Chapter 1164: The Essence of the Sword

“Is Tianren He Yi related to the Da Dao Pan?”

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly understood. No wonder he hadn’t noticed the Da Dao Pan at first.

He had thought the Da Dao Pan was merely the system tally of his own understanding of the Great Dao, a simple record without any auxiliary functions.

But now it seemed this thing could be summoned through the newly acquired special passive skill.

Wait!

This Da Dao Pan looked so much like an Ao Yi Zhen Tu. If it could really be summoned and placed underfoot...

Xu Xiaoshou’s mind was filled with countless incredible ideas.

“Oh, ho, it’s coming out now. What kind of spiritual technique is this?”

In the giant kingdom evolved from the martial arts arena, Ba Zun Yan’s injuries had almost fully healed.

He looked at Xu Xiaoshou’s sudden appearance with both mockery and curiosity.

That ability to disappear—he couldn’t even comprehend it, let alone sense Xu Xiaoshou’s presence through normal means.

This was truly miraculous.

Could someone below the Semi-Saint level have grasped such a special spiritual technique? It could even deceive a Semi-Saint.

“I did comprehend something new,” Xu Xiaoshou said seriously, ignoring Ba Zun Yan’s comment.

Comprehended?

Ba Zun Yan knew very well this was just Xu Xiaoshou’s way of brushing it off. He sneered, “Then tell me, what did you comprehend? If it’s nothing, just wait, I’ll personally teach you something fun.”

“Personally?” Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes lit up.

If Ba Zun Yan was going to teach him personally, that would be great. He wanted to learn.

But as he lifted his gaze and met those murderous eyes, Xu Xiaoshou quickly realized.

Whatever Ba Zun Yan wanted to teach might be fun, but it would probably hurt a lot.

“I comprehended the Ao Yi of Sword Dao,” Xu Xiaoshou took a deep breath and dropped the bombshell.

This statement left Ba Zun Yan completely stunned on the spot.

Even Kong Yu Hen froze for a moment.

They thought Xu Xiaoshou was joking. The Ao Yi of Sword Dao? How could that not be a joke?

But Xu Xiaoshou’s expression was utterly serious and earnest, as if his words were the result of careful thought.

“You comprehended the Ao Yi of Sword Dao?” Ba Zun Yan repeated, word by word.

“Yes,” Xu Xiaoshou nodded solemnly, “Exactly what you’re thinking, no mistake!”

“Huff!” Ba Zun Yan took a long, deep breath, suppressing the urge to tear this kid apart. He stepped back and waved his hand, “Come on, show me. If you can’t demonstrate something worthwhile today, I’ll...”

Before he finished, he saw Xu Xiaoshou suddenly close his eyes, and an aura of profound enlightenment spread over his entire body.

Tianren He Yi!

At that moment, Xu Xiaoshou had activated his newly acquired special passive skill.

As soon as it activated, he seemed to merge with the Dao itself, and this time, he chose to merge with Sword Dao!

In that instant, all human presence vanished from Xu Xiaoshou.

At a glance, Ba Zun Yan and Kong Yu Hen almost mistook him for a sword!

From head to toe.

It concealed its edge yet gathered its sharpness.

In harmony with all phenomena, its intent soared in all directions.

He suddenly opened his eyes, lifted his sleeve, and spun on his tiptoe.

“Open!”

Patterns of light lit up beneath his feet, swiftly expanding into a grand and intricate Ao Yi Zhen Tu.

“Buzz.”

Sword hums echoed from all directions.

Xu Xiaoshou was like a drawn blade, his sword intent surging to its peak.

Never before had he felt so in tune with Sword Dao.

This “Tianren He Yi” truly made him the chosen son of Sword Dao.

Insight, abilities, and a continuous supply of energy...

Amplification!

This was the amplification power of “Tianren He Yi.”

And it was an amplification specifically for Sword Dao, boosting nearly every aspect massively!

In that moment, Xu Xiaoshou felt that if he wanted, he could effortlessly decipher any sword technique.

As long as it was within the foundational knowledge of his “Sword Mastery” at the Wang Zuo level, he could counter moves on sight, replicate them instantly, and strike back in sync!

