Chapter 497: Peerless Sword Scripture

Chapter 497: Peerless Sword Scripture

The Xixia Plateau, located in the western part of the celestial realm corresponding to the old earth, was once the highest altitude area, with mountains stretching majestically and grandly. It was known as the dwelling place of the red sun's evening glow, with its scenery unparalleled in beauty.

However, ever since a madman arrived and leveled a million mountains with a single sword strike, the area within a hundred thousand miles became flat and desolate, no longer approached by any creature.

Wang Xuan and Jiang Qingyao returned, and indeed, they awaited the madman's departure before cautiously approaching the plateau. Prepared thoroughly in advance, Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao personally set up several teleportation arrays for a quick escape in case of any mishap.

Her ability to escape, or rather, her survival skills were incredibly robust, contrasting her ethereal demeanor.

Moreover, the two roughly confirmed from the details that the madman who had survived from ancient times might be embarking on a long journey.

"Woah, he's not about to take the Human Realm Sword to the Immortal Realm and wreak havoc, is he? No, I must hurry and pass the message back!" Wang Xuan genuinely feared that if the madman, as he suspected, was so scheming and dark-hearted, pretending to be mad to gather all the treasures, he could pose a serious threat to the acquaintances he knew.

While whispering among themselves, they suddenly felt a dramatic fluctuation in the world. A sword light that could shock the ages tore through the heavens, crossing the sky towards the distance.

"The Human Realm Sword!" Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao exclaimed, losing her composure. No longer calm or detached, she became as excited as a hopping girl, standing on her tiptoes, leaping to watch the trajectory of the Human Realm Sword and capturing the supreme rules it wove.

Wang Xuan did not shout; in fact, he was not in the mood. He was desperately communicating with the Life Furnace deep within his spirit, soothing it to remain still. The last thing he wanted was to alarm the madman and have nowhere to cry.

Fortunately, the Life Furnace was as steady as a rock, utterly quiet.

As the Human Realm Sword departed, slicing open the sky and vanishing in a flash, Jiang Qingyao solemnly stated, "No need to worry. He hasn't gone to the Immortal Realm. He's heading to the highest spiritual world!"

"How is he going there?" Wang Xuan was puzzled but knew the highest spiritual world was incredibly dangerous, where even unparalleled masters dared not tread lightly.

Since ancient times, only a handful of individuals, such as the ascetic monks of Buddhism, have ventured to the highest spiritual world.

Jiang Qingyao, gazing where the Human Realm Sword vanished, said, “The highest spiritual world, despite its immense dangers, has always been surrounded by legends of vast opportunities that even those beyond the unparalleled realm find greatly tempting.”

Clearly, having honed his sword skills for years and possessing fearsome prowess, the madman had the strength to step into that realm. With the mythic era drawing to a close, he ventured in with the Human Realm Sword for one final exploration.

“I hope he’s just trying his luck rather than having a clear goal in mind to harvest something from there. Otherwise, I truly worry for those in the Immortal Realm,” Wang Xuan remarked with a furrowed brow.

The madman was already beyond control, and allowing him to advance further could potentially turn him into an unmatched monster.

“Let’s take advantage of his absence and hurry to his scriptures!” Jiang Qingyao’s beautiful face glowed with divine brilliance, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

The plateau, composed of cold, hard permafrost, offered a broad view with blood-red afterglows spreading across the land.

Here, where a near-unbeatable individual practiced swordsmanship, his blood qi alone could cover a hundred thousand miles, indicating his terrifying power. Few dared to approach recklessly.

As they journeyed further, an intense killing intent, almost tangible, enveloped them, threatening to tear them apart. This was the residual sword intent.

Wang Xuan was alarmed. Even being led by the Celestial Sword Maiden, he felt the pressure, deducing that those below the master of life preservation might explode before reaching this point.

“Is this madman truly defying the heavens?” He was astonished, having never encountered such domineering sword intent that the mere residual aura could slay cultivators.

Jiang Qingyao nodded, “He is indeed formidable. Some say given another thousand years, he could break through to the Regal Dao realm, fearing nothing even as the superhuman era ebbs away. Then, not even divine treasures could phase him.”

Wang Xuan was taken aback by such a figure existing in the world, potentially reaching the Regal Dao realm.

