### Chapter 316: The Tenth Move — Open the Heavens!
Yun Zhonghe’s swordplay grew faster and faster, with Xue Yunjian transforming into a bolt of silver lightning in his hands. The flickering sword light created afterimages, dazzling to the eyes.
Where the sword tip passed, the air split open with tiny cracks, producing a faint hissing sound, showcasing the ferocity of his sword techniques.
Repeatedly, again and again… Three sets of sword techniques were executed, all seamlessly applying the first three moves of the Wenting Nine Swords, minimizing the spiritual energy consumption. With Yun Zhonghe’s current spiritual energy levels, he normally wouldn’t be able to sustain such an intense practice.
Even with this advantage, Yun Zhonghe’s energy drained like water down a drain, fine beads of sweat slowly forming on his forehead.
“I can do it!”
Yun Zhonghe roared internally!
In an instant, the sky, once dark and oppressive, was torn open by an invisible force, allowing a ray of warm sunlight to pierce through the heavy clouds.
A pure power of the Dao began to drift down, and for a brief moment, this primordial and powerful energy established a subtle connection with him!
Although Yun Zhonghe’s sword mastery hadn’t reached a level where he could directly perceive the Dao, when the three techniques, all of equal rank and realm, perfectly merged in his hands, it vaguely felt like he resonated with the Heavenly Dao.
The sword aura he exuded started subtly hinting at the essence of the Dao of the Sword!
Yun Zhonghe was totally exploiting a glitch here, forcibly resonating with the Dao of the Sword through the fusion of his techniques, borrowing a sliver of that power.
Though this portion of the Dao’s power was negligible, it was enough for Yun Zhonghe to catalyze a leap in his strength, propelling him to a whole new level.
“Don’t even think about pulling any tricks!”
Su Xiaoxiao’s sharp voice rang out with vigilance. She keenly sensed that Yun Zhonghe was preparing something big; catching the subtle change in his sword aura sent a wave of strong unease through her. Without hesitation, she unleashed her power, attempting to obstruct Yun Zhonghe’s movements with a torrent of chaotic energy.
Faced with Su Xiaoxiao’s violent offense, Yun Zhonghe remained calm.
The fusion wasn’t complete yet; it only needed a little more!
He had to keep his cool; any slip-up would mean failure, and that would be his only chance gone!
As he backed up while consolidating, even as several muscles on his body eroded under the furious energy impact, becoming a bloody mess, he did not waver, his eyes fixed on the sword in hand, continuously maintaining the fusion of the three sword techniques.
He could clearly feel his spiritual energy escaping at an alarming rate.
Leveraging the power of the Dao was an ability only Transformation Gods could grasp when their spiritual energy reached celestial heights.
Yun Zhonghe’s methods were obviously unorthodox, and the incoming power of the Dao was unstable, dispersing at any moment, threatening the success of his sword technique fusion.
Su Xiaoxiao too felt a sense of impending defeat in Yun Zhonghe’s fusion and locked onto this prime opportunity. Her eyes narrowed like cold stars, taking control of the immense Misfortune Power to launch the fiercest attack possible.
Staring into that relentless onslaught, Yun Zhonghe’s gaze remained firmly on Su Xiaoxiao’s pale figure.
Xiaoxiao…
Flashes of their moments together played through his mind like a film reel. Though Yun Zhonghe had initially approached her with ulterior motives, over their time together, they had forged an unbreakable bond.
Her smiles, her shyness, her resilience…
Even without the protagonist’s halo, she was someone for whom Yun Zhonghe would lay down his life!
He could not bear to see the hardworking lose out!
He wanted to bring Su Xiaoxiao a beautiful ending!
“Ughhhhh!!!”
Yun Zhonghe howled skyward!
Power of the Dao! Come to me!
At that moment, he felt the sword spirit of Xue Yunjian quietly manifest behind him. That ethereal figure gently supported his hand, as if offering silent support and encouragement: “Master, you can do it!”
In the bl**d Pool Illusion, Mu Jixue and Xia Linglong were equally focused on Yun Zhonghe’s big move. Their shock was immense, but more than that, they were praying.
Yun Zhonghe! Go for it!
You must succeed!
We believe in you!
The dark night, the flames, and the overwhelming tide of Misfortune ignited a bright flame in Yun Zhonghe’s eyes, his gaze sparkling like a brilliant star shining in the night.
Yun Zhonghe continuously fused the three strands of sword aura together.
At that moment, Mu Jixue and Xia Linglong hiding in the illusion gasped.
Their hearts raced as they watched Yun Zhonghe narrowly avoid a deadly explosion. Their hearts tightened, hands instinctively clenching into fists, knuckles white as they tried to hold on.
Go for it!
Yun Zhonghe! Go for it!
Just as the two were filled with anxiety, nearly unable to withstand the tension, a miracle happened.
Golden halos began to ripple around Yun Zhonghe’s body, the brilliance illuminating like a star suddenly exploding in the night sky, banishing all surrounding darkness.
His silhouette flickered within this brilliance, seemingly wrapped in a sacred glow, like he was on fire.
Mu Jixue and Xia Linglong’s beautiful eyes widened in shock and disbelief.
Even Su Xiaoxiao had to close her eyes against the suddenly blinding light.
