Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 433 - 427

Chapter 433: 427

"Have you heard? Brahma Net Mountain was struck by Heavenly Fire overnight, turning into tens of miles of scorched earth! That place has always been a gathering spot for Serpent Demons and Snake Spirits. Even disciples from our Central Prefecture’s Immortal Sect wouldn’t dare to approach it. This time, it truly met with disaster."

Sitting in the noodle house, Lin Xin was slowly enjoying his meal in a corner. With dishes like stir-fried pork with green peppers, deep-fried peanuts, and a stew of potatoes and beef, he found this meal more satisfying than any he had had before.

At that moment, the restaurant was still discussing the incident when he had destroyed Brahma Net Mountain a few days earlier.

Holding his bowl, he gently scooped a mouthful of rice into his mouth and chewed slowly, savoring the fragrance of the high-quality fragrant rice that gradually released as the grains were crushed.

Every grain distinct.

All around, people were discussing the recent changes in Brahma Net Mountain.

For these ordinary people living nearby, the day of the terrifying, catastrophic event had occurred less than a few hundred miles away from them; yet now, as they spoke of it, it seemed utterly unrelated to them.

As if they lived in entirely separate worlds.

"This Brahma Net Mountain, within a hundred miles, that place was entirely a land of deadly poison. Even old herbalists who gather herbs wouldn’t dare to enter casually, and even the flying Immortals from the sect, those high above, avoid mentioning it. Unexpectedly, it turned into ruins overnight..."

"Isn’t that just the way the world works? Earth-shattering changes aren’t uncommon; just get used to it. We commoners should just live our lives honestly, why bother meddling in so much?"

"You’re right, salt prices went up again the other day, sigh... This world, after Brahma Net Mountain’s disaster, all the transport teams raised their prices. I’m afraid we won’t even be able to afford salt after a while."

"Isn’t it? Not just salt, but even rice wine too..."

"Ever since the Immortal Alliance and Red Spine Sect emerged, it has been one long battle after another. We commoners are the ones who suffer. I wonder when the warfare will ever stop."

...

Lin Xin withdrew his attention and slowly continued with his meal. His mind, however, began to ponder.

"Tianyun Path tried to kill me by hiring Kun Ji, probably because of that time I stole their Evil God Nascent Soul. Now even Yuan Jing has been killed, so Tianyun Path will surely send someone to investigate. After I kill the Tianyun Path’s follow-up personnel, I’ll head directly to the Seven Section trial. A trial that can enhance comprehension should not be missed."

He knew well the benefits of having high comprehension. Not to mention anything else, just by understanding Taoist Intent, those with high comprehension could even deduce a complete version from fragmented Taoist Intent.

If it weren’t for his attribute abilities, he wouldn’t even be qualified to carry the shoes of such geniuses.

This time, by killing the two Yuan Jing individuals, he also used the opportunity of the attack on Brahma Net Mountain to lure them out and then trap them within the range of the large formation he had prepared in advance.

Moreover, combined with the large formation and his newly created Sword Array Ultimate Kill, Moon Silkworm, using the splitting ability of the Silkworm Moon White Sword to gather all clones together, transforming into a massive silk ball which exploded, he successfully achieved that earth-shattering effect.

This was his strongest move created after the Qilin, a combination of Formation Talisman, personal attributes, and magic treasures, all brought together.

Those two Yuan Jing also died unjustly. Last time, Kun Ji was already severely wounded by draining all his Spiritual Energy, and this time, it was the same.

While Yuan Jing’s power was immense, the consumption was also significant. Lin Xin took advantage of the semi-Nascent Soul and cloning properties of the Silkworm Moon White Sword that could also stack attributes, greatly amplifying his own physical attribute advantages.

He tricked several of the Shadowless´s killer moves a few times, draining quite a bit of his Spiritual Energy.

At the final bursting showdown, that led him to be unable to sustain the Nascent Soul for too long, and he ultimately met his demise.

"Just like what Ming Qing and Ming Yi said back then, in this Central Prefecture, the upper echelons are complacent, content with the status quo. Yuan Jing Cultivators have been arrogant for too long, only remembering the principle that ’below the Nascent Soul, all are ants.’ Yet they are gradually forgetting even the experience of battle."

He scooped up some soup and drank it, feeling warmth spreading from his mouth to his stomach, throughout his body.

The noon sun shone in from the window on the left, falling on the long bench by Lin Xin’s side.

The dark red long bench’s red paint reflected specks of bright light.

He reached out to place his hand on the sunlit part of the bench, feeling comfortably warm.

"How long has it been since I’ve had such peace."

He could hardly remember, ever since he left the Manor, how long his life had been without such tranquility.

Finally, having reached a level where he could contend with Yuan Jing, he had at last found a foothold in Central Prefecture.

In the vast scope of Central Prefecture, Yuan Jing Cultivators were sparse, each one generally at the level of a Sect Master or Supreme Elder of a mid-sized sect and above. They held transcendent statuses, commanding countless disciples and followers.

Emerging from seclusion without spanning years was unimaginable.

The Yuan Jing he encountered were either guarding key locales or participating in major ceremonies.

Otherwise, it was like Lin Xin, constantly facing assassination attempts by Yuan Jing.

"Having killed two Yuan Jing, by rights, I should have received a boost in cultivation from the Son of Nether Realm. Why has there been no movement till now?"

Lin Xin rested quietly, suddenly thinking of this issue.

The power of Nether Realm solely considered the extent of slaughter.

Reality in Central Prefecture was always more brutal than in Nether Realm, and the rewards greater, especially since this time it involved killing two Yuan Jing Cultivators. Logically, the power from Nether Realm should have far exceeded any previous amounts.

