The Myriad Sword Art, or Wan Jian Jue, was a technique Ye Wen had conceived back in the Nine Provinces World, but only truly mastered after arriving in the Immortal Realm. His true mastery of it was achieved only here in the Immortal Realm. Initially, Ye Wen’s Myriad Sword Art relied on brute force to overwhelm opponents.

It didn't matter what magical treasures or techniques they employed, or how cunning their variations were; he would simply rain down a chaotic barrage of swords, overwhelming even the mightiest foe. However, as Ye Wen’s cultivation deepened and his adversaries grew exponentially stronger, this blunt smashing approach became less effective than it once was. Consequently, Ye Wen gradually began incorporating variations into the Myriad Sword Art.

For instance, he no longer followed the old method of holding his breath and gathering energy, ceaselessly spawning endless long swords before unleashing the attack. Instead, he now produced them one by one, adding to the stream sequentially. In a standard battle, this tactic of feeding reinforcements piecemeal would undoubtedly be idiotic.

But the Myriad Sword Art suffered no such drawback, because every single Purple Heaven Sword he manifested was difficult enough to handle, let alone the prospect of shattering them all. Therefore, the pressure on the opponent would only mount, rather than presenting an opportunity to pick them off one by one. Indeed, if an opponent couldn't subdue Ye Wen or break his Myriad Sword Art the moment he initiated it, they might not even survive the initial onslaught, being gradually worn down and struck dead by the ceaselessly increasing number of flying swords and increasingly unpredictable array of maneuvers.

What astonished Vermilion Bird even more was that while Ye Wen continuously deployed flying swords around them, he still held a Purple Heaven Sword in his hand, engaging Vermilion Bird in close-quarters sword combat, all while the hovering flying swords complicated matters. Sweat began to bead on Vermilion Bird’s brow, and he started to feel that he could no longer keep up. Ye Wen thrust out a Ding Yang Zhen (), and the opposing Vermilion Bird narrowly dodged the sharp thrust.

Logically, this should have been an opportunity to counterattack, as Ye Wen’s move was now spent, and the transition of force would inevitably cause a slight pause. But before Vermilion Bird could react, he felt the sound of piercing air from both behind and to his flanks. With no choice but to hastily evade again, the Divine Monarch Vermilion Bird was not an ordinary figure, and in his evasion, he managed to squeeze out a punch.

The fiery energy on that punch erupted abruptly. Though a rushed strike, the intense heat of the flame felt scorching, washing over Ye Wen. Ye Wen swiftly deflected his long sword and executed the Wan Li Feng Hou ().

This move was also drawn from the True Perfection Sword Style (Quan Zhen Jian Fa). The True Perfection Sword Style was inherently steady, and not particularly sharp, but in Ye Wen’s hands, especially under these circumstances, it was perfectly suited. With the Azure Snow Ice Sword Qi (Bi Xue Bing Jian Qi) supplementing it, the searing fire energy rushing towards him was instantly eradicated as the sword strike was unleashed.

Furthermore, as Ye Wen executed this move, not only did the Azure Snow Ice power erupt, but another flying sword manifested along with the motion. The newly appeared flying sword employed no strange tricks, delivering a straightforward thrust, but imbued with the force of the Great Peak Three Green Peaks (Tai Yue San Qing Feng). After Vermilion Bird blocked the thrust with his bare palm, he felt layers upon layers of forceful energy emanating from the long sword.

The rearward force surpassed the initial impact; after the triple force passed, it actually pierced through the Immortal Power in his palm. If he hadn't reacted swiftly enough, abruptly twisting his palm and employing a force-dissipating maneuver to deflect the flying sword aside, his hand would have suffered more than just a superficial gash. "Truly troublesome!" After this exchange, Vermilion Bird had initially believed their strengths to be roughly equal, perhaps even asserting his own cultivation was far superior.

But in the actual fight, he realized Ye Wen’s combat experience was formidable. Although Vermilion Bird had lived for an exceedingly long time, opportunities for true, life-or-death sparring were rare, and he lacked adversaries of equivalent standing to clash with. In truth, Ye Wen was more seasoned, and his coordination of techniques was exquisitely nuanced, especially when paired with this Myriad Sword Art.

