"..."

Indeed.

If one is an ant, how can one speak of freedom?

"It’s just..."

"Do ants and insects truly have no way to survive?"

For some reason, Shen Huai’s words, intertwined with the screams and wails from Avici Hell, entered his ears.

Faintly, they sparked a tiny ember in Song Yan’s heart.

The inky blackness from Avici Hell had already permeated his limbs and bones; his skin was cracked like pottery, as if he would turn into a vengeful spirit and merge into the painting at any moment.

However, within Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, the hum of that Dao Heart small sword grew clearer.

No... no.

Heaven never seals off all exits... this is just a painting!

Perhaps everything before him was fake, merely ink and wash transformed from the painting.

Where was Xiao He?

There was no sensation or trace of Xiao He on his chest.

That’s right, this was just a painting.

But even knowing all this, what should he do?

The pain of these murky black inks eroding his body was real.

The fatigue that made his thoughts Chaos and his will sink was real.

The ghostly figures that gnawed at him from Avici Hell were also real.

"There must be a way to resolve this..."

"There must be some help I can use..."

"Someone must be able to help me..."

Suddenly!

Song Yan’s thoughts stopped.

Help? A helper?

Why, in such a desperate situation, was the first thing he thought of relying on others’ aid, relying on external support?

Why not himself? Looking back, it seemed there was always help in every life-or-death crisis Song Yan faced.

At Jiran Valley, he joined forces with Wan Songran to kill Wang Xi.

At Peach Blossom Dock, he had Senior Sister Qin’s care, and the combined strength of fellow disciples Li Qingfeng and Gu Qingqing.

In the world within the painting, the married couple Rong and Wu bought him time.

He had trusted many, many people and things.

But it seemed he had never trusted one thing.

The Dao of the Sword.

At this moment, a glimmer of understanding arose in his heart.

All this way, he seemed to have always regarded the Dao of the Sword he cultivated merely as a powerful offensive means.

And not the true Dao he sought.

Perhaps... this was the reason he had been unable to comprehend Sword Intent and forge his Lifebound Flying Sword for so long.

How could a true Sword Cultivator not believe in the Flying Sword in his hand?

Thinking of this.

He couldn’t help but sigh softly in his heart.

"But, is it too late to comprehend now..."

Suddenly, he heard a heartbeat beside his ear.

Thump... thump... thump... Beneath the silent Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, that seed of the Dao of the Sword began to gently undulate.

As if it had begun to breathe again.

The crack on the seed’s shell was slowly widening.

The crack grew larger and larger until, at a certain moment, a tender sprout emerged from within.

At the same time, a sharp spiritual essence surged forth from it!

The spiritual essence was as tender as new life, but it quickly flourished!

Song Yan felt the profound changes beneath Zhen Dao Sword Mansion and couldn’t help but be deeply moved.

"This is..."

"Sword Intent?!"

In reality, for a Sword Cultivator to forge their Lifebound Flying Sword, it’s not easy, nor is it difficult.

In ancient times, the reasons why Sword Cultivators couldn’t condense their Lifebound Flying Sword were myriad.

The Dao Heart originates from desire, and Sword Intent originates from will.

Some Sword Cultivators had grand desires: eternal life, invincibility in the world... Some Sword Cultivators had simple desires: brewing pine flower wine, boiling tea with spring water... Some were obsessed with swordsmanship, yet their Dao Heart was confused (confused).

Some had a clear Dao Heart, but their will was not distinct.

It was merely a difference in a single thought.

Yet, many times, it required being between life and death to comprehend.

As the aura of this Sword Intent grew stronger, another small sword gradually formed above the tender sprout.

The materialized Dao Heart began to slowly drift towards that tender sprout.

Finally, it merged with that wisp of Sword Intent spiritual essence.

In an instant.

The scene within Zhen Dao Sword Mansion changed.

Mountains and rivers, grass and trees, birds and beasts, insects and fish.

Sun, moon, and stars, the four seas and eight wildernesses.

Within the inky blackness, Song Yan opened his eyes.

The terrifying and dreadful Avici Hell scroll was still reflected in his pupils, but there was no longer any fear in his eyes.

He saw Sword Qi suddenly surge around him, and the inky blackness receded like a tide, revealing his jade-like skin.

