Chapter 46
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Chapter 46: The Sound of Heaven and Earth
In the quiet room of Chang Ming courtyard, Ming He sat cross-legged, her inner spiritual energy circulating through the pathways of the Liu Yun Technique. Her breath was steady and unbroken. She exhaled a breath of stale air, slowly opened her eyes, and glanced inward at her dantian. From her robe, she retrieved a spirit fruit.
The spirit fruit, about the size of a child’s fist, shimmered with spiritual energy and exuded a fragrant aroma. This was the Dragon Saliva Fruit given to her by Senior Brother Du Lei in the ancient cave dwelling. Together, they had fended off Sun Yue to protect it.
It was strange. After leaving the ancient cave dwelling, the spirit fruits and herbs others had gathered had vanished without a trace. Ming He had assumed her Dragon Saliva Fruit would disappear as well, leaving her to lament the wasted effort.
Yet, the fruit remained.
Was it because the Star Lock had recognized her as its master, as the owner of the Purple Dawn Mansion? She wondered if Senior Brother Du Lei’s Dragon Saliva Fruit still existed.
Ming He held the spirit fruit in her hand, lost in thought. She closed her eyes, a hint of distaste crossing her face as she placed the fruit in her mouth. The idea of consuming dragon saliva was unappealing.
“Boom—”
The Dragon Saliva Fruit dissolved instantly, flooding her mouth with its rich fragrance. Before she could savor the taste, it transformed into a surge of spiritual energy, converging in her dantian. The energy flowed through her meridians, purging impurities from her body.
The spiritual energy was pure and dense. She was now just a step away from the Xuan Wei realm, a threshold she could cross with a little more effort.
Ming He steadied her spiritual energy, choosing not to break through her current limits. She felt her foundation in the Spirit Guiding stage was still lacking.
The second stage of Spirit Guiding involved drawing upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to cleanse oneself, shedding the dust and impurities of the mundane world, and refining one’s essence.
She had reached the peak of the nine levels of Spirit Guiding.
Ming He opened her eyes and retrieved another item—a bone book, crafted from the bones of an unknown beast, gifted to her by Nineteen. It was titled the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique.
The Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique comprised seven sword techniques: Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang. These formed the foundation of the technique.
When all seven techniques were mastered and merged, they formed the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Array. The practitioner became the array, and the sword became the law. With a single person as the array, the area covered by the sword tip became the domain of the sword array.
A single person, wielding the sword, could become invincible against heaven and earth.
Ming He recalled Nineteen’s words, spoken with unmatched grace and conviction. It was a state she aspired to achieve, a goal she would pursue relentlessly.
But she was still far from that realm.
The first form of the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique: Yao Guang.
Ming He opened the first page of the bone book, her gaze fixed on the sword engraving. The cultivator depicted in the engraving had a sharp gaze, like a hunter awaiting their prey, enduring a long and uncertain wait before success.
Only by enduring solitude can one glimpse the starlight.
The sword emerged from its sheath, its brilliance illuminating the sky.
At this moment, her understanding of the Flickering Light sword was merely a simplified version of the Yao Guang sword technique, far easier than the full form.
She had only just begun to grasp the basics of the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique.
Ming He stared intently at the first page of the bone book, trying to absorb the fleeting insight conveyed by the engraving—sharpness, patience, brilliance, and clarity.
All emotions and the myriad experiences of life were distilled into a single sword.
“Hiss—”
Sword energy swirled around the bone book. After a moment of deep concentration, Ming He felt a sharp pain in her eyes. Her current cultivation level wasn’t sufficient to sustain her focus on the bone book for long.
She averted her gaze, placing her right hand on the first page of the bone book. After a moment of silence, she tried to turn to the second page to glimpse the second form of the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique, but the bone page remained unmovable.
She couldn’t turn the page.
Realizing this, Ming He let out a bitter smile and ceased her struggle. Her gaze flickered as she glanced once more at the first page, where sword energy swirled menacingly.
Perhaps it was more than just sword energy.
