In the dense forest, Lin Xuan’s figure moved like lightning, swiftly darting through it. Behind him, five ferocious Sword Soul Beasts pursued relentlessly.
After a long chase, they finally caught up with Lin Xuan and surrounded him. The five Sword Soul Beasts roared, baring their fangs as they lunged at Lin Xuan, intent on killing him.
However, Lin Xuan simply waved his arm, summoning a sixth-grade array: the Two Elements Sword Array.
In an instant, Black and White Sword Qi erupted, spreading like a tidal wave in all directions and instantly piercing through the Sword Soul Beasts. The five Sword Soul Beasts let out agonizing screams before collapsing with a crash.
Immediately afterward, five ethereal Sword Soul Beast shadows floated out from their bodies. Emitting powerful Soul Power, they began to circle around Lin Xuan. Including the one he had captured earlier, there were now a total of six Sword Soul Beasts around him.
Using the power of these six Sword Soul Beasts, Lin Xuan began cultivating the Green Lotus Sword Technique. This time, he was delighted to discover that his cultivation speed had increased sixfold, which made him ecstatic.
Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Lin Xuan finally succeeded in mastering the first level of the Green Lotus Sword Technique. By this point, however, the six Sword Soul Beasts had become ethereal and dim. Evidently, their Soul Power had been completely exhausted, leaving them unable to support his continued cultivation.
Lin Xuan sighed softly. He was fully aware that in their current state, the Sword Soul Beasts could no longer assist his cultivation of the second level of the Green Lotus Sword Technique. He realized he would have to find new Sword Soul Beasts.
Thus, he continued his search. Before long, a thunderous, earth-shattering roar echoed from the depths of the valley, booming like a crack of lightning. The entire valley trembled violently as a terrifying Sword Dao storm swept through. Feeling this formidable power, many of the Sword Cultivators in the valley were terrified, and even Lin Xuan was startled.
But a moment later, a glimmer of excitement flashed in his eyes. Such a powerful Sword Soul Beast... If I could capture it, my cultivation speed would surely take another leap forward.
With this thought, he rushed toward the source of the sound without hesitation.
「At the same time,」
The other Sword Cultivators in the valley also began rushing in that direction. Everyone hurried along and finally emerged from the forest. Before them was a vast open space, and farther on lay the Mist Zone.
A gray mist shrouded everything like a veil, emanating a mysterious and dangerous aura. No one dared to enter recklessly. They knew full well that this was the core region of Sword Valley, and the Sword Soul Beasts inside were extremely formidable.
Most of the Sword Cultivators present were at the Grandmaster level, with the strongest among them being only a four-star Grandmaster. The rest were mostly three-star and two-star Grandmasters. With their strength, entering the Mist Zone ahead was undoubtedly courting death.
Just then, Lin Xuan arrived. He looked around at the many Sword Cultivators and was slightly startled; to his surprise, there were over twenty people here.
These Sword Cultivators also noticed Lin Xuan, but most only gave him a casual glance before looking away.
However, one young man’s face showed a look of surprise. This person was Luo Rong. He had previously witnessed Lin Xuan being chased by five Sword Soul Beasts and had been certain that Lin Xuan was doomed. Yet here he was, completely unharmed. This was truly unbelievable.
Could this kid have extraordinary strength? With this doubt in mind, Luo Rong carefully scrutinized Lin Xuan. But soon, a hint of confusion appeared in his eyes. He discovered that Lin Xuan was just a six-star Grandmaster. With such strength, defeating five Sword Soul Beasts was utterly impossible. He must have just gotten lucky and managed to escape.
Thinking this, Luo Rong paid him no further attention.
Lin Xuan looked at the Sword Cultivators who were hesitating, his own mind full of doubt. "Why aren’t you going any further?" he asked. "There seem to be even stronger Sword Soul Beasts ahead."
Everyone turned and looked at Lin Xuan in surprise. One of them said, "Young man, you must be new to Sword Valley. You don’t know how dangerous this place is."
"Ahead is the core region," another explained. "If we go in, we’ll certainly die."