Under the pressure, Vermilion Bird experienced a momentary illusion of being besieged by countless enemies simultaneously. Such a technique bore a slight resemblance to the Grand Supreme Elder Laozi’s Yi Qi Hua San Qing (One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones), but Laozi’s technique genuinely spawned three Golden Immortals to fight, whereas Ye Wen ceaselessly manipulated flying swords while engaging the enemy himself. Vermilion Bird was unaware that this particular deployment of the Myriad Sword Art was a recent insight of Ye Wen’s, one not yet fully mastered.

If Ye Wen were allowed to experiment with it further and discover the most optimal fighting method, perhaps only a select few in the entire Immortal Realm would ever survive long enough to witness the complete execution of his Myriad Sword Art. While Vermilion Bird wrestled with this predicament, Ye Wen had no reason to cease his assault. He flicked his long sword, executing Tao Hua Liu Shui ( - Peach Blossom Flowing Water), but instead of following it with the corresponding Ju Wan Luo Qian (Gather Ten Thousand, Fall Thousands), he unleashed Su Yue Fen Hui ( - Plain Moon Dividing Sweep).

Moreover, this strike incorporated the method of Yi Jian Hua San Qing (One Sword Transforms into Three Pure Ones). Just as Vermilion Bird parried the preceding move, he saw a flurry of sword shadows before him, appearing as if three long swords were simultaneously stabbing towards him. As if that weren't enough, as Ye Wen employed this One Sword Transforms into Three Pure Ones, the long sword trembled, and two more Purple Heaven Swords materialized.

The sword shadows shook; one was using a move from the Returning Wind and Falling Goose Sword Style (Hui Feng Luo Yan Jian), while the other employed the Supple Finger Sword Style (Rao Zhi Rou Jian), its blade twisting and turning in ways that made its target impossible to discern. This clustered attack, combined with the flying swords evaded moments earlier now returning to block several of Vermilion Bird’s escape routes, created a situation where evasion seemed impossible. Vermilion Bird knew that if he failed to withstand this move, he would lose today.

In this crisis, he immediately unleashed his ultimate technique. A streak of crimson, fierce flame shot toward the sky, and the explosive, scorching energy blew away all of Ye Wen’s Purple Heaven Swords. Immediately, the pillar of vermilion fire twisted and transformed, quickly assuming the shape of a Phoenix.

The flaming phoenix then began to shrink, while its color deepened to a more intense crimson. Finally, it was only about the size of a person, its entire body a vibrant vermilion like jade, its phoenix eyes glancing around with a life-like agility. Ye Wen was startled to see this, but his hands were swift; he swung his long sword again.

This move was not a sword technique, but rather a blade strike. A standard long sword could not be used this way, but the Purple Heaven Sword, condensed from pure energy, possessed extraordinary solidity, making it feasible to employ chopping and cleaving maneuvers as if it were a saber. Ye Wen never adhered strictly to specific cultivation styles; he used whatever came to mind.

He employed the Profound Mystery Saber Technique (Xuan Xu Dao Fa) a few times, then, with a wave of his hand, unleashed the Seven Revolutions Slash (Qi Xuan Zhan). With every move he executed, another Purple Heaven Sword was added. Ye Wen unleashed twenty moves in quick succession, adding twenty more flying swords to the fray.

However, this time, unlike before, Vermilion Bird was not driven into extreme disarray. The crimson phoenix, joining forces with Vermilion Bird, managed to intercept all of Ye Wen's myriad maneuvers. More significantly, when the Purple Heaven Swords struck the phoenix, they produced a metallic clang, causing it no discernible damage.

The bird seemed utterly unconcerned with the attacking swords, focusing solely on vexing Ye Wen, only occasionally flying back to intercept a strike aimed at Vermilion Bird. "This is a divine ability forged from my own essence, barely qualifying as an external avatar. It fears neither swords nor the Five Elements techniques.

I ask Sword Master Ye what further means you possess; perhaps you should employ them quickly!" To be frank, this entity was truly difficult to deal with, as the vermilion firebird was essentially invulnerable, and its surrounding fiery aura could inflict injury merely by brushing past someone. Ye Wen countered with an Azure Snow Ice energy move, Kang Long You Hui ( - Arrogant Dragon Regrets), which only managed to dim the flames on the bird momentarily before they instantly recovered. After fighting for a while, he realized that shattering the firebird was impossible; he had to defeat Vermilion Bird himself.

Thus, he diverted a portion of his flying swords to intercept the firebird and focused his entire attention on Divine Monarch Vermilion Bird. At this point, Divine Monarch Vermilion Bird should have been under greater pressure. However, because so many flying swords were drawn away by the firebird, Divine Monarch Vermilion Bird and Ye Wen had almost returned to a one-on-one state.