Ming He recalled the sword she had struck towards Mu Xuan Ye at the altar in the ancient cave dwelling.
The second form of the Nebula Sword Art: Lonely Star.
In that moment, she had wielded her sword, placing herself at the center of the stars, causing countless stars to fall, leaving a vast emptiness in the night sky—she was the only star in that expanse, hence the name "Lonely Star."
Lonely Star, the one shining point in her heart amidst heaven and earth, was both a lonely star and the morning star.
She drew upon her own radiance to summon countless stars, with starlight filling the sky.
The brilliance spread across the heavens.
Could there be a connection between the Nebula Sword Art and the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique?
Was it merely these two sword techniques that were connected, or did all sword arts in the world share a link?
The phrase "all paths return to the source" echoed in Ming He’s mind, leading her to an insight: all sword arts are interconnected?
What about arts beyond swordsmanship? Would the same apply to techniques with knives, spears, or any methods of combat in the world?
“Boom—”
In the heavens, a sound resonated that Ming He could not hear. An old man in coarse clothing seated high in the sky seemed to sense something; he raised his gaze slowly towards the eastern direction.
“The Eastern Region?” The elder’s heart trembled as he murmured, recording the current state of heaven and earth within his mind.
“Interesting!” the elder said, shaking his sleeves and walking down from the clouds. “The little girl is returning to her clan!”
“The sound of heaven and earth!”
In a vast, desolate wilderness where no soul resided, blood stained the sky and sand swirled in the air. A powerful cultivator delivered a fierce strike, cleaving off the head of an enemy from a different race, allowing the hot blood to splash upon his face without altering his expression. Yet, upon hearing the sound of heaven and earth, he couldn’t suppress the joy on his face.
“Captain, listen! That is the sound of heaven and earth!” His eyes sparkled brightly, nearly illuminating the entire wilderness. “The sound of heaven and earth; our human race is about to give birth to another genius!”
That was a true genius, one capable of enabling the human race to slay one hundred thousand enemies on the battlefield of the heavens!
“It is the sound of heaven and earth!” The captain, looking up at the pitch-black sky, felt moisture in his eyes, and his tone even carried a slight choked voice.
The man, unfazed under the enemy’s blades, now smiled like a child who had just received a beloved toy, pure joy radiating from him. “Brothers, the human race will win, it will definitely win! Everyone, hold on!”
With a roar, he raised his blade and severed another enemy’s head, watching the sizzling blood fall through the air with satisfaction, sacrificing his own flesh and blood body for the human race for a brief moment.
The human race would surely win.
…
“Investigate! Find out which human genius evoked the sound of heaven and earth!”
In an unknown blood-red cliff, within a dark ruined hall, an extremely low and grating voice pierced the air, marked by condescension and command. The voice’s owner gave an order to the figure hiding in the darkness before him; beneath the arrogance, a tremor of unease flickered deep within his soul.
“Once you find out, bring back his corpse,” the voice commanded.
“Ha!” The person receiving the order stood silently in the dark, wearing a black mask, shrouded in shadow themselves.
“Yóu Lìng!” the voice snapped sharply, “Do not forget your identity; the lowly human race must know its place.”
“Psh!” The one called Yóu Lìng merely let out a cold laugh without any noticeable action. The next moment, the previously lofty voice turned into a wail of pain. “Yóu Lìng, how dare you!”
“What do you think?” The masked figure’s voice carried a faint trace of mockery.
The owner of that voice met the emotionless gaze of the masked figure and felt a shiver run through his heart. He finally understood—he would die. The masked figure would kill him, and she truly had the audacity to do so.
“If you kill me, the prince will not let you off easily!” The owner of the voice struggled to speak in a low tone, his eyes defiant, as if he had found some unshakable confidence.
“Thud!”
The sound of a heavy object hitting the ground echoed through the ruined palace. The masked figure casually tossed the owner aside, then leisurely pulled out a pristine white handkerchief from her sleeve. She meticulously wiped her hands, as though cleaning away invisible filth.
