Any gain requires sacrifice.
Xiao Jian was sacrificing now.
After he fell unconscious, he suddenly found himself in a black space, boundless and filled with various magical beasts: snake-shaped, wolf-shaped, tiger-shaped, all kinds, even many insect-shaped ones.
The Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame created illusions of a beast army.
He didn’t know what was happening, but he knew he needed to fight now.
The Sword Intent in his soul transformed into a sword in his hand.
The sword in his hand seemed to let out a soft hum.
“Are you a little excited?” He swung his sword, cutting down a sneaking magical beast.
He charged straight into the army of magical beasts ahead.
“A swordsman never retreats.
Come on, you rabble!”
The roars of the magical beasts rose and fell.
Xiao Jian smiled faintly, striking out with his sword again and again.
Now, the sword was his only companion; he would use it to carve a path.
The sword was a weapon of destruction, born for slaughter.
One magical beast after another had its head severed by him.
Xiao Jian stood with his sword, murmuring.
“Hundred Steps Flying Sword!”
A white dragon shadow rose, extending a hundred steps away, and all the magical beasts in that straight line within a hundred steps fell.
“Traversing Eight Directions!”
A black dragon shadow spiraled out, clearing all the magical beasts around.
Gradually, Xiao Jian entered a mysterious state; the surrounding magical beasts seemed to slow down, while his sword seemed to get faster and faster.
“Boundless, huh?
I don’t believe I can kill all of you.
Vertical and Horizontal combined!” Xiao Jian roared, looking at the magical beasts around him, eager to try but not daring to attack first.
He chuckled softly, then shouted, “Come on!
Come on!
Let me kill all of you!”
The magical beasts continued to charge forward in waves, and the dead magical beasts transformed into red light, merging into Xiao Jian’s sword, making it stronger and sharper.
“Keep swinging the sword!
Keep swinging the sword!” There were no undefeated swordsmen, only those who were killed.
Before he died, he would never stop swinging his sword.
Meanwhile, the Nine Nether Heavenly Saint outside knew nothing of this.
This cultivation method was created by him, combining the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame with his lifelong learning.
Its grade reached Heaven-rank-High-grade.
And in just a hundred years, he became a five-star Dou Sheng by burning through his lifespan to become powerful in a short time.
He died there in his last battle.
The prerequisite for cultivating this method was to withstand the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame.
If one could endure this battle of will, it would bring immense benefits in the future.
At the same time, a soul tainted with the aura of bone-chilling cold illusion was precisely the necessary ingredient for cultivating this method.
He hadn’t told Xiao Jian in advance, also due to his selfish reasons; he feared Xiao Jian would shrink back, fearing his life’s work would be lost.
Looking at Xiao Jian’s constantly changing expression, he felt some worry and guilt, but absolutely no regret.
This was a cultivation method that could potentially reach Heaven-rank; it was his life’s creation.
If Xiao Jian endured it, as long as he didn’t die prematurely, his future achievements would definitely surpass his.
He had no regrets, even if it meant sacrificing a young life.
What he didn’t know was that Xiao Jian was acquiring this special aura in another way…
through slaughter.
Xiao Jian didn’t know how long he had fought, nor did he remember how many swords he had swung.
A green sword qi emerged.
Xiao Jian roared, “Breath Severing!” A green sword light slashed forward, instantly annihilating the snake-shaped beast in front.
“Nine Decisions!”
Nine sword shadows appeared.
Xiao Jian thrust his sword, and all the magical beasts in front were wiped out.
Then, the magical beast corpses all turned into red light dots and merged into Xiao Jian’s sword.
Xiao Jian released his fingers from the sword one by one, then grasped it tightly again.
He roared, “Vertical and Horizontal!”
A giant dragon appeared in the sky, charging forward with Xiao Jian’s swing, sweeping everything in its path, then gradually becoming ethereal, finally disappearing after slaying a bird-shaped magical beast.
These ice-type beasts were naturally a joint effort of the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame and the Nine Nether Golden Saint.
The Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame was originally born in the deep of the Yellow Spiring, then obtained by the Nine Nether Golden Saint and nourished by his energy.
Only then could such a scene be created; otherwise, the Nine Nether Heavenly Saint alone could not have done it.
