Chapter 157 Central Area

The moment Mu Changge stepped into the portal of the Secret Realm, the space around him twisted, and the scene before his eyes changed abruptly.

What greeted him was not the deep cavern or gloomy tomb he had imagined, but a vast, boundless world filled with an ancient atmosphere.

The sky was dark silver, devoid of sun or moon, with countless streaks of sword light—some bright, some dim—shooting across the horizon like meteors, leaving long trails that illuminated the entire world in a bizarre and motley display.

The ground was not ordinary soil, but piles of countless broken and shattered sword artifacts, rusted and fused together to form undulating 'Sword Mountains and Sword Ridges'.

The air was saturated with an intense, inescapable sharpness; every breath felt as if tiny strands of Sword Qi were piercing his lungs, requiring him to circulate his spiritual energy to neutralize them.

This was the Sword Burial Abyss—the final resting place for the great sword masters of the Wandao Sword Sect throughout the ages.

In life, they had dominated the world, their Sword Qi spanning ten thousand miles; in death, their Sword Intent remained, slumbering here as their personal swords, remnant souls, and even their lifelong insights into the Dao of the sword transformed into a small part of this unique Secret Realm, creating a pervasive yet varied 'Sword Qi Pressure Field'.

The moment Mu Changge landed, he felt a weight press down on him.

It was not physical gravity, but an intangible, oppressive 'Aura' originating from all directions.

This pressure was not uniform; it ebbed and flowed like the tide, interspersed with the lingering, distinct remnants of countless types of Sword Qi:

Some Sword Qi felt like a gentle breeze against the face; seemingly soft, yet it was pervasive and incredibly swift, as if it could bypass defenses to pierce directly into the Divine Soul—this was the 'Clear Wind Sword Intent', which emphasized breaking force with skill and subduing enemies with speed.

In a nearby area, the Sword Qi flowed like a babbling brook, continuous and seemingly peaceful, yet it hid whirlpools and undercurrents; once entangled, one would be like a person trapped in a quagmire, unable to break free—this was the 'Weak Water Sword Intent', adept at overcoming the hard with the soft and wearing down opponents through endurance.

There was also Sword Qi as scorching as fire; wherever it passed, even the air heated up, emitting a hot and explosive Aura—this was the 'Li Fire Sword Intent', domineering, fierce, and unyielding.

Furthermore, there was Sword Qi as heavy as a mountain, dense and solid; standing within it felt like carrying a mountain on one's back, making every step difficult—this was the 'Thick Earth Sword Intent', which focused on defense and could also suppress people with its momentum.

Others included the 'Geng Metal Sword Intent', which was incomparably sharp and could cut through everything; the 'Yi Wood Sword Intent', which was full of vitality yet hid murderous intent; the 'Phantom Sword Intent', which was treacherous and unpredictable, blurring the lines between reality and illusion; and the 'Profound Ice Sword Intent', which was cold and lethal, freezing the soul...

These various types of Sword Intent either occupied their own areas or intertwined and fused with one another, turning this Secret Realm into a 'living fossil museum' of the Dao of the sword and a natural trial ground.

'Truly extraordinary, worthy of being a giant of the Righteous Path,' Mu Changge noted inwardly, as his internal spiritual energy circulated spontaneously to resist the pervasive Sword Qi pressure.

He did not waste time admiring the scenery; his gaze swept over the coordinate guidance for Jian Wushuang's 'recent Opportunity' on the System panel before him, and after identifying the direction, he moved and sped toward the core area of the Secret Realm.

His gait appeared leisurely, but his speed was astonishingly fast, weaving through the rugged remnants of sword artifacts and various Sword Qi Domains as if walking on flat ground.

It was not that he could not feel the pressure; rather, relying on the extraordinary Comprehension Ability granted by 'Super Comprehension', he could quickly adapt to and analyze the attributes, intensity, and operating patterns of the surrounding Sword Qi.

Like the most precise instrument, he could always find the weak points or gaps in the pressure field, exchanging the least amount of energy for the fastest movement speed.

This was not a confrontation of brute force, but an alignment and comprehension that bordered on the 'Dao'.

In stark contrast to his composure were the other Disciples who had entered the Secret Realm at the same time.

'Argh!' A Disciple at the Late Golden Core Stage had not even walked a hundred paces before his face turned pale and sweat poured down like rain; he felt as if his entire body was being pricked by countless fine needles, his Meridians aching and his spiritual energy circulating sluggishly, until he finally could not hold on any longer, spat out a mouthful of blood, staggered backward, and dared not move forward again.