The sky full of ghostly figures instantly dissipated, and the Eighteen Hells shattered with a roar.

A semi-illusory, semi-real Flying Sword leaped out from Zhen Dao Sword Mansion.

It hovered before him... outside Avici Hell.

Sheng Nian, mingling among the Devil Cultivators, frowned as he looked at the spot where Song Yan had disappeared.

"Old Devil Head, this is a Soul Transformation ink treasure. Are you sure A-Yan is still alive?"

The demonic voice in his mind rose faintly: "Hmph, what Soul Transformation ink treasure..."

"If a Mortal paints a painting, when he achieves Immortal Ascension and becomes a Venerable, will it then be an Immortal ink treasure?"

Sheng Nian was startled.

The Old Devil Head paused, then continued: "However, this person entered the Dao through painting. Although it was done in his youth, it indeed already has some profundity."

"As for your compatriot..."

"He seems to have obtained a Sword Cultivator Legacy..."

Sheng Nian was startled: "Sword Cultivator?"

"Indeed."

"From Bei Ya Mountain to Changping, it can be seen that this person has no concept of so-called righteousness or evil in his heart."

"He has his own set of criteria for judging right and wrong."

"Such a person, besides being suitable to become a Devil Cultivator, is indeed also very suitable for the path of a Sword Cultivator."

"Hmm..."

The Old Devil paused for a moment: "Currently, he is indeed not dead yet."

"However, whether he can safely overcome this tribulation still depends on his own fortune."

Song Yan’s death did not cause any ripples.

The Elders of the Six Sects and the three factions of Yellow Springs Path and Corpse Bone Abyss were still continuously trying to refine it.

The jade ring on Shen Yu’s fingertip continuously flashed with spiritual light, helping him open a path through Avici Hell at the fastest speed.

"Eh?"

Demon Ape Hu Rifei suddenly looked at the direction where Song Yan had disappeared. In fact, all the Yao Cultivators from Corpse Bone Abyss saw it.

A small snake slowly emerged there.

The small green snake had its eyes closed, whether from unconsciousness or sleep, was unknown.

It was enveloped in a special spiritual light, but everyone present could feel its unique Demonic Qi.

Li Qingfeng murmured: "Xiao He..."

The Demon Ape said with interest: "Dong Zi, go bring it to me."

"Yes."

Among the group of Yao, a slightly smaller ape Yao walked out.

He followed the path refined by Hu Rifei’s Demonic Qi, stepping into Avici Hell, and walked towards the small green snake.

"What’s going on..."

At this moment, Dai Rui suddenly muttered to himself, feeling somewhat inexplicably.

Fu Xiao glanced sideways slightly: "What?"

Perhaps due to Xiao He’s appearance, people from all factions began to notice something amiss.

"That Song Yan’s remains..."

"Why haven’t they appeared yet?"

Almost all Cultivators dragged into the Hell’s reflection would turn into a pile of white bones in just a few breaths.

Then they would be absorbed by White Bone Mountain, becoming a part of it.

But the remains of that person just now had not appeared for a long time.

"..."

Only when someone reminded him did Shen Yu also notice this.

His brows furrowed slightly.

When everyone learned that the source of the heaven and earth anomaly at Shigu Slope was a Soul Transformation Realm Grand Cultivator’s ink treasure, they had all subconsciously concluded one thing.

That was, those Qi Refinement Stage Cultivators trapped within, unable to leave, were doomed to die.

Indeed, from the current situation, it was so.

Every Cultivator dragged into the Hell’s reflection would turn into a puddle of white bones and appear within an extremely short period.

Except for that Cultivator named Song Yan just now.

Where were his dry bones?

Perhaps his body and bones were utterly destroyed.

Above the outer realm, there was a silence, and the Cultivators from all sides had their own thoughts.

But just at this moment.

An aura filled with sharpness suddenly emanated throughout Avici Hell.

"What is this?!"

The Cultivators all exclaimed in surprise, looking astonished at the realm within.

"Sword Qi?! Impossible, how can there be such sharp Sword Qi?"

Xu Ziqing was refining the path while calculating how to kill the entire Profound Origin Sect family here.

Until the appearance of this sharp edge interrupted his thoughts.

