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Zhou Yan comprehended his own Tao and broke free from the shackles of his heart.
He had already been somewhat unrestrained, and now he allowed the furious energy to roam and surge freely through the two unusual meridians.
The realm barrier of the First Layer of Sword Embryo had not only been directly pierced but also consecutively broke through to the next realm, shattering the Qi Sea Pillar of the Second Layer of Sword Embryo!
Moreover, his Qi Column underwent a transformation due to the changes in the two unusual meridians.
It was no longer a single Qi Column but had split into two Qi Column lines, intertwining like a DNA double helix, continuously spiraling and autonomously rotating within the Qi Sea!
Every segment was identical to the Qi Column that had been transformed from the beginning, a third of it.
In other words, one of his current Dual Qi Columns had increased threefold, like adding two extra Qi Columns on top of the original one, forming a new Qi Column.
This Qi Column wasn't just one but two rotating!
This meant the volume of the Qi Column had increased six times on the original basis!
Zhou Yan himself clearly saw this scene through inner vision!
The boundless spiritual energy scattered in this Heaven and Earth, so vast, was strangely absorbed by him, yet only pierced through two small realms!
On the contrary, it seemed that the endless Breaking Void Internal Power within him had finally found a destination and, with the endless spiritual energy, altered his Qi Column all at once, thus truly causing him to undergo transformation.
Zhou Yan understood in his heart that this was not an accidental change; rather, various stimulations and his changes reached a bottleneck, encountered some unique spiritual power, and produced a kind of catalytic effect, causing all the potential of the body to erupt completely.
Had it not been for all these encounters, achieving such a transformation would likely have required some time to accumulate and settle.
But, precisely because that Sky-breaking energy dispersed around him, and his soul also contained Breaking Void Internal Power, a certain change occurred.
At this critical moment, he experienced a Sudden Enlightenment, entering a state of Unity of Heaven and Man, so everything flowed smoothly.
If it were the past, Zhou Yan himself wouldn't have had such awareness, but now he thoroughly matched all the memory experiences and insights of that Grandmaster, allowing him a solid grasp in many aspects.
The only regretful thing was that aside from the unique insights on the Twelve Forms of Xingyi Annihilation Fist and the knowledge of the world on Earth, he didn't gain much combat memory from this Xingyi Fist Grandmaster.
It seemed that all combat-related information was absent from this inheritance.
Zhou Yan knew, if such information existed, his combat power could increase by at least thirty percent. However, he was also grateful, for without the combat memory, he could focus intently on comprehending and deriving the Xingyi Sword Technique.
This was a world of Sword Dao; from birth, the soul had the Sword Mark, and there were no other techniques or weapons. So, he instinctively avoided using the Fist Technique and instead understood the Tao of Fist Technique to derive his Sword Dao.
...
This Tao comprehension took roughly one hour. Previously, the disturbances were significant, with the space shattered, so it remained quiet here, with no one coming temporarily.
Zhou Yan stood up, his eyes, cold and intimidating, flashed like two Sword Lights, and then gradually subsided into the depths of his eyes.
His gray-white robe appeared a bit worn out, though it had been slightly loose before, now it fit perfectly! Clearly, Zhou Yan's body became stronger and more robust, marking significant progress.
"Sword Qi, it's no longer a primitive form but true Sword Qi, which means, at least, I am no longer constrained by the Sword Qi realm!
Now, I have already reached the Sword Beginning Three Heavens realm, and this realm has stabilized, just a step away from the Sword Qi realm! Even Zhou Lingyi, with such talent, is merely at the Peak Realm of Sword Beginning Three Heavens. With my combat power, facing her again, she would be defeated in one move!"
Zhou Yan couldn't help but murmur to himself.
This realm was a one-month objective he had set deep in his heart, yet he hadn't expected to achieve it so quickly.
But for all this, he didn't feel too much joy or sorrow; it seemed everything was as it should have been.
He raised his head, looking into the distance, where several Sword Lights were carving white sword marks across the sky, piercing through the clouds and coming from afar.
Apparently, after a period of silence here, the lack of major disturbances had attracted some strong covetous people.
Zhou Yan gazed at the distant horizon, his brows slightly furrowed, then slapped his waist where the Broken Worry Sword hung. The Broken Worry Sword turned into a Sword Light, circled in the void, and then landed in front of him.
He leaped onto the Broken Worry Sword, then with his foot stepping on the Broken Worry Sword, he headed towards the distance.
In the Sword Qi realm, one could control the sword with Qi, achieving a Unity of Mind and Sword state, allowing the sword to carry someone, enabling flight.
This was a complex process but also a process that every Magic Sword Cultivator reaching the Sword Beginning Three Heavens realm must start to get accustomed to.
This process often troubled countless geniuses, for even with great talent, such control could not always be so remarkably achieved.
But Zhou Yan didn't need this process; with his degree of body control and his will, achieving this was as easy as flipping a hand.
