Chapter 2572: Trial of the Blade

Liao's ability to shatter attribute treasures isn't due to the Pan Mountain Saber's inherent sharpness. Instead, in a life-and-death battle, it can devour the mystical essence within the attribute treasure. This mystical essence is what allows the attribute treasure to exist. Once this essence is completely consumed, the attribute treasure naturally breaks apart. That's why, in Lu Ye's three death matches in the arena, the attribute treasures showed no damage before they shattered.

However, its capacity to shatter Dao soldiers of the Harmony Dao realm is purely a result of its sharpness and the unique properties it gained after being upgraded to an attribute treasure. Lu Ye has shattered Dao soldiers belonging to Harmony Dao cultivators, using this method to decisively defeat enemies.

Compared to when he was at the eighth stage of Integration Dao, the Pan Mountain Saber no longer radiates a dazzling light when Lu Ye imbues it with his Dao power. However, this doesn't mean its sharpness is inferior; on the contrary, it has become even more potent. Its divine brilliance is now internalized, and its sharp edge is no longer overtly visible. Liao clearly sensed that its sharpness had improved significantly after being imbued with Dao power, far beyond what it was before Lu Ye's advancement.

It suddenly developed an inexplicable confidence, feeling that with Lu Ye's Dao power, there was nothing in this world it couldn't cut through! Even a supreme treasure, it felt, could be put to the test.

Lu Ye was also greatly pleased. As Liao's master, he naturally clearly perceived its transformation and couldn't help but share its urge. He wanted to find something to cut and test the blade's sharpness.

Yuan Xi's image flashed through his mind, but Lu Ye immediately shook his head. Such a minor matter wasn't worth troubling the City Lord. If Yuan Xi was unsuitable, then Lian certainly wouldn't be either. He couldn't properly test it on someone at the Harmony Dao level, so he had to start with Integration Dao cultivators.

Lu Ye immediately recalled a suitable candidate. He opened the mansion's restrictions and, with a sweep of his divine sense, quickly located Fu Wei by the Dao Pond, feeding Dao fish to the young lotus. "Fu Wei, come here for a moment!" Lu Ye transmitted.

To test the saber, he needed someone with formidable defenses. Fu Wei was the perfect candidate in all of Yuan Xi City. Lu Ye still recalled seeing him emerge completely unscathed from being besieged by several Integration Dao cultivators in that wonder. This man was undoubtedly exceptionally skilled in defense.

By the Dao Pond, Fu Wei heard the summons and swiftly flew towards him. Upon entering the Grand Commander's mansion, he saw Lu Ye already waiting in the courtyard.

"Senior Brother!" Fu Wei greeted with a bow.

Lu Ye scrutinized him, a curious expression on his face. "Don't you need to cultivate?" he asked. Since Fu Wei arrived in Yuan Xi City, Lu Ye hadn't paid him much attention, but he genuinely hadn't seen him cultivate once. He used to bother Huan Qing, but after being chastised a few times, he didn't dare to act so presumptuously anymore. He seemed to have nothing to do all day long.

"Those Dao fish are not easily acquired; don't waste them. Lotus Master is responsible for feeding them, so why are you meddling?"

Fu Wei chuckled. "The Master gave me those Dao fish to feed," he explained, "and told me to check on the young lotus frequently. Besides, I don't have much else to do."

Lu Ye truly had no idea how this person had cultivated to the ninth stage of Integration Dao. Furthermore, given his current state, shouldn't he be preparing for advancement to the Harmony Dao realm? Fu Wei's situation differed from Fan Wu's. Although both were at the ninth stage, Fan Wu had lost his potential for further advancement; his path was set. Fu Wei, however, was still young and strong, yet for some reason, he seemed so lacking in ambition. Still, it was ultimately someone else's affair.

"Attack me with your full strength," Lu Ye commanded, no longer pondering.

Fu Wei didn't know Lu Ye's intention, but he was aware of Lu Ye's strength and didn't believe he could harm him. Without hesitation, he unleashed a full-power punch towards Lu Ye.

Lu Ye stood his ground, unmoving, and nodded slightly. Without employing a Dao soldier, Fu Wei's strength was quite impressive; he was considered a top contender at the ninth stage of Integration Dao.

Fu Wei's expression changed dramatically. He instinctively took a step back, his eyes fixed nervously on Lu Ye's hand. "Senior Brother, why are you drawing your saber?" he asked. Lu Ye was slowly unsheathing the Pan Mountain Saber. Fu Wei immediately felt a sense of impending doom.

"Courtesy demands reciprocity," Lu Ye said matter-of-factly. "You hit me with a punch, so of course I'll cut you with a saber. Defend yourself properly!"

"Senior Brother, you were the one who told me to attack..." Fu Wei cried out. Could his punch possibly compare to Lu Ye's saber strike? Lu Ye could easily block his punch, but he had no confidence in blocking Lu Ye's saber strike!

However, Lu Ye clearly had no intention of wasting words. As the long saber left its sheath, it immediately slashed downwards. Fu Wei's face paled, but he wasn't about to give up. With a low roar, he raised both hands, and Dao power surged between his palms, instantly forming a turtle shell defense that was almost physically solid. He had undoubtedly used his full strength, even activating the power of his own Dao soldier.

The Pan Mountain Saber struck the solidified turtle shell and was immediately halted. Fu Wei's panicked expression finally relaxed. "Senior Brother, you really scared me half to death!" he exclaimed. Only then did he realize that Lu Ye hadn't used his full strength; the power he wielded was merely equivalent to Fu Wei's earlier punch, representing the Dao power his physical body could manage. Was Senior Brother trying to test him? He should have said so earlier...

