Chapter 1829: Seventh Sword
"I have possessed the Eight Desolation Supreme Sword Scripture for over a thousand years, yet I have never once unleashed the Seventh Sword. Today, I might finally witness its true splendor."
Looking at the surging tide of encroaching exotic beasts, the aura radiating from Fang Chen suddenly shifted, skyrocketing relentlessly!
Scenes of his experiences over the past millennium flashed through his mind. When he was young, he too had encountered desperate perils, forcibly overdrawing his lifespan to unleash sword strikes that a cultivator of his realm should never have been able to wield. In Fang Chen's view, these situations were a result of insufficient preparation and lack of strength, leaving him with absolutely no other choice.
As time went on, he became deeply contemplative with every single step he took, never willingly placing himself in true jeopardy. In everything he did, he always left himself a way out. Consequently, the sword techniques he unleashed thereafter capped at the Sixth Sword. He never again encountered a predicament dire enough to force him into unleashing the Seventh Sword. Every danger could be defused using more peaceful and simple methods, to the point where many of his enemies, even upon the day of their deaths, had absolutely no idea whose hand they had fallen to.
Today, he could easily choose to be eliminated and exit the Saint Tower. However, doing so would conflict with his core purpose. He was determined to see for himself exactly where the absolute ceiling of a fifth-transformation cultivator lay during the Nether Ruins era!
If I miss an opportunity like this, I might truly never get another chance.
In a flash, a surge of immortal essence condensed into a longsword within his palm. Because he was currently inside the History Immortal Book, he had known right from the start that Little Sword could not be summoned. Neither she nor the Mirror of the Universe belonged to this realm. They were not like him, who was a disciple of the Reincarnation Sect who mastered the Mortal World Immortal Intent.
Eight Desolation Supreme Sword Scripture, Seventh Sword!
Fang Chen slashed outward!
At that exact moment, his immortal essence instantly bottomed out. At the same time, his lifespan evaporated like flowing water, surging out alongside the trajectory of the Seventh Sword.
Dozens of exotic beasts, each possessing a combat strength not a fraction weaker than Xie Aman, seemed utterly incapable of perceiving the fatal danger, continuing their head-on charge. The very next instant, they were completely shredded into fragments by a sword intent resembling a torrential downpour of laser beams, disintegrating into absolute nothingness.
Tranquility returned to the plain once more, leaving only a lone, erect figure standing between heaven and earth.
As for the outcome, Fang Chen had already known it before the sword even left his hand.
Fang Chen let out a self-deprecating laugh. "Losing a few centuries of lifespan... is still within acceptable limits."
That served as definitive proof that with his current strength, he still could not easily execute the Seventh Sword. Fortunately, a few hundred years of lifespan was a drop in the bucket for a fifth-transformation immortal like him. He didn't even age at all.
Another year went by.
During that year, Fang Chen managed to endure, though at the cost of over a thousand years of his lifespan.
That year marked his sixteenth year since entering the Saint Tower. Watching dozens of exotic beasts with terrifying auras pounce toward him, Fang Chen sighed. He could no longer probe the limits of the fifth transformation realm in this place. The strength of each of these beasts was likely on par with his own peak form. Unless he unleashed the Seventh Sword again, he had no chance to suppress them in a single strike. But even so, his remaining lifespan would not be enough to sustain him until next year.
If he were to forcefully probe the limit, he would have to be prepared to die of old age right here, which he naturally would not do. Therefore, today was also his last day inside the Saint Tower.
Fang Chen smiled slightly and closed his eyes. "Come on."
He allowed the exotic beasts to pounce on him, tearing and devouring.
In a flash, the scenery before him changed, and he found himself standing at the main entrance of the Saint Tower.
Today happened to be the day the Saint Tower opened, and quite a few people were waiting for the doors to open so they could enter to cultivate in seclusion and break through their bottlenecks. The moment Fang Chen appeared, he immediately drew dozens of glances.
"Isn't that Ancestor Chen? Ancestor Chen has been inside the Holy Tower for sixteen years. He must have made a breakthrough, right?"
