Chapter 960: Screaming Wildly to Break Through The Ancient Sword Cultivator

Who is this young prodigy?

The few individuals hidden within the Heavenly Dao and spatial currents, witnessing the young swordsman's hysterical outburst, found it hard to believe that this was the kind of "talent" cultivated by the Sword Mausoleum.

If his master were to see this scene, wouldn't he immediately disown him?

How long had he been suppressing himself!

"Hahahaha..."

Amidst the crazed laughter, Gu Qing'er felt an aura of looking down upon the world, for "in this world," he had "no opponents."

Riding the wind, slowly ascending into the air, Gu Qing'er reveled in his solitary euphoria. He felt as if a Sword God had possessed him at this moment; the current ambiance perfectly matched his long-cherished aspiration: "One Sword from the East, One Sword Immortal."

Suddenly, golden sword intent burst forth from Gu Qing'er.

The surrounding Heavenly Dao, as this golden sword intent spilled forth, gradually revealed its tangible form.

"This???"

The hidden individuals, witnessing this scene, were all taken aback. This was clearly a premonition of a breakthrough!

Among them, the disheveled uncle was the most astonished. He was well-traveled and knowledgeable, having witnessed too many ancient sword cultivators' arduous journeys on the path of the sword, yet he had never seen such an absurd method of breakthrough. But that unique golden sword intent unequivocally declared that the young swordsman who had erupted after suppressing himself on Lone Sound Cliff had truly touched the power beyond the threshold that restricted all sword arts — the power of a realm!

"Are you kidding me? Is this how the Sword Mausoleum cultivates talent?"

The uncle simply couldn't believe his eyes. That golden sword intent, piercing through the spatial barrier, its sharpness had already penetrated the spatial currents, shining like a blazing sun. He couldn't help but cut a small opening in the void, attempting to get a clearer look to see if this utterly preposterous "breakthrough" could truly succeed.

Gu Qing'er was immersed in his self-imagined world, completely oblivious to the seven incredulous spiritual senses reaching out from the Heavenly Dao and the two pairs of uncertain, bewildered eyes within the spatial currents.

Golden sword intent erupted, scattering in all directions. At the blazing sun's epicenter, Gu Qing'er felt as though he was on the verge of merging with the path of the sword. Countless questions about the path of the sword in his mind were answered by the Heavenly Dao, and unclear directions for his future path received guidance.

Instinctively, Gu Qing'er subtly raised his hand. The "Evil Punishing Sword Array" that was protecting him suddenly spun rapidly, merging into the "Peerless Enchantress" in his hand, transforming into nine golden swords.

Subsequently, the nine swords, undergoing transformation, began to split. From nine to eighteen, to thirty-six, to seventy-two... The speed of their splitting and transformation was incredibly fast. Within the Heavenly Dao, even various elements, major rules, every blade of grass, every tree, every flower, every stone... were drawn by the golden sword intent, rising into the air and transforming into swords.

In just an instant! Those nine physical swords transformed into a total of one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred, densely packed, completely filling the entire Lone Sound Cliff!

"What the hell..." The five Gold Rank Hunt Order assassins hidden within the Heavenly Dao felt a sharp pain in their souls. They knew this was because even the Heavenly Dao they belonged to, at this moment, showed signs of being influenced by the young swordsman's will, temporarily becoming swords in his hand.

But now, could they leave? This Lone Sound Cliff, entirely filled with gold, carrying one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred golden swords imbued with oppressive, lethal intent, made even them, the five Gold Rank Hunt Order assassins, feel a headache, found it troublesome, and entering would surely pose a life-threatening danger!

"Wait! Wait for this kid to finish his breakthrough... After all, he's not an enemy; he's an heir of the Sword Mausoleum, so we absolutely must not offend him."

"Exactly. This guy is a legitimate trialist. If we act against him, the Saint Palace envoy will act against us."

"I understand all that, but damn it... what kind of monster is this? He can break through just by screaming a few times? Is this how ancient sword cultivators train? Today, my eyes have truly been opened!"

"Everyone, fall back!" With a command from Shuang Dai, the five Gold Rank Hunt Order assassins quickly retreated, leaving the situation entirely under Gu Qing'er's control.

If they were like this, Mu Lin and Bai Lian were even more so. Gu Qing'er's breakthrough certainly exceeded everyone's expectations, but as a legitimate trialist, it was a good thing for the Saint Palace.

The only thing worth pondering was...

"Master, do you think his breakthrough will affect the inner world of the Heavenly Secret World?" Bai Lian asked gravely as he retreated.

Mu Lin fell silent for a moment. Theoretically speaking, a breakthrough by a mere Sword Dao Sovereign should absolutely not affect the Heavenly Secret World, which is as strong as the Dao Ministry.

But! Also theoretically speaking, no one should be able to just scream a few times and immediately break through, right?

"Hopefully..." Mu Lin only uttered two words softly, then said no more.

