Chapter 881: Sacrificing Oneself into the Sword Tomb

On the desolate, withered land, many small mounds rose up, looking like tumors. From afar, a putrid, foul odor emanated from them.

Some of these mounds had been dug open by curious individuals. Inside, there was nothing but black, putrid sludge.

It was said that the Myriad Immortals Alliance had also dispatched specialists to investigate the area. After their investigation yielded no results, they completely cleared this area, which resembled a festering abscess on the land. Yet, to their surprise, less than half a year later, the sprawling mounds reappeared. The Alliance then sent people to deal with them once more. This cycle repeated three times, but the pustules stubbornly persisted. Ultimately, they had no choice but to give up, classifying the phenomenon as something akin to a "peculiarity."

However, Li Fan knew that the true cause of the area's abnormality was not some peculiarity at all. Instead, it was the result of residual will attached to countless swords, warped and corrupted over thousands of years.

"The Myriad Immortals Alliance can't be blamed for their perfunctory handling of this," he mused. "Even an ordinary Dao-integrating expert, if not proficient in the Way of the Sword, likely wouldn't be able to detect the anomaly here."

As Li Fan thought this, he activated his Reverse Five Elements Sword of Creation and Destruction. In his vision, the scene before him suddenly transformed. Countless shadowy figures drifted out from the raised pustules. Like specters, their eyes glowed crimson as they stared intently at Li Fan. From all around, inexplicable whispers continuously emanated, sounding like screams or curses filled with resentment. The whispers seemed to pierce his eardrums, reaching directly into Li Fan's mind. Even by shutting off his hearing or erecting a spiritual barrier, he couldn't block them out.

Li Fan frowned slightly, knowing this was a necessary step to enter the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Mound. He could only maintain his resolve and endure the bizarre, piercing onslaught of sounds.

Seeing Li Fan's indifference, the crimson-eyed shadowy figures erupted in fury. They transformed into streaks of black and lunged violently towards Li Fan.

As they drew closer, the shadowy figures' appearances became clear. Some resembled recently deceased, decaying corpses, with putrid flesh and writhing maggots. Others looked terrifying, as if being roasted by fire, their bodies dissolving. Still others were indistinct masses of flesh and blood, seemingly torn into countless fragments. Their common characteristic was that all these corpses bore Li Fan's likeness! The moment he saw them, ten thousand ways he could die flashed through Li Fan's mind! This was not mere fantasy, but more like the hyper-realistic illusions experienced after consuming an Intention Steed. He could even feel the corresponding pain in his own body.

"Petty tricks," he scoffed. "Not only do I have the Immortal Heart Charm protecting me, making me immune to myriad spells, but even if I were to accidentally fall prey to them, with the new cultivation method's ability to constantly regenerate the body from the Nascent Soul stage onwards..."

"It's a decent move, but unfortunately, it's outdated."

Thinking this, Li Fan allowed the shadowy figures to consume him. Then, the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven rumbled faintly, and another body reappeared in the blink of an eye. More shadowy figures emerged from the mounds, screaming as they flew towards Li Fan.

In this manner, Li Fan continuously recreated his body, finally allowing himself to be "tainted" by all the shadowy figures from the nearly ten thousand sprawling mounds. Each time he was engulfed by a shadowy figure, Li Fan felt his body slightly "sink." Not sinking into the ground, but sinking towards another dimension. These shadowy figures were like water spirits, pulling Li Fan into the world they inhabited.

Once he was fully submerged, the scene before him shifted, and Li Fan finally entered the Sword Mound. It was exactly as Shuofeng had described: thousands upon thousands of broken swords were obliquely embedded in the ground. All of them curved slightly towards the center, as if bowing to their emperor. Li Fan's arrival, as an outsider, did not provoke any reaction from them.

Observing these seemingly decaying swords closely, Li Fan realized that rather than decaying, they were becoming increasingly pure under the baptism of the Central Heavenly Wonder Sword. They no longer needed the restraint of physical form, tending towards becoming conceptual and energetic, just like a true sword.

"The shadowy figures above are the killing intent, obsessions, and desires of those slaughtered by these myriad swords, which have adhered to them," he thought. "In this world of pure sword intent, they are gradually losing their foothold and being slowly expelled."

Li Fan circulated his Reverse Five Elements Sword of Creation and Destruction, disguising himself as a sword. He remained motionless, observing his surroundings.

"If undisturbed by external factors, under the subtle influence of the swords, these myriad swords in the Sword Mound might truly shed their physical forms and become conceptual entities."

A strange look appeared in Li Fan's eyes. "What is this, 'when one person achieves enlightenment, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven'?" He thought. "Truly worthy of being enlightened by Mr. Bai."

As Li Fan pondered this, he finally took his first step forward. A moment later, his expression subtly changed. Because in that instant, thousands of swords around him simultaneously unleashed their sword intent. They seemed displeased with his "queue-jumping."

In Li Fan's perception, these outwardly decaying swords finally revealed their dazzling true forms. Some had fiery red bodies, like crimson flames; some shimmered with sword qi, like a heavenly azure; some had pitch-black bodies, yet exuded an overwhelmingly dense scent of blood; some shone with golden light, wreathed in lightning, like the majestic might of heaven itself...

Although these were only the swords in the outermost periphery of the Sword Mound, thousands of years of tempering by true sword intent had elevated them beyond the realm of ordinary objects. Each and every one of them could be considered a wondrous artifact of the highest caliber!

Li Fan scoffed, and his Reverse Five Elements Sword of Creation and Destruction intent erupted powerfully. Even under the assault of countless sword intents, he took another step forward. This time, he offended even more swords. Instantly, countless sword marks appeared on Li Fan's body, bleeding profusely. Even his divine soul felt as if it were being cleaved by sword qi, aching faintly.

"I cannot retaliate; I can only endure in silence," he thought. "Otherwise, all the swords in the Sword Mound will perceive me as hostile and attack en masse. Even the wooden sword in the center will make a move."

Li Fan felt a premonition and temporarily canceled his Soul Ignition state. He fully activated the Limitless Ebbs and Flows technique and strode forward.

For a time, he truly experienced what it meant to be assailed by ten thousand swords. His body was already riddled with holes, and even with the constant regeneration supported by the Five Elements Grotto-Heaven's power, he could barely maintain a human form. Although his divine soul quickly healed after suffering severe damage, the intense pain was unavoidable.

"Shuofeng had it easy," he couldn't help but lament. "He didn't have to worry about these ten thousand swords attacking him at all. With just the golden armor his mother bestowed upon him, he strolled casually to the very center of the Sword Mound."

Amidst his pain, Li Fan recalled Shuofeng's description and sighed. Despite his complaints, the combined might of the Sword Mound's ten thousand swords ultimately failed to hinder Li Fan in the slightest. In less than half a day, Li Fan steadily reached the very center of the Sword Mound.

(End of Chapter)