Chapter 093: The Spring of the Secret Realm (Part Two)

“How dare you junior descendants challenge me—you're courting death. I will see this entire secret realm destroyed, burying everyone here with me...”

The entire great hall trembled violently, the five-colored, dazzling power of the formation quaking incessantly. Centered on the Spirit Well, a mighty pressure of spiritual energy spread outward from the hidden chamber in the lake, instantly flooding this confined space for two hundred miles in every direction.

In that moment, the whole secret realm was thrown into turmoil, the spiritual energy surging as if on the verge of unleashing a cataclysmic storm to annihilate and swallow the entire domain, filling all with dread.

“This is bad—could the very space of this secret realm be collapsing—?”

Panic and terror swept through the crowd. Were it not for the formidable formation anchoring the great hall, the aftershocks of that power alone would have been enough to wipe them out. Yet none could predict how much longer the protective formation would hold.

“Ning Han, stop! Do you want to bury us all in this secret realm?”

The other burly, red-haired man from the Sword Sect shouted in a mix of anger and alarm.

Many glared at Ning Han with hostility and fury, neglecting to notice Xue Xuan, who was similarly engaging the broken ancient sword with his own spiritual force.

By now, the situation was becoming clear. For reasons unknown, the broken ancient sword had pierced the spring at the heart of the secret realm, destabilizing the entire space. Indeed, this sword might have been the very cause of Starfeather Gate’s decline and ultimate schism centuries ago.

The array formed by the many spiritual artifacts around them served to suppress the spring and the ancient sword, preventing the secret realm from collapsing into ruin.

If the broken sword, filled with sword intent, launched an all-out assault regardless of the cost, it could well obliterate the secret realm. Should that happen, none present would likely survive.

Thunder rumbled.

Through the violent shaking, savage sword energy and raging winds battered the hall, held in check only by the formation, while the greater force was vented outward, setting the secret realm’s climate into chaos, life trembling as if doomsday had come.

The disciples of both sects clustered within their camps, weathering the residual storm of sword energy—barely clinging to life.

Then, after what felt like ages, the overwhelming force abruptly ceased.

Everyone finally drew a breath.

The battered ancient sword in the Spirit Well dimmed a little, the spiritual liquid around it bubbling and churning.

“Hmph! I, Ning Han, will not be threatened!”

With a shout, Ning Han strode toward the Spirit Well again.

The broken sword gave a resonant hum, unleashing another terrifying wave of sword intent, as if a tide of sword energy, coalescing into fiery thunder-dragons, surged into everyone’s minds.

Groans of pain echoed as the crowd reeled, unable to resist.

Ning Han unleashed his sword intent without hesitation.

Xue Xuan summoned the power of the “She” character technique, exuding an aura like that of a primeval dragon, fighting back.

A thunderous crash sounded in the void, and Ning Han at the front spat a mouthful of blood.

Xue Xuan too let out a muffled groan, blood trickling from the corner of his lips.

The ancient sword, quivering violently, lost more of its light, then erupted once more with a surge of sword energy, the hall quaking, the formation overhead flickering with five-colored brilliance.

Chaos reigned yet again; almost everyone bore at least a dozen wounds.

At this moment, disciples of both sects had drawn within five paces of the Spirit Well.

At five paces' distance,

The sword intent pressed like a mountain, making every breath a struggle, every step agony.

“It seems the remnant soul within this sword has little power left—not enough to destroy the spring. It’s only by channeling the spring’s force that it shakes the entire secret realm.”

Senior Brother Jiang murmured almost to himself.

At his words, realization dawned on many faces. The broken sword itself lacked world-shattering power—the key was that it had struck the vital point of the spirit spring.

Remnant soul?

Xue Xuan was startled.

So the sword, without a wielder, was able to release sword intent because it harbored a fragment of soul.

He couldn’t help but think of the remnant soul from his past life—there were similarities.

“At its peak, the remnant soul within this sword likely surpassed the Condensing Core stage, reaching the second tier of the Golden Core Path. Its soul lingers in the blade, surviving for centuries thanks to the spring’s pure spiritual liquid. Now, its power is less than a tenth of its former self, weak indeed. Otherwise, even without a physical body, its sword intent alone would never have allowed you two brats to challenge it.”

The remnant soul from his past life seemed to sense Xue Xuan’s thoughts.

“What should I do?”

Xue Xuan gritted his teeth, enduring the crushing sword intent.

