Chapter 1806: The Tide Rises

The moment the concept of Renowned Swordsmanship was conceived, it wasn't just Bazun An half a year ago, or Hua Changdeng in the present, whose expressions changed.

That day, upon returning from his Ancestral Void state, Xu Xiaoshou was equally astonished by his own epiphany.

"Renown is Passive…"Bazun An's unconscious remark seemed to tear through the last veil that obscured his inner path to ultimate enlightenment.

Xu Xiaoshou had long desired to cultivate his path. Or rather, his path didn't require much cultivation; what he needed to do was "integrate with the Dao."

Equipped with his passive abilities, he could be said to have no weaknesses whatsoever. He was impervious to defense, difficult to kill, like an impenetrable iron barrel!

To put it another way, even if any single one of the Ten Greats were to be singled out, they would likely not surpass Xu Xiaoshou, this hexagonal warrior, in overall development today.

However, there was one point: no matter how much Xu Xiaoshou stretched his limits, he still couldn't compare to the true Ten Greats. Just like Ai Cangzheng, when pushed to his limits, could truly activate his "Ancestral Void" state and unleash arrows that covered the entire Heavenly Ladder.

Each of the Ten Greats possessed a unique specialized skill!

Even Gou Wuyue, who had always kept a low profile and whose past achievements were unremarkable, was only being compared to the other nine of the Ten Greats. His path, in terms of conceptual depth, was of an exceptionally high standing.

No one could say for certain whether Gou Wuyue, if he were to forcefully open the Gate of Profundity, would follow in Gu Yu's footsteps or attain enlightenment and ascend to the heavens in a single flash. After all, in terms of spiritual comprehension and life's tribulations, the two were not on the same level.

And even Xiang Yaoyao had mastered a formidable summoning art; her specialty lay not in herself, but in the deities behind her. Though it seemed absurd, it was sufficient.

"What about me?"Shortly after his battle with Ai Cangzheng, Xu Xiaoshou asked himself this question.

He knew that the opponents he would face next, while perhaps not as innately talented as Ai Cangzheng, should all possess superior combat power.

Half-Saint, Saint Emperor, Ancestral God. These had always been three ascending ranks, from lowest to highest. If he were to remain content with his current state, it would be akin to slow suicide.

Xu Xiaoshou then reviewed the techniques he had mastered and found them to be too evenly developed. His various paths were all independent.

Passive abilities were passive abilities, ancient sword arts were ancient sword arts, his ancient martial arts were a mishmash, and spiritual refinement was barely touched upon.

"In terms of life-saving trump cards, what I possess is already sufficient.""However, in terms of offensive output, merely being on par with my life-saving methods is far from enough; it doesn't meet the standard of a 'specialized skill.'"

"Even if I drew more passive abilities, awakened more powerful active skills, or activated more Great Dao Discs... the ceiling is still there. If I can't break through the ninety-percent cage, I won't be able to 'transcend.'"

"'Quality over quantity' applies to warfare; therefore, I still need to specialize in one art, to leave all others behind in that path, only then might I be able to suppress the various prodigies of this era."

Being like an iron barrel, with every aspect a strength, would be high praise for others, but for a genius, it meant "no standout features."

"And among what I've encountered and mastered…""In terms of offensive output, only the ancient sword arts can truly break through limitations."

However, the ancient sword arts, if followed systematically, would only allow him to reach the Saint Emperor and Ancestral God levels upon becoming a Saint. This was roughly equivalent to walking the Sword God's old path to completion.

And then, among the Ten Ancestors, entering the lowest-tier "Cycle of the Four Ancestors," thereby re-entering the "cage" conundrum? Not to mention being inferior to the second-to-first rank Evil Yin, this wouldn't even compare to the two Saint Medicine Ancestors.

Of course, this referred not to combat power, but to the conceptual level.

Xu Xiaoshou didn't want to merely be like that. He now knew that Bazun An, Gou Wuyue, and other ancient sword cultivators all understood that the Sword Ancestor's path could not escape the "cage," and thus they were all forging new paths.

Oh, except for Rao Yaoyao. She had indeed chosen the safest path, but unfortunately, it now seemed she had also taken a wrong turn.

This was the world of geniuses! Forging new paths was incredibly dangerous for ordinary people, but for geniuses, it was the most likely way to achieve an overtake.

