Chapter 960: Heart Of Guardianship (1)

Countless blades jutted out like a forest of swords. Li Xiaofei and the others walked slowly along the narrow path winding through the mountain. Mount Ten Thousand Blades operated under its own unique set of laws, which shrouded the entire area. Even someone as powerful as Liu Shaji could not fly through the air.

As a result, the group had no choice but to carefully ascend along narrow trails barely wide enough to place a foot. The five young warriors were filled with dread. The path ran right alongside sheer cliffs that dropped for thousands of feet. A single misstep would send them tumbling down, only to be pierced through like a sieve by the countless blades below.

Zhu Zhixun, driven by curiosity, reached out to touch one of the upturned blades beside him. The moment his fingers brushed it, a chill ran across his skin. A bead of crimson blood oozed from his fingertip.

"So sharp," he exclaimed in shock.

Having recently obtained several of Sword Immortal Lin Beichen’s inherited treasures, Zhu Zhixun’s cultivation had soared to the Seven Transformation Realm. Both his physical body and his Immortal Force had reached new heights. And yet, such a minor touch had been enough to cut through his skin with ease. It was unbelievably sharp.

What a treasure,

Zhu Zhixun’s eyes sparkled with excitement.

If he hadn’t been worried about stirring up trouble, he would’ve already pried the blade shard free to keep for himself.

"There are so many of these blade fragments. If we could bring them back and arm our comrades in the resistance, we’d hit the jackpot," Master Jin said, his eyes lighting up as well.

Any broken blade that could be found on Mount Ten Thousand Blades had to be, at the very least, of Immortal Artifact quality. It was simply a pity that these broken blades were simply too firmly embedded. No matter what methods the five young warriors tried, they couldn't dislodge even the smallest fragment. In the end, they had no choice but to give up.

It took them a full three days and nights to finally reach the summit of Mount Ten Thousand Blades. At the peak, they were met with a forest of swords and sabers. Countless relatively intact broken blades formed a vast metallic grove, each reflecting cold gleams of various hues. A chilling murderous aura radiated from them, biting into their bones and making the group hesitate to approach.

"The sword forest is repelling us," Liu Shaji said with a frown.

Even though he was standing more than five hundred meters away, he could feel an inexplicable murderous intent rushing toward him. This kind of killing aura was a first for him in the Blade Ruins. Moreover, it seemed to carry more of a warning than a true bloodthirsty intent.

For the five young warriors, who were far less powerful than Liu Shaji, the feeling was even stronger. They didn’t even dare to step closer to the sword forest.

Li Xiaofei also came to a halt. Just by appearance alone, the weapons here looked far more complete than those found in other parts of the mountain. Every single one was either a sword or a saber.

Most of them were only missing a small section. Some were embedded upside-down in the metallic soil. Others hovered in midair and spun slowly with the wind. A faint ringing filled the air.

The dense forest of blades shimmered with cold light, and a vague murderous aura flickered throughout. These incomplete swords and sabers almost seemed alive, as if they were silently guarding something hidden deep within the grove.

Liu Shaji circulated his energy. He attempted to force his way closer and managed to get within fifty meters of the sword forest.

Hiss.

His robes were instantly decorated with dozens of cuts from the sword qi and saber qi emitted by the blade forest. Liu Shaji’s expression turned serious. He knew he could go no further.

Even with his Immortal Force defense, he couldn’t withstand the qi emanating from the swords. If he moved any closer, it would no longer be just his clothes that suffered damage.

As for the five young warriors, they were even more helpless. Even with protective treasures like the black wok, they didn’t dare approach within a hundred meters. Master Jin brought out the Time Jade and activated it, attempting to unravel the formation but it had no effect at all.

"There isn’t any formation seal here. Could we have been mistaken?" said Master Jin, looking over at Zhu Zhixun in disbelief.

Brother Zhu appeared just as confused. After a brief moment of thought, he said, "No, I don’t think we’re wrong. This must be one of the illusionary seals imprisoning Senior Lin. It’s just that these blades have developed a form of self-awareness. They’re protecting this place on their own, creating a natural barrier that blocks us from entering... This is troublesome."

The Time Jade could break through formation seals, but it was powerless against this kind of naturally formed sword-and-blade guardianship. If they couldn’t get inside, then all their efforts would be wasted.

"Let me try," Li Xiaofei said, stepping toward the sword forest.

"You?" Liu Shaji couldn’t help but laugh. "My cultivation is higher than yours, and my knowledge is broader. Even I can’t get in. What makes you think you can? Luck?"

Liu Shaji’s strength had recovered rapidly recently. His current realm and combat strength had already surpassed level eight and entered the Golden Immortal Realm. As a result, he had resumed looking down on Li Xiaofei. Li Xiaofei walked up beside him and stood shoulder to shoulder.

"Luck?" He said with a light smile. "Maybe so."

