Chapter 490 - 500: The 4th Layer

The pure Sword Dao Divine Rhyme all around constantly rushed toward Wen Qingye. He, however, submerged his Heart Spirit, completely unafraid of the chilling radiance. Compared to Wen Qingye’s strength, this radiance was simply too slow.

His comprehension of the Overlord Law gradually deepened. An unknown amount of time passed as a majestic, untamed aura began to radiate from within him.

At that moment, Wen Qingye’s form seemed to magnify, growing larger and larger.

His presence made the vast sky seem to shrink. An aura like a surging tide roiled forth as a soul-shaking, incomparably tyrannical presence shot toward the heavens.

The vast earth trembled in his wake. His boundless might spread without end, and a pressure that pierced the very soul rolled out to blanket everything.

He became the master of this place. His might was unrivaled.

The Overlord Law has broken through! First level of the Earthly Realm!

SHING!

Wen Qingye’s eyes snapped open. A soul-stirring power shot out from them, and the corners of his robes fluttered in a nonexistent wind.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Streams of chilling radiance shot toward Wen Qingye. But the next moment, for some unknown reason, they halted abruptly about ten feet away from him. The chilling radiance seemed to shatter, breaking into countless fragments before slowly fading into nothingness.

The surrounding endless darkness suddenly fell silent. Wen Qingye took a deep breath and continued to wait for the next level of the Sword Forest, a hint of anticipation in his heart.

Outside the Sword Forest, an orange light streaked across the sky, leaving everyone stunned.

"This Wen Qingye has some skill. He broke through the second level of the Sword Forest in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."

"Yes, I underestimated him too. I just wonder how much Sword Dao Origin he comprehended inside the Sword Forest."

"Why hasn’t Senior Brother Lu broken through the fourth layer yet? The time it takes for two incense sticks to burn has already passed."

"He should be soon. He’s probably comprehending the Sword Dao on the fourth layer right now."

Discussions buzzed outside the Sword Forest, but Wen Qingye had already reached the third layer.

The setting sun was like blood, the cold wind cut like a knife, and the land was desolate and bleak.

Wen Qingye’s eyes gazed forward upon a desolate, lonely wasteland. Before him, a greatsword about a hundred feet wide was half-buried in the ground, its massive hilt exposed to the sky.

Upon the greatsword, an endless divine rhyme rippled outward like waves of light, slowly revealing itself.

"I have a Dao that can sunder heaven and earth!"

"I have a sword that can shatter all techniques!"

The greatsword emitted a resonant, soul-stirring voice.

Wen Qingye walked toward the greatsword step by step, his eyes seemingly captivated by it.

"The sword, sovereign of a hundred weapons, is nimble and fluid, free and elegant..."

The greatsword chanted continuously, its voice carrying a soul-shaking power. Wen Qingye listened quietly. He understood all of this; in fact, his own comprehension was even more profound than what was conveyed in the voice.

’This greatsword contains even more Sword Dao Origin than those chilling radiances from before, and it’s purer.’

As the greatsword chanted, Wen Qingye felt his heart begin to tremble. The strange sound was slowly assaulting his Heart Spirit, transforming into sharp Sword Auras that stabbed toward it.

This was the third layer. Who knew how many master swordsmen it had thwarted? An attack on the Primordial Spirit was something most people could neither imagine nor defend against.

Wen Qingye was unmoved by the greatsword’s chanting. His eyes remained fixed on the Sword Dao Origin upon the massive blade.

TSS! TSS! TSS!

The sound grew louder, and the damage to the Primordial Spirit intensified. But Wen Qingye remained indifferent, his gaze fixed on the greatsword before him, his brow occasionally furrowing and then smoothing out.

Then, he began to walk forward, step by step, completely ignoring the sonic assault on his Primordial Spirit.

"The Killing Lifeless Principle pressures the Heart Spirit. The slaughter is endless; only the sword and spirit remain as one."

With every step he took, he recited his own comprehension of the Killing Lifeless Principle. And the Killing Lifeless Principle—the most powerful and characteristic Law of the Lifeless Sword Dao—was rapidly advancing.

An unknown amount of time passed before Wen Qingye’s steps slowly came to a halt. His eyes grew placid, his dark pupils holding a bright, divine light.

Killing Lifeless Principle, second level of the Human Dao Realm.

The most difficult Law of the Lifeless Sword Dao to cultivate had broken through once more, and its power skyrocketed again.

The Sword Auras that Wen Qingye could unleash to attack the Primordial Spirit became even more formidable and ferocious after his Killing Lifeless Principle broke through.