“This is pretty strong!”

Xu Xiaoshou, who had planned to show off some tricks to intimidate the eighth sword immortal Ba Zun Yan, was himself startled by this new special passive skill’s capabilities.

Instinctively, he drew his sword—Yanmang.

He visualized the “Sword Qi” that Gu Qingyi had once performed. Just from recollection, every detail fell perfectly into place.

The Sword Dao elements in that strike—like gathering the Dao and piercing the Dao—which Xu Xiaoshou hadn’t understood before and had found confusing...

Now, he had just one feeling: Is that it?

Gathering: Using the sword to concentrate a wide-ranging attack into a single side could be done with sword body locking force.

Piercing: Synchronizing the attack’s frequency with its target to create a penetrating effect, ignoring most defenses.

This knowledge seemed to have always been in the “Sword Mastery” repository.

Before, he just couldn’t find it; “Tianren He Yi” was like adding an index, making it instantly accessible.

“Qi!”

Xu Xiaoshou gripped Yanmang, his eyes sharp, his aura building. He pressed his thumb against the sheath and pushed.

“Boom!”

A massive sword energy erupted from behind him, plowing through the ground and slashing toward Ba Zun Yan in an instant.

This strike was almost identical to what Gu Qingyi had done, like a perfect replica.

As Xu Xiaoshou unleashed the sword, his understanding deepened even more.

He realized the principle behind this strike was simple: Gu Qingyi could do it, and so could he originally.

Under “Tianren He Yi,” if he was merged with the “Sword Dao Pan,” he became incredibly sensitive to swords.

Even if he tried it again...

Without Gu Qingyi or anyone else explaining, Xu Xiaoshou felt that as long as he’d seen that “Sword Qi” while “Tianren He Yi” was active, he could master it in a second!

The sword light that plowed forward didn’t end as beautifully as imagined, splitting Ba Zun Yan in half.

Because Ba Zun Yan had already been alarmed and on guard due to the “Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu.”

Ba Zun Yan simply furrowed his brows.

He didn’t even make a move, just glanced lightly at the sword light.

With a boom, it shattered.

This technique of destroying with a glance—Xu Xiaoshou saw it clearly in his “Tianren He Yi” state.

He was quite tempted.

But he immediately realized it was the ability of “Observing Sword Techniques.”

Ba Zun Yan’s realm was too high!

Reaching the level of seeing through sword light in one glance was something he couldn’t do right now, no matter what. So, no point in trying to replicate it—it was impossible.

“Still so strong, even though you look so worn out.”

Xu Xiaoshou hid his inner astonishment well, putting on a smug expression as he laughed, “How about it? Did my Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu scare you silly?”

Ba Zun Yan fell silent, lowering his head to examine the Ao Yi Zhen Tu under Xu Xiaoshou’s feet.

He studied the patterns on it seriously, occasionally glancing up at the beaming Xu Xiaoshou.

The shock in his eyes was unmistakable.

“Fake, right?”

Kong Yu Hen couldn’t discern the truth of the Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu, but seeing Xu Xiaoshou’s expression, he figured the guy was bluffing.

“No!” Ba Zun Yan shook his head firmly, “It’s not fake.”

He looked up, staring intently at Xu Xiaoshou, and suddenly asked, “Is this really something you comprehended just by sitting there for a short while?”

Xu Xiaoshou was momentarily stumped.

This thing...

How to explain it? It was a bit hard to clarify!

He could only nod and vaguely say, “You can think of it that way, but mainly because I broke through to the Wang Zuo Dao Jing.”

“You’re even more bizarre than I imagined!” Ba Zun Yan sincerely praised.

Pointing to the Ao Yi Zhen Tu under Xu Xiaoshou’s feet, he said, “These patterns, though dim and with some parts not even lighting up, are correctly structured. No matter where you got this from, the fact that it’s somewhat accurate is already impressive.”

“Somewhat accurate?” Xu Xiaoshou was baffled by the comment. You’re the first to question the system’s Da Dao Pan!

“You talk as if you’ve seen a real Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu. So, are you still doubting its authenticity?” Xu Xiaoshou was dissatisfied.

