The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 484 Flying.
Outside the moon gate.

Su Xinghe gazed at the figure meditating in the courtyard, filled with awe.

Although he didn't know that the strange phenomenon he had just witnessed was the phenomenon of the Northern Darkness Divine Art breaking through to the Heavenly Realm, he knew that such a phenomenon must be extraordinary, and most likely related to the final level of martial arts.

Despite years of martial arts training and a broad knowledge of poetry, calligraphy, painting, and other miscellaneous arts, and possessing a quick and intelligent mind, he still couldn't overcome that final barrier.
But this much younger junior in front of him had already reached that hurdle before him.
For a moment, I was overwhelmed with mixed feelings—jealousy, helplessness, bitterness, and sighs.

Next, we'll see if Master Xu in the courtyard breaks through the final barrier and what happens next.

Wu Yazi, sitting in the sedan chair, looked at the figure in the courtyard, a hint of surprise and astonishment flashing in his eyes.

Even after all this time, Master Xu's face remained calm and composed. Although the aura within his body was vast and astonishing, it circulated in an orderly manner, without the slightest sign of chaos or violence.

"Could it be that he has overcome the difficulty of infusing his body with the primordial energy of heaven and earth?"

"Or perhaps, his original skill was already sufficient and refined; he is merely using the breakthrough method of the Northern Darkness Divine Art to break through that final barrier."

"But that's impossible."

"Master Xu is at most around thirty years old. Even if someone like Senior Sister started cultivating internal energy techniques at the age of six, she would only have twenty or thirty years of experience by now."

Even if his cultivation technique is extremely exquisite, twenty or thirty years of practice is simply not enough for him to touch that final barrier.

Wu Yazi was lost in thought, unable to fathom Xu Xingchen's current situation.

His eyes lit up quickly, and he exclaimed in surprise, "It's done?!"

Su Xinghe, who was standing to the side, almost cried out in surprise.

But then, in the courtyard, wisps of white mist rose and swirled around Xu Xingchen, slowly extending and spreading in all directions.

The white mist was purer than before, and its properties appeared even lighter and more ethereal.

It's as if a qualitative change has been completed, giving people a completely different feeling.

This time, the white clouds did not spread too far, but only gently rolled and surged within a radius of about ten feet around Xu Xingchen, below his chest and abdomen.

Light, ethereal, otherworldly.
The backdrop made Xu Xingchen's figure appear ethereal and otherworldly, unlike any ordinary person.

next moment.

Xu Xingchen's figure slowly floated up, and supported by the white cloud, it flew up to a height of about ten feet, then two feet, then three feet, and finally more than ten feet in the air before stopping.

Then it just hovered in mid-air, neither up nor down, neither shaking nor moving, with only the clouds below it still gently churning and rolling.

The contrast made Xu Xingchen seem like a celestial being riding the clouds!
"Flying by controlling qi?!" Su Xinghe looked up at the ethereal figure in mid-air, his face showing a mixture of surprise, envy, sighs, and longing.

Wu Yazi nodded, thinking to himself, "Although I have broken through to the Heavenly Realm, achieving flight through qi is something that needs to be done gradually."

"But Master Xu was able to fly as soon as he reached the Heavenly Realm; clearly, he must have practiced an extremely outstanding lightness technique and mastered it into a rare and extraordinary skill."

"I wonder what this ethereal, cloud-like lightness technique is called? It certainly fits the image of my Free and Unfettered Sect perfectly."

Soon, the martial arts practitioners from the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands, who were cleaning up other courtyards for a final celebration, also noticed the figure floating in the clouds above the manor. They were all dumbfounded and then exclaimed in surprise.

What's that floating in the sky?

"Look! There are immortals in the sky!"

"My God! Riding the clouds? That's riding the clouds!"

"Is that Master Xu from Big Fish Manor? How come he's floating in the sky?"

"Impossible! No one can float in the sky without moving, not even a top expert in the Heavenly Realm."

"Are you out of your mind? Have you forgotten that when you met the Venerable One at the Lingjiu Palace in Tianshan, he also sat upright in the void, appearing like a deity?!"

"When the Venerable One sat in the void, a phantom of red plum blossoms appeared behind him, growing and withering, completely different from the current appearance of Master Xu."

"You two fools! The Heavenly Realm, the highest level of martial arts, is beyond our comprehension! Those top masters can fly by controlling their qi, or sit upright in the void, moving freely between heaven and earth like wind and clouds, untouched by the mundane world."

