Swallowing the Stars: Heart of the Martial God

Chapter 122 Becoming an Emperor of the Sword Dao

When Ling Xuan created the Heaven-Slaying Technique, he had already found his path to becoming an emperor, but he still needed to sort it out.

Now, not only have I digested these insights from several major battles, but I have also created the second move, 'Return to Nothingness', and the road ahead has suddenly become clear.

The shackles that had bound Ling Xuan vanished instantly, and he prepared to break through to the Emperor Realm in one fell swoop.

As he sat cross-legged and gently closed his eyes, a chaotic mass suddenly exploded deep within his consciousness.

The sharpness of the Breaking Illusion Blade Intent and the composure of the Returning Void Blade Intent no longer contradict each other at this moment. Instead, they are connected like yin and yang fish, flowing along the meridians to the five secret realms.

The waves churning in the Sea of ​​Wheels and the Sea of ​​Suffering were no longer ordinary, but rather blade-shaped whirlpools; the five great deities of the Dao Palace put down their scriptures and raised their invisible longswords; the blade patterns emanating from the four extreme bones formed a closed loop; the great dragon of the Dragon Transformation Realm suddenly raised its head, the blade marks on its scales echoing the glow of the Immortal Platform—the five great realms, under the guidance of the blade intent, spontaneously condensed into a perfectly integrated and harmonious image.

Just then, the primordial star outside the Eight Desolations Tower suddenly changed color.

The spatial fluctuations, which were already trembling due to extreme pressure, became even more intense. Hundreds of millions of blade-shaped light trails appeared in the sky, crisscrossing like a star map. Each light trail was filled with chaotic flames, illuminating half of the primordial star as if a blade domain had descended.

On the ground, the ancient, slumbering mountains began to tremble, and wisps of golden mist seeped from the cracks in the rock layers, gathering in the air to form a giant sword phantom that stretched for thousands of miles. Wherever the sword's light pointed, even space itself was slightly distorted.

This strange phenomenon was so astonishing that several powerful figures simultaneously looked up in several canyons millions of kilometers away.

A high-ranking cosmic being clad in black armor suddenly stood up, staring at the phantom of the giant sword in the sky, his eyes flashing with surprise and doubt: "This is... could it be that a supreme treasure has been born?"

Several companions beside him also looked solemn, and they all got up and rushed towards the source of the strange phenomenon.

At the same time, the powerful beings on this primordial planet also contacted the cosmic lords of their respective factions.

This extraordinary phenomenon is likely the most supreme treasure. If one could obtain firsthand information about it, one might receive a reward from the lords of the universe.

Within the Eight Desolations Tower, the throbbing energy originating from the very essence of the sword rose from Ling Xuan's dantian, flowing through the five secret realms and continuously condensing, ultimately surging straight towards the unknown chaos on the Immortal Platform.

Unlike the deliberate guidance he used to practice swordsmanship, the power within his body now surged like a wild horse, yet flowed in an orderly fashion following the trajectory of sword intent.

The great dragon with its spine sensed the torrent and let out a silent roar. Its body suddenly swelled, and its originally ethereal form condensed into a metallic luster, the result of countless temperings with sword intent.

Suddenly, a beam of light descended from the phantom of the giant sword in the sky, precisely enveloping the Eight Desolations Tower.

The barrier on the seventh floor of Sendai glowed with a bluish light under the impact, like an ancient bell struck by a heavy hammer, reverberating with ripples of Dao patterns.

Those Dao patterns, which were like shackles that restricted one's realm, were now twisted and deformed under the scouring of the sword intent, gradually transforming into the patterns of the "Return to Nothingness" vortex—this was proof of Ling Xuan's countless days and nights of comprehension, as if even the rules of heaven and earth were making way for his sword path.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!" Three clear and melodious sounds rang out from within the body, originating from the Sea of ​​Wheels, the Dao Palace, and the Four Extremes, respectively.

The five secret realms were completely locked into a single entity, with no more power leaking out, all converging on the head of the spinal dragon.

Its body was filled with the aura of swords, its dragon horns were like two miniature three-pointed double-edged swords, and its dragon eyes were filled with the light of the fusion of delusion and return to nothingness. It suddenly crashed into the seventh level of the Sendai.

