"Heavenly light... cloud shadows..."
"Light gives birth to shadow... light and shadow... alternating... vanishing..."
The cloud sea churned, sunlight piercing through gaps in the clouds like divine radiance, eternal and unextinguishable.
The cloud sea was like the mist in Chen Zong's mind, and the heavenly light was like the sharp sword that sliced through the mist, countless insights surging forth.
"Light... shadow... the two are interdependent..."
"Heavenly light... cloud shadows..."
Through repeated cultivation insights, life-and-death battles, and accumulation, he finally broke through the final shackle.
A blazing sun leaped from the sea of dark clouds, its light radiating across the heavens.
Blessed fortune arrived. Chen Zong swung his sword, neither thrusting nor slashing, but with effortless ease. The power of his physique and Qi Blood surged... erupted, pouring entirely into that single strike.
He poured his entire lifetime's brilliance into that single strike.
The Precious Iron Sword erupted with an astonishing radiance, like a scorching sun tearing through the clouds. The blinding light was impossible to look at directly, flashing for an instant before transforming into extreme shadows, vanishing into the air with an indiscernible trajectory. Then, it seemed as if the floating light of the sky and the shifting shadows of the clouds were alternating, overlapping, and fading away.
When the light and shadows had completely dissipated, a straight sword mark remained on the mountain wall ahead, over three meters long and two fingers deep.
"What tremendous power..." Chen Zong gasped, staring at the three-meter-long sword mark. "The power of this single strike far surpasses even the Dividing Light No Shadow technique of the minor achievement realm. Perhaps even the Dividing Light No Shadow technique of the Great Mastery Realm couldn't compare."
Deep within his heart, a voice spoke with absolute certainty: if he further refined this strike, its power would rival the pinnacle of the Dividing Light Shadowing Sword Technique.
"Is this... what they call the True Secret Realm?"
Chen Zong could find no other explanation. He knew very well that the sword strike he had just unleashed had originated from the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique.
When the Subtlety Realm reaches its pinnacle, when years of cultivation and insight accumulate into profound depth, and when serendipitous moments reveal the fleeting glimmer of celestial light amidst the clouds, everything coalesces in an instant, like a divine sword cleaving through the heavens to shatter the haze, becoming utterly clear... Satori!
At this moment, Chen Zong finally understood Li Zhenshi's words about the True Secret Realm.
"The True Secret Realm can indeed be considered a realm beyond the Subtlety Realm, yet it can also be seen as something else entirely. If we compare the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique to a sword, then progressing from entry-level to Great Perfection is about finding ways to touch that sword. The Perfection Realm is about borrowing the sword temporarily from someone else. The Subtlety Realm is about making the sword truly your own."
Chen Zong's understanding was crystal clear.
"Then, the True Secret Realm is about melting down that sword, adding precious materials, and forging it anew, so that it belongs to you in the most fundamental, complete sense..."
"No, that's not quite comprehensive enough."
"Beyond that, the True Secret Realm represents not only an advanced state of mastery but also a new technique, a secret art..."
"This sword... was born from the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique..."
"This sword... born from comprehending the fleeting light of the heavens and the vast shadows of the clouds..."
"This sword... is the interwoven dance of light and shadow..."
"...Thus, this sword... shall be called the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword..."
"A True Secret? The Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword!" Chen Zong laughed heartily, a profound and indescribable sense of fulfillment settling deep within his heart.
Tiger Force Fist Technique, Phantom Shadow Sword Technique, Willow Sweep Sword Technique, Eagle Strike Sword Technique, Lightning Flash Sword Technique, True Sword Eight Forms, Minor Dragon Subduing Hand, Dividing Light Sword Technique...
"The number of martial arts I've cultivated must far exceed that of my peers."
"But... the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword is mine alone, truly my own sword technique... my sword technique..."
A surge of accomplishment filled Chen Zong's heart. He took a deep breath and couldn't help but burst into laughter.
He was barely seventeen years old—there was no need to pretend to be mature or act worldly.
"A Foundation Establishment martial art reaching the True Secret Realm, yet its power rivals the pinnacle of Low-Grade Human-Rank martial arts. It's truly terrifying, though the energy consumption is excessive."
That single sword strike had consumed seventy percent of Chen Zong's physical strength and Qi Blood Power, leaving him utterly unable to unleash a second strike.
The overwhelming power accompanied by such tremendous energy expenditure made this technique unsuitable for ordinary combat. Instead, it was a supreme killing move, reserved for decisive moments.
"The execution of Foundation Establishment Martial Arts consumes physical strength... The execution of Ranked Martial Arts consumes Qi Blood Power... And the execution of True Secret Realm Martial Arts consumes both physical strength and Qi Blood Power. Truly peculiar."
Chen Zong activated the True Sword Heavenly Extinction Technique to replenish his Qi Blood Power, then waited for his physical strength to recover. With his right hand gripping the hilt, he held the longsword horizontally before him, his gaze fixed on the mountain wall as he focused his energy, clearing his mind of distractions. His eyes sharpened to a piercing intensity.
His breathing grew slow and deep, then faded to barely perceptible wisps.
A mountain wind howled past, but as it reached Chen Zong, it seemed influenced by some inexplicable aura, becoming gentle. It brushed softly against his skin, stirring his hair.
"Chi!"
A low shout, as if echoing from the distant horizon, accompanied a tremor in his right arm. The longsword transformed into an intensely brilliant light that flashed out instantaneously. The light vanished, leaving only shadows that interwove into a dazzling, ephemeral display, covering several meters ahead and blinding to look upon directly.
The light and shadow vanished, the longsword returning to its sheath as if it had never left. Yet on the mountain wall before him, a straight sword mark now stretched three meters long and two fingers deep.
