The First Venerable of All Paths

"Sing!"

The sound of swords rang out.

Immediately afterwards, two powerful sword energies pierced through the void and soared straight into the sky.

The fiery phoenix and the azure fire lotus swept across the sky, engulfing most of it.

Amidst the alternation of green and red, a figure sat cross-legged like an immortal, his hands forming a sword incantation.

Breathing is like the wind, exhaling is like a sword.

The sword intent emanating from him had risen to an unattainable level.

Even the Innate Sword Box trembled slightly at this moment, releasing even more sword energy.

The Guixu sword energy and Fang Xuan's own sword intent flowed, merged, and condensed with each other, finally returning to Fang Xuan's body.

"Buzz!"

The sword trembled slightly, radiating dazzling golden light.

Fang Xuan's entire spine, when viewed from afar, resembled a golden dragon about to awaken, radiating a terrifying aura that made the air tremble.

Fang Xuan successfully comprehended the "Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Void Technique," causing his sword intent to surge, and his innate sword bones also evolved.

At the moment the sword bone evolved, Fang Xuan suddenly had many insights.

His control over his two natal flying swords has improved significantly compared to before.

He became increasingly adept at using the sword techniques of the Three Styles of Breaking Ten Thousand Laws, wielding them with ease.

Furthermore, Fang Xuan even obtained a new sword technique from the "Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Void Technique".

Fang Xuan absorbed these insights with great eagerness, transforming them into his own power as much as possible.

The entire mountaintop was already shrouded in dense sword energy and intent.

The outside world has no way of knowing what happened inside.

Under Lu Zhao's orders, a forbidden area was established within several miles centered on Fang Xuan's seclusion, and no one was allowed to approach it.

Fortunately, there weren't many people in the manor, and they were all Lu Zhao's confidants.

Therefore, during the next few days of seclusion and meditation, no one disturbed or affected Fang Xuan.

until......

"Is Fang Xuan still not done?"

When Lu Zhao, who had disappeared for several days, reappeared, his face showed a hint of urgency.

"not yet."

Granny Yin said, "Miss, isn't the Blood Pool still a day away from opening?"

"But they're getting impatient."

Lu Zhaoyu clenched her fists and gritted her teeth, saying, "Those old fogies are preparing to gather their forces tonight and activate the Blood Pool."

"It seems they've already guessed something."

Granny Yin said, "Miss, should we wake Fang Xuan? Otherwise, we won't have enough time."

"Wait a little longer!"

Lu Zhao took a deep breath and said, "Although I don't know what he's doing, it's extremely important to him compared to this seclusion."

Grandma Yin nodded in deep agreement.

As a veteran expert who has cultivated for many years, Granny Yin's strength and vision far surpass those of many of her peers.

She could tell at a glance that Fang Xuan was indeed at a crucial moment.

What he practiced was an extremely profound sword technique.

It is even about to give birth to sword essence.

To cultivate a sword heart, one must nurture sword essence.

Once the sword essence is formed, the sword cultivator's natal flying sword will be divinely aided.

"Faster, faster!"

Lu Zhao clenched his fists, and cold sweat even appeared on his temples.

Time is running out.

At this moment, Fang Xuan seemed to be covered by a layer of sword energy.

Only in the sky did the clouds begin to flow, and the wind and thunder begin to gather.

After an unknown amount of time, a streak of red lightning shot out from the sky, heading straight towards the sword curtain below.

Just as the red lightning was about to strike the sword curtain, a streak of crimson light suddenly shot out from within the sword curtain, bursting through and colliding with the red lightning.

"Buzz!"

The moment the two made contact, there was only a muffled sound, but no particularly alarming fluctuations occurred.

But the next moment, where the sword tip touched the lightning, the void shattered like a mirror.

"Splash!"

Finally, the space exploded.

But even more red lightning bolts emerged from the void, coiling around the Phoenix Cry Sword like a spider web.

"The sword's essence is just beginning to emerge, suppressed by the Heavenly Dao?"

Grandma Yin, who was watching from a distance, was immediately shocked when she saw this scene.

Although it is true that when a sword cultivator cultivates sword essence, it will attract some strange phenomena in the world.

But she had never heard of being suppressed by the Heavenly Dao.

"Could it be that the sword essence this little guy has cultivated is the legendary Heavenly Grade?!"

Grandma Yin gasped in shock.

Sword essence is also divided into grades.

From highest to lowest, they are divided into four grades: Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow.

Granny Yin had the privilege of seeing the Earth-grade Sword Essence once.

That person came from that mysterious place, and his strength was unfathomable.

With a single sword strike, he killed a powerful expert at the sixth level of the Divine Intent Realm.

Even now, when Grandma Yin thinks about it, she is still amazed.

Even so, the opponent's sword energy was not as exaggerated as Fang Xuan's.

"Mother-in-law, what if he fails?"

Compared to Granny Yin's shock, Lu Zhao was more worried and nervous.

"It's possible."

Granny Yin said solemnly, "A Heavenly Grade Sword Essence suffers from the jealousy of Heaven. If one can withstand it, there will be many benefits. But if one cannot withstand it, at best, one's natal flying sword will be destroyed, and at worst, one will die and perish."

"What?"

Lu Zhao gasped, covering her mouth, and stammered, "He, how could he...?"

"Miss, please don't worry too much."

Granny Yin quickly comforted him, saying, "Young Master Fang Xuan is a lucky man; he will definitely be alright."

But Lu Zhao was far from relaxed.

She placed all her bets on Fang Xuan.

If Fang Xuanzhen were to get into trouble, all her years of forbearance, preparation, and hard work would be for naught.

"Hey!"

Just as the red lightning was about to touch the Phoenix Cry Sword, a phoenix cry resounded in all directions.

