Chapter 897: Treasure Sword Drawn from Ancient Sheath, Wind and Rain Wash Lead Dust

Yaner and Dragon Qilin were both startled. Yaner, thinking Qin Mu was about to commit suicide, was about to intervene when Dragon Qilin quickly stopped her, saying, "The Cult Master just found a way out. Why would he commit suicide? Don't be foolish!"

Yaner, chastened by his words, meekly obeyed and dared not retort.

With a single sword stroke, Qin Mu faced the tribulation. He sliced into his own Celestial Palace, destroying the Hall of Sky, sweeping through the Jade Capital, leveling the Heavenly Gate, demolishing the Jade Terrace, flattening the Jade Sea, and crushing the South Heavenly Gate.

Within the collapsing and decaying Celestial Palace, all the sword light converged into a single stream. It was a torrent of sword light, descending from the shattered South Heavenly Gate, following the Heavenly River, shredding the Heavenly River along the way and surging towards the World Tree!

The sword light pulverized the World Tree. The Heavenly River, which had been swirling down around the World Tree, also fragmented, turning into pure Heavenly River energy, unable to take shape.

Above the fragmented Heavenly River energy, the pure energy resulting from the annihilation of the Celestial Palace resembled a vast ocean, crushing the starry sky, devouring the sun and moon, and bearing down upon the continent!

Qin Mu's spirit embryo suddenly clutched the sword light. Before the overwhelming destructive energy could arrive, the sword light pierced into Youdu, breaking through the Five Elements, Seven Stars, Celestial, and Xuandu demonic paths, ultimately piercing through the Heavenly River Divine Treasure!

Outside, Yaner and Dragon Qilin could only watch as Qin Mu's cultivation realm plummeted wildly. Just moments before, he was at the Life and Death realm; in the next instant, he was at the Celestial Human realm!

They blinked, and Qin Mu had already plummeted through the Seven Stars realm, then the Five Elements realm!

Their hearts pounded in shock. Finally, Qin Mu's realm hit rock bottom, reducing him to a mere martial artist at the Spirit Embryo realm!

At the Spirit Embryo realm, one is not considered a divine arts practitioner at all. One can only perform combat techniques and moves, but not divine arts.

Qin Mu had actually plummeted directly to the Spirit Embryo realm, his cultivation almost completely abolished!

Yaner asked, her voice trembling, "Fatty Dragon, what is Young Master doing?"

Dragon Qilin was utterly bewildered, unsure how to answer.

Suddenly, an immense amount of vital qi erupted like steam from Qin Mu's eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Only his Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure remained within his physical body; all other divine treasures had been completely shattered. The Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure simply could not contain such a massive influx of vital qi.

Unable to withstand the pressure, his physical body could only expel it.

If it could be expelled, that would be fortunate. The greatest fear was that if it couldn't be expelled in time, Qin Mu would be directly burst apart!

They watched as Qin Mu's body suddenly began to swell. Like an inflatable balloon, his body rapidly grew in size, and soon became fatter and rounder than Yaner.

Not only that, the pores of Qin Mu's entire body were stretched open, and countless pores spewed out dense vital qi with hissing sounds.

However, Qin Mu swiftly activated the Celestial Devil Creation Technique, attempting to seal all his pores, and his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth, to lock his vital qi and essence qi within, preventing the internal energy from leaking.

He continued to swell, growing larger and fatter, transforming into a colossal, mountain-like figure before Dragon Qilin and Yaner.

"Fatty Dragon, what is Young Master doing?" Yaner's voice trembled.

The green sparrow pecked at Dragon Qilin's forehead like a woodpecker. Her beak tapped Dragon Qilin's head with a "thump-thump" sound, and soon his dragon scales were pierced, leaving his head bleeding.

Dragon Qilin, completely oblivious to the pain, stood with his mouth agape, staring blankly at Qin Mu, who was still expanding, growing taller and fatter.

Qin Mu's current size had already surpassed Dragon Qilin's full form. Even if Qin Mu was the foremost master of creation arts in the world, his physical body absolutely could not withstand being stretched like this!

"Stop pecking!"

Dragon Qilin suddenly felt the pain and quickly said, "Sister Yaner, you've pecked my skull!"

Yaner, terrified, watched Qin Mu continue to grow larger and fatter. She raised a wing and stuffed it into her beak. After all, she was a Dragon Sparrow, and her beak was filled with sharp little dragon teeth.

Yaner's teeth clashed together, making a chattering sound, and soon, she neatly snipped off the feathers from the edge of her wing.

Yaner raised her other wing, and again, there was a chattering sound, and this wing also lost a ring of feathers.

