Chapter 150: Many Thanks To The True Person For Your Assistance
Everyone looked toward the sky in shock.
This scene was different from what most people had imagined. Even the loyal followers of Heavenly Sword True Person probably hadn’t expected such a situation. After all, Blade Demon had always shown extreme dominance, with no opponents along the way, not even Sun Chasing Sword King had survived.
Many had already speculated that Blade Demon was only one opportunity away from Blade Dao Supreme Realm. Such an existence, if placed thousands of years ago, would probably be a Martial Saint Reserve.
But now.
He was ruthlessly defeated by Heavenly Sword True Person.
“Is there really such a big difference between Supreme Realm and below?” someone sighed.
They could naturally see that Heavenly Sword True Person had ascended to Supreme Sword Dao Realm. This was the fundamental reason he could suppress Blade Demon.
At this moment.
Those Heavenly Swords floated and sank in the void. Although they showed no light at all, everyone felt they were dazzling and brilliant, carrying the momentum to annihilate the Demonic Blade. The Heavenly Swords made people afraid to look directly.
However.
The next moment, even greater uproar arose.
Everyone nervously looked toward the sky, only because after the Demonic Blade shattered, the remaining Heavenly Swords showed no sign of slowing, as if to slay Blade Demon in one strike!
“What did Blade Demon do to offend Heavenly Sword True Person that he wants to kill him outright?!” The congregation was horrified.
Generally speaking.
In such challenges, there was almost never a killing blow. This was an unwritten rule in the Martial World.
Blade Demon had only killed one senile Heart Blade Elder along the way, while the others were at most severely injured.
The congregation couldn’t quite understand.
But the remaining numerous Heavenly Swords had condensed into a true sword cage, with peerless Sword Intent crisscrossing, imprisoning Blade Demon within.
Blind Old Man showed astonishment on his face.
His steps, which were about to leave, paused involuntarily. He praised:
“Good magnanimity. No wonder he erected the True Martial Sword Stele.”
“But I don’t know if he can reach that step…”
But then, he slowly shook his head:
“Ascending to Supreme Sword Dao Realm yet not attempting it, ultimately lacking some domineering ferocity in advancing courageously. Sigh…”
Blind Old Man gazed up at the firmament, lost in thought.
While the others were horrified, they heard Heavenly Sword True Person speak faintly:
“If not now, when?”
Blade Demon’s body shook, and he instantly understood. A trace of gratitude surged in his pitch-black pupils. Under the gaze of all, he actually gave up resistance, then closed his eyes and sat cross-legged in this surging sword intent cage.
In an instant.
The sword cage built by the Heavenly Swords emitted astonishing fluctuations. Strands of Sword Intent were drawn from above, below, and all directions—sun and moon, mountains and rivers, water and stone, grass and trees—all like this. Not only that, it had no attack power at all, instead emitting a special Dao Rhyme.
Sun Chasing Sword King and others were stunned, then thick envy flashed in their eyes.
They had seen through Heavenly Sword True Person’s intention.
This was not to kill Blade Demon, but to help him achieve enlightenment.
They watched unblinkingly, also desperately perceiving the artistic conception and Dao Rhyme emanating from the sword cage.
Ning Qi watched quietly.
The reason he wanted to help Blade Demon was not a sudden burst of kindness. First, Blade Demon was a swordsman extreme in the blade; befriending such a person brought only benefits, no harm. Second, he wanted to see if Blade Demon could break through to Martial Saint after ascending to Blade Dao Supreme Realm, which in a sense was using Blade Demon as a ‘little white mouse’.
Of course.
Mainly, Blade Demon was already very close to Supreme Realm. Even without Ning Qi’s help, it would at most take some more time. But this time, having lost to Ning Qi, it would take a bit longer.
Within the sword cage.
Strands of invisible Sword Intent passed through Blade Demon’s body. Each time one passed, Blade Demon’s face paled a bit more, and he let out muffled grunts. With Blade Demon’s temperament as a peerless expert, it was still like this, so one could imagine the pain involved.
This was to let Blade Demon truly feel this Supreme Realm Sword Intent, thereby drawing analogies.
If Ning Qi used Supreme Realm Saber Intent, the effect would be even better, but under the gaze of all, doing so would inevitably cause countless shocks. This way was just right.
