126: Liu Xiyan's discovery, the last hope!

"The Magic Array has failed and cannot be activated!"

Hearing the news from the Grand Elder, the Sect Master's face changed drastically, his eyes filled with disbelief.

At the same time, an eerie voice continued to echo in his ears.

"The Heavenly Demon Cult has operated for hundreds of years. How could such a grand plan not have a backup?"

"Even Yuxu Academy, one of the top powers of the Human Race, inevitably has followers who believe in the Demon Lord."

"Did you think the sacrificial ceremony was just a coincidence?"

"Hehe, you Human Race, you have been too comfortable for the last one or two hundred years—"

As the voice fell, the saint slaying spear erupted with brilliant blood-colored light again, slashing fiercely toward Yuxu Academy.

The still-astonished Sect Master immediately regained his composure, consuming Primordial Spirit Light to activate the ancient seal, condensing a beam of light, and unleashing an attack to counter the saint slaying spear.

Boom!

Two terrifying energies collided fiercely, exploding into terrifying energy fluctuations. Silver light and blood-colored light intertwined, blooming with brilliant sparks.

The just-healed space collapsed again.

The protective Magic Array shook violently, silver light flowing rapidly on the surface like a silver Dragon, resisting the terrifying energy impact.

The mountains near Yuxu Academy collapsed in rows, the Void Realm seemed to have a massive explosion, and large swathes of forest were razed to the ground.

The mountains sank, revealing pitch-black deep valleys. Birds and beasts in the forest soared into the sky, only to be instantly shredded by the violent energy.

Fortunately, the villas near Yuxu Academy and the marketplace halfway up the mountain were covered by the protective Magic Array; otherwise, they would have shattered by now.

Further away, the space seemed to be imprisoned; the energy fluctuations disappeared instantly upon reaching there, as if they had never appeared.

Clearly, this space had been successfully sealed.

Although the base was suddenly attacked by demons, preventing the experts of the Human Race from arriving in time, a super-strong isolation Magic Array had been laid down in time to separate the space around Yuxu Academy.

If not for this, the collision of Supreme-Rank energy, without restraint, would have caused half of Jiangcheng to collapse.

...

Yuxu Peak.

After blocking another wave of attacks, the Sect Master vomited a mouthful of blood, his gaze beginning to unfocus.

He never imagined that the killing array part of the protective Magic Array would have problems and couldn't be activated for a while.

"The Human Race has indeed been a bit too comfortable these years..." the Sect Master sighed helplessly.

Not to mention anything else, there had been peace for one or two hundred years.

Yuxu Academy had also become quite slack.

Otherwise, the Liu Jian and Li Xinghe incidents wouldn't have occurred.

Even the protective Formation had been tampered with.

In fact, after the Liu Jian incident was exposed, Yuxu Academy should have reflected properly.

As a result, Yuxu Academy did nothing.

Boasting of its powerful strength, it didn't take anything seriously.

Then, the Li Xinghe incident broke out.

Liu Jian, in league with Li Xinghe, brought people from the Heavenly Demon Cult to Hidden Sword Peak.

Such a thing would have been absolutely impossible in the past.

But now...

However, after the Li Xinghe incident was exposed, although Yuxu Academy spent a lot of manpower and material resources to check and repair the problems with the protective Magic Array, it was clearly not enough.

And so now, the killing array failed to activate—

"Living in peace with demons for one or two hundred years, while many Martial Artist experts have indeed been cultivated and the overall strength is far beyond before, it has indeed been too comfortable—"

The Sect Master looked up at the pitch-black night sky, his heart filled with bitterness.

In his current state, he could hold on for at most another quarter of an hour.

After a quarter of an hour, his Primordial Spirit Light would be exhausted.

Activating the ancient seal required consuming Primordial Spirit Light.

For a Martial Artist in the Guiyuan Realm, the Primordial Spirit Light was equivalent to lifespan.

Once he fell, the protective Magic Array would hold for at most one minute.

By then, Yuxu Academy would suffer a catastrophic disaster.

"A quarter of an hour—"

He took a deep breath.

The Sect Master condensed his Primordial Spirit Light, carved a profound character in the air, and waved his hand, letting it dissipate into mid-air.

That was a special means of communication.

Even though the space was currently sealed, at most within a minute or two, the higher-ups of the Human Race would receive the message he sent out.

The message was very simple: Help!

Yes, he could only ask for help!

Yuxu Academy could not fall!

He could not give up hope!

Even if there was only a sliver of hope, he could not give up!

Hold on until the Human Race experts came to rescue!

At the same time—

Boom!

The peerless great demon waved his long spear again, launching an attack toward the protective Magic Array.

A blood-colored long Dragon reappeared, diving down and violently bombarding the protective Magic Array.

The Sect Master gritted his teeth, recklessly exploding his Primordial Spirit Light, and again activated the ancient seal to defend.

...

In front of the Trial Tower.

Mo Fan, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, diligently practicing the Basic Body Tempering Art in reverse, had an increasingly ugly expression.

