Chapter 1527: All Hundred Schools Teach Me, the Spiritual Sword Technique Emerges in the World

"Gui Jian Shu?"

"Di Er Jing Jie?"

Feng Zhongzui was stunned, exclaiming in shock, "Fengdu Zhizhu?"

It was one thing for her to master the second realm of Wu Jian Shu, but now Liu Fuyu had also reached the second realm of Gui Jian Shu?

How old was she?

Was she the next Ba Zun An?

Never mind how she endured the backlash from Tian Qi Zhi; right after that, she could follow up with such a strike...

Did Liu Fuyu have a body like Shou Ye's, one that ignored exhaustion?

Or was she truly unafraid of death, willing to sacrifice her life for a sword that would astonish the world?

"Woo woo—"

Thousands of ghosts burst through the gates, swarming across the land, filling the air with endless howls of lamentation.

Yet, despite the overwhelming tide of ghosts, they didn't feed much power back to the caster. Instead, they formed the profound array of Gui Jian Shu at her feet.

Liu Fuyu's soul form reached out into the void and grasped.

"Sizzle!"

The clawing spirits were all obliterated, transforming into smoke that shrouded the night.

The billowing mist coiled and took shape, manifesting behind Liu Fuyu as an incredibly solid, immensely heavy greatsword, its tip emerging from the gates of hell.

"Fengdu Zhi Jian."

The sky-covering greatsword hung in the air, dimming the mountains and rivers, shaking the very spirits.

Feng Zhongzui felt his skull numbed by the sword's momentum, as if his entire body was about to split apart.

He clutched the Chuan Dao Jing and huddled behind Si Ren Xian Sheng, like sheltering behind the greatest shield in the world, and screamed,

"No profound array means it's not Fengdu Zhizhu!"

"Liu Fuyu must have been wounded by the backlash of Tian Qi Zhi; her remaining power isn't enough to fully condense the second realm of Gui Jian Shu..."

"But this sword—it's Fengdu Zhi Jian!"

Feng Zhongzui was still in awe, shouting loudly,

"The ultimate application of Yu Hun Gui Shu, nearly touching the threshold of the second realm in soul attacks, though perhaps a bit short in imagery..."

"Can Shou Ye block it? His Jian Dao profound array was just dispersed and dissolved by Liu Fuyu's Tian Qi Zhi—does he have any strength left?"

"From what I see, Shou Ye is in trouble. He only has one way to save himself—break free from his restraints! Grow to his extreme limit! Fully unleash his power!"

It had to be said, this commentary at the peak of emotion really got the crowds in the Five Domains fired up.

Everyone watched the battle in the Chuan Dao Jing with tense excitement, their minds flashing with images of Shou Ye transforming into a colossal giant, arms braced to shatter the Fengdu Zhi Jian, then opening the Path of Hungry Ghosts and stomping Liu Fuyu to death...

It was so brutal!

That was the real Shou Ye!

This was far from even a tenth of Gu Jian Shu.

Without the "challenge" restrictions, Liu Fuyu would have faced Shou Ye's most extreme counterattack right from Tian Qi Zhi.

But that was just imagination...

Everyone knew that if Shou Ye really broke his limiter, he would lose this fight.

Faced with a sword like this, one that approached the soul damage of Fengdu Zhizhu in the second realm, how could he defend using Gu Jian Shu?

"Receiving expectations, passive value: 9999."

"Receiving curses, passive value: 9999."

The info panel popped up, but these passive values weren't from the Five Domains viewers in front of the Chuan Dao Jing—they came from Xing Jie.

Right at the start of the great battle, Xu Xiaoshou had opened a small rift to Xing Jie.

This rift connected Xing Jie and Sheng Shen Continent, breaking through barriers like "worlds" and "boundaries."

Using his second true body and the imitator's light attributes for a "small aperture imaging," combined with spatial profound insights for "mirror reversal," he projected the battle scene high in the sky above Yu Jing City. This way, everyone in the city could "see" and "watch unobstructed" his stunning duel.