The magical beasts here were not just simple illusions; their true forms were magical beasts, and they were a trace of their true forms’ aura, transformed by the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame and manifested by the Nine Nether Golden Saint.
During the battle, Xiao Jian discovered that this didn’t seem to be a battle of souls; instead, it was more like a confrontation combining will and soul.
He was now like a fusion of will and soul, and the killed magical beasts would also transform into a trace of soul and will, merging into his sword and body, which was why he could continue to persevere; otherwise, he would have died long ago.
This also made him certain that the Nine Nether Golden Saint wasn’t trying to possess him.
The truth was as he expected; it was indeed more of a battle of will, because every time he was injured by a magical beast, it hurt immensely, just like a real injury, but as long as he didn’t give up, the injury would heal quickly.
Although this reduced much of the fun of battle, it also allowed him to properly cultivate his sword techniques.
Here, he even used the highest level of the Immortal Slaying Sword Art.
Outside, he didn’t know how long it would take him to use this move.
So he was happy to train more here.
As Xiao Jian killed more and more magical beasts, he also felt that the surrounding magical beasts were becoming fewer, and their offense was far less intense than before.
This was a spiritual space jointly constructed by the Nine Nether Heavenly Saint, the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame, and Xiao Jian.
There was no time, no space here.
Xiao Jian didn’t know how many swords he had swung, how much time had passed, or how many injuries he had sustained.
He only felt the magical beasts slowly decreasing.
Finally, only three remained.
One snake-shaped, one bird-shaped, and one dragon-shaped.
Xiao Jian chuckled softly, saying indifferently, “Even a trace of aura has some of the main body’s abilities.
That’s really good.
Then let me send you three off with this sword.”
“Vertical and Horizontal!”
A giant dragon shadow appeared, tearing apart the three magical beasts in front.
The three magical beasts also transformed into three red light shadows, merging into Xiao Jian’s sword.
This time, his harvest was truly immense.
Firstly, his Dou Technique proficiency had greatly improved.
Although reality couldn’t be like this illusion, as long as his Dou Qi improved, he would naturally be able to achieve the same as in the illusion.
Most importantly, his Sword Intent seemed to have integrated other things and changed quite a bit; it seemed to have become more imbued with a murderous aura.
With a thought, the sharp sword in his hand disappeared, and the surrounding space began to slowly vanish.
The Nine Nether Golden Saint nervously watched the now calm Xiao Jian.
Next was the most crucial moment; if Xiao Jian woke up, he would have the qualification to cultivate the Nine Nether Heavenly Scripture.
If Xiao Jian didn’t wake up, it meant Xiao Jian’s death.
As the space became real, Xiao Jian slowly sensed his body, then slowly gained control, and finally, slowly opened his eyes.
In a battle of will, you might think a long time has passed, but in reality, it’s only a few minutes.
Xiao Jian looked at the Nine Nether Golden Saint, confirming that this old man had no ill intentions and truly regarded him as a successor.
Xiao Jian also completely accepted him as his teacher.
He smiled at this opportunistic master and said, “Teacher, I succeeded.”
The Nine Nether Heavenly Saint trembled.
If he still had a physical body, he would surely be crying with excitement now.
“Good!
Good!
Good!”
The three consecutive ‘good’ words represented the excitement in his heart.
Looking at Xiao Jian, he said with relief, “The Nine Nether Heavenly Scripture is passed on to you.
One of my wishes is fulfilled.”
After speaking, a snow-white storage ring floated out.
A flower was carved on the storage ring, which didn’t look like something a man would use.
The Nine Nether Golden Saint looked at the storage ring gently.
Then, reluctantly, he floated the storage ring toward Xiao Jian.
He said, “This is my other wish.
This storage ring contains some of my lifelong accumulations.
The Turtle Spirit Heavenly Scripture is also among them, and there are many other cultivation methods and Dou Techniques; you can use them as you see fit.
And even though I am not an alchemist, I got the Purple Abyss Cauldron, which ranked third on the heavenly cauldron list in an ancient realm; now I give it to you.
There’s a letter and a token in the storage ring.
Take that token, go to the Flower Sect, find someone named Hua Luoyu, and give her the letter.
