Chapter 714

Chapter 714: Break the Seal

"What kind of person could create such an imposing sword intent?" Shui Lingling and Shui Yingying watched curiously as Ye Yun’s sudden movements stirred the ancient patterns into frenzy—swift, violent, and hypnotic.

"Such formidable Sword Path will! Elder Brother relies on brute strength, but in finesse, Ye Yun surpasses him." Shui Lingling unwittingly compared Ye Yun to her idol, who’d once seemed peerless as the second-generation Sword God. Now, it was clear—higher peaks always existed.

Though no sword cultivator herself, Shui Lingling found Ye Yun’s practice soothing. His teal Immortal Sword evoked serene mountain streams one moment and lightning-speed fury the next, endlessly unpredictable.

"Ling’er, his talent borders on absurd," Shui Yingying remarked. Unlike her sister, she recognized Ye Yun wasn’t merely practicing—he was forging his own Sword Path, the techniques freshly birthed from insight.

"My two extremes of the Sword Path outshine this ring’s creator." The Ancestor of the Sword Path grumbled as Ye Yun refined the three sword intents. "The ring’s master might edge me in strength, but in pure Sword Path mastery? My two extremes reign supreme."

"This sword intent shall be named Wuwei Illusionary Sword." At dawn, Ye Yun ceased his night-long practice, eyes weary yet blazing. Though inferior to Born as a Sword’s mysteries, the sword intents he’d absorbed from the ring far surpassed his previous, unrefined techniques.

"Wuwei Illusionary Sword: One Breath of Abyss!"

"Wuwei Illusionary Sword: One Thought of Pagoda!"

"Wuwei Illusionary Sword: One Instant of Hell!"

Swordless, Ye Yun wielded his fingers as a blade. Strikes from his fingertips shattered ancient trees and boulders—no true qi or spiritual power, just pure Sword Path will. The swordless principle eclipsed the physical blade.

"Worth the effort!" Abyss deluded, pagoda slaughtered, hell shattered. Immersed in the laws of the Sword Path, Ye Yun smirked faintly upon completion.

"Wait till you witness *my* Sword Path will. It’s no lesser," the Ancestor huffed.

Ye Yun chuckled. "Let’s compare your two extremes to my Born as a Sword once you regain your body."

"Hmm? Isn’t Wuwei Illusionary Sword your path now?" the Ancestor pressed.

"A stepping stone," Ye Yun replied. "My Sword Path defies labels. But extra tricks never hurt." He withheld that the ring’s true Sword Path will dwarfed his current grasp. Only by merging all its intents might Wuwei Illusionary Sword truly captivate him—for now, it remained incomplete.

"Ambitions sky-high, eh?" The Ancestor laughed.

"For now, Wuwei Illusionary Sword outshines Born as a Sword—especially One Breath of Abyss. It unveiled illusions’ depths, akin to another world," Ye Yun admitted, acknowledging both flaws and strengths.

"Done practicing? Sister said not to bother you, but you’ve been at it all night." Shui Lingling piped up as Ye Yun halted. "Your Sword Path will’s impressive. Even against Elder Brother, you’d hold your own."

"Thanks for the…*balanced* praise." Ye Yun dismissed her. A sword cultivator never admits inferiority—only acknowledges room to grow. Accepting another’s superiority bred Mental Demons, barring progress.

"You doubt Elder Brother’s prowess?" Shui Lingling glared, affronted by his audacity.

"Your idol, not mine." Ye Yun smiled gently, ruffling her hair. Her stubbornness amused him, tempered by her inherent kindness.

"Hmph! Enjoy towering over me now. At twenty, I’ll be tall enough to pat *your* head!" Shui Lingling huffed but didn’t pull away.

"Apologize, Ling’er. Sword cultivators prioritize their path above life itself," Shui Yingying chided lightly, noting Ye Yun’s resigned expression.

"Oh! So he’s one of those shameless sword maniacs Master warned us about?" Shui Lingling gasped.

“What does it mean to lack shame? True sword cultivators stand tall as mighty experts. Only those half-learned fools who think too highly of themselves lack dignity.” Ye Yun shook his head with a wry smile.

