The Third Realm of Sword Dao is Refining Sword into Silk.

This step pursues the ultimate killing power. The Sword Light becomes so sharp it can be described as unstoppable.

Defensive Treasures of the same realm can’t block it at all.

In the image, a venerable elder spread his hands, and two silk-like threads of Sword Light spiraled like swimming dragons. Across from him, the chests of dozens of Cultivators exploded into clouds of blood mist.

It didn’t matter if it was a protective technique, a defensive Supreme Treasure, or even a Flying Sword of the same realm—all were shattered by a single sword strike.

When this realm is cultivated to its absolute peak, it becomes what Sword Cultivators revere most: One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws.

Bai Zichen was filled with envy. Only today did he learn that the so-called principle of "I don’t care about your thousands of techniques; I’ll break them all with a single sword" was something one could only begin to grasp deep within the Third Layer of Sword Dao.

The Fourth Layer of Sword Dao, which the Star River Sword Monarch called Sword Light Division.

In the vision, a Swordsman stood by the sea. The longsword in his hand pulsed with light, erupting in a blinding radiance that transformed into countless beams of Sword Light striking the ocean’s surface.

The once-calm sea surface was churned into a surging maelstrom by the thousands of Sword Light beams, as if struck by an apocalyptic storm. It raised thousand-foot-high waves that threatened to destroy everything.

The vision of light and shadow stopped abruptly, with no following scene.

’Sword Light Division... so this is Sword Light Division!’

Bai Zichen was mesmerized. These thousands of Sword Light beams weren’t illusions; they were real, and each one possessed one-tenth of the main sword’s power.

Once a Sword Cultivator reached this realm, their combat prowess would rise to another level.

The Star River Sword Monarch was at this very Sword Dao realm, and by combining it with his Star River Sword Array, he had earned the title of being invincible in the Nascent Soul Stage.

When the Fourth Layer of Sword Dao was cultivated to its zenith, it evolved into One Sword Births Ten Thousand Techniques.

The final realm was to integrate the Great Dao True Intent into one’s Sword Dao.

Even the Star River Sword Monarch himself had not achieved this.

Nascent Soul True Monarchs had only just begun to touch upon the Great Dao True Intent. Before it, they were like newborn infants, and merging it with their Sword Dao was nothing short of a fantasy.

It was unknown if anyone had ever reached this Fifth Layer Realm. Even the Star River Sword Monarch’s writings on it were filled with speculation.

This was because, among the five realms, it was the only one that had no corresponding visual inheritance.

When Bai Zichen finished reading the Taibai Sword Sect’s *True Understanding of Sword Dao*, he dazedly realized that several hours had passed.

’So this is how the Five Realms of Sword Dao are divided. I finally have a clear concept. Before, I wanted to improve but had no idea where to even begin.’

He had a vague feeling that even if he ultimately failed to set up the Star River Sword Array, the value of this item was immeasurable, based solely on the Star River Sword Monarch’s explanations of Sword Dao and the visual inheritances.

’That Senior Meng Zhaode’s Sword Dao Talent must have been truly lacking. He held an Ultimate Treasure of Sword Dao in his hands for decades and never even managed to find the path.’

At the same time, Bai Zichen also understood why Sword Cultivators could claim to be invincible among their peers.

If the first two realms of Sword Dao were merely about flaunting the sharpness of a Flying Sword in front of ordinary Cultivators, then Sword Cultivators in the Third and Fourth Realms were already in a different league entirely.

One Sword Births Ten Thousand Techniques and One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws clearly touched upon the two Great Dao True Intents of creation and destruction.

If a Core Formation Sword Cultivator reached the Third Layer of Sword Dao, it was like gaining the Great Dao comprehension of a Nascent Soul True Man ahead of time. How could any Cultivator of the same realm be their match?

However, these realms were too distant for Bai Zichen. For now, his goal was to improve his Sword Skill while attempting to advance toward the Second Realm, Sword Qi Thunder Sound.

Bai Zichen returned to reality. He took out the Golden Sparrow Sword, placed it horizontally across his lap as he sat cross-legged, and tapped it with his joined fingers. Wood Spirit Energy gathered and flowed into the sword’s body along a specific path.

However, the Wood Spirit Energy moved extremely slowly within the sword’s body, unlike with the Ink Bamboo Sword, where it could complete a full cycle in an instant.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Wood Spirit Energy was completely depleted, having advanced only a thumb’s length inside the Golden Sparrow Sword.

