Chapter 28: The Sword of Desolation

The golden-robed youth standing ahead looked at the flying Ji Ning with tender eyes, as if gazing at his beloved.

"Hmm?"

Stared at by the eighth guardian, Ji Ning sensed a faint threat. However, he said nothing and instead turned to watch the sword technique beginning to appear on the towering, massive blade beside him. On the Ten Thousand Blade Path, the ten guardians' sword techniques grew increasingly formidable, and their impact on Ji Ning grew greater as well. Ji Ning even felt that these increasingly powerful sword techniques seemed to point directly toward the 'limit of the Dao,' guiding him to 'transcend the limit of the Dao.' Although there were many sword techniques in the Three Realms, none except the transcendent 'Five Treasure Sword Art' had helped him as much as these.

"The mighty being who created the Moon Under the Abyss must have an extraordinary background. Just his sword techniques alone can guide me like this. As for other Celestial Immortals, some use spears, some staves, some curved blades... the Ten Thousand Blade Path can manifest different guardians for each weapon." Ji Ning felt awestruck just thinking about it.

This made Ji Ning sigh, realizing that the primordial chaos was full of infinite possibilities, and the Three Realms was merely one chaos world within it.

Looking at the sky from the bottom of a well would be a joke.

Since he was weak, he would train hard to become stronger. Ji Ning was grateful to have come to the Moon Under the Abyss, where he could grow stronger.

"This sword technique is so wondrous, so unique..." Ji Ning watched, admiration in his eyes. "Lingering? Longing? This technique should be called 'Longing Sword.'"

The sword technique on the blade had been demonstrated three full times, then faded away.

"Whoosh."

The golden-robed youth ahead produced two swords from thin air. He looked down at them with tender eyes and said softly, "Time to fight."

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded, and two divine swords appeared in his hands.

The golden-robed youth smiled faintly, a smile that could intoxicate the heart. Then his form turned into a gentle breeze, and his sword light was like a breeze as well, seemingly gentle yet making Ji Ning feel a tremendous threat.

If he hadn't carefully studied the technique from shallow to deep three times, he would have suffered greatly. Now that he was thoroughly familiar with this 'Longing Sword,' Ji Ning could handle it much more steadily. He also wielded two divine swords, his sword light howling, reaching light speed, launching a fierce assault with the ghostly and swift 'Shadowless Style'!

Sometimes ferocious, sometimes even slowing down.

The fluctuating speed made it even more unpredictable.

Ji Ning's sword technique was clearly much more 'venomous' than when he first set foot on the Ten Thousand Blade Path. The first seven guardians had brought him great gains.

"Blooddrop Style."

The sword technique would sometimes shift into the even swifter Blooddrop Style.

But the opponent's sword art was like an endless net, entangling and binding Ji Ning's two divine swords.

"Longing..." Ji Ning's insight into this sword technique deepened. Watching with his eyes was one thing, but when someone with the exact same divine body and divine power fully executed the technique, the feeling was different. Ji Ning understood even more the true power of some of the killing moves in this sword art.

"Compared to it, my 'Moonbright Sword Art' lacks fluidity." Ji Ning's sword technique changed, becoming more elusive.

Shadowless Style, Blooddrop Style.

The two combined more perfectly, with fewer flaws in the transitions between sword moves.

"Hmm?" The golden-robed youth frowned, then shook his body and manifested three heads and six arms, attacking Ji Ning with six divine swords.

Ji Ning also used three heads and six arms to meet the attack.

...

"Pfft!"

The sword light struck the golden-robed youth's neck, sending him flying backward. He staggered five steps before steadying himself.

He looked at Ji Ning and said in a low voice, "Your sword is faster than mine, but the essence of your sword technique is slightly inferior. You can pass my level, but the ninth guardian's sword speed can also reach the limit of the Dao. Moreover, his sword essence is stronger than yours."

"Is that so? If he's stronger, that's even better." Ji Ning grinned.

"Be careful." The golden-robed youth vanished into thin air.

Ji Ning breathed a sigh of relief.

He had finally passed.

Without hesitation, Ji Ning continued flying forward. After a while, he saw the ninth guardian. The moment he saw him, he felt an overwhelming sense of despair.

"The intangible aura is getting stronger and stronger." Ji Ning sighed inwardly. "I've heard that the fifth level of sword force, the 'Sword God Realm,' can make enemies feel despair just from the intangible aura it emits. This Ten Thousand Blade Path is not only guiding me to transcend the limit of the Dao but also to reach the fifth level of sword force."

The eighth guardian's 'Longing Sword' already had a hint of charm.

The ninth guardian, just standing there, exuded such a strong intangible aura of despair, clearly even more remarkable.

But compared to the true fifth level of sword force, the 'Sword God Realm,' it was still far, far off.

This was just a seed!

Planting a seed in Ji Ning's heart, which might one day take root, sprout, and grow.

"Watch the sword technique."

The ninth guardian said indifferently.

Ji Ning smiled and watched the sword technique appearing on the massive blade. As he watched, his expression changed... Every move and style stirred the deepest thoughts in Ji Ning's heart. The more deeply he delved into the technique, the stronger its influence on him became.

"Why."

In his past life, Ji Ning had felt resentment under the torment of illness. After reincarnation, Ji Yichuan and Yuchi Xue warmed his heart with their familial love.

"Father, Mother."

