Chapter 184: Sword Rises At Sword Hanging Peak
Malevolent Energy is such a thing. Although there is also Malevolent Energy generated and nurtured by the heavens and earth in those vicious and perilous mountains, tainted with ferocity, decay, filth, and many other unclean forces, forming a great perilous area, or even a dead zone.
But it is absolutely impossible to appear in a place like Sword Hanging Peak.
Decades ago, Sword Hanging Peak was surveyed by the sect’s formation masters and discovered to have an Earth Vein shaped like a sword edge.
Even before emerging, it was already a Third-order Spiritual Vein.
After years of connection to the formation, constantly nurtured, it has now approached Fourth-order Spiritual Vein infinitely.
This time, the Mysterious Jade Cold Pond erupted on Sword Hanging Peak, which actually had this reason as well.
For such a Treasure Mountain, it is absolutely impossible for Malevolent Energy condensation to occur.
Long Qiushui stared fixedly at Su Yan with both eyes; she did not disbelieve her disciple.
If it was really as he said, then it meant that some changes had occurred on Sword Hanging Peak, changes beyond everyone’s expectations.
“The Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust can control Malevolent Energy, feeding on flesh and blood and Malevolent Energy, and is most sensitive to Malevolent Energy.”
With a thought from Su Yan, several Fiend Bees flew out from the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust’s hand.
Bang
The Fiend Bees’ bodies immediately exploded, turning into a mass of dense Malevolent Energy, dark red roiling, with faint glimpses of ferocious insect heads.
A strange light flashed in Long Qiushui’s eyes; Malevolent Energy condensing into child insects—such a method was truly astonishing.
Long Qiushui now believed even more in what Su Yan had said earlier and said solemnly, “Can you still see that Malevolent Energy from before?”
“I’ll try.”
Su Yan activated the Insect Consciousness Seed, entered the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust’s consciousness, fully unleashed his perception, and probed toward Sword Hanging Peak.
However, this time, there was no trace of Malevolent Energy along the path; the mountain range’s Spiritual Energy was restrained, like an ordinary high peak.
‘Strange, I definitely didn’t see wrong earlier. Since Malevolent Energy appeared, yet none is visible on the surface…’
Su Yan could not detect the Malevolent Energy on Sword Hanging Peak, but instinctively, this mountain peak must be hiding something.
This was his intuition.
Su Yan told Long Qiushui what he had seen.
Her dark eyebrows furrowed slightly: “Let’s go, back to Feng City.”
Long Qiushui did not let Su Yan continue probing; instead, she sped up and brought him back to Feng City.
As soon as she returned, she only instructed Su Yan not to spread the news outward before turning and disappearing.
Two streaks of light left Cold Shadow Peak Feng City one after another; Yuan Hong and Long Qiushui each headed to several other peaks.
Although Su Yan was curious, he settled his heart and focused on cultivation.
The Blood Fiend Mother Worm had broken through first and completed its metamorphosis.
The Gold-Eating Demon Insect was now over halfway through Mature Stage progress; once back from here, exchanging Contribution Points for resources, it would not take long to complete its metamorphosis as well.
Over the next few days, Su Yan swallowed Return Intent Yuan Pills and Dragon Tiger Golden Pills on one hand while absorbing Insect Yuan to cultivate on the other; his body’s True Essence had accumulated quite a bit.
On this day, Long Qiushui finally returned to Feng City and came straight to find Su Yan.
“Tomorrow, Senior Brother Qian will lead the formation to connect the Earth Vein and incorporate Sword Hanging Peak into the Hundred Peaks Barrier. Come with me.”
Su Yan was slightly stunned: “Has the Malevolent Energy on Sword Hanging Peak been investigated clearly?”
Long Qiushui shook her head: “The time to activate the Earth Vein formation and the connection time have been set; any further delay might provoke the Sacred Weapon Path to return. Moreover, it concerns Senior Brother Qian’s breakthrough…”
Blocking someone’s path in the Cultivation World was a hatred not inferior to killing one’s father.
Although Qian Mulan was their fellow sect member, without evidence, they could not keep delaying and leave Sword Hanging Peak hanging indefinitely.
Qian Mulan would not easily believe this matter.
Su Yan fell slightly silent and immediately understood the implication.
“Bai Yun and the other two stay in Feng City; you come with me to observe the ceremony. Don’t stray too far from me to avoid accidents.”
“This disciple understands.”
The day set by Qian Mulan arrived quickly.
Long Qiushui brought Su Yan along, preparing to head to Sword Hanging Peak.
Yuan Hong saw Su Yan coming along and looked surprised: “What are you bringing him for?”
“To see the world.”
Long Qiushui replied indifferently, but Yuan Hong pursed his lips, thinking: “Given the situation these past few days, if he can really see the world, that would be something. Two True Persons thoroughly investigated and still found no clues…”
“Since you’re bringing him, you’d better ensure his safety; his talent ranks in the top ten among sect disciples.”
This time, Long Qiushui did not snap back at the fat Yuan Hong, merely saying: “They should all be there by now; let’s hurry too.”