'So... so strong is this pressure! And this is only the outer perimeter!' An Early Nascent Soul stage Cultivator gritted his teeth and held on, but every step taken felt as heavy as a thousand jun, the veins on his forehead bulging, his speed as slow as a crawling tortoise.

'Look! Who is that? How is he so fast!' someone exclaimed, pointing to a black-and-white figure moving rapidly through the Sword Qi Domains.

The crowd looked over and saw Mu Changge moving elegantly, weaving freely through the gaps of the sharp, dense, or explosive Sword Qi, his speed almost unaffected, leaving most people far behind in the blink of an eye.

'It's that Mu Changge! He... isn't he only at the Nascent Soul Stage? How...' someone said in disbelief.

'It's more than just fast! Look at his choice of path, it's as if he can predict the changes in the Sword Qi!' someone with keen eyes noticed the clue and was even more shocked.

In the crowd, a young man with an ordinary appearance, wearing the attire of a Core Disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak, watched Mu Changge's rapidly receding back, his brows furrowed tightly, his heart filled with suspicion and unease: 'This kid... is he truly unaffected by this Sword Qi Pressure Field? How is that possible! I, Liu Ming, am already at the Early Stage of Soul Transformation, and I came here once three years ago; I have adapted to the pressure of this place for a long time, and my speed is barely this fast. He is a Nascent Soul, entering for the first time, how can he be so relaxed? Even... a fraction faster than me?'

This person was Liu Ming, a top-ranked Core Disciple of Heavenly Sword Peak, and a trusted aide to the Saint, Jian Wushuang.

Before entering the Secret Realm, he had received a voice transmission from Jian Wushuang, ordering him to keep a close watch on Mu Changge and, if given the chance, to capture him alive.

Jian Wushuang's exact words were: 'Killing him is too easy; I want him alive to slowly taste despair.'

Liu Ming had originally thought this would be an easy task.

He was quite familiar with this Sword Burial Abyss and knew well that it was impossible for someone entering for the first time to move about freely here.

Just adapting to the pervasive, varied Sword Qi pressure would require a great deal of time and energy.

For a Nascent Soul Cultivator, being able to move slowly in the outer perimeter was considered decent; someone like Mu Changge, who was heading straight for the core, was practically courting death.

Yet, reality slapped him hard in the face.

Since entering the Secret Realm, he had locked onto Mu Changge's Aura and followed closely.

But the more he pursued, the more alarmed he became.

Not only had the other party's speed not decreased, but there was also a trend of him becoming smoother and faster!

With his own Soul Transformation cultivation, even when using his movement techniques at full strength, he was vaguely unable to catch up!

This caused fine beads of cold sweat to seep from his forehead.

'Prodigy... he is simply a Prodigy!' Liu Ming cursed inwardly, his wariness of Mu Changge rising to an unprecedented level, 'No wonder the Saint is so eager to get rid of him. With this kid's Comprehension Ability and weirdness, if he is truly allowed to grow, in time, the position of Saint might...'

He dared not think any further, only gritted his teeth, drove his spiritual energy, pushed his speed to the limit, and hung tightly behind Mu Changge.

But he also knew that once he entered the core area, where perception was restricted and the terrain was complex, tracking would become extremely difficult.

At this moment, Mu Changge was aware of the tail behind him, but he did not pay it any mind.

His entire focus was concentrated on his journey and adapting to the environment.

He discovered that 'Super Comprehension' not only allowed him to quickly adapt to the Sword Qi pressure, but even while moving at high speed, he could passively absorb and analyze the scattered, fragmented insights into the Dao of the sword in the surroundings; although they did not form a System, they allowed his foundation in the Dao of the sword to grow slowly without him realizing it.

About half an hour later, the scene before his eyes changed again.

The relatively gentle 'Sword Tomb Plains' on the outer perimeter gradually disappeared, replaced by an area of jagged rocks and towering boulders.

The rocks here were not ordinary mountain stones, but possessed a metallic luster, their surfaces covered in crisscrossing sword marks, emitting an even older and sharper Sword Intent.

Countless enormous rocks were distributed like a maze, obscuring each other, and the light became dim and uncertain.

This was the core area of the Sword Burial Abyss, where the truly top sword masters in the Sect's history were buried.

The pressure suddenly increased by several levels, and even the air seemed to have solidified, containing terrifying Sword Intent; an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator reaching this point would likely be unable to take another step.

Even more strangely, as soon as he entered this area, Mu Changge felt his perception severely suppressed.

His perception, which could originally easily cover several miles, was now compressed to only being able to probe two or three hundred meters in radius, and this range continued to shrink as he ventured deeper.

