Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

“As if having control over the Spirit Mountains and great rivers of the Central Plains wasn’t enough, now they even want to dominate this small Southern Sea and take it fully into their pocket?”

“It was bad enough that they covertly supported Mysterious Yin Island over the years, but now they’re openly making their move to break the backbone of the Southern Sea Cultivation Realm.”

“If True Monarch Cangwu loses the battle today, how many more years will the Southern Sea Cultivation Realm have to wait before another Mahayana True Immortal emerges?”

A throng of people gathered, the undercurrents roiling, all discontent was apparent.

Non-mainstream paths were difficult, and heresy was hard to practice!

As cultivators of a secondary path, those from the Southern Sea lacked both resources and mana points. In every aspect, they were outmatched by those from the orthodox and mainstream paths. Many struggled mightily to reach the Integration realm, but due to their mixed and impure foundations, they had no hope of attaining Mahayana, and ultimately could only die with regrets.

To this day, among the Cultivation Realm of the Southern Sea, only the Ten Sects have ever produced Mahayana cultivators, and even then, it was by chance and accident, impossible to replicate or pass on. Thus, these ten sects, after the passing of the Mahayana Ancestor, have all fallen to the level of Integration forces.

The South Sea Sect was once hopeful of breaking this curse, but various twists and turns arose, and now they are even more directly hindered by the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion.

If Li Cangwu loses this battle, it would deal a significant blow to the Southern Sea Cultivation Realm, perhaps even directly breaking its backbone. In the future, when Southern Sea cultivators progress to the Mahayana stage, they might have to face this daunting shadow of a curse.

Intimidating the cultivators, consolidating authority, nurturing puppets, and training lapdogs, in order to control the Southern Sea Cultivation Realm in their hands—this is the purpose of the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion in this battle.

Their wild ambition is clear!

In response, the Southern Sea cultivators feel resentment in their hearts, but it is only resentment.

Without enough strength, how can they be opposed?

“True Monarch Cangwu, what are your chances of winning?”

“That Nine Heavens Sword Disciple has already reached Integration, and this sword-fighting competition is his first step in challenging the world and assuming the position of Sword Master.”

“With a strong battle force from an orthodox and mainstream sect, there have been Saint Lords of Immortal Sects who have countered and slashed down Mahayana cultivators from secondary paths, shaking the wastelands in all directions.”

“True Monarch Cangwu, having perfected his Integration, has yet to progress to Mahayana. Faced with the Nine Heavens Sword Disciple, who is also at the Integration level…”

“I’m afraid the odds of winning are slim!”

“Don’t boost others’ morale at the expense of our own prestige. True Monarch Cangwu is a Heaven Sword Cultivator and has previously slain Xuan Yin Old Ancestor in adverse conditions. His combat strength may not necessarily be inferior to those Immortal Sect Saint Lords.”

“Not to speak of victory, but at least there’s a hope for a draw!”

“…”

The gathered cultivators exchanged thoughts telepathically, all feeling anxious and not optimistic.

There’s no helping it—the gap between the secondary paths and the orthodox path is deep-seated, rooted in their very bones. And so, they can only hope for a draw, daring not to entertain any thoughts of victory.

Meanwhile, at the South Sea Sect, Cloud Dragon Island.

Within the Ancestor Master’s Hall, Li Cangwu wore a solemn expression, gravely inserting a stick of incense before his master Yun Tianhe’s spirit tablet.

Just then, the sound of footsteps was heard as someone entered the hall.

Without turning his head, Li Cangwu said coldly, “What else are you here for?”

“Eldest senior brother!”

Yue Qing’er halted her steps, looking at his back, her expression was earnest: “Are you truly going through with this?”

“Hmph!”

Li Cangwu let out a cold snort, offering no response.

With a determined look, Yue Qing’er tried again, “Even if you win this battle, what of it? Neither the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion nor any other Sacred Place would allow the Southern Sea to unify. The secondary paths having a leader, your single-minded determination will only bring a calamitous disaster upon the South Sea Sect, causing the efforts and aspirations of the Master and all the Ancestors to be wasted.”

“Are you scared?”

Upon hearing these words, Li Cangwu finally turned around, looking at her with cold eyes, and asked this heart-stabbing question.

“I…!”

Yue Qing’er’s words stumbled, struggling to respond, and she involuntarily averted her gaze.

As Li Cangwu said, she… was afraid!

In the span of a mere three months, no one knew where Li Cangwu had gone, but when he returned to the South Sea Sect, he carried a sharp aura that commanded respect. Although not exactly a Rebirth, his Swordsmanship had greatly improved.

Even though Yue Qing’er still saw his chance of winning as slim, there was an unease in her heart, pushing her to come here once more to persuade him.

But she couldn’t admit to this, so all Yue Qing’er could do was to put on a brave front: “I simply do not wish to see my senior brother and Zhang Er clash swords, to suffer any injury. I do not want to see the foundation of the South Sea Sect, the essence of Master’s hard work, dissipate to nothing.”

“…”

Li Cangwu looked at her, his expression unchanged, and without a word, he continued walking out of the hall.

His stance was clear, utterly resolute!

“Senior brother!”

Yue Qing’er’s eyes sharpened, and she called out to him once more, “Do you still hold a grudge against me, for what happened back then?”

