Amidst the peaks shrouded in clouds and mist, a Daoist sat by the cliff with a sword resting on his knees. The sharp montum ford shadows of swords around him, like flying birds, like swimming fish, flickering and circling.
He was like a stone statue, sitting motionless by the cliff, with a faint tallic sheen erging on his skin, cold and non-human.
Until a certain mont, the sword on the Daoist's knees suddenly humd, emitting a vast and desolate aura of slaughter.
The figure like a stone statue instantly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with extre coldness.
He heard murmurs from all directions, as invisible telekinesis converged on the Lifebound Flying Sword on his knees, transmitting into the heart of him as the Sword Master.
At the sa ti, along with the rise of the aura of slaughter, there was also divine light flashing, vaguely like tens of thousands of thunder booming together, shaking the mind.
All originated from the Lifebound Flying Sword on his knees, all originated from the Gouchen Dao Fruit borne by the sword.
The Gouchen True Spirit within the Dao Fruit of the Heavenly Emperor of the Upper Palace was growing, gradually dispelling the erosion endured from the Five Turbid Evil World over the years. And this small dispelling was becoming the opportunity for the True Spirit's growth.
For these once-dead True Spirits, any touch of external nourishnt could be grasped and maximized in utilization. And now, this external force was not just the present mont but telekinesis transmitted from the void, like a trickling stream, though not vast, yet ceaselessly flowing.
With the aid of this power, the True Spirit would temporarily suppress its decline, possibly even recovering slightly.
And any slight recovery was detrintal to the Daoist.
"Heavenly Monarch." Taibai True Monarch's gaze, sharp as a sword, seed capable of piercing through the void, locking onto a certain soone afar.
No superfluous reasoning was needed, as this Sect Master of the Daode Sect had already determined who was behind the scenes.
He had collaborated with the Heavenly Monarch multiple tis; though he couldn't claim to know him thoroughly, his keen swordman's intuition confird the Heavenly Monarch's cunning and depth.
"It is I."
A voice pierced through layers of space, as if coming from beyond the heavens, entering the ears of Taibai True Monarch.
Simultaneously, a faint vertical pupil's shadow appeared in front.
"Old friend, you really have caused much trouble." The blurred figure within the vertical pupil shook his head and sighed.
The two were initially partners in stirring up a great war; Taibai True Monarch ascended by borrowing the power of mortal soldiers, while the Heavenly Monarch achieved his ends through this collaboration. Each took what they needed, but after a journey to Buddha Country, Taibai True Monarch flaked on the Heavenly Monarch.
Following the Daoist Lord's advice, Taibai True Monarch chose to postpone his ascension, beginning a secluded cultivation of the Nine Heavens Demon Clearing True Technique. This caused the Heavenly Monarch to lose a significant ally.
So the Heavenly Monarch ca seeking him.
"I do not owe you," Taibai True Monarch said coldly.
"Yet the plan had such flaws due to you, can you truly claim not to owe ?"
The figure within the vertical pupil chuckled softly, "Moreover, True Monarch, who is reputedly the greatest Sword Cultivator of the day, seems to have been misjudged for backing down out of fear of the Dao Fruit True Spirit."
Upon hearing this, Taibai True Monarch's gaze sharpened, and two sword lights shot through the vertical pupil.
Unfortunately, the pupil was like an illusion, unscathed by the penetrating sword light; the voice from within continued unabated, "Thus, I chose to push you, True Monarch. You can choose to continue retreating, dulling your edge, running the risk of battling the restored Gouchen True Spirit, or..."
"Collaborate with once more."
"Are you threatening ?" Taibai True Monarch's aura grew even sharper.
"Not a threat, but assistance," the figure in the vertical pupil said leisurely, "Your Dao, True Monarch, is invincible, unstoppable, but you cannot retreat. If you retreat again and again, even if your cultivation improves, can you still wield that unparalleled sword?"