Ye Wen and Vermilion Bird exchanged several more blows. Both understood their strengths were evenly matched. Even though Vermilion Bird’s cultivation was deeper, Ye Wen recovered energy rapidly and did not fear a protracted fight, leading to a temporary stalemate.

In order to contain the firebird, most of the flying swords Ye Wen had deployed earlier were now occupied. He further employed various sword styles and formations, resulting in an incessant clanging symphony. Though unable to kill the firebird, he managed to secure it, preventing it from harassing him, resulting in a prolonged deadlock.

Given this situation, if there was a final, decisive move, he should use it without reservation. Ye Wen certainly held nothing back, taking a deep breath. His internal true energy began to circulate rapidly.

Although he employed no internal visualization technique, he could sense the boundless cosmos within him undergoing continuous evolution—in an instant, numerous nebulae dissipated while many new ones were born. The primordial chaos at the center simultaneously condensed as this circulation accelerated, and the purple qi within the chaos gradually thickened. Ye Wen’s eyes snapped open, activating his Glazed Pupils (Liu Li Tong), and the Seven-Colored Glazed Fire erupted almost without warning.

While this flame seemed to have little effect on Vermilion Bird, the Divine Monarch showed no sign of complacency. Instead, he lunged forth from the flames, forming hand seals with both hands, radiating boundless Vermilion Bird Divine Flames, his entire body transforming into another firebird, which then dove straight towards Ye Wen. Just then, Ye Wen tapped his finger, and his tightly closed lips parted slightly, releasing a faint wisp of purple energy with that soft exhalation.

However, no one noticed this, because the instant Ye Wen tapped his finger, the entire plaza was enveloped in a wash of purple. The surrounding Shu Mountain disciples could not see what was happening inside, no matter how hard they tried. Of course, those flying swords and the firebird were all enveloped as well.

At this moment, Xu Xian and Ning Ruxue watched the purple expanse with distinctly different reactions. Xu Xian merely sighed in awe: "Senior Brother's move is truly incomparably sharp!" Ning Ruxue, however, gazed at the vast swathes of purple, falling into a pensive silence, her thoughts unknown. Hua Yi, closing her eyes to sense a trace of chaotic energy within the purple, seemed to have an epiphany; a previously incomprehensible aspect of the Five-Colored Divine Light now appeared to have a clear path forward.

Artemis, having witnessed the power of this technique before, showed no concern, simply standing with her head held high, seemingly unafraid for Ye Wen—perhaps in her mind, Ye Wen could never lose, especially when deploying this particular move. The Shu Mountain disciples had their own concerns, but Ye Wen knew nothing of these things. After unleashing the Myriad Sword Convergence (Wan Jian Gui Yi), he suddenly discovered something extremely surprising.

He had nearly exhausted all his power just to trap Vermilion Bird. Never mind that, as long as he was trapped, it was equivalent to victory, since the force that would deliver the final blow to Vermilion Bird was the very power that held him captive. However, these matters were not what commanded his attention.

What truly preoccupied him was another uninvited ‘guest’! This person believed he was hidden perfectly, unaware that Ye Wen possessed the Glazed Pupils. Though he couldn't see clearly, Ye Wen had vaguely perceived his whereabouts.

He hadn't spoken because Ye Wen lacked an immediate means to break that person’s protective barrier. His only decisive move required a suitable moment for activation; otherwise, if the opponent escaped or sensed danger and dodged, dealing with him later would be far more difficult. Slightly turning his body, Ye Wen looked towards the terrified angel struggling desperately against restraint, and sneered, "Are you quite surprised?" Within this expanse of purple, Ye Wen could perceive everything, but those trapped inside could see nothing.

Their five senses were drastically attenuated; unless Ye Wen willed them to hear something, they would hear nothing at all. Ye Wen’s question was naturally intended for the angel to hear, but replying would be extremely difficult; the angel couldn't even manage to turn his neck to locate the speaker. The long casket he carried still emitted a faint glow, but under the pervasive influence of the vast purple, the light grew progressively dimmer until it faded completely, looking no different from an ordinary long casket.

Ye Wen recognized this item: it was Avalon, capable of isolating all auras. It was precisely thanks to this artifact that the angel could sneak in undetected by anyone. Had Ye Wen not possessed the Glazed Pupils, he might never have noticed, perhaps even suffering a fatal sneak attack from the angel at a critical moment.

