Sword Intent of the Parting Clouds

"Master, I have something to report."

When Di Nvfeng returned from Gushen Peak, she found Chu Liang waiting for her in the pavilion hall with a stern expression.

She immediately beamed with excitement. "What? Did you get beaten up again?"

"..." Even if I did get beaten up, do you have to be so happy about it, Master? Chu Liang couldn't help but mutter to himself.

She looked exactly like someone gloating over others' misfortune.

Of course, he understood why Di Nvfeng was this way. His previous experiences of being bullied had led her to form the concept that her disciple "getting beaten" was equivalent to "generating revenue."

She had been beating people up for decades and always losing money. It was only recently that she discovered she could actually make money while doing so—all thanks to Chu Liang's appearance.

"I'm sorry, Master, but I wasn't bullied this time. I’ve disappointed you..."

"The Soul-Detention Order of the Underworld Sect has sent another message. The Southern Route Guide is gathering his subordinates to assemble outside the mountains of the Southern Town Domain within seven days. It seems they are plotting something," Chu Liang said.

"Hmm?" Di Nvfeng frowned. "The Southern Route Guide? That’s just small fry..."

Listening to her dismissive tone, Chu Liang looked innocent. The "small fry" in your eyes, Master, could kill a disciple like me with a flick of a finger.

So he explained his thoughts. "I believe the Underworld Sect, especially the Purple Gold Marquis, is currently lying low and keeping a low profile. For his subordinate, the Southern Route Guide, to be making such a spectacle and defying the risks to gather men and enter the Southern Town Domain mountains, he must have a very important target. If we can capture these Underworld Sect forces along with their objective, it would count as a great contribution..."

"And if we can capture the Southern Route Guide, it’s not impossible that we might be able to find out the location of the Purple Gold Marquis," Chu Liang added.

"Hmm..." Di Nvfeng nodded thoughtfully. She naturally understood her disciple's situation.

Chu Liang had infiltrated the Soul-Detention Envoys; once he made a move, he would surely be exposed, so he basically only had one chance to act as an undercover agent. If he didn't participate in the operation, he would arouse suspicion, so they had to close the net early.

"If I can't catch the big turtle, catching two little shrimp will have to do," Di Nvfeng tilted her head and said helplessly.

After saying that, she suddenly raised her eyebrows. "Wait? It doesn't matter who uses that Soul-Detention Order anyway. Why don't I just sneak in as the undercover agent? That would save you from putting yourself in harm's way."

Hearing her say this, Chu Liang was slightly moved; at least his master was considering his safety. But, imagining Di Nvfeng disguised as a low-level demonic cultist...

As the lowest-ranking member of the operation, the Soul-Detention Envoy might be ordered around at will. If someone were to be even slightly fierce to Di Nvfeng, she would probably kill them with a single punch. Blowing their cover would be inevitable, let alone closing the net.

"Let's not do that. To be an undercover agent, one must have..." Chu Liang almost blurted out that one needs a brain.

"What?" Di Nvfeng glared, seemingly very sensitive to that word.

Fortunately, Chu Liang pulled his words back just in time, changing it to: "One must have the ability to disguise themselves. But Master, your radiance is like a firefly in the darkness—so bright, so outstanding. You would look completely out of place among those demonic cultists, so how could you possibly blend in?"

"That makes sense, hehe." Di Nvfeng’s lips curled into a smile. "Then I will accompany you to the outskirts of the Southern Town Domain mountains. Keep the Follow-Tracking Talisman with you so I can determine your location. If an accident occurs, crush the Follow-Tracking Jade Talisman immediately, and I will come to save you at once!"

"That sounds excellent," Chu Liang nodded.

"Also..." Di Nvfeng’s gaze shifted to the distance. "You must keep that Wuchen Sword safe. No matter what happens, do not lose it."

"Naturally. I will take utmost care of the precious sword bestowed by you, Master," Chu Liang replied, though he was puzzled as to why she would suddenly say that.

Thinking for a moment, he still felt that Di Nvfeng was acting strangely, so he asked, "Does this sword have any special significance?"

Di Nvfeng suddenly recited two lines of poetry.

"Divine light from the cloud peak divides into nine colors; the heavenly gate above the clouds opens one by one." She seemed to be muttering to herself, or perhaps talking to someone else, but it certainly wasn't addressed to Chu Liang. "If I’m not mistaken, this is the key, isn't it?"

"Huh?" Chu Liang noticed she seemed lost in some kind of memory and could only express his surprise.

Since when did even his master start speaking in riddles? Was something wrong?

...

Returning from the small pavilion, Chu Liang came to the hillside and took out the Wuchen Sword.

Since returning from Taotie City, he had never dared to show this sword in front of others. Only in the dead of night would he dare to take it out of his storage artifact, stroking and wiping it with excitement and a sense of cherishing... just like a landlord locking away a pile of gold and silver in his cellar...