Li Cangwu did not respond and kept walking.

“I had no choice!”

To her surprise, Yue Qing’er blurted out a shocking revelation.

“Back then, I encountered danger in Canglang Ruins and, by a stroke of fate, happened upon the Central Plains. There, with severe injuries and memory loss, I was taken in by the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion.”

“In those days at the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion, I truly did not recognize the Master, which led to that terrible mistake.”

“After my Cultivation advanced, my memory, though recovered, was too late to change the inevitable, and I was powerless.”

“If you bear hatred, then today, within this Ancestor Master’s Hall, strike me down with a sword and rid yourself of the resentment in your heart!”

“Better that than throwing your life away and having the South Sea Sect buried with you.”

Each word resounded, striking the heart.

“…”

Li Cangwu stopped in his tracks, frozen in place, without turning back or speaking.

Yet Yue Qing’er, disregarding all, caught up to him and blocked his way, “Junior Sister begs you, why not let go?”

Her words came through tear-blurred eyes.

However, upon exchanging glances, she saw eyes as cold as a sword’s edge.

“Senior Brother…”

Yue Qing’er’s heart skipped a beat, and involuntarily, she stepped back several paces.

Li Cangwu looked at her, his expression cold and detached yet also somewhat resigned, “People aim high like water flows to the low, I did not blame you back then, only hated my own incompetence, but now…Yue Qing’er, how can there be such a despicable, shameless, and vile woman like you in the world?”

“You…!”

Yue Qing’er’s complexion changed, at a loss for words.

Li Cangwu paid her no mind, “If you truly suffered from memory loss back then, would our Master not know, not understand, not be tormented until his death?”

“I…”

Yue Qing’er found herself speechless, stepping back again.

Li Cangwu watched her coldly, with a hint of killing intent, “Back then, your betrayal of our Master and the sect was one thing, but now you weave lies to corrupt my Cultivation, a shameful act beyond measure. Do you really think I wouldn’t dare draw my sword and kill you?”

“!!!”

At these words, Yue Qing’er’s face turned paler, revealing panic.

But she quickly regained her composure, feigning confidence, “If Senior Brother thinks so, I have nothing to say, but this matter concerns the future of the South Sea Sect, the lifework of our Master…”

“You’re not worthy to speak of our Master!”

Before she could finish, Li Cangwu cut her off and strode forward, his gaze sharp as a sword, chilling revelation.

“I know, I know that the South Sea Sect does not share one heart with me. If they did, they wouldn’t allow you to roam freely, to come here to the Ancestor Master’s Hall and persuade me to bow down to the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion.”

“But whatever they choose is their affair. After today, if they want to kneel or surrender, that’s their decision. Today, however, I will fight for our Master, for those in the sect who still have spines, to earn some respect!”

“I want the world to know that the South Sea Sect isn’t just made up of servile dogs that would bend the knee or traitors who curry favor with outsiders!”

“You…!!!”

Her words choked off, she appeared thunderstruck, Yue Qing’er paled, even more at a loss.

Li Cangwu did not give her any more attention, moving forward and brushing past her, stepping out of the Ancestor Master’s Hall.

…

“Boom!”

Above the Canglang Ruins, the Cultivators waited in silence.

Suddenly, thunder roared, a sword streaked across the sky.

Winds blasted, thunder rumbled, revealing a figure hovering over the ruins.

“It’s True Monarch Cangwu!”

“He’s finally arrived!”

“This Li Cangwu…!?”

Seeing the main figure arrive, the crowd stirred slightly, and the Integration Cultivators were filled with surprise and doubt.

“Has his Cultivation advanced again?”

“His sword’s momentum has significantly increased; there’s a hint of transformation!”

“Could it be…”

The cultivators glanced around, their expressions full of uncertainty.

Lu Mingyu turned to look back at the lone figure in the distance.

Others might not know, but she was well aware that Li Cangwu had been in the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion these past three months.

Now that his swordsmanship had undergone a significant change and hinted at advancement, who would believe it had nothing to do with the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion?

But in merely three months, what had he done to achieve such transformation?

Lu Mingyu did not know, feeling an indescribable unease in her heart, as if today’s events would lead to shocking twists.

“Boom!”

Just as Li Cangwu settled, he saw a sword beam speeding towards him from afar, bringing with it stormy winds and thunder.

The sword moved with lightning speed, arriving in a flash above the ruins, revealing itself to be a majestic, thunderous warship.

The warship, sword-shaped and surrounded by thunderous winds, showed tremendous might and was indeed the great Immortal Artifact of the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion.

Then, a stream of light flew out, transforming into a group of people hovering in one area of the sky.

Among them, a young man in white strolled casually into the scene.

It was…

“The Nine Heavens Sword Disciple!”

“Xiao Zhang of the Xiao Family!”

The crowd’s eyes sharpened, all feeling a surge of shock.

Xiao Zhang was silent, entering the field, facing Li Cangwu, his gaze sweeping, his eyes inexplicably probing, “In just three months, such progress is not bad, not in vain that I’ve come all this way!”

“…”

“…”

“…”

Hearing this, everyone fell silent.

This Nine Heavens Sword Disciple truly lived up to his reputation.

Only Li Cangwu remained calm, “Draw your sword!”