"Ancestral Teacher, rest assured, I have taken your teachings to heart. From now on, I will strive to merge all the sword dao inheritances I obtained from that Sword Cave," Ye Yunfei replied upon hearing Sword Elder's words.
"Very well. Now, let's head east across the continent to search for the Heavenly Turtle Token," Sword Elder announced.
"Contemplating and cultivating within the twenty-eight Sword Caves should not be rushed. After completing one, you must leave some time to slowly digest and integrate what you've learned. Only after you have thoroughly merged and comprehended it should you proceed to the next Sword Cave. This will yield the best results," Sword Elder explained.
"I understand," Ye Yunfei quickly responded.
Sword Elder was one of the top sword cultivators in the ancient Sword Realm Continent, so following his guidance in sword cultivation was undoubtedly the correct path.
"Let's go. Hopefully, we can find the other three Heavenly Turtle Tokens."
Sword Elder nodded, then with a flick of his sleeve, he soared into the air, shooting like a meteor towards the eastern part of the Sword Realm Continent.
Ye Yunfei immediately employed his movement technique to keep up with Sword Elder.
After comprehending and cultivating the sword dao legacies within one Sword Cave, not only had Ye Yunfei's sword dao level increased significantly, but his movement speed had also improved markedly.
This was because among the Tianjian Sect's sword dao legacies were many sword movement techniques specifically designed to enhance speed using sword dao energy and sword dao laws.
Ye Yunfei had obtained many such movement techniques left by ancient sword cultivators within that Sword Cave. Now, by employing them in conjunction with his other movement skills and the effect of his Wind God Robe, Ye Yunfei's speed had reached a new height.
"Not bad. You can actually keep up with my pace now," Sword Elder remarked with a nod and an appreciative expression, seeing Ye Yunfei catch up to him in an instant.
"Don't think I'm just a remnant soul now. In the entire Chaotic Void Sea, there probably aren't many youngsters who can match my pace," Sword Elder added with a chuckle.
"Where is that old coot Sword Elder heading off to?"
As Sword Elder led Ye Yunfei away from the Heavenly Sword Sect's headquarters, speeding towards the east of the continent, a voice rang out within the Divine Sword Sect's headquarters. Following the sound, Mo Chenzi's figure slowly materialized.
Although Mo Chenzi's main body was currently within the bewildering space deep in the heart of the Sword Realm Continent, dealing with that multi-colored barrier, he had many avatars remaining outside, constantly monitoring the various situations across the continent.
"That old fellow Sword Elder is now heading east with that little beast Ye Yunfei. They must be up to something," Mo Chenzi murmured softly, his gaze fixed on Sword Elder and Ye Yunfei's retreating figures. He then retrieved a jade slip and sent a transmission.
At the same time, in the eastern part of the Sword Realm Continent, shadows lurked in some very concealed locations.
These shadows, one after another, took out jade slips, reading the transmitted messages within them. Then, these shadows began to move discreetly.
The Sword Realm Continent was a vast expanse of land, its area exceeding the combined size of several world-groups from the outside. Fortunately, both Sword Elder and Ye Yunfei possessed incredibly swift movement techniques. After flying for a while, they soon arrived in the continent's eastern region.
The terrain here was dominated by rolling mountain ranges—thick, winding chains of peaks sprawled across the earth like slumbering giant dragons resting peacefully. Vast plains stretched across the land, dotted with the remnants of massive cities, hinting at the prosperity and glory of this region in ancient times.
However, looking out now, the landscape was one of ruins. Many mountains were broken midway, and the cities on the plains lay shattered, leaving behind nothing but crumbling walls and debris visible everywhere.
In truth, such scenes were now commonplace across the entire Sword Realm Continent—the land had become a vast wasteland of ruins.
"It seems this eastern region also hosted many powerful sword dao sects in ancient times," Ye Yunfei remarked. He was proficient in Earth Reading techniques and could discern at a glance that many spots in this eastern area had once been the headquarters of various sword dao sects.
"Correct. The eastern region of the Sword Realm Continent was an exceedingly prosperous place in ancient times. Sword dao sects, both large and small, were too numerous to count. Among them, a significant number were quite famous.
The most renowned was the Azure Dragon Sword Sect. At its peak, it was no weaker than—perhaps even stronger than—our Heavenly Sword Sect. Later, our Heavenly Sword Sect gradually caught up and surpassed it somewhat. Regardless, no one in the ancient Sword Realm Continent doubted the Azure Dragon Sword Sect's power," Sword Elder affirmed with a nod.
"That place right there was the Azure Dragon Sword Sect's ancient headquarters," Sword Elder said, pointing to a specific location within the eastern region.
Following his gaze, Ye Yunfei saw an expansive, flat plain situated between over a dozen massive mountain chains. Countless peaks in the surrounding area seemed to bow slightly towards this plain, creating a geomantic pattern resembling 'myriad mountains paying homage, myriad dragons guarding the site.' It truly was a treasure land, blessed by the spiritual essence of heaven and earth.
"That is an excellent spot indeed, a supremely auspicious place to establish a sect," Ye Yunfei nodded in approval.
"Now, I will begin sensing and deducing the location of that Heavenly Turtle Token," Ye Yunfei declared, stopping in his tracks and addressing Sword Elder.
"Very good. Let's find a suitable spot, and you can focus on sensing it," Sword Elder agreed, nodding. He quickly located a nearby valley, and together with Ye Yunfei, descended into it.
With a wave of his sleeve, tens of thousands of long swords flew out, bursting forth with overwhelming sword light.
