In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

However, this was only the beginning. The sword formation was activated, and more ice swords, like a swarm of awakened bees, rushed in from all directions. In an instant, the hall was filled with rain of sword light and a chilling atmosphere.

Su Han's expression was solemn as he pushed his movement technique to its limit. He darted through the rain of swords like a fish, sometimes flicking away incoming ice swords with a flick of his finger, sometimes shattering the sword shadows blocking his path with a flick of his finger. The Ice Crystal Star Wheel granted him a star power recovery speed far exceeding that of his peers, and made each of his attacks carry the sharpness of the Heavenly Jade Sword Intent. If an ordinary Star Wheel Realm cultivator were caught in this formation, he would probably exhaust his star power within the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, and be pierced through the heart by ten thousand swords.

But Su Han is different.

He could sense that as the battle continued, the dormant spirit within his consciousness seemed to be stirred by the sword energy of the sword formation, causing subtle fluctuations. These fluctuations spread like ripples, resonating with his sword intent. Gradually, Su Han discovered that he had a vague sense of the operating principles of the sword formation, as if he could predict where the next wave of attacks would come from.

"Is this... my senior sister helping me?"

Su Han's heart stirred, and he decided to loosen some of his mental control, allowing the sword intent to flow autonomously. This release caused an unexpected change.

The ice crystal star wheel behind him shone brightly, and the sword-shaped patterns on it seemed to come alive, detaching from the star wheel and flying out to transform into thirty-six illusory sword shadows around him. These sword shadows seemed to possess sentience, autonomously meeting the incoming ice swords, each strike clashing with unparalleled precision.

Even more astonishingly, after the illusory sword shadows shattered the ice sword, they absorbed the chilling energy released when the ice sword disintegrated, thus strengthening themselves. In just a moment, the thirty-six sword shadows solidified like real swords, their power multiplied.

"Sword intent manifesting, autonomously defending against enemies?" The sect leader, watching from the side of the hall, had a glint in his eyes. "This isn't an ability a Star Wheel Realm cultivator should possess! Is Tianya's spirituality awakening, or..."

She stared intently and discovered that although the thirty-six sword shadows were influenced by the Tianya Sword Intent, their trajectories clearly bore Su Han's style—simple, direct, and focused on maximizing efficiency. This was not merely a resurrection of the sword spirit, but a completely new product resulting from the fusion of Su Han's will and the Tianya Sword Intent.

"Good lad," the sect leader murmured, "you've actually paved a new path for me."

In the arena, Su Han had penetrated deep into the core of the sword formation. At this moment, the number of ice swords attacking him had reached three hundred, forming an impenetrable barrier. Ordinary movement techniques were no longer effective in dodging, so he simply stopped, raised his hands in a gesture of repose, and thirty-six sword shadows responded to his call, swirling around him to form a sword wheel.

"Royal."

The sword wheel spun, crushing any approaching ice swords like a millstone. The sound of shattering ice crystals was incessant, like a torrential downpour on banana leaves. Su Han stood at the center of the sword wheel, his expression calm, his icy blue pupils reflecting the countless sword shadows, as if he controlled everything.

However, the sword formation changed again. The remaining seven hundred-odd ice swords no longer attacked blindly, but began to combine in an orderly manner, forming larger giant swords. Seven ten-zhang-long ice swords appeared out of nowhere, surrounding Su Han in the center in a seven-star formation. The cold air pointed at the tips of the swords almost froze the space.

"The Seven Star Immortal-Slaying Sword," the sect leader said softly, "let's see how you break it."

Su Han looked up at the seven mountain-like swords, feeling the terrifying power gathered within them, and knew he could no longer hold back. He took a deep breath and poured all his star power into the Ice Crystal Star Wheel.

The star wheel reached its maximum speed, emitting a piercing shriek. Thirty-six sword shadows, drawn by the star wheel, flew back behind Su Han, merging with the illusory star wheel behind him. The next moment, the star wheel detached from Su Han's body, soaring into the sky and rapidly expanding in mid-air, transforming into a three-zhang-diameter ice-blue sphere.

