Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

at this time.

A resolute sword light shot into the sky from the depths of the mountain gate, piercing straight into the Netherworld!

The sword light was sharp, yet it carried a tragic sense of unstoppable momentum!

With a flick of his finger, Jiuyou unleashed a concentrated burst of energy that easily shattered the sword light.

Immediately afterwards, a figure stepped out from the secluded cultivation location, using profound sword techniques.

The newcomer appeared to be middle-aged with an ancient face. He carried a seemingly ordinary ancient sword box on his back, but his aura was clearly that of a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. It was none other than Xiao Wujian!

"Master!"

The Golden Light Sect Master grasped at a straw and immediately bowed respectfully.

Xiao Wujian's gaze was as solemn as iron as he stared directly into the Nine Netherworlds:

"Nine Netherworlds, the struggle for the Sword Spirit Grass at the Black Miasma Forest Sword Tomb was my own idea. Swords have no eyes; everyone should rely on their own abilities. Why involve the juniors of my sect?"

He slowly raised his hand and grasped the hilt of the sword behind him. With a clang, the longsword was drawn! The blade was clear as water, reflecting his determined gaze.

"If you want to fight, I'll fight with you!"

He was known as the number one swordsman below the Core Formation stage in the Northern Sky Domain, and his nickname was "Swordless" because ordinary opponents were not worth drawing his sword against.

But when facing Jiuyou, he immediately drew his sword, his expression extremely solemn.

"Hahaha!"

Upon hearing this, Jiuyou burst into wild laughter, his voice shaking the surrounding wilderness.

"The news that I severed Qingming's arm must have already spread throughout the Northern Sky Domain, right? You're only at the late Foundation Establishment stage, yet you dare to draw your sword against me?"

Amidst his laughter, his vital energy surged forth as if burning in a furnace, overwhelming everything around him!

The sound of his heart pounding was like a god beating a drum, "thump! thump! thump!" It shook the blood and qi of the many Golden Light Sect disciples below, and those with weaker cultivation even knelt down, blood flowing from their mouths and noses!

Xiao Wujian's face was also flushed, and his breathing became disordered.

But his eyes remained sharp as ever, and he used his pure sword intent to forcefully cut off distracting thoughts and stabilize his mind.

"A swordsman's heart is set on the sword; there is nothing he dares not slay!"

His voice was calm, yet carried a strong sense of conviction.

"I knew I was no match for him, but I still drew my sword. With that sword, I had already conquered the fear I had felt a moment before!"

"Hahaha! What a fine swordsman's spirit! You're much more to my liking than that scheming old man Qingming!"

Jiuyou's laughter grew even louder, tinged with a hint of appreciation.

"Very well, if you can withstand one of my punches, I will spare the entire Golden Light Sect today!"

"bring it on!"

Xiao Wujian's eyes lit up, and his sword intent erupted like a volcano, soaring into the sky!

The longsword in his hand hummed incessantly, drawing upon the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth to transform into countless tiny sword energies that swirled around his body, emitting a piercing shriek!

He has pushed his swordsmanship to its peak!

Jiuyou made no fancy moves, and didn't even gather his strength. He simply threw out a straight punch!

This punch, seemingly simple and unadorned, and not fast, contained power that had been condensed to the extreme!

Wherever the fist passed, space itself distorted slightly, emitting a low, mournful groan!

[Golden Light Splits into Shadows - Thousand Blade Slash!]

Xiao Wujian's expression was more solemn than ever before. He roared and the long sword in his hand transformed into a sky full of golden sword shadows, pouring out like a storm!

The sword's power grows stronger with each strike!

Hundreds of condensed sword energies crashed one after another into the seemingly slowly advancing fist imprint!

However, the fist imprint remained as immovable as an ancient mountain.

No matter how the sword energy slashed and cut, it could not budge it in the slightest!

Instead, during the collision, Xiao Wujian's second-tier high-grade natal flying sword let out a mournful cry of being unable to bear the burden. Cracks spread across the blade, and finally, with a "clang," it broke apart inch by inch!

The fist imprint slowed down slightly, but it still pressed down with destructive power!

"Drink!!"

A resolute glint flashed in Xiao Wujian's eyes. He abandoned the broken sword, let out a long roar, and completely merged the sword intent around him with his own essence, energy, and spirit. His whole body transformed into a human-shaped sword. He stepped on the profound sword steps, using his body as a sword, neither dodging nor avoiding, and took the initiative to meet the terrifying fist imprint!