Liu Shaji curled his lip and replied, "If you manage to get in, I’ll..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Li Xiaofei moved. His steps were steady and relaxed as he walked easily to the edge of the sword forest. The sword qi and saber qi did not attack him at all.

"What will you do?" Li Xiaofei turned back and looked at Liu Shaji.

Liu Shaji struggled to close his mouth, which had dropped open in shock. Then he said, "I’ll admit... you’re damn impressive."

"Tch." Li Xiaofei waved his hand dismissively and then stepped confidently into the sword forest.

The five young warriors erupted with joy.

"Still gotta count on Senior Li."

"He’s completely unaffected by the pressure of the sword forest."

"No, it’s more like... the sword forest isn’t rejecting him."

The group whispered excitedly among themselves.

Liu Shaji cursed bitterly, "Damn it, is the Son of Fate Qi really this insane? I’ve been slapped across the face again."

Inside the forest, Li Xiaofei carefully maneuvered around the blades underfoot and those floating in the air. A breeze blew past. The blades quivered ever so slightly. It sounded like wind chimes being stirred by the wind.

The reason Li Xiaofei had been able to enter so effortlessly was simple. From the very beginning, he had felt no pressure at all from the sword forest. That overwhelming aura which had made Liu Shaji wary felt strangely familiar and comforting to Li Xiaofei.

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

He suspected it had something to do with his unique physique, the Dual Sacred Body of Blade and Sword. So he walked between broken sabers and cracked swords step by step.

After about twenty minutes, Li Xiaofei finally reached the center of the forest. Just as he had expected, it was an open clearing. The ground was a smooth, perfectly circular expanse roughly a hundred meters in diameter. It was as polished as a mirror, though it was impossible to tell what kind of metal it had been forged from.

Two glowing orbs were suspended two meters above the ground. One was pure gold and the other was silver white.

Li Xiaofei’s pupils contracted sharply. The moment he laid eyes on the glowing orbs, he felt an inexplicable sense of summoning. He rushed forward, then stopped and began sensing carefully. There was no mistake. He sensed coldness and heat. It was the power of saber and sword. The Flame Saber and Ice Sword.

This was the most primordial force of the Flame Saber and Ice Sword, it was far purer and more original than the sword energies he had previously nurtured in the Fire Domain and Frost Plains.

Suppressing the burning desire in his heart, Li Xiaofei stepped closer and slowly reached out with a hand. His fingertips brushed against the golden and silver spheres. The energy within the orbs instantly surged out like a tidal wave released from a broken dam, pouring into his body through his fingers in a torrent.

Extreme cold and extreme heat; the Dual Heavens of Ice and Fire. That terrifying fusion of forces collided within Li Xiaofei's body, instantly triggering violent repulsion between the two. The overwhelming destructive energy nearly tore his flesh apart in an instant.

Fortunately, he possessed the Dual Sacred Body of Blade and Sword. After nurturing himself in both the Frost Plains and Fire Domain, the Flame Blade and Ice Sword energies within him had already reached the perfected stage of the Sacred Body.

It was the only reason he had survived the initial wave of destruction. Li Xiaofei immediately began channeling the cultivation method Ding Hao had once taught him without the slightest hesitation, doing everything in his power to guide and regulate the silver and golden energies within his body.

Fifteen minutes passed. The golden and silver orbs hovering at the center of the sword forest were fully absorbed into his body. It took him another hour to finally tame the two raging and deadly energies, allowing them to circulate within his body without interfering with one another.

This marked the completion of the preliminary refinement of the two energies. Extreme cold and searing heat now barely managed to coexist in harmony within him. Li Xiaofei could feel himself growing stronger. He slowly extended both hands.

Golden flames spread from Li Xiaofei’s left hand. They condensed into a simple, sleek golden flame saber. Silvery ice-flames began to unfurl from his right hand. They formed into a broad-bladed ice sword.

With a single thought—

Whoosh.

An overwhelming pressure erupted outward in an instant. Golden light flared wildly. Seven pairs of wings suddenly manifested behind him, then slowly spread open. Golden and silver flames flickered in harmony. A surge of immense energy swept across the surroundings.

Clang. Clink. Clang.

A fierce wind tore through the sword forest, accompanied by the crisp chime of countless metallic fragments ringing like wind chimes.

The strange sound spread in every direction. It triggered a resonance throughout the area, stirring every scattered blade fragment nearby. Every broken shard across all of Mount Ten Thousand Blades began to tremble in response.

"What’s happening?"

"Is Mount Ten Thousand Blades about to collapse?"

"No... it’s more like everything is coming to life."

The five young warriors stood on high alert.

Liu Shaji felt his White Lotus Killing Sword within his body begin to tremble uncontrollably. It was as if it were welcoming the birth of a new king. In the next instant, a sudden transformation unfolded before their eyes.