The congregation saw Blade Demon sweating profusely like undergoing torture, but no one questioned it. They already knew Heavenly Sword True Person was helping Blade Demon achieve enlightenment. Especially Divine Wind Saber Master and others were full of envy, wishing they could take Blade Demon’s place. If they could advance further in Blade Dao, they would willingly endure ten times crueler torture.
Time passed slowly.
It should have been a time of heavy snow, but the blazing sun was at its peak. The celestial phenomena were affected by the battle of the two peerless experts.
Unknown how much time passed.
A heaven-shaking roar tore through the layered clouds. Blade Demon rose to his feet in the sword cage. He howled at the sky, his wild hair dancing, black eyes deep with demonic nature, as if vying with heaven. Careful observers noticed that the sword hilt at Blade Demon’s waist had completely disappeared.
In an instant.
The sword cage hummed in unison. The Heavenly Swords emitted Sword Intent, all piercing through Blade Demon’s body together.
Blade Demon spat blood.
But his aura did not weaken but grew stronger. Strands of Saber Intent came from all directions of heaven and earth, forming a massive Demonic Blade. In an instant, it forcibly split open the Heavenly Sword cage.
The congregation was shocked.
“Blade Demon… has entered Blade Dao Supreme Realm!”
Strands of gazes were both envious and reverent.
But everyone knew the most terrifying was still that always indifferent black-robed Daoist. He waved his hand slightly, and the Heavenly Swords dissipated into nothingness.
The congregation looked over.
They saw Blade Demon bow deeply, giving Heavenly Sword True Person a solemn salute:
“Thank you, True Person, for helping me achieve enlightenment!”
Heavenly Sword True Person neither dodged nor evaded, accepting the salute frankly.
The black-robed Daoist spoke faintly:
“It’s your own merit.”
The congregation sighed even more in admiration.
Blade Demon’s enlightenment not only did not damage Heavenly Sword True Person’s prestige but elevated it further. After today, people throughout the world would not only marvel at Heavenly Sword True Person’s supreme strength but also admire his unparalleled magnanimity.
They knew this battle was completely over now.
Blade Demon’s salute meant conceding defeat.
Of course, they didn’t think Blade Demon after breaking through was a match for Heavenly Sword True Person. After all, from the current situation, Heavenly Sword True Person had probably entered Supreme Sword Dao Realm long ago, with far deeper foundation than Blade Demon.
At this time, Blade Demon bowed again:
“There is one more matter. Please assist, True Person.”
Ning Qi’s gaze flashed. The black-robed Daoist spoke indifferently:
“Speak.”
“With True Person’s help this time, I have entered Blade Dao Supreme Realm. Now I wish to break into Martial Saint Realm with this. Please protect me!”
“Very well.”
The two exchanged words.
The congregation was dumbfounded, then boiled over.
They hadn’t expected such a scene after the great battle ended.
Blade Demon wanted to ride the momentum and enter Martial Saint Realm!
Everyone could hardly believe what they heard. Looking over the past two thousand years, besides Great Yan Martial Saint, no other Martial Saints had been born. And now, were they about to witness the birth of a Martial Saint?
Even Sun Chasing Sword King and others couldn’t help their hearts racing, staring in a daze.
Martial Saint—that was the realm all martial artists in the world yearned for.
Blade Demon took a deep breath, then sat cross-legged in the void.
Choosing to break through at this moment: first, this battle had fully stimulated his potential. Though his essence, qi, and spirit were not at peak, that determination and perseverance could not be better. Second, he probably understood Heavenly Sword True Person’s intention in helping him achieve enlightenment, wanting to return the favor.
Heavenly Sword True Person had ascended to Supreme Realm so long yet not stepped into Martial Saint Realm, perhaps due to some concerns. Then he could repay with his breakthrough experience.
Blade Demon never owed anyone in his life.
With a thought, he wielded Saber Intent, severing all stray thoughts in his heart.
Ning Qi watched intently, more focused than ever.
It could be said.
This was the first time he was so close to Martial Saint Realm.
Since Blade Demon chose to break through, he must be prepared.
Under his gaze, Blade Demon slowly closed his eyes. An astonishing fluctuation emanated from his body. In an instant, dense heaven and earth power gathered, clearly felt by all Heavenly Human Realm experts.
Next.
Blade Demon’s fleshly body bloomed with dense vitality. A strange fragrance spread out. Some even involuntarily swallowed saliva, then horror-struck covered their mouths.
“This is the great merit of human essence completed, forming the Dao fruit, that is, Essence Flower perfection.”