Regardless of what they had cultivated into now, what they aimed to surpass were the Ancestral Gods.

"'If Sword Will were to be perfected, it would be the most likely path to surpass the Sword God, as it involves seeking a path forward from the Sword God's shoulders.'""'However, Kuilei Han's second-generation "Thorough Divine Will" already possessed six variations, indicating that Sword Will shouldn't be limited to this; it should have further potential.'"

Thus, Xu Xiaoshou sought out Bazun An to inquire about "beyond Sword Will." His inquiries about "beyond Sword Will" yielded no results. However, he gained an unexpected prize: "Renown"!

"Renown is Passive…"What deeply resonated with Xu Xiaoshou was not only how the Way of Renown seemed inherently compatible with his own path, as if custom-made. This single sentence could, even more directly, explain the "Passive System."

Whether it was "being doubted," "being admired," or "being loathed"... this series of "passive gains" would then convert into passive points, which could be used to enhance himself. Viewed from the perspective of "renown," this process was no longer "creating something out of nothing," but rather "equivalent exchange."

"'Every instance of "being X-ed" deepened the impression of my name in others' minds, and the "passive points" quantified from renown, much like fame nurturing a renowned sword, were used to nourish my own being?'"

But then, how could he explain that his passive system contained not only sword arts but also all sorts of strange things? Culinary skills, painting... ancient martial arts-like abilities, spellcraft-like abilities... everything he should have, he had; and things he shouldn't have, he surprisingly also had?

After long contemplation yielded no results, Xu Xiaoshou once again suppressed his thoughts on the "Passive System." At least, throughout his journey, the conclusion he drew from that broken roulette wheel was "no malice," and that was sufficient.

And since the Way of Renown was so compatible with him, he couldn't temporarily extract any more powerful resources from the Passive System.

Over the past six months, Xu Xiaoshou certainly hadn't given up on acquiring passive points. Although he hadn't spent them frivolously later on, he had effectively reached the limit.

"Passive Points: 999,999,999."One billion! To be precise, it was just a hair's breadth shy of a billion!

This was the first time Xu Xiaoshou had reached the passive points limit, and it led him to an epiphany that might or might not be true: "The Passive System might be reaching its limit."

If the ultimate limit of this assistance was merely to give him a push to the ordinary realm of the Ten Ancestors upon his sanctification, it seemed sufficient. Yet, it was still a cage!

Xu Xiaoshou was not in a hurry to become a Saint, and he gave up on the idea of spending his passive points. After inquiring of Bazun An, he did not hesitate for long before resolving to treat himself as a beginner and cultivate renown.

He saw a baseline. He wanted to go further.

Thus, over the past six months, he spent nearly ninety-nine percent of his time cultivating the "Way of Renown," and on interpreting "Renown is like Water," until this very day...

"Six months!"Xu Xiaoshou gripped his stone sword, gazing at Hua Changdeng with tranquil eyes, like undisturbed water. Renown is like Water.

Water has no fixed form, adapting to circumstances, curving around obstacles, bending when paths are blocked. In all the filthy, squalid places where humans do not wish to go and beasts do not wish to settle, water can find tranquility.

Water is born from rootless places. In nature, water forms as rain, condenses as mist, or seeps from lightless depths beneath the earth, nourishing all things.

Renown, too, is the same! Renown is born from nameless places. In the Five Regions, renown forms from countless gazes, condenses from the root of the Great Dao, springs from forgotten places, and now, summoned, gathers into rivers and seas.

The stone sword in Xu Xiaoshou's hand was the rivers and seas. When he raised his sword, when he uttered "Supreme Goodness is like water,"…

Hua Changdeng was not astonished by the profound concept of his path, but rather by the fact that he had successfully actualized it in just six months!

"Whoosh, whoosh…"Renown roared, like a prolonged wind. In the eyes of the Five Regions' Spirit Refiners, another world materialized above the Saint God Continent—the Sea of Renown Mist!

Everyone could see that it was a second world. But was it illusory? No, grand illusions are not void; grand conceptions are as tangible as reality. Young Master Shou's second world had long transcended the scope of "Illusionary Sword Arts," originating from reality and also manifesting in reality!