"Master Xu is not even older than me, yet he has already cultivated to the Heavenly Realm of Oneness with Heaven and Man. This... this is truly shameful."

"What's there to be ashamed of? There's no comparison between people; you and I are like a stubborn rock compared to a beautiful jade compared to Master Xu."

"Do you think Master Xu just broke through to the Heavenly Realm today? Is it related to the power of that Yuan Magnetic Ring that was taken back from our bodies earlier?"

"Second Brother Xie, what are you trying to say?"

"I'd like to ask, isn't it possible that we all contributed to Master Xu's breakthrough?"

"Hahaha, what merit could we possibly have? You're just trying to pat us on the back."

"That's not necessarily true. There are countless cultivation techniques in the world, each with its own mysterious and different aspects; perhaps Master Xu's cultivation technique requires the help of all of us to break through."

"Hey, Xie Lao Er, that's a brilliant idea! Why don't you go back and create your own divine skill like this, and see if it works?"

The martial arts practitioners from the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands were shouting and making a lot of noise.

The bamboo swordsman inside the house heard the commotion outside and came out.

Looking up at the familiar figure sitting upright in the white clouds above the villa, he was also greatly surprised, and for the first time, he felt a sense of awe towards Xu Xingchen.

These days, although the Bamboo Sword Envoy has been trapped here by Xu Xingchen and unable to leave, she has remained calm and composed without the slightest worry, relying on the master of Lingjiu Palace behind her: Tianshan Tonglao.

In her view, although Xu Xingchen's martial arts skills surpassed hers and those of her subordinates, as long as Xu Xingchen hadn't cultivated his skills to the highest level of martial arts and become a top master, she wouldn't be afraid of him.
Having served the Lord for so many years, she knows all too well how vast and insurmountable the chasm is between the top masters of the Heavenly Realm and the martial artists of the Earthly Realm.

but now.
Right under her nose, the master of this Great Fish Manor had actually become a top expert at the same level as her own lord.

A sense of awe and fear arose in his heart, and he could no longer maintain his previous calm and composed demeanor.

Duan Yu, who was reading in the side room, also heard the commotion outside. He pushed open the door, looked up, and exclaimed in shock, "Brother Xu! Brother Xu has become an immortal!"

Ignore the different reactions of the people in the villa.

Sitting upright on the white clouds, suspended high in the sky, Xu Xingchen looked inward at the talisman representing the "Cloud Escape" movement technique within his body, feeling a mixture of joy and regret.

He created the Cloud Escape Technique only after the First Sword of Mount Hua and the Yin-Yang Magnetic Divine Skill.

It was only after arriving in this world that the Cloud Escape Technique was able to advance further and fully manifest its form.

He stood up and stomped hard on the white clouds beneath his feet.

The white cloud of energy, under pressure, surged and rolled faster, but after a moment, it returned to its original gentle and soothing state. This white cloud, about ten feet in size, was closely related to Xu Xingchen's internal energy and his mind.

As long as he has a thought, his internal energy will accelerate its circulation, and the white clouds will carry him through the air, soaring forward without hesitation.

Just like this moment
Xu Xingchen's long howl echoed through the valley, and the white clouds beneath his feet began to churn violently.

next moment.

The white cloud drew a long white trail in the sky, carrying Xu Xingchen several feet away in an instant.

The white clouds churned violently, carrying Xu Xingchen back and forth above the villa.

Sometimes it moves in a straight line at an astonishing speed; sometimes it circles and soars, agile and free.
Sometimes it draws a large arc headfirst, leaving behind wispy white rings; other times it turns left and right like a skiing expert, displaying a graceful and elegant posture.

Xu Xingchen rode the white clouds beneath her feet, flying freely above the manor, using all sorts of different postures.

Even with his calm and composed nature, he couldn't help but shout and laugh loudly in this situation.

Fly! Fly!
This is one of the greatest desires since humankind developed thought and dreams.

Today, Xu Xingchen has realized this wish that countless martial arts practitioners have been increasingly longing for, yearning for, and dreaming of.

How could he not be excited? How could he not be overjoyed? How could he not be happy?
below.

The martial arts practitioners in the manor craned their necks, looking at the figure flying freely in the sky. Their eyes were red with envy, and their hearts were breaking with jealousy. They hated that the figure in the sky was not themselves.