The crowd looked at Fang Chen with a hint of curiosity. However, they did not know his previous cultivation level, nor could they discern his current level, leaving them unsure if he had truly broken through.
"Ancestor, you have ended your seclusion? Was this cultivation session fruitful?" Fang Ding flickered across the void a few times and appeared before Fang Chen.
Fang Chen smiled. "It can be considered fruitful. Is there any news regarding the Primal Beginning Origin Milk ?"
Fang Ding did not dare to commit the offense of probing Fang Chen's cultivation level, so assuming that Fang Chen had already broken through, he said with a beaming smile, "The people below have already obtained the Primal Beginning Origin Milk and are currently rushing toward Zanglong City. It should be delivered within a year or two."
Fang Chen was surprised. "They actually found it?"
He had initially just wanted to try his luck and hadn't expected the Fang Clan's methods to be so formidable that they could find a portion of Primal Beginning Origin Milk for him during the Nether Ruins era. Just one portion of it would be enough for him to advance to a sixth-transformation Sword Immortal.
"It is quite a coincidence. The Primal Beginning Origin Milk you requested really couldn't be found anywhere in the Nether Ruins. However, we have people stationed with the Flame Race, which is how we learned that the Demonic Beasts, who serve as slave soldiers under the Flame Race, possessed the Primal Beginning Origin Milk." Fang Ding smiled.
Fang Chen was hit with a realization. How could I have forgotten about this?
During the Nine Realms era, before the Human Race had migrated over, all those who achieved immortality belonged to the Demonic Beasts. Naturally, the path to becoming a True Immortal was also controlled by the Demonic Beasts. Even though the Seeking Dao Faction took an irreversible step and left the Nine Realms, they should have brought along a batch of immortal herbs and spiritual materials for the True Immortal Path. Among these, the Primal Beginning Origin Milk would naturally be included!
Fang Chen could not help but smile and nod. "Very good, very good."
***
Compared to previous years, Zanglong City has become increasingly bustling. Experts from all sides were arriving one after another, all to witness with their own eyes the miraculous spectacle of Half Saint Fang becoming a Saint!
Two years had passed since Fang Chen left the Saint Tower, and less than two years remained until the day of the celebration.
Today, the people responsible for transporting the Primal Beginning Origin Milk had arrived in Zanglong City. However, since he lacked the qualifications to enter Xie Zhi, Fang Ding brought Fang Chen along to the Chaoxian Tower to collect the Primal Beginning Origin Milk.
Fang Ding spoke in a low voice. "Ancestor, when you see the person in a moment, do not be surprised."
Fang Chen was puzzled. "Why would I be surprised?"
After Fang Ding explained in a low whisper, Fang Chen understood, his expression turning slightly strange.
Inside the private room, the expert responsible for transporting the Primal Beginning Origin Milk showed a look of vigilance the moment he saw Fang Ding and Fang Chen. It was only when he saw the jade plaque in Fang Ding's hand that his expression turned respectful. He stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings!"
Fang Chen scrutinized the individual before him closely. Although his beastly aura was suppressed, Fang Chen had dealt with a lot of Demonic Beasts, so he could easily sense them.
This person's cultivation level was equally as impressive as Fang Ding's, also a ninth-transformation Demonic Beast. Given the current situation of the Demonic Beast, a ninth-transformation Demon would inevitably be a figure of immense significance. However, even someone like this had only been referred to by Fang Ding as a minor spy planted on the Flame Race's side by the Fang Clan.
If not for Fang Ding's explanation, Fang Chen really wouldn't have expected that during the Nether Ruins era, the Fang Clan had already taken in a group of Demonic Beasts to gather intelligence for them within the Flame Race.
Fang Ding said indifferently, "Quickly bring out the Primal Beginning Origin Milk."
If he had been dealing with a ninth-transformation human expert, he would have certainly shown proper respect. However, since the other party was a ninth transformation from a background of slave soldiers, and a subordinate at that, his attitude was naturally a bit colder.