Yaner then wrapped both wings around Dragon Qilin's ears. Dragon Qilin was terrified and quickly pressed his large ears tightly against his body. However, Yaner's strength was immense, and she forcibly lifted his ears towards her mouth.

Dragon Qilin endured the pain without crying out.

Inside Qin Mu's body, within the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure.

At this moment, all the pure energy, both divine and demonic, contained within the annihilated Celestial Palace and all the destroyed divine treasures, was squeezed into the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure. It transformed into a surging torrent, like a massive vortex, engulfing his spirit embryo.

Although his original cultivation realm was only the Heavenly River realm, which corresponded to a grand divine arts practitioner at the Divine Bridge realm, his vital qi cultivation could rival that of a Honored God, even approaching that of a True God.

Even though in recent days, Qin Mu's cultivation had continuously leaked and his realm had dropped due to the absence of his soul and primordial spirit, it was still extraordinary.

With the divine treasures and Celestial Palace annihilated, this immense energy was entirely pressed into the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure. The Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure was stretched, constantly expanding outwards. Its walls burst open repeatedly, forming new walls only to be burst again.

His spirit embryo's surface also continuously disintegrated under the bombardment of the rampant energy, yet it constantly recovered, sustained by the persistence of the indestructible divine consciousness of his three primordial spirits.

The sword light remained in the spirit embryo's hand. The sword light remained unextinguished, helping him resist the impact of the out-of-control vital qi.

If it were anyone else, their spirit embryo would have shattered and been annihilated long ago. Only he could endure such a terrifying impact. Even so, he couldn't last much longer.

The old Yin Master had said that he couldn't use vital qi, otherwise it would damage his consciousness. But now, he was doing more than just mobilizing vital qi;

it was clearly vital qi running rampant!

Under these circumstances, even his indestructible divine consciousness began to crumble and disintegrate!

Qin Mu's spirit embryo held the sword. The sword light grew increasingly bright, standing within the destructive torrent of vital qi, shining even more dazzlingly. It was like a pillar reaching the heavens within a great vortex that swept through the universe of his Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure!

"The singular spirit embryo is unwavering!"

Using the last remnants of vital qi in his divine treasure, Qin Mu's spirit embryo activated his cultivation art. The sword light flared up, sweeping across the universe!

"Two divisions of Yin and Yang, heaven unfolds!"

The sword was the Calamity Response Sword; the cultivation art was the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Technique.

Using the Boundless Tribulation Scripture, he entered the Dao in his dreams. He transformed into countless versions of himself, simulating countless possibilities, and from countless deathly tribulations, he sought a glimmer of life, which he finally found.

This path was the method he had comprehended from Exalted Heaven Sovereign Ling's 'Unchanging' divine art, integrating the concept of Exalted Heaven Sovereign Ling's 'Unchanging' divine art into the Overlord Body Three Elixirs Technique, thereby ensuring his spirit embryo remained indestructible.

At this moment, his spirit embryo was in a wondrous state. It was destroyed by the out-of-control vital qi torrent, yet in the very next moment, it recovered again.

And the sword art was his swordsmanship, the third chapter of the Calamity Sword, the Calamity Response Chapter.

The 'Calamity Response' was a swordsmanship he created, inspired by the great tribulation the Primordial World was currently undergoing and the dramatic changes Yan Kang had experienced, and based on the spirit of all beings who faced this tribulation head-on.

In the dream world, he re-enacted the great tribulation. It was through countless battles that he refined the single sword strike capable of breaking through the tribulation within the dream world!

The Calamity Response Chapter of the Calamity Sword was about actively embracing tribulation, facing the cosmic tribulation head-on, facing the misery of all beings, the impermanence of the world, facing the strongest enemies, facing the divine heart, the devil heart, and the human heart!

In the Calamity Response Chapter, the first to face the tribulation was the wielder of the sword.

Qin Mu faced the tribulation, sweeping away his own Celestial Palace, leveling his major divine treasures, leaving only his spirit embryo, cutting off all his escape routes, burning his bridges.

Only when there is no retreat can one advance without faltering!

This was the desperate situation he faced, and also the desperate situation Yan Kang faced. With no retreat, there was only forward, forward, forward, fighting to forge a path, hacking a way out!

This path, no matter what, had to be forged!

His spirit embryo was crushed, yet in the next moment, the spirit embryo reappeared, still wielding the sword and performing Calamity Response. This time, the power he wielded was stronger.

His spirit embryo was crushed again, then recovered again, annihilated repeatedly, and restored repeatedly. Each time he faced the tribulation, he emerged stronger than before.

After Exalted Heaven Sovereign Yu opened the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure, the next divine treasure was the Star River Divine Treasure. He sought power externally, comprehending the star rivers between heaven and earth.

But this time, Qin Mu did not follow Exalted Heaven Sovereign Yu's path.

