Talisman Emperor

Bloodsoul Sword Cave.

Chen Xi’s figure appeared in the 60th level.

This was the third time he’d come to the Bloodsoul Sword Cave. This first time, he was merely able to reach the 60th level with his strength, and he almost lost his life to Evil Lotus at that time.

The second time wasn’t much different to the first. The only difference was he found out of the existence of Dao Lotus and Evil Lotus and parts of the history of the Nine Radiance Sword Sect.

This time, his objective was very simple. He wanted to temper his combat strength, search for Chaotic Source Crystals, and refine the quality of the Talisman Armament.

There were only 30 plus years remaining to the date of the bet between him and Bing Shitian, so he didn’t carry the extravagant hopes of improving his strength once more in a short period of 30 plus years, and he wholeheartedly desired to temper his combat strength.

Strength wasn’t equivalent to combat strength because no matter how great the strength one possessed was, if one was unable to bring forth this might, it would be in vain.

On the other hand, besides tempering himself through actual combat, the only other method to increase his combat strength was to improve the might of his weapon.

Chen Xi took a deep breath and didn’t hesitate to flash into the 61st level of the sword cave.

Swish!

His peerlessly powerful Immortal Perception swept out and instantly enveloped the 61st level, and in next to no time, Chen Xi found his opponent.

It was a group of bloodsouls with strengths around the 4th level of the Earthly Immortal Realm. There was an entire 50 plus of them, and all of them possessed seething vital blood and extremely formidable auras.

Especially one of the bloodsouls amongst them, it actually wore a damaged battle robe and had an appearance that was no different to an ordinary person. Moreover, the bloodsouls strength was around the 5th level of the Earthly Immortal Realm, and it seemed like the master of this level of the sword cave and emanated a matchlessly ferocious aura.

But to Chen Xi’s regret, there wasn’t any Chaotic Source Crystals in the 61st level.

“Who is it!?”

“There’s actually someone that dares to trespass into my territory!?”

“Kill! Kill that bastard from the Nine Radiance Sword Sect!”

Chen Xi’s Immortal Perception wasn’t concealed, so as soon as it swept through this area, it was instantly noticed by those bloodsouls with strengths at the Earthly Immortal Realm. They immediately transformed into numerous bloody shadows as they charged at Chen Xi.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Numerous bloody shadows that were filled with monstrous might were like expanses of bloody clouds that whistled over, and they quickly appeared within Chen Xi’s field of vision.

Even though they’re many, their strengths are still too weak… Chen Xi shook his head. He didn’t withdraw the Talisman Armament and formed a sword with his fingers instead before sweeping out horizontally.

Swish!

A strand of sword qi tore through the sky like a shocking ray of light and vanished in a flash.

Pu! Pu! Pu!

The bloodsouls didn’t even have the time to dodge before their entire bodies transformed into clumps of bloody rain, and it rumbled down from the sky. They arrived quickly and perished even more quickly.

Even the bloodsoul that wore the damaged battle robe merely emanated a sharp and furious cry of misery before it was slashed into a ball of bloody froth that sprayed towards the surroundings.

Clang!

A thumb sized piece of Chaotic Source Crystal fell from the bloodsouls body, and it was grabbed by Chen Xi before being put away.

Looks like bloodsouls that possess intelligence really do have an extremely high possibility of carrying a piece of Chaotic Source Crystal… Chen Xi pondered for a moment before charging into the next level. 

    …

The 62nd level of the sword cave.

The 69th level.

The 78th level. 

    …

In merely 10 minutes of time, Chen Xi had already arrived at the 80th level of the sword cave, and he finally felt a sense of pressure after arriving here.

But to him at this moment, this sort of pressure could practically be overlooked.

All the bloodsouls distributed around the 80th level possessed intelligence, and their strengths were even at the 7th level of the Earthly Immortal Realm or above. They possessed extremely enormous strengths and were even skilled in numerous formidable Dao Arts and Divine Abilities.