Even if they didn't want to watch, they had to sit and force themselves, because the will of Xing Jie's lord compelled it.

If they got bored after watching too long and stopped providing passive values, they'd probably mutter a complaint or two, which would still generate a bit.

Little by little, it added up, building a steady stream.

The trouble was, in this fight, Xu Xiaoshou was getting beaten down by Liu Fuyu.

The silver lining was that the experiment succeeded. Cross-realm viewing after breaking the barriers was just as effective as watching in person on Sheng Shen Continent, so the spirit refiners in Yu Jing City could still contribute passive values.

This meant he no longer had to rely on shouting "I'm an innate expert" in a plaza of ten thousand people to get passive values.

In his own little world, he could raise millions, live-stream when he wanted, and stop when he didn't—they'd have to watch anyway...

Being a clown was nothing compared to being the master.

What Xu Xiaoshou had moved wasn't just Yu Jing City—it was a massive vault, the perfect way to rake in passive values!

And now...

Liu Fuyu had her sword at his neck!

Right in front of all these audiences in Xing Jie, she was trying to make him lose all face.

Failing was still an efficient way to gain passive values; the people in Yu Jing City would surely gloat.

But Xu Xiaoshou didn't want to fail.

Still, he wasn't too worried about this sword.

Because, worst-case, he could break the rules, use his extreme giant form to tank it—he'd never die.

As he'd said before...

The challenge wasn't the main point; it was secondary.

For all the viewers in Sheng Shen Continent and Xing Jie, this fight was serious, but Xu Xiaoshou's mindset was different.

He was treating it like an experiment, whether fighting Bei Bei or Liu Fuyu.

This difference in attitude meant he didn't care much about the outcome.

Especially since it was just for fun, and knowing Liu Fuyu's sword wasn't the full second realm of Gui Jian Shu—just touching the threshold...

He could stand there and let her strike...

At most, his soul form would split in two, but with passive skills, he wouldn't die...

Driven by this mindset, as Xu Xiaoshou stared at the Fengdu Zhi Jian, a wild idea flashed in his mind:

"She attacks with a sword; I'll defend with a shield."

"What would be the strongest shield for a Gu Jian Xiu, flawless enough to block even soul attacks?"

Xu Xiaoshou quickly thought of Rao Yao Yao.

More precisely, he thought of the ultimate defensive move from her Qing Jian Shu second realm, Wang Qing Jian—not an attack, but a defense: Shan Hai Ping!

Right after becoming a saint, upon just touching the threshold of Shan Hai Ping, Rao Yao Yao had used it to block countless attacks, some even at the Saint Emperor level.

Of course, her Shan Hai Ping had been pierced time and again, and she'd faced defeat after defeat since becoming a saint...

Was that because Rao Yao Yao was weak, or Wang Qing Jian's Shan Hai Ping was feeble?

No! It was because her opponents were all stronger than her. Weaker ones like Xu Xiaoshou would think things through.

But...

The negative effects of Tian Qi Zhi lingered, and Xu Xiaoshou could barely condense his Jian Dao disk now.

Even if he forced it, many of the patterns were blurred and couldn't be restored quickly.

Under these conditions, how could he skip straight from Qing Jian Shu's Hong Chen Jian's Zhong Sheng Xiang to Wang Qing Jian's Shan Hai Ping?

But then he thought:

"The first realm of Qing Jian Shu is Hong Chen Jian, and Zhong Sheng Xiang is cultivated after mastering Hong Chen Jian—for example, Si Ren Xian Sheng has Shi Sheng Xiang, not Zhong Sheng Xiang."

"Similarly, Shan Hai Ping isn't the second realm; the second realm is Wang Qing Jian, and Shan Hai Ping is also cultivated from it."

"Zhong Sheng Xiang and Shan Hai Ping for Qing Jian Shu—like the third realm, which could lead to godhood and ancestry for this ancient sword art, or rather, a new great dao."

"They’re like high-level spirit techniques in the Lian Ling Dao—Sheng Wu."

"In short, Zhong Sheng Xiang and Shan Hai Ping are like sword techniques in Gu Jian Shu, such as Jian Bu Wu Shi Si Sha, just perhaps with higher requirements..."

