The Daoist elders hurriedly left the area. With good intentions, three stayed behind to guard the site and prevent anyone from disturbing it, while one went to notify the Special Investigation Unit. Wang Sheng, the top sword cultivator on the Earthly Rankings, was likely about to achieve a breakthrough. The investigation unit had to maintain order nearby. Xi Lian rose into the air until she hovered a hundred meters above. Making sure she was out of Wang Sheng's range, she spread her pressure outward to form a ring-shaped zone beyond that radius. "Little Xuanxuan isn't here, so I'll stand guard for you." Huai Jing had already been tossed over a hundred meters away. He now watched Wang Sheng practice his sword while lightly patting his smooth bald head. He had just broken through a minor realm overnight, and now he's trying for a major one? Huai Jing muttered under his breath, "He was saying he would wait. Why did he suddenly start breaking through?" From the side, an elderly person said, "Heh heh, he must have had a moment of comprehension. That's how it often is before condensing the core. It is all about fate, and it all comes down to insight." "You're still using 'heh heh' in this era? Don't you know that 'heh' is basically used to mock people…" he casually said as he glanced to the side. Beside him, an old Daoist had appeared silently. He had white hair, white eyebrows, and a tall, thin frame that made him appear quite imposing. Huai Jing immediately fell silent. With an awkward expression, he stared at the Celestial Master, who had long held the top spot on the Heavenly Rankings. He really had some nerve, daring to scold the number one in the righteous path. While Wang Sheng practiced swordsmanship on the grassy slope, the Celestial Master calmly asked, "Buddhist Master, what did you just say the 'heh heh' phrase means?" "Ah, please don't take offense, Celestial Master. Nowadays, young people often use that phrase to express sarcasm. I was just so surprised that Fei Yu is breaking through so quickly that I momentarily lost my composure." Huai Jing quietly shuffled half a step back. "Heh heh... Cough!" The Celestial Master blinked as he lightly stroked his beard. "This has been my way of expressing happiness and ease for many years. It is not easy to change all of a sudden. Forgive me for the awkwardness, Buddhist Master." Huai Jing quickly cupped his hands. "I would never dare ask you to change, Celestial Master. Please, go ahead and continue watching." Feeling the need to say something to recover, he then slapped his own head. "Heh heh, Fei Yu's sword technique is certainly quite beautiful." Celestial Master's eyes crinkled as he smiled. He watched Wang Sheng with a trace of admiration. "The cultivation world of the future belongs to you younger generation. Daoist Qing Yan has raised two remarkable disciples. One is already practicing the Dao of Balanced Yin and Yang even though she's still at the Golden Core Realm. The other now seeks to reach the Golden Core Realm through the Dao of the Sword. Either of them would have amazed the entire cultivation world in ancient times. Alas, old age does make one fond of talking." Huai Jing smiled. "Celestial Master, hearing your insights will always be a great blessing for us juniors." Celestial Master smiled and shook his head. He then observed Wang Sheng's sword movements, seemingly gaining insight from what he saw. Many Daoist elders had joined them. Most stood beyond the pressure field that Xi Lian had set, watching Wang Sheng move faster and faster. Though the sky above was clear and the sun still hung in the east, countless sword phantasms had gathered into stars, forming a brilliant starry sky over the grassy slope. Wang Sheng looked like an emperor commanding the stars. A large star revolved around him, and under his feet were the seven stars of the Big Dipper. He surveyed the starry river around him. Though it wasn't vast, it was filled with the fundamental truths of heaven and earth. He pushed the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Art to its very limit. The Daoist elders who had gathered were mostly trying to comprehend the sword techniques that formed a one-man formation. Nevertheless, Wang Sheng casually moved through the techniques. After all, no observer could truly learn the sword formation. Even if they memorized every move, the sword intent would still keep them from fully grasping it. Gradually, the stars seemed to freeze in place. They remained even after Wang Sheng had stopped. The sword realm that he had reached was already imprinted within those stars. How was he supposed to merge the Pure Yang with his sword techniques, though? He knew his Dao required the union of both, yet after trying more than ten different methods, he still failed. Wang Sheng stood still. The starlight around him flickered endlessly. Anyone could see that Wang Sheng had run into a bottleneck; he clearly could not fully comprehend the key point. His breakthrough could end in failure. Fortunately, he was not in the direct process of forming a core; he was simply in a preparation phase. Otherwise, this kind of distraction would have already meant failure. Pure Yang and sword formation… One internal, one external. The Dao of the Sword is a path separate from the Dao of Pure Yang. I don't think it can be extracted and handled on its own. The Dao… Wang Sheng furrowed his brow tighter and tighter. The light around him grew dimmer and dimmer. Was he about to fail this breakthrough? Above, Xi Lian slightly pouted. She did not feel any sympathy for Wang Sheng. After all, she had been through it herself. Cultivation was never meant to be smooth sailing; there would always be obstacles and setbacks. Unlike her, the Daoist elders nearby all showed expressions of sympathy. Wang Sheng's profound sword realm and the mysterious nature of the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent had impressed them. They had thought that they would witness him getting past his bottleneck through the Dao of the Sword, but it now seemed he was stuck at the final step. He knew he had to merge his own Dao, but he could not figure out how to do it. Even so, what Wang Sheng had done was enough to earn the admiration of the elders. He had already stepped on a path and put a foot at the Golden Core Realm. With a bit more refinement and insight, he would soon take that first step beyond the mundane. A Golden Core meant an eight-hundred-year lifespan. It was the first great leap in cultivation. At his age, with his cultivation progress and such a deep Dao of the Sword... They could no longer use the usual platitude that he had limitless potential. After all, he was already about to stand at the same realm as them. Once he entered the Golden Core Realm, his Sword-Controlling Art would grow significantly stronger. His Dao of the Sword would also undergo a great transformation. Hardly any elder would be able to confidently say that they could suppress him in combat. "Well then…" Wang Sheng chuckled softly. He could not break through this time, but he would try again later. After all, he was not actually forming the core yet. With his mind at ease, the tension in his brow slowly relaxed. He slowly opened his eyes and stared at a few blades of grass swaying gently on the ground. Could I gain any insight from the grass? Clearly… not. Wang Sheng paused. Something seemed to occur to him. He closed his eyes once again. Sunlight casts the shadows of grass, and sunlight is the radiation that the sun emits… The sun…? That's it! The sun! Ziwei is also a star. The starlight in the sky comes from blazing stars and distant galaxies above; it does not appear from nothing! Each star holds a different Dao. This is the Dao of the Stars! Ziwei rules the stars with authority and the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Art, a sword fit for an emperor! The light of Ziwei came from itself—it came from the wielder of the sword! Tangled, chaotic thoughts rushed into Wang Sheng's mind, causing a mess. Yet in that moment, he suddenly stepped forward, brushing past the grass under his feet as he used the Seven-Star Footwork. I'll let the sword help me organize my thoughts! He shifted from the Seven-Star Sword Formation to the Reversed Seven-Star Sword Formation. As his Dao of the Sword climbed to its peak once again, Flying Haze gleamed with immortal light. With his long hair fluttering, he leaped and soared on the grassy slope in his Daoist robe. All the Daoist elders around him were visibly shaken. Xi Lian also watched him in surprise as he resumed his training. Wang Sheng no longer hesitated or seemed confused. The starlight he unleashed grew brighter and clearer, visible even to the naked eye. He comprehended it so quickly? Huai Jing clicked his tongue in disbelief. "Merciful Buddha, what kind of cheat-like insight is that?" He then grinned. From the bottom of his heart, he was genuinely happy for Wang Sheng. It looked like they would have another powerful ally when fighting corrupt cultivators together in the future. Wang Sheng had truly found the key to fusing the Pure Yang Immortal Mantra with the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent. Once he understood it, he realized that something so simple had been holding him back. Where did starlight come from? Based on Wang Sheng's understanding, he only knew that sunlight was a kind of radiation that the sun emitted. He had little knowledge of astronomy, but such an explanation would do. His Pure Yang Immortal Mantra was the fuel of Ziwei. His Pure Yang True Essence could become the light of the Big Dipper. Before, all his sword moves involved channeling his true essence into the blade. What kind of power would it unleash if he injected it directly into his sword intent and integrated it with his sword momentum? What kind of effect would it produce? Wang Sheng moved even faster. Flying Haze dimmed, while the stars around him grew brighter and brighter. Within him, the perfected Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent projected a sword of starlight from his spiritual platform. It then flew out of the spiritual platform and hovered above his qi sea. The vortex in his qi sea spun rapidly. Like chains, strands of true essence twisted around the sword of starlight. The essence kept pouring into the blade and continuously pulled the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent downward. Below the sword tip was the Illusory Core that Wang Sheng had painstakingly formed. Wang Sheng leaped into the air, his longsword leaving behind countless afterimages, as stars filled a fifty-meter radius around him. Instead of cold starlight, they now emitted dazzling golden light! The Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent! The stars around Wang Sheng shone again and again as a hand phantasm appeared behind the Heavenly Ziwei Sword Intent within him. It gripped the hilt without hesitation and thrust downward, stabbing the sword into the Illusory Core. The illusory core spun rapidly. Countless pillars of qi burst from the qi sea. From his dantian, a burst of dazzling golden light exploded, causing many Daoist elders to instinctively shield their eyes. Xi Lian gasped and covered her mouth. It was as if she had just seen a ghost. This kid is actually following… the same path as Daoist Master Qinglin… "Are all sword cultivators this reckless?" Xi Lian muttered softly, helplessness filling her charming eyes. Below, Wang Sheng stood tall with his sword. A clear and piercing sword cry rang out from within him as an incredibly sharp sword intent shot into the sky, forcing Xi Lian to retreat several steps in midair to avoid the invisible edge. A sword cry echoed for dozens of miles. Primal qi suddenly boiled and surged toward him.