Chapter Twelve: The Fourth Level of Sword Force

"How could he be so fast? My sword technique is already extremely fast—six divine swords attacking simultaneously—yet he blocked them all." Ji Ning crashed against the ice, then flew back up and hovered, his eyes filled with disbelief. Despite using his three heads and six arms to execute the Star Picking Hand, he had been effortlessly crushed by his opponent.

This gap in strength made Ji Ning feel deeply frustrated.

"Heartforce, after all, is an ethereal and elusive power."

"In close combat, strength is one thing, but combat technique is more important." Ji Ning sighed inwardly. He had long realized that this Snow Demon true body had mastered the 'Taiyi Force,' making his combat skills supremely exquisite. His own sword force was only at the third level, and in terms of technique, the Brightmoon Sword Art was far inferior to the Snow Demon's staff technique.

The gap in combat technique was too vast.

Even with three heads and six arms, he was still crushed.

"Haha, come on, come again!" The Snow Demon true body, exhilarated by the fight, charged forward once more with his golden staff.

Ji Ning dove down and attacked again.

…

Clang clang clang~~~ Boom boom boom~~~

The two fought madly on the frozen sea. Occasionally, Ji Ning was knocked back, but relying on the Eight-Nine Arcane Art, he continued to exchange blows. He had to maintain the 'Star Picking Hand' at all times; otherwise, his swords would be sent flying upon contact. The gap in strength was too great, and only with the Star Picking Hand could he manage to trade blows.

Occasionally, Ji Ning erupted with heartforce, causing minor injuries to the Snow Demon true body. But the Snow Demon could dissolve into countless snowflakes and reform, rendering these injuries useless.

"Interesting."

"You can suddenly burst with power without me sensing it at all. Is that the legendary ethereal heartforce?" The Snow Demon asked while attacking.

Ji Ning gritted his teeth and continued his assault.

For the first time, he faced an opponent of the same level who completely suppressed him—in strength, movement technique, and close combat skills, he was at a disadvantage in every aspect.

"Faster, faster."

"The Five Treasures Sword Art says: when speed reaches its extreme, it becomes unstoppable."

"Back then, the Golden Crow Demon Emperor's speed was so extreme that even the ancient mighty ones could do nothing against him; only Hou Yi could kill him with arrows. If my sword is fast enough, he won't be able to block it either." Ji Ning attacked madly, abandoning all defense and focusing solely on offense, using only two techniques: 'Shadowless Style' and 'Blooddrop Style.'

Although the Brightmoon Sword Art had three offensive techniques—'Shadowless Style,' 'Blooddrop Style,' and 'Heavencollapse Style'—the Heavencollapse Style relied on overwhelming strength. Ji Ning was far inferior in strength to his opponent. The Snow Demon true body used a long staff, excelling in smashing with power. Using the Heavencollapse Style against him would be pitting his weakness against the opponent's strength, leading to a miserable defeat.

Shadowless Style, Blooddrop Style.

Sometimes ethereal and unpredictable.

Sometimes frenzied and swift.

Three heads, six arms, attacking madly—attack, attack, attack!

Faster, faster, faster!

The Snow Demon true body wielded his staff, which was surrounded by black and white streams of energy. The staff shadows formed circles, completely crushing all of Ji Ning's attacks.

"Even faster."

Ji Ning's six divine swords were naturally enveloped in a hazy golden light—a domineering and dazzling radiance. But no matter how frenzied and ferocious Ji Ning was, under that seemingly ordinary staff, he was still crushed and overwhelmed.

…

After a long battle, Ji Ning's divine power began to dwindle.

"It seems you're still not good enough." The Snow Demon true body laughed, his staff completely suppressing Ji Ning.

Ji Ning continued his frenzied assault.

Suddenly.

One of the six divine swords erupted with astonishing power.

"Using heartforce again?" The Snow Demon true body didn't care. Although Ji Ning's sword strike was even more unpredictable due to the sudden burst of power, and the sword had already reached the Snow Demon's body, the Snow Demon's staff still touched Ji Ning's sword, deflecting it. It only managed to cut a wound on the Snow Demon's abdomen.

But at that moment, Ji Ning's hand released the sword.

"Grab."

His hand suddenly expanded, reaching for the Snow Demon true body.

This move was too sudden. The heartforce-infused sword strike was merely a feint; Ji Ning's goal was to bring his hand closer to the opponent. The moment the sword failed, Ji Ning let go—his hand was the final weapon.

"Oh?" The Snow Demon true body was startled and quickly dodged. His movement technique was equally profound, and Ji Ning's grab only caught one of the Snow Demon's arms.

"Break." The Snow Demon laughed carelessly. He was formed from snowflakes and could disperse and reform at will; losing an arm meant nothing.

One of his arms was caught by Ji Ning.

His other hand held the staff, continuing to block Ji Ning's other five divine swords.

"Pfft!"

A blood-colored sword tip emerged from the Snow Demon true body's forehead.

The Snow Demon true body's eyes showed shock. He had been pierced through the head? Who was attacking from behind? Ji Ning was right in front of him; who was behind him?

Whoosh.

The Snow Demon true body then completely dissipated and reformed nearby. He stared in disbelief at the direction of the attack, where another Ji Ning stood.

"Two?" The Snow Demon true body looked at the two white-robed Ji Nings.

