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nThe bamboo forest rustled loudly in the Main Path Guild’s forest as if it was billowing in the strong wind.

nThe night sky was not dark as there was a brilliant light shining on the peak of Mount Tongtian like a blazing sun that chased the darkness away.

nA deafening explosion erupted in the Main Path Guild. The Mountain Shield Rune cast by all of the disciples of Main Path Guild was destroyed instantly by a giant hammer!

nThe explosion was so strong that it sent a shock wave that spanned dozens of miles.

nThe blade hammer smashed through the Mountain Shield Forbidden Spell Rune.

nEven though it was just a protection rune, it was an extremely powerful rune to be considered as a forbidden spell.

nWhile in the air, Huang Zhihe stood on the carriage. The countless blades returned to him after smashing the Mountain Shield Rune, where they gathered and reformed into the hammer-shaped formation above his head.

nThe blades were like tens of thousands of bees gathered in a swarm.

nThis was the Hammer Blade Lord’s Blade Hammer!

nZhao Zhenshi stood in the rune on the peak of the misty Mount Tongtian, and his robe billowed in the wind.

n“How dare you, Old Huang. Since you’re so stubborn, so be it!” Zhao Zhenshi said coldly.

nThe Reincarnating Lotus Sword that Fang Lang removed had absorbed a thousand years’ worth of reserve from the Main Path Mausoleum. If he let Fang Lang escape, the Main Path Guild would lose their reputation forever.

nMore importantly, Zhao Zhenshi felt a sense of anger rising from the deepest end of the inside the Main Path Mausoleum.

nZhao Zhenshi felt a little emotional.

nHe vaguely recalled his conversation with the sect leader, Zhao Longshi.

nIn reality, the Main Path Guild was the one who instigated the first prince to probe the Emperor. As the world’s strongest sect that had been around for thousands of years, why should the Main Path Guild bow before the Tang Dynasty?

nHowever, the Tang Dynasty was filled with geniuses, with the Emperor excluded.

nJust look at the incredible female blade lord, Xuanyuan Taihua, who emerged two centuries ago after being promoted by the Emperor. She alone was able to outshine all the other sects.

nHow many cultivators in the Tang Dynasty actually achieved transcendence?

nThus far, there were only two of them—the Emperor and Xuanyuan Taihua.

nThese two were able to overshadow all the sects.

nTherefore, the Sword Guild was able to ascend to be the greatest sect in the Tang Dynasty.

nThat night, Zhao Longshi and Zhao Zhenshi had mentioned that the five greatest sects in the Tang Dynasty—Main Path guild, Meridian Guild, All-seeing Buddha Sect, Karma Society and Immortal Martial Association had a history of more than a thousand years. These five sects had a hidden ancestor that had attained transcendence.

nHowever, these ancestors would not expose themselves because the Tang Dynasty was ruled by the Emperor and the Code, making them undefeatable.

nThis was also why the ten great sects had fallen. They even needed to operate under the Imperial Court!

nJust moments ago, Zhao Zhenshi felt an ancient sense in the Main Path Mausoleum as though a pair of centuries-old eyes had opened at that moment!

nThis ancient sense was also the reason Zhao Zhenshi realized what happened in the Main Path Mausoleum.

nZhao Zhenshi was exhilarated. He envisaged something major happening tonight. He must stop Fang Lang from leaving with the Reincarnating Lotus Sword.

nExcluding the fact that the Reincarnating Lotus Sword had absorbed a thousand years’ worth of reserve from the Main Path Guild, the sword was not any other ordinary weapon. It could be considered a magical weapon.

nIf he could control this magical weapon, maybe… he would have a chance to reach transcendence!

nZhao Zhenshi was envious!

n“Huang Zhihe, you have no idea what Fang Lang had awakened when he removed the sword!”

nZhao Zhenshi leaped into the sky and traveled on clouds. Under his feet, the rune kept expanding from each point that he stepped on.

nThousands of the Main Path Guild disciples were seated on the wide plains of Mount Tongtian cross-legged as they cast the rune.

nInside the carriage, Huang Zhihe’s expression darkened slightly.

