Chapter 399: Human Zenith Sword Immortal, Eight Sword Rings Reaching the Heavens! |
Yun Xiao had grown accustomed to steamrolling his way across all corners with the talents of the Creator Immortal. But when his fledgling Genesis Spirit revealed its true form, an inexplicable chill pierced his heart, plunging him into a silence as deep as death. The newly formed Genesis Spirit, equally bewildered, looked around as if the wonders within his Dantian had nothing to do with it, standing alone amidst the divine.
Then, a warmth began to seep from beneath his feet. The Genesis Spirit looked down to find the source of this warmth—the Worldly Dao heart. This heart, ablaze with fervor, encapsulated all that belonged to Yun Xiao—the boiling blood of the common folk, the indignant souls unwilling to concede, the profound empathy of the downtrodden.
The Genesis Spirit and the Worldly Dao Heart complemented each other; the former became its soul, while the latter its foundation and source of warmth.
"Interesting, very interesting," Yun Xiao mused. This peculiar sensation steadied his heart after the initial shock, his gaze hardening with resolve.
The Genesis Spirit, like an inner eye within him, sat calmly atop the Worldly Dao Heart, surveying the unfamiliar and tumultuous surroundings with a tranquil heart.
"What's with the shock? Got a problem with your spirit?" Blue Star popped out to ask.
"It's nothing," Yun Xiao replied with a smile, drawing upon the power of the Heavenly Dao Sariras. With the Genesis Spirit's presence, his Dantian could hold more sacred power, propelling him into the Early Genesis Spirit Realm and significantly boosting his power!
On his first day in the Primordial Ruins, his cultivation soared continuously. "This just shows, with a solid foundation, there's no beating that can break me. Once I step into a new realm, my rise is unstoppable."
Yun Xiao felt a sense of awe. The power of the Creator Immortal was truly formidable, visibly terrifying.
After reaching the Genesis Spirit Realm, the next level was the Sacred Wheel Realm. This was where the sacred power perfected itself into a wheel shape, transforming within the Five Calamities or Five Decays to ascend into a higher form of immortal power.
The Dao Heart entered the Fate Ocean, the Heaven Sanctuary birthed the Genesis Spirit, and the Sacred Wheel dominated the Five Calamities—only now, it faced the Five Decays.
"After the first tribulation of the Wind Fire Tribulation Realm, there comes the Saint and the Awakened Emperor Realm..." Yun Xiao, having arrived at the Primordial Ruins, had gained some understanding of the path that lay beneath the immortal ladder, the path of cultivation that awaited.
He took a moment to steady his power, securing his Early Genesis Spirit Realm cultivation, and soon, dawn broke.
Lian Xi had been watching him the whole time. Eventually, she, like a child, dozed off on the stone table. Her cheeks were flushed, and she mumbled in her sleep, "No, you can't," clearly lost in some less-than-pure dream.
"This girl... truly blissful," Yun Xiao began with a critique but ended up reflecting. The path of immortality, real or not, if he were still his former self, how could he have witnessed such a fairy in her most unguarded moments before him?
The chasm of class was the harshest reality of the world.
Yun Xiao sat beside her, captivated by her profile for a long while.
"Hmm..." Lian Xi woke up, rubbing her eyes. Catching sight of Yun Xiao, her face turned a deeper shade of red, and she muttered, "...Jerk."
"If you keep insulting me, I might just make your dreams come true," Yun Xiao teased.
"No!" She recoiled, then sneaked another glance at Yun Xiao and mumbled, "In a few days, I'll turn 15."
"Which day?" Yun Xiao's eyes sparkled.
"On Three Immortals Day," Lian Xi said.
"Three Immortals Day, huh? Sounds kind of pompous to me," Yun Xiao joked.
"It's the day the Three True Immortals descended into the Primordial Ruins to relieve suffering," Lian Xi explained.
"They relieve what now? Themselves?" Yun Xiao chuckled.
"What?" Lian Xi was stunned, staring at Yun Xiao in disbelief.
"Oh, nothing..." Yun Xiao coughed, realizing the stark contrast between his appearance and his coarse language was too much for Lian Xi to handle.
"Enough talk, let's go take your test!"
Lian Xi stood up, stretching like a great beast, her joints popping loudly. If one wasn't paying attention, they might think a mythical creature was right before their eyes.
