飘零影音

Arc 15: Heavenly Secret Realm | Chapter 290: Falling Like Rain

Now, those seeking the sword-shaped wood included not only in Golden Core stages but also Nascent Soul ancestors mingling among them, and perhaps even more powerful beings. If his Shixiong truly revealed his demonic aura, it would undoubtedly draw attention! In that case, all his previous efforts to cover for his Shixiong would have been in vain! His thoughts were jumbled, and Xu Ziqing couldn’t come up with a solution in that moment.

As Yun Lie’s demonic thoughts grew stronger, pain radiated from his wrist, as if it might break at any moment.

Taking a deep breath, he moved closer to Yun Lie and whispered, “Shixiong, just endure for a moment. Once we reach the sword-shaped wood, there will surely be great benefits…” Xu Ziqing still wanted to persuade Yun Lie, but as soon as he moved, he found himself firmly restrained, unable to shift even slightly.

He secretly understood that this was precisely when his Shixiong was about to lose control, and he could not afford to provoke him any further. After quickly weighing the pros and cons in his heart, he finally made a decision. Since his Shixiong was unwilling to part ways, he would have to let him go along. With his Shixiong’s help, perhaps they could quickly obtain that spirit medicine.

Then they could search for the sword-shaped leaves on the sword-shaped wood, which would not necessarily be left out…

Having made up his mind, Xu Ziqing intended to communicate with Xi Lin.

Although Yun Lie and Xu Ziqing were also invited by Xuan Ze, Xi Lin was Xuan Ze’s trusted aide, so this action would primarily be led by Xi Lin.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, Xu Ziqing suddenly felt his body grow heavy, as if he were a mere mortal, unable to float in midair. Yun Lie held him tightly, and he too fell straight down. A series of dull thuds rang out as the surrounding people fell like rain.

Xu Ziqing quickly landed on the ground, feeling a tingling in his feet. Yun Lie stood by his side, still holding onto him, but he seemed unhurt. Xu Ziqing felt relieved and looked around, seeing that no one could remain airborne; regardless of their cultivation level, they were all being pulled down.

Shortly after, many people exclaimed:

“I can’t move my true essence!”

“I am the same; I don’t know what the reason is!”

“This place is quite strange!”

“Could it be that the sword-shaped wood is playing tricks?”

However, the many cultivators were seasoned individuals who had seen many strange things in this secret treasure; now they were merely somewhat surprised, but not overly frightened.

Xu Ziqing had previously experienced the feeling of becoming a mortal in the place of the Luofu Zhenren’s inheritance, and now experiencing it again, he didn’t find it particularly taxing.

Xi Lin and the others quickly approached and reunited with the two brothers. They were clearly also restrained in their true essence, so their subsequent actions would need to be discussed again.

Xi Lin said, “We originally intended to take advantage of the chaos, but now that everyone has lost their cultivation, it may not be easy.”

Xu Ziqing deeply agreed. Previously, they only needed to act discreetly while others competed, but in the current situation, if anyone attempted to do something, the onlookers outside would certainly not miss it.

After some discussion, everyone decided to temporarily set aside the matter of seeking the spirit medicine.

Since this was the root place of the sword-shaped wood, the trials set here must be related to the cultivators’ swordsmanship. It would be wise to wait a moment longer and act according to the situation.

Soon, everyone collected themselves and began to assess their circumstances.

Aside from their true essence being restricted, there were no other discomforts, and their bodies were not as heavy as Xu Ziqing had imagined; their strength remained unchanged.

Thinking about it, this place was much better than the inheritance site of the Luofu Zhenren.

Just as he was pondering, the other cultivators were also testing their limits, and before long, someone noticed something different.

It turned out that a swordsman dressed in a python robe had his entire body wrapped in sword energy, tightly gripping the tree trunk with his ten fingers as he climbed towards the top of the sword-shaped wood. He was climbing at a steady pace and had already ascended nearly ten feet in just a breath.

Seeing this, the other cultivators couldn’t let him take the lead and immediately rushed to stand in front of several trees. The sword-shaped wood had a circumference of at least a hundred feet, and with everyone standing close, it felt all the more insurmountable.

Xu Ziqing exchanged glances with a few others and followed the crowd over.

Yun Lie was still firmly holding Xu Ziqing’s left hand, but his gaze was fixed on the sword-shaped wood, the ink color in his eyes having faded considerably, successfully concealing his emotions.

Xu Ziqing quietly breathed a sigh of relief. Walking alongside his Shixiong, he dared not utter any words of “endurance” or “calm down.” He followed closely, careful not to provoke his Shixiong’s displeasure.

Xi Lin pointed to the three people behind him, and the six of them stood in a row, reaching out their hands to grasp the tree trunk.

At that moment, everyone understood why the previous person had released his sword energy.

It turned out that as soon as they touched the tree trunk, countless colorless, finger-length worms emerged from the trunk, shooting towards the person climbing the sword-shaped wood at lightning speed, looking quite ferocious. Consequently, when someone moved their sword energy, they swiftly severed these worms, turning them into dust.

Although Xu Ziqing practiced swordsmanship, he didn’t have sword energy at his disposal, so he summoned the Qingyun Needle instead.