Even Duan Yu, who usually resisted learning martial arts, was deeply moved when he saw the dashing figure walking on the clouds high in the sky. For the first time in his life, he began to take the path of martial arts seriously.

I think learning martial arts might not be such a bad thing after all!
High in the sky.

Xu Xingchen rode the white clouds, speeding towards the cliff face ahead.

Just before it was about to touch the cliff face, it suddenly turned and shot straight into the sky, hugging the cliff edge.

Whoosh.

White clouds burst forth from the mountaintop, drawing a large white arc in the sky above the summit before plunging down towards the village below.

When it was only two or three feet away from the ground and rooftops, the diving suddenly turned into a horizontal sweep, flashing over the rooftops.

The group of people in the courtyard swayed their heads left and right, looking in all directions, following the flight path of the figure in the sky.

Faced with such a miracle, no one could bear to look away.

As the white clouds carrying Xu Xingchen swept across overhead, the raging wind whipped through their hair and billowed their clothes.

As that figure soared into the sky once more, everyone's hearts leaped into the air, and a breath of air burst from their throats, turning into a gasp of surprise!
Everyone's emotions followed the freely flying figure in the sky, sometimes surging with excitement, sometimes tense and worried, sometimes shouting with excitement, and sometimes clenching their fists and waving.

The mindset of this group of people at this moment is just like that of the spectators watching a horse race; their emotions resonate with each other, and their feelings surge together.

I couldn't contain my emotions; I was so excited I forgot myself!
The only person who could calmly observe this miraculous scene was Wuyazi, who had once reached this level of understanding.

Xu Xingchen rode the white clouds and played in the sky above the villa for half a day before she finally felt satisfied.

Slowing down, it descended towards the courtyard below.

When it reached a distance of three feet from the ground, the white cloud swirled and entered Xu Xingchen's body, transforming back into internal energy.

Her feet landed lightly.

Xu Xingchen tidied her hair and clothes, which had been messed up by the strong wind.

Su Xinghe grabbed the sedan chair pole and walked through the moon gate into the courtyard, arriving in front of Xu Xingchen.

Wu Yazi, sitting in the sedan chair, said with a smile, "Congratulations, Master Xu, on achieving the Heavenly Realm. From now on, you will become an immortal that everyone envies."

Xu Xingchen cupped his hands and smiled, "This junior has just reached this level, and I will need to learn from you, senior, in the future!"

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Su Xinghe couldn't hide his envy as he offered his congratulations.

A short while later, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

"It seems those people have come to congratulate you!" Wu Yazi smiled and instructed Su Xinghe, "Let's go back first! Don't disturb their congratulations to Master Xu."

After the two disappeared into the courtyard behind the moon gate, Xu Xingchen turned to look at the gate and said in a slightly louder voice, "Come in!"

With a creak, the courtyard gate was gently pushed open.

The armed men from the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands all crowded around the courtyard gate, craning their necks to look inside.

They seemed to want to see what kind of extraordinary, ethereal beauty Xu Xingchen would display after breaking through to the highest level of martial arts.

In front of Xu Xingchen, they dared not jump onto the walls or rooftops to watch the spectacle.

Without Xu Xingchen's permission, he dared not step into the courtyard.

Only the bamboo swordsman standing at the very front stepped over the threshold and walked up to Xu Xingchen.

His eyes scrutinized Xu Xingchen from head to toe for a long time before he bowed his straight back for the first time and said respectfully, "Congratulations, Master Xu, on your advancement to the Heavenly Realm!"

Xu Xingchen knew perfectly well that the woman's change in attitude, from arrogant to obsequious, was due to her improved strength, which had earned her the woman's recognition and respect.

As a maid of the Lingjiu Palace in Tianshan, she commands a vast force of tens of thousands of martial arts practitioners across thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands.

Only a true master could make the Bamboo Sword Envoy lower his proud head.

"Get up!" Xu Xingchen waved his hand and then chatted with him for a few words.

The Bamboo Sword Envoy said, "Farewell!" and turned to leave the courtyard.

The courtyard gate creaked shut, cutting off the view of others.

The martial arts practitioners from the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands were not yet qualified to enter the courtyard to offer their congratulations to Xu Xingchen in person.

By the afternoon.

The Bamboo Sword Envoy then led his more than nine hundred men away from Dayu Manor in a grand procession.

She needed to rush back to Lingjiu Palace to report to her Lord about Xu Xingchen's improved strength and the news about her senior brother, Wuyazi.

(End of this chapter)