Inside the subterranean Flame Lake,
Xu Xian opened his eyes, and a scorching breath rushed toward him.
The heat waves remained as they were, and the chaotic sound of churning, exploding magma filled his ears.
The commotion was even greater than before he had entered his meditative state.
The five sets of withered bones still sat upon the Five-Direction Platforms.
The Five-Element fortune continued to surge incessantly from beneath the magma pool.
The iron chains on the sealed Sky Gate clashed against one another.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sound was sharp and piercing.
The black malice qi grew thicker and more urgent, as if it could break through the seal at any moment...
Xu Xian tilted his head to peer upward, a startled light flickering in his eyes. His gaze seemed to pierce through layers of rock and earth, looking beyond the sky...
He saw the lightning tribulation that felt both near and far, ready to descend at any moment...
He saw the fierce slaughter and the chaotic battlefield of the mortal realm...
He saw the crumbling seal that threatened to collapse at any time...
Everything piled up before him the very moment he opened his eyes.
The young man felt a deep sense of worry, his eyes filled with sorrow.
In fact,
He had no time to rejoice that the fifth floor of the Sword Tower had been built.
He had no time to savor the power of the tribulation transcendence stage.
He had no heart to investigate how the sixth floor should be constructed...
There were far more urgent matters at hand.
He had to resolve the troubles that had come knocking all at once before he could talk about the future.
Through his thoughts, he asked the Little Book Spirit about the current situation.
Simultaneously, his hands formed seals and chanted incantations. Following the instructions Li Taibai had left before his passing, he prepared to reinforce the seal in this place...
His first question: "When will the lightning tribulation descend?"
Shuer replied, "This place is close to the Sky Gate. The formation sealing the gate can also shield us from all detection, even preventing the Fanzhou Heavenly Dao from interfering. Therefore, the lightning tribulation cannot fall here. Once you leave this place, the triple lightning tribulation will surely strike. After you cross it, you can use the power of the Great Dao within to cleanse your marrow and forge your bones, stabilizing your foundation in the tribulation transcendence stage..."
His second question: "What is the situation outside?"
The Little Book Spirit shook its head. "I cannot see. However, judging by the agitation of the Five-Element fortune, a fight must have broken out. It is a fierce one, and the battlefield likely spans more than one location. The number of people involved is probably far greater than we estimated."
Xu Xian fell silent.
What was meant to come had finally arrived.
Although he had guessed as much and prepared himself mentally,
He hadn't expected it to happen so quickly in just half a month.
He had already been as fast as possible, not wasting a single moment.
Yet,
He was still a step too slow.
"If only it were a bit later."
His voice was lonely, his expression dark.
If it could have been just a little later, with him there, all tragedies could have been avoided.
Now, even if they could make it in time and hold the line,
The Wendao Sword Sect would inevitably suffer losses, and the Northern Borders would be devastated...
Just like the war in the East Desolation eight years ago; they had won, but the Wendao Sword Sect had been severely weakened. This time would likely be the same.
Sensing its master's thoughts, the Little Book Spirit comforted him. "War always involves death."
"The cycle of life and death for all living things is an iron law of the universe's operation. Master, you cannot change that..."
"Do not blame yourself, and there is no need for psychological pressure..."
Xu Xian gave a soft hum, not denying it.
In the world of adults, there was no room for such hesitation.
This was cultivation; what they fought for was longevity and the Great Dao.
It wasn't some children's game.
"Help me," he said.
The Little Book Spirit nodded heavily. "Alright!"
With a sweep of his sleeve, Xu Xian sent the Five-Element power surging in all directions. With a thought, the towering Sword Tower manifested in the space.
It stood tall above the magma pool.
The white Sword Tower had all five floors open. Xu Xian controlled it with his mind, summoning the divine swords one by one.
The crimson Heaven-Burning Sparrow.
The black Yellow Spring Burial.
The azure Nishui Han.
The green Living Flora.
And the purple Thunder Punishment.
Five divine swords, five colors of divine light. The Sword Tower faded away, leaving the five swords suspended in the air.
They were like loyal guards, protecting Xu Xian's perimeter.
Xu Xian uttered a single word.
"Go."
