Translator: CinderTL
"Killed a Level 23 creature, experience +6007!"
...
[Life Level: 26 (2025/60000)]
...
Li Chunjun was immersed in the heightened perception brought by the comprehensive enhancement of his essence, Qi, and spirit.
It wasn't until the sound of Sword Flight cutting through the air reached him from the horizon that he opened his eyes.
Zhou Yuechen.
Even though Zhou Yuechen was still eight miles away, Li Chunjun could clearly "see" the relieved expression on his face as he exhaled.
This was...
The range of precise perception.
"Eight miles of precise perception... This also means that the limit of my Divine Sense detection exceeds eighty miles."
Li Chunjun understood this clearly.
Eighty miles.
The enhancement of Divine Sense didn't just mean an increase in precise perception; it also included a greater sensing range, longer attack distance, more accurate spellcasting, better control of Flying Swords, faster Qi circulation, and more.
At first glance, it didn't seem to bring any substantial improvement to his strength, but it enhanced every subtle aspect comprehensively.
"Once I complete the full optimization of myself and advance to the Golden Core realm, the strength of my Divine Sense will exceed one hundred miles."
One hundred miles!
This was the standard for a Nascent Soul True Lord! In the past, even if he and a Nascent Soul True Lord were both at the entry level of Sword Intent, the destructive power of his Sword Intent would always fall short of that Nascent Soul True Lord's.
Because although their realms were the same, there was a difference in the strength of their mental power.
The opponent could win by sheer quantity.
But if the Divine Sense condensed from his own mental power could reach the same level as a Nascent Soul...
Most Nascent Souls' entry-level Sword Intent would stand no chance against him.
If he displayed a minor mastery level of Sword Intent, even the entry-level Sword Intent of a Nascent Soul True Lord would be crushed by him.
And now...
His Destruction Sword Intent was at the major mastery level.
...
Li Chunjun reached out and stripped the Spirit Artifact from Zhan Feng's body.
Seeing this, Zhou Yuechen quickly stepped forward: "Sword Prodigy!"
His expression was slightly grave: "We've just received news that Zhou Wu Gou, who is stationed in the capital of Great Shang, has broken out of the capital. He is accompanied by over thirty Core Formation Cultivators. Additionally, some Core Formation Cultivators originally stationed in various parts of Great Shang have also begun to move, heading here to intercept us. A conservative estimate suggests that over sixty Core Formation Cultivators will eventually participate in the siege against us."
"Sixty?"
Li Chunjun's expression remained calm: "Is that all?"
"Huh?"
Zhou Yuechen was slightly taken aback, momentarily unsure how to respond.
After a while, he finally said: "This is basically more than half of the combat strength that the Chiyang Sword Sect can deploy."
"More than half?"
Li Chunjun was somewhat surprised: "Even including the seven we killed last time, plus those who were injured in the past few months, the total number of Core Formation Cultivators lost is less than thirty. How can these sixty Core Formation Cultivators be considered more than half of the Chiyang Sword Sect's combat strength?"
"Sword Prodigy, you may not know this, but for most sects, Virtual Core cultivators are not included in the calculation of the combat system."
Zhou Yuechen explained: "It's true that the Chiyang Sword Sect has over three hundred Core Formation Cultivators, but there are probably over a hundred Virtual Core cultivators, around one hundred and forty to fifty True Core cultivators, and fifty to sixty Golden Core cultivators. Excluding the Virtual Core cultivators, the Chiyang Sword Sect's actual combat-ready Core Formation Cultivators number around two hundred."
He continued: "If we also consider some Core Formation Cultivators who cannot be moved from essential positions... Sixty-plus Core Formation Cultivators is indeed more than half of the combat strength that the Chiyang Sword Sect can mobilize."
Virtual Core cultivators are not counted as combat units?
Sixty-plus Core Formation Cultivators?
"Deploying over sixty Core Formation cultivators to surround and kill me?"
Li Chunjun's expression remained calm. "The Chiyang Sword Sect truly has some nerve."
Zhou Yuechen's mouth twitched.
These words...
