Chapter 1052

Chapter 1052: Slaying the Xiaojiao (Part One)

High above, a flying ship cut through the sea of clouds, moving swiftly through the sky.

The surface of the flying ship bore hues and textures nearly identical to the sky, granting it a visual camouflage effect. It glided silently, almost like a phantom.

Inside the flying ship, Wang Chen sat by the transparent window, marveling at the breathtaking view of the sea of clouds outside.

This unique third-grade flying ship had once belonged to Huangfu Yongchun, who had generously offered it as a shared means of transportation for the Seven Ultimate Meeting, ensuring the regular movement of all its members.

It must be acknowledged that this seasoned Golden Core cultivator was remarkably generous in his dealings.

Though Wang Chen himself owned a Golden Core level flying ship, it paled in comparison to this one.

The interior of the flying ship was modest in size, capable of accommodating around ten people, though with only seven aboard, it felt quite spacious.

The group sipped tea and engaged in lively conversation, fostering a warm and congenial atmosphere.

After deciding to participate in the culling of the Xiaojiao together and signing the contracts, the bonds among the Seven Ultimate Meeting members had quickly strengthened, and they had grown quite familiar with one another.

While they weren’t exactly all in the same boat, they were certainly sharing the same vessel.

At that moment, the flying ship began its descent, and soon after, it landed smoothly in a secluded valley.

The hatch opened, and the group of real immortals stepped out one by one.

Once outside, Wang Chen glanced around and found the surroundings quite remarkable.

The valley was encircled by towering, jagged peaks, with rolling mountains blanketed in dense, verdant forests, making it an exceptionally hidden location.

Moreover, the spiritual energy in the valley was rich and abundant, the kind of place that would delight any loose cultivator. Though it couldn’t rival Luodu Immortal City, it was still a rare and valuable find.

It was no wonder Huangfu Yongchun had managed to locate such a place.

Huangfu Yongchun was the last to exit. He stored the magical flying ship and then waved his dust brush.

Instantly, faint glimmers of light spread across the ground, and visible distortions in space appeared throughout the valley.

“I’ve set up an Illusion Array here,” Huangfu Yongchun explained. “This way, no matter how much noise we make while practicing the sword formation, no one outside will detect us.”

This veteran Golden Core cultivator was meticulous in his planning. The Illusion Array he had set up not only covered the entire valley but also possessed formidable concealment properties.

Even if a Nascent Soul true immortal were to pass overhead, they would struggle to notice any disturbances below unless they specifically sought them out.

The likelihood of a Nascent Soul true immortal passing by this remote location was exceedingly slim.

The valley was nestled deep within the Fulong Mountain range, which stretched for hundreds of thousands of miles. Most Nascent Soul true immortals rarely left their abodes, and when they did, they typically traveled by flying ships or golden boats.

Thus, they could proceed with confidence.

Once everyone had familiarized themselves with the surroundings, Huangfu Yongchun immediately began instructing them in the ways of the Seven Ultimate Sword Formation, guiding them through the practice.

The Seven Ultimate Sword Techniques consisted of seven sets of swordsmanship: Heaven, Earth, Human, Wind, Thunder, Fire, and Rain. Huangfu Yongchun, who practiced the Heavenly Absolute Sword, naturally took the central position in the sword formation, serving as its commander.

Wang Chen and the others took their places in the six surrounding positions, each wielding the Earth, Human, Wind, Thunder, Fire, and Rain swords, combining their strengths to unleash a formidable offensive force.

At first, their unfamiliarity with the sword formation and their individual fighting styles led to numerous coordination issues.

However, as the days passed, the Golden Core cultivators grew increasingly in sync.

The Seven Ultimate Sword was inherently a collaborative swordsmanship technique. Once they grasped the essence of the sword techniques, they seamlessly integrated into the sword formation.

The destructive power of this sword formation gradually revealed itself.

In the secluded valley, every day was marked by the convergence of wind, thunder, and rain of fire, with rumbling sounds echoing endlessly and sharp sword light crisscrossing the air.

Without the concealment of the Illusion Array, it would have undoubtedly drawn the attention of outsiders long ago.

Wang Chen remained silent amidst it all, showing neither special nor extraordinary behavior.

Yet, the experience points for the Thunderbolt Sword Technique he had mastered were increasing at a staggering rate each day, leaving others in awe.

Wang Chen decided to invest a considerable amount of Virtue points to accelerate his experience points, and by the time a month had nearly passed, he had already pushed the swordsmanship to the pinnacle of mastery.

He was just one step away from breaking through to the basic level!

“Alright,”

Huangfu Yongchun said one day, “Everyone has practiced the Seven Ultimate Sword Formation quite thoroughly. Further improvement isn’t something that can be achieved in a month or two, so we’ll stop here.”

After a brief pause, he continued, “Everyone should return to Luodu to rest for three days, adjust to your best condition, and then await my message!”

The group of Golden Core cultivators exchanged glances and nodded in unison.

Huangfu Yongchun then summoned the flying ship and transported everyone back to Luodu Immortal City.

Upon returning home, the first thing Wang Chen did was ask Su Ziling to prepare a tub of hot water so he could indulge in a refreshing bath.

In truth, with his current higher-level Golden Core cultivation, his body had long become pure and untainted; even after spending ten or eight years in the wilderness, he would remain spotless.

Any dirt on him could easily be removed with a simple Cleansing Technique.

Nevertheless, regular bathing had become an ingrained instinct for Wang Chen, a way to relax amidst his rigorous cultivation.

Of course, bathing with Su Ziling while contemplating the Dragon and Phoenix True Harmony and Profound Scripture made the experience even more delightful.

It also helped him unwind further.

After a long hour of bathing, Wang Chen changed into a comfortable robe and retreated to the quiet room.

He carefully reflected on the past month, recalling the process of practicing the Seven Ultimate Sword Formation with Huangfu Yongchun and the others.

During this time, Wang Chen had witnessed the other six sword techniques within the Seven Ultimate swordsmanship.

His insights were profound.

Since acquiring the Thunderbolt Sword Technique, Wang Chen had harbored the desire to complete the entire set of swordsmanship.

He suspected that Huangfu Yongchun might possess another copy—or even multiple copies—of the Seven Ultimate Sword techniques.

But Wang Chen knew all too well that obtaining the other six techniques from this seasoned peak Golden Core cultivator would be no simple feat.

Moreover, he couldn’t afford the price.

However, Wang Chen had an advantage.

His Cultivation Panel had undergone an upgrade, introducing a new feature: technique projection.

For instance, the Preheaven Five Element Technique that Wang Chen focused on was limited to below the Yuan Ying level; once he broke the Golden Core and condensed the Yuan Ying, he would need to seek new techniques.

But with this feature, Wang Chen could project techniques, saving himself countless troubles and the potentially exorbitant costs involved.

Could the Seven Ultimate Sword be projected as well?

Wang Chen summoned the panel and began to explore this previously unused feature, attempting to connect with the Seven Ultimate Sword.

After a long period of study, a sudden flash of inspiration struck him, bringing an instant insight.

A message prompt quietly appeared in his field of vision.