His Jian Dao insights couldn't fully form, but the blurred Jian Dao disk could still use the special passive skill Tian Ren He Yi.

And in Tian Ren He Yi state, Xu Xiaoshou's comprehension of the sword was extraordinarily high!

Based on that, the question arose:

"Is there a way to integrate the concept of Shan Hai Ping into Jian Dao through Lian Ling methods, innovating and renewing it?"

"That way, I could use a spirit sword version of Shan Hai Ping without having mastered Hong Chen Jian or Wang Qing Jian?"

This idea was already thrilling beyond words.

At the same time, Xu Xiaoshou thought of some side details:

"But combining spirit and sword—does that still count as Gu Jian Shu?"

"If I pull it off and block Liu Fuyu's sword, will the Feng family of the South Domain recognize the result, or even the existence of this sword?"

Xu Xiaoshou wasn't sure.

But he was never one to cling to outdated rules.

When he wanted to play by them, he would.

When he wanted to flip the table, things like the Seven Sword Immortals' ancient rites or the Feng family's recognition were all nonsense!

In that instant, all viewers in Sheng Shen Continent and Xing Jie could feel the dao rhythm surging around Xu Xiaoshou.

"Under Fengdu Zhi Jian, what is Shou Ye doing? Having an epiphany?"

Feng Zhongzui was utterly astonished. "At a life-and-death moment, does someone really dare to do that? Does he think everyone is like Shi Zun Zuo, willing to give Kui Lei Han time to comprehend?"

Cao Er Zhu turned his head at the words, his eyes filled with a touch of resentment.

Bro Xiaoshou is fighting himself; don't drag my old man into this.

"Really giving him time?" Feng Zhongzui let out another strange cry.

Indeed, though Xu Xiaoshou's thoughts flashed in an instant, Liu Fuyu noticed the dao rhythm fluctuations around him, as if he were gaining insight, and she forcibly halted her sword's strike for a moment.

But her weakened soul form, still bearing the wounds from Tian Qi Zhi's backlash, couldn't allow her to pause for long.

Sensing Xu Xiaoshou's focus return, Liu Fuyu commanded her halted sword again:

"Fengdu Zhi Jian, thrust!"

Suddenly, from the gates of hell, the soul sword burst forth, aimed straight at Xu Xiaoshou.

And this massive soul sword used the strongest piercing technique from the three thousand sword paths: Dian Dao.

From large to small, from strong to weak, from something to nothing—this wasn't just thrusting; it was pure penetration!

If this sword hit, his entire soul form would likely scatter into oblivion!

"Hum."

Mei Si Ren tightened his grip on the Tai Cheng Jian.

He knew Xu Xiaoshou didn't need his help, but in that moment, he still stepped forward half a pace involuntarily.

After all, the scene looked terrifyingly dire!

But did Xu Xiaoshou need saving?

Under the looming Fengdu Zhi Jian, with all eyes on him!

What flashed in his mind wasn't just Rao Yao Yao's Shan Hai Ping.

It also included Tian Ji Shen Shi Er Hao's "Dao Ze Zhuang Dian"—forcibly drawing on the power of great dao rules to make it his own, from Tian Ji Shu;

And the former Three Emperors Yan Wuse's "Wan Jing Chuan Yi"—borrowing great dao rules to anchor oneself, so even the power of time like Wan Dao Chi Tui couldn't shake it, an ultimate defense.

All schools of thought are my sword masters...

"Ling Jian Shu · Shan Hai Ping!"

He drew the Yan Mang Jian.

Countless sword thoughts shot out from Xu Xiaoshou, like sprouting spider legs.

These dense sword thoughts pierced into the great dao rules, into all living and dead spirits of the heavens and earth.

The surging power flowed into him and radiated outward, forming a vast, dark-green barrier in front of the rapidly thrusting Fengdu Zhi Jian.

"What is this?!"

Feng Zhongzui's eyes bulged, stunned by the barrier made of spider legs.