Ba Zun Yan didn’t respond, just glanced at him.

The next second, a grand Ao Yi Zhen Tu spun out under his own feet.

This Ao Yi Zhen Tu...

Xu Xiaoshou narrowed his eyes on the spot, but still couldn’t hide the trembling in his pupils.

Did Ba Zun Yan also have a Da Dao Pan?

His was the genuine Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu!

Impossible! Had this madman really mastered the Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu?

Was his claim of “mastering nine great sword techniques” not an exaggeration, but a simple statement of ability?

The light...

It was too blinding!

Ba Zun Yan’s Ao Yi Zhen Tu patterns were not only more complex, with a more overpowering sword intent, but even the glow was on a completely different level.

Compared to Ba Zun Yan’s, the one under Xu Xiaoshou’s feet perfectly illustrated what it meant to be “the light of a firefly daring to compete with the bright moon”!

Xu Xiaoshou was certain that even if You Lingdi, Ye Xiaotian, and Kong Yu Hen with his unclear realm all activated their Ao Yi Zhen Tu together, they wouldn’t match Ba Zun Yan’s brightness.

—Not even close!

“You...”

Xu Xiaoshou started to speak but stopped, ultimately finding himself too shocked to continue.

He had planned to use this Da Dao Pan to blunt the edge of the so-called eighth sword immortal.

But Ba Zun Yan countered by stomping out a real Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu.

Now that was terrifying!

It almost scared his soul out of his body!

“How did you do it?”

Xu Xiaoshou couldn’t contain his curiosity and rushed over to examine Ba Zun Yan’s Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu closely.

The patterns, the flow, the spiritual array structure...

It was somewhat similar to his own, but fundamentally different.

Xu Xiaoshou knew that Sword Dao encompassed thousands of paths.

Mastering a Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu was equivalent to mastering the Ao Yi Zhen Tu for all attributes in the Refining Spirit Dao.

How was that possible?

“Your nine great sword techniques, eighteen sword styles, three thousand sword paths—are they all proficient... no, mastered... actually, have they all reached the peak of perfection?”

“Or is this just an illusion, created with illusionary sword techniques?”

Ba Zun Yan chuckled and retracted the Ao Yi Zhen Tu with a wave, “Ancient sword techniques don’t have the concept of Ao Yi; they only have realms. But if you insist on interpreting it with Refining Spirit logic, the principle is quite simple.

“As long as you cultivate one of the nine great sword techniques to the second realm, the Ao Yi Zhen Tu appears.

“But it’s illusory—what’s the point of pursuing it?”

“Who wouldn’t pursue this? Everyone would!” Xu Xiaoshou retorted.

“Others pursue the Ao Yi and the realms; you’re chasing the superficial appearance—neglecting the essence,” Ba Zun Yan shook his head.

After a pause, he pointed to the array under Xu Xiaoshou’s feet and asked, “You haven’t reached the second realm yet, right?”

Xu Xiaoshou nodded mutely.

He had only just started learning swords—how could he reach it so quickly?

But with “Tianren He Yi,” perhaps the second realm for various sword techniques wasn’t so far off.

“Without reaching the second realm, yet you’ve come up with this thing...” Ba Zun Yan didn’t know what Xu Xiaoshou’s Ao Yi Zhen Tu could do.

He didn’t think it was just for show.

Xu Xiaoshou never did anything pointless; people only saw the flashy side of him.

The more “flashy” his exterior, the more “solid” his foundation.

So, this was probably just something he hadn’t figured out yet.

Xu Xiaoshou didn’t explain.

How could he explain a special passive skill?

Ba Zun Yan didn’t ask.

He knew that since Xu Xiaoshou had created this, he would use it eventually.

Once he did, Ba Zun Yan would understand.

“So, what you comprehended earlier was just this incomplete Sword Dao Ao Yi Zhen Tu?” Ba Zun Yan lowered his gaze.

“Receiving attention, passive points +1.”

Xu Xiaoshou thought to himself that this old eighth was still hung up on the earlier injury. He quickly changed the subject, “Oh, it’s more than that!”

Turning to Kong Yu Hen, Xu Xiaoshou chuckled, “Take a look at this?”