"That’s right. Forget about us, even a nine-star Grandmaster would be hard-pressed to escape with their life," a third person echoed.
"Can only a King enter?" Lin Xuan asked, frowning.
Everyone shook their heads. "Even Kings can’t enter."
One of the cultivators elaborated, "Sword Valley is divided into core and non-core regions. The Sword Soul Beasts in the non-core region are only suitable for the cultivation of Sword Cultivators below the five-star Grandmaster level. The cultivation effects for anyone above a five-star Grandmaster are negligible, so most who come here are four-star Grandmasters."
"The core region, on the other hand, is said to be extremely formidable," he continued. "Not only are there stronger Sword Soul Beasts inside that can increase one’s cultivation speed tenfold, but there is also Sword Intent."
"That’s a treasure countless Sword Cultivators dream of. Once you comprehend Sword Intent, your attack power will increase dramatically."
"Unfortunately, the core region is mysterious and dangerous. A King once entered and perished within it."
"Later, after some experts investigated, they discovered that one could only enter if they possessed the power of a Martial Emperor or held a Martial Emperor-level Treasure, such as a sixth-grade Divine Sword or a sixth-grade Sword Array. Otherwise, entry is simply impossible. But how could an ordinary person possess such a Treasure? So, we can’t go in."
"As for Martial Emperors, their own strength is already immense, so they have no need for the power here. Naturally, they wouldn’t come."
After hearing this, Lin Xuan suddenly understood. Then, a smile touched the corners of his lips. He had a sixth-grade Divine Sword: the Spirit Dragon Nine Heavens Sword. He also had a sixth-grade Sword Array: the Two Elements Sword Array. A place others couldn’t enter, but he could.
Thinking of this, Lin Xuan lifted his foot and headed towards the Mist Zone ahead.
The surrounding Sword Cultivators were all stunned.
"Are you crazy? Stop!" one shouted.
"Yes, it’s incredibly dangerous in there! You’re going to your death!"
Everyone tried to dissuade him. They truly couldn’t understand why, after they had so earnestly explained everything, the kid didn’t seem to have listened to a single word.
Lin Xuan simply laughed and said, "Don’t worry. It’s not dangerous for me up ahead."
Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. Not dangerous at all? Does this kid have a Martial Emperor-level Treasure? Thinking this, they all widened their eyes.
Someone asked, "May I ask your name, young man?"
Lin Xuan laughed and replied, "I’m a Saint Academy Disciple, Lin Xuan."
"A Saint Academy Disciple?"
Upon hearing this, everyone looked intrigued and turned their gazes to Luo Rong. One of them asked, "Luo Rong, is he one of your Saint Academy Disciples? Could he be one of the prodigies from the Qingyun Ranking?"
Luo Rong frowned, scrutinized Lin Xuan again, then shook his head. "I don’t know him."
Everyone was dumbfounded. Luo Rong doesn’t know him? Could this kid be an imposter, pretending to be a Saint Academy Disciple?
Seeing their reactions, Lin Xuan explained, "I’m new to the Sacred Institute. I only joined two months ago."
"What? A newcomer?" everyone exclaimed in shock.
Luo Rong snorted coldly. "A mere newcomer dares to speak so arrogantly? Out of consideration for our shared status as Saint Academy Disciples, I’ll give you a piece of kind advice. Don’t go any further, or you’ll surely die."
If he were a prodigy from the Qingyun Ranking, perhaps he might possess a Martial Emperor-level Treasure. But a newcomer? How could he possibly have such a thing?
Lin Xuan smiled. "Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother, but don’t worry. I can handle it."
With that, Lin Xuan strode forward and soon disappeared into the mist.
The crowd stared in astonishment.
"He went in! That kid actually went in!"
Luo Rong’s face turned grim as he said coldly, "What a reckless and ignorant fool! He still insisted on going in even after I warned him. Isn’t he just asking to die?"
In his view, Lin Xuan couldn’t possibly possess a Martial Emperor-level Treasure. This foray into the core region was a one-way trip to certain death.