His eyesight was also interfered with, the light distorted, and the scenes in the distance were blurry and unclear.

"As expected, there's some substance to this." Mu Changge's expression grew a bit more solemn, but he didn't stop. He no longer pursued speed, but instead followed the System's guidance more cautiously, weaving through the giant stone labyrinth. The pressure pressing against his body grew stronger and stronger, as if countless invisible sharp swords were pressing against his skin, sending subtle stinging sensations. He knew this was the residual Sword Intent of the core area spontaneously repelling intruders.

After continuing forward for the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the scene before him suddenly opened up.

In the center of a relatively open area, a dazzling golden light shot up into the sky, forming a massive golden light barrier with a diameter of over a thousand meters. The light barrier was not stationary; it was like a slowly rotating golden vortex. The interior was filled with golden light, making it impossible to see clearly, with only a vast, ocean-like, and incomparably majestic Sword Intent radiating from within. This Sword Intent was filled with the will of the glorious Righteous Path, an indomitable spirit, and the strength to grow stronger when meeting strong opponents. Just being near it made one's mind tremble, giving rise to a feeling of wanting to prostrate and worship.

"This is the place." Mu Changge stopped, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. The final destination indicated by the System's coordinates was precisely the center of this golden light barrier.

Without the slightest hesitation, he stepped into the boundary of the golden light barrier.

"Boom—!"

The moment his toe touched the golden light, a terrifying Sword Qi pressure, ten to a hundred times stronger than before, descended with a boom! This pressure was no longer just an oppressive Aura; it seemed to have transformed into a tangible weight of millions of tons, squeezing in from all directions, intending to crush him! At the same time, countless pure, sharp, and regal-sounding Sword Intents surged into his Sea of Consciousness like a tidal wave, battering his mind, attempting to assimilate him, or... destroy him!

Mu Changge let out a muffled groan, his body jolting to a halt, his face turning slightly pale. He did not force a confrontation; instead, he took the Opportunity to sit cross-legged, closed his eyes, and channeled his Cultivation Technique with all his might, simultaneously pushing his "Super Comprehension" to its limit.

"As I thought, to obtain the Legacy, one must first gain recognition. And this recognition lies in comprehending, enduring, and even mastering the Sword Dao will of this place!" Mu Changge realized.

He settled his mind, no longer resisting the surging impact of the Sword Intent. Instead, he proactively opened his Sea of Consciousness to feel, analyze, and accommodate that vast, ocean-like "indomitable" Sword Intent.

At first, the Sword Intent was like a violent beast, rampaging through his Sea of Consciousness, bringing tearing pain. But his will was firm; he guarded the single point of clarity in his mind, using "Super Comprehension" to continuously dismantle the composition of the Sword Intent, comprehending its core spirit.

What is "indomitable"? It is not reckless charging, but belief as firm as iron, a will as strong as steel. Once the path is chosen, one does not regret it even after a hundred deaths; if gods block, kill the gods; if Buddhas block, kill the Buddhas! It is the sword of an emperor, the sword of protection, and even more so, the sword of pioneering! Wherever the sword tip points, that is the direction of the King's Way, and that is where the fate of the nation lies!

Within the Sword Intent of this Body Integration Stage expert who had passed away here, Mu Changge "saw" golden spears and iron horses, the spirit swallowing thousands of miles like a tiger; he saw a flourishing Dynasty with ten thousand nations coming to pay tribute; he saw an emperor wielding a sword, stabilizing the mountains and rivers, gathering the Power Of Will of hundreds of millions of living beings and the Luck of a nation into the sword body! This sword was no longer an ordinary weapon of slaughter, but the prototype of an "Emperor's Sword" that carried the fate of the nation and condensed the will of the Human Race!

"So that's how it is... Nourish the sword with blood, temper the sword with battle, gather national Luck, condense the Imperial Way... What a Sword Dao that combines dominance and the King's Way!" Mu Changge was shocked, and at the same time, he felt respect for the Senior who had passed away here. This Sword Dao was magnificent and upright, yet decisive and ruthless in slaughter.

Time passed bit by bit. A faint golden halo began to ripple around Mu Changge, gradually resonating with the Aura of the light barrier. The pain in his Sea of Consciousness gradually faded, replaced by a sense of realization and harmony. His understanding of that "indomitable" Sword Intent grew deeper, and his own Aura seemed to carry a trace of that majestic King's Way.