Bai Zichen, however, was exceptionally excited. This meant that the Sword Nurturing Technique also worked on the Golden Sparrow Sword.

He just needed to do this thirty or forty more times, and the Golden Sparrow Sword would be fully cleared, restored to a normal Flying Sword.

’Strange, I keep feeling like there’s some connection between the Sword Nurturing Technique and the Wood God Skill... Even though one is for repairing Flying Swords and the other is specifically for Spirit Plants, they should be completely unrelated.’

The more Bai Zichen used the Sword Nurturing Technique, the stronger this feeling became.

’Thinking about it now, the Bai Family’s ancestor took quite a few good things when he left the Fish Dragon Sect.’

’Besides the various inheritances, the Secret Treasures the Bai Family produced when the Ghost Spirit Sect besieged Hanxiu Peak were not things an ordinary Inner Sect Disciple could possibly possess.’

For the next several months, besides his unskippable daily practice of the Sword Nurturing Technique, Bai Zichen divided the rest of his time equally between cultivating the Chang Chun Skill and studying the *True Understanding of Sword Dao*.

In terms of Sword Dao, although he was still a thousand miles away from Sword Qi Thunder Sound, his Sword Skill had improved dramatically.

’Real combat experience really does make all the difference.’ After he digested the insights from the battle in the abandoned cave, his Swordsmanship had improved by more than just a single level.

When Bai Zichen reflected on that day’s battle, he realized that if it were him now, dealing with that mutated Ghost-Faced Jade Spider would be much easier.

But compared to his Swordsmanship, his Cultivation had progressed even more. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

After four months of seclusion, despite using only half his time for it, Bai Zichen, who was already at the Peak of Seventh-Layer Qi Refining, smoothly broke through to the Eighth Layer of Chang Chun Skill.

He even had enough energy left to consolidate and refine his newly advanced Magical Power.

Bai Zichen, who had originally planned to remain in seclusion for a while longer, was finally forced to come out because of a message from Su Lie.

Just yesterday, Xiong Baishan had officially handed over his Inner Sect Disciple Waist Token and submitted an application for the True Inheritance Trial to the Transmission Hall.

This meant that this year’s True Inheritance Trial was about to begin.

Bai Zichen picked up a Jade Document from the side of the table. On it was his long-completed application for the True Inheritance Trial. He placed it in his storage bag and headed out, first making his way to the Artifact Refining Hall.

After meeting with Elder Peng Chong and confirming a few matters with him, he quickly changed direction and headed for the Transmission Hall.

"Junior Brother Bai, what text have you come to borrow today?"

The horse-faced Steward with the long beard certainly recognized the current star of the Inner Sect and said with a chuckle.

"I’m not here to borrow a text this time. I’m here to register."

Bai Zichen removed the Inner Sect Disciple Waist Token from his waist and handed it over along with the Jade Document.

"Inner Sect Disciple Bai Zichen has reached Late-Stage Qi Refining and hereby applies for the True Inheritance Trial."

"Alright, I’ll register you right away, Junior Brother Bai... Wait, what? The True Inheritance Trial?"

The horse-faced Steward froze. The Spiritual Pen in his hand paused, leaving a large blot of ink on the page.

"Junior Brother Bai, isn’t this only your second year as an Inner Sect Disciple? Why the rush? Junior Brother Xiong is participating this year. Why don’t you wait until next year?"

"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother, but my mind is made up. It has to be this year."

What Bai Zichen wanted was to be in the same cohort as Xiong Baishan and snatch the True Disciple position from him head-on.

"Once this is submitted, there’s no going back. Every disciple only gets one chance. If you fail, you won’t even be able to keep your status as an Inner Sect Disciple... Ah, well. The passion of youth, the passion of youth!"

The horse-faced Steward tried to dissuade him a few more times, but seeing Bai Zichen’s firm attitude, he could only accept the Inner Sect Disciple Waist Token and the Jade Document and register his name.

Once the waist token was handed over, there was no turning back.

Strictly speaking, Bai Zichen now held no status at all. Everything would depend on the results of the True Inheritance Trial.

If he passed, he would naturally be promoted directly to a True Disciple.

If he failed, he would, like the other Inner Sect Disciples whose five years were up, have to go to the Outer Sect to become an ordinary Steward, lost to a life of mundane affairs.