The Unparalleled Sword Emperor
Chapter 1680 - 1677: Breakthrough to the Second Level of the Yangshen Realm!

Chapter 1680: Chapter 1677: Breakthrough to the Second Level of the Yangshen Realm!

Three days later, Lin Bai returned to Luo Family City once again.

During these days, the news of what occurred within the Beiyang Divine Tree had spread.

Lin Bai had slain the Third Prince of Beiyang Dynasty as well as Elder Xuanhuo of Fenxin Sect, stirring up an enormous commotion.

Although the Beiyang Dynasty was furious, they dared not act. After all, if Dongfang Bai were harmed, the Heaven-reaching Sword Sect would definitely retaliate!

Fenxin Sect, however, was different. The Sect Master of Fenxin Sect and the other three Grand Elders took turns visiting Heaven-reaching Sword Sect, demanding justice from Dongfang Bai!

In Luo Family City, Lin Bai rested for a while.

One day, Luotian You and Luo Xuan came to visit Lin Bai in his residence.

Luotian You expressed his gratitude by clasping his hands, saying, "Thank you, Dongfang Bai, Junior Sword Venerate, for your help. Without it, my Luo Family might never have obtained so many Heavenly Saint Fruits!"

This time, the Luo Family had acquired the greatest number of Heavenly Saint Fruits in its history.

Previously, they would get only two hundred or three hundred fruits, which was already considered a lot. But this time, the Luo Family obtained over a thousand, leaving Luotian You overjoyed!

"Dongfang Bai, Junior Sword Venerate, as per our prior agreement, the Heavenly Saint Fruits will be split evenly between us and you."

"This time, we acquired exactly 1,060 Heavenly Saint Fruits. Here are 530 fruits; please accept them."

Luotian You took out a Storage Bag from his waist and handed it over to Lin Bai!

"Patriarch Luo, you’re too courteous." Lin Bai smiled slightly as he accepted the Storage Bag. Upon opening it, he saw that in addition to the 530 Heavenly Saint Fruits, it also contained one billion Spiritual Stones.

Seeing the one billion Spiritual Stones, Lin Bai smiled faintly; it was likely a token of appreciation from Luotian You.

Luotian You continued, saying, "Junior Sword Venerate, the Heavenly Saint Fruits can be consumed directly, used to craft elixirs tailored for breakthroughs in the Yangshen Realm, or even..."

Luotian You went on to explain the various miraculous uses of the Heavenly Saint Fruits to Lin Bai in great detail.

After hearing this, Lin Bai gained a substantial understanding of the Heavenly Saint Fruits.

Lin Bai said, "Since that’s the case, Patriarch Luo, I do have a proposal. I wonder if you would be willing to consider it?"

Luotian You chuckled and replied, "Junior Sword Venerate, feel free to speak. As long as it’s something my Luo Family can accomplish, we certainly won’t decline!"

Lin Bai smiled lightly and said, "Here’s the idea: I have 530 Heavenly Saint Fruits, and I’ll leave 230 of them with you to craft elixirs for me. I’ll only take 300 fruits myself.

The refined elixirs will be handed over to Junior Brother Luo Xuan and sent back to the Heaven-reaching Sword Sect, to be delivered to the Seventy-two Sword Cultivators of Fairy Cave Mountain."

"What do you think?"

Lin Bai said with an easy smile.

Luotian You smiled brightly and said, "Since Junior Sword Venerate places such trust in my Luo Family, how could we refuse? Please rest assured, my Luo Family has been refining elixirs for many years and will ensure the maximum efficacy of these Heavenly Saint Fruits!"

Lin Bai took out 230 Heavenly Saint Fruits and handed them to Luo Xuan, saying, "Then I’ll trouble the Luo Family with this task."

"Now that matters here are settled, I’ll also take my leave."

Lin Bai remarked with a smile.

Luo Xuan spoke up, "Senior Brother Dongfang, are you heading back to the Heaven-reaching Sword Sect? I’ve heard that the Sect Master and the other three Grand Elders of Fenxin Sect are waiting for you there right now."

Fenxin Sect’s Sect Master and the three Grand Elders had already made their way to Heaven-reaching Sword Sect. Lin Bai was aware of this, as Gui Jing had specifically sent word advising Lin Bai to avoid returning to Heaven-reaching Sword Sect for the time being!

This year, Fenxin Sect had suffered greatly at Lin Bai’s hands.

Within the Stars Secret Realm, many Yangshen Realm experts had perished, including Yang Changdong, a Holy Son-level warrior, leaving Fenxin Sect already seething with anger.

And now, Lin Bai had killed Elder Xuanhuo, one of Fenxin Sect’s ’Heaven and Earth Profound Yellow’ four elders, causing Fenxin Sect’s fury to erupt fully. The Fenxin Sect Master Supreme went directly to Heaven-reaching Sword Sect to demand an explanation from the Sword Master!

