Chapter 271

Chapter 271: The Sword Realm

Xia He popped a pill into his mouth.

The moment the pill hit his stomach, it dissolved rapidly. Xia He’s body began to swell uncontrollably, bulging on one side then another, resembling an inflating meatball or something trying to burst out of him—a truly nauseating sight.

Xia He’s eyes turned bloodshot as he clawed at his own body, his gaze icy cold.

“Thump! Thump! Thump!” Xia He’s heartbeat grew more intense, echoing across the entire sky.

Ming and Xuenuo knew this was their chance; Xia He was currently digesting the pill, making him extremely vulnerable. Without hesitation, they slaughtered the monstrous birds in front of them and charged toward Xia He.

As Ming surged forward, he entered a state of total immersion. Ever since entering the Jade Pudding Realm, Ming had perceived the world differently compared to when he was in the Sea Observing Realm. He felt as if he understood the essence of the world more clearly, even catching glimpses of its underlying rules.

Ming became increasingly sensitive to the aura of the Dao, able to see the flow of destiny in the air with perfect clarity. If he advanced further, it seemed like he could control the laws of this world.

This temptation to master the rules was akin to a robust warrior who hadn’t relieved himself for ten years suddenly seeing a stunningly beautiful woman step out of a bath, draped in gauze, beckoning him.

Ming faintly understood why Xia He was so obsessed with breaking through realms, abandoning all principles. The supreme realm was something no cultivator in the world could resist.

But some chose to stay true to themselves, while others gave up everything.

At this moment, Ming gradually entered meditation, savoring everything the Jade Pudding Realm had brought him—like standing halfway up a mountain and suddenly finding himself atop it, looking down at the lesser peaks below.

Though Ming wasn’t exactly the one who climbed the mountain himself—he was carried there—his horizons were still broadened, giving him new insights into the Dao.

Even more astonishingly, Ming felt there was a sword within him—an invisible one. This intangible blade continuously called out to Ming, urging him to draw it.

“Roar!”

Xia He let out a roar, a storm of spiritual energy erupting around him. All the cultivators rushing toward Xia He were sent flying.

Xia He had successfully absorbed the Heavenly Profound Gate’s fortune, his power and presence rising dramatically, seemingly stepping into the highest realm of cultivation.

“Don’t be afraid! He hasn’t reached the Ascension Realm yet!” At that moment, the Nascent Soul Stage Elder from the Sword Sect shouted.

He had indeed seen the pressure of those in the Ascension Realm before. Though Xia He appeared to have almost reached that level, he was still short of it.

Sometimes, being just a little off makes all the difference! Xia He also realized he had entered a rather awkward stage between the Ascension Realm and the Xiānrén Jìng. It was neither high nor low, but in Xia He’s view, even this “pseudo-Ascension Realm” would suffice!

After slaughtering everyone, he would slowly digest the Heavenly Profound Gate’s fortune and eventually reach the true Ascension Realm.

With a powerful stomp, Xia He crushed a patch of void beneath his feet. He transformed into a streak of light, rushing toward the Heavenly Profound Mirror.

“Sister, I truly don’t want to harm you,” Xia He sighed as he unleashed a palm strike toward Wang Xuan. The blow descended like a massive mountain, completely locking Wang Xuan’s qi, leaving her no room to escape. Wang Xuan frowned and retaliated with her own palm strike.

Their golden palms clashed, nearly tearing apart space. All cultivators below the Cavern Realm within the sect were knocked unconscious by the shockwave.

“Boom!”

But Wang Xuan was no match for Xia He. Her golden palm shattered instantly.

As the golden palm descended upon her, Wang Xuan remained calm. Ni Changyun Di蝶 glanced at her, wanting to rescue her, but due to Wang Xuan’s command, continued escorting the Heavenly Profound Mirror toward the Three Stone Peak.

Just as Wang Xuan was about to accept her fate, a young man stood before her. He was only sixteen or seventeen, wielding a mere second-grade Dharma Instrument, and his cultivation realm was not even higher than hers.

Yet, when he stood before her, Wang Xuan inexplicably felt a sense of safety, which she found quite amusing.

“Don’t seek death,” Wang Xuan said.

Ming tightened his grip on the longsword: “I’ll give it a try.”

“Wooom!”

A resonant sound of the sword echoed. Ming’s blue robes fluttered in the wind as the enormous palm print drew closer. His Sword Qi and Sword Intent continued to rise.

Wang Xuan, who had initially intended to dissuade him, closed her mouth, her expression flickering. A thought crossed her mind.

“Could it be…?”

Her guess was correct.

Streams of Sword Qi flowed into Ming’s sword like fish entering the sea. Around Ming, the Sword Intent gradually materialized.

And the manifestation of materialized Sword Intent is none other than the Sword Realm! “The Wu Kingdom is truly remarkable, producing so many geniuses.” Wang Xuan couldn’t help but marvel internally.

Although Ming forcibly entered the Jade Pudding Realm using external forces, relying on borrowed strength was fundamentally different from achieving it through personal effort.

However, after merely glimpsing the peak of the Jade Pudding Realm, Ming, with the cultivation of the Sea Observing Realm, was on the verge of forming his own Sword Realm!

“Wooom! Wooom! Wooom!”

Ming’s longsword trembled incessantly, the Sword Qi fully merging into it. The sword in Ming’s hand shone with an extraordinary white light, a hue unlike any earthly white or snow. It was a color never seen before, yet unmistakably white.

If it had to be named, Wang Xuan thought it should be called “Sword White.”

Even Wang Xuan dared not look directly at it, fearing that the sharp Sword Qi might pierce her eyes despite her being in the Xiānrén Jìng. Still, she endured the pain and saw Ming’s sword cut through the void due to its unmatched sharpness.

Ming raised his head and casually swung his sword.