She released the Mysterious Frost Sky Centipede from her Beast Taming Bag, which transformed, becoming hundreds of meters long.
With a wave of Long Qiushui’s water sleeves, she brought Su Yan onto the Mysterious Frost Sky Centipede’s back.
Seeing this, Yuan Hong threw out the Mysterious Earth Sword, which landed at his feet, carrying him skyward straight to Sword Hanging Peak.
When the two arrived, Qian Mulan, Lei Yuxi, Shui Manyi, and Yu Xuanfeng were already waiting there for a long time.
Besides them four, there were also three Dan Qiao Realm True Persons present.
Each occupied a small mountain peak, with over ten disciples and a Hundredth Rank of Mountain Guard disciples by their sides, holding expanded positions and faintly protecting Sword Hanging Peak in front.
Beyond these people, Sword Sect carried a long sword covered in rust on his back, body slightly hunched, standing at the forefront of the crowd.
“Hm?”
The Mysterious Frost Sky Centipede flew through the sky, but when Qian Mulan and the others looked up, their expressions became subtle.
“Junior Sister Long actually only brought one disciple?”
As soon as Long Qiushui landed, Lei Yuxi asked in surprise.
Connecting the Earth Vein causes Spiritual Energy to surge; though not comparable to Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, for cultivators, it is also a baptism that can enhance cultivation.
Moreover, witnessing such a grand formation is also a rare experience for a Martial Artist’s cultivation insights.
“Bringing too many people is troublesome.”
Long Qiushui brushed it off, but Shui Manyi, with flickering eyes as if noticing something, said: “Not everyone is like you, with few disciples under them.”
After Shui Manyi’s interruption, Lei Yuxi laughed: “Those who came are just fellow sect members.”
He had not brought many disciples either; those with him were all from White Python Peak.
After a few words, Sword Sect turned around and said: “Since everyone is here, let’s not delay; night brings many dreams. Junior Brother Qian, I’ll control this Earth Vein; you lead the formation. Fellow junior brothers and sisters, please don’t hold back.”
“Yes, Senior Brother.”
Everyone nodded; Qian Mulan cupped his fists in salute and bowed slightly: “Fellow junior brothers and sisters, troubling you all to control the formation together this time; there will surely be generous thanks afterward.”
Yu Xuanfeng said solemnly: “It’s a sect matter; no need for politeness, Senior Brother.”
Sword Sect stepped forward, instantly arriving atop Sword Hanging Peak.
His feet treaded the void, with faint True Essence condensing into formless sword shadows.
“Formation rise!”
He lightly uttered two words; True Essence surged skyward around him, like a great river of heaven and earth, endless.
His two fingers formed a sword, pointing toward the four directions of Sword Hanging Peak; instantly, semi-transparent formless Sword Intent grew with the wind, falling to the ground like a hundred-meter peak inserted into the earth.
Rumble
The Earth Vein shook; at the points where the swords fell, puffs of white mist surged out, like smoke or fog, continuously rising and seeming absorbed by something, steadily approaching Sword Hanging Peak.
‘Such dense Spiritual Energy!’
Su Yan was shocked in his heart; merely the Spiritual Power spilling from these four points already far exceeded the denser Spiritual Vein he had encountered on Huang Meng Mountain.
Qian Mulan released a silver-white long snake from his Beast Taming Bag; it had a triangular head and slender body, and wherever it passed, grass and trees toppled, with cuts perfectly flat, as if slashed by a sword edge.
The Silver Blade Snake carried him flying to the Earth Vein condensation point on Sword Hanging Peak; his robes fluttered loudly, his eyes firm with hidden joy.
He was already at Dan Qiao Realm Second Heaven Perfection; if he successfully connected to this Sword Hanging Peak Earth Vein now, he would surely open the divine palace, condense the upper Dantian Acupoint, and step into Third Heaven.
He was full of ambition and said: “Troubling Junior Brother Lei to guard the southeast branch vein, Junior Sister Long to guard the southwest branch vein, Junior Sister Shui…”
He assigned tasks one by one; Lei Yuxi and the others moved, directly crossing the small mountain peaks to land on the peaks where the branch veins were.
Long Qiushui brought Su Yan to a mountain peak in the southwest.
At this time, the Earth Vein had been activated by Sword Sect; on this mountain peak like a broken blade, gales raged, Spiritual Energy sprayed forth, vastly different from usual.
Su Yan steadied his position and saw his master Long Qiushui reach out; the Frost Moon Ring was summoned from her body, circling to guard her.
She secretly pointed a finger, dropping a Spirit Sealing Talisman into Su Yan’s arms, transmitting: “This Spirit Sealing Talisman seals Vajra Lion King True Intent within; it can block Dan Qiao attacks. If you see Malevolent Energy appear, tell me immediately.”
Su Yan nodded slightly without transmitting; with Dan Qiao True Persons guarding each branch vein here, and Yuan Hong and others protecting the path, transmitting might be detected.
“Everyone, borrow the Hundred Peaks Barrier formation; formation rise!”
With a thought from Qian Mulan, a token appeared in his hand; the ground rumbled and shook, Spiritual Energy surging continuously.