“I don’t need you to tell me what to do!” The masked figure waved her black sleeve with an elegant, unhurried motion. “I know my place. I am indeed a lowly member of the human race.”
Her voice was deep and raspy, carrying a lethal blend of danger and allure, a tone that defied gender. “But those five words—only the prince has the right to utter them. No one else is worthy.”
The figure named Yóu Lìng spoke as she walked, “The genius who can evoke the sound of heaven and earth will be slain by my own hand and presented to the prince. The prince’s future is the purpose of my existence, so you need not worry about that. But you’d better be clear about who holds the most importance by the prince’s side.”
“If you bet on the wrong person, it won’t end well for you,” she chuckled softly, her laughter rippling through the darkness as she stepped out of the ruined palace. The snow-white handkerchief was callously discarded, landing in the mud and quickly becoming soiled and unrecognizable.
Yóu Lìng walked out of the crumbling hall and stood at the edge of the cliff, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon. “The sound of heaven and earth—what a remarkable genius! Pity they were born into this world.”
“How could it possibly deserve such a thing?” she murmured to herself, lifting her eyes to the blazing sun above the cliff. Its scorching rays pierced her black eyes, but she neither flinched nor looked away. Tears welled up, spilling over as the sunlight burned her vision. “It’s been so long since I last cried. I nearly forgot what it felt like.”
She touched the tears that had escaped from beneath her mask, catching a droplet on her fingertip. She raised it to her eyes, watching it glisten for a moment before letting out a soft, bitter laugh. “But what’s the point?”
Crying is useless. The human race only hears what it wants to hear.
With that thought, her figure dissolved into the shadows.
…
Meanwhile, Ming He remained oblivious to the cataclysmic changes her sudden insight had triggered in the heavens, nor the chain of events that followed. She only felt a fleeting moment of clarity, as though she were… so close to this world.
Close enough to touch its very pinnacle.
But when she reached out, her hand met only empty air and the dense, intangible swirl of spiritual energy above her.
Ming He blinked, pushing aside the strange thoughts that had momentarily gripped her, and returned to the question at hand.
In the ancient cave dwelling, the Lonely Star sword had summoned the Star Lock, binding it to her as its master. It was this act that had turned her defeat into victory, sparing her life and paving the way for the extraordinary events that followed. It had given her the chance to rise higher.
The key to it all had been that sword.
Lonely Star.
The swing of that sword had been fueled not only by her inner realization and the sword intent of heaven and earth but also by another force. Was that sword intent?
Ming He opened the first page of the bone book, enduring the sharp sting in her eyes as she focused her spirit. The sword carving etched into the page radiated a sharp, piercing aura. Beyond the sword energy, there was something else—sword intent.
The sword intent of the one who had carved this sword.
The bone book was ancient, a relic from a bygone era. Could the one who left this sword intent have been the creator of the Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique?
As Ming He pondered this, she closed the bone book and carefully stored it away. She shut her eyes, allowing the discomfort from the sword intent’s sting to fade.
Half a month of seclusion had passed, but only seven days had gone by.
Ming He recalled the expression on her Master’s face when she had announced her retreat. The middle-aged man’s features had momentarily frozen. There were still ten days left.
She would continue her training.
Liu Yun Technique, Liu Yun Sword Art, Flickering Light, Nebula Sword Art, Unsheathing Style, Big Dipper Seven Star Sword Technique, Phantom Steps.
She reviewed all the sword and step techniques she had cultivated so far, her eyes clear and focused. In just one year, she would reach the peak of the Spirit Guiding stage nine levels.
Sword intent of heaven and earth, half-step sword intent.
Ming He reflected on the path she had carved in Swordsmanship, her expression serene. She reached into her pocket and retrieved another item—a storage pouch.
Upon opening it, a cascade of starlight greeted her eyes.
The pouch was brimming with nebula stones, their starlight colliding and intertwining. As Ming He opened the pouch, the starlight surged out, illuminating the quiet room. Her fair complexion glowed warmly under the starlight.
