Ling Tian paused, gazing at the remaining nine hundred stone steps ahead, and let out a soft sigh.
His goal had never been any of the divine swords along the Immortal Path.
It was the Ancient God-Slaying Sword at the very end of the path, the one entwined with immortal karma!
However, the pressure on this Path of Immortals was indeed somewhat terrifying. Even with his Sword Vein Divine Body, he was starting to feel some strain.
"Enough... let's just hurry this up."
Since he had chosen to stun the world with his brilliance, Ling Tian hesitated no longer.
His hand clenched abruptly, and a peerless sword intent instantly erupted from his body, directly shattering the oppressive force of the Immortal Path into nothingness.
His figure then transformed into a streak of light, leaping passionately towards the end of the Path of Immortals.
Hiss! Hiss!
The Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land was suddenly filled with the sound of people sharply drawing in their breath.
Everyone stared at the young man who was taking ten steps at a time, nimble as a spiritual ape. The astonishment in their eyes could no longer be contained.
What the hell?
Wasn't that Ling Tian a good-for-nothing?
How could he withstand the pressure of the Immortal Path so easily?
Even if he had life-preserving trump cards,his speed was just too fast, wasn't it?
Especially the few True Disciples of the Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land; looks of reverence had already begun to surface on their faces.
They had personally experienced the terror of the Immortal Path.
Forget someone like Ling Tian with no cultivation base; even they, Breakthrough Realm cultivators, had to tread carefully upon it. If they moved too fast, the counteracting suppression force would only grow more terrifying!
But looking at Ling Tian's current speed...
Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss.
Many disciples subtly shifted their steps again,putting more distance between themselves and Yu Yuntian.
Dammit!
Who was it that started that narrative earlier,insisting Ling Tian was a good-for-nothing?
Now look,he's charging straight for the summit. Won't he slap your faces rotten when he comes down?
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Ling Tian must have taken some kind of drug! He must have!" Yu Yuntian roared inwardly. How could he miss the hint of mockery in the eyes of the surrounding disciples looking at him now?
There was no helping it; that's just how the world was.
When you were strong, you enjoyed limitless glory. But once someone stronger appeared, you became the background, the supporting character.
Or even... the donkey to be slaughtered after the millstone was ground.
"Hmph, I refuse to believe you can keep charging like that all the way to the peak!"
Buzz.
On the Path of Ten Thousand Swords, ten thousand swords sang out in unison.
The sound of swords spread for ninety thousand miles, shaking the heavens, its might pressing down on the universe.
Even the many Holy Land elders were already flushed with excitement.
They all wanted to know if this so-called good-for-nothing young master of the Ling Clan was truly the new future of their Holy Land!
A overwhelming sword might descended from the sky.
Even protected by his Sword Dao Principle, Ling Tian's forward progress inevitably began to slow.
By the time only the last hundred steps remained, his figure came to a halt once more.
Ling Tian's face was now slightly pale, sweat dripping down his cheeks and falling onto the bluestone with crisp, clear sounds.
If the first nine hundred steps tested one's talent, then this final hundred steps was the true test of one's mental fortitude.
The path of immortality was vast and obscure; talent was naturally important.
But those who truly achieved supreme status were often the ones with great perseverance and broad-mindedness.
Of course, having endured for seven years, what could Ling Tian possibly lack more than perseverance?
Ten thousand draws of the sword, endless darkness.
All for this single, breathtaking moment of brilliance today!
Ling Xiao, what a pity you aren't here. Otherwise, you would understand that there is only one Chosen by Heaven in the Ling Clan. And that is me.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Each subsequent step was taken with immense effort.
Yet, just when everyone thought he couldn't hold on any longer, he would steadily set foot on the next step.
The mocking, disdainful expressions on the Holy Land disciples' faces gradually gave way to looks of awe and shock.
Peerless sword talent, flawless Dao Heart.
Summoning celestial phenomena the very first time he set foot on the Sword Path.
Ling Tian's name was likely to spread throughout the entire Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty very soon, wasn't it?
The Ling Clan... was indeed terrifying.
First, Ling Xiao crushed his entire generation, achieving a peerless immortal demeanor.
Now, this Ling Tian was using the Path of Ten Thousand Swords to validate his Sword Dao, revealing a peerless sword bearing.
If he hadn't been born with a crippled Dantian Sea, this generation of the Ling Clan might truly have produced two peerless geniuses capable of unifying the Eastern Territories.
What a pity...
It was said that the two brothers, Ling Xiao and Ling Tian, had been at odds since childhood, as incompatible as fire and water.
One just didn't know which of them would ultimately achieve the supreme king's throne.
Ling Tian, of course, was unaware of what everyone was thinking.
At this moment, he was desperately channeling the power of his Dao Principle, gradually achieving a resonance of intent with the heavenly might of the Sword Path.
A cyan mysterious light slowly began to swirl around him. The Sword Dao Principle he had only recently achieved actually showed signs of breaking through!
When Dao Principle power first coalesced, it was merely the comprehension of a Dao Principle.
As one's realm improved, the Dao Principle would manifest more prominently.
After undergoing tempering, it reached the Major Achievement stage. Finally, fully integrating it and using one's own Dao Principle to communicate with the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth led to the Perfection stage.
Of course, legends said that beyond Perfection, there was an Immaculate level, where every action and gesture contained the truths of the Great Dao.
Those realms were absolutely not something Divine Emperors and the like could hope to comprehend.
At this moment, Ling Tian faintly felt that his Dao Principle power was gradually breaking through the initial comprehension stage and steadily advancing towards the Manifestation stage.
A Son of Fate, blessed by luck.
Indeed, any danger or setback would become an opportunity for them to grow stronger.
If this were some villainous stepping stone, they'd probably be struck down by some inexplicable heavenly punishment halfway through and kick the bucket.
Buzz!
Time passed slowly. The white robe on Ling Tian's body was long since soaked through with sweat.
Although his steps were slow, they never ceased for a moment.
Ninety-nine, eighty-one...
Until his figure stood before the final three steps. All the Holy Land elders and disciples held their breath, their bodies tense, their eyes filled with anticipation as they watched the young man's figure that was now deeply etched in their hearts.
Indomitable, a Sword Dao prodigy.
By now, Ling Tian had long since shed the label of good-for-nothing.
The dazzling cyan light surrounding him was like the primordial sun at the dawn of creation.
And his figure was like a Sword God descended from the Ninth Heaven, his might suppressing the present era, peerless for a time.
The summit of the Path of Ten Thousand Swords—this place had seen no one set foot upon it for nearly three hundred years.
Even Ye Xun'er, the most dazzling peerless genius of the current Ten Thousand Swords Holy Land, had only reached the nine hundredth step, receiving the call of the Ancient Evil-Slaying Sword.
But today, perhaps this history was about to be trampled under Ling Tian's feet.
No, he had already rewritten history.
With his talent, simply drawing any ancient sword would be enough to make him shine across the Eastern Territories of the Sacred Dynasty.
Yet, at this moment, Ling Tian showed no intention of giving up. He lifted his foot and stepped towards the final three ancient steps.
Crack. Crack.
To outsiders, Ling Tian's posture seemed handsome and effortless. But only he himself knew the terrifying pressure his body was currently enduring.
The intent of ten thousand swords, converging upon a single person.
He feared that even a demonic beast specializing in body refinement would have long since collapsed and retreated.
Fortunately, the divine body he had awakened was the Sword Vein Divine Body, which had a faint inherent compatibility with this Sword Path.
But even so, countless hairline fractures had appeared within his internal organs.
So much so that blood trickled from his seven orifices, and the meridians throughout his body showed signs of shattering!