Bai Lian fell into deep thought. The "hopefully" his master said, was it hopefully it *would* affect the inner world of the Heavenly Secret World, or... hopefully it *wouldn't* affect it?

On the other side. Unlike the few hidden within the Heavenly Dao who had little understanding of ancient sword cultivators, the disheveled uncle was now petrified within the spatial currents. Those one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred golden swords shocked him beyond measure.

"Nine-Sword Art, infinite permutations? This idiot with a head full of water actually comprehended the first realm of the Nine-Sword Art? He broke through here? How old is he?!"

The uncle's face was filled with shock. Even the space above Lone Sound Cliff was assimilated by the golden swords, and the golden light completely penetrated the spatial currents, even starting to try and assimilate the spatial currents for its own use, though he was unaware of it.

Night Owl, the chief of the Dark Division, could no longer withstand the overwhelming suppressive force that assailed her. She couldn't act, because she knew that if she did, it would certainly draw an interception from the Saint Palace envoy. And since she couldn't act, nor could she affect the young swordsman's breakthrough, Night Owl's current feeling was like a subject encountering an emperor, completely unable to raise her head under that immense prestige.

"What terrifying sword intent. Ancient sword cultivators truly live up to their reputation as beings who disregard ranks..."

Night Owl did not resist and quickly retreated. In the entire area, the only one still experiencing this powerful, materialized golden sword intent was the disheveled uncle.

Staring at the familiar sword multiplication and feeling the suppressive force that did not belong to the first realm of the Nine-Sword Art, a look of astonishment suddenly appeared on the uncle's face.

"No! That's not right! This kid is already extremely familiar with the power of the Nine-Sword Art. The infinite permutations of the Nine-Sword Art's first realm, he absolutely didn't comprehend them just now. He... Is he breaking through the first realm of the Ten Thousand Sword Art?"

Realizing this, the uncle's originally dull, cloudy eyes couldn't help but drop their disguise and burst forth with dazzling brilliance.

On Lone Sound Cliff, Gu Qing'er felt like an invincible god at this moment! He too much enjoyed this feeling of having no senior brother, no master's suppression, and no junior brother chasing him from behind! And his current epiphany was nothing short of showing him the hope of surpassing his self-proclaimed three greatest rivals in life!

"Come on, come more! Right here, let me, while you all are wasting time, surpass all of you in one go!"

A surge of pent-up emotion was expelled from his chest. In the instant the golden light reached its peak, Gu Qing'er's entire being became as sharp as a fully unsheathed sword, soaring straight into the clouds.

"Clang—"

The golden sword intent instantly swept across hundreds of miles, and the sword's hum echoed for thousands of miles further. Even the trialists from distant major dragon veins instinctively looked up, then were so utterly suppressed by the overwhelming force that they were forced to prostrate themselves on the ground, unable to move.

"What's going on?" Countless people were horrified. This was like walking down the street and suddenly being stomped on by an invisible giant. While it made people feel despair, they couldn't help but feel a bit wronged — "I didn't do anything, why are you targeting me?"

Above the firmament, beside the void island rift. Teng Shanhai, leading the Thirteen Grand Void cultivators, were originally still suppressing the potential risks lurking within this void island rift. The order he had previously received from Rao Yaoyao was not to rush to Lone Sound Cliff unless there was a special situation, as full preparations had already been made there.

But now... this situation was far too special! If they didn't pay attention now, they would truly be blind!

"Situ Yongren should have just opened the inner world of the Heavenly Secret World. And now, such world-shaking sword intent has erupted on Lone Sound Cliff... Has the Eighth Sword Immortal made a move?"

Teng Shanhai's heart tightened, daring not to delay at all. He led his Thirteen Grand Void cultivators, swiftly rushing to the scene.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz!" The furious hum of swords could almost pierce through one's soul.

Upon approaching, the dozen or so people were all blinded by the golden swords completely filling Lone Sound Cliff.

"What is this?" True Man Huang Yang stared blankly at the vast expanse of golden Lone Sound Cliff... No, this was simply a golden sea. He completely failed to understand what was happening.

"Sword intent, such sword intent..." Grandma Tian Ling, the old woman in hemp clothes, had a solemn expression. She believed that even she, if she were to forcefully enter this golden sea of swords, would have to retreat with injuries.

"Too strong. Has the Eighth Sword Immortal made a move?" Dragon Subduer Hong Dang had no concept of ancient sword cultivators, but regarding such terrifying sword dao power, his intuitive feeling was that it was best not to challenge its edge at this moment.

Teng Shanhai's heart sank instantly. Reason told him that forcefully entering this golden sea of swords and pulling out the shadowy figure inside, so indistinct that one couldn't tell if it was male or female, should be enough to thwart the opponent's attempt to shatter the inner world of the Heavenly Secret World.

But his intuition also told him that this action would result in severe injuries!

"No time to delay..." Teng Shanhai had to preserve his combat strength, but he also knew that Rao Yaoyao was fighting in an unseen second world here, and external forces must not be allowed to affect their internal battle. So the best approach now...

