Why could Jun Changxiao, whose true strength was at the Grand Circle of Martial Saint, go toe-to-toe with Lower Void-Breaking Realm opponents? Although there were reasons involving equipment and such, more importantly, it was because he cultivated both the sword and martial paths.
When these two paths merged, the enhancement was tremendous.
So along Jun Changxiao’s journey, though he repeatedly encountered strong enemies, as long as it wasn’t overwhelming superiority, even if he couldn’t necessarily win, he wouldn’t lose too miserably either.
Moreover, when competing with others, he either fought barehanded or used blades and spears, but seldom used the sword, so it was easily overlooked that he was actually a sword cultivator forcibly elevated through aptitude liquid!
The Eternal Sect didn’t have many exclusive sword path martial techniques. The only ones worth mentioning were the Soaring Sword Divine Art and the Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin. Jun Changxiao primarily cultivated these two.
To be precise.
He hadn’t really cultivated them much but had already mastered them.
Grinding away can’t compare to spending money, and spending money can’t compare to cheating.
Ever since crossing over to this other world and obtaining the system, Gou Sheng found that cheating once was satisfying, and cheating continuously was continuously satisfying.
“Whoosh whoosh!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
As he executed the second form of Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin—All Things Become Swords—Jun Changxiao emanated majestic sword momentum from his entire body, enveloping all objects that could be utilized—stones, dirt clods, and the like—then gathering them in midair in a vortex formation!
“My heavens!”
“What kind of sword technique is this!”
“Even grass and trees can contain sharp momentum!”
The prisoners in the distance with bruised and swollen faces all widened their eyes and gaped their mouths.
At that moment.
Jun Changxiao positioned in front of the vortex’s central area, with special effects cranked to maximum, looked like a supreme sovereign who could manipulate all things in the world.
The question arose.
Why did Gou Sheng rarely use the sword?
Because the more a scene had extremely high prestige without needing much description, with just a casual pose madly burning through the budget, if done too often the producers simply couldn’t handle it.
However, this time Jun Changxiao couldn’t care about all that, because the middle-aged man with nine swords on his back opposite him was not only a sword cultivator but also had reached Middle Void-Breaking Realm in strength. He absolutely had to use grand-scale sword techniques!
“Excellent, excellent!”
That person’s gaze became fervent.
As a top-tier powerhouse in the sword path, just from the sword momentum radiating out, he could judge that this young man who came down from the seventh layer was extraordinary!
“Swish!”
He pointed his two fingers skyward, and the nine ancient swords on his back flew up, standing in midair like a peacock spreading its tail feathers, radiating powerful sword intent as he declared heroically: “Come! Let this Yi receive instruction on Your Excellency’s sword techniques!”
This person was named Yi Feixue, the chief prisoner of the eighth layer of Hell. From childhood he had been obsessed with the sword and ultimately proved his path through the sword.
He was definitely one of the most top-tier sword path masters in the mortal universe.
Moreover.
The Starfall Fortress had dispatched four Patrol Envoys before successfully capturing this person. Initially, sending one or two resulted in them all becoming defeated opponents.
The chief prisoners of the previous layers might have been able to dominate each prison layer due to special abilities, but Yi Feixue relied on genuine combat strength. His danger level was rated as ‘Grade A.’
Ancestor Shang’s power was also very strong, just one small step away from breaking through to Middle Rank, yet he was only rated as ‘Grade B.’
So to speak.
Fighting through the previous layers might have been just a warm-up for Jun Changxiao, but facing this eighth layer of Hell’s chief prisoner, he absolutely had to treat it with utmost seriousness!
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
The sword intent continuously strengthened, permeating an even wider area. Pebbles, sand grains, and dirt clods were all drawn in, constantly gathering within the vortex, forming an even more heart-shaking spectacle of ten thousand swords assembling.
“Senior!”
Jun Changxiao suspended in midair declared loudly: “Please instruct me!”
“Swoosh!”
Raising the Jade Dragon Heaven-Questioning Sword horizontally before him, the countless sword lights rotating behind him surged toward Yi Feixue like a tornado.
The special effects were extreme, the scene overwhelming, directly disturbing the very space itself!
