A bell's chime suddenly echoed through the skies of the Chinese server, lingering for a long time—
"Ding!"
System Announcement: Congratulations to player [Bai Yi] for successfully refining the Nascent Soul and stepping into the [Nascent Soul Realm], gaining new realm abilities: [Nascent Soul Refinement i], [Sword Refining]!
...
This afternoon, the Chinese server was destined to be tumultuous. Everyone gazing at the sky was astonished. The major events in the game these past few days had already been like a storm. First, Su Xinghe and Ding Chunqiu successively challenged the Endless Mode and broke through, becoming the second and third Golden Core realm cultivators after Bai Yi. Their breakthroughs greatly inspired the other players in the Chinese server. Many challenged the Endless Mode again, leading to a new batch of Sixth and Seventh Realm players emerging. However, in everyone's minds, the Golden Core realm was the ceiling for players, the legendary "Peak Summit Realm."
But who could have imagined that in less than a few days, the myth of the Peak Summit Realm would be shattered? Just when everyone thought that Golden Core sword cultivators like Su Xinghe and Ding Chunqiu were invincible, the leader of the Scarlet Moon Knights, the legendarily mysterious player "Bai Yi," had broken through again, now a Nascent Soul sword cultivator!
The Golden Core realm was already beyond everyone's reach; the Nascent Soul realm... was simply like a myth, unattainable.
In an instant, the major channels and forums of the Chinese server exploded. Topics about Bai Yi entering the Nascent Soul realm and speculations about the new realm abilities of Nascent Soul Refinement and Sword Refining flooded the screens, countless.
Furong Prefecture.
In the forest, Lin Zhao took a deep breath. His state of mind broke, and his realm followed. He had actually anticipated this possibility, and when the breakthrough truly happened, his joy was undiminished. This was the Ninth Realm! In his previous life, his highest achievement was being an Eighth Realm martial artist + Fourth Realm sword cultivator + God of War's Courage. In this life, he was a Ninth Realm sword cultivator + two Sword Cultivating Lakes + two flying swords + the martial art manual of the Farmer's Nine Fists. His realm had already surpassed his past, and his future held great promise!
No rush, let's check the new abilities first.
He opened the two abilities of the Nascent Soul realm. The descriptions were clear and concise—
[Nascent Soul Refinement i]: Can refine the first natal item, greatly increasing its power.
[Sword Refining]: Grants the opportunity to additionally refine 5 medium-grade flying swords and 12 small-grade flying swords, thereby enhancing one's offensive power.
...
Understood!
He breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had nurtured Mingyue and Haoran in the Sword Cultivating Lake before, it was merely nurturing. They were not true natal flying swords like Xiao Jiu'er's White Fish, Green Fish, and Willow Catkins. The foundation of Mingyue and Haoran had not been fully tapped. But now, an opportunity had arrived. He could refine his first natal flying sword!
There were many things to do next. First, refine Mingyue into his first natal flying sword to enhance his killing power. Second, refine all five immortal sword embryos gifted by Yan Beichen into his own flying swords through medium refining, and then perform small refining on 12 more flying sword embryos. By then, when Lin Zhao killed enemies, it would be a scene of ten thousand swords shooting out simultaneously. That would be a true Sword Immortal!
"Alright."
Lin Zhao, full of ambition, turned to Wang Yue and said, "Wang Yue, your father and mother have both transcended. Now it's time to consider your own future. The matter of going south is complete. Let's return to the Peak Villa. I'll discuss with everyone how to arrange for you and plan a future for you."
"Mm."
Wang Yue nodded gently and smiled, "Thank you, Brother Lin Zhao."
"And also."
Lin Zhao turned and looked at Chen Mengjun.
Instantly, the proud daughter of the Lingyan Sword Sect of Wangxin Lake blushed, not knowing what Lin Zhao intended. However, this gaze, so much like that of an elder, made her heart flutter like a frightened deer.
"Mengjun ah..."
As expected, it was that earnest tone again.