"This great demon is a bit strong; the Sect Head might not be able to hold on—"

He took a deep breath, looked at the blurred, distorted night sky erupting with brilliant sparks, and cast an Appraisal Technique at the great demon in mid-air.

[Candle Heaven, one of the five great leaders of the Demon Race, half-step Supreme cultivation. Holding the Demon Race's Supreme treasure, the saint slaying spear, he possesses the strength to fight a Supreme.]

Looking at this appraisal information, Mo Fan almost vomited blood.

Half-step Supreme?!

An invincible expert who can fight a true Supreme while holding a Supreme treasure?!

Seeming to think of something, Mo Fan focused his Mental Energy and cast an Appraisal Technique at the long spear in Candle Heaven's hand.

[saint slaying spear, a Supreme treasure born with the Demon Race at the bottom of the Demon Abyss. In the hands of an ordinary person, it is just a slightly sturdy long spear; in the hands of an expert, it can unleash world-destroying power.]

"Sure enough..."

Mo Fan's face turned a few shades paler.

"Now that the great demon Candle Heaven has Supreme battle power, can the Sect Head block him?"

"Does Yuxu Academy not have a hidden Supreme?"

Mo Fan shook his head.

It seemed there really wasn't one.

There were only a few Supreme experts of the Human Race.

They were elusive.

Several had not appeared for nearly a hundred years.

And in Yuxu Academy, those with Supreme battle power over the years were all Sword Immortals from the Sword Pavilion.

But now—

The Sword Pavilion had not produced a Sword Immortal for over a hundred years...

"Can this crisis be avoided?"

Mo Fan began to worry.

As for waiting for rescue?

Mo Fan felt that in the current situation, he shouldn't count on it.

So much time had passed.

No one had come to the rescue yet.

This already explained the problem.

The Demon Race came prepared this time.

"I hope we can survive this tribulation..."

Mo Fan looked up at the pitch-black night sky, his expression complex.

He did have a father who was suspected to be a Supreme.

But that guy had long disappeared, and even Second Master Sun didn't know where he went.

Relying on him to return for rescue was clearly unrealistic.

"God helps those who help themselves..."

Mo Fan shook his head.

...

Hidden Sword Mountain.

Liu Xiyan stood on the square in front of the Sword Pavilion, her beautiful face filled with worry.

"Master, the aura of the Magic Array is getting weaker and weaker; the situation doesn't seem optimistic..." Chu Qian said with worry.

"Hmm." Liu Xiyan just nodded without speaking.

"Master, why did the Demon Race go to such lengths to teleport over and lock their gaze on our Yuxu Academy..."

"I don't know either." Liu Xiyan shook her head.

"Master—"

"Let me have some peace." Liu Xiyan interrupted Chu Qian.

"Oh..." Chu Qian lowered her head and said no more.

She talked so much entirely because of nervousness.

The current situation was too pessimistic.

Every attack by the Demon Race caused mountains to collapse, the ground to shake, and cracks to appear in space, as if it were the end of the world.

Although Yuxu Academy was protected by the Magic Array, it clearly couldn't hold on for much longer.

"My physical condition is getting worse and worse; I probably won't make it past the ten-year mark. If I die, I die, but Junior Sister..."

Chu Qian looked at Xu Jing, who was standing quietly to the side without saying a word.

"But Junior Sister has a high probability of becoming a Sword Immortal after a hundred years. Dying now is too stifling, too regrettable..."

It wasn't just Chu Qian.

Liu Xiyan, who was beside her, couldn't help but turn to look at Xu Jing.

"Jing'er's Sword Dao talent even exceeded my expectations; in just three months, she is about to condense Sword Intent."

"Such a speed of comprehension is already equivalent to those Sword Immortals recorded in the Sword Pavilion."

"If Jing'er doesn't perish prematurely, she has a ninety percent chance of crossing the hundred-year mark and becoming a Sword Immortal."

"After a hundred years, the Sword Pavilion could produce another Sword Immortal, but unfortunately..."

Deep sorrow flashed in Liu Xiyan's eyes.

Unfortunately, she was too weak.

She couldn't even protect her own Disciple.

She had been cultivating sword for ninety-nine years.

Facing the crisis of the academy's destruction, could she not help at all?

Seeming to think of something, Liu Xiyan murmured in her heart:

"Unfortunately, the Disciples of the Sword Pavilion throughout the generations have all cultivated an incomplete version of the Sword Nurturing Art."

"If there were the complete version of the Sword Nurturing Art recorded in the classics—"

"Perhaps I could forcibly condense the Sword Intent I have accumulated for ninety-nine years into Sword Momentum and unleash a Heaven-Slaying Sword strike in advance..."

"Although I would likely be crippled after this strike, at least I could resolve this crisis..."

"Unfortunately, the complete version of the Sword Nurturing Art only exists in records; even the first generation Sword Pavilion Elder never saw what it looked like."

"The mission of the Elders of past generations has also been to perfect the Sword Nurturing Art."

"But after so many years, there has been no progress."

Thinking of this, Liu Xiyan sighed helplessly again.

"Really, is there no other way?"

She looked up at the sky again.