Holding the pouch of nebula stones, she felt Lou Qing Shang’s affection once more. Was it due to the Nebula Sword Art and the sword intent of heaven and earth?
Perhaps it was also about Swordsmanship.
Ming He connected the dots between their first meeting and subsequent reunions, sensing a deeper reason behind it all.
Reasons.
Without overthinking, Ming He picked up a nebula stone, cradling it in her palm. Starlight spilled forth, and spiritual energy swirled around it—a rare stone of heaven and earth, essential for practicing the Nebula Sword Art.
Nebula Sword Art.
As she contemplated the insights from the first two sword techniques, she channeled her spiritual energy into the nebula stone, absorbing its starlight—a form of the spiritual power of heaven and earth.
The spiritual energy felt unchanged, and her understanding seemed stagnant. Yet, her mind felt clear, and her comprehension sharpened. She felt a vivid connection to the essence of the Nebula Sword Art through the starlight.
It was a profound sensation, which Ming He called enlightenment.
“Crack!”
Once the starlight was absorbed, the nebula stone became ordinary, easily crushed by Ming He’s fingers.
Brushing off the dust, she picked up another nebula stone, continuing her contemplation of the Nebula Sword Art. Yet, her spiritual energy yielded no further insights; she could only refine one nebula stone at a time.
Was it her cultivation realm or her sword intent that limited her?
Ming He glanced at the storage pouch filled with nebula stones, about to put it away.
Suddenly, a searing heat surged in her chest. Ming He pressed her hand to her heart—it was the Star Lock.
It wanted to emerge.
How could she release the Star Lock? Ming He remembered Nineteen’s words: ask her heart.
She focused on her heart, thinking of her purpose. In an instant, dazzling starlight erupted from her, enveloping the Chang Ming courtyard. The formation patterns in the air trembled, trapping the starlight within.
That was Elder Lin’s doing.
“Crack—”
The Star Lock darted toward the purple storage pouch, absorbing all the starlight from the nebula stones before Ming He could react.
“Clang—”
After absorbing the starlight, the Star Lock circled Ming He joyfully, sending her a message before returning to her heart. As the starlight faded, it vanished, taking all the light with it.
Leaving Ming He in silence, surrounded by dust.
Ming He: … What a wasteful thing!
Suppressing her frustration, she muttered a curse and emptied the storage pouch, spilling dust onto the floor. The Star Lock had told her that nebula stones were valuable to it and demanded more.
In return, it promised to teach her a technique once it regained energy.
Techniques.
Ming He scoffed, but she could hardly practice the Nebula Sword Art now.
She grabbed her white long sword, a hint of irritation in her movements, and kicked open the stone door of the quiet room. Leaping to the training ground, she began practicing the Nebula Sword Art.
The first move, Liu Yun; the second move, Lonely Star.
She had mastered the first two moves, but the third, Nebula, remained elusive.
Perhaps another life-and-death situation was needed for inspiration? Ming He thought wryly as she condensed her sword energy, slicing through the air.
Round stones and swaying pine trees accompanied her swordplay, with the sun and crescent moon as her companions.
Half a month passed, and it was time to leave seclusion.
Ming He sheathed her sword, changed into a clean blue robe, and gathered her storage rings and pouch before setting off.
She solemnly closed the door of the Chang Ming courtyard, sensing that her return might bring a new chapter.
After securing the courtyard gate, Ming He descended Qingyun Peak at her usual pace, heading to the Gongwu Hall to exchange her contribution points for nebula stones. With only one-fifth of her pouch filled, she muttered another complaint about the Star Lock as she walked toward the sect entrance.
Along the way, Liu Yun Sect disciples wore cheerful, proud expressions. Upon seeing Ming He, their gazes turned envious.
Ming He: … ?
Unable to resist her curiosity, she stopped a passing inner sect disciple. “What happened in the sect?” They were unusually lively.
“Su, the inherited disciple, don’t you know?” The disciple looked shocked. “The Sect Master has gone to the Hehuan Sect for you!”