Although Jun Changxiao hadn’t devoted himself to cultivating the sword path, as his realm continuously improved, his understanding of this aspect grew increasingly profound. Especially ‘Ten Thousand Swords Return to Origin’ had reached a level of perfection!
This sword strike.
Could absolutely be called stunning!
Even the Patrol Envoys watching through the light screen were deeply shaken by that sword momentum pressing down like a violent storm.
“To achieve such a level in both sword path and sword techniques, just what kind of terrifying tempering has this youth undergone?” the Zi Envoy said with furrowed brows.
Powerhouses in the martial path were very common in the mortal universe, but powerhouses in the sword path required day after day of comprehension. Those who could achieve great success had all undergone suffering unimaginable to ordinary people.
Like Zhou Hong.
Since joining the Eternal Sect, he cultivated and comprehended the sword every day, completely devoted—something many martial artists found difficult to do.
No one can succeed casually; brilliant radiance comes from countless trials and tempering.
Of course.
Jun Changxiao was an exception.
“Whoosh whoosh!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh—”
The second form, All Things Become Swords, was executed. It looked both like a horizontal tornado and like a colossal dragon covered in spikes all over its body, with the erupting sword intent becoming unprecedentedly powerful.
“Swoosh swoosh swoosh!”
Space was carved with sword marks one after another, as if it might be sliced apart at any moment.
Yi Feixue brought his hands together, his beard dancing in the wind, his expression grave as he said: “Nine Swords Unite, I Alone Am Supreme!”
“Whoosh whoosh!”
“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!”
The nine ancient swords arrayed like a peacock’s tail behind him rapidly converged together, then manifested a massive sword shadow that slashed down toward the incoming sword swarm with powerful sword intent.
“Crack crack crack!”
“Crack crack crack crack!”
Another sword momentum erupted, and space immediately couldn’t withstand it, beginning to collapse on a large scale.
However, just as the two supreme sword intents were about to collide, the sword gleams condensed from various debris suddenly dispersed from whole to parts, dragging sword gleams as they swept over from all directions.
“Swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh swoosh!”
One sword gleam after another craftily dodged the crushing giant sword, sweeping past Yi Feixue’s sides like a locust plague.
“Clang! Clang!”
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
The sword gleams swept past in one go, embedding themselves in the prison walls.
“Boom!”
At the same time, the power of the nine united swords crashed down on the ground like a mountain peak, pulverizing the sword gleams that hadn’t attacked.
“Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!”
After the powerful sword momentum gradually dissipated, the nine ancient swords of exceptional quality flew back, then elegantly merged into the sword sheaths on Yi Feixue’s back.
Jun Changxiao still floated in midair, a smile gracing the corners of his mouth.
The two faced each other, the atmosphere very quiet.
“Whoosh!”
A breeze blew by. A tuft of Yi Feixue’s long beard fell off. He then cupped his fists and said: “Although Your Excellency’s strength is not particularly great, your mastery of the sword path has already reached the pinnacle. This Yi admits defeat!”
“I yield to you.”
Jun Changxiao cupped his fists.
…
“Is it over?”
“It should be over.”
“Judging from the momentum, Master Yi seemed stronger. Why would he concede defeat?”
“You understand nothing. In true sword path powerhouse duels, what matters isn’t who is stronger, but who has deeper understanding of the sword path!”
“Could it be that this seemingly young fellow’s sword path understanding is actually stronger than Master Yi’s?”
“Otherwise why would he concede defeat!”
The prisoners discussed among themselves, completely unaware of the notification sounds ringing in Jun Changxiao’s ears.
“Ding! Side mission completed. Obtained 20,000 Contribution Points.”
“Ding! Sect Contribution Points: 30,000/100,000.”
“Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the side mission and triggering a hidden reward. Obtained Lingyan Pavilion Exclusive Divine Weapon Refinement Stone ×1, already transmitted to spatial ring.”
After entering the eighth layer of Hell, Jun Changxiao had received a mission to use sword techniques to convince Yi Feixue, which was now complete.
“Step.”
Floating down gracefully, he retracted the Jade Dragon Heaven-Questioning Sword.
Jun Changxiao turned his head to look at the distant teleportation array, then looked up at the projection lens that constantly captured everything inside, grinning as he said: “Only one more layer left.”
—