The Fourth Layer of Sword Force

“The Dao of the Sword…” Ji Ning closed his eyes.

Slowly, an invisible power began to gather around him. It coalesced into a hazy, black shadow-sword that enveloped and encircled him.

What cultivators normally called ‘great mastery of the sword,’ allowing one to be called a Sword Immortal, was merely the starting point on the path of the sword! To truly comprehend the Force of the Sword… that was to pursue the very essence of the sword.

“It is alive.” Ji Ning opened his eyes, looking at the hazy black shadow-sword that shrouded him. It was the manifestation of the fourth level of Sword Force. Ji Ning could clearly sense the ‘childlike adoration’ coming from the hazy sword-shadow—it was like a small child, deeply, helplessly attached to him. This feeling naturally gave rise to joy in his heart.

Spirit. Life.

The first three levels of Heartforce were just a stiff, rigid power. But the fourth level actually possessed life and spirit! Though its intelligence was still very weak, it already shocked Ji Ning to his core.

When he had previously reached the fourth level of Heartforce, he had not felt such a sensation. Heartforce originated from the self, from the power of the heart and mind. Sword Force, however, originated from the mysterious, unfathomable source of the sword that existed within the hidden depths of the universe. The path Ji Ning now walked was the path of pursuing that source of the sword.

“Whoosh.”

Ji Ning rose to his feet. Every move he made was infused with surging black Sword Force.

“Such tremendous power.”

“Before, there was still a gap between Senior Apprentice-Brother Silvermoon, Red Snow, and myself. After all, my cultivation time had been too short. Although Heartforce is formidable, it is consumed too quickly when used in lethal combat. It’s naturally fine for bullying those weaker than oneself, often winning in one or two moves. But in a protracted battle against an opponent of equal level, it wouldn’t last. This Sword Force, however, requires no consumption of divine power or ki, and it is endless and inexhaustible.” Ji Ning was delighted.

Once you comprehend it…

Then even a mere mortal could, with a wave of their hand, unleash the fourth level of Sword Force.

“The might of this Sword Force is roughly eighty percent of my Heartforce’s full eruption.” Ji Ning was stunned and awed. Although it was only eighty percent, its inexhaustible nature made it far more useful to him than Heartforce, which only lasted for an extremely short time.

“From this moment on, in one-on-one combat, I can finally match Senior Apprentice-Brother Silvermoon and Red Snow.”

…

Calming his heart, Ji Ning began to survey this volcano island. The towering volcano on the island was constantly erupting with lava. However, because this side of the island bordered the frozen sea and endless snowflakes, only the area around the volcanic mountain was scorching hot. The temperatures in other parts of the island, at least near the frozen ocean, were quite pleasant.

“Whoosh.” With a thought from Ji Ning, a figure appeared beside him—it was Empyrean God Xiuke.

“Junior Apprentice-Brother Northmoon.” Empyrean God Xiuke called out with a smile as he emerged. Then he looked around and froze.

The erupting volcano…

A scene so different from the snow island.

“This is, this is…” Xiuke murmured as he stared.

“This is the second island. I call it the Volcano Island,” Ji Ning said.

“You made it. You actually made it! Haha… good, good!” Empyrean God Xiuke turned his head to look at Ji Ning, his eyes filled with excitement. “Junior Apprentice-Brother Northmoon, to be honest, I didn’t have much confidence that you could get through before. I even waited in your immortal mansion for several days, terrified that you might have already failed. Now that you’ve succeeded, it’s wonderful, truly wonderful.”

Empyrean God Xiuke truly hadn’t had much faith in Ji Ning.

Earlier on the Snow Island, he’d seen Ji Ning’s swordsmanship when he killed the Snow Fiendlord’s clone—it was only at the third level of Sword Force. However, the speed and power of those sword strikes were astonishing. That was why he believed Ji Ning had a slight chance of earning the Snow Fiendlord’s approval. To pass through, one didn’t necessarily have to defeat the Snow Fiendlord. So long as one fought for long enough, the Snow Fiendlord would acknowledge them and let them through.