So dazzling! This golden radiance belongs to Yun Zhonghe!
“Wenting Nine Swords, Tenth Move — Open the Heavens!”
In this resplendent light, Yun Zhonghe’s voice soared to the heavens.
Boom!
A sound reverberated like thunder splitting the sky, a golden sword aura shot forth from Yun Zhonghe’s hand, shooting straight into the clouds, reaching an astonishing height of a hundred meters!
That hundred-meter-long sword aura was one unified entity, its tip pointing at the firmament, its body gleaming with golden light, like a colossal pillar connecting heaven and earth, standing tall in the air, its momentum overwhelming and unmatched!
The pressure it released compelled the previously ferocious Misfortune Power, which sought to consume everything, to shrink back, forcing the dark and evil forces to tremble and retreat before the light!
Mu Jixue and Xia Linglong stood frozen, eyes wide with shock and amazement, their minds blank, as if the world had stopped.
Especially for Xia Linglong, as someone equally obsessed with swordplay, her internal tremors were even more intense.
That massive sword aura was unprecedented and exuded the faint whisper of the Dao of the Sword.
So divine, it felt as if the entire world was focused on this one point!
Has Junior Brother Yun already grasped the Dao of the Sword?!
At this moment, Su Xiaoxiao’s astonishment was palpable as she gawked, her gaze fixed on the gigantic sword aura shooting into the sky, her face reflecting disbelief.
She had confidently believed she stood at the pinnacle of power, looking down upon all. Yet, here was Yun Zhonghe displaying this move, hammering down hard on her pride.
The force contained within that immense sword aura seemed almost comparable to her own, and it dimly hinted at even surpassing it.
She felt jealousy, rage, and dissatisfaction. Why? Why was she always pushed down?
Unfair!
“d*e!” Su Xiaoxiao shrieked hysterically.
She had endured so much pain to gain this power; she absolutely wouldn’t allow herself to be surpassed, no way!
In that instant, she once more summoned the Misfortune Power, condensing it into an endless barrage of arrows, raining down on Yun Zhonghe like a torrential downpour.
Simultaneously, deep underground, the gushing magma quickly coiled into a hundred-meter-long dragon, swirling in the air under Su Xiaoxiao’s command!
Oh, a size contest? She had never lost!
The dragon’s body was engulfed in roaring flames, its scorching breath enveloping the surroundings.
With an earsplitting roar, the magma dragon opened its immense mouth, unleashing waves of heat as it charged violently towards Yun Zhonghe.
Everywhere it passed, it felt like the air itself was ignited, creating a sea of fire.
Yet, in the face of this overwhelming rain of disaster and that unstoppable magma dragon, Yun Zhonghe gripped Xue Yunjian, resonating his spiritual energy with the earth and sky!
With a leap, Xue Yunjian shone brightly in his hand, and then he swung upward with great force!
In an instant, sword energy surged, a magnificent force swept through as if the heavens had opened and all things were born, every obstacle before him was cleaved apart, obliterated by this unstoppable power.
One sword strike shook the heavens and earth, Su Xiaoxiao’s entire barrage of arrows instantly dissipated before this force!
Boom!
The terrifying sword energy exploded in the air, tearing asunder every disaster and misfortune, erasing all calamities into thin air.
The fusion of the three sword techniques birthed a hidden move!
One sword opening the heavens! Even the darkness was illuminated by this force, the dark clouds were split, revealing the long-lost starlight!
This strike contained all of Yun Zhonghe’s soul, body, spirit, and spiritual energy…
As the sword came down, he felt like all his strength was being drained, as if his very soul were being pulled away.
After all, the fusion of sword techniques was incredibly exhausting, and its power was so immense that at least Golden Core level was needed to barely wield it. Even at peak condition, it could only be released once.
If it weren’t for the Extreme Cold and Elder Xing Bu’s blessed prayers rapidly recharging him, he would have long been too exhausted to move.
Yet at this moment, one strike alone wouldn’t be enough!
Spiritual Roots unleashed! Mental energy unleashed!
Yun Zhonghe roared, squeezing every ounce of potential from within him, and just like that heavenly slash from before, he instantly retracted the sword energy!
He was about to employ Xia Wudi’s sword techniques!
Combining Open the Heavens with Xia Wudi’s sword techniques, a dual Open the Heavens slash was intertwined towards that roaring magma dragon charging right at him!
The magma dragon was instantly cleaved in two by this irresistible force, and Su Xiaoxiao behind it was also thrown away by this aggressive sword energy, her face turning as pale as paper.
“How is this possible?!”
Su Xiaoxiao gasped in horror; she had never seen such a terrifying attack. But Yun Zhonghe was not done yet; his expression remained indifferent as he closed in on Su Xiaoxiao. The hundred-meter-long sword aura was reclaimed, continuing to condense into an even sharper strike.
Su Xiaoxiao immediately felt a wave of panic. She frantically gathered all the Misfortune Power, trying to form a solid shield to protect herself.
Yun Zhonghe: “Triple!”
Yun Zhonghe shouted, and once again the sky roared with an even larger and longer sword aura!
One sword stronger than the last! The essence of the Dao was even denser!
Yun Zhonghe’s meridians had been repeatedly blown apart and restored, widening countless times, allowing him to contain even more sword aura.
