Chapter 237: Sword Rainbow Splitting Light

Boom!

As the tenth step was taken, Chen Mobai’s spiritual sense jolted. He felt as if the Spirit-Isolation Shield of the Boundless Puppet was being assailed by a tempestuous barrage, constantly twisting and deforming, on the verge of shattering. However, sustained by an endless supply of spiritual energy from high-grade spirit stones, it ultimately held firm.

He considered pressing further, but Chen Mobai noticed a yellow warning alert from the Boundless Puppet. This indicated that the Spirit-Isolation Shield's restriction was nearing its warning threshold. Although not yet at the critical red level signifying breakage, it was approaching its breaking point. Chen Mobai waited two seconds, but the Dao Tree, still within reach, showed no reaction.

Ten steps weren't enough? Standing on the periphery, Chen Mobai looked disappointed. He decided against risking damage to the Boundless Puppet by proceeding further and began to withdraw the automaton.

However, just as he took a step back, the Dao Tree, which had been as silent as a mountain, suddenly emitted a faint azure glow. As Chen Mobai stood bewildered, an azure leaf floated down and merged with the Boundless Puppet. Chen Mobai’s spiritual sense, which was possessing the puppet, instantly connected with a vast, immense, and profound consciousness. He felt his vision blur and nearly fainted.

"Ten steps before the Dao Tree, a superior achievement, qualifies you as a True Disciple of the Longevity Sect."

"True Disciples may receive an empowerment for a higher realm of a Grand Art. Please choose the Grand Art you wish to experience and comprehend."

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai had but one thought: 'But how do I choose?'

As if sensing his thought, another piece of information appeared in his mind: "Defensive Grand Arts can be directly cast; offensive Grand Arts should be aimed at the Dao Tree's main body."

At that moment, Chen Mobai saw the Spirit-Isolation Shield's yellow alert on the Boundless Puppet's screen suddenly turn red. Knowing he could waste no more time, and with no other option for the puppet, he acted. He immediately raised his right hand, two fingers forming a sword. A crimson sword rainbow began to coalesce, a spark bloomed, then burst completely, resembling a vast, radiant arc that struck the main body of the Dao Tree before him.

It was then that Chen Mobai noticed the bark of the divine tree, so close to him, bore numerous marks from knives, swords, fists, palms, claws, and even fingers. The most recent mark was a finger-print.

With a 'hiss'! His Crimson Flame Sword Rainbow, like a shower of laser swords, left slight charred marks on the Dao Tree. It seemed somewhat weak. But there was nothing he could do; this was the strongest attack Chen Mobai could unleash. If his true body had been there, the attack would have been even weaker than that of the Boundless Puppet.

As soon as Chen Mobai struck with his sword, he felt the Spirit-Isolation Shield shatter. Just as he prepared to retreat, the Dao Tree responded: "Among the twenty-four Grand Arts of the Longevity Sect, this sword energy is not found."

What did that mean? Had his ten steps been for nothing?

Just as Chen Mobai felt a pang of frustration and the Boundless Puppet was about to withdraw, the Dao Tree finally sent another message: "You are granted the realm of 'Sword Rainbow Splitting Light'!"

Immediately after, the azure leaf, which had merged with Chen Mobai's spiritual sense within the puppet, suddenly erupted with boundless light. In an instant, it ignited, transforming into a purple fire sword talisman that integrated into his spiritual sense.

Their spiritual senses connected, Chen Mobai's true body, seated on the periphery observing, simultaneously let out a pained cry. He felt as though the spiritual manifestation of his mind, the Azure Jade Parasol Tree, was being seared by flames. Chen Mobai, who was already not very tolerant of pain and had to be cautious even when splitting his thoughts, was instantly knocked unconscious by the intense burning agony.

"The Longevity Dao Inquiry Trial has concluded. Disciple, return."

Before losing consciousness, Chen Mobai heard the final message from the Dao Tree. Then, silver-white light began to flicker around his body, and spatial energy fluctuated, preparing to teleport him back to Giantwood Ridge.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

At that moment, Turtle Treasure, which had been silent since its integration with his phone, suddenly started displaying pop-ups. Its piercing sound was audible even to the unconscious Chen Mobai. In his dazed state, Chen Mobai only wanted to silence the annoying phone alerts.

"Detecting host passing through the Heaven and Earth Placenta, departing this realm. Do you wish to anchor this new world for future teleportation?"

Turtle Treasure's words instantly jolted the unconscious Chen Mobai awake. He barely managed to muster a sliver of mental energy. Amidst the searing pain of the flames, he forcibly invigorated his spiritual sense and issued the command: "Yes." After that, he could no longer hold on and completely lost consciousness.

When Chen Mobai finally awoke, ten days had passed. He was lying in a room in the Divine Wood Hall.

"Senior Brother is awake! Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?" It was Yan Jinye speaking. As a True Disciple of the Alchemy Department, she was skilled in medicine. After Master Zeng confirmed Chen Mobai was out of danger, she, as his disciple, was left to care for Chen Mobai.