"You let go of your sword and grabbed me to give your other clone an opportunity?" The Snow Demon true body looked at Ji Ning.

"Yes."

Ji Ning nodded. "Your strength completely crushes me; I'm no match for you. So I had to use some cunning."

"First, a heartforce-infused sword strike, then releasing the sword to attack with your hand. Your palm is no weaker than your divine swords." The Snow Demon true body said.

"Yes, to be precise, my palm is even stronger." Ji Ning said.

His Star Picking Hand palm was now comparable to a Protocosmic spirit-treasure. Although not sword-shaped, its power was equivalent to a top-grade Protocosmic divine sword, naturally slightly stronger than the swords he used.

"Although my palm is stronger and my attack was more sudden, your movement technique is too formidable. I only managed to grab your arm." Ji Ning shook his head.

"One sword strike, releasing the sword to attack with your hand, and even if that failed, another clone of equal strength attacked from behind." The Snow Demon true body shook his head. "At that moment, I was occupied by you and couldn't dodge the sudden attack. I admit defeat willingly."

"When strength is insufficient, one must rely on strategy." Ji Ning said.

If he had sent both clones to attack from the start, the opponent, being prepared and overwhelmingly stronger, would have left Ji Ning with only one outcome—defeat.

Only by using the other true body clone at the most critical moment, exploiting the element of surprise, could he achieve success.

"That's because you have another clone." The Snow Demon true body shook his head. "Two true body clones, both with divine bodies. It seems you've cultivated some divine ability. Usually, such abilities can produce several clones."

Ji Ning smiled.

Indeed, the Taowu Eighteen Fiendgods could produce eighteen clones.

"You win." The Snow Demon true body, carrying his golden staff, turned and walked away. Snowflakes drifted, and he soon disappeared into the endless snow.

Ji Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

"My heavens." Ji Ning felt a lingering fear.

"Although I guessed the Snow Demon true body was very powerful, this was too much. I used every trick, and the divine power and heartforce in this clone were nearly exhausted. If this final plan had failed, I would have had to find a way to escape back to Snow Island." Ji Ning's prolonged battle had also numbed the opponent.

Everything was for the final ambush.

First the sword, then the hand, then the true body clone! If it failed, he would flee back to Snow Island and spend more years cultivating like Xi Ke and the other Celestial Immortals.

"Success!"

"Finally succeeded."

Though relieved, Ji Ning also felt the pressure. Along the way, there were five islands. Defeating the Snow Demon allowed him to proceed to the second island, but he had already revealed all his trump cards and used every trick. Could he still get through the rest?

Whoosh.

Riding the Ruyi Spirit Snake Shuttle, he continued swiftly along the floating wooden bridge toward the distant end.

While flying, Ji Ning constantly pondered and reflected. In his earlier frenzied battle, he had a vague feeling that the third chapter of his 'Five Treasures Sword Art' was still lacking, not yet fully comprehended. But in the heat of life-and-death combat, he couldn't think deeply.

Now, as he reflected, Ji Ning couldn't help but ponder carefully.

After half a day of flight.

An island appeared ahead, with a towering volcano. Boom boom boom~~~ The volcano erupted continuously, magma shooting into the sky, casting a red glow over the entire island.

"A volcano island?" Ji Ning set aside thoughts of sword techniques and flew over quickly, landing on the volcano island.

This was the second of the five islands.

"Hm?"

At the head of the floating wooden bridge stood a massive stone tablet, engraved with a huge image of an 'Ape Roaring.' The ape, resembling the Snow Demon, was roaring with its head raised.

As Ji Ning looked, his consciousness was drawn in.

An ape phantom, holding a long staff, was demonstrating staff techniques move by move, from simple to profound, growing increasingly mysterious. Ji Ning, having fought the Snow Demon true body for so long, now watched the phantom's detailed breakdown of each move and had a sudden epiphany. After a while, the demonstration was complete.

"Hm?" Ji Ning's consciousness returned.

"Such profound staff techniques. Unfortunately, I follow the sword path." Ji Ning's body suddenly stiffened as he stood there, stunned.

The 'Five Treasures Sword Art,' which had been stuck at a bottleneck, now felt like sunlight breaking through dark clouds from a crack in the sky after he observed and pondered that set of staff techniques.

Ji Ning stood there.

Silently standing, he and his other true body clone were completely immersed in the 'Five Treasures Sword Art.' They continuously pondered the third chapter, gaining insights. The final bottleneck could no longer block Ji Ning; all fragmented insights finally merged, becoming one, and the entire third chapter was fully comprehended.

Ji Ning's sword force silently reached the fourth level.

First level of sword force—Silver Moon.

Second level of sword force—Blazing Sun.

Third level of sword force—Emperor.

Fourth level of sword force—Sword Heart.

"Sword Heart..." Ji Ning murmured, extending a finger and lightly tracing. A wisp of black sword light circled his finger.

When he first created the first stance of the 'Brightmoon Sword Art,' Ji Ning had already reached the third level of sword force. Nearly a hundred years had passed since then. During that time, he had created the complete Brightmoon Sword Art, fought countless Celestial Immortals and Heavenly Immortals in the World Prison, and even sparred with True Gods and True Immortals. Yet he had never broken through. After battling the Snow Demon true body and entering the stone tablet to observe, he finally broke through the bottleneck and reached the fourth level of sword force.