Receiving the order, the five divine swords shot toward the Five-Direction Platforms, hovering above the five sets of withered bones.
The young man's voice was rhythmic as an ancient incantation echoed throughout the space.
The Little Book Spirit concentrated intensely, assisting from the side.
Xu Xian murmured,
"Ever-sleeping spirits."
"Heed my summons."
"Awaken!"
As his voice fell, waves of energy swept out. The heat surged, and the magma grew turbulent.
The hanging red waterfalls splashed violently, and the surrounding cavern walls began to crack.
The five divine swords vibrated intensely.
The five-colored divine light grew even more brilliant as divine auras quietly permeated the air.
They were faint at first, then grew stronger and stronger...
However,
Xu Xian's brow furrowed, a hint of displeasure appearing in his heart.
The Little Book Spirit's eyes shone brightly, its usual innocence replaced by an overbearing dominance as it barked:
"Are you deaf?"
"The Master commands you to appear."
"Get out here now!"
Clang, clang, clang, clang, clang!
Five distinct sword cries rang out. The crimson, black, blue, green, and purple lights intensified and shot outward...
"Screech!"
"Roar!"
"Splash..."
"Whoosh..."
"Rumble..."
A crimson bird emerged from the Heaven-Burning Sparrow.
A giant emerged from the black mist of the Yellow Spring Burial.
Ice and snow howled around the Nishui Han, sending a piercing cold surging forth...
A tree grew from The Living Flora.
A dragon formed from the Thunder Punishment.
They manifested from nothingness, starting small and growing massive before rapidly shrinking back down.
Their auras intensified,
The swords vanished.
In their place, five spirit shadows stood upon the Five-Direction Platforms.
A woman in a fire-red bridal gown.
A warrior whose face was covered by black armor.
A girl as pure as ice and jade.
An immortal with white hair and a youthful face.
A man with dragon horns on his head.
The spirits...
Had awakened!
They stood there, suddenly looking over, their eyes filled with confusion and realization.
They didn't say a word or move a muscle...
Ignoring everything else, they collectively scrutinized the young man standing in the center.
Xu Xian met their gaze in silence.
The Little Book Spirit spoke again.
"What are you all standing there for?"
"Why haven't you paid your respects to your new master?"
The five spirits snapped out of their daze, their confusion clearing into acceptance.
They accepted.
They acknowledged.
They followed.
One by one, they paid their respects.
"Zhu, sword spirit of the Heaven-Burning Sparrow, pays respects to my Master!"
"Min, sword spirit of the Yellow Spring Burial, pays respects to my Master!"
"Ning, sword spirit of the Nishui Han, pays respects to my Master!"
"Qing, sword spirit of the Living Flora, pays respects to my Master!"
"Zui, sword spirit of the Thunder Punishment, pays respects to my Master!"
Xu Xian's expression remained unchanged as he spoke in a deep voice.
"Rise!"
The five thanked him and rose in order.
"We thank the Master for his grace!"
Acting as the voice of reason, the Little Book Spirit issued the orders on Xu Xian's behalf. "The new master has awakened you for the purpose of sealing this gate. You all know what to do, right?"
The five nodded simultaneously, without the slightest hint of doubt.
They were the companion spirits of the divine swords.
Xu Xian was the master of the divine swords, and thus he was their master. Under specific circumstances and with their master's permission, they could perceive some of his thoughts.
This was the state of Man-Sword Unity.
It was also the second-tier divine ability unlocked by the Sacrificial Sword Manual after the Sword Control Art: the Spirit Communication Art.
Awakening the spirits within the swords.
Having just unlocked this technique, Xu Xian naturally couldn't perform it independently. Fortunately, he had the Little Book Spirit's assistance.
Even if he couldn't release their full power to let them manifest and fight independently, it wasn't difficult to awaken them and let them take form.
Right now,
What he needed was to follow Li Taibai's instructions: use the five sword spirits to replace the five sets of withered bones and reseal the Sky Gate.
To reinforce the seal.
Seeing that the five spirits had no objections, Xu Xian said softly, "Begin."
"Zhu obeys the Master's command!"
"Min obeys the Master's command!"
"Ning obeys the Master's command!"
"Qing obeys the Master's command!"
"Zui obeys the Master's command!"
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