"Thank you for your trouble, Junior Sister. My mind is a bit foggy, but overall, I'm fine." Chen Mobai, having just woken up and not entirely clear on the situation, replied cautiously.

"That's good. I'll go inform the sect master." Yan Jinye breathed a sigh of relief, then turned and left.

Soon after, Meng Hong entered, accompanied by a tall, thin middle-aged man with a refined face and a goatee.

"Hmm, robust vitality and stable spiritual energy. According to the pulse, he has fully recovered." The middle-aged man was indeed Master Zeng of the Alchemy Department, who had refined Chen Mobai's Foundation Establishment Pill from the demonic beast. He was also Yan Jinye's master.

"You, young man, must have gained something before the Dao Tree. Those three fellows only fainted for a day before waking up and reporting here at Divine Wood Hall. But you, you were unconscious for a full ten days, almost as long as Hong He." Meng Hong gestured towards Yan Jinye, who lowered her head in embarrassment.

"Indeed, I gained something." Chen Mobai hesitated, deciding it was best to reinforce his genius persona. After all, he was currently known as one of the Divine Wood Sect's "Twin Peaks of Excellence," alongside Hong He. Hong He might have also taken ten steps, and that finger mark was probably his. Since they were equally renowned, Chen Mobai naturally couldn't hide his abilities.

"How many steps did you take?" Upon hearing this, Meng Hong's composed expression flickered with excitement. He couldn't help but rush to Chen Mobai's bedside and pressed for an answer, much to Chen Mobai's surprise. Had he perhaps over-consolidated his image?

"Only ten steps, unfortunately, I couldn't touch the Dao Tree." But there was no turning back; the words were already out. He could only continue to reinforce the illusion.

Inside the room, everyone gasped. Even Master Zeng, who had maintained a stern expression since entering, looked visibly shocked upon hearing that Chen Mobai had taken ten steps before the Dao Tree. When the Five Elements Sect was still united, he had also entered the Divine Tree Secret Realm, but he had only managed to take six steps before the Dao Tree. Having experienced it himself, he understood how incredibly difficult it was to take ten steps. It wasn't a simple additive difference, but a colossal gap, several times, or even more than ten times greater.

This person truly was an unparalleled sword cultivation genius! Only someone with such an iron-like sword heart could withstand such a tumultuous spiritual sense attack. This young man's talent might be even more terrifying than Hong He's.

Chen Mobai looked at the shocked expressions of Meng Hong and Master Zeng, feeling that he might have over-reinforced his image. But at this point, he could only grit his teeth and continue the charade.

"Senior Brother Chen, you're amazing!" Yan Jinye looked at the pale-faced, delicate young man lying on the sickbed with an expression of adoration. She felt that even if this person were gravely wounded and could only lift a single finger, he could easily obliterate a mediocrity like her. She had just undergone the Dao Tree's assessment herself, and the terrifying, omnipresent, inescapable pressure, like dark clouds looming overhead, was still vivid in her memory. Compared to Meng Hong and Zeng Woyou, who could only recall it, she now had a clearer understanding of that hardship and pain.

"You are the first True Disciple of our sect to take ten steps towards the Dao Tree since our split from the Five Elements Sect. Could you please tell us the specific details?" Meng Hong asked Chen Mobai with a solemn expression.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mobai felt a sudden dizziness. How was he the first? Was Hong He really that useless? He had heard figures like E Yun, Zhou Wang, and Shen speak of Hong He with profound reverence, and Meng Hong had mentioned that their periods of unconsciousness were similar. He had assumed Hong He had also taken ten steps, thinking, 'As expected of one of the Divine Wood Sect's Twin Peaks of Excellence, sharing my fame as a sword cultivation genius.' Little did he know, he had been tricked. If he hadn't received that final gain before the Dao Tree, his persona might have completely crumbled today.

"This was supposed to be my heaven-defying fortune. Even within the sect, I didn't want to leave any trace of it." By the time Chen Mobai finished speaking, Meng Hong understood his intention.

"Rest assured, your gains before the Dao Tree will only be passed down orally within the Transmission Hall, never transcribed into texts for the Library Pavilion," Meng Hong promised. "Furthermore, regardless of whether this fortuitous encounter proves beneficial to our Divine Wood Sect, I, as the sect master, will privately compensate you with a Tier 2 magic artifact. Junior Brother Zeng is a direct disciple of Old Ancestor Zhou. This matter will also be reported to him once he emerges from seclusion."

After these three sentences, Chen Mobai knew that even if he decided not to disclose his gains before the Dao Tree, it likely wouldn't be acceptable. Even Old Ancestor Zhou had been invoked.

Since that was the case, Chen Mobai began to draw upon his imagination, combining elements from his favorite TV show characters, and immediately fabricated a story that was half-truth, half-fiction, yet left Meng Hong and the other two utterly stunned.