He certainly didn't believe a high-ranking angel, carrying a treasure from the Heavenly Pantheon, would sneak into Shu Mountain just to watch a spectacle! This angel was none other than Uriel, one of the Archangels of the Heavenly Pantheon, specifically instructed by the God of Light. Uriel had never imagined that possessing formidable strength and divine artifacts for protection, he would be utterly defenseless before Ye Wen, to the point where even speaking became a luxury.

Though his eyes showed no outright terror, Ye Wen detected the surprise and a sliver of despair. Unfortunately, Ye Wen was not one to show mercy. After a cold laugh, he casually remarked, "The Heavenly Pantheon appears to have run out of tricks!

However, the God of Light was astute enough to recognize my importance. Regrettably, that old ghost underestimated me." As soon as the words fell, Uriel knew no more. Although the pain of the Myriad Sword Rending Lingering Torture (Wan Jian Ling Chi) coursing through his body was enough to break any mortal, it was irrelevant to Uriel now.

Furthermore, in an instant, he vanished completely from this world, leaving no trace. The only thing remaining was the long casket called Avalon! As the purple dissipated, the flying swords and the firebird were gone without a trace.

Ye Wen and Vermilion Bird stood opposite each other, and in Ye Wen’s hand was a plain, unremarkable-looking long casket. Vermilion Bird’s face was far from pleasant. He stared fixedly at Ye Wen before sighing helplessly, cupping his fist: "Sword Master Ye, your skill and technique are both profound.

This humble monarch admits defeat." Being trapped by Ye Wen’s Myriad Sword Convergence was one thing; being used in the process was what truly brought him shame. Divine Monarch Vermilion Bird was a figure of significant standing. Coupled with everything he had clearly seen and heard within the purple expanse, he understood exactly what had transpired.

His battle with Ye Wen was never intended to involve so many interlopers, yet he had been manipulated into participating by this Western birdman. Uriel had clearly intended to launch a sneak attack while Ye Wen and Vermilion Bird were locked in major combat. What made Vermilion Bird want to vomit blood was that Ye Wen had clearly perceived the underlying plot but still chose to fight him, even exploiting their duel.

When Uriel believed the optimal moment had arrived, Ye Wen unleashed that Myriad Sword Convergence, then used its overwhelming power to force out the hidden Uriel and slay him on the spot. This realization made Vermilion Bird feel even more frustrated than being equally trapped and immobilized by the Myriad Sword Convergence himself. In truth, Vermilion Bird had long heard rumors of the Myriad Sword Convergence’s might and harbored a desire to test it personally, to see if it truly was as formidable as claimed.

But once he was enveloped by that purple light, he truly couldn't move at all. After witnessing Uriel’s fate, Vermilion Bird understood that if Ye Wen wished to kill him now, it would be merely a matter of thought. He did not know that while Ye Wen’s move was indeed domineering and ferocious, its cost was terrifyingly high.

That one move of Myriad Sword Convergence had broken Avalon’s protective barrier, simultaneously binding both a peak-condition Vermilion Bird and Uriel, and then executing Uriel, had utterly drained Ye Wen’s cultivation reserves. At this moment, he was only standing through sheer force of will. If Ye Wen were to launch another attack...

setting aside the Myriad Sword Convergence, which could not be used consecutively, he couldn't even muster the Myriad Sword Art. However, as the leader of a sect, even when utterly depleted, he could not show it on the surface. Besides, Ye Wen was far from that stage yet.

He returned Vermilion Bird’s bow, saying, "Your praise is too generous, Divine Monarch." Vermilion Bird shook his head, feeling his compliments were wholly deserved. With a final, long sigh, he told Ye Wen, "This battle, this monarch concedes wholeheartedly." He did not elaborate on what might happen after the defeat. Both men were perceptive; they understood that after today, this matter would never be mentioned again.

Since it was an embarrassment for the Phoenix Clan, and Ye Wen was not one to continually pick at old wounds, silence was best for both. Yet, the repercussions of this battle extended beyond just this single incident. After exerting his utmost effort, Ye Wen's cultivation was completely spent, but amidst the void, he seemed to grasp something—a direction for his future path.

More importantly, before turning to leave, Vermilion Bird transmitted a message to him telepathically: "Be wary of the Jade Emperor." PS: I intended to write more yesterday, but kept getting stuck at the final moments of the writing. That seems to be the case now as well. Speaking of which, this book is nearing its end in the next few days...