Brilliant silver light and blood-colored light collided, energy overflowed, space collapsed in large swaths, and the ground cracked inch by inch, surging with scorching magma.

"Senior Brother Sect Head can't hold on much longer..."

Sensing the situation at Yuxu Peak, Liu Xiyan lowered her head, a flash of determination in her eyes.

"Even without the Sword Nurturing Art, I must try to condense the Sword Momentum."

"Even if I die, I must die as brilliantly as a shooting star."

Thinking this, the long sword in her hand hummed, seemingly eager to be unsheathed.

She took a step forward, intending to go to Yuxu Peak to fight the enemy with the Sect Head.

However, she quickly turned around, looked deeply at Xu Jing, and instructed somewhat uneasily:

"Jing'er, if you can luckily survive this time, do not slack off on cultivating the Sword Nurturing Art."

"Your Sword Dao talent exceeds my imagination; as long as you Cultivate diligently, after a hundred years, you will definitely become a Sword Immortal."

"At that time, remember to carry forward the Sword Pavilion and slay more great demons."

"In that way, if I have awareness in the afterlife, I can be gratified."

"Now, you are about to condense the Sword Intent and take the first step of a Sword Cultivator in the Sword Pavilion."

"But Sword Intent is harmful to the body; if not handled properly, it will cause big problems. Master will help you sort out your Meridians and open the Five Viscera Divine Gates to reduce your pain while cultivating sword—"

"This is also the only thing Master can do for you."

"Master, I—" Xu Jing seemed to want to say something.

However, Liu Xiyan stopped her.

"Do not say more; follow the method of the Sword Nurturing Art, visualize the sword in your heart, and condense the embryo of the Sword Intent in your mind."

"There is not much time left; Master will sort out your Meridians and open the Five Viscera Divine Gates for you now—"

Saying this, Liu Xiyan's expression tightened, and surging Mental Energy instantly erupted, enveloping Xu Jing.

Soon, her consciousness entered Xu Jing's mental space.

However, just as she was preparing to help Xu Jing sort things out, she was suddenly stunned.

She sensed scorching and sharp sword light erupting from Xu Jing's heart.

"This is Sword Intent? Jing'er has already condensed Sword Intent? How is this possible?"

"Looking at this situation, this Sword Intent seems to have been there for a few days..."

Liu Xiyan was dumbfounded, and finally, she rubbed her eyebrows somewhat shamefully.

"It was my negligence; I didn't prepare in advance."

"Now that the Sword Intent has entered the body, the five internal organs have already been damaged."

"Sorting it out for her now will cause pain several orders of magnitude higher than the pain of childbirth—"

Hesitating for a second, Liu Xiyan exhaled and decided to sort it out for Xu Jing anyway.

At least after sorting it out, the five internal organs and Meridians would be greatly strengthened, and cultivating sword would be much easier in the future.

It was just painful for a while, but it could benefit her for a lifetime, so it was still worth it.

"Condense!"

Liu Xiyan's expression tightened, and she instantly separated a strand of Primordial Spirit Light.

However, just as she was preparing to sort it out for Xu Jing, she was stunned again.

"Jing'er's Meridians and five internal organs—"

"So strong, too strong; with this strength, the Sword Intent cannot hurt her, at least not now—"

"Could it be that someone has used Primordial Spirit Light to sort them out for her?"

"No, there are no traces of being sorted out!"

"What is going on?"

Liu Xiyan was completely confused.

She took a deep breath and began to perceive carefully again.

Soon, she discovered the clue.

The Sword Intent hidden in Xu Jing's heart emitted a flash of silver light from time to time, feeding back to Xu Jing's Meridians and five internal organs.

These streams of light were rapidly remodeling Xu Jing's Meridians and five internal organs, making them exceptionally powerful.

Moreover, as time passed and the Sword Intent continued to strengthen, this feedback would also strengthen accordingly.

In other words.

cultivating sword not only would not cause damage to Xu Jing, but it could even make her body stronger.

"How is this possible?"

"Since when did the Sword Nurturing Art have Body Tempering effects?"

Liu Xiyan was baffled and couldn't understand the reason at all.

However, soon, scenes flashed through her mind.

From the moment Xu Jing and Mo Fan first came to the Sword Pavilion.

—The scene where Xu Jing triggered the resonance of the stone tablet.

—The scene where Mo Fan triggered the resonance of the stone tablet.

—Xu Jing officially entered the Sword Pavilion.

—Mo Fan refused to enter the Sword Pavilion.

—Xu Jing devoted herself to cultivating the Sword Nurturing Art.

—Mo Fan came to the Sword Pavilion from time to time to watch Xu Jing Cultivate the Sword Nurturing Art.

—The two of them eating, communicating...

"Right, communication!"

Seeming to have captured some key information.

Liu Xiyan's mind froze on a scene—the scene of Mo Fan and Xu Jing writing and drawing on the ground.

At this moment, she suddenly realized, finally understood, and looked at Xu Jing earnestly: "Where is Mo Fan?"

Before Xu Jing could answer, Liu Xiyan patted her head, turned into an afterimage, and headed toward the Trial Tower.

"I hope it's not too late..."