Ye Yunfei’s two Soul Bodies and sixty Soul Power planets continuously perceived and pondered the long swords surrounding him.
"This long sword seems different."
Suddenly, Ye Yunfei’s heart stirred.
The sword he was currently comprehending was a short blade that appeared somewhat rusty and battered. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, even a little shabby. However, when Ye Yunfei’s perception touched this sword, an ancient and vast sword-path energy instantly surged from the rusty short blade, like a volcano slumbering for ten thousand years erupting in an instant.
Then Ye Yunfei saw two massive, ancient characters: Zhuxing.
Following this, Ye Yunfei saw a panorama of the starry sky. A sword cultivator in green robes stood within the vast cosmos, his clothes drifting gracefully. A short sword hovered beside him—precisely the rusty-looking one from before. However, the short sword now radiated a startling, cold brilliance, and the aura it released shook the boundless starry sky.
"I am the Tianjian Sect’s Elder Zhuxing. Wielding the Zhuxing Sword, I once slew seven elders of the same rank from the Blade Realm consecutively. Today, my lifespan has reached its end. Thus, I specifically return the Zhuxing Sword to be sealed within a Sword Cave of the Tianjian Sect’s headquarters in the Sword Realm."
The sword cultivator in green robes spoke slowly, his long robes fluttering fiercely in a non-existent wind. His face was lean, his gaze sharp as a blade, and the Sword Intent upon him was nimble and unrestrained.
"Before sealing the sword away, I shall demonstrate the sword-path legacy I cultivated throughout my life once, awaiting a destined descendant."
The green-robed swordsman’s voice was clear and resonant, echoing throughout the entire expanse of the starry sky. Then, he took a step forward, grasped the short sword, and began to wield it in a dance.
His sword shadows were like dragons—agile and unfathomable. At times, they descended like meteors, unstoppable in force. At other times, they weaved like spirit serpents, evading solidity and striking emptiness. Every move, every style contained infinite truths of the sword path.
As the demonstration reached a state of wild exhilaration, all the stars in the entire firmament resonated, trembling rhythmically in tune with his Sword Intent. It seemed as though the myriad stars were in resonance, and finally, the entire starscape began to boil.
Ye Yunfei used his two Soul Bodies, sixty Soul Power planets, and the Divine Eye on his brow simultaneously, focusing intently on the green-robed elder’s every posture, every style, and every motion. He recorded while simultaneously deducing.
Gradually, the same Sword Intent that belonged to the green-robed elder began to erupt from Ye Yunfei’s body.
Just like this, Ye Yunfei, like an old monk entering meditation, concentrated his mind and spirit on comprehending the sword-path legacy the green-robed elder was demonstrating.
Later, a vast stretch of starry sky suddenly materialized around Ye Yunfei’s body. A dazzling proliferation of sword radiance blossomed forth within this expanse, shining brilliantly alongside the myriad stars, a magnificent spectacle.
"Not bad. To think a descendant from our Sword Realm possesses such comprehension. My lifetime’s sword-path legacy has found a successor."
After an indeterminate amount of time, the green-robed elder suddenly ceased his demonstration, nodded, and wore a satisfied expression.
"Now I can send the sword into the cave for sealing!"
Having said this, the short sword beside him shot out fiercely, traversing through layers of void, and ultimately returned to the Sword Realm Continent, entering one of the Sword Caves within the Tianjian Sect headquarters.
Then Ye Yunfei realized that the previous panorama of starry sky had instantly vanished, leaving only that rusty short sword gently trembling in its place.
"Thank you for imparting your sword path, Ancestor Zhuxing!"
Ye Yunfei spoke respectfully to the short sword. He had already obtained the sword-path legacy contained within that short blade.
In the time that followed, Ye Yunfei continued to comprehend and practice the sword.
As time passed, Ye Yunfei felt his swordsmanship level continuously improving. Dense and dazzling sword radiance now coiled within the space surrounding his body.
Each long sword contained the sword-path legacy, will, and lifelong insights from an ancient Tianjian Sect swordsman. Some even recorded significant experiences from their lifetimes.
Ye Yunfei received the sword-path legacies of these ancient Tianjian Sect swordsmen from sword after sword. He also witnessed many important moments from their lives and felt their Sword Intent.
This, in turn, stirred numerous emotions within Ye Yunfei himself. The sword wills and various life experiences of each successive swordsman deepened Ye Yunfei’s understanding of the Dao of the Sword.
"Your cultivation method is akin to gathering the sword-path legacies of countless ancient Tianjian Sect swordsmen into one, mastering and synthesizing them. Once successful, your swordsmanship level will reach an unimaginable height.
No wonder Sword Elder calls these Sword Caves the Tianjian Sect’s hidden resources. They are indeed among the sect’s most important foundations.
As long as these Sword Caves remain, the sword-path heritage of the Tianjian Sect can be passed down through the generations, and its glory can grow ever more brilliant."
Witnessing Ye Yunfei’s process of comprehension and sword practice, Hun Lao couldn't help but express his admiration.
"Indeed. As long as these Sword Caves remain, the foundations of our Tianjian Sect remain intact. Reviving and restoring the glory of the past won’t be difficult in the future."
Ye Yunfei nodded in agreement.
After an indeterminate period of time, Ye Yunfei finally comprehended and practiced the sword-path legacies of every single long sword within this Sword Cave.
"A single Sword Cave has caused my swordsmanship to undergo a qualitative leap."
Ye Yunfei opened his eyes slowly after completing the comprehension and practice of the final sword's legacy in this cave. The radiance around him surged violently, and beams of dazzling sword light shot into the sky, breaking through the space containing the Sword Cave and reaching the outside Sword Realm Continent.
