Chapter 337: Sword Light Takes Shape

The Holy Son may choose from the following three benefits:

One: Empowerment to a higher realm in two great techniques.Two: Body purification with divine liquid.Three: Spiritual comprehension of the Dao.

Before Chen Mobai could fully react, these three options had already materialized in his mind.

The latter two options seemed to be related to the body and spiritual consciousness, and relatively speaking, they were the most suitable for Chen Mobai at that moment. This was because, compared to his perfected Foundation Establishment Everlasting Spiritual Energy, these aspects were his weaknesses.

However, Chen Mobai was a cautious person. The Everlasting Sect was a feudal power from tens of thousands of years ago, and he wondered if the restrictions might malfunction during the "Body purification with divine liquid" or "Spiritual comprehension of the Dao." With his mere perfected Foundation Establishment cultivation, he would certainly be unable to resist any methods left by the Everlasting Sect. What if an accident left him paralyzed or in a vegetative state?

He decided to choose the first option. He had at least experienced empowerment before and knew that this benefit operated without issues.

So, the question was: How to choose?

Empowerment to a great technique meant stepping back, body purification with divine liquid meant stepping left, and spiritual comprehension of the Dao meant stepping right. Just like last time, the Grand Dao Tree perceived his thoughts and quickly provided the answer. Chen Mobai nodded slightly. As he was already feeling somewhat depleted, he immediately took a step back.

The subsequent steps were identical to when he had first obtained the Sword Rainbow Splitting Light. Since he could choose two great techniques, Chen Mobai hesitated slightly. One of them, naturally, was his most powerful current method: the Azure Flame Sword Fiend.

But what about the second one? Should he choose a defensive spell? The thought briefly crossed the mind of Chen Mobai, who was somewhat conservative by nature, but he immediately shook his head. For him, at this moment, it was most important to excel in one specific area. He could consider becoming an all-rounder cultivator later, once his cultivation level was higher.

With this thought, he had a good idea. He first brought forth a sword pellet from his Dantian Qi Sea. A faint bluish-green light rippled gently from it, like a precious pearl emitting a brilliant glow. Since mastering the Azure Flame Sword Fiend, he had never tested its full power. Now was the perfect opportunity.

Chen Mobai's eyes lit up. He began injecting drop after drop of Everlasting Spiritual Energy into the sword pellet before him. After the fire-attributed sword fiend was infused with pure and abundant wood spiritual energy, it instantly erupted with a dazzling, brilliant glow. It then rapidly expanded like a laser beam, carrying terrifyingly high temperatures that incinerated life, and plunged into the Grand Dao Tree's surface brown bark. Compared to the Purple Fire Sword Light, the Azure Flame Sword Fiend also possessed three additional powers: scorching, armor-piercing, and blood-burning. Only Tier 3 and above magical artifacts and great defensive techniques could withstand it.

It seemed the Grand Dao Tree's bark defense wasn't yet Tier 3. Compared to the other marks of hacking and slashing, Chen Mobai's Azure Flame Sword Fiend had clearly pierced the Grand Dao Tree's bark. This sword strike seemed to trigger an instinctive tremor from the Grand Dao Tree; the nearby ground subtly trembled.

The information that followed was also very familiar to Chen Mobai.

"Among the Everlasting Sect's Twenty-Four Great Techniques, there is no such sword art."

As he waited with anticipation, the Grand Dao Tree seemed to stall, and no further information followed. Just as Chen Mobai began to suspect his sword strike might have damaged the Grand Dao Tree's operational mechanism, he finally received the sentence he had yearned for.

"Granted to you: the 'Sword Light Manifestation' realm."

"It truly is a higher realm of sword dao... Huh? What is 'Sword Light Manifestation'? Shouldn't it be 'Sword Fiend Thunder Sound' after 'Sword Fiend'?"

Chen Mobai's original plan was to obtain the "Sword Fiend Thunder Sound" realm through the Grand Dao Tree, then use that realm to attack the tree again, thereby gaining the "Condensing Sword into Silk" realm. But this perfect plan went awry from the very beginning.

Just as Chen Mobai stood there confused, the green leaf symbol on his forehead lit up. Immediately after, an invisible sword light erupted from the wound his sword fiend had pierced in the Grand Dao Tree, heading straight into his forehead. A page of vast, immaterial sword dao knowledge began to unfold before him. He instinctively sat upright before the Grand Dao Tree, focusing all his attention on comprehending the knowledge. Unfortunately, his essence, qi, and spirit had been too depleted by the Everlasting Dao Inquiry Trial. After comprehending only a small amount, he felt as if he might pass out.

To avoid wasting the opportunity for his second great technique empowerment, he resorted to his backup "Lantern Lighting Art." However, it was clear that no matter how he employed the Lantern Lighting Art, the Grand Dao Tree showed no reaction. It seemed that the spells from the Pure Yang Scroll surpassed the Everlasting Sect's heritage and could not be used for empowerment.

After a brief test, Chen Mobai could only switch back to the spells from the Everlasting Immortality Scripture. These spells had evolved from the Everlasting Sect's great methods, so there would certainly be no issues.