Chen Xi was finally slightly pleased with this.

He’d practically made a clean sweep through the other levels of the sword cave he’s traversed earlier, and he didn’t suffer the slightest bit of obstruction, causing him to be utterly devoid of the chance to exert his strength. Similarly, it was impossible for those levels to provide any sort of tempering for him.

Rumble!

In next to no time, a battle erupted.

Over 10 bloodsouls with strengths equivalent to the 7th level of the Earthly Immortal Realm encircled Chen Xi, and they howled while fighting with all their might. A variety of terrifying Dao Arts and Divine Abilities poured down, and it gorgeous and resplendent like fireworks, yet beneath this beauty was terrifying and awe-inspiring killing intent that was impossible to conceal.

Chen Xi moved about amidst these attacks like a ghost, and his figure flashed about indeterminately.

He didn’t kill them impatiently, and he instead carefully comprehended the changes in his strength and the utilization of his various moves during this battle.

For example, how to utilize the Devour Divine Talisman to bring forth its might completely and completely devour the energy of his opponent before his opponent could put up a defense.

All of this tempering was a sort of adjustment, improvement, and reconstruction of his combat strength, and the transformation of his combat strength could only be achieved through the accumulation of these tiny details.

After the time for an incense stick to burn, Chen Xi held the Talisman Armament while he suddenly launched an attack, and he instantly slaughtered all the opponents in his surroundings.

The reason was extremely simple, he was already incapable of tempering himself through these opponents, and he could only kill them and head to the next level to choose new opponents.

Just like this, Chen Xi went down level after level, and the opponents he encountered grew stronger and stronger, whereas his combat strength silently underwent a transformation through these numerous battles.

His might became even more formidable, his control of strength became even more accurate, whereas his moves became even more simple, condensed, and revealed an aura of shedding all complication and returning to simplicity.

When Chen Xi arrived at the 90th level, he suddenly stopped and sat down cross-legged.

He the critical moment to undergo a transformation had arrived, so he started to meditate and organize the comprehensions in his heart.

Om!

A wave of the profound tune of the Grand Dao arose like the sound of nature, and it rumbled out from Chen Xi’s body while carrying a unique rhythm that drifted through the entire 90th level of the sword cave.

Chen Xi sat cross-legged with an emotionless expression that was like an old well without ripples. His entire body was suffused with strands of golden radiance that illuminated the world, and it was like numerous golden flowers were descending from the sky, causing him to seem divine and radiant.

Seeming to be realization yet not realization was the true Dao, and this opportunity opened his mind up to a new world.

At this moment, even though Chen Xi was deducing and organizing the various comprehensions in his heart, the vital energy in his body had risen automatically and circulated throughout his body, and it seemed as if he’d fused with the Grand Dao.

This was a phenomenon that would only occur when one’s comprehension of the Dao had attained an extraordinary state, and it was indescribably profound. If the people in the outside world were to notice this scene, it would probably give rise to a mighty uproar.

Because such a phenomenon was called ‘Self Illumination,’ and it had only appeared in the gods of the primeval times and the supreme sages of the past.

Self Illumination was a state that seemed as if one was communicating with the gods of the primeval times while comprehending in meditation. Various profundities would be revealed down to the slightest detail within one’s heart, and it was like sitting down before a mirror and understanding one’s self.

All the comprehensions obtained under this state pointed directly to the quintessence of the Grand Dao, and it as the most authentic reflection of the Grand Dao. It was as if all the complications were removed to finally reveal the truth.

Three months later, Chen Xi, who sat cross-legged like a clay statue, opened his eyes. In his eyes, the sun and moon appeared, a world was developed, and a myriad of talisman markings were formed before it finally returned to a quiet state.

Chen Xi stood up, his entire bearing was even more restrained, and he seemed like an exalted emperor that had seen through the truth behind everything in the world. His indifferent and tranquil aura carried an awe-inspiring might.