Not just him—Mei Si Ren, Feng Ting Chen, and others were equally horrified, stepping forward as if to investigate.

What thing?

What monstrosity?

Spirit, sword, thoughts... and traces of Tian Ji Shu?

Could such a hodgepodge really piece together a so-called "spirit sword version of Shan Hai Ping"?

The worldview of Gu Jian Xiu was shattered in that moment by Xu Xiaoshou's playful "sword technique."

Onlookers saw the spectacle; experts saw the depth...

But the experts couldn't even spot the threshold right now!

In the South Domain, Dao Qiong Cang suddenly handed the battle scene to Ba Zun An.

He didn't need to; Gou Wu Yue and Ba Zun An had already turned back sensitively at the mention of "Ling Jian Shu."

But when Xu Xiaoshou's body sprouted countless spider legs, turning into something neither human nor ghost, Gou Wu Yue was baffled.

"This..."

He boldly admitted his ignorance.

Yet, seeing the mix of shock and joy on Ba Zun An's face, even a hint of eagerness, Gou Wu Yue swallowed his question.

"You don't get it." Dao Qiong Cang glanced over, noticing Gou Wu Yue's confused eyes, and immediately understood.

He turned back to Ba Zun An, his voice laced with surprise, asking on his behalf, "You do?"

"No!"

It was rare to hear such a firm "no" from Ba Zun An, so Dao Qiong Cang paused before asking, "Then why are you grinning like a fool?"

Ba Zun An's eyes crinkled, as if he hadn't heard the sarcasm:

"I'm grinning because his path is unique and hard to imitate, with a future so uncertain—until today, I've finally seen a glimpse of its form."

At Feng family's city, the first viewing platform.

Feng Xiao Se, disguised as an ordinary Ling Jian Xiu, stared at the scene of "Ling Jian Shu · Shan Hai Ping" projected by the Chuan Dao Jing and couldn't help but cry out, "Impossible!"

His eyes were bloodshot.

What he pursued...

What he yearned for day after day for decades...

Even betraying the Feng family to join Xu Yue Gray Palace just to get closer...

And Xu Xiaoshou got it with a mere blink?

Impossible!

Absolutely not!

"Ling Jian Shu is mine!"

Feng Xiao Se roared in his heart, his eyes nearly spitting fire.

In that moment, he wanted to rush to the Central Domain and slash that boy with Da Hong Shen Zhi Nu.

How dare he?

He hadn't paid anything!

It just threw itself at him?

"I can't accept this, I can't accept it..."

Feng Xiao Se was on the verge of breaking.

But was Ling Jian Shu supposed to look like this?

It was so wondrous; it belonged in the heavens, in the second world, appearing in its most magnificent form.

How could it be a mishmash, east and west, cobbled into this ugly spider and called "Ling Jian Shu · Shan Hai Ping"?

"Xu Xiaoshou, I'll kill you! Ahhh!"

"You can't, boo hoo..."

In the Eight Palaces, in front of the Chuan Dao Jing.

Ye Xiao Tian stared blankly at Xiao Qi Xiu, who had suddenly entered a state of epiphany beside him.

He didn't understand.

Before he arrived, Xiao Qi Xiu couldn't comprehend the sacred words and was as dense as a pig!

Now that he was here, Xiao Qi Xiu entered the state?

Oh, so there always had to be one to set off the others?

When there were four in the Spirit Palace, Sang Lao sneaked off and made achievements; with three left, he came to comprehend profound insights and become a saint; with Qiao and Xiao left, Qiao went first; now only Xiao was left...

I shouldn't have come!

Was Xiao Qi Xiu about to break through? Would he become a saint in one go?

I'm a half-saint of space; I haven't enjoyed the spotlight for long—don't catch up so fast!

What's so enlightening about this Xu Xiaoshou and his big spider? It's just like that!

But...

Xiao Qi Xiu's eyes burned with intensity, nearly sucked into the Chuan Dao Jing, yet he restrained himself perfectly.

After waiting forever, Ye Xiao Tian could only hear a murmur of slight surprise:

"So, it can be done like that?"