Chapter 162: Piercing the Ways of Heaven, Entering the Sword Way to Comprehend Emptiness

With the formidable true energy of the 12th level of “Lanelfina Qing,” Aotian propelled a stream of liquor straight at Blue Shadow. How could liquor harm anyone? Yet in Aotian’s hands, it turned into an invincible weapon. From just ten feet away, a white light, accompanied by a sound like space being torn asunder, instantly reached Blue Shadow’s side…
Blue Shadow still wore that eerie smile on his face, but his right hand moved swiftly. With a graceful motion, it created afterimages. Though it seemed slow, its speed was beyond human perception. The white wine cup was raised, and with a slight twist of the wrist, the liquor, like an arrow, safely landed back in the cup.
Blue Shadow smiled and drank the wine in one gulp, saying, “Excellent wine. Truly excellent. Master Aotian is too kind. Tianji Xinggong is but a small sect, yet you treat us with such respect. We are truly honored.”
Although Blue Shadow casually brought up the matter, those in this position were no fools. They were all prominent sect leaders from the three realms. Everyone knew that Aotian had used his true power in that move. Even if they could catch it themselves, they probably wouldn’t be as calm as Blue Shadow.
Aotian’s expression changed briefly before returning to normal as he said, “The Emperor is being too modest…” Though he said this in the air, his gaze was directed at Tianlong.
Tianlong nodded in understanding. He knew Aotian was very interested in Blue Shadow now, but with Qiong Ba present, he couldn’t easily test him. So, Tianlong decided to probe Blue Shadow’s true skills.
Blue Shadow continued, “Tianji Xinggong is fortunate to receive such favor from all of you. Today, we’re honored to have the leaders of both the righteous and demonic paths here. If there are any shortcomings in the future, please bear with us.” He said another bunch of polite words. He knew the real action was about to begin. Since the people from the righteous and demonic paths hadn’t attacked yet, they must be very interested in him. It was just… unclear who would be the first to take the risk.
At that moment, Tianlong stood up and clasped his fists, saying, “I have always pursued the way of martial arts and enjoy fighting against experts. If the Emperor is willing, I hope you’ll teach me, so that I can understand the true strength of Tianji Xinggong.”
As a true hero, Tianlong spoke his thoughts without any hesitation. From a broader perspective, it was also a reasonable request.
Blue Shadow carefully observed the middle-aged man before him. Dressed in a dark blue robe, with a dark complexion, thick brows, and small eyes, he might seem like a brute at first glance. But those who paid attention would realize that was just the surface—his eyes clearly revealed cunning.
Blue Shadow smiled, stood up, and said, “Master Tianlong, you’re too kind. How could a small sect like Tianji Xinggong compete with an expert like you… But since you insist, I can’t refuse. I’ll accompany you.” With that, he headed outside.
Just as Tianlong was about to turn around, Lady Phoenix grabbed his hand and said, “Be careful. He’s not someone to provoke. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have dared to invite us like this.”
Tianlong nodded and said, “Yes, I understand.” Then he also walked outside the pavilion.

It’s fine; this garden is wide enough. Otherwise, if the two of them really started fighting, it might even be destroyed. Lan Ying stood in the middle, smiling as he looked at Tian Long and said, “Please show mercy, Lord of Tian Long Gate.” With that, he crossed his arms and waited for Tian Long’s move. Tian Long moved his hands, and two short swords appeared in them—only a foot long, with curved blades. If not for their sharp edges, they might not even be considered swords, as their design closely resembled two dragons. This time, Tian Long didn’t use his long sword; he wanted to test Lan Ying’s skills with his most prized treasure. He said, “Emperor, why not reveal your own weapon?” Lan Ying smiled and replied, “I’m confident enough to withstand a few of Lord of Tian Long Gate’s moves without a weapon.” Though his tone was polite, the arrogance in his words was evident to everyone. Facing the leader of the Dark Alliance, Lan Ying dared to speak such words, forcing those in the pavilion to reassess him. After all, Tian Long was the founder of the Tian Long Altar and was recognized by the demonic sects in terms of strength and influence. Although not as powerful as the demonic sects, Tian Long’s cultivation was beyond ordinary people’s imagination. Ao Tian had only seen him use his “Dual Dragon Blades” twice—once during the Tri-Realm Martial Competition and now. How could Tian Long tolerate such arrogance and conceit? He said, “Since the Emperor is so confident, then Tian Long must offend you.” With that, he swiftly swung his hands, and the two foot-long golden short swords began spinning around his body at increasing speeds, eventually forming a ring about a foot high at his waist… Lan Ying’s eyes flashed. A gust of wind blew, lifting his robe, and his powerful vital energy stirred up ancient demonic energy. In the sky, endless black mist instantly covered everything, enveloping the entire sky. It wasn’t just clouds—this overwhelming force carried endless slaughter and bloodshed. As the wind blew, dead leaves flew everywhere around Lan Ying… At this moment, Tian Long was shocked, and even the sect leaders in the pavilion were terrified. They never expected that such a young man could summon such powerful demonic energy. This reminded them of someone—the ruler of Eternal City. But Ao Tian knew that the ruler of Eternal City had already been defeated by him and could no longer appear. Yet, the strength and cultivation of this man were definitely on par with, if not greater than, that ruler’s—at least for now. By watching his moves, they could determine just how high his cultivation was. But no matter what his cultivation level was, this man would become his greatest enemy, for he was more strategic than the ruler of Eternal City. Tian Long attacked, using his treasure. He raised his hands, and two three-foot-long beams of light shot out from the ring around his waist. Upon closer inspection, they resembled dragons, winding their way straight toward Lan Ying. Their speed wasn’t fast, but the air around them burned, clearly indicating that, according to the five elements, Tian Long’s treasure belonged to the fire element.

