Breaking the Speed of Light

In the past, Ji Ning had believed that the Heavenly Dao was the set of rules governing the operation of the Three Realms, and that surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao meant surpassing the operational rules of the Three Realms!

But now, having truly broken through and comprehended the Five Treasures Sword Art, Ji Ning finally understood the true meaning of surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao.

The Heavenly Dao…

It was not the Heavenly Dao of the Three Realms alone, but rather a Heavenly Dao that existed everywhere!

Both the Pangu Chaosworld and the Seamless Chaosworld had their own ‘Heavenly Daos,’ and the Heavenly Daos of each Chaosworld were different from one another! Even in the endless primordial chaos, there was a Chaos Heavenly Dao that covered everything, and places like the Moon Underwater Abyss, the World Prison, and the Void were all similarly enshrouded by the Chaos Heavenly Dao.

There was a layer of invisible rules… that covered every corner of the endless Chaos.

Within this layer of rules, there were many restrictions. For example, the absolute maximum speed was the speed of light! Time could only flow forward, never backward. Techniques like ‘temporal rewind’ merely allowed one to observe past events; they were not a true reversal of time! There were also limits on the maximum possible power of lightning, fire, wind, and water…

These were rules. This was a shackle that hung over countless living beings. It was precisely because of these shackles that the various Chaosworlds could operate stably. If these forces were allowed to erupt chaotically, then Chaosworlds like Pangu’s and the Seamless Chaosworld might have destroyed themselves long before they had even collided with each other.

Of course—

Amongst the countless living beings, there were some peerless prodigies who could break through these shackles, reaching a higher level.

Ji Ning’s sword had now broken through those shackles in terms of speed.

“Invisible rules. Invisible shackles. They are everywhere.” Ji Ning traced a line through the air with his finger. In that instant, his finger exceeded the speed of light, and he could feel the invisible shackles of these rules. If one had not truly transcended them, one would never even be able to sense these shackles at all.

“Even the most powerful figures are still under the control of the Heavenly Dao of the Three Realms. Only an existence like Mother Nuwa can truly transcend the Heavenly Dao.” Ji Ning sighed with emotion.

Chaos Immortals and World Gods… these were beings whose absolute power had exceeded the limitations of these rules and shackles, reaching an entirely new level.

Ji Ning was still far behind in terms of absolute power. He had merely surpassed the speed limit with his sword technique.

“In terms of sword speed, I am now among the very peak of the Three Realms!” Ji Ning mused to himself. “As for sword technique overall, I should rank in the top three as well.”

The question of who was the number one Sword Immortal in the Three Realms had always been a subject of debate.

Daofather Fuju, who had been recognized as the number one Sword Immortal of the Three Realms, was already dead. The current frontrunner was Daofather Sacredfire. In truth, Daofather Sacredfire was just like Ji Ning—he had reached the Fourth Layer of Sword Force and mastered the Five Treasures Sword Art! There were still a few figures in the Three Realms who had reached the Fifth Layer of Sword Force.

The Fifth Layer of Sword Force possessed astonishing power and even more exquisite sword techniques. However, its speed still had not broken past the limits of the Heavenly Dao; it remained merely the speed of light.

When the gap in speed grew too vast…

Even the most exquisite sword technique was rendered useless.

Even though Daofather Sacredfire had only reached the Fourth Layer of Sword Force, many experts still considered him the number one Sword Immortal of the Three Realms, though it was a contested title. As for other monstrous beings, such as the ‘Darklight Swordlord’ of the Seamless Gate, who was an old fiend who had reached the Fifth Layer of Sword Force, no one ever claimed that the Darklight Swordlord was the number one Sword Immortal. After all, at the very root of the sword was the concept of ‘speed’.

Even a simple thrust, if it exceeded the speed of light, would possess utterly ridiculous power. It would be incredibly difficult for an enemy to block. Speed was the true essence of the sword!

…

When Lu Dongbin had believed that Ji Ning could become a Sword Immortal, and Patriarch Subhuti was even more optimistic about him, neither of them could have imagined that in just three hundred years, Ji Ning’s sword technique would have reached such a staggering height.

The reason for this terrifyingly rapid progress was primarily the trials and tempering he had undergone in the Moon Underwater Abyss. While his numerous other clones were also training in the Five Treasures Sword Art within the Three Realms, they were still extremely far from mastering it! Clearly, the effect of life-and-death tempering in a special environment was vastly different from solitary, silent contemplation. Within the Three Realms, there were no such miraculous sword techniques like the ‘Sword Art of Desolation’ and the ‘Sword Art of Soul Severing’ to guide him.

“If I could reach the Fifth Layer of Sword Force, then I would be the undisputed number one Sword Immortal of the Three Realms.” Ji Ning’s heart was filled with anticipation. However, he was also well aware that reaching the Fifth Layer of Sword Force was likely almost as difficult as reaching the Fifth Layer of Heartforce.