However, as soon as the Qingyun Needle appeared, he immediately felt a bit of fatigue in his body.

At that moment, he understood that while the true essence in his dantian was indeed restrained, the spiritual energy within his flesh had not changed. But once he used his supernatural powers or techniques, it would directly draw from that spiritual energy, and since he could not replenish it, his body would gradually grow heavier, becoming only slightly stronger than that of a mortal.

What was even more frightening was that although the Qingyun Needle was out, it had no effect on the worms.

Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but feel a shock in his heart.

Immediately, Xu Ziqing remembered that sword energy was effective against the small worms. Recalling that his Qingyun Needle had earlier been driven by the “Ten Thousand Trees’ Life and Death Art,” he swiftly shifted his thoughts to the various intents of the “Four Seasons Sword Technique.”

This time, when the Qingyun Needle was deployed again, it indeed cut down the small worms. Xu Ziqing realized his guess was correct: only sword-related techniques and divine abilities could harm the worms. Otherwise… his gaze fell on someone screaming in agony.

It appeared that person was a rogue cultivator who had come with three or five companions. His swordsmanship was not particularly advanced—likely someone here hoping to find sword-related treasures to exchange for other resources. He too had seen the colorless worms and used an earth-element fist technique, but unfortunately, not only did it fail to harm the worms, it was devoured by them, causing the worms to grow even larger. The worms quickly leaped onto his face and burrowed into his body through his seven orifices. His face contorted in pain, but within moments, his eyes became dull, and his hands lost strength, causing him to collapse.

In an instant, everyone gasped.

This, this…

None of them knew that the sword-shaped tree had grown by absorbing the sword essence left by countless fallen sword cultivators, feeding on their blood over time. The resentful thoughts of these sword cultivators had turned into these kinds of “resentful worms.”

These resentful worms were beings of pure intent. They could devour anything imbued with intent, but only things containing sword intent could kill them. Once the worms burrowed into a person’s brain, they would destroy their sea of consciousness, leaving the victim without any intelligence, just an empty shell.

Within a short time, several more people fell victim to the worms. Those remaining had already failed several times but now knew how to kill the worms.

In an instant, countless sword energies erupted, causing the sharpness around the sword-shaped tree to intensify further.

With their newfound methods of protection, the crowd quickly climbed upward.

Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie were extremely close, climbing almost shoulder to shoulder, arm to arm. Xu Ziqing, knowing his inner spiritual energy was limited, used the Qingyun Needle with great caution, unwilling to waste even the slightest amount. Yun Lie, meanwhile, emitted just two strands of sword energy—one to kill the worms around him and another to support the Qingyun Needle, ensuring the worms could not get close to Xu Ziqing.

Xi Lin and his three companions were also being very careful. With a heavy responsibility on their shoulders, their minds were calm and focused.

As they climbed higher, the resentful worms grew denser. Just as they were about to reach the first branch, the worms began to devour each other, twisting together into a long, snake-like form.

Anyone bitten by this “snake” would lose their soul with just one bite!

Xu Ziqing’s Qingyun Needle grew sharper, but he was well aware that at this rate, his spiritual energy would soon be depleted. If he didn’t retreat in time, he would end up being devoured by the resentful worms.

By this time, dozens of people had already been bitten by the resentful snake, falling one by one. As the snake devoured more souls, its resentment grew stronger, making it increasingly difficult to handle.

Suddenly, a resentful snake as thick as an arm lunged at Xu Ziqing, aiming to bite his arm!

Xu Ziqing reacted quickly, thrusting the Qingyun Needle toward the snake’s head. Although the snake reared in pain, after a brief spasm, it appeared unaffected and continued its attack.

Yun Lie let out a cold snort, and a strip of white light shot out like a sharp beam, slicing through the snake’s head! The power of this attack far surpassed ordinary sword energy—it was nearly as solid as a true sword gang.

Xu Ziqing’s swordsmanship was still insufficient. The sword intent contained within his Qingyun Needle was secondary, and its sharpness was far from enough. Even when it struck the resentful snake, it failed to kill it. At this point, he realized that continuing upward would be extremely difficult for him.

Caught in a dilemma, Yun Lie suddenly said, “Since you can’t endure it, I will carry you.”

Xu Ziqing was taken aback, but immediately responded, “Very well.” Though he didn’t want to be a burden to his Shixiong, under the current circumstances, it was more important to keep Yun Lie calm.

Xu Ziqing put away the Qingyun Needle and drew upon his remaining spiritual energy to summon a blood-red vine. This time, summoning Rongjin, his life-bound wood, consumed much less energy than using other wood-based techniques, making it easier for him.

Rongjin stretched out its tendrils, sensing the sharpness in the surroundings, and shrank back slightly.

Xu Ziqing was startled. “Rongjin, are you afraid?”

Rongjin transmitted its thoughts, saying, “Mother, mother… it’s extremely firm… once I mature, won’t be afraid.”

Xu Ziqing breathed a little easier, knowing that this rare wood was just as precious as Rongjin. If he could obtain it as secondary wood, it should help balance his internal energy. He calmed the demonic vine and then flipped his body, using it to securely bind himself to Yun Lie’s back.

Translator: Lynn

Translations are not 100% correct. Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.

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