Chapter 1350: In the Rain, Comprehend the Sword and Forge the Apricot Realm; on the Hidden Bitter Path Far Away, Inquire About New Life

Xu Xiaoshou no longer kept track of time.

After all, the time acceleration in the Yuanfu World had reached a level even he could not measure.

Long Xing, true to its title as the Ancestral Tree, with the aid of the Shi Zu Ying Zhang, had now evolved the world to its final stage.

It felt like an eternity, yet like a fleeting moment.

When he came to his senses, the world around him had changed dramatically from before.

Endless mountain ranges, roaring rivers...

Lush green plains, deep valleys, and marshy hills...

Not only were these landforms previously impossible in the Yuanfu World, but they now also exuded a vibrant sense of life.

The landscape was magnificent, with the interplay of yin and yang, and distinct differences across the north, south, east, and west.

In the north, towering mountains pierced the clouds, enduring a biting winter with constant snowfall.

In the south, forests and streams babbled, under a scorching summer heat, offering shade and coolness in the dense foliage.

Xu Xiaoshou felt this was a fully formed world, one that could truly be called a paradise on earth.

Even someone as picky as him struggled to find any flaws...

"No!"

"Is there still something missing?"

As the master of this world, Xu Xiaoshou could sense that the snow-capped mountains were endlessly white, yet lacked a touch of reality; the thriving summer in the dense forests still missed some sounds.

"If only there were spiritual beasts or wild animals on the mountains, or birds taking flight and deer roaming in the forests..."

Life!

That was it—the answer!

With more living beings, this world could be seen as a miniature version of the Sheng Shen Dalu.

However, asking Long Xing to evolve the world and spontaneously create so many life forms was clearly asking too much.

No matter how powerful the Ancestral Tree was, it couldn't lay eggs or hatch creatures like lions, tigers, fish, or birds.

Xu Xiaoshou thought that in the future, he could travel to various famous mountains and rivers, capturing some cattle, sheep, chickens, ducks, and the like to release into the Yuanfu World.

It would be perfect for putting his culinary skills to use.

Of course, he could create these creatures right now with his mastery of painting, summoning a whole swarm.

But they would all be fake...

In the void, Long Xing, now transformed into intricate patterns, glowed dimly, indicating that evolving the world had drained much of its energy.

Yet, it did not stop there. As if reading Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts, it generously declared:

"Since we have come this far, I shall grant life."

With a sway of its golden tree crown, it gracefully scattered countless crystalline shards.

Xu Xiaoshou looked up and saw that these were actually space fragments, densely packed and innumerable.

These fragments were not empty; they contained flying birds, walking beasts like cattle, sheep, and eagles, as well as amphibians, swimming fish, and even tiny mayflies.

Moreover, Xu Xiaoshou spotted some spiritual beasts rich in spiritual energy, though most were of low rank, mostly Houtian, with a few Xiantian.

These life forms struggled out of the space fragments and fell from the sky in panic.

Xu Xiaoshou was stunned. "It can be done like this?"

He suddenly realized that Long Xing was a world tree. Besides his own Yuanfu World, had it not served as the foundation for other worlds before?

It must have!

So, these space fragments were likely its accumulated reserves, holding various life forms from worlds that had shattered.

"Rain."

Long Xing called out loudly, and Xu Xiaoshou thought it was about to summon rain.

Indeed, at that moment, the world needed a rain called "new birth" to guide these creatures to their rightful places.

But after waiting a while, Long Xing did not act.

Xu Xiaoshou understood—it needed his help.

He was the master of this world, not Long Xing. This rain of new birth had to be brought by him and only him.

With a gentle breath, he ascended in a single step.

Xu Xiaoshou rose to the high sky, standing side by side with Long Xing.

He said nothing, simply taking out a drop of blood and smearing it on the Imitator.

His mind was flooded with information—the insights belonging to "water."

This drop of blood came from Yu Ling Di in the Sin One Hall, also known as the water ghost Yu Mo.

In that half-transformed state, Xu Xiaoshou drew on these insights, slowly raising his hand.

"God said, let there be rain."

Drip!

Rain pattered on the leaves, bringing green life everywhere.

A real rain, amid Xu Xiaoshou's playful tone, started as scattered drops and light drizzle... then poured down heavily!

The countless creatures scattered from the space fragments, still in panic and not yet landed, were soaked by the downpour.

