"My Master excels far more than I do in the Alchemy Path. If even he can’t overco this hurdle, my attempt will be useless."
Zhao Lingyin shook her head slightly, then said, "However, I want to give the flower garden a try, to see if I can surpass this Heavenly Monarch in nurturing spiritual plants."
Alright, that might work! A thought flashed through Shen Mo’s mind, and he agreed.
Even though Zhao Lingyin possessed extraordinary talent in the Alchemy Path, she didn’t have a divine artifact like the Destiny Panel. At this mont, she hadn’t officially advanced to the rank of a Grade IV Alchemist yet. Her Master, Wu Gong, was only half a step away from becoming a Grade V Alchemist. If even Wu Gong couldn’t overco the challenge of the Alchemy Room, Zhao Lingyin’s chances of passing were indeed slim. However, she possessed the Green Wood Spirit Body. In terms of nurturing spiritual plants and comprehending the characteristics of spiritual dicines, she held advantages far beyond ordinary individuals. Compared to the Alchemy Room, choosing the flower garden for her attempt was a much wiser idea!
Shen Mo and Zhao Lingyin then flew together into the Heavenly Monarch’s mansion.
Once inside, Zhao Lingyin naturally flew towards the flower garden, while Shen Mo headed straight for the Sword Washing Pool.
When it ca to proficiency in the Alchemy Path, Talisman Path, and Forging, Shen Mo considered himself quite competent. However, the Heavenly Monarch’s tomb currently hosted top talents in all fields from the Five Great Sects, and among them, he didn’t particularly stand out.
For instance, in the Alchemy Path, there was Zhao Lingyin’s Master, Wu Gong. In the Talisman Path, there were figures like Chou Jiuyian from the Seven Stars Altar and his peers. In Forging, there were Grandmaster Forgemasters like Gao Ming, among others.
Moreover, Shen Mo had no desire to expose his true proficiency in these areas under so many watchful eyes.
Only in swordplay was he truly confident. Over the years, he had poured imnse resources and effort into his martial arts, to the point where he felt no fear even when facing the top swordsn of the Heaven Sword Sect.
The Sword Washing Pool’s water was extraordinarily clear. It was said to be capable of washing away the dust on a sword and dispelling the distractions in a practitioner’s mind.
When Shen Mo arrived at the edge of the pool, he didn’t see Yuxin Sword Master and the others who had arrived before him.
Only a few Heaven Sword Sect disciples, still at the Qi Gathering Realm, lingered outside the Sword Washing Pool. They hesitated to enter, each wearing a contemplative expression.
Obviously, they had already drawn their swords but had been repelled early on. Now, they were deeply imrsed in reflecting on their previous sword-testing process, hoping to glean so insight into the Naless Heavenly Monarch’s Sword Path achievents.
Seeing Shen Mo approach, these Heaven Sword Sect disciples quickly made way, bowing slightly in respect. Their gazes followed him as he activated the Prohibition in this area.
Earlier, the Giant Corpse Master from the Ghost Corpse School had already announced the situation at each location to everyone.
Therefore, Shen Mo naturally knew what to do next. He approached the Sword Washing Pool, took out the Demon Slaying Sword, and used the clear pool water to cleanse the blade.
What kind of magic does this clear spring hold? Shen Mo wondered.
While he washed the sword, the Demon Slaying Sword Spirit let out an extrely joyful cry, much like a grimy child, unbathed for months, delightedly jumping into a clean stream.
SPLASH!
Just then, the water in the Sword Washing Pool surged abruptly.
In the next instant, an unknown force enveloped Shen Mo and the Demon Slaying Sword in his hand.
By the ti he reacted, he found himself still beside the Sword Washing Pool, but the Heaven Sword Sect disciples who were originally behind him had completely vanished.
Not only that, but the cultivators from other immortal sects within the Heavenly Monarch’s mansion had also mysteriously disappeared.
It was as if he were in an odd mirror space. The scenery of the mansion hadn’t changed much, but besides himself, no one else was reflected in it.
No wonder I couldn’t see Yuxin Sword Master and other powerful Heaven Sword Sect mbers earlier, Shen Mo realized. They must have entered a similar strange space, just like .