A single sword strike summoned the Sea of Renown Mist, as if a Battle Ancestor's phenomenon had descended. And Young Master Shou's will stood atop the solitary tower within the Sea of Mist; the stone sword, like rivers and seas, channeled streams of renown, all converging upon his sword and himself.

"Rumble..."The Central Yuan Realm suddenly trembled. Then the entire Ghost-Buddha Realm began to shake violently.

Xu Xiaoshou drew his stone sword from the void; though the stone didn't crack and the scabbard remained, he was already like a sword unsheathed after years of concealment, brimming with sharp aura.

Under the myriad nourishment of the Sea of Renown Mist, clear, transparent currents of water rapidly coiled and flowed over the stone sword's blade, gurgling softly.

"Six months, do you know what I went through..."Young Master Shou, sword in hand, slowly walked towards Hua Changdeng, his accompanying aura growing even more formidable.

Spectators in the Five Regions, upon witnessing the continental phenomenon, began to seek its cause, and soon, they all streamed into the Matchmaker Jin Xing's broadcast.

Eight million...Nine million...Ten million...The Matchmaker had never reached such heights!

Young Master Shou's reappearance after six months, merely presenting his first sword strike, had already propelled the Matchmaker to the highest revered position in the broadcasting world.

Within Jin Xing's broadcast, the discussion grew even more fervent. Some were asking, "How is Young Master Shou?" Others were asking, "What is Renowned Swordsmanship?" And some were asking, "Isn't this sword strike exactly Young Master Shou's 'Renown: Ten-Stage Sword Finger' from earlier?"

The Matchmaker had lost her ability to commentate. She admitted that in grand spectacles, she still couldn't compare to Feng Zhongzui, and simply couldn't discern the true essence of Young Master Shou's sword strike.

But the truth was, Feng Zhongzui was also watching this sword strike, and he didn't understand it either. Not only did he not understand, but the old patriarch Feng Tingchen didn't understand either, and even Hua Changdeng, facing it directly, couldn't comprehend it!

There was no need to understand. Wherever attention lingered, renown would be born. For renown to fully proliferate, for the Way of Renown to be completely proven, Xu Xiaoshou not only had to unleash this sword strike, but he had to cleave Hua Changdeng with undeniable clarity, ensuring he died with perfect understanding!

"Over the past six months, I observed streams, lakes, rivers, marshes, and seas; I experienced mist, rain, tides, waterfalls, and floods; I reflected on life and comprehended profundities, gaining much.""Renown is like water, embracing all rivers; then my single sword strike shall gather the unclaimed renown of the Five Regions, and the claimed renown; the nameless renown, and the renowned renown.""This renown, when first born, is like a tinkling stream, nourishing and sustaining me.""This renown, in its culmination, is like furious, raging waves, overturning the world.""And Hua Changdeng, to strike you down requires less than seventy percent of my power; a single stone sword is enough. This strike of mine, stripped of its extremes, takes a middle ground, named 'Rising Tide.'""If you can withstand it, I will acknowledge you as the 'Ghost Sword Immortal.'""If you cannot…"With a smile, Xu Xiaoshou's face held a mocking expression: "Old geezer, go to hell!"

Boom—As the sword was raised, thunder echoed through the Five Regions. The Sea of Renown Mist instantly churned.

Beneath the illusory deep sea covering the Five Regions, it was as if a colossal land-bearing beast had awakened and turned over, at which moment, waves tore through the air, and heaven and earth shattered.

The Matchmaker felt as if her eyes and ears were being torn apart by "renown." She lowered her head, trembling and not daring to look, as if she no longer had the courage to face an Ancestral God.

Yet the Sea of Renown Mist, born of illusion but existing in reality, meant that anyone who, at that moment, still held the name "Young Master Shou" or "First Sword Immortal" in their mind, could not escape it even if they tried.

In but a brief instant, after its tumultuous upheaval, the Sea of Renown Mist completely shattered, and thousands of currents burst forth, ultimately converging upon Young Master Shou, his stone sword, and even the entire Ghost-Buddha Realm.

"Renown: Rising Tide!"Xu Xiaoshou unleashed his sword strike; the sword light poured forth like silver, and the water's hue tore through the sky.

This single sword strike, appearing to cleave yin and yang, merely upon its emergence, effortlessly pierced through Saint Emperor Hua Changdeng's aura and ripped apart the darkness he had brought!