But the actual situation was, up until now, he had observed no changes at all.

Picking up the teacup, Lin Xin gently poured himself a cup of tea.

"Could it be that the Red Leaf Sword Master finally cut off my connection with Nether Realm?"

The teacup was filled, and he softly pinched it, just about to drink,

Suddenly, inexplicably, his hand swayed, and the teacup tilted, spilling half the tea on the table."

Lin Xin was about to have a waiter come over to wipe the table clean when he suddenly focused his gaze and looked toward the spilled tea on the table.

In the reflection in the water appeared a clear figure, sitting directly across from him at the table—none other than the Red Leaf Sword Master, with whom he had been trying to communicate without success.

The Red Leaf Sword Master’s beard appeared thicker, his eyes deeply sunken, as if he had become significantly gaunter, holding a green liquor gourd and taking big swigs from it.

"I made you wait a long time," his voice seemed to come from right across the table as he set down the gourd lightly.

"....." Lin Xin had many questions, but upon seeing the Daoist Master, he found himself unsure of what to ask.

"Your matter is almost settled. Lately, the power of the Nether Prefecture has been rebounding, but we’ve made arrangements. Prepared in advance, there haven’t been any disruptions," the Red Leaf Sword Master said, glancing at Lin Xin and even revealing a faint smile.

"As part of the exchange, what did you want me to agree to?" Lin Xin asked quietly.

Severing the ties between the son of the Nether Prefecture and the Nether Prefecture itself—such a deed would demand a price Lin Xin dared not even contemplate.

If the Red Leaf was making such a great sacrifice for him without reason, he would definitely not believe it. Thus, initially, the two had agreed that Lin Xin would consent to a karmic exchange.

"Perhaps you will become the first person in countless years to break free successfully, so our sole request is that you uncover the true nature of the Nether Prefecture and, someday, free us from its shackles," said the Red Leaf casually.

"Of course, whether you do it or not, it’s the same. This fate is set and can’t be avoided.

Besides, if you cannot manage it, it doesn’t matter. After all, you’re also one of our experiments. If it’s successful, all is well, but if it fails, there’s nothing else to say. The hope for success is too slim."

"...."

After a moment of silence, Lin Xin spoke again.

"How could the son of the Nether Prefecture break through the Nascent Soul?"

He thought for a moment and still asked this question. He didn’t believe the nonsensical claim that the son of the Nether Prefecture couldn’t break through the Nascent Soul. If it were truly impossible, then how had the Red Leaf Sword Master and others arisen?

"Break through the Nascent Soul? You mean the Soul Domain?" The Red Leaf’s eyes brightened.

"To transform the surrounding natural environment into a realm under your control with your willpower. We call this level the Nascent Soul, also known as the Soul Domain," Lin Xin explained succinctly.

"That’s the Soul Domain Realm indeed," the Red Leaf laughed, "the son of the Nether Prefecture really can’t break through the Soul Domain. There are no exceptions."

Lin Xin’s pupils slightly narrowed.

"Then Senior you...?"

"The son of the Nether Prefecture can’t, but that doesn’t mean that a Nether Prefecture Lord cannot," the Red Leaf casually revealed a secret Lin Xin had never heard before.

"A Nether Prefecture Lord..!! What is that?" His breathing suddenly quickened, evidently, this was getting close to the key to how he could advance rapidly through the Nascent Soul Realm.

The Red Leaf chuckled in the water’s reflection and took a sip of his drink.

"Don’t rush... this matter needs to be addressed slowly."

After that, he said nothing more, merely picking up his chopsticks to eat the food on the table, the dishes mysteriously vanishing from the plates, while the waitstaff nearby, coming and going, seemed oddly unaware of this spectacle.

Lin Xin didn’t bother with him, simply waiting steadily for the Red Leaf Sword Master to answer his question.

The Red Leaf Sword Master ate two plates of food and two bowls of rice, then took a toothpick to pick his teeth, unhurried and nonchalant.

"Shouldn’t you speak now?" Lin Xin said, unable to hide his irritation.

"If there were another cup of fine wine, then it would be even more delightful," the Red Leaf Sword Master cheekily smiled.

"Waiter, bring the good wine!!"

Frustrated, Lin Xin directly ordered several jars of fine wine to be piled nearby, for him to drink as he pleased.

An hour later, after having his fill of wine and food.

Lin Xin grew quite impatient waiting, and the Red Leaf Sword Master finally slowly put down his cup.

"The cultivation of the son of the Nether Prefecture has its limits set by the Nether Prefecture itself. It is capped below Nascent Soul, and to go beyond, one must elevate their permissions. Become a Nether Prefecture Lord, allowing the Nether Prefecture to strengthen its control over you," the Red Leaf Sword Master revealed a harsh reality.

"Is there a way to bypass this?" Lin Xin asked gravely.

"No," the Red Leaf Sword Master shook his head.

Both fell silent again.

After a long while, Lin Xin slowly lifted a cup to his lips, yet never actually drank from it.

"However, you are different. Soon after severing from the Nether Prefecture, and you want to enter the Nascent Soul, you need to find the Power of Supreme Yang."

"The Power of Supreme Yang?"

"The power of the Nether Prefecture is the Power of Supreme Yin, so you must find the Power of Supreme Yang to balance it, a power not of the Nether River, but of the spiritual will. After all, the Nascent Soul Realm, or what you call the Soul Domain, is a product of willpower."

"What comes next?" Lin Xin put down his drink and inquired further.

"What comes next is your own path, why ask me?" The Red Leaf equally set down his cup.