"I took the tenth step, yet I knew that even with my talent, I could only go this far; I dared not overstep," Chen Mobai began. "However, we sword cultivators prefer to break rather than bend. Even knowing that taking an eleventh step might lead to my death, I remained fearless. As I took that next step, I unleashed my most profound and brilliant sword strike, the most dazzling of my life, towards the Dao Tree."

"As that sword strike landed, I felt as though I was shattering, falling into a long slumber. After an unknown period, I awoke in profound darkness and saw an immensely magnificent figure from behind. This person had their back to all living beings, with hair as black as ink, holding a rotten wooden sword in their right hand. He spoke a single phrase and then struck with a single sword. With that single strike, the void shattered, and even the Great Dao was severed. Yet, ultimately, a new world was born—I suspect it was the origin of the Divine Tree Secret Realm. After splitting heaven and earth with one sword, he asked if I had seen it clearly. I shook my head. He sighed, then slowly vanished. After that, I woke up and opened my eyes to see Junior Sister Yan."

When Chen Mobai finished speaking, Meng Hong and the other two stared with wide eyes. Indeed, with their limited perspective and knowledge, they simply couldn't fathom such a magnificent being as Chen Mobai described. This entirely surpassed the highest realms depicted in any texts, or even in immortal and mythical novels they had ever read. It was important to note that even a True Monarch who ascended to become an immortal, like Yuanzhen Monarch, had a maximum achievement of merely shattering the Yunmeng Grand River, transforming it into a vast lake spanning thousands of miles. Yet, such power, capable of devastating an entire region, was already considered the supreme realm in the eyes of Meng Hong and the other two. The supreme being Chen Mobai described, who could create a world with a single sword stroke, could perhaps only be rivaled by the existence that founded the Heavenly River Realm, the Water Mother.

"Did this venerable being leave a Daoist title?" Meng Hong asked very cautiously.

"Naturally. Before that being unleashed that sword strike, they said: 'I am the Azure Emperor. Here, I strike the Longevity Sword. Anyone who comprehends this sword may be considered my disciple.'" Hearing this, Meng Hong and Zeng Woyou exchanged glances, their expressions becoming even more solemn.

The Divine Tree Secret Realm was a legacy of the ancient Longevity Sect. Legend had it that the Longevity Sect's heritage was ancient, tracing back even to the time when the Water Mother created the Five Continents and Four Seas. Now, it seemed, this was indeed the lineage of the Azure Emperor.

"Is there anything else?" Seeing the hopeful gazes of Meng Hong and the two others, Chen Mobai could only shake his head. He had already fabricated a story of world creation. To continue would mean entering the primordial chaos and reforging earth, wind, water, and fire.

"It's a pity you didn't comprehend that Longevity Sword. Otherwise, you would likely have received the true recognition of the Divine Tree Secret Realm, allowing you free entry and exit, and mastery over all its resources." Meng Hong sighed. Hearing this, Chen Mobai's heart stirred. He recalled Turtle Treasure's pop-up window before he lost consciousness, wondering if the anchoring had been successful.

"The spiritual energy in the Divine Tree Secret Realm is rather ordinary, with only a few spirit trees. At most, the Dao Tree, Magic Treasure Tree, and Talent Tree are useful for newly established Foundation cultivators. Its resources are probably inferior to those of Giantwood Ridge," Chen Mobai probed, testing the waters.

"Only the environment of the Divine Tree Secret Realm can cultivate Longevity Wood," Meng Hong merely said this, then his keen gaze returned to Chen Mobai. "Hong He took nine steps and became a True Disciple of the Longevity Sect, gaining some benefits. Besides witnessing the Azure Emperor's Longevity Sword, did you gain nothing else?"

Here it comes! Chen Mobai knew that an old hand like Meng Hong would never believe him unconditionally without seeing something substantial. But it was good that they were doubtful; otherwise, how could he formally reveal the sword cultivation realm he had just attained?

"Although I didn't comprehend the Azure Emperor's Longevity Sword, I do have some 'minor' achievements in the Way of the Sword. By drawing inferences from other cases, my sword cultivation realm advanced a step further. You could say it was a blessing in disguise." As he spoke, Chen Mobai gently extended his right index finger. Immediately, a wisp of purple luminous flame ignited at his fingertip. In an instant, all the free-floating spiritual energy within the entire room was drawn into his fingertip. The refined spiritual energy, once condensed, resembled a rain of rainbow swords, containing immense, boundless power. It should have spread overwhelmingly, but it was firmly contained at Chen Mobai's fingertip, transforming into a section of crystalline, translucent purple jade sword light, resembling flowing magma.

Meng Hong watched this scene with a solemn expression. He took out a Tier 2 Spirit Leaf Talisman. However, this defensive talisman, which could easily withstand sword energy like a rainbow, could not even last a single breath before the purple jade sword light. It was cleaved into two, burned to ashes, and scattered on the ground.

"Sword Rainbow Splitting Light!" Witnessing this, Meng Hong and the other two again gasped sharply.