Shui Yingying mirrored his helplessness, while Shui Lingling tilted her head and remarked, “Seems you both think you know yourselves best. But in Ling’er’s eyes, Brother Ye might surpass your senior brother in the Sword Path.”

“Why compare me to him constantly?” Ye Yun sighed.

“Because he’s amazing! Once, our Immortal Dao Sect accidentally entered the Demon Race’s forbidden zone. Senior brother slaughtered thousands of demons alone and shielded us from their counterattack!” Shui Lingling’s eyes sparkled with worship.

“‘Accidentally’ sounds questionable,” Ye Yun muttered, ignoring the heroic tale. Would a top sect like the Immortal Dao Sect make such a blunder? Shui Lingling, lost in admiration, missed his skepticism, but Shui Yingying’s ears twitched.

“Don’t voice such thoughts within our sect,” Shui Yingying warned through spirit perception.

Ye Yun paused, then nodded. “Just idle speculation. If there’s truth to it, time will reveal it.”

“Will it?” Shui Yingying frowned softly.

“No use boasting about senior brother to someone stuck at the Fourth Level of the Nascent Soul stage!” Shui Lingling giggled. A starry expanse materialized behind her, a celestial river swirling forth as her star power surged.

“The Starry Sky River… so you’ve mastered it this far?” Shui Lingling preened as the illusion faded. “Still brave enough to spar with Ling’er?”

“Your Spiritual Power Waves scream Earth Immortal realm. How could this Nascent Soul stage cultivator compete?” Ye Yun shrugged, though a flicker of fighting spirit stirred. Using the Wuwei Illusionary Sword now risked accidental harm, especially with his incomplete recovery.

“Odd. The Stellar Body is yang, the Nine Yin Body is yin. How do these opposing physiques coexist?” The Ancestor of the Sword Path’s voice grumbled in his mind.

“Major sects have their secrets,” Ye Yun replied mentally. The two girls had trained together for years without issue—likely the Ancestor’s skepticism stemmed from ignorance.

“Only a Heavenly Immortal could harmonize innate spiritual bodies. Their sect lacks such power!” the Ancestor insisted.

“We’ll see. Focus on reaching the Wuding River first,” Ye Yun deflected.

“Imagine the treasures in the Broken Space! After claiming them, even those stubborn old men couldn’t deny me a vacation with Yingying,” he mused.

“Where’s that black Round Stone you had? A supreme Immortal artifact, right? Hiding it?” Shui Lingling eyed Ye Yun’s empty hands.

Ye Yun chuckled, producing the stone. “Protection, not a supreme artifact. But it rivals your Deceptive Array.”

“Liar! My Array’s unbeatable!” She snatched the stone, squinting. “How’s this used? Feels crushable!”

“Break it, and I won’t charge you,” Ye Yun teased.

“You said it!” Channeling true qi, she squeezed—then blinked at the now-malleable stone. “Why’s it changing shape?!”

“A simple trick,” Ye Yun said, dissolving the Deceptive Array to reveal swirling Ice Spirit Qi in his palm.

“Mean! Always tricking Ling’er!” she pouted as he reabsorbed the qi.

“Ling’er should’ve used spirit perception to check,” Shui Yingying chided gently. “Stop bullying her, Ye Yun.”

“I don’t always fall for it! He’s just sneaky because he’s weak!” Shui Lingling protested, cheeks reddening.

“Cunning is strength. Train harder,” Ye Yun smirked. His blue pendant glowed faintly, mirroring his amusement.

“Why pick a supreme Immortal artifact that thrives on rage?” the Ancestor grumbled internally. Ye Yun’s accumulating mental power served as a failsafe against losing control—a necessary precaution.

The trio pressed onward, nearing the Wuding River.

“Ling’er, unseal your First Level of the Earth Immortal realm strength. No holding back—this place is deadly,” Shui Yingying ordered.

“So your suppressed aura still radiated sage-like power? Impressive,” Ye Yun remarked.

“Obviously!” Shui Lingling sniffed. Hands weaving light and shadow into runes, she dissolved a mystical seal.

A kingly pressure crashed down, demanding submission. Ye Yun’s soul wavered briefly before he steadied, defiance curling his lips.

Boom!

The aura faded. Shui Lingling stood unchanged, yet transcendent.

“So this is the Earth Immortal realm?” Ye Yun mused, grinning.