He spread his feet apart, and the Sword Dao Pan vanished, replaced by the Space Dao Pan.

Kong Yu Hen’s eyes widened in shock, “Space Ao Yi?”

“It’s half real, half fake, right?” Ba Zun Yan glanced at it and saw through it immediately, “Clearly, like the previous one, you haven’t mastered the essence at all.”

Xu Xiaoshou scratched his head, “Well, does it look like the real thing? Could it fool people if I showed it off?”

“It looks pretty similar, just a bit dimmer, but most people wouldn’t care about that. By then, they’d probably be too stunned to notice.”

“So, it can fool people!” Xu Xiaoshou was delighted.

Ba Zun Yan gave him a deep look, “I hope you can truly light up these Ao Yi Zhen Tu one day.”

Xu Xiaoshou hadn’t shown the full Da Dao Pan display; he only revealed two, keeping the rest hidden.

He had figured it out.

This was basically an unformed Ao Yi Zhen Tu—zero actual combat power, but max points for bluffing.

Of course, the most important part was that after activating “Tianren He Yi,” the amplification for that attribute was nearly maxed out.

When he stepped on the Space Dao Pan, Xu Xiaoshou sparred a bit with Kong Yu Hen and found he could see through his movements and replicate them instantly.

Plus, any space-related ability came to him effortlessly, with his insight almost fully enhanced.

“Following this logic...”

“If I activate the Body, Spirit, and Intent Pans, wouldn’t I basically be unkillable?”

“What if I add a Life Dao Pan? Damn, unimaginable!”

“I could draw power directly from the Dao principles, with no upper limit—I’d just get stronger the more I fight!”

After pondering while stroking his chin, Xu Xiaoshou set aside the Da Dao Pan and the special passive skill “Tianren He Yi,” turning his attention to the system’s newly updated module.

The Yun Dao Tian!

It was something about the size of the Awakening Pool, but shaped like a field of land.

Xu Xiaoshou looked toward the mall.

He knew the most important thing wasn’t the “Yun Dao Tian,” but the item in the mall that could be used with it.

“Every system upgrade, the mall items go up in price. What a heartless thing. I wonder about this time...”

As he grumbled, Xu Xiaoshou checked the prices of the items in the mall.

Soon, his face darkened layer by layer.

“First-tier skill point: 1000 passive points.”

“Second-tier skill point: 5000 passive points.”

“Third-tier skill point: 10000 passive points.”

“Fourth-tier skill point: 50000 passive points (new item).”

“Passive key: 50000 passive points (price increase, from 1k to 5k to 1).”

“Awakening stone: 100000 passive points (price increase, from 1 to 3).”

“Yun Dao seed: 100000 passive points (new item).”

“Evolution water: 1000000 passive points (no price increase, but still heartless).”

These were all the items in the mall.

Two new ones: the fourth-tier skill point and the Yun Dao seed, clearly meant for use with the Yun Dao Tian.

The rest had mostly increased in price, with the baseline now at fifty thousand or a hundred thousand.

Xu Xiaoshou was too tired to complain about the rapid price hikes; he was used to it by now.

But this Yun Dao seed...

“Sold for ten thousand each? Is it some divine medicine? What does it do?”

Glancing at his own small treasury, he hadn’t been in many fights lately, just watching the show, so his passive points hadn’t grown much.

“Passive points: 2,572,256.”

Seeing that burdensome two million five hundred seventy-two thousand, Xu Xiaoshou felt a bit teary-eyed.

He realized Ba Zun Yan was right—he had become timid!

If he didn’t fight and just watched, how would his passive points increase?

His system couldn’t just sit back and watch; he had to jump in, strut around, and steal the spotlight to harvest others’ passive points!

“Damn it.”

“When I was weak, I couldn’t play properly with you all.”

“Now, I’m rising up. Wait until I max out my skills and make my entrance—I’ll spar with you properly!”

Thinking of those in the Sin One Hall who hadn’t escaped yet, Xu Xiaoshou started to miss them.

To be fair, when the Zongshi fought the Taixu and Semi-Sages, Xu Xiaoshou had been panicked.