Without having to wait too long, Shen Mo saw an average-looking middle-aged man with a transcendent aura, holding an iron sword and leisurely walking towards the Sword Washing Pool.
Even without any explicit hint, this middle-aged man must be the Naless Heavenly Monarch, Shen Mo thought with certainty. Or rather, this is a scene from his past, when he washed his sword and comprehended the Sword Path!
The Heavenly Monarch’s remnant shadow didn’t act imdiately. Instead, he walked to the edge of the Sword Washing Pool, casually picked up a whetstone, and began to polish the iron sword in his hand. He then scooped up a handful of clear water to wash away the filings and rust.
This extrely simple and ordinary action was filled with a strange, beautiful sense of The Way Follows Nature. Shen Mo found it truly captivating.
Once he had finished polishing and washing the iron sword, the Heavenly Monarch’s remnant shadow finally turned around and looked at Shen Mo. He then slowly raised his iron sword, the tip pointing directly at Shen Mo’s brow.
Just like before, although this remnant shadow uttered no words, Shen Mo clearly understood its intention.
"Heavenly Monarch Senior, please forgive my offense!"
Shen Mo also raised his sword and activated "Insight into All Beings". He attempted to discern the true nature and capabilities of this Heavenly Monarch’s remnant shadow.
However, this Destiny only affected living creatures. No matter how Shen Mo tried, the information prompt for "Insight into All Beings" never appeared.
This made Shen Mo even more certain of his deduction.
So, the "Heavenly Monarch" before isn’t a living creature at all, but a pre-set chanism, an illusion! Shen Mo concluded.
However, the Naless Heavenly Monarch possessed an incredible cultivation level when he was alive. The illusion manifested by his Prohibition was indistinguishable from a real person.
Even Shen Mo, a Spirit Sea Realm cultivator, couldn’t distinguish whether it was real or illusory, genuine or fake, using his five senses and spiritual sense.
Under Shen Mo’s spiritual sense, the Heavenly Monarch’s remnant shadow before him appeared to be a middle-stage Spirit Sea Realm cultivator, complete with flesh, blood, and soul fluctuations. Clearly, its Cultivation Realm adapted to that of the challenger attempting to break the Prohibition.
The mont Shen Mo’s words fell, he brandished his Demon Slaying Sword and unleashed a Starfall Sword Qi.
CLANG!
CLANG!
CLANG!
A series of crisp, tallic clashes rang out.
The Heavenly Monarch’s remnant shadow executed three swift slashes. They appeared ordinary, yet each sword strike precisely intercepted the Starfall Sword Qi.
After three strikes, the dazzling, lightning-fast sword Qi collapsed and dissipated into nothingness.
After this brief exchange, Shen Mo realized that although the Heavenly Monarch’s remnant shadow before him only manifested a middle-stage Spirit Sea Realm cultivation, its Proficiency in Swordsmanship was clearly maintained at its lifeti peak.
It wasn’t that Shen Mo was being arrogant, but with his own Proficiency in Swordsmanship, it would be difficult to find another sword master of the sa cultivation level in the entire Red Fla Country’s cultivation world who could so effortlessly neutralize his Universe Sword Qi with such simple, unadorned moves.
However, Shen Mo could understand this.
This Naless Heavenly Monarch, though a peerless genius in his lifeti, had achieved his transcendent level of expertise in all aspects through long periods of accumulation.
If it only used the swordsmanship equivalent to its Spirit Sea Realm manifestation to fight, it wouldn’t fulfill the purpose of setting a difficult challenge and testing those who attempted to pass.
Just as Shen Mo was about to unleash another sword technique, the Heavenly Monarch’s remnant shadow moved. Its footsteps, guided by its swordplay, followed a peculiar rhythm. In the blink of an eye, it had closed to within five feet of Shen Mo.
An average person’s arm is just over two feet long, and the iron sword in its hand was over three feet in length.
Within this range, the Heavenly Monarch’s remnant shadow rely had to thrust its iron sword forward slightly to grievously wound Shen Mo.
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