In just an instant, Su Yan seemed to see something rising from the Earth Vein.
At Wang Peak of the Hundred Peaks Barrier, a surging Spiritual Power like a long rainbow emerged, slashing through the sky and falling into Qian Mulan’s hand.
Qian Mulan’s eyes focused; he injected this power from the Hundred Peaks Barrier formation into the Sword Hanging Peak beneath him.
Sword Hanging Peak’s mountain body shook; countless scattered Spiritual Energies instinctively formed a white long sword hundreds of meters long.
The long sword like a blade stabbed toward Qian Mulan, its power so strong it changed the colors of heaven and earth.
“Still not behaving!”
Sword Sect, a hundred meters behind Qian Mulan, reached out with a large hand; as if several chains slashed from his palm, they tightened with a pull.
Chains emerged on the sword body, pulled to various points on Sword Hanging Peak’s ground; with one pull, the Spiritual Energy great sword dropped over ten meters, heavily slamming into the ground.
Seeing this, True Intent emerged behind Qian Mulan; a snake monster with blade-like sharpness like a long sword appeared, eyes like fire.
With Sword Snake True Intent out, its blood basin mouth opened wide, swallowing the Wang Peak power; its body swelled violently, coiling around the Spiritual Energy great sword, snake body spiraling to lock it down.
Lei Yuxi, Yu Xuanfeng, Shui Manyi, and Long Qiushui, seeing this, took out their own tokens; True Essence surged, connecting to their guarded peaks.
Mountain peak power descended from the sky, turning into streams of Spiritual Power channels injected into the Sword Snake’s body.
With help, Qian Mulan’s aura surged; he directly suppressed the Spiritual Energy great sword.
The Hundred Peaks Earth Vein began fusing with this place’s Earth Vein, bit by bit infiltrating and assimilating.
Qian Mulan did even more, continuously absorbing Spiritual Power and pouring it into his body.
His aura climbed steadily; while connecting the Earth Vein, he continuously elevated his cultivation.
In less than an hour, Qian Mulan’s cultivation had broken through to Dan Qiao Realm Third Heaven.
“Hahaha”
Qian Mulan could not suppress his laughter; with the breakthrough, the three Dantians in his body formed True Essence convergence, doubling his strength and more.
And this was just the beginning; Sword Hanging Peak was only half-refined, not yet fully incorporated into the Hundred Peaks Barrier Earth Vein.
Su Yan sensed the dense surrounding Spiritual Energy; whether cultivating or not, such Spiritual Energy continuously surged into his body.
However, he did not dare relax at all, secretly releasing over a thousand Fiend Bees to quietly spread in all directions.
He was also using the Heavenly Fiend Mother Locust’s power to observe the fleeting Malevolent Energy on Sword Hanging Peak from several days ago.
Time passed bit by bit; the refinement of Sword Hanging Peak deepened further.
By now, that Spiritual Vein infinitely close to Fourth-order was, under the five peaks’ feedback, continuously metamorphosing.
Roar
A faint roar came; everyone’s faces lit with joy—this was not a Feral Beast attack, but the Spiritual Vein metamorphosing.
From Third-order Spiritual Vein, it had now metamorphosed into Fourth-order Spiritual Vein.
Henceforth, the density of Spiritual Energy on Sword Hanging Peak would rank among the top in the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains.
Suddenly, a wisp of black energy abruptly emerged from Sword Hanging Peak’s mountain body.
Su Yan looked sharply; thread-like black lines like countless insects were drilling out.
“Malevolent Energy has appeared!”
Su Yan immediately warned; Long Qiushui’s Spiritual Sense swept the scene, and this time she sensed that subtle change.
“The formation has changed; stop!”
Long Qiushui immediately called to halt and decisively withdrew Cold Shadow Peak’s Spiritual Power.
Shui Manyi, Lei Yuxi, and Yu Xuanfeng reacted one after another, closing their Spiritual Power channels.
Qian Mulan moved, leaving the sword edge’s direction; but the next moment.
Whoosh
A pitch-black Sword Light straightly assaulted him, speed faster than lightning.
Not good!
Qian Mulan was greatly alarmed in his heart, but as a Dan Qiao True Person with countless battles,
A long sword from his sleeve struck like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, drawing a net of Sword Light.
Sword Snake True Intent coiled in front; the two combined to counter this slash.
However, upon just touching, they were instantly shattered like dry weeds and rotting wood, effortlessly broken.
Clang
Seeing this terrifying attack already upon him, a skinny, aged large hand grabbed out, directly seizing the Sword Light.
Like metal Blade Aura shattering, the terrifying Sword Light exploded; countless fragments shot out, falling onto Sword Hanging Peak’s grass and trees, soil.
Wherever it passed, immediate decay; grass and trees withered, erosion spreading continuously.
“Sword Sect!?”
Everyone was shocked looking at the attacker, while that Sword Sect, with a skin-deep smile, looked up at the sudden intervener, face stiff, only his pitch-black eyes sinister and chillingly cold.
“Finally willing to come out, old thing Gu Sanqian.”