On Serpentwing Lake, Ji Ning lay on a wooden boat, drifting on the lake.

"No."

The moment Yu Wei died, he was truly despairing. His parents were gone, and now Yu Wei was gone too.

...

Having experienced it, it resonated even more.

This sword technique stirred feelings of sorrow and desolation in Ji Ning's heart, and when the desolation reached its depths, it became endless despair.

"Senior apprentice-sister isn't dead yet."

"When I get out this time, I can save her, and we can be reunited as a family." Ji Ning murmured to himself.

The sword technique on the blade had finished its demonstration.

The ninth guardian looked at Ji Ning in surprise, sensing the aura emanating from him.

"What is this sword technique called?" Ji Ning asked.

Having encountered nine guardians, this was the first time Ji Ning asked for the name of a sword art.

"The Sword of Desolation." The ninth guardian replied.

"Desolation... desolation..." Ji Ning suddenly smiled. "That's fitting. I have known desolation, but now I am full of hope."

With that, Ji Ning turned and left.

"You're not fighting?" The ninth guardian called out in astonishment.

"I am no match for you now. Next time I come, I will defeat you." Ji Ning's figure quickly disappeared at the end of the floating wooden bridge, leaving the ninth guardian stunned. However, he did not give chase, because with the same divine body and divine abilities, if Ji Ning was determined to leave, he could not catch up.

"He didn't even fight." The ninth guardian was puzzled. "And after just one look at the sword technique, he said he's no match for me... To say that, he must have learned most of the technique, even understood its true power. Even so, he shouldn't avoid battle. There's only one possibility!"

"That is, watching the sword technique inspired insights, so he went back to meditate on them." The ninth guardian made his guess.

He knew well that with Ji Ning's protective divine ability, even if he lost, there was no danger of death. So if he didn't fight, it was because he didn't want to. Why? Only one explanation... he was afraid that fighting would disrupt his 'insights'!

...

His guess was correct.

This 'Sword of Desolation' had indeed resonated with Ji Ning. After watching it three times, he had even learned most of it! A flood of insights surged in his heart. Fearing that intense combat might cause him to forget some of those insights, he simply withdrew from the battle.

On the way back...

Ji Ning was constantly pondering this sword art.

This was the first sword art on the Ten Thousand Blade Path that truly resonated with his heart, because the emotions it contained were ones he had experienced. He knew that feeling well, and he grasped the essence of the sword art almost instantly. It was a sword art more perfect than his current 'Moonbright Sword Art.'

...

Thousand Star Island, at the end of the floating wooden bridge.

Over two hundred Celestial Immortals stood there, eagerly looking forward, waiting.

"I wonder how many guardians Beiming can defeat."

"If he could defeat nine in one go, and even have the strength to defeat the tenth, that would be great."

"He must not rush to defeat the tenth. It would be best if he defeats nine and then comes back to take us all to deal with the tenth."

The Celestial Immortals were full of hope.

Because the chances of Sin Celestial Immortal and Feng Hou Celestial Immortal getting out were too slim. Now Ji Ning was their only hope. They talked one after another, all praising how powerful Ji Ning was. What they feared most now was that Ji Ning would only defeat six or seven guardians, making it a long way to successfully cross the Ten Thousand Blade Path.

"Look."

Suddenly, Xiuke Celestial Immortal pointed into the distance. He had been sitting alone in a corner, silently staring into the distance. Having spent long years alone on Snow Island, he was used to solitude, but he yearned even more to get out. He had been watching all along, and when Ji Ning's figure appeared in the distance, he was the first to notice.

"He's coming."

"It's Ji Ning."

"Ji Ning is here."

Everyone became excited.

The white-robed youth in the distance flew along the floating wooden bridge. The over two hundred Celestial Immortals stood up and went to greet him.

Ji Ning landed and looked at the large group of Celestial Immortals full of anticipation, feeling the invisible pressure.

"How did it go?" Sin Celestial Immortal asked.

"I defeated eight guardians. The ninth guardian, I am no match for him for now." Ji Ning said. He knew well that each guardian could perfectly execute their sword art. The ninth guardian could perfectly execute the Sword of Desolation, and he was indeed no match for him now.

"Defeated eight?"

"Only two left?"

For a moment, the Celestial Immortals present were stunned.

To be honest, deep down they felt a slight disappointment, because defeating eight meant there were still two left to defeat. Two guardians were like two tigers blocking the road... It would probably take Ji Ning quite some time.

Despite the slight disappointment, everyone remained calm, and even secretly breathed a sigh of relief. At least he was much stronger than Dàmèng Celestial Immortal and Xu Jiu Celestial Immortal. The main reason was that Ji Ning had single-handedly swept through over twenty Celestial Immortals of the Gate of Infinity, raising unrealistic expectations.

"Defeated eight? Impressive, impressive. Dàmèng Celestial Immortal and Xu Jiu Celestial Immortal only defeated seven."

"Only two left. It won't be long before he can cross."

The Celestial Immortals all spoke.

Ji Ning, of course, understood the longing in their hearts. He said directly, "I need to go back and meditate and train. I'll take my leave now." With that, he turned into a streak of light and flew away quickly, returning to his residence. He released his immortal mansion, entered it, and began his meditation.

He needed time to ponder deeply.

His heart was surging with a torrent of insights. The insights gained along the way excited him even more. He had no time to talk with the Celestial Immortals; what he needed was to continuously ponder and digest them.