On the wheel, sword-shaped patterns shone brightly, as if countless divine swords were about to burst forth from the wheel.

Su Han formed hand seals and exhaled, shouting, "Heavenly Jade Sword Wheel, Slash!"

The icy blue wheel moved in response, like a giant millstone crushing the void, meeting the seven giant swords head-on. The first giant sword struck the wheel, producing a deafening roar, its blade shattering inch by inch. The wheel's momentum didn't diminish, crashing into the second, the third… A series of explosions echoed throughout the hall. When the wheel crushed the seventh giant sword, it itself was covered in cracks, its light dimming. But it had fulfilled its mission—the Thousand Illusions Ice Sword Formation was broken.

Su Han waved his hand and retrieved the Star Wheel. As the Star Wheel entered his body, his face paled, and he staggered back three steps, a trickle of blood spilling from the corner of his mouth. That attack had almost drained his star power and put a considerable burden on his meridians.

"Not bad." The sect leader's voice came, full of praise. "With your cultivation at the initial stage of the Star Wheel Realm, you have broken through 30% of my Thousand Illusion Ice Sword Formation. You are the first person in the history of the Azure Cloud Sect to do so."

She waved her hand to disperse the remaining ice crystals in the hall, walked up to Su Han, and handed him a jade-green pill: "Take this and meditate for an hour."

Su Han took the pill and swallowed it. Instantly, a warm current flowed into his limbs and bones, rapidly repairing his damaged meridians. He sat cross-legged and circulated the "Azure Cloud Technique" to guide the medicinal power.

The sect leader watched from the side, her eyes filled with countless thoughts. After a long while, she said softly, "Tianya, the person you chose... may truly lead you down a path never before seen."

After finishing his meditation, Su Han opened his eyes and saw that the sect leader was still waiting in the hall.

"How do you feel?" the sect leader asked.

"My star power has recovered to 70%, and my meridian injuries are not a problem," Su Han replied truthfully.

The sect leader nodded: "In the battle just now, you exposed several problems. First, although your sword intent was strong, your application was crude and you failed to unleash its true power. Second, your star power circulation was still sluggish, which means you have only recently broken through to the next realm and your realm is not yet stable. Third, and most importantly, you relied too much on the Tianya Sword Intent."

Su Han was taken aback: "Too dependent?"

"Your final strike just now borrowed at least 70% of the power of the Tianya Sword Intent," the sect leader said calmly. "This is not a bad thing, but if it becomes a habit, your path of cultivation will go astray. Sword spirit symbiosis, symbiosis, symbiosis, the key is the word 'symbiosis.' It's not that you should depend on her, nor that she should depend on you, but that the two complement each other and grow together."

She paused, then continued, "In these three months, I have three things for you to do. First, stabilize your realm and perfect your initial Star Wheel Realm cultivation; second, study all the sword manuals in the 'Sword Manual Section' on the third floor of the Scripture Pavilion, not to master them, but to broaden your horizons; third, and most importantly—communicate with Tianya's spirit."

"Communication?" Su Han asked in confusion. "Senior Sister is still asleep."

"Sleeping doesn't mean you can't communicate," the sect leader said. "Sword spirits coexist, and your souls are already connected. It's just that your cultivation level was insufficient before, so you couldn't actively establish a communication channel. Now that you've condensed your star wheel, you're qualified to try. Every day at midnight, when the yin energy is at its peak, sink your mind into your sea of ​​consciousness, call out the name of Tianya, and share your experiences and insights with her. Over time, you will receive a response."

Su Han's eyes lit up: "Disciple understands."

"Go," the sect leader waved his hand. "Come back to this hall at this time three days from now. I will pass on the Ice Heart Sword Manual to you."

"The Ice Heart Sword Manual!" Su Han's heart skipped a beat. This was one of the most treasured techniques of Tianya Peak, not to be lightly passed on to anyone other than a core disciple. The sect leader actually intended to directly impart it to him? (End of Chapter)