Just as that thought crossed Fu Wei's mind, his expression changed. He looked up to see Lu Ye's long saber press down another inch, slicing into the turtle shell as if cutting through leather. "This!" Fu Wei's eyes widened in disbelief.

In this direct confrontation, he clearly felt that Lu Ye's power hadn't increased; he was still using the same Dao power as before. Yet, the defense he had formed by activating his Dao soldier was being cut open. This meant that with less power, Lu Ye had broken through his own stronger defense! And it was effortless. How incredible!

The long saber continued its descent until it split the turtle shell in half, stopping just above Fu Wei's head. The saber was black and unadorned, yet Fu Wei deeply sensed the unstoppable sharpness hidden within its simple appearance.

"Senior Brother, your saber... it's too sharp!" Fu Wei slowly raised two fingers, carefully gripped the Pan Mountain Saber, and moved it aside. To break through a stronger defense with weaker power like that, there was only one explanation: his Senior Brother's Dao soldier possessed an irresistible sharpness that his own Dao soldier couldn't withstand. He finally understood. No wonder Senior Brother could dispatch Integration Dao cultivators as if slaughtering chickens and dogs, and even slay Harmony Dao cultivators. Such an incredibly sharp Dao soldier was truly unprecedented. Especially in the hands of a saber cultivator, it could truly make any such practitioner immensely more formidable.

"Cultivate diligently and advance to the Harmony Dao realm soon," Lu Ye said, sheathing his saber. "We have too few Harmony Dao cultivators."

Fu Wei scratched his head. "Yes, I'll go back and cultivate now," he said.

A moment later, Fu Wei returned to his residence, scratching his ears and cheeks in frustration. Cultivation, he mused, wasn't truly his concern. He had already reached his personal limit, and any further advancement would depend on the whims of fate. Yet, there were certain things he couldn't easily explain to Lu Ye, so he simply resigned himself to staying cooped up indoors, utterly bored.

"How much more do you need to pass the second trial?" Lu Ye asked after Fu Wei left.

"I feel that devouring two more attribute treasures like the Spring Radiance Sword would be sufficient," Liao replied.

Lu Ye felt a headache coming on. He was now at the ninth stage of Integration Dao and qualified to advance to Harmony Dao at any moment, but he obviously couldn't proceed with the advancement just yet. Not only did he need to make certain preparations himself, but Liao also wasn't ready. For Harmony Dao cultivators, their natal Dao soldier was of paramount importance. Some Integration Dao cultivators would go to great lengths to find a superior Dao soldier before their advancement, ideally an attribute treasure. They would consider a superior Dao soldier as the key to their advancement to Harmony Dao. The Dao soldier that advanced alongside the Integration Dao cultivator would then become their natal Dao soldier. Lu Ye didn't need to search; his only choice was Liao.

However, Liao still had room for improvement: it needed to pass the second trial of the Weapon Clan! Once that happened, after Lu Ye advanced to Harmony Dao, he would possess a stronger foundation and a brighter future. If he advanced hastily now, even if successful, it would not be worth the cost. Yet, Liao had already devoured several attribute treasures and still needed two more.

Lu Ye was only grateful for his status as a Star Abyss Child; otherwise, he wouldn't know where to find more attribute treasures. Even so, acquiring two more attribute treasures wasn't simple. He had previously exchanged for a Spring Radiance Sword from the Star Abyss Treasury, which nearly exhausted his accumulated Star Abyss Coins. Although he had acquired some recently, it was far from enough for the next exchange. He could only continue to battle in the snowy plains, which truly was a fortunate place for collecting Star Abyss Coins. With his current ninth-stage Integration Dao cultivation, he would be more efficient at killing enemies than before. Ideally, he would encounter enemies who possessed attribute treasures. He had encountered one such enemy last time, but unfortunately, his luck was poor; the female cultivator's attribute treasure was a defensive type, which was ultimately devoured by the Talent Tree.

Regardless of Yuan Xi City's future actions, Lu Ye's own objective was crystal clear: he needed to collect more Star Abyss Coins to help Liao pass its second trial. As for himself, he would consolidate his strength further. Once Liao passed its second trial and its Dao soldier reached completion, he would truly be at the peak of Integration Dao.

"Integration Dao Peak" wasn't a distinct realm but rather a term describing the ninth stage, representing a state where cultivators at the Integration Dao level could advance no further. Consequently, even among those at the Integration Dao Peak, there were still variations in strength.

Having just inscribed the ninth Dao pattern, Lu Ye wasn't planning anything else. For now, he would focus on nourishing his foundational strength. This was also a good opportunity to consult with the Harmony Dao cultivators in the city about what to pay attention to when advancing to the Harmony Dao realm. These were invaluable experiences from his predecessors. Since Lu Ye had no master to guide him, he had to figure things out for himself. Fortunately, the Harmony Dao cultivators in the city were very amiable towards him. You Die, in particular, was eager to share; when Lu Ye sought her advice, she practically pulled him into an all-night conversation, meticulously recounting every detail of her advancement to the Harmony Dao realm. Yuan Xi and Lian also shared everything without reservation. Both were widely experienced and knowledgeable, and the insights and crucial points they imparted greatly benefited Lu Ye. He also gained some insights from Huan Qing, though her aloof nature meant she would only offer a word or two in response to his direct questions.

After consulting with the four Harmony Dao cultivators in his own city, Lu Ye remained unsatisfied. He even made a special trip to Ling Feng City, visiting each of the Harmony Dao cultivators there one by one.