Xu Xiaoshou watched this scene, initially just playing around, but suddenly felt a surge of grandeur.

The first rain in this world—I brought it!

The life and death of all things in this world—I can decide!

His momentum soared higher and higher, as he gazed at this newborn realm, with Dao rhythms swirling around him. Though there was no profound array diagram at his feet, it was as if he had entered a state of unity with heaven and earth.

"God?"

Long Xing could understand what the human boy beside it said, but it thought Xu Xiaoshou was talking nonsense.

When did merely causing a rain make one a god?

Even it wouldn't dare claim that!

But before it could mock him, Long Xing realized its own action might be inappropriate.

Those ordinary creatures were falling from such a height. Even birds flapping their wings would shatter upon impact after their feathers got wet, let alone cattle and sheep.

Long Xing was about to intervene to protect them.

Unexpectedly, the Dao rhythm from Xu Xiaoshou beside it surged to a level that even made it take notice.

"What does this kid intend to do..."

As it pondered, Xu Xiaoshou moved—before Long Xing could.

After mastering the water and earth realms, his spirit was already overwhelming, making him feel that the vast universe was no big deal—I can control it.

Long Xing could see the life and death of all things, but Xu Xiaoshou had seen it even earlier.

"Water is the highest good."

Once, the great demon king Yu Mo's ultimate insight into water systems had been casually copied by Xu Xiaoshou.

But this time, it was not about accommodating all things or encompassing wind and thunder.

Instead, observing the myriad lives, he recalled some insights from his memories and casually said:

"Water benefits all things without striving, dwelling in places that others despise, and thus is close to the Dao."

Without any grand gesture, the rain carried the wind and gently lifted the myriad flying birds and beasts, softly setting them on the ground and freezing their panic in mid-air.

And that was it?

Long Xing's thoughts went blank, as if struck by lightning.

Setting down these flying birds and beasts in this newborn world was not difficult, but with such a vast number, even an exhausted Long Xing would find it taxing.

How could Xu Xiaoshou, who seemed so weak, handle it with such ease, even more effortlessly than itself?

And moreover!

"Water benefits all things without striving, dwelling in places that others despise, and thus is close to the Dao..." Long Xing murmured repeatedly, racking its brain but unable to imagine such words coming from this seemingly unreliable human boy.

Using water as a metaphor for the Dao—simple yet profound, straight to the core.

This might be why Xu Xiaoshou could achieve so much with so little—he was truly comprehending the great Dao at that moment.

"Continue!" Long Xing gained some insight and urged the human boy to go on.

It felt that hearing more might lead to even greater enlightenment.

The Dao rhythms around Xu Xiaoshou paused, clearly distracted.

What a pity...

Truly, one regrets not studying when books are needed!

That half-copy of the Dao De Jing hidden under the bed back then should have been finished—it would have stunned this Ancestral Tree Long Xing for sure.

But even this was enough.

Xu Xiaoshou's momentum did not falter. He glanced back at Long Xing with a faint smile, then withdrew his gaze:

"The Dao that can be spoken is not the eternal Dao."

Long Xing shuddered and repeated it softly.

But it gained no further insight and cast a look asking for more.

Xu Xiaoshou ignored it and returned his attention to the world and its creatures.

His momentum had built up, feeling that this newborn realm not only aligned with "water," but also with "sword."

"Zang Ku!"

He patted the black sword at his waist, and Zang Ku shot through the air. Xu Xiaoshou quickly grabbed it.

With a whoosh, Zang Ku twisted once.

In an instant, the dense raindrops falling from the sky, and even the myriad creatures on the ground soaked and still fearful, all froze in place.

The entire world fell silent for a moment.

"Wan!"

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes gleamed as he shouted.

What he had suddenly comprehended was not just the way of water, but also the "Wan" character from ancient sword techniques.

Back on Void Island, he had performed the second realm of Si Ren's heart sword technique, Prajna Nothingness, drawn from his memories.

He had thought he could do the same for Wan Sword Technique or Illusion Sword Technique, mimicking it like a cat copying a tiger, but it always felt like something was missing.

He got the form but not the essence.

But now, Xu Xiaoshou had opened up a new world.

In this realm between heaven and earth, the sounds that reached the ears became voices, the sights that met the eyes became colors—an inexhaustible, unending treasury of scenery fed back insights.

What flashed through Xu Xiaoshou's mind was not just the absolute imperial control of a world master over all things.