Chen Mobai hesitated for a moment when choosing between the Yi Wood Divine Thunder and the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light. The Yi Wood Divine Thunder could reach Tier 3 at most. After his Foundation Establishment was perfected, he had invested considerable effort into this spell, making it one of his trump cards, second only to the Azure Flame Sword Fiend. However, the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light held greater potential; if further cultivated into the Heavenly Wood Divine Light, it would also be Tier 3 in power, with the possibility of upgrading to Tier 4. Ultimately, he decided to stick to his initial instinct: to make the strong even stronger. After all, the Everlasting Immortality Scripture would eventually be assimilated by the Pure Yang Scroll. While the Heavenly Wood Spiritual Light might be powerful in later stages, Chen Mobai had no inclination to cultivate or enhance it.

After launching the Yi Wood Divine Thunder at the Grand Dao Tree, Chen Mobai waited for a wisp of azure electric light to enter his Sea of Consciousness. In that instant, he felt as if his forehead had been struck by lightning. He could no longer endure it and passed out. However, just before losing consciousness, he took out his phone and clicked the "return to city" function.

With a flash of silver light, he found himself back on the bed in the small wooden hut on Mount Chicheng. Upon returning to the Immortal Sect, a spontaneous sense of security washed over him, allowing Chen Mobai to fall into a relaxed sleep.

He felt a wisp of his soul fragment transform into lightning, carried into a vast expanse. After enduring wind, frost, rain, and snow, at a wondrous moment, the essence of thunder converged atop a large tree, colliding with wood spiritual energy and producing a spark of electricity. Then, like a chain reaction, the spark transformed into thunder light, resembling azure snakes dancing wildly. It swept through the void, recklessly emitting wild and frenzied power that illuminated the forest. The thunder light intensified, gradually transforming into a dazzling spectacle resembling trees adorned with silver fireworks, reaching its zenith before blossoming. Yet after this, as the thunder light absorbed more wood spiritual energy, it gradually began to soften, transforming into clear and bright water. Subsequently, the wood spiritual energy fully took control of the thunder essence, and the thunder-water turned into mist. The Yi Wood Divine Thunder resembled continuous gloomy rain, permeating the large tree that had nurtured its birth. Layer after layer of bark began to shed. Accompanied by the continuous circulation of life and death qi, the great tree transcended the mundane and began to develop sentience. The power of thunder was both destruction and life. He hadn't expected that after cultivating the Yi Wood Divine Thunder to grand accomplishment, it would no longer represent destruction, but rather new life.

At that very instant, Chen Mobai awoke. He stood up from the wooden bed and slowly raised his right hand. Five azure electric lights burst from his fingertips, merging in his palm. Then, under the control of his spiritual consciousness, they transformed into a pool of clear thunder-water, bright as a mirror. He walked out and sprinkled the thunder-water from his palm onto a small patch of grass by the door. Unfortunately, the grass instantly turned to charcoal.

Although he had grasped the profound mysteries of destruction and rebirth within the Yi Wood Divine Thunder, if Chen Mobai wished to utilize it for cultivating spirit herbs and plants, he would need extensive experimentation. At a minimum, he would need to determine the precise amount of thunder-water each spirit plant could withstand. This was extremely useful for Chen Mobai. He could use the Yi Wood Thunder-water to stimulate the growth of Jade Bamboo Spirit Rice, shortening its original ten-year maturation period, and also apply it to various other hybrid spirit rice varieties.

Standing before the Grand Dao Tree, Chen Mobai felt that this single gain alone made all the suffering he endured worthwhile. Moreover, in addition to the Yi Wood Divine Thunder, he had also obtained the "Sword Light Manifestation" realm.

He immediately returned to his room, took out his phone, and began searching online, only to find very little information on the subject. He found the term mentioned only once, in an anonymous post on a cultivation assistance forum, used as an example to refute another user. Chen Mobai didn't waste much time. After applying two drops of Clear-Eyed Bamboo Spirit Dew and feeling his spiritual consciousness recover slightly, he entered meditation again, beginning to perceive the meaning of "Sword Light Manifestation."

This appeared to be the Everlasting Sect's unique sword cultivation path. Unlike the mainstream progression of "Sword Light Condensing Fiend" after "Sword into Aura," "Aura into Qi," "Qi like Rainbow," and "Rainbow Splitting Light," it instead transitioned into "Sword Light Manifestation." This realm required one's mind to merge with the cultivated sword light. After achieving the unity of human and sword, one would then achieve the unity of heaven, human, and sword, ultimately having all things and phenomena exist within the sword, where one sword gives birth to myriad laws.

One sword gives birth to myriad laws!