Only Sword Prodigy Li would dare to say such a thing.
"Especially since... these sixty Core Formation cultivators are arriving in batches, completely unaware of what fear is."
Sword energy circulated within Li Chunjun's body. "Since that's the case, I'll grant them their wish."
He turned his gaze to Zhou Yuechen. "Go and join Jiang Yuxue and Qin Zhou. Search for the Core Formation cultivators gathering in this direction. Once you detect them, report immediately."
"Prodigy... We Sword Cultivators are unparalleled in combat, but prolonged and continuous battles may damage our Lifebound Flying Swords. Do you think it would be better to return to the sect for a few months of rest before striking again?"
Zhou Yuechen offered a gentle reminder.
"A group of ordinary Core Formation cultivators without even the combat power of true disciples—how could they possibly harm my Flying Sword in the slightest?"
Li Chunjun waved his hand. "Go. Once you detect the Core Formation cultivators from the Chiyang Sword Sect closing in, report to me immediately."
Zhou Yuechen glanced at Li Chunjun.
His complexion was rosy, his Essence Qi was full, and his spirit was vibrant...
He truly didn't seem like someone whose Flying Sword had been damaged and needed Essence Qi nourishment.
He couldn't understand it.
How could Li Chunjun have such endurance?
Back in the day, Sword Prodigy Jiang also led the charge, breaking through the enemy's formations head-on, specializing in assault.
Under his leadership, even if the enemy deployed hundreds of Core Formation cultivators, they could hardly withstand the assault of the Taixu Sword Sect's hundred Core Formation Sword Formation.
After a fierce battle, the number of Core Formation cultivators who fell under his sword was only around ten or twenty.
And after such battles, he often needed to rest for a period of time.
But Sword Prodigy Li...
In just this short time since the battle began, he had already slain five Golden Core cultivators and nine True Core cultivators, yet he showed no signs of being affected.
In fact, he seemed to grow stronger the more he fought.
This somewhat subverts their understanding of Sword Cultivators and Lifebound Flying Swords. In the end, they could only attribute it to Sword Prodigy Li's powerful Sword Intent, which allowed him to kill his enemies with his Flying Sword before they could even react.
Without excessive frontal collisions, the Lifebound Flying Sword naturally wouldn't be damaged.
Thus, there was no need to halt the battle and return to the sect to nurture the sword.
At this moment, Zhou Yuechen gave a solemn bow. "We will go and gather intelligence on those Core Formation cultivators."
"Mm."
Li Chunjun acknowledged and continued to sense the Crimson Sky Sword within him.
Since the Crimson Sky Sword wasn't in perfect condition during the recent Essence Blood Sacrifice, that mouthful of Essence Blood hadn't fully refined the Starry Sky Profound Crystal.
However, the refinement had already reached eighty percent.
Even without using Essence Blood to refine the sword, simple nurturing and refining over three to five years would be enough to fully integrate the Starry Sky Profound Crystal into the sword, elevating it to the level of a top-tier Mystic Treasure.
But three to five years was still too long for Li Chunjun.
"Sixty Core Formation cultivators, among whom there will likely be more than ten Golden Core experts. Eliminating this force entirely will be enough to push my life level up to 27. At that point, I can perform another sword sacrifice, and the Crimson Sky Sword will complete its transformation."
Li Chunjun pondered.
It just felt a bit wasteful.
Ideally, before that, he should acquire another suitable fifth-tier material.
The next fifth-tier material...
Should focus on strengthening and reinforcing the quality of the Crimson Sky Sword.
Although he could repeatedly use Essence Blood to nurture the Flying Sword, allowing the Crimson Sky Sword to recover no matter how severe the damage, but...
His frequency of battles was indeed quite high.
At his current low level, the rapid increase in life level was manageable, but once his life level advanced, the difficulty of using Essence Blood to consecrate his sword every few days would skyrocket.
Therefore, he needed to prepare early.
"Refining the Starry Sky Profound Crystal to transform my Lifebound Flying Sword into a top-tier Spirit Treasure, coupled with my mastery of Sword Intent... Even if the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Chiyang Sword Sect break the rules and intervene, I can still confront them head-on."
