Chapter 635

Chapter 635: The Wraith Stone Statues

Ye Yun mingled among the Nascent Soul stage cultivators, observing the fervor and excitement in their eyes. He couldn’t help but feel sorrow. Cultivators should view things with calmness, yet they’d strayed onto a wrong path. Placing hopes on external forces like Immortal artifacts and pills—how could such reliance bring true hope?

Take Du Jianyin. With only his sword and dedication to the Sword Path, he’d reached Golden Core stage power rivaling the pinnacle of Nascent Soul stage. These people’s current actions seemed laughable to Ye Yun. How could such cultivators walk a straight path?

The road built on external aids would crumble under time’s trials. This truth, spoken by the Ancestor of the Sword Path and confirmed through Ye Yun’s own experiences, remained unshakable.

“Brother Yanhuo and I aren’t pushing you to death. Obey us, guide our safe exit from Time and Space Hall, and we might grant you fortune—perhaps even Nascent Soul breakthrough.” Qian Shui frowned at Ye Yun’s disheveled appearance.

“You misunderstand, friend. Some melancholy memories stirred my emotions.” Ye Yun maintained his pitiful act, secretly mocking their empty promises as they continued moving.

After an hour’s sprint, Ye Yun studied fresh sword marks on blue jade ground during rest. The brutal murderous intent confirmed Du Jianyin’s passage. Though differing from Ye Yun’s internal resolution, his rival had clearly used Sword Path comprehension to counter the reverse time array’s slow realm constraints.

“That boy’s as abnormal as you,” the Ancestor of the Sword Path remarked, examining the marks. “Resisting slow realm pressure through pure Sword Path understanding? His grasp barely trails yours.”

“Expected of him. I never doubted he’d escape the array. This makes our coming duel fairer.” Ye Yun smiled. Life-threatening battles formed necessary cultivation trials—smooth paths bred weakness.

“Enough. Let’s examine Xumi Daoist’s eighteen specter statues.” The Ancestor watched Yanhuo and Qian Shui lead Ye Yun toward the trial ground. Where Ye Yun saw disgusting greed, the Ancestor saw admirable ambition. Without desire, how could one grow strong? The Ancestor himself relished external aids like beast blood consumption.

Any strength-gaining method became acceptable if conscience remained clear. Only the Sword Path demanded absolute devotion—other matters deserved half-closed eyes.

“We’ve reached Time and Space Hall’s first trial. Stay put—stray and you’ll die without pity.” Qian Shui and Yanhuo joined the discussing crowd, leaving Ye Yun. They felt no worry—the Diamond Armor made him a cooked duck that couldn’t fly. Yanhuo’s control over the low-quality Immortal artifact meant instant death for any rebellion.

“Just a Golden Core junior after all,” Qian Shui sneered at Ye Yun’s calm survey of surroundings before resuming array studies.

“Notice anything?” Ye Yun asked the Ancestor while examining eighteen statues riddled with sword marks. Du Jianyin’s lingering aura proved his prior success. But with hundreds of Nascent Soul experts present, reckless advancement risked overwhelming opposition—even Ye Yun couldn’t withstand such numbers.

“Letting them trigger the array worsens everything,” the Ancestor mused. “Succeed first, and the reactivated eighteen specter array will block them. It persists until someone else breaks it—if you don’t.”

“More entrants strengthen the array?”

“And intensify slow realm effects. Enter alone. Use their ‘sacrificial lamb’ plan against them—hide tricks, then show true power when life and death dance.”

Ye Yun nodded silently.

“That Sword Seeking Villa boy plans group entry—deaths guaranteed.” The Ancestor’s laugh turned icy. “They want you dead anyway. Let them all perish together.”

“I’m calculating entry timing. If hundreds enhance the array first, tenfold strength wouldn’t suffice.”

Ye Yun never explained himself. Unlike Du Jianyin’s casual slaughter, he preferred subtlety—Yanhuo and Qian Shui bore hidden marks. Death in array spared them; survival meant his blade awaited.

“Hear me!” Lanshan’s voice cut through eager crowds. The Sword Seeking Alliance leader smiled under countless gazes. “You know the specter array’s power. While I could breach it, Third Level Nascent Souls and below should fear.”

“Shall we guard while Third/Fourth Levels take treasures?!”

Outcry erupted from weaker cultivators. Lanshan raised hands. “I possess an item blocking array attacks for three breaths. I need someone to test this—any volunteers?”