Having expended eighty percent of his physical strength and Qi Blood Power once again, Chen Zong needed to recover. After recovering, he executed the technique a third time, then recovered again, and repeated the process. Throughout the morning, he swung the sword over a dozen times, leaving behind a grid of over a dozen three-meter-long, two-finger-deep sword marks on the mountain wall.
Unconsciously, his understanding and mastery of the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword had deepened.
On the twenty-first day in the mountain wall stone chamber, the number of unread books on the shelf dwindled further. Chen Zong now dedicated specific time each day to cultivating the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword. The more he practiced, the deeper his understanding grew, and he gradually gained better control over his power.
With a single sword strike, light and shadow intertwined and vanished, leaving a three-meter-long, one-and-a-half-finger-deep mark on the mountain wall.
"This strike is more powerful than the minor Dividing Light No Shadow. I wonder if it can rival the Dividing Light No Shadow of the Great Mastery Realm. It seems to consume about forty percent of my physical strength and Qi Blood Power."
Chen Zong wasn't sure if the Martial Arts of the True Secret Realm had distinctions of grade or strength. He could only confirm that their power was determined by two factors.
First, the mastery of the essence of the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword—specifically, the understanding of light and shadow—and the subsequent refinement of the sword technique.
Second, the amount of personal energy expended. The more energy used, the greater the power of the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword; conversely, the less energy used, the weaker the power.
Understanding this, Chen Zong realized that the Martial Arts of the True Secret Realm had no theoretical upper limit. They could be infinitely improved, unlike the Foundation Establishment Martial Arts and Ranked Martial Arts, which were bound by inherent limits. Even with a stronger cultivation base, one couldn't surpass these limits.
Having grasped this, Chen Zong devoted even more effort to the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword. He also attempted to comprehend other sword techniques, hoping to achieve a breakthrough like he had with the Phantom Shadow Sword Technique and reach the True Secret Realm. Unfortunately, he made no progress with any of them.
Realization, he understood, depended on both accumulated knowledge and sudden moments of insight. Without either, true understanding couldn't be forced. Chen Zong accepted this and didn't push himself further.
Focusing his mind and gathering his energy, Chen Zong channeled all his strength into a single, explosive strike. He swung his sword at the mountain wall.
This sword strike was the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword.
This sword strike channeled every ounce of Chen Zong's physical strength and Qi Blood Power.
This sword strike was Chen Zong's attempt to gauge the true extent of his most powerful attack.
Light and shadow blurred as the strike covered a five-meter radius. When the afterglow dissipated, Chen Zong stood pale-faced and panting, barely managing to remain upright as if he had pushed himself to his absolute limit. Yet, even in exhaustion, his eyes betrayed an unmistakable glint of triumph.
Before him, a straight sword mark over four meters long and two fingers deep slashed across the mountain wall—a shocking sight.
"Could this power actually harm a Low-Grade Level Two Demonic Beast?" Chen Zong wondered.
Ordinary Low-Grade Level Two Demonic Beasts were already stronger than ordinary martial artists at the Seventh Layer of the Qi Blood Realm. Moreover, the gap between the Seventh and Sixth Layers of the Qi Blood Realm was even wider than that between the Sixth and Fifth Layers.
Demonic beasts possessed formidable physiques, superior defenses, and more tenacious vitality, making them naturally more difficult to kill.
Without testing this, Chen Zong couldn't be sure. If he succeeded and exhausted himself, encountering another demonic beast would mean certain death. Failure would also mean certain death. He wasn't foolish enough to court death.
After restoring his physical strength and Qi Blood Power, Chen Zong resumed cultivating other sword techniques.
Day 22!
Day 23!
Day 24!
Time flowed by, and the number of unread books dwindled.
On day 26, only two books remained. Chen Zong, unwilling to disrupt his self-imposed schedule, decided to read them the next day.
Before the cliff, Chen Zong practiced his swordsmanship.
Dividing Light No Shadow!
Eight sword glares merged into four, then two, and finally one—intensely concentrated, it slashed into the cliff face, leaving a straight, three-meter-long, half-finger-thick gash. This single strike consumed sixty percent of his Qi Blood Power.
This sword strike demonstrated great perfection in Dividing Light No Shadow, its power now comparable to that of the Heavenly Light Cloud Shadow Sword, which previously required forty percent of his physical strength and Qi Blood Power.
Sheathing his sword, Chen Zong shifted to cultivating the Minor Dragon Subduing Hand.
Palm strikes erupted one after another, each ferocious and domineering, striking the cliff face and shattering moss, leaving shallow palm imprints.
After repeated practice, he unleashed a final strike. His spine arched like a dragon as explosive force surged through him, slamming into the cliff face with a boom, causing the palm imprint to deepen further.
Minor Dragon Subduing Hand: Great Mastery Realm achieved!
Day 27!
Chen Zong finished reading the last two books, gently placing them back on the shelf. Standing before the bookcase, he slowly scanned the 132 volumes, their contents now deeply etched in his mind.
"It's time to leave," he murmured to himself. He walked to the stone table and looked at the five rolls of parchment. Initially, he had decided to take them with him, but he had since changed his mind. Leaving them here for now was safer than carrying them around, especially since he was still just a lowly Qi Blood Realm martial artist. He slung his pack over his shoulder and strode out of the stone chamber.
Outside, Chen Zong removed the black iron plate and gazed at the seamless mountain wall, his eyes lingering with reluctance.
The longer he stayed, the more he didn't want to leave. This place was perfect.
Reading books, practicing his swordsmanship, and enjoying the scenery—his days had been peaceful and carefree, his mind pure.
"But... I still have much to do, still need to be full of vigor, still need to wield my sword across the land... Senior Subduing Dragon True Person, I will fulfill your entrustment. Farewell."