"Rising Tide?"The Ghost-Buddha Realm was indeed experiencing a rising tide. But with that grand tide sweeping the void and renown surging, how could it be merely a "rising tide"?

"Is Young Master Shou joking?""This is called 'Rising Tide'? Isn't this clearly a 'tsunami'?!"

Hua Changdeng's expression finally became extremely solemn. In his eyes, this sword strike was no longer just a sword strike; when Xu Xiaoshou brought his stone sword down, his world turned dark.

At the genesis of the sword light, nine swords soared forth into the heavens and earth. The nine swords cleaved chaos, and a spiritual domain miraculously ascended. And as one attempted to retreat, renown, like a surging tide, or like hungry ghosts grabbing at feet, came in overlapping waves, seizing one and rendering them immobile.

"Heart Sword Art, Prajna-less?"Hua Changdeng's ancient sword art mentor was also Mei Siren. How could he not see that the foundation of Xu Xiaoshou's sword strike was Mr. Siren's Prajna-less?

But was that all? Absolutely not!

"Prajna-less, Heaven's Abandonment, Second World..." His consciousness was confined within the spiritual domain, his body was abandoned beneath the sword-moon, and his spirit fell into the collapsing world after the Sea of Renown Mist shattered... Body, spirit, and consciousness—all three paths were sealed simultaneously.

Renown: Rising Tide, upon its activation, fused the three realms into one, firmly locking its target. But was that all? Not yet!

"Wrath of the Great Red God, One-Point Extreme Sword, Sword of Desireless Recklessness..." Restricting the enemy was merely restriction. The sword itself also accumulated endless damage.

As the nine swords cleaved chaos, they proliferated into myriad forms, like omnipresent renown, ultimately converging into a single strike. Just as Hua Changdeng intended to parry, a hint of green light seeped from the sword's radiance, incredibly, cutting out from his very body, disregarding his defensive intent, and cleaving through his true self...

"Six realms merged into one?"Excluding Ghost Sword Art, Emotion Sword Art, and Concealment Sword Art, this so-called "Renown: Rising Tide" sword strike perfectly integrated over two-thirds of the second realms from the eighteen sword flows.

And this was merely the ancient sword art portion... Its true power lay in the sword strike being unleashed with the very essence of "Renown"!

When it came to renown, who was stronger, who weaker? While Hua Changdeng was indeed a Saint Emperor, few people now remembered his former title, the Ghost Sword Immortal. The newcomer had risen above; First Sword Immortal Xu Xiaoshou's momentum now rode the winds and waves, surging like a tide. Comparing the two, who was but a drop in the ocean, who knew himself.

"I..."Hua Changdeng struggled to speak. He was merely an ordinary Saint Emperor's will, nothing more.

He wanted to break free from the confinement of the three paths—body, spirit, and consciousness—but it was impossible. He had never imagined this young man would be so formidable, even surpassing Bazun An in his youth.

Upon realizing this, he tried to awaken his own Reaper power to resist, but found that under the great tide of renown, it was like a small boat engulfed by a giant wave... Move, he could not move! Resist, he could not resist!

Hua Changdeng could only watch helplessly as his own Fengdu phenomenon was forcibly cleaved out by that young devil's sword, and then...

Boom!The sword light tore apart the Bridge of Other Shore, stones flipped, and ghosts scattered.Boom!The sword light tore apart the River of Oblivion, waves broke, and water dried up.Boom!The sword light tore apart the Yellow Springs Road, gates shattered, and people were shocked.

With one "Rising Tide" strike, the sword's renown first stirred, then tore out from the Gates of Hell, shifting from Ghost Sword Art form back to its conceptual essence, and as it ripped through Hua Changdeng's cranium from below, cleaving towards the heavens and piercing the galaxy...

From beginning to end, Saint Emperor Hua Changdeng only managed a strained "I," making no other movements.

His final gaze, dazed, turned towards the young man below. The young man flipped his stone sword, tucking it behind his waist, without even raising his eyes, showing only a profile, as if he knew the outcome the moment the sword was drawn, and chuckled lightly:

"Why use an ox-cleaver to kill a chicken? I unleashed this sword for only one question.""Hua Changdeng, how does the half-year's effort in this sword strike compare to your thirty years of arduous cultivation behind screens and by candlelight?"