Chen Mengjun parted her red lips, "I'm here, young hero, please speak."
"Refine your sword well in the future."
Lin Zhao smiled, "When you have free time, go out and explore the martial world. As a Sword Immortal, one must not only have a high realm but also broad horizons and deep experience, otherwise, you'll suffer in the future. Also, when you're free, come visit Xueyu Tianchi. The white fish soup at our Xueyu Tianchi is the best in the world, guaranteed to be unforgettable for a lifetime."
"Mm!"
Chen Mengjun smiled and nodded, "Definitely, Mengjun will surely visit Xueyu Tianchi in this life!"
"Good."
Lin Zhao smiled, "Alright, thank you for your care along the way. Wang Yue and I are returning north now. You should return to the Lingyan Sword Sect as well. Practice your sword well when you get back, don't be lazy."
"..."
Wang Yue stood by the side, speechless. She didn't know where Brother Lin Zhao, a Ninth Realm sword cultivator, got the audacity to tell an Eleventh Realm Sword Immortal to practice diligently. But Chen Mengjun, with a slightly flushed face, gently drew her sword, cupped her fists, and said softly, "Mengjun understands. I wish young hero a safe journey back."
"Thanks, let's go."
Lin Zhao ascended into the air, standing on his flying sword Hongye. He patted the divine shrine behind him, "Wang Yue, let's go."
Wang Yue flew into the divine shrine. The next moment, Lin Zhao headed north, while Chen Mengjun rode her sword eastward. After flying for dozens of miles, she suddenly stopped and looked back in the direction Lin Zhao had gone, but he was already out of sight, extremely far away.
...
(Note: Why the obsession with white fish soup? Actually, when Old Ding was in junior and senior high school, his family's financial conditions were very poor, and there wasn't much good food. Once when he returned home, a neighbor uncle who was a cook specially made him a bowl of soup with crucian carp + white fish to eat with rice. It was very savory and spicy. After eating it once, he truly couldn't forget it. Even now, with his success and having eaten in all sorts of restaurants, he still can't find that taste. And he'll never taste it again, because this uncle passed away from illness a few years ago. His son, in the dialect of Huaian, is named Guo Dongyang. This uncle I called Uncle Ge Er, yes, the old soldier who appeared in Chapter Eight of this book. This paragraph of Ye Zi's rambling thoughts is free of charge. I'll write more in this chapter.)
...
Not yet having left Furong Prefecture.
Lin Zhao suddenly thought, can't he use a town scroll directly for the return trip?
So, he crushed a scroll and returned to White Emperor City, then teleported to Shanhai Pass. After one more transfer, he teleported to Xueyu Tianchi. The next moment, he walked out of the teleportation array in Xueyu Tianchi. It was the early hours of the game, and the sky had not yet fully brightened. Not far away, on the mountain, a sturdy figure was practicing punches and descending. It was Chen Ben, who woke up at dawn to practice his martial arts.
"Brother Lin Zhao?!"
Chen Ben could hardly believe his eyes. He rubbed them frantically and laughed, "You're finally back!"
"Mm, I'm back!"
Lin Zhao walked forward, leaped up, and ruffled the head of this sturdy young man who was already over 1.8 meters tall. He smiled, "Chen Ben, how has your martial arts practice been recently?"
"Just practicing..."
Chen Ben scratched his head and smiled, "I don't know if there's any progress. As long as Master doesn't say to stop, I'll keep practicing. I'll definitely reach the Upper Five Realms."
"Mm."
Lin Zhao nodded. In fact, Chen Ben had excellent talent for martial arts and physical fitness, coupled with a God of War's Courage. He was definitely a prime candidate for an ultimate martial artist. However, with these inherent advantages all gathered in one person, it also made the difficulty of Chen Ben breaking through in his practice greater. To enter the Upper Five Realms, he often had to put in much more effort than others.
"Have you eaten breakfast? Martial artists must eat their fill when practicing!"
"Yes, I have."