In an instant, the flashes of swords and the glow of the sunset illuminated the entire primordial star.

There was no earth-shattering noise, only a faint "crack" sound, as if glass were shattering.

The barrier on the seventh floor of Sendai collapsed the moment the dragon's head touched it, turning into countless points of light.

At this moment, the Great Sage Law within his body also reached its ultimate sublimation, transforming into the Quasi-Emperor Dao Law. The five great secret realms were perfectly integrated, awaiting only the final leap to become a true Supreme Being of the Ultimate Dao.

Even now, he could call himself a Supreme Being without hesitation. The powerful figures who considered themselves strong were scattered in the shadows of the stone forest surrounding the Eight Desolations Tower. Their auras were faint, yet they all carried a formidable pressure.

These powerful individuals maintained a certain distance from each other, their eyes fixed on the ancient tower, filled with greed and vigilance.

They were all waiting, waiting for the moment the "treasure" would be revealed, so they could rush to grab it as soon as possible, while at the same time being wary of their competitors, fearing that someone else would get there first.

Those who lack confidence in their own abilities hide far away in canyons or valleys hundreds of kilometers away, ready to watch the show or pick up the scraps.

"Judging from the activity inside this ancient pagoda, there must be something extraordinary inside." A voice rang out softly from the crowd in the distance, carrying a hint of excitement and longing.

"Yes, such a phenomenon indicates it's no ordinary treasure. We just don't know what level of treasure it is." The person next to him echoed, their eyes gleaming with longing.

Ling Xuan was still immersed in the state after his breakthrough and was completely unaware of everything outside the tower.

"This commotion, could it be a supreme treasure?" A melancholy young man wearing semi-transparent purple armor murmured to himself.

He stood quietly on a huge rock, his hands behind his back, emanating a faint but powerful aura that caused the powerful figures around him to subconsciously keep their distance and not dare to approach him easily.

No one doubted the melancholy youth's words, for he was an incredibly powerful and supreme ruler of the universe, with a great reputation throughout the cosmos.

At this moment, the spacetime, which was already solidified by the gravity of the primordial star, suddenly seemed to be gripped by an invisible hand and instantly froze.

Those powerful figures who were previously whispering to each other in the distance suddenly stiffened, as if they had been nailed to the spot and could not move.

Their faces showed fear, and fine beads of cold sweat appeared on their foreheads, as if an invisible mountain was pressing down on their chests.

Even the usually nonchalant and melancholic young man merely glanced up at the sky above the ancient tower, a hint of solemnity flashing across his face. He then stood respectfully in place, bowing his head slightly.

Control a region of time and space!
A great cosmic ruler has descended.

"What is this aura? It's so peculiar." A humanoid life form, thousands of kilometers tall, suddenly appeared above the ancient tower. Its body was made of dark red rock, and its head had nine fiery red tentacles, each wreathed in raging flames. The flames were an eerie, ghostly blue, casting an eerie glow over the surrounding space.

His eyes, like two enormous, fiery red jade stones, gleamed with a cold and majestic light as he surveyed everything below. No one dared to meet his gaze.

"Lord of the Sinking Flame!" The powerful figures of the Demon Clan Alliance were overjoyed when they saw this figure, and the worry on their faces vanished.

One of the cosmic venerables who sent the intelligence to the Lord of Sinking Fire was so excited that he trembled all over. In his view, the arrival of the Lord of Sinking Fire meant that the other party had already seized the initiative in this possible struggle.

Even if the other party doesn't ultimately acquire the treasure, they will at least show some appreciation.

Ling Xuan, who was cultivating inside the ancient tower, was sorting out the surging power in his body after his breakthrough when he suddenly felt violent fluctuations in the surrounding space-time. The stagnation felt almost tangible, forcing him to interrupt his cultivation.

He frowned slightly, his divine sense instantly expanding to take in the surrounding scenery. "It seems my breakthrough was too tumultuous, attracting the attention of these powerful figures from all sides."

Ling Xuan shook his head slightly, a hint of helplessness on his face.

He knew that most of these powerful figures had come for the so-called "treasures," and if he couldn't explain himself clearly, a fierce battle might ensue.

But he was not afraid. After breaking through to the Quasi-Emperor realm, his strength was no longer what it used to be.

(End of this chapter)