Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

For the South Sea Sect, the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion would not tolerate such a risk growing unchecked. If he avoided the fight to scheme for the future, the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion would pressure them from all directions, making it difficult for the South Sea Sect to survive.

Therefore, he had to accept the challenge. If he didn’t, the South Sea Sect couldn’t carry on; even if it wouldn’t be destroyed immediately, decline was inevitable, leading to eventual demise.

As the head of the South Sea Sect and entrusted with his master’s will, naturally, he couldn’t just watch the sect decline.

Although that was the case, Xu Yang still tried to persuade, “Perhaps you could plan for the future and not engage in a temporary struggle?”

Li Cangwu shook his head, his voice steady, “This battle with the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion is meant to break the spine of us from the South Sea. If I live, they will rest uneasily, and our Southern cultivation world will never have peace.”

After speaking, he looked toward the north, gazing far into the distance, “They cannot tolerate me, and I cannot tolerate them. Since it is so, then I will fight with all my might. Let each rely on his ability to settle karma, and let life or death, success or failure be determined by destiny!”

“…”

Xu Yang, having heard this, fell silent, and after a long time, finally said, “Is this fight to the death?”

Li Cangwu spared a faint smile, uttering four words, “No peace until death!”

Xu Yang looked at him and shook his head again, “To break through in battle is fraught with peril!”

“But I have no other choice!”

Li Cangwu’s voice remained even, undisturbed, “Given your abilities, you should be able to see that my end is near.”

Xu Yang looked at his marbled temples and sighed, “Is it because of the battle at Mysterious Yin Island?”

“Indeed!”

Li Cangwu nodded, “In order to eradicate that Mysterious Yin old ghost, not only did our master sacrifice himself, offering his Primordial Spirit with the sword, I also used a secret technique that cut short a thousand years of my lifespan. In another ten years, I will reach my end. If I cannot win this battle and have no hope to enter the Mahayana realm, I will face the same fate.”

“…”

Xu Yang, hearing this, also remained speechless.

Li Cangwu’s name had been celebrated throughout the Southern Sea for nearly ten thousand years!

In this world, unlike Earth Immortals, integrated Cultivators only have a lifespan of ten thousand years, and even using various methods to extend their life, they won’t surpass thirteen thousand years.

As an integrated Cultivator and the senior brother of the South Sea Sect, Li Cangwu had employed almost all of the life-extending methods available. Originally, he still had a thousand years left, with the hope of breaking through to the Mahayana realm to extend his life.

But after the battle on Mysterious Yin Island, in order to slay the old ghost, he had no choice but to use a secret technique, consuming the last thousand years of his lifespan.

In such circumstances…

Xu Yang shook his head, speaking solemnly, “I have a method to extend life, which can continue your lifespan.”

“I appreciate your kind intentions, but my heart knows them well!”

Li Cangwu, hearing this, showed little surprise, his expression calm, and he softly said, “But despair is greater than the heart’s death, and clinging to life is not Cangwu’s way. Please understand my refusal.”

“…”

Xu Yang, upon hearing this, also kept silent, then after a long time finally said, “Do you have any final requests?”

“The one who knows Cangwu well, is Li Xuanyuan!”

Li Cangwu gave a faint smile, revealing his intentions, “I’m aware that you are no ordinary person and must possess extraordinary means. Not to mention that mere Sword Disciple, even the Ninth Heaven Sword Master would hardly trouble you. But I still hope that, no matter the outcome of this battle, whether I live or die, succeed or fail, you will not intervene.”

Having said that, he looked at Xu Yang with a resolute gaze!

Discussing Heaven Sword Tao for a hundred years, others may not know what this “Xuanyuan” could do, but how could he, who had spent that time together, not know?

Return to Void?

More than that!

With his mastery of the Heaven Sword Tao, it would make sense for him to be in the Mahayana realm.

Therefore, Li Cangwu had no doubt that Xu Yang had the power to intervene in the battle.

However, he didn’t want Xu Yang to intervene in this battle, in this situation!

This was his matter, his karma, how could he involve outsiders?

During the battle at Mysterious Yin Island, he did not ask Xu Yang to lend a hand.

Similarly, with the upcoming duel against the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion, he did not want Xu Yang to get involved.

There’s a dynamic to friendship; it may start for benefit, but it should also have boundaries. Neither the Mysterious Yin Island nor the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion should give reason to entangle him.

Xu Yang, looking at him, sighed again, “Do you truly resolve to do this?”

Li Cangwu nodded, “A swordsman would rather break than bend, and die with no regrets!”

“So be it!”

Xu Yang, upon hearing this, didn’t persuade further and simply pushed out a jade slip: “Three months, better than none!”

“This is…?”

Li Cangwu was taken aback, receiving the jade slip and letting his divine consciousness probe into it.