Chen Ben smiled, "I ate a whole large pork knuckle."
Lin Zhao couldn't help but chuckle, "Alright, go back to practicing your martial arts!"
"Yes!"
Chen Ben stood in a horse stance and walked away.
Lin Zhao came to Tianran Ju and sat down. Eating the fruits and preserved sweets handed over by Dongcang, he finally felt like he was home. Beside him, Tong Yu also smiled and massaged his shoulders and legs, repeatedly asking if Brother Lin Zhao was tired from his trip south. He immediately slumped his head against the back of the chair and said, "I'm almost dead from exhaustion. Tong Yu, put more strength into your massage. Are you not hungry? Dongcang, go fry Tong Yu a bowl of egg fried rice to replenish his energy?"
Dongcang covered her mouth and laughed.
Tong Yu then "slapped" Lin Zhao's shoulder and continued to massage his shoulders and legs obediently. Despite his annoyance, this was his Brother Lin Zhao. Besides his master, Brother Lin Zhao was the one who treated him the best in the world!
Wang Yue emerged from the divine shrine and sat down quietly. Not long after, Shu Zhi also arrived, smiling and saying, "Congratulations to Lord for successfully breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm."
"A small matter!"
Lin Zhao waved his hand and smiled, "Shu Zhi, now we need to think about how to arrange for Wang Yue."
"I have a few suggestions."
Shu Zhi said seriously, "Because Wang Yue is currently a soul form without a physical body, no different from a ghost, there aren't many ways to house her. First, she could attach herself to a tree and transform into a spirit of heaven and earth, just like Dongcang transformed into an apricot spirit, or Han Yurou of Tongjing Lake transformed into a peach blossom demon. As long as your Golden Mullet Coin is sufficient, you can spend enough to make her an apricot spirit like Dongcang. It's not a big problem. Second, consecrate her as a water and land deity. We can preserve Wang Yue's soul for now, and when the time is right, we can sculpt a golden body for her, and she can become someone like Su Shanjun or the old Sword Immortal Han Buyu."
"For now, this is all we can do."
Lin Zhao frowned, "Wang Yue, what do you think? Do you want to become a water and land deity that blesses an area, or do you want to be a free spirit?"
Wang Yue pursed her red lips and said seriously, "When my father was alive, he often told me that even though I am a woman, I should be learned and contribute to the country and the world. If I can do a little more for the world, I should do a little more. Although I also want to stay at Peak Villa and accompany Tong Yu, Sister Dongcang, and Sister Shu Zhi every day, I don't want to let my father down. If possible, Wang Yue is willing to do something for the world, even if it's just a little bit."
"Mm, I understand."
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded, "Then you will live in the divine shrine for now, nurturing your soul power. When the time is right, I will arrange for your consecration as a deity."
In truth, Lin Zhao was quite happy in his heart. After all, Wang Yue had suffered too much hardship, her family destroyed, and she herself had been subjected to all sorts of mistreatment by many beasts. For her to still maintain even a sliver of goodwill towards this world was quite rare.
However, the matter of consecrating her as a water and land deity would have to be done slowly. After all, he wasn't a saint who could directly consecrate her with a single word.
He looked south. If his aunt were here, Wang Yue might be able to serve as a shrine official or a river god's attendant under his aunt's command, which would also be a good outcome.
But where was his aunt? He had no idea!
...
Washing Sword River.
Deep at the bottom of the river lay the earth root and earth vein. At this moment, golden light points were gathering between the earth root and earth vein, forming a female river god trapped in a cage. She held a broken golden sword that had been shattered and slowly opened her eyes, sighing softly. Finally, after her golden body was destroyed by the demon kings Man Yuan and Liu Bai, she had reformed her body. However, this body was too weak compared to before.
Moreover, she was completely immobilized, trapped within the crevice of the earth root.
"Alas..."
She let out a soft sigh, wondering what the outside world was like. Could the human world resolve the water and fire conflict between the two demon kings? Was her little Zhao still safe?