer to Sword Light Division!

"Hahahaha..." A hearty laugh suddenly echoed through the corridor. Qin Sang stood tall at the corridor entrance, his Ebony Sword hovering before him. As his thoughts stirred, the Ebony Sword trembled slightly, separating into a beam of sword light. Immediately after, an ethereal sword shadow slowly emerged! This flickering sword shadow was the embryonic form of Sword Light Division!

"As long as I don't compare myself to a monstrous talent like Senior Qingzhu, my aptitude isn't too bad! Even among Core Formation stage sword cultivators, only a minority grasp Sword Light Division, right?" Qin Sang's lips curled into a slight smile. He hadn't expected that after countless battles, a flash of insight would strike him, allowing him to comprehend Sword Light Division on the spot. However, he knew clearly that while such great progress was indeed thanks to the swordsmen, it was also inseparable from the *Essence Soul Sword Nurturing Chapter*.

Although it was only an embryonic sword shadow, every beginning is difficult. Qin Sang believed that it wouldn't be long before he could divide a true sword light, and with just his sword, he might even be able to fight opponents above his cultivation level! Legend had it that top-tier sword cultivators could fight against ten thousand. Qin Sang had no such grand ambitions; he would be satisfied as long as his strength improved.

Qin Sang retracted his Ebony Sword, looking confidently into the depths of the corridor. The current him could easily defeat the him who had first entered. He would definitely be able to go further within the corridor. This time, he didn't rush into action. He sat cross-legged, circulated his cultivation method, fully healed his injuries, and regulated his breath, adjusting his condition to its optimal state. With a focused gaze, he entered the corridor once more.

Opponents he had previously found difficult were no longer a major problem. Qin Sang smoothly reached the position he had first arrived at, effortlessly defeating the swordsmen. He glanced at the spot where he had previously been defeated, then strode forward. But soon, Qin Sang encountered trouble. The swordsmen were also growing, their strength increasing steadily. Later on, every battle became a fierce struggle. Qin Sang's gaze was firm as he stared at the end of the corridor, advancing step by step, facing the swordsmen with all his might. Finally... he saw what lay at the end of the corridor. There was no stone door or altar, but a flight of stone stairs leading upwards. The light was dim, revealing only four exceptionally smooth, polished steps.

Qin Sang gave up resisting and was teleported to the corridor entrance. He gazed into the darkness, deep in thought. He was very curious about where the stone steps led. Whatever lay beyond, he definitely had to explore it. Even if there was no teleportation array, it surely had something to do with the *Essence Soul Sword Nurturing Chapter*. Then he looked at the place where Senior Qingzhu had left the jade slip. "If those stone steps lead to an ancient teleportation array, Senior Qingzhu wouldn't have already returned to the Minor Cold Domain, would he?" Qin Sang murmured to himself, feeling a bit uncertain. As he knew nothing of Qingzhu's life, everything was mere conjecture. If he could investigate Senior Qingzhu's experiences through Spirit Turtle Island, it might be helpful.

At present, it was clearly impossible to get past. Qin Sang had only made it halfway, even with his full effort. He calculated mentally that the last guardian swordsman's cultivation should be comparable to a peak late-stage Core Formation realm cultivator, possessing top-tier swordsmanship and immense combat power. He would need to face two top-tier masters simultaneously. This put Qin Sang in a difficult position. He understood the swordsmen's strength; even if he managed to break through to the peak late-stage Core Formation realm before his next entry, 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 that moment, Qin Sang suddenly remembered something and hastily took out a jade slip—the very one Senior Qingzhu had left behind. He looked at the demonic art, *Primordial Demon Embryo Cultivation*, with a thoughtful expression. Could there be a deeper meaning behind Senior Qingzhu specifically leaving this secret art? The demon seed for the external incarnation was refined from a sword soul, and the corridor's restrictions didn't seal the Ebony Sword. Could it be that because of the sword soul, an external incarnation would be allowed inside? If he brought an external incarnation at the peak late-stage Core Formation realm, he would have a significant chance of success. With this thought, Qin Sang immediately made a decision. Whether there was a chance or not, it was worth the gamble. Refining an external incarnation wouldn't harm him, and even if his guess was wrong, he would gain an additional powerful combatant.

He lingered in the corridor for a while longer, finally bowing towards it as a gesture of thanks to the swordsmen for their guidance. "A single sword path could bring me such a great opportunity, allowing me to comprehend Sword Light Division... ancient cultivators, the Seven Kills Hall..." Qin Sang walked out, gazing up at the stone wall with immense yearning. Looking around, he was momentarily unsure where to go. This trip's gains were considerable. Although he hadn't found the teleportation array, discovering the clues left by Senior Qingzhu and locating this corridor that might lead to a teleportation array was certainly thrilling. Qin Sang took out his jade token to check and found that he had spent too long comprehending swordsmanship in the corridor; it was almost time to leave. With such little time left, it was virtually impossible to make any further discoveries in the Sky Tower.