None stepped forward. Yanhuo and Qian Shui exchanged glances, approaching Lanshan. “We’ve a perfect candidate.”

“Excellent!” Lanshan feigned delight. “Who’s this hero?”

“You’ll see.” Their grins hid dark knowledge—as Sword Seeking Villa members, they understood Lanshan’s vengeful nature. When Ye Yun rejected Lanshan earlier, death warrants were signed. This trial offered perfect execution ground—success brought profit; failure, acceptable loss.

“It’s Brother Ye!”

Seeing Ye Yun wearing the low-quality Immortal artifact he’d given Yanhuo, Lanshan put on an astonished expression and praised, “Never expected Brother Ye, merely at the Golden Core stage, would possess such selfless dedication. Truly admirable character.”

“How hypocritical. These sect disciples grow more shameless by the day,” the Ancestor of the Sword Path snorted mentally, watching Lanshan’s feigned concern.

“Any means are fair in cultivation. They attack me, I retaliate. Survival of the fittest,” Ye Yun replied coldly through mental communication.

“Exactly. Play the victim they expect. I’ll savor their shocked faces when you seize the Stagnation Stone,” the Ancestor chuckled darkly, amused by the coming reversal.

“As leader of the Sword Seeking Alliance, I’ll entrust you this Time-Seal.” Lanshan reluctantly handed over the token. “Escape within three breaths after activating it, lest the specters consume your mind.” The artifact had been grudgingly loaned by the villa master after much begging.

What galled Lanshan more was being denied the Stagnation Stone itself. Though permitted to claim another treasure from Sword Seeking Villa’s vaults, he seethed at surrendering whatever prize the villa master coveted.

“A supreme Immortal artifact?” Lanshan repeatedly wondered. Nothing less would justify the master’s obsession.

“A supreme artifact…” Lanshan swallowed bitter envy. However tempted, rebellion wasn’t an option. The villa’s punishments were legendary – the Serpent Abyss’s bone-gnawing horrors made death seem merciful.

“Move already!” Qian Shui’s mental shout stabbed at Ye Yun. “Go face probable death, or stay for certain death. Choose!”

“After this, we’re square. And I’m keeping the Immortal artifact.” Ye Yun inhaled sharply, stepping onto the eighteen Specter Pillars encircling the Time and Space Hall. The statues’ masterful carvings blurred line between stone and living specter – their baleful aura nearly ensnared even his seasoned mind.

“Show me what tricks this hall holds!” Abandoning pretense, Ye Yun triggered the formation. As the Ancestor predicted, barrier seals activated, blocking all but Earth Immortal realm intruders.

BOOM!

The pillars shuddered, stone fragments raining as grotesque statues awakened – winged fiends, multi-armed monstrosities, a serpentine colossus coiling hundreds of meters. Each bore a glowing cruciform scar on its chest, radiating familiar sword intent.

“Du Jianyin’s handiwork. Crude but effective.” Ye Yun smirked, tracing the sword marks at the formation’s heart. “Now, entertain me!”

“The Golden Core fool’s gone mad!” Nascent Soul observers jeered outside the barrier. “Fighting eighteen specters head-on?”

Their laughter died as the statues roared. The sonic assault forced even seasoned cultivators to cover ears, souls trembling.

Unfazed, Ye Yun raised Purple Shadow Divine Sword. Gentle radiance erupted into Sword Energy pillars, shredding stone flesh. Lanshan’s group paled – this surpassed all Golden Core limits.

“Xumi Treasure attracts monsters…” A Nascent Soul survivor whispered, grateful his friend had restrained him from provoking Ye Yun earlier.

“What demonic talent is this?!” Yanhuo and Qian Shui quaked, regretting their coercion.

A deflected sword arc smashed through the barrier, scarring sacred blue jade with heaven-rending fury. Spectators scrambled back, avoiding residual sword intent.

“Regeneration?” Ye Yun bisected a fifty-meter specter, only for stone tendrils to knit together. Ice Spirit Qi surged through his palm as replacements closed in.

“ICE SPIRIT DIVINE PALM!”

Frost exploded, repelling the horde. Instead of pressing the attack, Ye Yun blinked to the regenerating statue.

“Persistent.” Icy essence flashed as Purple Shadow swung again, determined to reduce the specters to gravel.

CRACK!

