Early May 9th, Chu Kingdom border.

Qiu Ye Mountain Range, Jiran Valley.

On the eastern cliff face, several ancient building complexes were scattered. This was the foothold for the three great Sects.

The Disciples on duty guarding the valley and those carrying out missions usually lived here.

Council Chamber, Liaoran Hall.

The surroundings were isolated by a sound-proofing Formation. Wang Xi stared coldly at the Talismans and Spiritual Artifacts floating before him.

"I am now at Level 8 Qi Refining. Killing a few Outer Sect Disciples from a minor Sect at Qi Refining Stage 5, if it’s an ambush, then so be it... but do I really need these things?"

He raised his gaze, seemingly feeling slighted, and there was some anger in his eyes.

Shen Yu frowned: "Naturally, you don’t need them, but you know, the faster the matter is concluded, the more time we will have... to make it look like an accident."

Shen Huai stood beside Shen Yu, silent.

Shen Yu continued: "What I want is not for you to defeat two opponents single-handedly, but for you to swiftly and silently eliminate the Outer Sect Disciples of both Sects with thunderous means."

Just like casually swatting an ant while scratching an itch.

"Without these, I can still..."

Wang Xi seemed to think of something, clenching his fists, his teeth tightly gritted.

Why does everyone look down on me? What Zhou Liu can do, I, Wang Xi... can do too!

Shen Huai saw this and sighed softly.

They entered the Sect at the same time, both with dual Spiritual Root Aptitude, but Senior Brother Zhou Liu was already at Level 9 Qi Refining, preparing to advance to the Level 10 Qi Refining Perfection Realm.

They were all arrogant young men, and no one could accept such a result.

So, Wang Xi became like this, resenting his Master, resenting his fellow Disciples, resenting the injustice of the world.

Suddenly, he quieted down, his eyes regaining their calm, his voice cold.

"Understood."

Shen Huai still wanted to offer a few reminders: "If there are other Disciples..."

"Just kill them all."

Wang Xi’s voice was devoid of emotion, interrupting her.

In his opinion, the Profound Origin Sect was an emperor-like existence within the Chu Kingdom Cultivation World. If they set their sights on a Spiritual Vein or a Spiritual Mountain, they should just take it directly, no need for concealment.

Shen Huai, being precocious, actually saw things more clearly than Wang Xi.

How many dirty deals between Sects, trading the interests of their Disciples for benefits, happened in this very way.

However, the Cave Abyss Sect was special. This process had to be followed, and it had to be followed clearly.

"Buzz..."

A Talisman for communication. A Disciple reported from outside the door.

"Elder Shen, the Disciples from the Cave Abyss Sect and the Spirit Talisman Sect have arrived."

"Let’s go, let’s go out and meet them."

...Song Yan followed Lu Ziye, walking down from the Sect’s Flying Spiritual Artifact, the Fengyun Spirit Boat, at the very end of the group of Disciples.

As an ascetic Cultivator who rarely engaged in social activities, he didn’t know anyone here.

However, just now on the Spirit Boat, the Senior Brother and Junior Sister sitting on his left and right were chattering non-stop, and Song Yan inexplicably got to know these two.

Shao Sichao, Qi Refining Stage 6.

Gu Qingqing, Qi Refining Stage 5, a Disciple of Lianyou Peak.

Something special about the Cave Abyss Sect was that the Immortal Caves for female Cultivators, regardless of their Outer Sect Disciple or Inner Sect Disciple status, were all arranged on the Inner Sect’s Lianyou Peak.

Everything else was consistent with male Cultivators.

The other Disciple was named Tang Lin, whom Song Yan also didn’t know, though Shao Sichao occasionally chatted with him.

Speaking of which, this Senior Brother Shao’s way of speaking and demeanor made Song Yan feel somewhat familiar.

He vaguely felt that this person was the small stall Cultivator who sold forbidden books at the Night Market that day.

However, he had no proof.

"Elder Xu, I trust you’ve been well."

"Haha, same as ever... But your Spirit Talisman Sect, I hear you’ve recently taken in quite a few Immortal sprouts..."

What a coincidence.

The Spirit Talisman Sect’s group also seemed to have just arrived at Jiran Valley.

Elder Xu Ziqing, leading the Cave Abyss Sect’s group, was exchanging greetings with Elder Zou from the Spirit Talisman Sect. Shen Yu flew over from a distance, accompanied by Shen Huai and Wang Xi.

Everyone else was unfamiliar, but the Elder and Disciples from the Profound Origin Sect seemed most familiar to Song Yan.