nZhao Zhenshi raised both his palms and ferocious dragons suddenly surrounded him.

n“Where are you, elders of the Main Path Guild?”

nShortly after, a massive wave of energy emerged above Mount Tongtian. All the elders of the Main Path Guild flew across the sky, and their robes billowed in the winds.

nThe Main Path Guild had decided to go on full force shamelessly without any reservations! Nevertheless, anyone would do the same since the Reincarnating Lotus Sword Fang Lang removed had robbed the Main Path Mausoleum from a thousand years of cultivation.

n“Go!” Huang Zhihe did not want to continue fighting.

nXuanyuan Taihua could fight the entire sect by herself, but this was out of his caliber.

nHuang Zhihe tapped gently with his finger blade and the night sky lit up instantly.

nThe 10,000 small blades from the blade hammer charged towards Zhao Zhenshi and several ninth-grade elders like a tornado.

nZhao Wuji whipped the horse and sped up the carriage towards the exit to escape from the Main Path Guild.

nThe horses neighed loudly and a rune appeared under their hooves. They then stepped on it and rode into the air.

nZhao Zhenshi rose in the air like a deity. He aimed all five fingers towards the carriage and said, “How dare you cast runes in my Main Path Guild.”

nThen, he clenched all five fingers into a fist.

nAn invisible spiritual sense shot at them like an arrow and shattered the rune under the hooves of the horses!

nThe coach started plummeting rapidly. Zhao Wuji immediately leaped out and used his vital energy to hoist the carriage up before setting it on the ground gently.

nHowever, all movements stopped after that.

nFive elders of the Main Path Guild had surrounded the carriage.

nHuang Zhihe stood on top of the carriage with a serious expression. With the Mountain Shield Forbidden Spell Rune, it was as if Zhao Zhenshi had a magical weapon in hand that was no less than him.

n“This is going to be tough. Why is Chao Xiaojian not here yet?” Huang Zhihe’s face twitched.

nIn this situation, he might not be able to withstand the attacks alone.

nIf he had to… he would definitely be asking for a raise!

n…

nNi Wen looked slightly worried in the carriage. She glanced at Fang Lang but he had his eyes shut as if he was in deep thought. The Reincarnating Lotus Sword was lying flat on his thigh.

nThe situation out there was extremely dangerous.

nHowever, Fang Lang did not seem to be affected by the surroundings. It was as though his soul had been sucked into the sword.

nThere was a hazy world inside the sword.

nFang Lang saw a graceful yet familiar figure standing on top of a bloomed lotus. She was holding a blade skill in her hand like a flower-picking Buddha.

nA sea of blade energy surrounded the lotus, massive waves of blade energy swept across the sea occasionally, making others feel insignificant.

n“Master?” Fang Lang asked.

nHis voice echoed through the sea of blade energy.

n“Disciple Lang,” the beautiful figure on the lotus answered. Fang Lang was thrilled when he heard her reply.

nHe was right. The lotus held a thread of Xuanyuan Taihua’s consciousness. Fang Lang had expected this since he had encountered it inside the Blooming Lotus Sword. It only made sense if the Reincarnating Lotus Sword had it too.

nPerhaps, the remaining Withering Lotus Sword and Circling Lotus Sword also hold the consciousness of Xuanyuan Taihua!

nHuang Zhihe told Fang Lang that the three swords in the Main Path Guild, All-Seeing Buddha Sect and Meridian Guild might be a tool to test the presence of a cultivator in the transcendental realm.

nTheir mission was to expose the hidden beings in the dark.

nHowever, Fang Lang thought there might be a bigger purpose for the Withering Lotus, Circling Lotus and Reincarnating Lotus. Ever since the Blooming Lotus Sword sliced through the Code, Fang Lang thought that maybe they were all part of the preparation for the Code as well.

nExposing hidden transcended beings was just a coincidence.

nFang Lang stepped onto the lotus. The graceful figure raised a finger to tap on Fang Lang’s forehead between his brows.

n“Disciple Lang, focus on the sword intent of the Reincarnating Lotus Sword. This is the only way you can wield this sword. If you could understand the sword intent, you would overcome this crisis unharmed,” the figure said smilingly.