Wen Qingye did not stop. He knew this trip to the Sword Forest was a great opportunity. He continued to gaze at the greatsword, constantly absorbing the Sword Dao Origin before him and converting it into his own comprehension.

This was the purest Sword Dao Origin Law between heaven and earth; he could comprehend it in any way he wished.

He walked toward the greatsword step by step, unafraid of the soul-trembling killing intent within it.

An unknown amount of time passed. It could have been an instant, or it could have been an eternity.

And then, the sharp, bizarre killing intent began to slowly dissipate and weaken.

Suddenly, outside the Sword Forest, a yellow sword shadow flashed once more. Everyone stared at the Sword Forest, dumbfounded and utterly shocked.

"Th-that... is that the light for passing the third layer?"

"Heavens, how is that possible? This is simply unbelievable!"

"He caught up? Wen Qingye caught up to Senior Brother Lu Wushuang!"

"Incredible! This Wen Qingye’s Swordsmanship is just as the rumors said. No wonder the Peak Master wanted to take him as a disciple."

"What do you mean ’just as the rumors said’? He’s even more incredible than the rumors!"

Wen Qingye had actually broken through to the fourth layer. Didn’t that mean he was now on the same level as Lu Wushuang? Even if Wen Qingye’s Sword Technique Cultivation couldn’t match Lu Wushuang’s, it couldn’t be far off—it might even be higher.

At this, the crowd erupted into a clamor.

Wen Qingye’s Swordsmanship had far exceeded everyone’s expectations. There had never been anyone not from Cloud Conceal Peak whose Swordsmanship had reached such a level. Wen Qingye was the first.

Lu Shaoyou couldn’t help but mutter under his breath, ’It’s no injustice that I lost to him.’

Jian Chunqiu glanced at the Sword Pattern on the banyan tree, nodded, and said with a slight hint of emotion, "Interesting. If there were no issues with his meridians, it would be good to accept him as a disciple of my Cloud Conceal Peak. A pity. Such a good sapling."

The sword shadow in the sky faded once more. Wen Qingye’s progress now matched Lu Wushuang’s, as he arrived at the fourth layer.

White mist billowed. Ahead, a thick iron chain swayed and clanged in the fierce wind. Wen Qingye stood at one end, and at the other, a woman watched him with a blank expression.

"My name is Qingyu. I am here to instruct you." Her voice was cold and lifeless, devoid of any emotion.

SWOOSH! The woman’s sword suddenly left its sheath, pointing straight at Wen Qingye’s throat. This move was Phoenix Coming, a technique from the Celestial Profound Sect’s Spirit Grade Sword Technique.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG...

She stepped onto the chain, seeming to flicker like a ghost in the wind, her speed incredibly fast.

Wen Qingye hadn’t expected the woman to attack so suddenly. Her speed was at least that of the Seventh Heaven of Destruction Realm. He subconsciously drew his own sword, and with a flash of cold light, struck back at her.

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

The two stood firm on the thick iron chain, facing the gales as their swords continuously clashed.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Their swords seemed to move too fast for the naked eye, dueling rapidly in the air. What looked like a single Sword Slash might have actually been dozens of clashes.

"Cold Smoke with Jade!"

The woman let out a clear cry. The sword in her hand flickered like a bolt of lightning—evasive, fierce, and utterly cold as it aimed straight for Wen Qingye’s chest.

This woman’s Swordsmanship was superb, and her attacks were ruthless, showing not a hint of mercy.

Wen Qingye suddenly raised his sword to press down, the force in his hands striking like a mountain.

"Kid, you’ve got some impressive moves." The moment her sword touched Wen Qingye’s, the woman’s arm trembled. She quickly retreated several steps, her eyes locked on him.

The two stood on opposite sides of the chain, watching each other.

Wen Qingye remained silent, his expression calm. He flicked his longsword, and a low hum resonated outward. A look of sudden enlightenment seemed to cross his brow.

Wen Qingye’s Sword Dao was inherently superior to the woman’s. He had used ordinary Sword Dao as a foundation but had since focused his cultivation and comprehension solely on the two supreme paths: the Lifeless Sword Dao and the Slaying Immortal Sword Dao.

By trading blows with this woman in the Sword Forest and comprehending the Sword Dao Origin from her, Wen Qingye’s own understanding of the Lifeless Sword Dao and the Slaying Immortal Sword Dao deepened even further.

The two exchanged moves endlessly on the chain, buffeted by the cold wind. Wen Qingye’s Sword Techniques were sometimes gentle, sometimes fierce. Within their slowness, there was another kind of Profound Mysteries.

A fast sword kills unseen!

A slow sword can do the same!