Ji Ning, because he had been watching the stone stele and meditating for a long time, had felt that the time passed very quickly. In reality, it had taken nearly two days.

Empyrean God Xiuke had waited for several days in the immortal mansion, believing that Ji Ning had been locked in a fierce, protracted battle with the Snow Fiendlord, who had then acknowledged him and let him pass.

Ji Ning smiled.

“I was a bit lucky,” Ji Ning said with a laugh.

“Making it through is proof of strength,” Empyrean God Xiuke sighed with emotion. “Regardless of how, we’ve finally left that Snow Island. I’ve had enough of that place.”

“The Snow Island was still quite beautiful,” Ji Ning said.

“When you’re alone, imprisoned there for over a hundred million years, constantly fearful and anxious… even the most beautiful place is Hell,” Empyrean God Xiuke said urgently. “Let’s go, let’s not talk here anymore! Let’s hurry and look around to see if this island has any living deities. The further in you go, the more powerful the surviving Empyrean Gods will be. Even if they can’t make it to the next island, they should be able to survive for a relatively longer time.”

“Let’s go take a look.” Ji Ning nodded.

…

Ji Ning and Empyrean God Xiuke walked across the Volcano Island, observing their surroundings. Before long, they discovered a stretch of undulating, pointed-roof palaces.

“Over there. If any Empyrean God is alive, they should be living there,” Empyrean God Xiuke said, pointing towards the cluster of palaces.

No sooner had he spoken than—

Whoosh.

A robust, muscular man wearing animal hides and with eyes as large as copper bells appeared at the entrance of one of the palaces. He looked outside and immediately spotted Ji Ning and Empyrean God Xiuke.

“Big Brother! Second Brother! Third Brother! Fourth Brother! Fifth Brother! Seventh!” The robust man immediately shouted loudly.

Instantly, with a series of whooshes, figures shot out from the other palaces, all dashing outside to look over.

Six men and one woman.

All of them wore animal hides and were staring over.

“You must be little brother Xiuke?” One of the men, whose face was covered in wrinkles, suddenly called out.

“Seven Dragon Gods! You’re all still alive?” Empyrean God Xiuke laughed heartily.

“The Seven Ancient Dragon Gods?” Ji Ning was also shocked.

Before he came, he had, of course, learned about the Empyrean Gods who had entered the Moon Underwater Abyss from ancient times to the present. The ‘Seven Dragon Gods’ had entered the Moon Underwater Abyss during the Primordial Era. An incredibly long period of time had passed since then. From talking with Empyrean God Xiuke, Ji Ning knew that the Snow Island had an ambush every thousand years. He speculated that the other islands were probably similar.

In the Moon Underwater Abyss, surviving a hundred million years was already a miracle. Surviving from the Primordial Era until now?

“Little brother Xiuke, why have you come to this damned place? This damned place is one that never should have been entered,” the man who looked the most aged said. By now, Ji Ning and Xiuke had already walked over.

“Since we’re already in, regret is useless,” Empyrean God Xiuke sighed. “I was trapped on the Snow Island for over a hundred million years. But you seven have been inside since the Primordial Era! I truly admire that you’ve been able to endure until now.”

“Haha… and who is this brother?” A red-haired man looked at Ji Ning, his eyes full of goodwill. “I can’t recognize him, but I can feel that he is a brother of our Human race.”

“Let me introduce you.”

Empyrean God Xiuke smiled and glanced at Ji Ning. “Junior Apprentice-Brother Northmoon, I’m sure you’ve already guessed. These seven are the renowned Seven Dragon Gods who once followed the Human Sovereign, Suiren, as they conquered the four corners of the world. Back then, our Human race rose from the humblest beginnings. Our cultivation methods were still being experimented with. The Human Sovereign Suiren once collected the blood of True Gods and dragons, using the dragon blood to transform the Human physique so they could cultivate Fiendgod methods. However, it was later discovered that this kind of forced transformation had an impact on both the body and the soul. Most who underwent it ultimately stopped at the Empyrean God level.”