Teng Shanhai turned his head and looked at the Thirteen Grand Void cultivators behind him.

"What do you mean?" The Thirteen Grand Void cultivators uniformly took a step back.

"All of you, go together. You don't need to attack seriously; just pull the person inside out," Teng Shanhai said calmly. Seeing the expressions of refusal written all over the faces of the thirteen people before him, he added, "Don't worry, you haven't seen ancient sword cultivators, but I have... The guy in there is strong on the outside but weak on the inside; he's not the Eighth Sword Immortal."

"But he could be another ancient sword cultivator who might reach the Sword Immortal realm..." The Thirteen Grand Void cultivators collectively wailed inwardly.

"Whoever succeeds will be credited with a great merit," Teng Shanhai made a significant wager.

As soon as these words were uttered, the Thirteen Grand Void cultivators' expressions changed. They had come for opportunities in the first place, and the great merit promised by the Chief of the Combat Division, even if it couldn't compare to the Foundation of Sainthood, accumulating it several times might genuinely allow them to exchange for something significant.

"Everyone!" True Man Huang Yang looked back at his comrades, tilted his head and said, "Let's go together!"

"This old woman will join," Grandma Tian Ling grinned. "People die for wealth, birds die for food. Spirit Refiners should not be content to stop, striving for the opportunity of Sainthood."

"Ready to go!" Dragon Subduer Hong Dang entered a combat-ready state, his expression very solemn.

"Kill!"

"Charge!"

The Grand Void cultivators also agreed, about to forcefully attack and shatter this golden sea of swords.

Suddenly, before them, an unremarkable figure appeared, yet possessing the aura of one in a high position.

"Hold on."

This figure, despite only having a Dao-Cutting cultivation, waved his hand and halted the actions of all the Grand Void cultivators.

Teng Shanhai frowned. A stowaway? Are stowaways so blatant now? But upon closer inspection, this figure seemed somewhat familiar?

"Bai... Bai Lian?" Teng Shanhai exclaimed in surprise.

The Thirteen Grand Void cultivators were about to act, but upon hearing the Chief of the Combat Division's words, they all paused simultaneously. They didn't know Bai Lian, but that didn't prevent them from recognizing the high status of the newcomer from a single word.

"Saint Palace Envoy, Bai Lian."

Bai Lian produced his Saint Palace Envoy token, not giving Teng Shanhai a chance to question him, and interjected, asking, "Is this how you enforcers treat trialists?"

"A trialist?" The Grand Void cultivators were all stunned, not understanding where a trialist was present.

Teng Shanhai seemed to realize something, looking at the indistinct figure in the center of the golden sword sea: "Him?"

"His name is Gu Qing'er, a legitimate trialist. You can verify it, as he has a trial jade pendant," Bai Lian stated calmly.

"What the hell kind of joke is this!" Teng Shanhai's first reaction was that it was impossible. How could a mere trialist manifest this golden sea of swords? But Bai Lian, as a Saint Palace Envoy, couldn't lie...

Teng Shanhai immediately used his communicator, asking Yu Zhiwen, who was in front of the spiritual mirror's main console, and received a reply from a startled Yu Zhiwen, who had re-adjusted the spiritual mirror to Lone Sound Cliff: "Yes, he is the trialist Gu Qing'er. And the Saint Palace Envoy has met with me; his identity is also perfectly fine."

Teng Shanhai stood rooted to the spot.

"A trialist..." He suddenly found a reason and declared forcefully, "Trialists are not permitted to display cultivation above the Sovereign rank; otherwise, they violate the Yunlun Mountain Range's prohibition and should be apprehended."

This was a newly introduced regulation, including ancient sword cultivators. Teng Shanhai felt he had found an opportunity and intended to act again.

Bai Lian stopped him and said calmly, "He is merely breaking through. Once the breakthrough is complete, all this commotion will disappear."

Just... breaking through...

The Thirteen Grand Void cultivators were all dumbfounded. A mere trialist; is this breakthrough's commotion not too outrageous?

The corner of Teng Shanhai's lips twitched beneath his mask. He felt the golden sea of swords' increasingly powerful might and saw that not only were the Heavenly Dao rules, under the influence of that sword intent, being assimilated into the opponent's power. Even the deeply hidden Heavenly Secret Dao principles within the Heavenly Secret World's inner world were beginning to materialize, assimilate, and then vanish...

This would inevitably affect Rao Yaoyao's battle!

Teng Shanhai's eyes hardened. He bent his knees and immediately shot past Bai Lian with a thud, streaking towards the golden sea of swords, casually tossing back an explanation: "Apologies, but recently, a Saint Servant named Xu Xiaoshou, who is extremely skilled at imitation, has appeared in the Yunlun Mountain Range. I cannot be certain if you, as a Saint Palace Envoy, are truly yourself. And that kid's 'breakthrough' has clearly affected our battle plan... I, this Lord, must intervene and stop him!"