My last wish will then be fulfilled.”
After speaking, he seemed to feel a trace of relief.
He continued, “I can still do one last thing for you: help you refine the heavenly flame.”
The Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame also seemed to feel sadness, coming over to gently rub against the Nine Nether Golden Saint.
Xiao Jian felt a moment of reluctance and asked, “Teacher, is there really no way?
I have a Star Moon Grass here; perhaps it can help you.” As he spoke, Xiao Jian took out the Star Moon Grass.
Xiao Jian understood the principle of giving and receiving.
Although the Star Moon Grass was precious, compared to a Dou Saint’s inheritance, it was worlds apart.
The Nine Nether Golden Saint affectionately stroked the Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame, as if saying goodbye.
Hearing Xiao Jian’s words, he shook his head.
“My origin has been exhausted.
It’s not merely the death of a physical body.
It’s like those who cannot cultivate reaching their natural lifespan; no matter how miraculous the pills are, they are useless.
This is a rule.
To meet you before my death is already a great fortune; why force anything else?”
Looking at the free-spirited Nine Nether Golden Saint, Xiao Jian couldn’t help but feel sad for this master he had just acknowledged.
He was right; it was a rule.
Unless you transcended this world, you could only obey it.
The Nine Nether Golden Saint waved his sleeve and said cheerfully, “Stop talking nonsense.
Let me help you refine the heavenly flame.
Don’t be so wishy-washy, like a woman.”
The Nine Nether Golden Saint was also very satisfied with this disciple he had just taken.
Since Xiao Jian knew it was Star Moon Grass, he naturally knew its effects, yet he was still willing to give it to him, who had just become his master.
He was very pleased.
This showed his excellent character.
And having passed the test, his will was firm.
He had broken through to Dou Master before sixteen, and his talent was also good.
If it were in the past, he would definitely have shown off to his old friends, but now, he had no time left.
He could only help him refine the heavenly flame and give him a final bit of assistance.
A silver crystal the size of a fingernail appeared.
The Nine Nether Golden Saint said, “Eat it.”
Xiao Jian knew that it was probably the spirit storage.
He sat down cross-legged and swallowed it without hesitation.
The spirit storage merged into his Qi Sea, yet it didn’t affect the circulation of his Dou Qi at all, merely staying quietly in his Qi Sea.
Xiao Jian seemed to feel that vast and solid space.
Seeing him swallow it immediately, the Nine Nether Golden Saint nodded with satisfaction again.
Where could one find such a disciple?
It was a pity he didn’t have much time; otherwise, he would definitely have witnessed him reaching the peak with his own eyes.
“The Nine Nether Golden Ancestor Flame has been refined by me for five hundred years and already possesses sentience.
You must not erase its sentience after refining it.”
“Yes, Teacher.”
Seeing Xiao Jian agree, the Nine Nether Golden Saint continued, “I will make sure it doesn’t resist you.
But the pain of the heavenly flame’s burning still needs to be endured by yourself.
At the same time, I will also use my soul power to protect you.”
Heavenly flame tempering was a necessary and most important step in absorbing a heavenly flame.
If one couldn’t even endure heavenly flame tempering, how could one control a heavenly flame?
He agreed, “Understood, Teacher.
I am ready.”
“Good.” Subsequently, the Nine Nether Heavenly Saint severed his connection with the heavenly flame.
Instantly, his phantom became even more ethereal, almost disappearing.
And the heavenly flame, freed from his control, instantly transformed from a palm-sized golden flame into a half-human-tall flame, and this was even the result of the heavenly flame controlling itself.
In an instant, the temperature inside the cave rapidly rose, and the surrounding stones showed signs of melting.
“Xiong Da, Xiong Er, go outside and guard.” The Nine Nether Golden Saint called out.
The two bears also couldn’t stand the temperature.
After saying their goodbyes, they left the cave.
As for Xiao Jian, a white Dou Qi gauze robe tightly enveloped him, but he still felt he couldn’t take it anymore.
Suddenly, a wave of soul power wrapped around him.
The Nine Nether Golden Saint’s voice suddenly came through: “Grab the flame seed, swallow it, and then let it circulate with your cultivation method.”