He slowly stood up and took another step forward. The pressure was still immense, but it was no longer as unbearable as it had been at the beginning. Like a boat sailing against the current, he pushed against the majestic Sword Intent pressure and walked firmly toward the center of the light barrier, one step at a time. With every step he took, his comprehension of the Sword Intent deepened, and the golden halo on his body brightened a fraction.

...

Just as Mu Changge began to delve deep into the golden light barrier to meditate, a figure landed somewhat disheveled at the edge of the core area; it was Liu Ming, who had been tracking him.

Looking at this core area before him, filled with giant stones and soaring Sword Intent, his expression was extremely ugly. He could only barely judge the general direction where Mu Changge had last disappeared, but he could no longer determine which specific entrance to the "Stone Forest Labyrinth" he had entered. What shocked him even more was that the Sword Intent pressure here was far stronger than when he had come last time! With his cultivation at the Early Stage of Soul Transformation, he actually felt it difficult to move, and his consumption of spiritual power increased drastically.

"Damn it! How did this brat get in? Could it be that he knew about this place all along and came prepared?" Liu Ming was both shocked and angry, feeling a faint sense of unease. He tried to explore forward in one direction, but before he had gone far, he felt his mind tremble violently and his blood and Qi churning. He had to stop, find a "nook and cranny" where the Sword Intent was relatively sparse, sit cross-legged, channel his Cultivation Technique to resist the pressure, and simultaneously try to comprehend the relatively gentle Sword Intent around him, hoping to adapt a little. Where he was now was still quite a distance from the golden light barrier, let alone being able to see it.

...

At the entrance of the Secret Realm, as soon as the half-hour mark arrived, Jian Wushuang, who had been waiting impatiently with his chest full of killing intent, was the first to transform into a streak of sword light and rush inside.

Once he entered the Secret Realm, the familiar Sword Qi pressure rushed toward him, which slightly calmed his irritable mood. However, the cold light in his eyes grew stronger. With a clear target, he sped toward the core area without stopping. Along the way, he encountered several places where the Sword Qi was exceptionally dense and clearly contained good Legacies, but he didn't even glance at them.

"How could outer-rim Legacies catch my eye? My Opportunity must be in the deepest part of the core!" Jian Wushuang was full of confidence. When the Secret Realm opened last time, his cultivation was still low, and he had already felt some existence in the core area faintly summoning him. Now that his cultivation had greatly advanced, that sense of summoning was even stronger, guiding him in the dark. He firmly believed that it must be his own, one-of-a-kind, world-shaking Opportunity!

His speed was extremely fast, far exceeding that of ordinary Soul Transformation Cultivators, and his adaptation to the Sword Qi pressure was also far beyond his peers. It was clear that this was not his first time entering, and he had special means or Physique. Soon, he approached the core area.

On the outskirts of the core area, he swept his Divine Sense and discovered Liu Ming, who was struggling to resist the pressure in a corner while trying to comprehend the Sword Intent.

"Liu Ming!" Jian Wushuang landed, his voice icy. "Where is that brat?"

Seeing that it was Jian Wushuang, Liu Ming hurriedly stood up, his face pale and ashamed: "Saint! This subordinate is incompetent! That Mu Changge... after entering the Secret Realm, he went straight toward the depths of the core area, moving extremely fast. This subordinate... this subordinate failed to keep up, and once I reached this place, it was already difficult to go deeper. However, the direction where he last disappeared should be that way." He pointed in a direction, which was exactly the general direction Mu Changge had headed.

"He went straight toward the depths of the core?" Jian Wushuang frowned, and the unease in his heart suddenly expanded. How could a Nascent Soul Cultivator entering for the first time be so familiar with the core area? Could it be...

Just at this moment, that intense sense of summoning in his heart seemed to fluctuate, becoming somewhat... ethereal and uncertain? It was as if something that was originally destined to be his was being interfered with or touched by some power!

"Not good!" Jian Wushuang's expression changed drastically. No longer caring about anything else, he sternly said to Liu Ming: "Stay here and guard! If anyone else approaches, kill them without mercy!"

After saying this, the Sword Qi around his body erupted with a bang, turning into a streak of light, and he rushed frantically toward the direction Liu Ming pointed out—the direction from which the summoning feeling was coming—at a speed several times faster than before! Saving strength, proceeding step-by-step—all of that was thrown to the back of his mind. At this moment, he had only one thought in his heart: he must not let anyone get there first! That Opportunity must be his! Mu Changge... if you dare to touch my things, I will make sure you suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, and never be reincarnated!

Killing intent, like tangible ice, condensed frantically in his eyes. The terrifying Sword Qi pressure of the core area seemed to be temporarily pushed back a few notches by his monstrous anger and obsession.