nFang Lang was speechless. Was this the master’s way of teaching him?

nHe felt a little unsettling.

nAt the same time, Fang Lang remembered a mission given by the System that sent him to remove the sword. If he succeeded in withdrawing the sword, he would receive a Silver Reward Egg.

nIf he managed to remove all three swords and help Xuanyuan Taihua return, he might be able to get a Gold Reward Egg!

nHowever, Fang Lang still had yet to receive any Silver Reward Egg after removing the Reincarnating Lotus Sword.

nWhat does this mean?

nIt meant that Fang Lang had not completely removed the sword. By removing the sword, it did not mean pulling the sword out of the broken tablet. Instead, he needed to understand the sword intent of the Reincarnating Lotus sword and earn the right to control it.

nWhen Fang Lang thought of this, he had no choice but to focus on understanding the sword intent of the Reincarnating Lotus Sword. This might be their only way out.

n“System, activate Enlightenment Card!” Fang Lang said seriously.

nThis was the last Enlightenment Card in his inventory.

nHe decided to use it without any hesitation under such circumstances.

nHe sat crossed-legged in the lotus. After Xuanyuan Taihua’s tip, Fang Lang’s consciousness started spinning.

n…

nWhen Fang Lang opened his eyes, he found himself in a shabby shed.

nThe Reincarnating Sword was still on his thighs.

nFang Lang looked around his surroundings. This place seemed to be isolated from the rest of the world. There was only a shed, surrounded by bamboo forests, where the bamboo leaves rustled in the breeze like waves.

nThere was a stream in front of the shed.

nThe whole world was silent.

nFang Lang remained quiet as he held onto the sword. He was trying to understand the sword intent of the Reincarnating Lotus Sword, but he did not know how.

nEven after activating the System’s Enlightenment Card, Fang Lang had no clue or direction to start with. How should he be enlightened?

nHe sat cross-legged inside the shed as he listened to the sounds from the bamboo forests, flowing streams and the gentle breeze. It was all so serene that Fang Lang hoped to stay in that moment forever.

n‘A shed built in the human world, yet isolated from the hustle and bustle.’

nTime stopped as Fang Lang narrowed his eyes…

nAn image appeared in his mind. This was the same flashback he experienced when he reached out to grab the Reincarnating Lotus Sword inside the Main Path Mausoleum.

nBack then, he saw countless stone tablets cracked the moment he removed the sword.

nHowever, a massive surge of energy poured out of the Reincarnating Lotus Sword like an invisible hand that swept across those tablets that sealed the cracks.

n“Back in time… travelling back in time…”

nWas this the Reincarnating Lotus Sword’s sword intent?

nTime…

nThe eternal cycle of life, death, rebirth… Perhaps each sword had its own sword intent?

nWith the Enlightenment Card’s effect, Fang Lang fell into deep thought. However, he had not experienced any sword intent from the Blooming Lotus Sword.

nThe sword intent of the Reincarnating Lotus Sword is time.

nHow should he conceptualize the sword intent of time?

nFang Lang stood up with his hand on the handle of the Reincarnating Lotus Sword as he pondered for a long time.

nThe gentle breeze made the stream ripple.

nThe moment Fang Lang reopened his eyes, a ferocious blade force shot out from his body and he pulled out the Reincarnating Sword that was planted in the ground in one swift motion!

nFang Lang frowned.

nIn order to understand the sword intent of time, he needed to capture time itself. But, how was he going to do that?

nFang Lang scanned around. He tried to walk out of the shed to look for more clues.

nHowever, Fang Lang found himself walking back to the shed as if he was imprisoned here.

nHe could not leave this place. After exiting the shed, no matter how long he traveled, he would always return to the front of the shed as it was an endless cycle.

nFang Lang sat down worriedly.

nAfter pondering for a long time, he stood up.

nHe started practicing sword fighting, revising all the techniques that he learned from his cultivation.

nSword Draw Technique, Spirit Step, Finger Flick Energy Wave…

nThese techniques brought Fang Lang to the top, allowing him to excel in the Imperial examination.

nSword Thunder, Lotus Blade…

nFang Lang whirled the sword and practiced in front of the shed.