Although it seemed slow, the masters in the pavilion all knew it was merely an illusion. The energy from both sides of this treasure could burn anything—not to mention hitting the body; even being three feet away would likely cause scorching! At that moment, the Blue Shadow moved as well. His right hand swept upward, and with his motion, a white light blade flickered into existence, though it seemed semi-transparent. When he reached the upper left corner, the Blue Shadow shouted, “Cross Star Blade!” With that cry, his right hand swiftly swept horizontally, and then a white cross-shaped light flashed before disappearing…

The two dragon-shaped sword lights flying in the air suddenly stopped moving. As the cross-shaped light flashed over them, the two dragon-shaped sword lights vanished instantly, as if they had never existed. At that moment, the cross-shaped light, like stars in the sky, continued to flicker, creating countless afterimages that swept across Tian Long’s body before finally shattering a giant tree that was several people wide behind him…

Tian Long pulled his hands back, and the two short swords returned to his grasp. He was surprised—surprised that the blade had clearly passed through his body without causing any harm. What surprised him even more was the level of skill of the person before him. To what extent had this person reached?

At that time, the demonic energy in the sky gradually dissipated. The Blue Shadow crossed his arms behind his back and laughed heartily, saying, “Master Long Tian, please forgive me for being presumptuous.” After saying that, he turned and walked in another direction of the pavilion, not returning to the dining table of the righteous and demonic sects. His laughter was filled with mystery and the unknown. In the end, only the masters of the righteous and demonic sects remained, all lost in thought about the battle just now. Even though Ao Tian had obtained a demonic cultivation technique of the 12th level, after seeing the Blue Shadow’s blade, he didn’t think he could block it…

Everything happened like this. But in another world, were they still peaceful?

Chaos Immortal Realm: 15 years later. Time in the three realms: 15 days.

The wind still blew gently around him. Occasionally, clouds covered the sky, and the sunlight shone on this endless grassland as usual. With rare treasures, exotic beasts, birds, and flowers, this was the highest peak in the “Chaos Immortal Realm,” and it was Liu Yi’s favorite place. Here, he could sense the life of all things and the power hidden within chaos. Everything felt so real. For twelve years, Liu Yi had visited this place the most often, constantly pondering one question.

It took him twelve years to force the “Lanerfina Qing” cultivation technique to reach the 13th level, the World-Destroying Level. Yet, he felt that this technique required powerful true energy; if not used properly, it would be a waste. In the past, with only a 12th-level technique, he could at least use it in combination with the “Four Sorrowful Styles.” Although his true energy couldn’t compare to that of a 13th-level technique, the perfection of the sword techniques made up for it. But now, although he had raised the technique to the 13th level… his sword, “Sorrowful Dream,” could no longer convey his sword intent, nor could he use the “Four Sorrowful Styles” anymore.

He was trying to answer that question: What kind of sword technique was the most powerful?

The wind blew across his body, bringing the scent of flowers. He searched through his memories—someone who couldn’t use a sword, someone who once had used one, and then someone who returned to the past because of the sword. Suddenly, a memory stopped his thoughts: it was when taming Dragon Flame. Yes, it was about relaxation, complete relaxation of the whole body.

So, Liu Yi gently placed the sword on his legs and slowly relaxed his entire body… entering a state of unconsciousness. Yet, the question in his mind kept swirling—what was the highest sword technique?

Gradually, Liu Yi’s “Lanerfina Qing” meditation method arose spontaneously, but it wasn’t something he deliberately controlled. As his mind stirred, his will followed. Liu Yi lightly drew out “Sorrowful Dream.” Gradually, his powerful true energy grew stronger and stronger, seeping into the sword’s blade. Within this intense true energy, red and purple lights emanated from both sides of the sword. These two lights were extremely warm. As the light intensified, they gradually took shape—one representing the body of the Dragon Emperor, a symbol of power, and the other the body of Dragon Flame, a symbol of fire. Liu Yi suddenly opened his eyes, pointing his long sword at the sky. As his hand moved, the black sword blade traced a perfect arc from top to bottom.

