In a desolate small town in the southern part of Liuyun County.
A group of six people, covered in dust, arrived from afar and checked into the town's only inn.
This place was located in a remote area, with no picturesque scenery around, and the spiritual energy in the heavens and earth was extremely thin.
This also led to the fact that within a radius of over a thousand miles, there were very few cultivators.
It was actually quite normal to think about it. Thin spiritual energy meant that it was difficult for any spiritual objects to be born here, let alone areas suitable for cultivation.
The inn was run by mortals, and the food it could provide was mostly indistinguishable between pure and turbid energy. Under normal circumstances, cultivators always kept their distance from such things.
Perhaps only the not-so-wealthy mountain and marsh hermits would not bother with it for various reasons.
"Eat, this is not the time to think too much."
Zhao Yuansong said with exhaustion all over his face.
As soon as his words fell, he began to eat and drink ravenously. Large chunks of beef were stuffed into his mouth, chewed for a while, and then swallowed down with wine.
The other five inner disciples of the Nine Profound Sect could only sigh in unison and then, regardless of their image, began to eat and drink.
Months of traveling, and experiencing battles one after another, they were already exhausted. Not only was their spiritual power heavily consumed, but their medicinal pills, spirit stones, and other resources were also almost depleted.
Despite their reluctance, they could only rely on this crude food, indistinguishable between pure and turbid energy, to supplement the nutrients their bodies needed.
After a period of eating and drinking, the group each retired to the best rooms in the inn, finally having the chance to rest properly.
However, even though they were the best rooms, they were actually just small rooms, with a chair, a table, and a bed.
Zhao Yuansong did not complain. After casually setting up a few restrictions, he sat cross-legged on the bed and began to silently circulate his cultivation technique.
Although he looked disheveled now, with a weathered face, and even having lost several kilograms, his cheeks sunken, and his stubble growing wildly.
His aura was stronger than ever. His cultivation, which was only on the verge of breaking through the second realm, had now reached the peak of the second realm!
The spiritual power within his body was as heavy as a mountain. As it circulated through his meridians, a hazy halo enveloped his entire body.
The aura of the earth emanated outwards. Under a peculiar dao rhythm, Zhao Yuansong's injured body was slowly recovering.
Among the five elements, earth and wood were the most adept at healing injuries.
As the night deepened, he slowly stopped circulating his cultivation technique. When he opened his eyes, countless complex emotions flickered within them.
With a thought, Zhao Yuansong immediately activated his inner vision. He then 'saw' in his dantian a great sword emitting a yellowish-brown light.
The sword was grayish-white throughout, with a metallic luster. If it were restored to its actual size, it would be as tall as a person, and its blade would be as wide as an adult's body.
Within this great sword, a heavy dao rhythm was constantly emanating. If one looked intently, it seemed as if light condensed into a book.
Zhao Yuansong could even hear the chanting of scriptures in his mind without having to concentrate.
It was precisely because of these anomalies that his realm was constantly improving. If he actively sought to comprehend them, the speed would be countless times faster.
Such a situation would undoubtedly be a great thing for anyone.
But in Zhao Yuansong's eyes, it was a trouble far greater than the heavens!
The reason was simple: this great sword was the natal magic treasure of Daoist Chixin from thousands of years ago, forged with extraterrestrial meteorite iron as the main material!
Furthermore, it contained what was said to have fallen to this world along with the extraterrestrial meteorite iron – the supreme cultivation method, the Minor Yellow Scripture!
Zhao Yuansong knew very well that he had obtained a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, but he felt no joy at all. Instead, his heart was filled with boundless worry.
He knew very well that with his current cultivation and realm, he could not possibly guard such an opportunity.
Once the news leaked out, he would inevitably become the target of public criticism. Those Golden Core Great Cultivators, and even the high and mighty Great Powers, would not care about the feelings of a mere second-realm cultivator.
"I must return to the sect immediately!"
Zhao Yuansong muttered to himself.
Only by returning to the Nine Profound Sect could he be truly safe. Then, whether he handed over the treasure or had other ideas, at least he wouldn't have to worry about his life being suddenly taken away.
"Enemy attack!"
Suddenly, his expression shifted, and he roared with a drastic change in his face!
Before his voice even fell, a deafening roar erupted, followed by a surge of immense spiritual power!
The entire inn was instantly shattered by the fierce spiritual power, and countless streams of light descended, tearing apart everything in their path!
Zhao Yuansong let out a loud roar, and a yellowish-brown halo appeared around his body. He then mobilized the spiritual power that had been mostly recovered and forcefully broke through the wall of the room!
He rushed out of the inn at the fastest speed possible and saw over a dozen cultivators holding torches.
Although most of them only had the cultivation of the Enlightenment Realm, they were all holding weapons meticulously crafted by the Great Yu Dynasty, with power sufficient to threaten the lives of cultivators above the second realm.
Behind him, several figures burst out of the inn – the five inner disciples of the Nine Profound Sect.
However, these disciples appeared much more disheveled than a few hours ago. One of them was even lightly injured, with a conspicuous trail of bright red blood on his lips.
"Breakthrough!"
Zhao Yuansong roared, then made his middle and index fingers into a sword finger and pointed forward forcefully!
In an instant, strands of spiritual power condensed into yellowish-brown long swords. Then, with a slight flick of their blades, they differentiated into countless sword shadows!
The sword shadows rained down, and all the cultivators in front desperately dodged, but still, seven or eight of them were cut down.
As soon as his voice fell, he led the five disciples behind him and charged forward with all their might. At the same time, he pointed at the spiritual power long sword he had condensed earlier, making it make a sharp turn in mid-air and then slash at the nearest second-realm cultivator!
After his cultivation advanced significantly, Zhao Yuansong's combat power also increased greatly. With one sword strike, the second-realm cultivator could not resist and had his head severed in the blink of an eye!
"You... hurry and go!"
Just then, a familiar voice suddenly came to his ears.
Zhao Yuansong quickly turned his head to look and saw an inner disciple, his body pierced by over a dozen specially made arrows, his body covered in blood, halting his steps.
The disciple's spiritual power was scattered, and his life force was rapidly draining away.
He smiled, looked deeply at his fellow disciples in front of him, then turned decisively and faced the dozen or so cultivators who were chasing after them.
"The great wind rises, the ten profounds emerge, a thousand years of lingering talent!"
A hoarse voice rang out – a sentence inscribed on the gate of the Nine Profound Sect since its founding.
As this sentence was uttered, the disciple's aura suddenly surged several times. He had actually used a secret sect technique, forcibly burning everything within himself!
In a few breaths, he leaped from the middle stage of the second realm to the peak of the second realm. He reached out and grabbed the void, and a long sword of spiritual power condensed in his palm!
The brilliant sword light rose like stars, dispelling the darkness of this area, and slashed at all the invading enemies!
"Go!"
With his back to his fellow disciples, he shouted with his last ounce of strength.
Hearing this, hearing this.
Zhao Yuansong and the other disciples gritted their teeth, forcefully suppressed the urge to turn and fight, and with hearts full of hatred, rushed into the dark night ahead.
Despite their hearts burning with rage, they could not fail their fellow disciple, who had traded his life and the chance of reincarnation for this precious opportunity!