Ning Qi’s thought fell in his mind.
On Blade Demon’s body, a strange immortal flower bloomed, layer upon layer. Though formless and imageless, wondrously, the congregation could perceive its existence. And after the Essence Flower condensed, the originally surging heaven and earth power seemed to undergo some change.
Blade Demon pushed with one breath.
His internal Gang Yuan fully surged, and Divine Intent erupted fully.
In an instant.
Two more immortal flowers condensed.
Qi Flower!
Spirit Flower!
Three Flowers Perfection—it was precisely so.
The congregation was not surprised at all. Not just Blade Demon—almost all peerless experts in the Top Ten Heavenly Human Ranking were Three Flowers Perfection. At this moment, they watched most intently, afraid to miss any detail. They would walk this path sooner or later.
At this moment.
With the three flowers condensed, winds and clouds changed between heaven and earth. Martial artists with lower cultivation didn’t know what happened, but instinctive fear made their bodies tremble.
The peerless experts’ gazes grew even hotter.
They saw.
The three flowers had gathered at the apex, beginning some wondrous change.
“Three Flowers Gathering at the Apex, then what?” The peerless experts itched with anticipation.
And Blade Demon seemed to hear their call.
Only a hum was heard. Domineering Demonic Blade Saber Intent shot up from his spine. Having just ascended to Blade Dao Supreme Realm, it was already put to use. This was the method Blade Demon had obtained after exhausting his life’s energy.
He created the Three Demon Blades, corresponding in a sense to the three flowers of heaven, earth, and man.
Now, the Demonic Blade Saber Intent spanned above the three flowers, thereby commanding them.
Ning Qi’s spirit shook.
Observing Blade Demon’s breakthrough scene, he constantly verified it against the method recorded in the silver pages left by Wu Jianghe. Sparks of spiritual insight kept flashing in his mind. He suddenly gained a completely new cognition of Martial Saint Realm.
The wondrous change occurred in an instant. The originally vaguely connected three flowers of essence, qi, and spirit instantly became a whole. Three Flowers Gathering at the Apex, like a peculiar ‘funnel’, a ‘vortex’.
Then, the originally surging heaven and earth power seemed to have an outlet.
Through the ‘Three Flowers funnel’, it gathered toward Blade Demon’s body!
Everyone was in uproar.
This was completely different from Heavenly Human Realm resonating with heaven and earth power—it was to use one’s body as a furnace to refine heaven and earth power!
Heaven and earth power poured entirely into Blade Demon’s body. His fleshly body began trembling violently. His face flushed red, alternating pale and blue. His body swelled, then shrank repeatedly. This eerie scene made everyone break out in cold sweat.
But as time passed.
Blade Demon’s body gradually calmed. Only endless heaven and earth power continued pouring in.
Sun Chasing Sword King and others were parched, somewhat dizzy:
“This… succeeded?”
They had actually witnessed the birth of a Martial Saint?
But Ning Qi’s expression remained as solemn as ever.
He stared at Blade Demon, as if seeing through the flesh to the internal condition. He ‘saw’ that although Blade Demon forcibly absorbed heaven and earth power into his body, wanting to refine it with Supreme Realm Saber Intent and perfected Three Flowers, it still failed.
It looked like his body had calmed, but actually it was still extremely dangerous. The fundamental problem wasn’t solved—the form of heaven and earth power hadn’t changed at all.
Ning Qi sighed inwardly.
He saw it—Blade Demon was going to fail, as he was nearing the limit. Though he had long known the Martial Saint path wasn’t easy, seeing the result still brought some regret.
“Not good.” He said inwardly.
Heavenly Sword True Person moved immediately.
A Heavenly Sword slashed through the air toward Blade Demon. At this critical breakthrough moment, ordinary people couldn’t intervene, or it would cause backlash. But since Ning Qi promised to protect Blade Demon, he wouldn’t watch him perish before his eyes.
Among those present, only he had the ability to interfere.
Everyone was baffled, even secretly horrified why Heavenly Sword True Person struck at this key moment. Could it be jealousy of Blade Demon’s imminent success?
But the might of the Heavenly Sword was unstoppable.
With one slash, the connection between the Demonic Blade and the three flowers was cleanly severed. Blade Demon, whose body was calming, suddenly opened his eyes. The congregation then noticed his pitch-black pupils had turned blood-red at some point, extremely terrifying.