But now that he was at Wang Zuo, his confidence was sky-high, especially with Ba Zun Yan’s promise to back him up.

How could he not go wild and cause some chaos to live up to this breakthrough?

“I want to leave.”

Xu Xiaoshou looked at the two in front of him, mainly at Ba Zun Yan.

Having succeeded in his breakthrough, he didn’t plan to linger in the Gujin Wangyou Lou.

His next steps were to add points and explore the Yun Dao Tian!

He couldn’t do these things right in front of Ba Zun Yan, as the changes would be too obvious.

Insights were easy to explain—just call it genius.

But if his physical body suddenly transformed or broke through while they were chatting...

How would he explain that? Like, “I was chatting and body forging at the same time”?

That was stupid and impossible to clarify. Better to say goodbye and break through on his own.

Then, when they met again, he’d have plenty of excuses, like the Shennong Medicine Garden taking effect or something.

“Whenever you’re ready,” Ba Zun Yan nodded straightforwardly, as if he was just here to protect Xu Xiaoshou.

But Xu Xiaoshou didn’t buy that at all. As he was about to leave, he asked, “By the way, why are you here, in the Gujin Wangyou Lou?”

“I saw it, came in to sit, and make new friends,” Ba Zun Yan glanced at Kong Yu Hen and shrugged, “That’s all.”

“I don’t believe it.”

“Believe it or not.”

“Whatever,” Xu Xiaoshou rolled his eyes and changed the topic, “What about Void Island? I didn’t see any of our Sheng Nu making a move, not even a single companion. It made me hesitant to act.”

“If you’re timid, just say so—don’t blame it on the Sheng Nu,” Ba Zun Yan first mocked, then jeered, “You didn’t see them because you’ve gotten weak.”

“So, you made a move, or one of your subordinates did? Shui Gui? Cen Qiaofu? The storyteller? Xiao Kongdong doesn’t count!”

Ba Zun Yan smiled and countered, “What do you think?”

Xu Xiaoshou was grinding his teeth in frustration.

This guy was insufferable. If he weren’t so strong, Xu Xiaoshou would love to boil him in a cauldron and make a Ten Perfect Great Tonic Old Eight Soup!

“What do you think the Sheng Shen Hall will do next?” Xu Xiaoshou narrowed his eyes and casually threw out a question he cared about deeply.

“Is that a test or a genuine question?” Ba Zun Yan laughed.

“Just curiosity.”

“If you’re curious, go guess. Guess right, and you’ll live well; guess wrong, and you’ll die horribly.”

“Screw that!”

“What did you say?”

“Cough, nothing.”

Xu Xiaoshou immediately plastered on a smile and shifted the topic, “This time, I met Yan Wang, and there was someone called Tianren Wu Shui inside. He’s really powerful—is he one of yours?”

“No,” Ba Zun Yan shook his head.

“Really not?” Xu Xiaoshou was suspicious, because Tianren Wu Shui had clearly helped him, like when he dealt with the night owl possession, which Xu Xiaoshou still couldn’t figure out.

“None of Yan Wang’s people are mine. If you encountered something odd, it might be due to their own reasons,” Ba Zun Yan rarely explained.

“Got it.”

So, Tianren Wu Shui had helped him for their organization’s reasons or personal motives?

He couldn’t make sense of it.

But it didn’t matter!

Once he added points and powered up, he could brute-force through anything.

For instance, with four swords at Tianren Wu Shui’s throat, asking why he helped—then he probably wouldn’t be so vague.

“Would that be a bit rude?”

Xu Xiaoshou realized Tianren Wu Shui was basically half his lifesaver, so acting like that might not be polite.

He thought from another angle.

“Maybe I can use this. If he likes me...”

“Hmm, using feelings doesn’t seem right either.”

“Wait, why am I even thinking he likes me? That’s ridiculous.”

Xu Xiaoshou cut off that line of thought—it was way off track.

“I’m leaving,” He looked up at Ba Zun Yan again.

“Mm.”

“Don’t you have any final advice?” Xu Xiaoshou waited expectantly but got nothing.

“Well, if you insist,” Ba Zun Yan smiled.

“What is it?”

“Go wild—I’ve got your back.”