Li Chunjun's expression remained calm.
Not just confrontation!
But outright combat!
With the potential to kill them!
"So... Killing techniques and secret arts aren't that important. Sword Cultivators are inherently extreme, claiming to break all techniques with a single sword. I am merely taking that to its ultimate extreme."
Brute force creates miracles.
Without relying on killing techniques or secret arts, he could still crush all his enemies.
As Li Chunjun pondered, the Message Jade Talisman on his body transmitted a Divine Sense fluctuation from Jiang Yuxue.
"Sword Prodigy Li, I have located a group attempting to flank us and cut off our retreat route to Xuanzhou. They seem to have realized your strength and have formed a team of ten, led by three Golden Core cultivators."
As she spoke, she transmitted their location.
"I'll be there immediately."
Li Chunjun glanced at the information and transformed into a streak of sword light, soaring into the sky.
While flying on his sword, he extended his Divine Sense to its limit.
The conclusion was as expected.
Eighty-two miles.
He was getting closer and closer to the Nascent Soul standard of a hundred-mile Divine Sense.
Then, he increased his Sword Flight speed, quickly breaking the sound barrier and soon surpassing the two-fold speed of sound.
Two-fold speed of sound was Zhou Yuechen's explosive limit.
It was also the limit for over ninety percent of Golden Core cultivators skilled in flight.
The standard was equivalent to a Golden Core cultivator developing a forty-mile Divine Sense.
But...
This speed was not Li Chunjun's limit!
As the Scarlet Sky Sword's edge tore through the void, forcibly accelerating, his speed continued to increase!
2.1 times the speed of sound, 2.2 times, 2.3 times, 2.4 times...
Finally, his speed surged to 2.5 times the speed of sound.
"A Sword Flight speed of three times the speed of sound is the entry standard for Nascent Soul cultivators. And I... haven't even refined my Sword Flight technique. If I spent ten or eight years honing my Sword Flight skills, I could undoubtedly push my speed beyond three times, rivaling Nascent Soul cultivators!"
Li Chunjun's thoughts reached this point and then paused.
Ten or eight years!? It would be better to refine the Starry Sky Profound Crystal into my sword as soon as possible. Once the Scarlet Sky Sword absorbs the Starry Sky Profound Crystal, reaching three times the speed of sound should be no problem.
Maintaining his rapid flight for a while, before even meeting up with Jiang Yuxue, Li Chunjun had already sensed the presence of ten Core Formation cultivators from the Chiyang Sword Sect.
Compared to other Core Formation cultivators, these ten were extremely cautious, forming a Battle Formation and flying at full speed without disrupting its operation.
Seeing this, Li Chunjun flew towards them on his sword, like a streak of light piercing straight into the formation.
The three leading Golden Core cultivators immediately noticed something amiss.
When they saw the dazzling sword light of Li Chunjun approaching with ill intent, they shouted sharply, "Enemy attack!"
"Blazing Phoenix Sword Qi! It's Li Chunjun! Form the formation, resist his Sword Intent!"
"Everyone, the opportunity for Core Formation is today. Although Li Chunjun is fierce, he is ultimately just one person. Our True Disciple Zhou is also leading his group to join us at full speed. As long as we maintain the Battle Formation and hold out for half an hour, once True Disciple Zhou arrives with his group, Li Chunjun will surely meet his end!"
The three Golden Core cultivators boosted morale.
The auras of the ten individuals were connected as one through the formation, standing firm like a mountain, facing Li Chunjun directly.
And Li Chunjun...
His figure, arriving via Sword Flight, did not falter in the slightest due to the formation of the ten.
He began with the perfected realm of Sword Intent.
The vast and mighty Destruction Sword Intent instantly struck the minds of the ten Core Formation Cultivators, causing their spirits to waver.
And as their spirits wavered, Li Chunjun had already merged with his sword, like a meteor crashing to the ground, plunging into the Battle Formation of the ten Core Formation Cultivators with a blazing and violent flame.
(End of the Chapter)
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