It also included transforming momentum into form, manifesting as reality, glimpsed briefly in Sin One Hall from the "Great Red God's Fury" amid the whistling wind.

"Buzz!"

The sword path disk under his feet spun.

The profound array diagram etched with complex Dao patterns spread out in an instant, vast and boundless, as if to fill this entire newborn world.

Its scale was no less than when he had half-ascended Yunlun Mountain and slashed at Rao Yaoyao.

"What does this kid intend to do now?" Long Xing wondered again.

This human boy kept delivering one shock after another.

The sword in his hand felt like it could tear the sky apart.

Its sharpness and intensity even surpassed the power he had accumulated from his recent cultivation breakthrough.

"Boom!"

In a certain instant, Long Xing saw countless momenta converge in the air, forming a single red wing behind Xu Xiaoshou, dazzling and magnificent, shrouding the nine heavens.

But in less than half a breath, that red wing vanished.

Along with it, Xu Xiaoshou's domineering momentum disappeared without a trace.

Did the enlightenment fail?

Long Xing was baffled.

Xu Xiaoshou, however, laughed.

He gripped Zang Ku tightly, and the sword vibrated excitedly, one wave following another.

"Huan!"

With another word, the array diagram under his feet spun again.

This time, unlike the "Wan" of momentum, the Dao rhythms around Xu Xiaoshou surged but turned illusory, with plum blossoms falling from the heavens.

Long Xing could not understand it.

But it clearly felt that this newborn world had gained an extra layer... perhaps another world?

The two overlapped, indistinguishable from each other.

Even Long Xing could not tell what was real and what was false.

Soon, that illusion faded.

Or perhaps, that so-called second world had never existed, and it was just its own blurry vision?

Long Xing was not targeted, so it was unaffected by the sword momentum and could still see Xu Xiaoshou, with a questioning look.

Xu Xiaoshou said no more, just smiled faintly at the corner of his lips.

"Riddler..."

Long Xing suddenly felt irritated, tempted to knock this human boy's head open.

This was why it disliked humans—they always spoke half-truths, built up momentum halfway, struck halfway, and even smiled halfway...

What nonsense!

"I get it." Xu Xiaoshou turned his head, looking profoundly mysterious.

"Oh? What did you gain?" Long Xing perked up—did this kid want to share?

"Heaven's secrets cannot be revealed."

"Received angry glare, passive value +1."

"Received curse, passive value +1."

The evolution of the world came to an end here.

With living beings entering, this world was now on the right track, with Ancestral Tree Long Xing as its world tree, holding great potential for the future.

But Xu Xiaoshou still felt something was missing.

Just then, Long Xing spoke: "I evolved this realm, so I should name it."

Xu Xiaoshou realized what was lacking.

Yes, it could no longer be called the Yuanfu World—it needed a new name.

After his rain-induced sword enlightenment, Xu Xiaoshou had gained much and didn't mind letting Long Xing have the naming rights.

He was happy to let it take the lead.

This way, the Ancestral Tree would feel more involved and guard this remarkably potential world even more diligently, much like how the Greedy God refined pills.

And he wouldn't have to lift a finger...

"Of course, it should be decided by you, senior. This is the realm's honor." Xu Xiaoshou spoke formally and deliberately.

He could clearly sense that Long Xing felt even more pleased upon hearing this.

It had clearly been pondering this for a while and had a name in mind, but it held back its reserved nature, pondering for a good while before saying:

"Let it be called 'Xing Realm'!"

Xing Realm?

Xu Xiaoshou's eyes lit up—it was a great name!

It gave a strong sense of belonging, hinting that a certain tree wanted to stay here permanently.

"How about it?" Long Xing asked, slightly expectant.

Xu Xiaoshou wouldn't object and immediately applauded: "Most elegant, most elegant!"

Long Xing laughed.

Xu Xiaoshou glanced at it and laughed too.

"Received recognition, passive value +1."

With a whoosh, Zang Ku in his hand suddenly vibrated intensely. Xu Xiaoshou looked down in surprise.

This fluctuation was all too familiar—was it about to advance again?

Was it because he had just used it to execute half of "Great Red God's Fury" and half of "Second World"?

"Perhaps, not just that?"

He thought of how Zang Ku's advancement had been accelerating lately.

It had already reached Wangzuo fourth grade, even faster than when it was at Xiantian or Zongshi levels, and now even more so.

He immediately connected it to "fame"!