"This is... Sword Intent?"

He couldn’t be sure, but it was indeed very familiar to him.

Because it was he, as a child, who had felt the Sword of Daoist Lijun up close by the river, which made him willing to join Cave Abyss Sect.

Now, this feeling was too similar.

But whose Sword Intent was this?

Xiao He also seemed to sense this aura. She slowly opened her eyes, but she did not see the person she wanted to see.

Instead, an ape Yao stood not far away.

The Demon Ape named Dong Zi also felt this sharp intent. Driven by instinct, he wanted to quickly grab the small snake and bring it back to the Yao Master.

His large hand reached out, grabbing towards Xiao He.

Snake Babe instinctively wanted to retreat and escape, but in the Hell’s reflection, it was difficult to move.

"Come here!"

Demonic Qi surged, and Demon Ape Dong Zi’s large hand was already within reach.

Buzz—

Just then! A stream of black and white light rapidly flew from an unknown place!

The light was so fast that one couldn’t even see its shape clearly!

The black and white light swept past the Demon Ape.

Demon Ape Dong Zi felt a chill, followed by a bone-piercing pain from his arm.

"Ah!!!"

The tough fur and bones that Demon Beasts prided themselves on were as fragile as tofu before this light.

The Demon Ape’s arm was cleanly severed, falling into the inky blackness.

Warm, hot Yao blood gushed from the Demon Ape’s right arm.

He fell to the ground, instinctively clutching his arm, struggling, spasming, and twitching continuously.

The Cultivators outside the realm were all startled by this light.

They gazed intently.

They saw the light suddenly swirl, then slowly stop in front of the small green snake.

It was a slender Flying Sword!

At the same time, within the inky blackness, a figure seemed to be slowly emerging, faintly visible!

At this moment.

In Avici Hell, the inky blackness surged, as if something was stirring this ghost realm.

Even Jin Tianya, who had always been expressionless, now seemed to have noticed something, revealing an incredulous expression.

In front of Xiao He, beside the Flying Sword.

The inky blackness suddenly surged without warning, then slowly receded.

A figure appeared in everyone’s sight.

A white robe, untainted by dust, with an ancient long casket on his back.

The Flying Sword swiftly swirled, disappearing into the sword casket behind him.

He slightly raised his eyes.

It was Song Yan.

"It’s him! He’s not dead?!"

"How is this possible?!"

Exclamations from outside the realm rose and fell.

Xu Ziqing and Li Qingfeng stood stunned.

Shen Yu frowned deeply, staring intently at him, his eyes flickering with disbelief.

Cong Yuzhen, on the other hand, watched the "resurrected" young man with interest.

All the Cultivators of the Six Sects, the Yao and Devils of Corpse Bone Abyss, and all the Devil Cultivators of Yellow Springs Path asked the same question in their hearts.

"Why was he able to survive?"

"How did he do it?" 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Misfortune is what fortune leans on, fortune is what misfortune hides under.

Who knows their extremes?

If not for this encounter between life and death, when would he have realized this point?

Song Yan couldn’t answer, but now, he had more important things to do.

His gaze turned to the distance.

Shen Huai was equally terrified, being in Avici Hell, she naturally knew its horrors.

Ji Chuanqiao had turned into white bones in it in less than a breath.

Damn it!!!

How did this Song Yan survive!?

Just then, she met Song Yan’s cold eyes.

She saw him slightly raise his hand, and a spiritual light slowly condensed at his fingertips.

Its sharp edge was fully revealed, not to be looked at directly.

Such a direct and undisguised action made Shen Huai quickly activate her spiritual power, summoning several defensive Spiritual Artifacts and talismans.

Protecting her body.

Shen Yu, however, frowned deeply and shouted: "Song Yan! I advise you not to bring trouble upon yourself."

"You..."

Pfft.

The Sword Qi slashed without warning, and the head and body separated instantly.

Shen Huai’s desperate eyes froze on her lifeless face.

Blood gushed out.

Song Yan casually wiped it, taking her qiankun bag and the pendant on her chest.

Then he turned her head around.

He gently placed it back on her neat, smooth, bleeding neck.

He lowered his gaze... like a Bodhisattva who couldn’t bear to see the suffering of the world.