Transmigrating Into a Fantasy World: Signing in During Pregnancy, Reaching the Summit with My Childhood Sweetheart

166: Chapter 166: Ten Thousand Swords Paying Homage and the Mysterious InscriptionAt the edge of the Deep Abyss, Nangong Xuan sat like an old monk in meditation, his aura seemingly merging with the rocks beneath him and the opposite abyss wall covered in countless sword marks. His Divine Thought transformed into thousands of tiny tentacles, cautiously extending toward the opposite side. He wasn’t forcefully probing, but rather, like an apprentice filled with awe and a desire for knowledge, he gently touched and felt those ancient and proud Sword Intents.

At first, his Divine Thought suffered repeated setbacks. Those Sword Intents were wild and untamed, filled with rejection and hostility toward the ’prying’ of an outsider. An icy Sword Intent nearly froze his Divine Thought, a scorching Sword Intent burned his Perception, a heavy Sword Intent crushed it into fragments, and a swift Sword Intent left no trace to be captured at all.

Every time his Divine Thought was wounded, the feedback hit Nangong Xuan’s physical body, turning his face pale and causing a stabbing pain between his brows. Yet, his gaze remained calm, without a hint of discouragement. The Nirvana Sword Intent naturally protected his Sea of Consciousness’s Origin, while that layer of Innate Sharp Metal Barrier flickered slightly, emitting a pure Sharp Metal aura of the same source, which significantly reduced the rejection and damage he sustained.

He no longer attempted to comprehend all the Sword Intents simultaneously. Instead, he focused his mind on the nearest sword mark, which had a relatively peaceful aura. That sword mark exuded a Concept of ’steadiness’ and ’tenacity,’ as immovable as a mountain.

Patiently, he used his Divine Thought to simulate the trajectory of this Sword Intent over and over again, experiencing the true meaning of the ’Unmovable as a Mountain’ Law contained within. The ’Ending All Laws’ characteristic of the Nirvana Sword Intent became an obstacle at this moment; he had to internalize it, retaining only the purest Perception.

Gradually, he entered a profound state. His Perception of the outside world became blurred, and his entire mind was immersed in that single mountain Sword Intent. After an unknown amount of time, he felt as if he had become a mountain rock, remaining steadfast despite the wind and rain.

The moment he completely merged into the comprehension of this Sword Intent—

Buzz!

On the opposite abyss wall, that mountain sword mark brightened slightly, and an almost imperceptible earth-yellow halo rippled out, creating an extremely subtle and brief harmonious resonance with the chaotic force field formed by the other sword marks.

It was this sliver of resonance that allowed Nangong Xuan’s Divine Thought to seize the opportunity. Like a stream flowing into a river, it followed the ’veins’ of this Sword Intent, extending forward a short distance and touching another adjacent sword mark that was as hot as fire!

”So that’s how it is!” Nangong Xuan realized. ”There’s no need to resist, no need to force a crossing. I must use my Sword Heart to comprehend and gain their recognition. Only then can I use them as a ’bridge’ to find a safe ’path’ through this chaotic Sword Intent force field!”

His spirits lifted, and he followed the same method to begin comprehending that fiery Sword Intent. With his previous experience, it went much more smoothly this time. He experienced the heat and explosion that could incinerate all things, and a hint of the ’Return to Void’ meaning within his Nirvana Sword Intent seemed to quietly resonate with it.

Similarly, when he initially grasped the essence of this Sword Intent, the fiery sword mark glowed slightly, resonating harmoniously with the force field, allowing his Divine Thought to extend forward once again... This was an extremely slow and mentally taxing process. Nangong Xuan was completely immersed, forgetting time, forgetting the ’shadow hunter imprint’ on his body, and forgetting potential pursuers. In his Sea of Consciousness, it was as if countless swords were dancing, each dance representing a completely different supreme truth of the Sword Dao.

His Nirvana Sword Intent, through this all-encompassing comprehension, was not assimilated or weakened. Instead, it was like it had undergone countless temperings and baptisms, becoming more condensed, pure, and inclusive. The Fusion between the Innate Sharp Metal Barrier and his Sword Intent grew even tighter, and it even began to actively absorb the faint Sharp Metal Qi permeating the Deep Abyss to replenish itself.

After comprehending an unknown number of sword marks, his Divine Thought had already penetrated deep into the Core region of the Sword Intent force field. Just as he attempted to touch a sharp, peerless silver sword mark that seemed capable of slicing through space, a sudden change occurred!

That silver sword mark abruptly erupted with brilliant light, and a domineering, sharp, and supreme Sword Intent charged back along his Divine Thought with terrifying force!

This Sword Intent far surpassed all the previous ones, filled with an unquestionable and inviolable imperial majesty! It seemed provoked by the Nirvana and Nirvana characteristics within Nangong Xuan’s Sword Intent and sought to crush it completely!

Caught off guard, Nangong Xuan’s Divine Thought was struck as if by lightning and instantly recoiled. His Sea of Consciousness throbbed with pain, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood!

However, at this critical moment, the gui xu base point that had been slowly rotating within him seemed attracted by this Sword Intent filled with the extreme meanings of ’Destruction’ and ’Cutting,’ and it actually accelerated its rotation slightly on its own!

A faint yet incredibly deep desire to ’devour’ followed Nangong Xuan’s Divine Thought, inversely locking onto that silver Sword Intent!