“If you can claim the ‘Violet Soul Jade’ on the stone platform, victory will be ours. As for the sword—it is spent. Pay it no mind, but above all, keep yourself alive...”

The voice of his past-life remnant soul was full of confident certainty.

As long as he claimed the Violet Soul Jade... victory would be theirs?

Xue Xuan wondered at the source of this confidence—could there be some hidden card yet to play?

Of course, he and the remnant soul were one—a loss for one was a loss for both; the latter would never abandon Xue Xuan to his fate.

“Ignorant junior—you must be disciples of Starfeather Gate. I caused the decline and schism of that sect, and I will not allow you to inherit a single thing from here.”

A chilling voice rang out from the ancient sword, its invisible sword intent growing even fiercer, the Spirit Well bubbling and churning.

The crowd was aghast. To think the sword’s owner was such a formidable figure.

Centuries ago, how had he stormed into the heart of Starfeather Gate at its zenith, bringing about its decline and division?

In life, the sword’s master must have been among the most powerful in Yellow Dragon City, and perhaps even a renowned cultivator of the vast Kunyun Kingdom.

“Let’s join forces to resist the sword. We need only seize the treasure,”

Le Feng suggested with a calm smile to both sects’ disciples.

His proposal was immediately met with agreement and nods all around.

They gathered their spiritual light, steeling their wills, pressing toward the Spirit Well.

If they could reach it, they could approach the stone platform and the remains of the Condensing Core experts who had fallen here.

But even at five paces away, every step was a trial, as if weighed down by a thousand pounds.

The battered ancient sword did not strike immediately, but the oppressive force of its sword intent only grew stronger.

A spurt of blood.

At last, a Sword Sect disciple could endure no more; he spat blood, staggered, and collapsed with a crash, instantly unconscious.

The sword intent—sharp enough to pierce the soul—became a raging river of sword energy, rampaging through the hearts and minds of all present. Those with weaker cultivation, unsteady will, or unstable realms were especially vulnerable.

Step by arduous step, the survivors pressed forward.

Only four paces remained.

“Senior Brother Le, I can’t take it anymore...If I keep going, my mind will shatter,”

One disciple, pale and wracked with agony, crawled away toward the exit.

Soon, more disciples withdrew in bitter defeat.

Forcing themselves ahead would only end in death by sword intent, or spiritual derangement and wounds to the soul that would never heal.

For those below the fourth level of Qi Refining, four paces was the limit.

In the blink of an eye, only six or seven remained—all at the fourth level or higher.

Except for Xue Xuan!

Under this dreadful oppression, no one had the energy to think of anything else. Each was expending all their strength to advance, every step bringing them closer to the treasure.

Another pace gained—three paces left.

The final three paces!

Now, the sword intent from the ancient sword reached a terrifying intensity, as if caught in a storm of sword energy; every current was agony to the mind.

Even some at the fourth level of Qi Refining turned ashen, blood at their lips, their minds clouded.

In a true crisis, even among those of the same rank, differences in willpower and stability of cultivation became starkly apparent.

A crash.

Xue Xuan propped himself up with one hand, breathing hard, feeling as though he had reached his limit.

The power of the “She” character technique was compressed around his body, defending with all its might, but the sword intent seemed unstoppable, drilling into his mind and leaving him trembling.

To have reached this point with merely the cultivation of a Body Temperer was astonishing enough—even if many took him for a martial cultivator.

“As long as you seize the Violet Soul Jade, victory will be yours!”

The voice of the remnant soul from his past life sounded again, as if to encourage him.

Xue Xuan’s spirit rallied, his eyes burning with determination. His energy and blood surged wildly; guided by the “She” character, he drew all his strength together.

The sword intent outside pressed relentlessly, constantly provoking the mysterious power within him.

Xue Xuan continually adjusted this force, sensing his whole being gather immense strength under the pressure—his essence, energy, and blood only growing more vigorous with each clash, purifying and sharpening as if to break free of his body and soar into the cosmos beyond.

In this crucible, Xue Xuan’s overall power advanced yet another step, the mysterious force within him reaching its purest peak.

Two paces!

He had managed a few more steps, while even a fourth-level Qi Refiner nearby had collapsed, looking at him in shock and disbelief.

“Amazing! The peak of the ninth level...Great Perfection...half a step more, and you’ll touch the tenth level of body training!”

The remnant soul’s voice in his mind was full of delighted excitement.

(End of first chapter—please recommend!)