One dazzling beam of sword light after another shot skyward from the location of the Tianjian Sect headquarters, illuminating a vast swath of space above the Sword Realm Continent.
The Sword Heart within Ye Yunfei’s body had never been so active, so clear. It circulated within Ye Yunfei’s frame, radiating astonishing Sword Intent.
Ye Yunfei felt that at this moment, his resonance with this Sword Heart had reached a new height. He even felt as if his physical body had transformed into a divine weapon.
"Among the swords in this cave, one recorded a sword-path legacy. When performed, sword and body unite. The swordsman’s own body materializes into a sword, capable of increasing the potency of the attack by a hundredfold for an extremely brief duration.
This type of sword technique forcibly squeezes out and elevates latent potential. Although the body afterwards will enter an extremely weakened state, requiring a long period of recuperation to recover, performing it at a critical juncture can magically reverse the battle and turn defeat into victory."
As Ye Yunfei sensed his body seemingly on the verge of transforming into a long sword, he recalled the miraculous sword art recorded in one of the swords from that cave.
"Master, your swordsmanship level must have improved a lot, right?
You’ve been comprehending far too many swords during this time. I stopped counting after I helped you count past a million swords."
Hu Miao asked curiously.
"How could the number of swords in this cave be merely a million? In fact, it exceeds ten million.
However, although each sword records a sword-path legacy, the legacies within the majority are quite similar. That’s because the swords’ owners in this cave were past generations of Tianjian Sect sword cultivators, and what they cultivated was the Tianjian Sect's sword-path heritage. Thus, most legacies are the same.
It’s just that every swordsman develops many unique insights and comprehension over their lifetime. Some even innovate their own sword-path legacies. So, the harvest these swords in the cave brought me is indeed immense, causing my swordsmanship to undergo a qualitative leap.
To put it this way: The sword techniques I wield now can effortlessly slay most Ninth Heaven Godkings (9th Level Sovereign Gods)."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment upon hearing Hu Miao’s words, then spoke.
"Solely utilizing sword techniques, without coordinating with any of your various other arts and secret techniques? And they can effortlessly slay most Ninth Heaven Godkings (9th Level Sovereign Gods)?"
Hu Miao inquired.
"Yes."
Ye Yunfei nodded.
"That’s incredible!
Master, that means from now on, you count as an invincible existence within the greater cultivation realm of Sovereign Godhood."
Hu Miao said happily.
"I wouldn't dare call myself invincible. We must always remember: The sky beyond heaven; the person beyond people.
For instance, me. Although my cultivation rank is only that of a Fifth Heaven Sovereign God, my current combat power can crush most Ninth Heaven Godkings.
However, within the myriad heavens and worlds, countless races proliferate; the number of living beings is incalculable. How do you know whether there aren’t beings with strength far exceeding their rank besides me?
There might even exist beings more prodigious than I. That is entirely possible."
Ye Yunfei said with a smile.
"That's also true. Space is infinite; time is boundless. The myriad heavens and worlds… who knows exactly how many living beings exist? The existence of some prodigious beings like you, or even more prodigious ones, is entirely possible."
Hun Lao also nodded in agreement.
While speaking, Ye Yunfei had already left this Sword Cave and returned to the Small World where Sword Elder usually secluded himself for recuperation.
"Not bad. Completing the comprehension and cultivation of a Sword Cave within such a short time. Your speed is much faster than I imagined, and it seems the results are also excellent.
Perform the Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art and show me."
Sword Elder was already waiting for Ye Yunfei at this time. He examined the aura emanating from Ye Yunfei, nodded, and spoke.
Upon hearing Sword Elder's words, Ye Yunfei immediately drew his sword and made a slash.
*Hmm…*
A beam of sword light instantaneously appeared, splitting the space before him as if cutting tofu.
This sword light actually appeared somewhat unremarkable, a bit plain. However, when Sword Elder saw it, his face revealed delight, and he nodded repeatedly in praise.
"Excellent. Although the Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art you are performing now appears much more restrained and subdued, it is incredibly refined.
Refined to the extreme, condensed to the ultimate—even compressing overwhelming Sword Intent into the tiniest point. That is the true essence of this sword art.
Therefore, the power of the Myriad Swords Return to One Great Art you just unleashed has already improved significantly."
Sword Elder observed the seemingly plain sword radiance unleashed by Ye Yunfei, his appreciation evident.
"Of the twenty-eight Sword Caves, you have comprehended and cultivated one. Now, describe your general impressions of the Sword Cave you just engaged with."
Sword Elder inquired.
"General impressions…"
Ye Yunfei began to ponder Sword Elder’s words.
"Although the Sword Cave I just worked with contained a huge number of swords, and although the sword-path legacies recorded within each had their own unique features, overall, every sword in that cave recorded a legacy sharing the same ultimate origin."
Ye Yunfei thought for a moment before suddenly speaking.
"Good! To perceive, among so many swords and the legacies they record, that these legacies originate from the same source—it shows you have begun to grasp a kind of sword-path origin.
As for the specific nature of this origin, perhaps you cannot immediately summarize or articulate it. But you have finally captured a glimpse of it.
Very well. Starting from now, attempt to begin merging all the sword-path legacies you acquired from that Sword Cave. When you succeed in integrating all the sword-path legacies from that cave into one, thereby creating a complete and integrated sword path, then you will truly have accomplished the comprehension and cultivation of a single Sword Cave."
Sword Elder said to Ye Yunfei.