As the recent disturbances settled, the surrounding powers finally recognized that Wuyou Mountain was not to be trifled with, and peace has prevailed since then.
Chen Qing, under Yu Qingshuang's tutelage these past few days, has become relatively familiar with the use of the Sword Bug.
In fact, the usage of the Sword Bug before its Butterfly Transformation is quite similar: infusing Sword Qi into the blade to enhance the sword moves' power.
According to Yu Qingshuang, there might be two possibilities after the Sword Bug transforms into a butterfly.
One is the Void Sword, where no physical sword is needed and Spiritual Energy is used to form a sword blade held in the hand to combat enemies.
The other is the Flying Sword, where Spiritual Energy is turned into Sword Qi, allowing the sword to fly and injure people!
In Chen Qing's imagination, one was an enhanced version of Sword Qi attached to swords, and the other was like a Sword Qi machine gun.
After practicing with Yu Qingshuang using the Sword Bug.
Chen Qing profoundly realized that using the Sword Bug in sparring was not quite suitable for him yet.
It was somewhat too perilous.
Seeing Chen Qing's impatience, Yu Qingshuang said, "I'll teach you a simpler method, which is the most practical for you at the moment."
"You should focus on perfecting a single sword move now. Once you've mastered this, then learn more sword techniques."
"After all, with your current cultivation level, you can't fight for long durations."
Chen Qing also found this method to be good; at least starting with one effective defensive move was beneficial.
He realized mastering it would take years, and it was better to perfect one move for self-defense first.
This single move was not particularly difficult; it involved adopting a bow stance, channeling all strength into the sword, infusing it with Sword Qi, and delivering a powerful slash from the upper left to the lower right.
After practicing continuously for three days, the effectiveness of it promptly became apparent.
Previously, Yu Qingshuang always sparred with him with ease.
Now, with Chen Qing's fierce slash, he could force Yu Qingshuang to retreat three steps.
Feeling the vibration of the sword in her hand, Yu Qingshuang remarked, "The essence of this move lies in its speed and power; you have already grasped some of its key points."
"If the quality of your Sword Bug were far superior to mine, I couldn't block it at all."
Chen Qing understood this; such sword moves were exactly what he wanted!
After all, once his Sword Bug transformed into a Sword Butterfly, employing this move with the might of the Sword Butterfly, no cultivator possessing a Sword Bug could withstand it!
A pure exhibition of overwhelming force, broad and dominant.
No matter how skilled your swordsmanship, if you can't even handle my single strike, what can you do!
Senior sister understands me!
He relished this pure thrill of overpowering others with strength.
With this thought, his sword practice progressed even faster, and he felt he gained new insights with every strike.
The beginning of June.
The sky over Feiyun Creek was always pitch black, covered with Demon Clouds.
Rain often fell in this area.
Here lay a world apart, a forbidden zone for mortals.
However, for the disciples of the Qinglian Sword Sect, they did not see it that way; to them, it resembled their backyard.
Amidst the drizzly rain, two disciples of the Qinglian Sword Sect, cloaked in rain-proof capes, navigated through the woods, "Brother, is that news reliable?"
"Of course, I spent three Spirit Stones to get that information, how could it be false?"
"A White Tiger is naturally a spirit beast; could it truly appear around the periphery of Feiyun Creek?"
"I am sure of the information; that guy even staked his own younger brother with me!"
They trudged through the muddy path, cutting through the thorns ahead, and saw a majestic White Tiger lying beneath a massive banyan tree in the distance.
"Brother, it's really there!"
"Keep your voice down, don't scare it away!"
They bypassed the main road and planned to encircle it through a smaller path.
As they hurried on their way, a sudden dull thump sounded from behind.
Turning their heads, they saw a heroic woman in red closing in swiftly, her hands transformed into claws descending upon them!
They summoned their Protective Spirit Energy, hoping to withstand this strike.
A tremendous force struck their chests, catapulting the two like rag dolls three meters away.
Hu Yao followed swiftly, her two claws piercing their hearts cleanly.
With a grab, she captured the two sword bugs trying to escape using her Spiritual Energy.
After washing them in a nearby pond, she swallowed the two sword bugs and patted the tree beside her.
"It's time to clean up."
The ground beneath the tree swelled, as a half-human-sized mole emerged, gesturing with its paws, "Two men, six Spirit Stones."
Hu Yao eyed the chubby mole and licked her lips, "Seeing you makes me hungry."
The mole turned and burrowed into the ground, and within twenty breaths re-emerged, holding a mole weighing over ten kilograms.
"I caught the fattest younger brother for you!"
Hu Yao took the fat mole, dropped six medium quality Spirit Stones, and mounted the White Tiger beneath the banyan tree, "Let's go back, Xiao Wu."
The White Tiger stood up, roared loudly, "Alright, sister!"
"Sister, why can't we go there?"
"That is the world of humans."
"So, humans' world is off-limits?"
"They would ride you."
"But sister, you are riding me right now!"
"..."
"Ouch, it hurts, sister. I won't ask anymore."
...
Thunder Pure Land.
Huge black clouds, occasionally flashing with thunder, swirled upward towards the center of the sky.
An immeasurably tall tower stood mysteriously in the middle of the thundercloud vortex.
Looking up from next to the tower, its peak was unfathomably deep and unreachable.
When you gaze at the tower, it always seems to sense your presence with its entire being.
The stars also shivered under the purple sky as the thunder fell.
Ruined walls and broken steps merged into pathways leading to the awe-inspiring tower.
Murong Lang stood on a floating piece of wall, his gaze sweeping across the land below, every part of which looked like black glaze.
The higher he climbed, the stronger the wind, but fortunately, he possessed the Wind Bug.
The wind not only had no effect on him but also helped him ascend the tower.
As he climbed higher, more cultivators gathered around.
Thousands of cultivators entered the tower, and Murong Lang mingled among them.
Everyone wore silver-white robes, as the Nine Tribulations True Monarch had declared his fondness for silver-white.
Murong Lang found his place among the many cultivators and stood firm.
All the cultivators converged on the first floor, each taking their position.
At the moment of sunrise, an old man with white hair, bending over and leaning on a peach wood cane, stepped onto the podium.
He raised his hands towards those mysterious paintings above and led in chanting, "The Nine Tribulations True Monarch saw the suffering of humans from demons, thus he created the Thunder Pure Land!"
The cultivators also raised their hands in unison, chanting, "The Nine Tribulations True Monarch saw the suffering of humans from demons, thus he created the Thunder Pure Land!"
The old man continued, "The Nine Tribulations True Monarch decreed: All demons entering the Thunder Pure Land shall die!"
Murong Lang in the crowd followed, "The Nine Tribulations True Monarch decreed: All demons entering the Thunder Pure Land shall die!"
The old man called out, "Thus, all demons, upon entering the Thunder Pure Land, shall turn to ash!"
The crowd echoed, "Thus, all demons, upon entering the Thunder Pure Land, shall turn to ash!"
Murong Lang, who had always revered the power of the Nine Tribulations True Monarch, now harbored a curious thought.
He couldn't help but wonder who was more formidable between Senior Taichu and the Nine Tribulations True Monarch.
Especially since when the Nine Tribulations True Monarch revealed himself, he didn't articulate how Bugs could evolve.
He sensed the Thunder Butterfly within him, already at the Sixth Transformation.