"Wait." Yun Xiao grabbed her hand and asked, "Tell me, in the Primordial Ruins, what grade are the Sword Souls of the Sword Cultivators usually at?"
"Grades?" Lian Xi tilted her head in thought. "Ignis grade is considered entry-level, usually capping at the Genesis Spirit Realm. Aurum grade is divided into lower, middle, and upper tiers, forming the foundation that can reach the Sacred Wheel Realm. Beyond that, there's a saying, 'Three Yin grades for Kings, three Yang grades for Emperors.' The Yin grade can generally reach the Five Decays Realm, while the Yang grade has a high chance of transcending the Five Decays, undergoing a transformation, significantly extending one's lifespan, and assaulting the path to immortality."
Yun Xiao recalled that Song Bomei's Sword Soul was of the Yin grade, while the more gifted Huyan Luo's Sword Soul was of the lower Yang grade, considered quite high in the Primordial Ruins. His youth was the only thing holding him back from being even more formidable.
"So, the Sword Cultivators here generally have six or seven Sword Rings?" Yun Xiao inquired.
"Right... but not necessarily. Some prefer not to wear any if they don't have good ones. Judging Sword Soul grades by Sword Rings can be hasty. Those with seven Sword Rings definitely possess King or Emperor level Sword Souls of the Yin or Yang grades, but having five or six doesn't necessarily mean they're inferior," Lian Xi explained.
"What then, precisely distinguishes the grades?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Sword Inheritance Stones," Lian Xi said with a smile.
"There are Sword Inheritance Stones here too?"
"Of course..." Lian Xi sighed, covering her forehead.
With this information, Yun Xiao had a clearer picture. In terms of talent, figures like the Sword Warden could barely make it in the Primordial Ruins, while someone like the Talisman Emperor, if raised here, could reach the middle tier.
"It makes sense that the Primordial Ruins stand above countless worlds."
The Nine Hells wouldn't have Sword Souls with seven Sword Rings, deemed King or Emperor.
The twelfth level of the Aurum grade was the limit there.
With this in mind, Yun Xiao changed the subject, "Then, do you know how many Sword Rings the Human Zenith Immortal has?"
"Common knowledge," Lian Xi replied with a sweet innocence.
"Oh?"
"The Human Zenith Immortal, with his eight Sword Rings reaching to the heavens. Those practicing ascension are always chanting about it," Lian Xi explained, a touch of exasperation in her voice.
"Eight rings to the heavens?" Yun Xiao couldn't help but laugh. "What heavens is he reaching for?"
"Huh?" Lian Xi covered her face. So blunt! And yet, so endearing.
"Lil Xi," Yun Xiao took her hand gently, his question earnest, "What if someone had nine Sword Rings? Would the Primordial Academy consider them a once-in-a-lifetime genius?"
Lian Xi paused, then shook her head gravely, "If someone had nine Sword Rings, they'd be dead."
"Why?" Yun Xiao's expression darkened.
"In the Primordial Ruins, the Three True Immortals are the pillars of faith, the limits of the heavens, the legends of our time... If anyone were to surpass the Three True Immortals in any obvious aspect, they'd only be seen as one thing—a harbinger of chaos!"
Lian Xi looked down, "Step outside the academy, and the world will hunt you down, labeling you a demon to be slain in the name of justice, to protect the common good... They refuse to acknowledge anything mightier than the Three True Immortals. It's all illusions, plots, and schemes. Only the Three True Immortals are the holy saviors."
"Oh? People are that foolish?" Yun Xiao mused with a smirk.
"It's not about being foolish, brother. It's something indescribable, living in people's minds, beyond your wildest imaginations..." Lian Xi clasped her hands, suddenly nervous, her voice trembling slightly.
"So, you're afraid?" Yun Xiao suddenly grasped her hands.
"Me?" Lian Xi's delicate body shook, she quickly replied, "What do I have to fear? I've done nothing to surpass the Three True Immortals. They are beyond reach."
"Is that so? Seems you're not trying hard enough." Yun Xiao stood up, summoning the Heaven Burial Sword Soul, and with a deliberate motion, he slid 18 Sword Rings onto it. Turning to Lian Xi, he declared, "I've surpassed them, and by quite a margin."