He turned the sword light under his feet, transformed it into a Sword Light, driven by Sword Qi, both as a practice of his Sword Qi and to expedite his departure.
This was a place of trouble and should not be lingered upon.
...
Two hours later, the time had reached the evening.
Zhou Yan passed through a mountain forest, arriving at a place called 'Tianji Mountain.'
Here, at the edge of a Clear Water Lake, he stopped, having used Sword Qi to kill a wild rabbit, which he then roasted.
At this moment, the sunset descended, with a patch of red clouds in the sky, presenting a picturesque scene. Yet, as Zhou Yan cooked by the bonfire and ate wild game, he recalled the scene from earlier.
He had broken a character barrier, becoming unrestrained and uninhibited, but still couldn't help longing for the generous Ning'er and the sweet Ping'er.
If at such a time, the two girls were by his side, with him eating meat heartily and holding his beloved women close with free hands, wouldn't this be quite an experience?
He thought, unintentionally glancing at his finger—suddenly he was surprised to find a ring there without knowing how or when it appeared.
An odd, almost transparent ring had appeared without his notice.
If not for his exceedingly sensitive six senses, he probably wouldn't have noticed this ring even now.
He was curious and uncertain, soon thinking of the Palace Master of Bixue Palace, likely it was only someone like her who could manage that without him noticing.
Thinking of that woman finally leaving in a huff, stamping her foot, twisted waist swaying, he couldn't help but smile mischievously.
He instinctively used his sensing power to sense this ring, and upon contact, his entire being was engulfed by an indescribable feeling.
It was as if he came to a mysterious and desolate place, for he didn't know what had happened.
"Do not be alarmed, nor curious. This is but a Sword Intent illusion I've brought you into for a conversation."
It was the voice of that Palace Master, but now, her voice carried no emotion, as if a preset illusion following programmed behaviors.
"You can awaken this Sword Illusion Realm only by realizing Sword Qi, receiving the knowledge I have to share with you."
"I am Jiang Yushuang, the Palace Master of Bixue Palace, and Ning'er's name is Jiang Yuning... she is my younger sister. Yet our destinies differ, leading us on different paths.
But I hope she finds happiness. Though she left you and found herself, she wasn't as joyous as I imagined..."
"For us women of the Snow Domain, crying is typically a taboo because it's a big prohibition, yet she cried, for you."
"So, I returned nevertheless, and upon seeing you enter a state of Sudden Enlightenment rarely achieved even by geniuses, I collected the various spiritual energies dispersed in this Heaven and Earth to help you break through.
I temporarily created this Sword Illusion Realm and helped you eliminate several Sword Origin Realm cultivators who came here, collecting their belongings into this Qiankun Ring for you.
Additionally, your Broken Worry Sword, which I gave to your father, had deteriorated this much... I've restored it and hidden three Sword Soul Illusions within it, which can save your life thrice."
"Your talent is indeed quite good; regrettably, I cannot witness your transformation this time, yet to become a 'True Man Level' genius is not difficult, but it's far from enough!"
"While I didn't leave a Cultivation Technique for you, I left the 'Bixue Sword Heart Method,' which you can study. It's a Saint Level Heart Method, cultivatable to the Sword Soul Realm, considered superior even in Bixue Palace."
"Canglan City where you hail from is too small, explore beyond if you get a chance. The strongest in your city is a Sword Intent Realm cultivator, still too weak.
For us Sword Cultivators, a Swordman is merely an outsider, the Sword Beginning Realm is entry-level, and the Sword Qi realm truly starts the Sword Dao.
From the Sword Qi realm onward, there are the Sword Origin Realm, Sword Intent Realm, and Sword Heart Realm."
"Though I know this is difficult, by all means, use every method you can, even becoming an Evil Sword Cultivator is fine, if only to reach the Sword Intent Realm before turning sixteen! Then you will have hope!"
"Otherwise, even if you were the reincarnation of Sword Ancestor, you will achieve nothing!"
"I've left you one hundred High Grade Spirit Crystals, one thousand Mid-grade Spirit Crystals, and ten thousand Low Grade Spirit Crystals. Do not worry about spiritual energy for cultivation this year... do your best!"
"Also, you audacious brat, to have even the thought of flirting with this Palace Master, did you think I didn't know you intended to say 'marriage proposal' but didn't voice it? Still, I promise, become a Three Sword Soul Cultivator as you claimed, and I'll consider your request!"
"Lastly, you arrogant brat, be warned by this Palace Master, it's not that I favor you, but I trust my sister's judgment. Don't disappoint Ning'er!"
...
Zhou Yan received all this information, especially hearing the Palace Master's somewhat coquettish tone at the end, nearly leaving him dumbfounded.
It turned out, the Palace Master had indeed propelled his immense progress, truly as Ning'er's sister; not quite family, yet still into a household, indeed cold on the outside yet warm inside!
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