A coiling dragon shadow suddenly erupted from the stone wall, exuding an aura of immense majesty, though its form was notably incomplete.
Behind Zong Shou, precisely nine ethereal, coiled dragons materialized. Though significantly smaller—about a dozen times so—and insubstantial in appearance, they too were baring fangs and claws, radiating profound arrogance.
Li Yuan Dan started again, then sneered, "If Senior Brother Long Ruo states it, then it is likely true. That Dragon Shadow Martial Sage, thinking he has found a successor, will surely regret it immensely when he discovers that Zong Shou is merely gold plating over rot—a wastrel with decent comprehension. I wonder what fury he will feel?"
Han Ni Shui’s expression immediately eased upon hearing this.
Long Ruo, however, maintained his grim face, the sliver of unease in his heart growing more intense.
A surge of murderous intent, irrepressible, rose within him.
A voice in his mind called out incessantly.
—Eliminate this child! You must kill Zong Shou on the spot, no matter the cost. Otherwise, I will regret it for the rest of my life!
He had already erred once by nurturing an inner demon; he could not afford a second mistake!
Thoughts raced through his mind as Long Ruo’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched tightly. A slender sword shadow ceaselessly rotated within the confines of his wide sleeve.
It was the ‘Broken Blade Sword,’ purchased from Zong Shou by Zu Ren Kuang and subsequently gifted to him. Not long ago, a Grandmaster Artificer from his sect had refined it further, integrating suitable materials to completely transform it, elevating it from a Tier Three Spirit Sword to a Tier Seven.
He was confident that with this sword unleashed, even the old man of the Dragon Shadow might not be able to protect Zong Shou. Though a Martial Sage expert, he was separated by hundreds of worlds and countless spans of time; there was still a chance of success!
He only needed an opportunity—a chance he could exploit and then safely escape.
A flicker of malevolence crossed his eyes. Long Ruo took another deep breath, forcibly suppressing these scattered thoughts.
He afforded himself a self-deprecating smile; he had truly fallen deep into obsession concerning Zong Shou.
Yet, within that obsession, his mind felt colder and more serene than ever before. The killing intent remained unchanged, growing only stronger. If he could remove this boy, the demonic obstruction would cease to trouble him, and his cultivation should even see a further breakthrough.
Just then, another dragon’s roar echoed.
It coincided precisely with Zong Shou unleashing his thirty-sixth sword strike. The giant dragon image on the back wall began to roar again. A single dragon claw extended from its belly, and the silhouette grew visibly more substantial.
With almost every sword Zong Shou currently struck, he caused the coiling giant dragon to gain either a horn or a scale. He was not only completing the dragon carving on the wall but also gradually perfecting the incomplete dragon shadow above.
And when Zong Shou etched his forty-fifth stroke onto the wall, a sharp, high-pitched dragon roar indeed shook everyone’s ears once more. Jin Buhui, initially just staring dumbfounded at Zong Shou’s movements, gradually shifted his focus to the massive dragon above.
He sensed that every movement, every leap of the incomplete dragon shadow, contained profoundly deep martial truths. Gazing closely, it felt as if he were transported back to the Nine-Sided Shadow-Recording Stone Walls. The six forms of the True Dragon Sword Art he had previously grasped became crystal clear in that instant. He didn't need to rack his brain; all the crucial points and blocked passages were instantly illuminated. It was as if the mysteries contained within the dragon shadow could be directly imprinted upon his mind.
"Looking at this, it seems he has truly comprehended the Ninety-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword..."
A sigh suddenly sounded beside Jin Buhui, filled with deep emotion. "Junior Brother Buhui, I have to admire you. Your judgment in choosing friends is truly excellent. Master always said that we cultivators cannot do without wealth, resources, techniques, and companions. You have secured wealth. Now, gaining such a friend means your companion aspect is also superb."
Jin Buhui knew, without turning, that it was his Senior Brother Shen Huai. At this moment, unwilling to miss even a fraction of the giant dragon image’s transformation, he refused to turn, but he chuckled with slight pride, "Do you even need to say that, Senior Brother? Of course, my friend is exceptional! You don't know how many secrets this fellow harbors. He actually managed to overcome those kinds of perilous hurdles. Such character is worth ten times more than mere comprehension. Speaking of which, why are you rambling, Senior Brother Shen? Why so much idle chatter? This opportunity is rare; if we miss it today, there might not be another chance?"
Shen Huai was momentarily speechless, reflecting that encountering such a figure naturally prompted effusive praise. Hearing Jin Buhui’s words, it seemed there were things about this Heavenly Sovereign Demon King, Zong Shou, that he did not know.
However, even as he spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the dragon shadow above. The several others surrounding them were doing the same, watching intently.
Previously, these people had been annoyed when the commotion disrupted their contemplation of the Martial Sage’s recorded legacy. But now, not a trace of anger remained; instead, there was boundless delight. They all knew that what they would gain today would surely surpass the attainments of their predecessors many times over!