Even though my strength hasn’t improved in the slightest, it allowed me to understand the essence of numerous Dao Insights, so when utilized in battle, it’s sufficient to bring forth unbelievable might… Chen Xi muttered. He was able to sense that he was on the verge of touching the limits of the Earthly Immortal Realm, and it was just like the ‘Extreme Realm’ of the Nether Transformation Realm, both of them revealed perfectness and supremacy.

Swoosh!

Chen Xi didn’t waste any more time and moved towards the next level.

If the 60th level of the sword cave was considered to be a barrier, then the 90th level was another barrier, and it was a completely different divide.

No matter if it was the pressure that filled the sword cave or the strength of the bloodsouls, both of them revealed a qualitative transformation.

For example, the terrifying pressure in the 91st level felt as if the entire world was pressing down onto him, and it formed a terrifying force field that would probably instantly crush an ordinary Earthly Immortal Realm expert to death.

On the other hand, the strength of the bloodsouls were all at the 8th level of the Earthly Immortal Realm.

Of course, it was impossible for an existence at the 9th level of the Earthly Immortal Realm to exist because such an existence would directly ascend to the Immortal Dimension as it had already exceeded the scope of the Mortal Dimension.

But there was a difference in the strength within the 8th level of the Earthly Immortal Realm.

This was something Chen Xi had deeply experienced as he slowly descended level after level.

For example, the 91st level of the sword cave had six 8th level Earthly Immortal Realm bloodsouls, but they were easily slaughtered by Chen Xi.

On the other hand, even though there were merely two 8th level Earthly Immortal Realm bloodsouls in the 92nd level of the sword cave, their strengths were extremely terrifying, and Chen Xi had to exert some effort to annihilate them.

When he arrived at the 95th level of the sword cave, Chen Xi encountered a true threat.

There was only a single bloodsoul in this level of the sword cave. The bloodsoul’s clothes fluttered, had hair that hung loosely on its shoulder, and its eyes emanated a sharp glow. It was already completely different to other bloodsouls, and it was like a true cultivator.

It carried a sword on its back, and its bearing was peerlessly fierce like its sword, causing it to be like an unparalleled sword immortal.

Chen Xi was especially surprised that when he fought this bloodsoul, the latter was actually skilled in the Skycontrol Burial Sword, and it had attained the acme of perfection in this Dao Art. The entire space in the surroundings seemed to be swept into every sword strike, and it was formidable to the extreme.

During the battle, it even caused Chen Xi to seem inferior in comparison.

This was bound to be a difficult fight, but Chen Xi was extremely satisfied with it because the stronger the strength of his opponent was, the greater it would temper his own strength, so his gains would surely be great.

Seven days later.

A muffled bang resounded out as the head of the bloodsoul that seemed like an unparalleled sword immortal fell to the ground, and the sword on its back fell to the ground with a clang as well.

Chen Xi gasped for breath as he gazed at the corpse of his opponent, and a wisp of admiration couldn’t help but arise in his heart. Such an opponent is difficult to find in the entire world!

After a short moment, Chen Xi carefully put away the sword left behind by the bloodsoul into the Buddha’s Pagoda.

Since the beginning of the battle, Chen Xi had noticed that the sword in his opponent’s possession was completely constructed from Chaotic Source Crystal, so leaving such a rare treasure here would be a waste of god’s given gifts.

“Let me eat it and I’ll make an exception to agree to a request of yours.” Right when Chen Xi turned around with the intention of entering the next level of the sword cave, the tiny cauldron that had remained silent for a long time spoke abruptly, and its voice was without the slightest trace of emotion as usual.

But Chen Xi acutely discerned that the tiny cauldron’s voice carried a trace of imperceptible yearning, and it seemed like this piece of Chaotic Source Crystal carried temptation that was impossible for it to resist.