"Though the Promotion Ceremony has begun, your ascension, True Monarch, has yet to start. If you will, you could abandon the ascension, opting for another Second Grade Dao Fruit. Given the abilities of the Daoist Lord, while the Second Grade Dao Fruit is rare, you should be able to find one or two. In fact, there's another Second Grade Dao Fruit within the Daode Sect. However, should that happen, you, True Monarch, would truly be retreating."
The awakening of a True Spirit is not the threat, retreat is the threat.
This threat does not co from outsiders but from within oneself.
The Heavenly Monarch possesses the ability to manipulate the human heart and, through the Yin Talisman Scripture, comprehends the thoughts of others, rivaling even the Heavenly Son Demon in this ability.
Perhaps only the current bearer of the Devaputra Dao Fruit is counted as being above him.
"Are you not afraid that I'll assist Emperor Jiang?" Taibai True Monarch said coldly.
"If you are willing to fight alongside forr enemies and your disciple's murderer, I would anticipate True Monarch striking at ,"
The figure within the vertical pupil said with a faint smile, nonchalant, "I've said enough; I ask you, True Monarch, to ponder carefully. Should you choose to collaborate again, ans to suppress the True Spirit will be offered with both hands. Cooperating with the Great Sun Tathagata yielded significant benefits, including so thods to utilize incense fire thought power."
Upon these words falling, the vertical pupil began to fade away until it vanished completely.
And so, he left, as if certain that Taibai True Monarch would make the decision he desired.
Once again, peace returned to the mountain peak, but the figure seated cross-legged could no longer be tranquil.
"Supre..."
Taibai True Monarch suddenly let out a cold laugh, "Ha, Supre! If not supre, am I rely a pawn?"
Supres are also third grade; reaching the contemporary pinnacle, they are nad Supre.
Due to various influences and the shaping of the Dao Fruit True Spirit, they beco peerless in the third grade, thus supre.
From this perspective, being supre seems an unavoidable choice.
However, after truly confronting a Supre, one finds that even among the third grade, the gap between supres and non-supres feels as vast as the gap between third and second grade.
Taibai True Monarch also learned from the Daoist Lord that if not for the peculiarities of the Dao Fruit cultivation system, these supres would leave behind a unique Dao Fruit after death, representing them. Other third grades would leave no Dao Fruit.
Supres, indeed, have the capacity to surpass other third grades.
Having posed this question, Taibai True Monarch received a frustrating answer.
Therefore, he rose to his feet, his sharp sword montum piercing the clouds, even drawing down an imnse force from beyond the heavens, causing a star to appear in the dayti sky.
This was the Taibai Golden Star, corresponding to Taibai True Monarch's Fourth Grade Dao Fruit, the Taibai Star Lord.
The ergence of this star signaled Taibai True Monarch's departure from seclusion; imdiately, two beams of Pure Light rose from the mountain below.
"Sect Master!"
Taibai True Monarch ignored the disciples' calls, transforming into a beam of sword light, soaring across the heavens.
"Not good!"
The two beams of Pure Light landed on the cliff, but they could not stop Taibai True Monarch from leaving.
One of the Daoists within the Pure Light couldn't help but sigh, saying, "The Sect Master is exuding auras of slaughter; he probably heads to Jingyang Land."
The other Daoist wasn't as urgent, saying, "The Daoist Lord should also be near the Jingyang area now; with his presence, there should be no concern."
"The Daoist Lord's Three Pure Ones Primordial Spirit was nearly completely scattered recently; how quickly can he recover from such injuries? He left while still injured. Now the Sect Master's sudden departure..."
The Daoist couldn't hold back any longer, "No, I must seek out the Daoist Lord."
"Wait, the Nine Provinces' evil qi now perates greatly; leaving the Sect risks great danger."
"There's no ti to worry about that."
Pure Light ascended to the sky, following the sword light leaving the mountain.
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