Borrowing this Heavenly Sword power, Blade Demon roared at the sky. Terrifying blood holes suddenly burst on his body—that was the heaven and earth power in his body losing control. Blade Demon was in dire straits. His expression unchanged, he slashed with his right hand, and his left arm was severed at the root!
Blood mist sprayed. The severed left arm turned into a terrifying Demonic Blade, and the absorbed heaven and earth power vented out with this ‘Demonic Blade’.
One slash toward the sky, then landing in a distant mountain range.
A rumbling crash was heard.
The mountain range collapsed. A terrifying saber mark appeared before the congregation, making everyone gasp. Earlier, both had held back, but now losing control revealed Blade Demon’s single slash was so terrifying.
The congregation’s expressions were complex.
At this point, they knew Heavenly Sword True Person hadn’t taken advantage but saved Blade Demon. If not cut off in time, Blade Demon would have died in breakthrough, let alone the later hero’s severing of his wrist.
Evidently.
Blade Demon had failed.
Not witnessing a legend born, the congregation felt deep regret, and confusion rose in their hearts.
Even a peerless swordsman like Blade Demon who ascended to Blade Dao Supreme Realm couldn’t step into Martial Saint Realm. Who could succeed? Perhaps the path ahead was truly severed.
Some couldn’t help looking at the black-robed Daoist, thinking:
“Can Heavenly Sword True Person succeed? It must be extremely difficult… Otherwise, having ascended to Supreme Sword Dao Realm so long, he would have stepped into Martial Saint Realm long ago…”
Blind Old Man’s face was full of regret.
“Astonishing talent, astonishing talent. Completed half a step with his own power—tragic and lamentable…”
His expression dimmed slightly. He left quietly. He no longer wanted to watch. His purpose here was only to see if Heavenly Sword True Person was his old friend. Now knowing he wasn’t, he had no other thoughts.
Heavenly Sword True Person might be even more of a prodigy than Blade Demon, but born in the wrong era.
Both Blade Demon and Heavenly Sword True Person were already considered advanced in age. Without accidents, it would be hard to achieve more.
True Martial Mountain was silent.
Blade Demon spat blood toward the sky. His pitch-black pupils gazed at the firmament, seeming unwilling, as if angrily questioning heaven why the path ahead was blocked.
That full confusion and sorrow made everyone’s hearts ache, almost empathizing.
The congregation roughly understood Blade Demon’s thoughts.
Cultivating bitterly for centuries, even using an opportunity to enter Blade Dao Supreme Realm, yet unable to step into Martial Saint Realm. The remaining lifespan almost declared no hope. For a pure martial artist and swordsman like him, it was worse than death.
If not for his firm Martial Way Will, he would have wanted to explode and die in the breakthrough earlier.
“Thank you, True Person, for your action. Blade Demon will remember this favor.” Blade Demon’s voice was hoarse.
His expression was complex.
He wanted to ask how far Heavenly Sword True Person had gone but ultimately gave up.
Under the gazes of the world.
Blade Demon, disheveled and barefoot, walked into the mountain range and soon disappeared. The congregation was silent, as if seeing a hero’s end.
The black-robed Daoist said nothing, then landed in the rear mountains of True Martial.
This earth-shaking battle finally came to a curtain.
Everyone let out a long breath, only then realizing their backs were completely soaked. This battle was full of ups and downs, twists and turns, truly an eye-opener for all.
First Blade Demon lost to Heavenly Sword True Person, who showed Supreme Sword Dao Realm, astonishing all. Then Heavenly Sword True Person helped Blade Demon step into Blade Dao Supreme Realm, envied by countless. Finally, Blade Demon tried to step into Martial Saint Realm on this momentum. Though failed, what they saw and heard today was enough to savor for life.
It could already be anticipated.
When the result of this battle spread throughout the world, what a massive uproar it would cause.
The congregation looked at that True Martial Sword Stele with unprecedented fervor. After Heavenly Sword True Person showed such Supreme Sword Dao Realm, even Sun Chasing Sword King and others couldn’t help yearning for the sword stele. It could be foreseen more peerless experts would come to comprehend, advancing Ning Qi’s Sword Dao.
Ning Qi couldn’t help smiling slightly. This was a positive cycle.
However.
The greatest gain for him from this battle was observing Blade Demon’s breakthrough.
He looked in the direction Blade Demon left, his gaze flashing, a certain thought arising in his mind.