The Tenth Warden stared at Ji Ning’s finger tracing through the void in the distance. His expression changed slightly, and he murmured to himself, “Surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao?”

“Sorry to have kept you waiting.” Ji Ning smiled as he walked over.

He was in an excellent mood.

His strength had greatly increased, giving him more control over his fate in the coming calamity, and he was also able to bring the two hundred-plus Empyrean Gods out with him. He was well aware of how desperately those gods wanted to leave.

“Let me see just how formidable you are.” The Tenth Warden transformed into a streak of light, shooting straight at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning continued to walk forward casually, his demeanor one of absolute control. No matter how profound the Warden’s sword technique was, its speed could not surpass the speed of light. As the Warden’s sword-light flew toward him, Ji Ning simply extended his right hand, his own sword-light lashing out like a venomous serpent. It was an extremely simple but astonishingly fast thrust.

The Blood Drop Stance of the Brightmoon Sword-Art!

The Tenth Warden struggled desperately to block, but Ji Ning’s sword-light still scraped past his own sword and stabbed into the Warden’s forehead. The Warden’s head involuntarily snapped backward, and he was sent flying backward before staggering to a halt. His expression was incredibly complex as he muttered, “Surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao… indeed, surpassing the limits. When a sword technique is this fast, how can it be blocked? There is simply no way to block it.”

The Fifth Layer of Sword Force possessed incredibly exquisite sword techniques! Yet, when pitted against a Fifth Layer-level technique, the Five Treasures Sword Art at the Fourth Layer still held the upper hand.

Just one word—‘speed’.

It was enough to make countless experts despair, and even some great powers were willing to abandon their other Daos just to train in the Five Treasures Sword Art.

“You win.” The Tenth Warden looked at Ji Ning, a glimmer of hope in his lifeless eyes. “This sword technique… is it the legendary Five Treasures Sword Art of your Three Realms?”

“You have heard of the Five Treasures Sword Art?” Ji Ning was surprised.

“Those Empyrean Gods of yours spoke of it often in the Moon Underwater Abyss.” The Tenth Warden stared at Ji Ning.

“Yes, it is the Five Treasures Sword Art.” Ji Ning nodded.

The Tenth Warden’s expression was complex. He sighed, “I have guarded the Swordroad of Ten Thousand Blades, mastering countless swordsmanship, spear techniques, saber arts, and other close-combat skills. Yet, not a single one could surpass the limits of the Heavenly Dao. To have been defeated by you, I am fully convinced.”

“You guard all of the levels?” Ji Ning asked in surprise.

“Of course. The nine Wardens you encountered before were also me,” the Tenth Warden said with a smile. “I merely displayed a different sword technique each time… Alright. You have won. You may now proceed to the fifth island. Upon reaching the fifth island, you will be able to leave the Moon Underwater Abyss.”

“Go.” The Tenth Warden smiled, then dissipated into nothingness.

The surrounding darkness vanished as well, and the bright moon in the sky reappeared.

Ji Ning transformed into a streak of light and continued onward.

…

After flying for about half an hour, he could vaguely make out a massive, beautiful island. The island was covered with countless small lakes, each one dazzling and brilliant. Some lakes blazed like fire, others shone with a golden light, others were a vast red, still others were an emerald hue… Their shimmering light created a scene of ethereal beauty, like a celestial paradise.

At the very end of the floating wooden bridge stood a man with scattered silver hair, dressed in gray robes. He was smiling at Ji Ning.

“Eh?” Ji Ning felt a flicker of curiosity as he looked at the silver-haired man. “He doesn’t seem to be a living creature.”

“This is the final island of the Moon Underwater Abyss, the ‘Falling Moon Island’.” The silver-haired man smiled at Ji Ning. “Darknorth God, you are the second Empyrean God to have passed the Swordroad of Ten Thousand Blades and reach this place. Furthermore, your strength is even greater than that of Jue Ming back in his day… Alright. Come with me. I will take you to select your treasures. This will be your final chance to choose.”

Ji Ning nodded.

Of the five islands, the last three each offered a chance to obtain a treasure.

In the span of just a few minutes, Ji Ning made his selections.

Having interrogated the memories of the prisoners from the Nine Directions Chaosworld, he was well aware of how valuable these treasures were. The great powers of the Three Realms had long been desperate for them. Ji Ning himself might not have a use for them, but they could be of great help to the powers on his own side.

“Return to me the treasures of Feng Hou God and Zui E God,” the silver-haired man said.

“Here.” Ji Ning had already prepared them. He handed them over, then asked in confusion, “Don’t I need to return the treasures of Greatdream God and Sun Nine God?”

Greatdream had killed Sun Nine back then.

Then he himself had killed Greatdream, and naturally, their treasures had fallen into his hands.

“Since you were the one who killed them, of course they belong to you,” the silver-haired man said. “Come with me to the next place. After that, you will be able to leave the Moon Underwater Abyss.”