It wasn’t devouring its energy, but rather... devouring that sliver of ’Ultimate Cutting’ Law fragment it contained!

...Behind the stone door in Remnant Sword Gorge.

Su Muxue stepped through the stone door. Before her was not the Immortal Cave hall she had imagined, but a narrow, man-made tunnel extending downward. The walls of the tunnel were no longer dark red rock but a deep green metal. It was cold to the touch and covered with dense, ancient sword-shaped runes that emitted a faint spiritual light, illuminating the passage.

The air smelled of dust but was exceptionally dry, without any hint of decay. That tragic Sword Intent became even more concentrated here, yet it was no longer aggressive; instead, it served as a silent guide.

She walked cautiously toward the depths, with Lin Mo controlling the Star Core to float ahead and scout the way.

At the end of the tunnel was a massive bronze door. There was no lock on the door, but it was engraved with a complex pattern: countless small swords surrounding a broken, giant ancient sword, as if performing some kind of mourning and guardianship.

Su Muxue tried to push it, but the bronze door didn’t budge. After a moment’s thought, she took out the ’taibai token’ and tried to place it near the pattern on the door.

Buzz!

The taibai token and the pattern on the bronze door lit up with white light simultaneously! The pattern of the soaring sword peak on the token resonated with the broken ancient sword pattern on the door.

Creak, creak, creak—

The heavy bronze door slowly slid open to both sides, revealing the scene behind it.

It was a massive circular cave. In the center of the cave, instead of a pile of Treasure Troves, there was a Sword Tomb several zhang high, built from countless broken swords and discarded weapons! Unlike the Sword Tomb in Jijian Valley formed by Evil Qi and lingering thoughts, this Sword Tomb was solemn and tragic, yet it carried a reassuring sense of righteousness.

Directly in front of the Sword Tomb stood a black stone monument as smooth as a mirror. The monument was covered in text carved with sharp sword marks.

Su Muxue approached to take a closer look. The writing was similar to that on the white jade Jade Slip, consisting of ancient Sword Cultivator runes.

”I am Ling Cang, the Sword-Wielding Elder of the Taibai Sword Sect.” The very first sentence made Su Muxue’s heart skip a beat. A Sword-Wielding Elder’s status was clearly far above that of the mountain guardian, Baishi.

”the dark side suddenly descended, and the Gold-Devouring Demon Nest appeared at the Ji Sword Abyss. The Sect Master fell in battle, and the Sword Sect’s foundation was destroyed in an instant. I led the remnants to retreat and hold this gorge. We fought a bloody battle and finally blocked the demon nest’s vanguard outside the gorge, but only one in ten Disciples remained, and I too have reached the end of my life.”

The tragedy and determination revealed in the words were palpable and suffocating.

”This tomb buries the swords of the last three thousand Disciples of my Taibai Sword Sect, as well as their unyielding souls. Those who come after can witness the iron will of my Sword Sect and also learn the secret of the ’Sword Cleansing Pool.’”

Upon seeing the words ’Sword Cleansing Pool,’ Su Muxue’s breathing suddenly quickened.

”The Sword Cleansing Pool is not a fixed location; it is a Spiritual Realm formed by our sect’s supreme treasure, the ’taibai sword soul,’ combined with the metal qi of the earth veins. Its Core lies beneath this very tomb! However, during the battle with the demon nest, the Sword Soul was corrupted, and the Spiritual Realm was sealed. It cannot be triggered or opened without a pure Sword Heart or the power of a star key.”

”To open it, one must inject a source-compatible Sword Intent or the power of a star key into the Sword Tomb to trigger the resonance of the Sword Soul, and the Spiritual Realm of the Sword Cleansing Pool will manifest. However, since the Sword Soul is corrupted, the Spiritual Realm is not absolutely safe; there may be lingering impurities. Those with weak wills may instead be harmed by it. Be cautious! Be cautious!”

”If one manages to enter the Sword Cleansing Pool, they may be able to wash the Sword Soul and purify the corruption. It can also... eliminate all foreign erosions related to Sword Cultivators (I have observed the stars and seen that the ’Shadow Hunter’ technique of the Dark Court is also similar in nature to Sword Dao erosion; perhaps it is worth a try).”

”My time has come, so I leave this Legacy Inscription for those destined to find it. I hope that those who come after can carry on our will, protect all living beings, and slay all demons... The Sword Sect’s Final Words.”

The text ended abruptly, the final strokes appearing as if they had used up all the writer’s strength, carrying endless regret and hope.

Su Muxue stood there for a long time in silence, her heart churning with emotions. Hope was right before her! The Sword Cleansing Pool was actually beneath this Sword Tomb! And it was very likely to be effective against the ’shadow hunter imprint’ inside Nangong Xuan!

But the risk was equally great. The Sword Soul was corrupted, and the Spiritual Realm was unsafe. Moreover, opening it required a pure Sword Heart or the power of a star key. She wasn’t a pure Sword Cultivator, so her Sword Heart might not be enough, but... she had the star keys in her hand!

She looked at the solemn Sword Tomb, then at the sharp metal star key and the key of living beings in her hands, her gaze gradually becoming firm.

No matter what, she had to try!

She walked to the front of the Sword Tomb, took a deep breath, and slowly raised the two star keys.