Subsequently, a sword light emerged, brilliantly illuminating his mind and revealing all manner of mysteries.

It was… the Xuanyuan Divine Sword Spell!

Not just the Xuanyuan Divine Sword Jue, but also… the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerate methods.

“…”

Li Cangwu held the jade slip, immersed in it, and it took a long time before he drew back, looking towards Xu Yang with a mix of astonishment and at a loss for words.

After a century of association, he often sought advice, discussing the Way of the Heavenly Sword with this “Dao comrade Xuanyuan.”

To him, the other’s mentoring was not just grudgingly imparted, but generously guided, benefiting him immensely.

Now, he directly bestowed upon him this Xuanyuan sword spell, the law of a Heavenly Venerable, to aid him in a sword duel against a deadly foe!

Such friendship, such deep grace, how could it be expressed in words?

As a sword cultivator, a practitioner of the Heavenly Sword from a lesser sect, no one understood better than he the value of the Xuanyuan Divine Sword Jue and the Nine Rituals Heavenly Venerable methods.

Such complete Heavenly Sword techniques, even the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion, may not possess in their archives; they could serve as the foundation for a sect, the essence of heritage, bestowing upon successive generations of Mahayana sword cultivators, even those in the Tribulation Realm as sword immortals.

But now, he shared them without reservation.

“My friend…!”

Li Cangwu held the jade slip in his hand, overwhelmed with emotions and at a loss for words.

Xu Yang smiled and said with a clasped fist, “Life is full of purpose, and the sword is without regret; Xuanyuan wishes my Dao comrade triumphant success, and may you vanquish your mighty foes!”

“My friend!!!”

Li Cangwu’s gaze trembled, clasping his hands in response: “Cangwu will surely live up to the profound expectations of my comrade!”

A thousand words converged into one phrase.

Xu Yang smiled, “Then I will await the outcome with great anticipation.”

…

In this way, Li Cangwu stayed on the island, discussing swordsmanship and querying the Dao for three months.

After three months, and as the final days approached, he left the island.

For this sword duel, where life and death hung in the balance, as the leader of the South Sea Sect, he had to prepare for his succession.

From atop Heavenly Thunder Peak, Xu Yang watched him leave, alone, sighing only once he was out of sight.

Gui Sanqian, who stood behind his master, expressed his curiosity upon seeing this: “Master, why such a sigh? Could it be that True Monarch Cangwu is no match for the Nine Heavens Sword Disciple?”

Xu Yang shook his head and spoke calmly, “With his current abilities, against that Nine Heavens Sword Disciple, the chances of victory or defeat are evenly matched.”

“There’s still hope if it’s fifty-fifty!”

Gui Sanqian grew more puzzled: “Then Master’s sigh is because…?”

Xu Yang turned his eyes northward: “The Immortal Sect Holy Land, how could there be just one Saint Heir?”

In his words, helplessness was also evident.

During the three months, he did not hold back, sharing all essentials of the Xuanyuan Divine Sword Spell with Li Cangwu. Although he couldn’t help him break through to the next realm, becoming a greater Mahayana, he greatly advanced his mastery in the Way of the Heavenly Sword.

Thus, facing the Nine Heavens Sword Disciple unexpectedly, he should have a fifty percent chance of winning.

But many times, accidents are inevitable.

This battle, ostensibly between Li Cangwu and the Nine Heavens Sword Disciple, is in fact a clash between the South Sea Sect and the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion.

Li Cangwu, as the leader of the South Sea Sect, is their highest force in combat.

While that Nine Heavens Sword Disciple, merely a Saint Heir, is among the higher ranks.

Behind him must stand Mahayana cultivators, Dao Protectors, to serve as the final insurance in this battle.

Li Cangwu, fortified by Xuanyuan’s enhanced Way of the Heavenly Sword, might prevail over that Nine Heavens Sword Disciple, but facing the Dao Protection of the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion’s Mahayana…

The hopes are slim, life and death unpredictable!

As a good friend, Xu Yang even thought of transmitting the Heavenly Mechanics Methods to him, using the power of the Mecha as a last resort for escape and survival.

But regretfully, the Heavenly Mechanics Methods are also a kind of Mana Point, even more potent than Divine Power, not something that could be mastered overnight. To cram at the last minute would only disturb his cultivation of the Way of the Heavenly Sword.

So…

“The tree desires stillness, but the wind keeps blowing; the person seeks peace, yet events keep unfolding!”

“In the age of great strife, in the world of monumental conflicts, against the current one must sail, to progress without retreat!”

“Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion?”

“Hmph!!!”

A cold snort echoed in the wind.

…

Several days later.

In the Cultivation Realm of the Southern Sea, the Canglang Ruins.

Many cultivators gathered, the sword duel was about to commence.