They had visited the pill workshop before and even given lectures.

"Two Elders, I apologize for not coming out to greet you, please don’t mind."

When facing Shen Yu, Xu Ziqing, for some reason, didn’t respond much, just smiled.

The Elders had their own matters to discuss, while the younger generation followed the arrangements in Jiran Valley and settled into their respective residences.

Between the three Sects, some Cultivators knew each other and took this opportunity to meet and gather.

Some drank and chatted happily, while others... enjoyed a romantic night under the moon.

No one sought out Song Yan for small talk.

However, being solitary had its advantages.

Undisturbed, he could finally properly read the ’Complete Collection of Immortal Realm Sceneries,’ a miscellaneous collection of customs and practices he had bought for two Spirit Stones at the Night Market that day.

These days, Song Yan had been completely engrossed in the Cultivation of his Divine Sense and the condensation of that "Sword Dao True Essence," and hadn’t had time to read it.

"South of the Southern Sea, there is still land. On this land is a Dragon Lord Kingdom, inhabited by giants a thousand zhang tall..."

It was said that in ancient times, to the east of the Ancient Ming Sea, there was a natural great chasm, which the ancients called "Gui Xu."

Within Gui Xu were five Immortal Mountains, and Immortals lived on all of them.

The five Immortal Mountains were carried by fifteen great Demon Aos, maintaining the distance between the Immortal Mountains.

Unexpectedly, in the Southern Sea, there was an ancient Dragon Lord Kingdom, whose people were all a thousand zhang tall. One of the giants, having nothing better to do, fished up six of the great Aos that carried the Immortal Mountains, causing two of the Immortal Mountains to sink and disappear without a trace, leaving only three of the five Immortal Mountains.

The Immortal Lord in the heavens was furious about this, turning the Dragon Lord Kingdom into a place of exile and casting an Immortal spell to make their bodies shrink generation by generation. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"..."

Song Yan was silent... people a thousand zhang tall?

However, Song Yan wasn’t here to question or correct; his Divine Sense continued to scan downwards.

Skipping over some legends and myths, he finally found what he wanted to read.

In ancient times, Sword Cultivators were very pure.

"A Natal Flying Sword is something that can only be possessed by fusing one’s Dao Heart and comprehending Sword Intent."

The so-called Sword Cultivators and Natal Flying Swords in the current Cultivation World were merely Cultivators skilled in attacking with sword manipulation techniques, and their primary Spiritual Artifacts or Magic Treasures.

But ancient Sword Cultivators, with their sword boxes, sword scabbards, and sword gourds, everything was solely for nurturing the Natal Flying Sword within the box.

Some would even abandon Spiritual Artifacts, Magic Treasures, Formations, and Talismans. Among them, some extremists would even abandon Spiritual Qi and their Physical Body, seeking only to comprehend supreme Sword Intent and heavenly sword moves.

The Grand Dao is simple: to slay an enemy, only one sword strike is needed.

Song Yan felt a surge of emotion as he read.

But... "Dao Heart...?"

"Sword Intent?"

These profound and mysterious things, in Song Yan’s view, were extraordinary things that a Trash with his dull Aptitude would find difficult to ever reach in a lifetime.

Taking a deep breath, he forcefully suppressed the longing and impulse in his heart.

At this moment, within Song Yan’s Dantian Qi Sea, a uniquely sharp and peerless Spiritual Power quietly hovered.

If one immersed their Divine Sense into it, they would find that, in addition to the sound of Spiritual Power and blood rushing through his limbs and bones, there was also a faint but sharp sound of a sword humming.

"Sword Cultivator."

The surroundings of his residence were quiet. Song Yan closed his eyes, carefully experiencing the Qi mechanism of the so-called "Sword Dao True Essence."

"..."

As if by a ghost’s whim, he gently raised his right palm. The Sword Dao True Essence in his Dantian began to disintegrate, then converged at the tip of his right finger.

With his middle and index fingers together, that sharp aura hummed at his fingertip.

"Buzz——"

The sword essence gradually began to materialize. Only when he felt a stinging sensation from his fingertip did Song Yan awaken as if from a dream, quickly dispersing the sword essence at his fingertip.

That wisp of sharp "Spiritual Qi" reconverged in his Dantian, only slightly smaller than before.

"If this Sword Dao True Essence were to be unleashed on oneself, even with protective Spiritual Qi, it would truly be a certain death situation."

Nearly a month of Spiritual Power condensation was required to achieve the power of this single sword strike.

Its might did not disappoint Song Yan.