"In short, Junior Brother Buhui, since you recognize his character, you must uphold your integrity. Having this fellow supporting you on your future path of cultivation will undoubtedly bring immeasurable benefits."
While continuing to impart this 'useless' guidance, Shen Huai suddenly exclaimed in surprise again and looked upward.
At this moment, not only was the entire chamber shaking without pause, but dust and debris were also raining down from above, with small stones occasionally falling.
Suddenly, a profound realization dawned in Shen Huai’s mind. The elder of the Dragon Shadow was systematically destroying the Dragon Gate Stone Cave of Ju Long Mountain. This Martial Dao Saint had definitively chosen his successor for this sword technique!
Almost simultaneously, several dozen feet away, He Xueying also looked up, her eyes flashing strangely, filled with incredulity.
"The Martial Sage’s intention seems settled. His Highness Zong Shou has most likely deciphered the essence of the Ninety-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword. Truly worthy of Senior Sister Shui Lingbo, for whom he contended for months. And certainly worthy of the Second Generation disciple chosen by our Venerable Dao Master. Yanran is truly fortunate to have His Highness as her Cauldron. Even though she is reversing the Cauldron Womb Technique, even I, He Xueying, am extremely envious..."
Zhao Yanran’s brow arched slightly, a hint of displeasure surfacing. She thought it was her bad luck to encounter this fellow; how could it be good fortune? She simultaneously let out a cold snort, "I know! But Martial Aunt, you are truly impolite; you should call him Great-Great-Great Granduncle."
He Xueying immediately covered her lips with her hand and let out a soft chuckle, her face radiating curiosity. "He asked you to call him that?"
Zhao Yanran immediately became conflicted, fiercely clutching the hem of her robe. If that unscrupulous fellow truly forced her to address him as Great-Great-Great Granduncle every day, she truly wouldn't want to live. For now, she still needed to rely on him. Once she could successfully reverse her condition again, she vowed to torment this fellow thoroughly.
However, despite these thoughts, deep in her heart, she knew she no longer had any possibility or hope.
As she pondered this, the fourth dragon roar once again reverberated throughout the entire chamber, painfully affecting everyone’s eardrums; those with weaker cultivation, like Jin Buhui, even bled from their seven orifices.
Yet, the dragon shadow became increasingly real, with runes flashing around it, seemingly nurturing infinite profound mysteries. The crowd dared not let their attention waver for even a moment; the opportunity was too precious, and they feared missing even the slightest change.
The entire chamber gradually fell silent, save for the sounds of falling earth, sand, and stone.
Zong Shou, however, was utterly oblivious to the surrounding circumstances. He didn't notice or spare a glance. His focus remained entirely on maintaining utmost sincerity and effort, constantly scrutinizing and calculating the sword forms, then slashing them onto the wall, one stroke after another.
His body trembled slightly, his internal hormones surged and secreted continuously. His intellect continually ascended, reaching the absolute peak state he had experienced since arriving in this era!
He hadn't felt this exhilarated in a long time. The last time he was in such a state was when he first glimpsed the profound mysteries of the Way of the Sword, stepping through that door, seeing the possibility of fusing the swordsmanship of a hundred schools into one.
He recalled that in the past, he studied various schools of swordsmanship merely to select the path most suited to him. Yet, unexpectedly, he gradually ended up integrating the essence of countless sword techniques and arts into a single furnace. And at this very moment, Zong Shou saw a hall far grander and more expansive!
He vaguely judged that as long as he filled in all the missing marks on the carving on this wall, he, Zong Shou, would not only know all the mysteries of the Ninety-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword but would also truly master the 'Sword Soul' realm within the Martial Intent! It would no longer be the flawed 'Sword Soul' he had grasped prematurely through the God Emperor Game in his previous life, but one that could genuinely bring his swordsmanship to life!
Sword stroke after sword stroke, he successfully left the mark for the sixty-third cut on the stone wall. The giant dragon shadow above extended another claw and roared loudly. Zong Shou’s sword suddenly paused.
For the sixty-fourth stroke, he could no longer freely execute the subsequent techniques. He felt the strain; every sword he struck thereafter required a massive expenditure of mental energy.
Zong Shou took a deep breath, unhurried and calm, taking out a Ten Wood Essence Nurturing Pill from his sleeve and swallowing it whole. This was a secret elixir of the Azure Life Dao, most effective for replenishing Qi and blood, but it also offered some replenishment for of heart and blood essence. One pill wasn't enough; Zong Shou continuously took out several other different medicinal pills and consumed them sequentially, using his true power to accelerate their dissolution. He knew the remainder would likely be a protracted battle; rushing was futile. Only by maintaining his optimal condition could he break through the Ninety-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword in the fastest possible time. After all, he only had less than half a day left!
As his energy slightly recovered, Zong Shou immediately unleashed another strike, and with a soft puchi sound, he left another scratch mark on the stone wall.
At that very moment, Zong Shou faintly heard a sound near his ear.