He also reflected on the importance of survival. The first to open a special inner realm could have suppressed the madman, but where was he now? Fallen in ancient times, hunted down by the ancient emperors.

Jiang Qingyao had transformed her entire Dao into light, primarily to protect him, leaving her in a dire state.

"No, I can persist. Some opportunities, once missed, may never return. With your unique spiritual eye peering into this place, he might sense it afterward. We might not be able to enter here again, or the sword mountains might no longer exist. There are too many uncertainties and possibilities."

Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao's resilience shone through as she wiped the blood from her lips, determined to continue.

Wang Xuan ceased his protests and rapidly memorized all the sword scriptures. Some appeared as mere doodles, yet to Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao, they were treasures beyond measure.

As they delved deeper, the sword scriptures became increasingly abstract, not meant for the average mind. They resembled celestial scripts, exerting immense pressure as if slicing the universe asunder with brilliant sword light that nothing in the present world could withstand.

Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao coughed up blood profusely but persisted with an unshakable will.

Witnessing her condition, Wang Xuan ceased his attempts to persuade her to stop. Instead, he focused intently, memorizing the ultimate truths of the sword until the last sword cliff was scrutinized, revealing its final scripture.

A hum vibrated through the air as the mountain seemed to come alive, crystallizing into a massive stone sword that nearly suffocated them, threatening to tear through the fabric of time itself.

"He's sensed us, even from within some higher spiritual realm. He's detected the anomaly here; this person's strength truly exceeds all expectations," Jiang Qingyao's expression shifted as she announced their immediate departure.

"Mission accomplished, the last scripture observed," Wang Xuan declared, even as he too spat out a mouthful of blood from his spirit.

They collected the spilt blood and fled swiftly. The heavens above turned semi-transparent, as if eyes from layers upon layers of higher spiritual worlds peered down upon them.

A thunderous force flipped them mid-flight despite their evasive maneuvers, causing blood to stream from every orifice. They dared not let a single drop fall, fearing it might lead the madman directly to them.

It was the murderous intent of that madman, the terrifying gaze that spanned across the layers of higher spiritual realms, tracking them, hinting at his imminent return.

They plunged into the teleportation array, vanishing just as the structure exploded behind them. Shaken to their cores, they coughed up blood, crossing through space to emerge in another world.

Wang Xuan discovered that Celestial Sword Maiden Jiang Qingyao's injuries were far more severe than he had imagined. To protect him, she had taken the brunt of the attack, bearing a grievous wound on her back where the remnant sword intent from the madman's cross-dimensional slash had grazed her, deep enough to see bone. Most troubling was the faint killing intent still lingering in the wound, a serious concern.

"This madman is too strong!" Wang Xuan's heart raced with unease, deeply worried for Jiang Qingyao's safety.

"It's nothing. I can resolve this killing intent," Jiang Qingyao assured, quickly leading them to another teleportation array as they fled.

The sky above turned semi-transparent and then shattered, unleashing a terrifying sword light that sent shockwaves through the heavens, making every formidable creature and powerful cultivator on the ground feel suffocated.

"This time I'll lead the way. Trust me!" Wang Xuan enveloped her with the Zhanshen Banner, refusing to let her take the rear.

As they plunged into the teleportation array, the divine treasure, the Life Essence Furnace, appeared, shielding Jiang Qingyao within the Zhanshen Banner as they vanished into the light. The terrifying sword light from the sky followed but was silently blocked by the Life Essence Furnace.

Re-emerging from the void, Wang Xuan realized they had eluded the madman's pursuit. The Life Essence Furnace had concealed all traces of their passage as he navigated the treasure across vast expanses, diving into the endless dark.

Upon retracting the treasure and unfurling the banner, he found Jiang Qingyao nearly unconscious, her wounds grave. Despite her condition, she had tried to protect him and would not have allowed him to envelop her if not for the severity of her injuries.

"I still have a secret power I haven't used yet. Escaping with you is no issue," Jiang Qingyao said, wiping away blood, still managing a smile.

This time, Wang Xuan took charge, insisting she rest and guiding her into the purple gourd filled with traces of primordial chaos, preparing to return to the real world.

"Alright, I'll listen to you this time," Jiang Qingyao nodded.

Wang Xuan advanced into the darkness, spotting the lantern-lit station before diving into the swirling vortex, marking their official return.