The Phoenix Cry Sword transformed directly into a massive and majestic fiery phoenix.

With a flap of its wings, all the red lightning bolts turned to dust.

"Buzz!"

In the instant the lightning turned to dust, another black lightning hand reached out from the void and suddenly grabbed down at Fang Xuan below.

The raging power of heaven and earth swept across the land like a whirlwind.

The mountain wind howled, and the clouds and thunder shone brightly.

The black lightning on his palm carried a terrifying power capable of destroying the world.

"Apocalyptic thunderbolt?"

Grandma Yin gasped in shock, her face showing not just shock, but terror and despair.

"No, that's not right, this isn't the apocalyptic thunderbolt."

Soon, Granny Yin realized something was wrong.

"This is a minor world-ending thunderclap."

"Mother-in-law, what's the difference between these two?"

Grandma Yin nodded and said, "Although there is only a one-word difference, they are worlds apart."

"If it were a world-destroying thunderbolt, this entire manor would be destroyed by its power, leaving no trace of life."

Granny Yin said, "The Lesser World-Destroying Thunder is much weaker, only one ten-thousandth the power of the World-Destroying Thunder."

"only......."

Granny Yin sighed and said in a low voice, "Even so, this Lesser World-Destroying Thunder is not something that Young Master Fang Xuan can handle in his current state."

Upon hearing this, Lu Zhao's face turned even more desperate.

Fang Xuan, who was under the palm of the Lesser World-Destroying Thunder, showed no emotion whatsoever.

He couldn't really handle the World-Destroying Thunderclap, but if it was just a Lesser World-Destroying Thunderclap, he didn't take it too seriously.

"rise."

Fang Xuan joined two fingers together, forming a sword finger, and pointed it towards the void.

"Buzzing!"

Ripples appeared in the void above, and a three-foot-long, ethereal green sword suddenly materialized.

The cyan sword trembled slightly, and streams of cyan sword energy flowed out, transforming into a giant lotus flower.

The lotus flower spun, enveloping Fang Xuan within it.

"Click click click!"

The black lightning palm struck Qinglian, but it vanished like a mud ox sinking into the sea.

"this......"

Both Granny Yin and Lu Zhao were stunned by what they saw.

"Mother-in-law..."

"Um?"

"Didn't you say that was a mini-apocalyptic thunderbolt?"

Lu Zhao said, "It doesn't look quite like it."

"I...I don't know either."

Granny Yin was also completely bewildered, and wondered to herself, "Could it be that this old servant has seen wrong?"

"You must have misread it."

Lu Zhao covered his mouth and laughed, "I don't deny Fang Xuan's talent, but to say that he could summon a minor world-destroying thunder is too shocking."

"What you say is right, Miss."

Granny Yin nodded and said, "This old servant was just guessing; I have not personally witnessed the Lesser World-Destroying Thunder."

"So, it seems that Brother Fang Xuan has succeeded?"

Lu Zhao looked on with anticipation.

"It seems so."

Granny Yin smiled and said, "Even if it's not a minor world-destroying thunder, the fact that it can attract such a celestial phenomenon is enough to prove that Young Master Fang Xuan's sword essence is extraordinary, at least above the Earth grade."

"The people I set my sights on will naturally be good."

Lu Zhao smiled proudly.

Granny Yin frowned and said softly, "Miss, this old servant has something I shouldn't say."

"What?"

"You two... aren't a good match."

Lu Zhao was taken aback at first, then said with a wry smile, "Mother-in-law, what are you thinking? I don't have any feelings for him in that way."

Even so, Lu Zhao's eyes were bright and sparkling when she looked at Fang Xuan.

Seeing this, Granny Yin could only sigh inwardly and said nothing more.

"return!"

After absorbing all the minor world-destroying thunderbolts, Fang Xuan pointed his finger, and the azure lotus instantly transformed into a longsword, flying back into Fang Xuan's hand.

The same applies to the Phoenix Cry Sword.

The two longswords, like swallows returning to their nest, affectionately rubbed against Fang Xuan's palm, releasing streams of warm power that converged into Fang Xuan's dantian.

"I never expected that I would actually cultivate sword essence."

Fang Xuan smiled slightly.

With the evolution of his sword bones and the condensation of sword essence, Fang Xuan's strength was greatly enhanced.

"In this way, the chances of entering the Lu family's blood pool will be greatly increased."

Fang Xuan was very satisfied with what he had gained from this seclusion.

Fang Xuan put away the two flying swords and stood up.

"Whoosh!"

In a flash, Granny Yin appeared before Fang Xuan with Lu Zhao.

"Congratulations, Brother Fang Xuan!"

Lu Zhao said with a smile, "It seems you've gained a lot from this seclusion."

"Just lucky."

Fang Xuan said, "Judging from Sister Lu Zhao's appearance, could it be that the Lu family's blood pool is about to be activated?"

"Yes, tonight."

Lu Zhao said, "Originally, it was supposed to start tomorrow, but there are a few old guys who can't wait any longer."

"It seems they've guessed that Sister Lu Zhao has found help."

Fang Xuan said, "In that case, let's go and meet them."

"Brother Fang Xuan, I have something to tell you."

Lu Zhao said in a deep voice, "This time, the Lu family's blood pool only allows six people to enter. On Lu Ren's side, besides himself, there are two trusted confidants who have been trained for many years, both of whom have the strength to defy the divine intent."

"But here on my end..."

Lu Zhao said in a low voice, "Besides you and Manman, the other person was injured a few days ago. Even if he goes in, he won't be of much help."

"Injured? That's quite a coincidence."

Fang Xuan smirked and said, "But it doesn't matter. I guarantee Lu Ren will be able to get in, but he won't be able to get out!"