"Body and sword become one; no sword is better than having a sword!"

"boom--!!!"

The fist imprint collided violently with the sword!

A blinding light erupted, and the energy surge spread outwards like a tsunami, flattening large areas of the mountains and forests below!

As the light faded, the fist imprint finally disappeared.

Xiao Wujian's clothes were torn to shreds, his body was covered in blood, and he was completely exhausted. He staggered and fell from mid-air.

But his eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, and the sword intent they contained had not dissipated; on the contrary, it was like refined steel that had been forged through countless hammerings.

More pure, more refined!

"Good! Hahaha! What a brilliant move to have no sword! Using the body as a sword, cutting through fear, and tempering the sword intent!"

Jiuyou clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes filled with even more admiration.

Xiao Wujian took a deep breath, steadied himself, and spoke in a hoarse but firm voice:

"You...can you keep your word? Let...the Golden Light Sect go..."

Upon hearing this, Jiuyou's lips curled into a cold, amused smile:

"You've correctly predicted my pride and my disdain for breaking my word... but how can you be so sure that a 'devil' like me will keep my promise?"

Xiao Wujian remained silent for a moment, then pointed his fingers like a sword, and the remaining sword intent coalesced once more:

"If you change your mind... then let's fight again..."

"Hahaha!" Jiuyou laughed again, his voice shaking the sky. "Too bad, I'll fall for your act! Unyielding and with a clear sword heart, I'm a million times better than those hypocrites!"

His laughter subsided, and he changed the subject:

"However... I've heard that you, Xiao Wujian, are not only a master of swordsmanship, but also quite knowledgeable in the art of sword forging."

"By handing over your sword-making skills and expertise to me, this matter will be considered settled."

Xiao Wujian was taken aback, not expecting that Jiuyou, a body cultivator, would ask for the sword-forging method.

But then he remembered that the other party had once wielded that demonic sword with a murderous aura, and it seemed to make sense.

"Give."

Without further hesitation, he used his last bit of strength to take out an ancient jade slip from his storage ring and toss it to Jiuyou.

On the jade slip, four characters were engraved in ancient seal script: "The Golden Jade Forging Sword Manual".

Jiuyou accepted it, scanned it briefly with his divine sense, and nodded in satisfaction.

With this technique, Lu Zaian's true form can now hopefully forge the [Sword Spirit Grass]!

"Hahaha! Xiao Wujian, I hope that after you reach the Core Formation stage, you will be able to unleash sword techniques that will satisfy me even more!"

Jiuyou let out a long laugh and transformed into a blue rainbow as he departed.

As Xiao Wujian gazed in the direction where he had disappeared, a relieved smile appeared on his usually tense face.

"Grandmaster! Are you alright?!"

The Golden Light Sect Master immediately flew forward and helped the swaying Xiao Wujian.

Xiao Wujian slowly shook his head, his eyes shining brightly despite his serious injuries.

Only he knew that today, by taking a punch from the Nine Netherworlds head-on, his natal flying sword was completely shattered. Although it seemed tragic, it was actually a result of being reborn from the ashes under the pressure of life and death.

He honed his lifelong sword intent to an unprecedented level, even faintly touching the threshold of the next realm.

After this period of seclusion to heal his injuries, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage is a natural progression!

Even... we might not be able to peek into the Core Formation realm!

When Jiuyou left, he clearly realized this as well.

.........

Next, Jiuyou arrived at the Blackwater Sect's mountain gate.

It remains as domineering and direct as ever.

They dragged Hei Hong out and beat him up, then stole the Blackwater Sect's unique "Blackwater Body Refining Technique".

After a cursory glance, Jiuyou discovered that although this technique was far inferior to his demonic body, some of its methods for drawing upon water elements to temper the body and neutralize powerful forces were quite unique.

.........

The last stop, Qianfeng Peak, Zhangjia.

Unlike the previous two families, the Zhang family is known in the northern airspace for raising spirit birds.

When Jiuyou descended, it did not directly break the formation, but the overwhelming pressure made all the spirit birds on the top of the Thousand Peaks restless.

All birds are silent!

After a chaotic scene, Zhang Lingwei, the female head of the family, was thoroughly ravaged by Jiu You and became completely obedient, obediently offering up the treasure:

The "Record of Feeding Spiritual Birds" records the secret methods and techniques of the Zhang family in taming and raising spiritual birds over generations.

And a jar of essence blood from a late-stage, second-tier Heavenly Roc Demon...

Jiuyou returned to Yunli Mountain satisfied.