However, the Sword Master had stated that Dongfang Bai had not yet returned, the matter was unclear, and no judgment could be made.

Since the Sect Master of Fenxin Sect had come to Heaven-reaching Sword Sect, he refused to leave easily, declaring openly: I’ll wait here for Dongfang Bai to return!

Thus, the Sect Master and the three Grand Elders of Fenxin Sect were now waiting for Lin Bai at Heaven-reaching Sword Sect!

Lin Bai shook his head and said, "I won’t return to Heaven-reaching Sword Sect!"

Luo Xuan asked with surprise, "Senior Brother Dongfang, if you’re not returning to Heaven-reaching Sword Sect, where are you going?"

Lin Bai smiled faintly and said, "The Zhao Royal Dynasty!"

Luo Xuan asked in confusion, "What are you going to the Zhao Royal Dynasty for?"

At this moment, Nie Xiong, off to the side, chuckled and said, "Junior Brother Luo Xuan, you’re unaware. Last night, we received a transmission from Li Feng. He said Luotian Sect’s Yan Lin is currently in Tianxiao City, within the Zhao Royal Dynasty!"

"Ah, so that’s it." Luo Xuan nodded in realization. "Then let me accompany you, Senior Brother Dongfang."

Lin Bai said, "It’s rare for you to be back home; spend a few days here. As for the Zhao Royal Dynasty, Nie Xiong, Li Chou, and I will handle it. Additionally, once the Heavenly Saint Fruits are refined into elixirs, deliver them to the Seventy-two Sword Cultivators of Fairy Cave Mountain immediately!"

"Understood?"

Lin Bai asked.

"Understood. Senior Brother Dongfang, take care." Luo Xuan reminded him.

Lin Bai nodded slightly and, along with Nie Xiong and Li Chou, boarded the Spirit Boat, heading directly for the Zhao Royal Dynasty.

Half a month later.

Lin Bai, along with Nie Xiong and the others, entered the Zhao Royal Dynasty.

"Speaking of this Zhao Royal Dynasty, I have a personal enemy here. But he doesn’t seem to be residing within the dynasty presently—I wonder if he’s returned or not." Upon entering the Zhao Royal Dynasty, Lin Bai immediately thought of Zhao Hansheng!

Zhao Hansheng, one of the Six Freaks of Lingnan.

However, according to Su Xianmei’s investigation, since Zhao Hansheng returned from Lingdong’s Miracle Ridge, he had gone into secluded cultivation in the North Frost Dynasty and hadn’t returned to the Zhao Royal Dynasty.

Lin Bai wasn’t sure whether he had returned this time.

"Forget it. Let’s head to Tianxiao City first."

Lin Bai shook his head, his gaze briefly lingering on the direction of the Imperial Capital of the Zhao Royal Dynasty before withdrawing his thoughts and heading toward Tianxiao City.

Tianxiao City was situated in the southwestern part of the Zhao Royal Dynasty, at the crossroads between the dynasty’s Southern and Western regions. It was one of the main cities within the Zhao Royal Dynasty.

Five days later.

Nie Xiong arrived at Lin Bai’s door, shouting, "Senior Brother Dongfang, we’ve arrived at Tianxiao City."

At that moment, Lin Bai was seated cross-legged in his room, surrounded by a dark aura. Upon hearing Nie Xiong’s words, Lin Bai opened his eyes as the black aura around him dissipated. He spoke softly, "We’ve arrived?"

"Perfect timing. The 300 Heavenly Saint Fruits I’ve consumed allowed my cultivation to break through to the second level of the Yangshen Realm!"

Lin Bai stood and shook slightly, releasing a wave of second-level Yangshen Realm energy.

"The Devouring Sword Spirit can indeed absorb Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects and Demon Blood to aid cultivation, but the amount needed for a breakthrough at each stage is utterly outrageous!"

"These 300 Heavenly Saint Fruits, if refined into elixirs, might help Nie Xiong, Li Chou, and the others break through to the fourth or even fifth level of the Yangshen Realm!"

"And yet, for me... it only led to a single realm breakthrough!"

Lin Bai shook his head in dismay. With every advancement in cultivation, the higher his realm, the more he realized that the Devouring Sword Spirit was like a bottomless pit, needing vast amounts of Demon Blood and Heaven and Earth Spiritual Objects to advance just a single level!

"This might be the downside of the Devouring Sword Spirit." Lin Bai sighed softly. "No wonder, throughout history, warriors who possessed demonic martial souls—especially devouring-type demonic martial souls—have always resorted to widespread slaughter..."

"There’s no alternative. Without slaughter, it’s impossible to break through realms!"