He was seeking power from within himself. While seeking power from heaven and earth externally was powerful and convenient, when Exalted Heaven Sovereign Yu first opened the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure, he did not borrow the power of heaven and earth, but rather developed his own.

Therefore, Qin Mu not only abandoned the divine treasure cultivation system and the Celestial Palace cultivation system, which were built upon the ancient gods' power system, but also discarded the Heaven and Earth Great Dao cultivation system that Exalted Heaven Sovereign Yu had opened when establishing the Star River Divine Treasure.

This time, he intended to follow the cultivation system of self-development that Exalted Heaven Sovereign Yu used when he first opened the Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure. It was the most primitive cultivation method, focusing solely on cultivating oneself, without relying on external objects!

He no longer borrowed power from gods and devils, nor from heaven and earth.

The great tribulation of the Primordial World this time, where his cries to heaven went unanswered and to earth unheeded, the inaction of Emperor Kai's remnants, the cowardice of Heavenly Duke, the silence of Earth Count, and the treachery of Heavenly Emperor, made him feel profoundly powerless and realize that borrowed strength was ultimately unreliable.

The only reliable thing was himself!

If he had no soul, then he would open up heaven and earth to create a new one!

If he had no vital qi cultivation, then he would face the tribulation to subdue vital qi and elevate his cultivation!

There was no turning back on this path; he could only walk it to the very end, into the darkest abyss!

His spirit embryo was destroyed again and again, yet it recovered repeatedly. Finally, Qin Mu felt his power reach its limit.

The Calamity Response Chapter of the Calamity Sword transformed into a sharp edge of creation in his hand. With a single sword stroke, it divided yin and yang, separated dusk from dawn, and split divine and demonic qi!

The turbulent Spirit Embryo Divine Treasure finally stabilized.

His spirit embryo stood upon the flowing divine and demonic qi. The yin and yang were distinctly separated, like a rolling Taiji diagram, clearly defined.

From the perspective of his spirit embryo, this expanse of divine and demonic qi flowed smoothly and was infinitely vast, like a pure land, a sacred realm.

This was his spiritual platform, the foundation upon which his spirit embryo stood.

A sun slowly rose from the vital qi transformed into divine energy, radiating brilliant light. On the other side, the moon slowly withdrew its moonlight and gradually sank into the demonic vital qi.

Qin Mu's spirit embryo looked up. In the sky, starlight glittered, and the Milky Way coiled like a bright mirror, reflecting his face.

The face in the star river seemed like the lofty Heavenly Duke. He was his own Heavenly Duke.

Qin Mu's spirit embryo looked down. Below the spiritual platform was darkness, reflecting his face. He was as if the Earth Count of his own world.

His spirit embryo lowered its sword, enveloped in tranquility.

Within the spirit embryo, he felt something taking root and sprouting.

It was his soul, a soul born from the creation of heaven and earth. Like a seed of this heaven and earth, it was already slowly growing.

Other people's souls and spirits were separate. Only when spirit and soul combined did they form a primordial spirit. However, his soul was born from the Calamity Response, integrated with his spirit embryo from birth, and inseparable.

The spirit embryo sat cross-legged, lost in a daze.

Outside, Dragon Qilin and Yaner felt a thrilling intensity. Yet, they saw Qin Mu's physical body gradually shrink, no longer so enormous or bloated.

Soon, Qin Mu returned to his original state, neither fat nor thin, with a well-proportioned physique.

Dragon Qilin's large ears had been gnawed bare by Yaner, bleeding profusely. Yaner's own wings had also been gnawed significantly shorter.

Just as the two were about to ask Qin Mu about the outcome of this cultivation, they suddenly saw Qin Mu's legs buckle as he knelt on the ground, burying his face and sobbing.

Dragon Qilin and Yaner exchanged glances. They could discern endless grievance and humiliation in Qin Mu's cries.

This humiliation stemmed from his own experiences, and also from the suffering endured by Yan Kang!

Just as Dragon Qilin was about to step forward to comfort him, Qin Mu's sobs gradually transformed into laughter, growing louder and higher.

Tears streamed down his face, yet his laughter came from the depths of his heart, sweeping away all previous despondency and grievance!

Amidst the hearty laughter, Qin Mu stood up, no longer kneeling.

Dragon Qilin and Yaner looked on in a daze. In that moment, Qin Mu seemed like a completely different person.

Throughout their journey, although Qin Mu always wore a smile and never showed signs of sorrow, they could sense the vulnerability and despair hidden deep within him.

But now, he seemed reborn, as if he had reverted to the cheerful, sunny boy he once was. Yet, there was a difference; they couldn't precisely pinpoint what it was, only feeling that the current Qin Mu was like the radiant sun after a storm.