Seeing this name, Chen Mobai began to understand. Since ancient times, sword cultivators have followed two main factions: "One Sword Breaks Myriad Laws" and "One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws." However, compared to the "One Sword Breaks Myriad Laws" path, which merely required purity and unwavering dedication, the "One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws" was exceptionally difficult. Its demands on innate talent, comprehension, and even fortuitous encounters were no less stringent than those of the Immortal Sect's few Soul Transformation Great Methods. Over time, this path of "One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws" was largely abandoned by sword cultivators. At least within the Immortal Sect, ninety-nine percent of sword cultivators followed the "One Sword Breaks Myriad Laws" path. According to Chen Mobai's understanding, the Heavenly River Realm was no different.

The "Sword Light Manifestation" that Chen Mobai had obtained from the Everlasting Sect was a crucial step on the "One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws" path. Only sword cultivators who took this step could then cultivate the subsequent stages of "Sword Transforms Myriad Forms" and "Unity of Heaven, Human, and Sword." Most sword cultivators who attempted the "One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws" path became stuck at this stage, ultimately having to condense sword fiends and revert to "One Sword Breaks Myriad Laws."

However, Chen Mobai felt that obtaining this through his great technique empowerment opportunity was a tremendous waste. "One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws" was clearly not suitable for an ordinary person like him. How could he possibly have such comprehension! He simply wanted to cultivate Sword Fiend Thunder Sound, then Condensing Sword into Silk, and finally achieve "One Sword Breaks Myriad Laws." Simpler was better; he truly lacked the confidence to pursue anything too difficult.

However, since he had already obtained the "Sword Light Manifestation" realm, Chen Mobai felt it would be a great waste to discard it, especially as he had acquired it from the Grand Dao Tree after enduring immense suffering. Perhaps he should try to understand it first. With this thought, Chen Mobai pulled out his phone and messaged his teacher, Che Yucheng.

"Why are you asking me about this? Go ask Zuo Gong!" After listening, Che Yucheng grumbled and hung up the phone. It was then that Chen Mobai remembered that as Che Yucheng's disciple, he hadn't been nearly as diligent in the path of puppetry, which made him feel a little ashamed.

After a moment of shame, he immediately sent a message to Director Zuo Gong Zhenren of the Sword Control Department, whom he hadn't contacted in a long time. To his surprise, a reply came almost instantly.

"I'm at the training grounds."

Chen Mobai immediately tidied his appearance and changed his clothes. Naturally, he also remembered to conceal his perfected Foundation Establishment cultivation using the Reverting Origin Secret Art. After confirming there were no flaws, he activated a Minor Teleportation Talisman and teleported to the Myriad Treasures Cave. Then, before Hua Zijing and Zhuang Jialan could react, he slipped out of the student council office and hurried to the Sword Control Department's training grounds.

To his surprise, besides Zuo Gong Zhenren, there was another familiar face. It was Zhai Jianbai, from his own cohort. A class was currently in session. Zhai Jianbai appeared to be teaching a Sword Control Department course to the Dao Academy's junior students. The somewhat short Zuo Gong Zhenren sat on the training grounds steps, seemingly observing the new Sword Control Department recruits for any promising talents.

Upon arriving, Chen Mobai avoided disturbing Zhai Jianbai's class. After the two exchanged a glance, he immediately went to Zuo Gong's side to offer his greetings.

"Teacher Zuo, long time no see."

"Hmm, what brings you to me today, young man?"

Zuo Gong patted the steps beside him, and Chen Mobai immediately took a seat, then explained what he wanted to understand. "Teacher Zuo, it's like this: I've heard that sword cultivators have two distinct paths, 'One Sword Breaks Myriad Laws' and 'One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws.' Recently, after a breakthrough in my sword dao, I've felt a bit lost regarding my next path, so I was hoping you could offer some guidance."

Upon hearing Chen Mobai's question, Zuo Gong, who had been somewhat nonchalant, instantly became alert. He turned his head to glance at Chen Mobai, then let out a snort, his expression indicating he had seen through Chen Mobai's true intentions.

"It seems you're an ambitious young man, knowing that the Immortal Sect's sword art I possess follows the 'One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws' path. Che Yucheng told you, didn't he? Heh heh, let me tell you honestly, unless you master 'Sword Light Manifestation,' even if you achieve 'Condensing Sword into Silk,' don't even dream of me letting you glimpse this treasure of the Sword Control Department."

"Teacher Zuo, I'm truly not that kind of person. I'm just genuinely curious about the 'One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws' path, but there's no cultivation content for it online. Considering that your sword dao realm is the highest in the Dao Academy, I naturally came to seek your guidance."

Chen Mobai suppressed the urge to reveal his Sword Light Manifestation realm and instead flattered Zuo Gong.

"This 'One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws' is the path most suitable for a Spirit Soul residing within a sword. Old Ancestor Baiguang of our Dancing Weapons Dao Academy used this very path to break through to the Soul Transformation stage. However, because of its exceedingly high demands on innate talent, comprehension, and even the sword artifact itself, the Immortal Sect does not advocate for cultivators below the Core Formation stage to pursue 'One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws.'"

At this moment, Zuo Gong revealed another piece of information Chen Mobai hadn't known. Old Ancestor Baiguang, one of the Immortal Sect's Dual Sages, surprisingly followed the "One Sword Gives Birth to Myriad Laws" path.