He understood the principle of keeping one's wealth hidden all too well, especially given his current strength—he wasn't quite worthy of this sword yet. If he were to be like his master, who flaunted the Phoenix Spirit Blood Jade in the most conspicuous place, he would likely be robbed the moment he left Mount Shu.

The clear, translucent blade seemed invisible under the moonlight, with only the golden mist rippling within revealing its sharpness. Whenever True Qi was infused into it, the golden mist would rapidly spread, filling the entire blade with a golden glow.

Chu Liang swung the sword, and a white-gold sword aura flew out instantly. *Swish—*

This strike was like a bolt of silk, incredibly sharp!

In terms of pure power, it was not inferior to the Wind and Thunder strike that Fang Ting had unleashed in the forests of the Southern Town Domain! One must remember that Fang Ting was a fourth-tier cultivator who possessed the superior-grade Divine Heaven Five-Thunder Golden Core, and he had been using his signature sword technique!

Is this the power of a near-divine sword?

Of course, it wasn't due to Chu Liang's cultivation alone.

Ordinary iron causes a lag in True Qi. If one uses a common iron sword, perhaps only seventy percent of the True Qi can be channeled through the tip, while a standard-issue flying sword from Mount Shu can channel ninety percent. A sword that can channel a perfect one hundred percent is already considered a treasure; those were the swords sold at the Sword Transmission Hall.

However, legendary swords could amplify sword aura, allowing ten parts of infused True Qi to exert twelve or even more power. Chu Liang felt that the Wuchen Sword in his hand could amplify his True Qi to fifteen parts, while also adding special effects.

That's right, just like Di Nvfeng's Phoenix Spirit Blood Jade. A divine sword that could challenge the top hundred rankings naturally wouldn't be without special effects.

The special effect of the Wuchen Sword was embodied in the trace of Dao rhyme mixed into the sword aura. According to what his master told Xu Kunwu, that was the "Cloud Dao Rhyme" infused during the forging of the ancient Xiaoyun Sword, known as "Resolving Clouds."

This was also the primary Dao that Daoist Yan cultivated.

The Dao of Resolving Clouds lay in the sword intent of standing high above the nine heavens and resolving the floating clouds with a single strike—a vast and resolute spirit.

Daoist Yan had remained obscure after years of cultivation on Mount Shu. Her most famous battle was on Biliu Peak, where she unleashed the sword immortal technique "Sword Supporting the Heavens," killing a demon from a thousand miles away and shocking the Nine Provinces!

Since then, even the Sect Master of the Endless Sword Sect had stated that if anyone in the world could surpass him in the path of the sword, it would surely be Daoist Yan of Mount Shu.

The strength of the "Resolving Clouds" Dao was evident.

Chu Liang had once been curious and asked his master, Di Nvfeng, which Great Dao she primarily cultivated. Di Nvfeng replied that she cultivated "Burning Heavens," which emphasized the fire virtue shining upon the world and incinerating all living things—a path filled with heat and destruction.

After hearing this, Chu Liang felt it was no wonder she could master it; it was practically tailor-made for her.

Now that he thought about it, it seemed that the Great Dao cultivated by every seventh-tier powerhouse was more or less related to them. Perhaps this was one of the secrets to stepping through the Heavenly Gate?

Choosing a Great Dao that best fits oneself, or choosing a Dao and acting it out?

Of course, this was not something Chu Liang needed to consider now. He was still just a handsome young man worried about resources for forming his Golden Core.

However.

With the Wuchen Sword in his hand, Chu Liang's confidence was overflowing.

He was confident that even though he was still in the Divine Intent Realm, he could arguably be called the number one Divine Intent expert in the Nine Provinces!

After all, with a divine sword in hand and the constant supply of True Qi from his "Big-Headed Doll," both his power and endurance far exceeded those of the same realm.

He even felt that if he faced a weaker Golden Core cultivator, he could attempt a cross-realm challenge... even though the requirements for such a feat were extremely difficult, he happened to meet all the conditions.

Inspired by the moonlight, he pointed his fingers like a sword and shouted, "Rise!"

The Wuchen Sword rose into the air, drawing a golden glow across the sky, and then shot out! *Swish—*

Wind and Fire Dual-Talisman Sword!

This sword technique, executed with the Wuchen Sword, should count as Chu Liang's strongest attack. Boosted by the white-gold "Resolving Clouds" sword aura, the technique struck the mountain wall with a thunderous roar!

*BOOM—*

A large section of the mountain wall was shattered by this strike!

"Hahaha..."

Feeling the immense power he possessed, a sense of heroism surged in Chu Liang's chest. He laughed three times at the moon, feeling that the heroes of the world were nothing more than this. He immediately decided that tomorrow, he would take his sword down the mountain to challenge a formidable enemy...

The Black Fur Ball!