The sword arc, which had previously moved unimpeded, suddenly met immense resistance when attempting to slice through the bisected specter. Ye Yun coldly observed as the remaining seventeen massive Specter Statues, previously repelled by his Ice Spirit Qi, advanced again. His gaze lingered reluctantly on the fully healed Specter Statue before he prepared to reengage.

"This endless slaughter isn’t sustainable. Ancestor, have you detected any weaknesses?" Ye Yun unleashed sword light shimmering with icy radiance, repelling approaching specters while whispering urgently.

"Patience, young people always rush," chided the ethereal figure of the Ancestor of the Sword Path within Ye Yun’s consciousness. A black-and-white chess array materialized as he performed mental calculations.

"Speed matters. Failure means permanent entrapment here." Ye Yun’s brow furrowed as he channeled true qi through the Purple Shadow Divine Sword. Dozens of lightning strikes erupted, scattering the eighteen specters.

*Crackle!*

When his Thunder Spirit Qi immobilized a hundred-meter Specter Statue, Ye Yun seized the opportunity. Seventeen azure lightning bolts from his sword penetrated the statue’s surface, visible currents writhing like electric serpents across its stone form. He used this respite to study the statues intently.

"Did he clear the trial?" someone whispered among the Nascent Soul cultivators observing the motionless swordsman.

"Clear? Can’t you see this Golden Core swordsman analyzing their weaknesses? His cultivation and Sword Path comprehension are extraordinary – we should study his methods."

"First a Golden Core sword demon, now a sword god emerges."

"Truly an extraordinary genius. His Sword Energy flows naturally, unlike that other domineering swordsman. This one truly deserves the divine title."

"Ye Yun, they’re calling you Sword God below. How fitting – a Sword God and Sword Path Ancestor paired together," chuckled the Ancestor, monitoring the spectators’ discussions.

"A mere title for a Golden Core cultivator. When I ascend to Heavenly Immortal pinnacle and cleanse evil with my blade, then the Sword God title will hold meaning." Ye Yun’s cold gaze fixed on the resealing Specter Statues. As cracks reappeared on their surfaces, he summoned lightning from the Purple Shadow Divine Sword once more.

"Diminished effectiveness. These specters adapt their defenses." Noticing weaker results from his lightning strikes, Ye Yun decisively gathered all spiritual energies into his palms. Merging powers instantly, he unleashed cataclysmic Sword Might intertwined with lightning, shaking the entire hall.

"He’s truly Golden Core stage?"

"Such power surpasses early Nascent Soul cultivators!"

"A prodigy beyond mortal measure."

Trembling spectators witnessed sword light annihilate stone. When brilliance faded, a bloodstained figure stood triumphant amidst settling dust.

"What reckless act caused this?" The Ancestor frowned at Ye Yun’s injuries.

"Forced fusion of energies for Born as a Sword. My body protested." Ye Yun smiled faintly while examining his Purple Shadow Divine Sword.

"You risked severing your sword arms! Never repeat this." The Ancestor’s spirit perception swept Ye Yun’s meridians. "Thank the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique for your resilient flesh."

"The strike proved effective." Ye Yun caressed the blade resting on blue jade. "My impulsiveness, not your fault."

The sword hummed in response, its newly awakened intelligence resonating with its master’s touch.

"A mid-grade Immortal artifact developing sentience? Remarkable potential." The Ancestor observed while Ye Yun’s cooling spiritual energy eased internal injuries.

"Recklessness nearly cost your life. Another such stunt could limit you to Nascent Soul realm permanently."

"Nascent Soul? That threshold nears." Ye Yun flexed recovering fingers. "Du Jianyin and I – history’s only Golden Cores rivaling peak Nascent Souls."

"Rushing brings doom. Focus on healing before tackling the Xumi Treasure’s next trials."

"Anxious? Never." Ye Yun studied his reflection in the jade. "One hour’s rest suffices."

As Ye Yun meditated, external cultivators ventured through the weakened Specter Array. A Nascent Soul fool touching residual lightning turned to ash instantly.

"Thanks to the Sword God’s broken defenses!"

Lanshan of Sword Seeking Alliance glared at his now-useless time-seals. Nearby, Yanhuo and Qian Shui despairingly clutched their marked souls – punishment for opposing Ye Yun.

"He’ll forget us post-treasure…" they lied to themselves, knowing their fated deaths approached. Ye Yun never forgot enemies – their spirits would scatter like dust beneath his blade.