Chapter 423: Xiao Chen – The Sword Dao I Cultivate Is the Invincible Sword Dao
"Young one, you and I will battle with the pure truth of the Sword Dao. If this old man is not mistaken, your understanding of the Sword Dao truth has already reached two parts."
The Sword Demon spoke slowly, as though he had already seen through Xiao Chen completely.
"Very well."
Xiao Chen did not hesitate at all. There was no sign of retreat on his face. The steadfastness and overflowing fighting intent in his eyes left both the Sword Demon and Long Zaiyuan slightly stunned.
Long Zaiyuan muttered under his breath, "Mad… Xiao Chen, you're mad. How can you provoke the might of a Saint?"
Yet the people of the Miscellaneous Dao Institute watched Xiao Chen with complete confidence, showing not the slightest trace of worry.
In their eyes, Xiao Chen was the symbol of invincibility within his realm.
"Good, good, good!"
The Sword Demon, excited, repeated the word "good" three times.
"In all my countless years roaming the Xuantian Continent, this is the first time I've seen such a firm Dao heart in a young man. Today, let this old man witness the Sword Dao truth of the number one prodigy of this age."
As he spoke, a sword condensed within his gaze, hanging suspended in the air.
"Draw your sword, young one."
"Senior, watch closely."
Xiao Chen did not activate his Immortal Body nor unleash his full strength. He simply raised the treasured sword in his hand and slowly thrust it forward.
"Ten Thousand Swords Return to One!"
Clang!
With a clear sword cry, countless swords appeared within the cavern. In an instant, they merged into one sword and pierced toward the sword before the Sword Demon.
Boom!
After a resounding explosion, a streak of sword light shot out from the blast, aiming directly at the Sword Demon's brow.
Bang!
That streak of sword light shattered before it could even touch the Sword Demon's body.
"This old man has lost, lost completely."
Yet there was no trace of disappointment on the Sword Demon's face. He continued, "I am not worthy to be your master. May I ask, what kind of Sword Dao do you cultivate?"
"To be frank, Senior, the Sword Dao I cultivate is the Invincible Sword Dao."
Xiao Chen hid nothing.
"An Invincible Sword Dao indeed. But why, just now, did I see countless sword techniques reflected in your strike? Should not the invincible sword be devoted to one blade, honing it into an unstoppable strike?"
The Sword Demon voiced his doubt.
Xiao Chen explained further, "To answer Senior, the path I walk is one that embraces all rivers—encompassing every sword technique under heaven, from which I derive the true Invincible Sword."
Hiss…
The Sword Demon instinctively drew in a cold breath. "Young man, I am not your equal. Since you intend to embrace all rivers, would you be able to absorb my Slaughter Immortal Sword Dao?"
Xiao Chen smiled. "If Senior is willing to instruct me, I would be honored to receive it."
Hearing this, the Sword Demon's face broke into unrestrained joy. "Good, very good. Today I shall pass my Slaughter Immortal Sword Dao to you, so that those old fellows of the Sacred Land of Divine Swords gain nothing. In addition, I will also give you my treasured vault."
Xiao Chen did not immediately agree but asked instead, "Then what does Senior wish this junior to do?"
The Sword Demon shook his head. "No. In truth, this cave mansion could never hold me. What binds me here is that stone stele before you. Through endless years, I have carried only one thought—to nurture an invincible sword cultivator.
But today, after hearing your Sword Dao, I realized the path I chose was too narrow. No wonder I lost back then to that old Break-Heaven."
Hearing this, Xiao Chen instinctively swept his divine sense over the stone stele. Written across it were several bold words infused with sword qi—Here Lies the Sword Saint of Break-Heaven.
"Senior truly is a man of his word. This junior is filled with admiration."
"Are you ready?"
The Sword Demon asked.
"I am ready."
A gate of light appeared within the Sword Demon's eyes. As it opened, ten storage rings flew out from within.
"Inside are treasures I obtained in the past, including many cultivation methods. Each one is a Saint-grade technique. May they aid your Sword Dao cultivation. Now, prepare to receive my Sword Dao will."
At his words, the ten rings landed in Xiao Chen's hands. Immediately after, a sword light flashed from the Sword Demon's eyes, shooting straight into Xiao Chen's.
Xiao Chen froze where he stood. He felt a terrifying Sword Dao will enter his sea of divine sense.
Very quickly, he closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, and fell into meditation.
The Sword Demon turned his gaze toward Long Zaiyuan. "Now, can you give up?"
At this moment, Long Zaiyuan's eyes were already lifeless. The thing he had always pursued had just been handed to another with ease.
The pain was like his heart being torn apart.
Unable to endure it, he cried out, "Why? Why is it like this?"
The Sword Demon's eyes flared with sword qi, and in an instant Long Zaiyuan was annihilated.
As Long Zaiyuan turned to ashes, the Sword Demon spoke to the Great Sage of Moving Mountains standing in the corner. "Boy, you must be Xiao Chen's protector. Take him away. Those old fellows from the Sacred Land of Divine Swords will soon react. If you don't want his enlightenment broken, leave now."
"Thank you, Senior, for the warning."
The Great Sage of Moving Mountains stepped out slowly. With a wave of his large hand, he carried Xiao Chen and the others away from that place.
The Sword Demon watched their departing figures and burst into laughter. "Hahaha… Those brats of the Sacred Land of Divine Swords, never in their wildest dreams would they imagine the elaborate trap they set would be unraveled so easily!"
In the Sacred Land of Divine Swords, within the Hall of Soul Lamps—
A steward guarding the special lamp chamber suddenly heard a loud crack from inside.
He snapped his eyes open and swept his divine sense across each lamp, checking which soul lamp had shattered. After all, the lamps here belonged to disciples of the Sacred Land whose true identities could not be exposed.
Each soul lamp was of utmost importance, tied to the sect's larger designs.
When he saw the name beneath the broken lamp—Long Zaiyuan—his expression instantly shifted.
For this soul lamp's owner was tied to the Sword Demon's legacy. As a steward, he had at least heard of the sect's cautious stance toward the Sword Demon.
He immediately reported the matter to the elder guarding the Hall of Soul Lamps.
Upon hearing this, the elder examined the broken lamp of Long Zaiyuan. When he saw the location marked—Sealed Demon Island—he murmured, "Could it be that the Sword Demon has discovered the truth? Damn it, another prodigy lost."
The elder of the Hall of Soul Lamps did not linger. At once, he reported the matter to the sect, for the Sword Demon's affairs were far beyond the judgment of a mere Path Union elder like himself.
When the Great Sage of Moving Mountains appeared again, he had already reached a hilly region along the Eastern Sea shore.
There, he personally stood guard, protecting Xiao Chen as he awaited his awakening.
Who knew how much Sword Dao truth Xiao Chen would comprehend after this time of enlightenment?
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