The swords danced and crisscrossed in the sky before interweaving to form a powerful sword formation that tightly covered and isolated the entire valley.
"This Sword Formation isolates the outside world. While inside it, we can freely perceive the external space, but from the outside, it's extremely difficult to perceive or spy on the interior.
It won't be long before Mo Chenzi learns of our search for the Heavenly Turtle Token. Once he knows we're seeking it, he will undoubtedly cause trouble for us, even wait for an opportunity to seize it.
The Heavenly Turtle Token records all the various events that occurred in the ancient Sword Realm Continent—it's an incredibly precious artifact.
Moreover, it's said that the four Heavenly Turtle Tokens together constitute a high-grade magical treasure set, making them invaluable.
There is also a legend that if one can gather all four Heavenly Turtle Tokens, they might obtain the legacy of Heaven's Turtle Old Man.
Heaven's Turtle Old Man was the most mysterious and wise figure in ancient Sword Realm history. It's said he knew everything—omniscient and omnipotent," Sword Elder explained to Ye Yunfei.
"Very well, Ancestral Teacher. I will begin sensing the Heavenly Turtle Token here," Ye Yunfei nodded and sat down cross-legged in the center of the valley.
Sword Elder pointed a finger, and the Heavenly Turtle Token instantly materialized, hovering before Ye Yunfei.
Ye Yunfei immediately channeled Soul Power, Heart Power, utilizing both Soul Bodies and his sixty Soul Power planets. He also opened the Celestial Pupil at the center of his forehead, focusing all these resources on observing, researching, and deducing the secrets of the Heavenly Turtle Token suspended before him.
Having studied this token before, Ye Yunfei already had some insights, so his progress this time was swift.
"Ancestral Teacher, I can see the fine thread connecting to the eastern part of the continent. I am currently tracing the specific location of the other end of this thread," Ye Yunfei reported.
"Excellent! Trace it quickly," Sword Elder responded with pleasant surprise.
"I truly never expected our descendant to possess such exceptional methods. He must have cultivated some high-level ancient pupil technique—most likely the legacy of Tianmu Shenjun.
It seems that when Tianmu Shenjun's cultivation grotto opened some time ago and he entered, he indeed obtained that legacy.
Our Tianjian Sect's successor is extraordinary!" Sword Elder stood nearby, watching Ye Yunfei and lightly nodding in silent admiration.
After a short while, Ye Yunfei's gaze suddenly fixed upon a direction in the eastern part of the continent. In the next instant, with a thought from Ye Yunfei, thousands of Earth Dragons transmitted out from the Phantom Shadow Pagoda, plunging into the ground of the valley. These Earth Dragons swam rapidly underground, heading in that specific direction.
According to Ye Yunfei's recent research and deductions, one of the fine threads extended precisely towards that direction.
At the same time, in some distant, concealed locations, numerous shadows were secretly observing the valley where Ye Yunfei and Sword Elder were located.
These shadows employed various methods trying to sense what was happening inside the valley. Unfortunately, the Sword Formation deployed by Sword Elder had formidable isolation properties, making it impossible to perceive anything inside from the outside.
"Just what are Sword Elder and that little beast Ye Yunfei up to?"
Within the Divine Sword Sect's headquarters, a Mo Chenzi incarnation hovered in a certain spot, its gaze fixed on the eastern region of the continent, voicing his confusion.
"Their actions seem like they are searching for something…" Mo Chenzi mused, falling into thought for a moment before speaking again.
At this time, not only Mo Chenzi, but many other remnant souls across the Sword Realm Continent were also paying close attention to Sword Elder and Ye Yunfei's actions.
Inside the valley, Ye Yunfei continued researching and deducing the Heavenly Turtle Token before him, striving to discern exactly where the other end of the thread connected to the eastern region was located.
Simultaneously, the Earth Dragons he had released earlier were rapidly exploring underground, coordinating with Ye Yunfei's deductions regarding the token.
"Strange… why do I have this persistent feeling that there seem to be traces of pure, high-level Blade Dao Energy deep beneath the Sword Realm Continent? Although extremely faint, it does appear to exist.
Logically, this is the Sword Realm Continent; only Sword Dao Energy and Sword Dao Laws should exist here.
Why would there be such pure, high-level Blade Dao Energy and Blade Dao Laws deep underground on this continent?"
At a certain moment, as those Earth Dragons swam through the depths of the continent, Ye Yunfei suddenly sensed wispy strands of nearly imperceptible Blade Dao Energy. A feeling of deep perplexity arose within him.
The presence of Blade Dao Energy beneath the Sword Realm Continent was utterly abnormal. Consequently, Ye Yunfei's vigilance heightened. He then immediately reported his discovery to Sword Elder.
"You're saying there is pure, high-level Blade Dao Energy deep beneath the Sword Realm Continent?" Sword Elder was momentarily stunned upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words.
He, too, immediately sensed that the situation was amiss.
The Sword Realm Continent was a world dominated by swords. All Blade Dao Energy and Blade Dao Laws here would be suppressed, then gradually eroded, unable to persist for long and would eventually vanish completely. Logically, it shouldn't exist for extended periods.
"Look into it more carefully," Sword Elder instructed Ye Yunfei.
"I understand!"
Ye Yunfei nodded, then began concentrating on sensing the faint traces of Blade Dao Energy underground, of course, also employing his Celestial Pupil in conjunction.
The Celestial Pupil was Ye Yunfei's most important foundation for comprehending and deducing anything, although his two Soul Bodies and sixty Soul Power planets were also crucial.