With a “clang,” the sword was sheathed. Instantly, dark clouds covered the sky. Along with the surging energy, two red and purple dragon shadows flashed across the sky. Between them, a white light stretched from the heavens to the earth’s veins. With a thunderclap, the ground began to tremble, and cracks appeared in the sky. A dazzling white light appeared before Liu Yi’s eyes…

He was unable to speak for a long time. Finally, the light slowly faded and merged again. The dark clouds dispersed, and sunlight reappeared, along with a warm breeze. Holding the black long sword, Liu Yi sighed, “So, it’s all this simple. What are we really pursuing? Returning to simplicity—only when we reach the limit do we realize it was just a starting point. A sword has no fixed techniques; it’s all up to the user. Otherwise, it becomes a burden. In all things, speed isn’t the key to breaking through, nor is strength the key to power. The strongest sword technique is ‘no technique.’”

Looking at the sword in his hand, Liu Yi shook his head. Speed could be achieved through the thirteenth level of “Lanerfina Qing,” but power required the Eight Divine Dragons. So far, only two dragons had been tamed. It seemed it would take some time to deal with the divine realm. But… it was just a matter of time. Once the power of the Eight Divine Dragons was obtained, it would be time to declare war on the divine realm.

But… before that, if he left this place, would the divine realm attack him first? Should he hide? No… a surge of fury rose in Liu Yi’s heart. He would slowly search for the remaining six divine dragons. But he must leave this space—otherwise, how could he take care of the Wolf King and the others? He couldn’t disappoint his friends.

But with a shift in thought, Liu Yi remembered July. Over these twelve years, since those ancient memories were awakened, he had been obsessed with advancing in the “Lanelfina Qing” technique and pursuing this sword style. Now, everything was over; he only needed to find the power of the Eight Divine Dragons to strengthen “Sorrowful Dream.” So what about July? Should she continue to pretend she had no memories?

It turned out that since Liu Yi regained his memories, he had never told July. He had kept pretending he hadn’t recovered. Twelve years of hard training had finally led to his success, but now it was time to let her know the truth…

After sighing, Liu Yi seemed helpless. What could he say to July? If there was an afterlife, he would use it to make amends, but in this life… it was just fate preventing them from being together.

His thoughts guided his actions; he stepped onto his sword and flew into the air, gazing toward the horizon. Liu Yi seemed filled with endless emotions. Yes, without his memories, he had once thought he was so young, but suddenly, he had aged seven thousand years. Seven thousand years of pain, seven thousand years of sorrow, and seven thousand years of love had made it impossible for him to see the happiness of twelve years ago again…

After turning in two directions, it took about a quarter of an hour to fly back to that wooden house…

He landed gently on the ground. July was sitting by a garden next to the wooden house, three feet wide and four feet long. The garden was filled with colorful stones, very beautiful—all brought back by July over time. When Liu Yi asked her why she brought them, she always said, “When my hair turns white, when we’re too old to go anywhere, I’ll watch these stones bloom into seven-colored flowers.”

But fifteen years had passed, and July hadn’t aged at all. In this “Chaos Immortal Realm,” she even became younger, her appearance unchanged, her skin even smoother. She looked like a twenty-year-old girl. It seemed fate was hinting that she would never age and that there would never come a day when the two of them couldn’t go anywhere together.

Liu Yi looked at July and smiled bitterly helplessly. “Hey, what are you doing?”

July turned her head and said, “Watching these stones. I was just thinking when they’ll bloom.”

Liu Yi shook his head again. “Enough, stop being silly. How can stones bloom?”

July replied unhappily, “Who said that? I believe they will bloom. Isn’t there a saying? ‘With enough effort…’ What comes after? I forgot.”

Liu Yi laughed. “You really are…”

Before Liu Yi could continue, July asked, “How’s your training these days? Have you made any progress?”

Liu Yi nodded and looked at July. “A little progress, I guess.”

Just then, someone ran over. It was indeed a person, looking exactly like them—with hands, arms, and legs—except with a tail at the back and ears that were a bit sharper.

This strange person had been Liu Yi and July’s neighbor for the past twelve years. His name was Ground Rat, a cultivator of the demon race. He would come over to play whenever he had time. But it seemed odd that he came at this time, as he usually went to the forest to look for food during the day.

The mole ran over and said, “I say, Miss July, Young Master Liu Yi, I think we need to move…”
July stood up, walked over to Liu Yi, and asked, “Why do we need to move?”
The mole replied, “Don’t you know? I have to go to that back mountain during the day to look for food. But today, when I went there, I found that the Weak Water in that black pool had risen again. I don’t know what’s going on. I originally wanted to go down and take a look, but then I heard some extremely terrifying screams that scared me to death…” As he described it, he made exaggerated expressions.
July asked further, “What is Weak Water?”
The mole continued, “Don’t you know Weak Water? It’s a very strange kind of water—water on which even feathers can’t float. It’s terrifying. It keeps rising every day. If I don’t watch out, in a few days it will rise above the mountain top and flood our area. We’d better find another place. That water can sink anything.”
Liu Yi thought about something while repeating the words “Weak Water” out loud. Suddenly, he asked the mole, “What did you say just now? You said you heard terrifying screams? Did that sound resemble a dragon’s roar?”