Now, as one of the new Seven Sword Immortals—"Double Elders Smile, Liu Fuyu, Hua Lai Beitian Ying Shou Ye"—his name was spreading across the five domains.

Zang Ku's reputation had risen with it.

And there were rumors that fame could nurture famous swords, like Ba Zun An's Broken Sword Qing Ju, which had grown from weak to supreme step by step.

Zang Ku was likely breaking through again this time, with "fame" playing a big role and heavenly Dao nourishment being the main factor!

"Hmm..." Xu Xiaoshou stroked his chin.

He hadn't been obsessed with the Seven Sword Immortals title like other sword cultivators before, but now he realized the power of "fame."

If this thing was so strong, even reclusive ancient sword cultivators would have to emerge and fight for it, right?

Indeed, even someone as aloof as Mei Si Ren...

"Whoosh—"

His thoughts were interrupted by the struggling sound. Xu Xiaoshou looked down and saw that this transformation was taking longer for Zang Ku, and it seemed more anxious.

It was like a snake trying to shed its skin but trapped by its own, twisting for a long time without advancing in rank.

Xu Xiaoshou suddenly noticed a faint crack on Zang Ku's blade.

He was startled, and when he looked again, the crack had vanished, as if it were an illusion.

But Xu Xiaoshou didn't think he had imagined it. He realized something.

Fourth grade, or perhaps third grade...

In any case, Wangzuo rank might be Zang Ku's limit!

Fame could nurture a famous sword, but the sword's own quality had to meet the standard.

Zang Ku had indeed started weak, with crude craftsmanship and materials.

It wasn't noticeable at lower ranks, but now...

It was like how Ba Zun An, limited by his mortal body, had to remake himself into an indestructible sword body.

"Whoosh!"

Zang Ku was still struggling.

Xu Xiaoshou saw its reluctance.

So, he raised the black sword, activated his Sword Observation Technique, and his eyes became exceptionally clear. With his fingertip turning into sword intent, he gently traced along the blade.

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

Zang Ku's blade shook violently.

The awakened "intent" within the sword invaded Xu Xiaoshou's body through the contact.

But this sword intent was no longer as domineering as before, able to harm his body.

Or rather, Xu Xiaoshou was now too strong. He could easily suppress the sword intent, absorb it, and then feed it back to Zang Ku to aid its advancement.

This cycle continued for a full half-incense stick's worth of time.

When his sword finger finally glided over the tip, Zang Ku let out a clear hum, and its blade emitted a translucent black glow.

"Whoosh!"

It had broken through!

Third-grade spiritual sword, at the peak of Wangzuo!

Xu Xiaoshou was genuinely happy for Zang Ku.

His own combat power had touched the peak of Wangzuo, and now Zang Ku had caught up.

Letting Zang Ku revel in its excitement for a while, Xu Xiaoshou had to pour some cold water:

"It's not that I want to say this, but you need to hold back on your breakthroughs from now on, take it slow, like practicing the Hidden Sword Technique."

"Whoosh?" Zang Ku was puzzled; it had developed enough spirituality to communicate normally with its master.

"Your quality is just too poor, like how Ba Zun An couldn't enter the sacred realm without a sacred body. After this advancement, I'm worried that if I use you for the second realm, you'll break after just one use."

"Whoosh..." Zang Ku's mood sank; it was an undeniable fact.

After comforting the whooshing sword, Xu Xiaoshou began pondering another matter:

Since even Zang Ku needed this, and famous swords could be nurtured like this...

The ancient sword cultivator era had developed for so long, with sword gods existing since ancient times.

There must be legends of ordinary swords, not even ninth or tenth grade, eventually becoming famous swords, right?

Qing Ju was exactly like that!

This proved that famous swords must have some way to grow quickly without being limited by their own quality, keeping up with their masters' rapid progress.

After all, who could nurture a famous sword without being extraordinary themselves?

"Remaking it?"

Xu Xiaoshou thought of Ba Zun An and considered this somewhat feasible option.

But soon, he frowned.

Nonsense!

This was Zang Ku, on the verge of becoming a famous sword!

If it lost its spirit during remaking or breaking and rebuilding, what then?

This idea probably only existed in the ancient sword cultivator era. In the present world, who had the qualification to remake a sword embryo like Zang Ku?

As he was deep in thought, Xu Xiaoshou's mind stirred, receiving a message from his second true body outside:

"Boss, you've caused a big stir again!"

(The end of this chapter)