nTime continued to move around Fang Lang. He practiced during the day and rested at night.

nFang Lang continued to practice his sword, and slowly…

nFang Lang could sense the taste of time.

nHe started to age and his skin wrinkled as he lost energy and vitality.

nHe used his body to bear the elapsed time.

nHe managed to capture time using his body as a vessel.

nThe aging of his body was the realistic reflection of time.

nFang Lang had gotten older, but he noticed that his sword seemed to be more matured after he captured time and stored it in his body.

nHe tried to weld time into the sword intent.

nHe was still practicing sword fighting. Sword Draw Technique, Spirit Step, Finger Flick Energy Wave…

nHis sword techniques were getting better after repeating them day by day, year after year.

n20 years, 50 years, 70 years, 100 years…

nUntil one day, he could no longer wield the sword anymore.

nHe had absorbed too much time.

nFang Lang’s eyes turned murky. He stabbed the Reincarnating Lotus Sword back into the ground.

nFang Lang sat cross-legged and his head lowered beside the Reincarnating Lotus Sword. The sounds of the wind, rain and bamboo forests seemed to fade gradually.

nFang Lang was about to hibernate in time.

nAll of a sudden, Fang Lang opened his eyes in the middle of the silent world. He noticed a ray of light and struggled to stand on his feet. He grabbed onto the Reincarnating Lotus Sword and gathered all of his remaining energy and hurled his sword one last time in the tug-of-war with time.

nAfter wielding the sword, the wrinkles on his face started to disappear.

nIt was as if time-traveled backward, returning the strength to his body. Fang Lang struck the sword once more…

nIt was as if he sliced through the body that acted as the vessel of time.

nHe was no longer old, and his hunchback reverted to its usual upright position.

nAnother strike.

nHis younger self was wielding the sword under the brilliant sun as if he had never left.

n…

n‘Ding! Congratulations host for retrieving the Reincarnating Lotus Sword. Silver Reward Egg awarded into the inventory. Please check.’

nThe notification rang inside Fang Lang’s mind.

nFang Lang was still sitting cross-legged where he ignored the notification.

nHis eyes remained shut. The sword intent seed in his energy center cyclone started to sprout and bloom into a flower—Sword Intent Flower.

nIn the sea of blade energy, a gorgeous white figure on the serene lotus smiled proudly.

n…

nHuang Zhihe’s robe billowed in the air as countless small blades flew his body into the sky, where he battled with Zhao Zhenshi within the layer of clouds.

nOn the other side, the five elders of the Main Path Guild surrounded the carriage on the path at the base of the mountain.

nZhao Wuji stood above the carriage with a serious expression. His vital energy as a fifth-class martial arts master was on full force like a ring of fire burning brightly in the night sky.

nHowever, the energy hit on the five elders was like a gentle breeze.

nThe five elders lifted their hands and rune discs appeared between their palms. A ray of light shot out from the rune discs and intertwined together. The five-colored mana channeled into the rune and formed a five-sided cage that trapped the carriage inside.

nZhao Wuji roared furiously.

nAs a fifth-class martial arts master in the god-tier energy refinement realm, he roared like a vicious tiger.

nThe intimidating sound wave slammed onto the cage formed by the rune but it remained unharmed!

nThe cage started to shrink, thickening the atmosphere inside it.

nThe pressure was so intense as though it was about to crush the coach and trap Fang Lang, Ni Wen and Zhao Wuji in it!

nWhen everyone thought that the three of them had nowhere else to escape, a gentle breeze flipped open the curtains of the carriage, revealing Fang Lang, who was sitting quietly inside.

nThey saw the Reincarnating Lotus Sword hovering above Fang Lang thighs.

nWhen Fang Lang opened his eyes, the tip of the sword turned around and aimed towards the cage!

nOutside the carriage, the five elders frowned.

nThey watched as Fang Lang raised his hand and flicked on the Reincarnating Lotus Sword.

nInstantly, the Reincarnating Lotus Sword vibrated slightly before it shot out with thousand years worth of Main Path Guild’s reserve contained inside and slammed onto the cage made by the runes cast by the five elders.

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