“Why mention that?”

“At least we managed to become Empyrean Gods!”

The Seven Dragon Gods all laughed.

“This is the eldest of the Seven Dragon Gods, Withered Dragon Empyrean God. The second is Blazing Dragon Empyrean God, the third is Mystic Dragon Empyrean God, the fourth is Roaring Dragon Empyrean God, the fifth is Roc Dragon Empyrean God, the sixth is Violent Dragon Empyrean God, and this most beautiful one is naturally the youngest, Illusory Dragon Empyrean God,” Empyrean God Xiuke said with a smile as he introduced them.

Feelings of admiration and respect welled up in Ji Ning’s heart.

He had always felt great admiration for the earliest group of strong beings of the Human race. They had carved out a world for the future generations of Humanity. Some had even used their own bodies to test experimental cultivation methods! The ones transformed by dragon blood back then were not just these seven. Many more had had their bodies explode and die on the spot.

After all, not just anyone could withstand the blood of a True Dragon. These seven were the survivors from a batch of strong warriors that Suiren had experimented with long ago. They were titled the ‘Seven Dragon Gods.’ Though they were not blood siblings, their bond was stronger than that of brothers.

“Aren’t you going to tell us about this little brother?” The only woman among them spoke. Despite wearing animal hides, she could not conceal her handsome, delicate features. Her voice was crisp, but she was still open and heroic in manner.

“This is Junior Apprentice-Brother Northmoon, a disciple of Daofather Subhuti,” Empyrean God Xiuke said with a sigh.

“Northmoon?”

“Little brother Northmoon! It’s been so long since we’ve met a fellow Human brother! We seven have been bored to death here. Haha, come, come, come! Try some fine wine that little Seventh brewed by gathering the primal essence of heaven and earth!” The tall, burly man with eyes like copper bells, who had first spotted Ji Ning and Xiuke, immediately threw an arm around Ji Ning’s shoulders and began pulling him towards the palace.

…

The Seven Ancient Dragon Gods, Empyrean God Xiuke, and Ji Ning; nine members of the Human race all sat down casually, beginning to drink heavily and chat freely.

“I trust you seven should be aware that outside, it is now the Era of the Three Realms,” Empyrean God Xiuke suddenly said.

“Yes, we’ve heard.”

“Some Empyrean Gods have passed through here, and we’ve heard the stories.” All of them nodded.

Empyrean God Xiuke nodded in return. “But those Empyrean Gods probably don’t know that the present-day Three Realms… a great calamity has already descended upon it.”

“A calamity?” The expressions on the faces of the Seven Dragon Gods changed drastically.

“A calamity no less than the Primordial Destruction War,” Empyrean God Xiuke said gravely.

“What?!”

These seven Dragon Gods had already entered the Moon Underwater Abyss during the Primordial Era, so they had never experienced the Primordial Destruction War. However, later Empyrean Gods who passed through here had told them about it. They were well aware of how brutal the Primordial Destruction War had been. Great powers, even Elder Gods, had fallen one after another. Even the Pangu Chaosworld itself had been shattered.

“Junior Apprentice-Brother Northmoon is the one who told me,” Empyrean God Xiuke said, looking at Ji Ning.

“I’ll explain it,” Ji Ning said. He then recounted the nature of this great calamity in detail.

The faces of the Seven Dragon Gods changed color as they listened.

“If I had known about this, I would have killed every last Empyrean God from the Seamless Gate who came through here long ago,” Violent Dragon roared in fury.

“Damn it all, damn it all! They really are wolves who can never be tamed! They should be killed, every last one of them!”

The Seven Dragon Gods were all burning with rage.

They all foresaw just how brutal the result of such an apocalypse would be. And this only made their fury surge all the more fiercely.