Eternal Swordmaster Chapter 972 - 967: Attempt One

Innumerable black universes resemble grains of sand across a vast desert, impossible to tally.

With every passing instant, certain black universes meet destruction only to be reborn.

To the grand universe, these black universes function like cells upon its vast form, or perhaps even tinier specks far smaller than cells.

Such black universes form essential components of the great universe's framework.

They operate as minuscule mechanisms, ceaselessly refining the great universe's energy and matter into purer cosmic essence.

Within the shadowy voids of the cosmos.

Lin Xin hovered silently, observing a swirling dark vortex ahead.

This marked the site of the black universe from which he had fled in the past.

"Who could have foreseen that along this black hole's rim, matter and energy would gather beneath its projection, birthing endless black universes."

Lin Xin directed his gaze to the black hole's periphery.

His memory possessed horrifying clarity; for anything he chose to retain, oblivion remained impossible even across eons.

He recalled vividly his escape from this very spot long ago.

"I was far too ignorant in those days. The energy and matter within a black universe represent merely a flawed fragment of the great universe.

No matter the volume a black universe consumes, all must be reformed within the great universe."

Lin Xin stared at the black hole before him, radiating an overwhelmingly fearsome gravitational pull.

The black universe mirrors Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, each concealed profoundly within the cosmos.

His task demanded locating the divided spirit he had once severed amid these myriad Cave Heavens.

"Undoubtedly, the universe birthing Nan Shunqing lies close by. Pinpointing this vicinity offers strong prospects of discovery."

The universe defies ordinariness; black universes demand severe conditions for formation. At minimum, the black universe of his origin clung to this warped black hole's edge.

The black hole spun relentlessly, swallowing all that ventured near.

Lin Xin probed with utmost caution.

The black hole's voracious pull rendered spiritual power release futile, as it would merely nourish the void.

Thus, Lin Xin's sole approach relied on sensing.

Soul sensing.

Not even a black hole's devouring might disrupt soul sensing at his caliber.

Particularly since etching his essence upon the eternal mural.

Lin Xin scrutinized the black hole's borders with precision.

The black universe spawning him, latched parasitically to the black hole, spanned merely one-third the scale of the Aojia mother planet.

Given the limited edges, Lin Xin sensed meticulously around the black hole and swiftly detected a lead.

"Here it is."

His drifting form halted abruptly.

He fixed his eyes on a spot below and left relative to the black hole.

"Return....."

.........

Inside the black universe.

The colossal form of the Earthfire Nine Spirit Beads’ divided spirit drifted through the void, seizing dozens of suns in its grasp and devouring them like burst candies.

In this stellar domain stretching millions of light years, beyond the tiny zone of Disciple Nan Shunqing's birth, everything else lay consumed, reduced to utter emptiness.

Nearby planets, galaxies, nebulae, and constellations had fallen one after another across endless ages.

While mere ten thousand years elapsed in the great universe, millions had unfolded here within the black universe.

Unsealing its eyes gradually, the Earthfire Nine Spirit Beads’ divided spirit shifted its titanic frame, now rivaling a full galaxy, having evolved into the true stature of an ordinary Taoist Ancestor.

Yet for it, bodily density far surpassed any Taoist Ancestor.

Thus, no true comparison existed.

"What summons me...?" the divided spirit perceived.

"It's the main body...." It lifted its gaze skyward in a precise direction, as though piercing cosmic barriers to behold the supreme overseer above.

"At long last, after millions of years, departure awaits..." The divided spirit shook its head.

A faint wisp of thought abruptly launched forth, crossing the immense cosmic span of millions of light years.

In an instant, it arrived at a particular mother star, slipping into the consciousness of Nan Shunqing, who meditated eyes shut atop a mountain crest.

"Master!" Nan Shunqing snapped open his eyes, rose swiftly, and bowed with reverence.

By now, he had ascended to a profoundly elevated cultivation realm, matching a Heavenly Venerable in stature.

After all, millions of years of relentless toil, bolstered by his exceptional aptitude, rendered such attainment inevitable.

"I prepare to ascend; will you join me?" the divided spirit inquired forthrightly.

Nan Shunqing's face stiffened.

Memories of his present kin surfaced.

Immediate family had long departed this world; only distant descendants, dozens of generations hence, lingered. Even the Family Head knew not that their founding ancestor endured.

To his thriving lineage, his existence held scant significance.

With nothing binding him, accompanying his Honored Master promised liberation.

"I am willing." Nan Shunqing replied with sincerity.

"Then we depart as one."

The thought filament encased him, elevating him tenderly.

With a whoosh, they disappeared from the peak.

...........

Myriad golden colossal dragons writhed and bellowed, each spanning tens of thousands of light years.

At this instant, every golden dragon assaulted the enormous humanoid silhouette at the core, coiling like immense serpents.

The figure gleamed blood-red, draped in a white robe bearing a longsword emblem. A halo of bloodlight orbited slowly behind, adorned with myriad elaborate, fine motifs.

Yet scrutiny revealed these motifs as legion white bone skulls.

Most conspicuous, the humanoid clutched a massive, archaic, jet-black, enigmatic longsword etched with twisted spectral visages.

A horrifying warped aura from the sword repulsed all light, concealing its authentic edge.

"I will conquer the Myriad Realms and dominate the cosmos! Your ancient dragon clan has resisted endlessly—what use in this final defiance? Submit to me peaceably instead!"

The humanoid man boomed with laughter.

"You mere sword thrall! A puppet of the Demon God Sword dares aspire to universal dominion?"

A profoundly aged golden dragon thundered.

"The ancient dragon clan shall never yield!!"

Within the universe, only their clan persisted against the Ghost God Sword Master.

Should they falter, cosmic chaos would engulf all.

"Refuse submission, and perish!!!" the Ghost God Sword Master cackled wildly, swinging his colossal sword.

As the blade swept, innumerable pallid human countenances erupted, each vast as tens of light years.

They hurtled at the ancient dragon clan, emitting malevolent cackles.

Each pallid ghost face embodied aberrant demon gods that had gorged on myriad souls and mighty entities.

They embodied joy—savage, crumbling, contorted joy. Foes' terror fueled their frenzy, amplifying their thrill and might.

Since manifesting, the Demon God Sword had ravaged countless worlds, cycling through masters repeatedly. The present Ghost God Sword Master marked the third to wield its full terror.

The prior two had each wrought apocalyptic havoc.

"Is this truly the mandate of heaven to erase our clan?"

The elder dragon eyed the approaching pallid faces, dread coiling in his core, teetering toward hopelessness.

Suddenly, the Demon God Sword quivered, contracting swiftly and slipping from the Ghost God Sword Master's grasp.

With a resonant hum, it rent the void, streaking toward cosmic depths.

"No!!!" the Ghost God Sword Master bellowed in fury and alarm, lunging a massive hand in pursuit, yet tracing no sign of the Demon God Sword.

"Strike now!" The ancient dragons seized the moment, surging ahead.

.......

Lin Xin reached out his hand.

Two crimson beams erupted without prelude from the black hole's rim before him.

The crimson streaks blazed toward his form at startling velocity.

Boom!

One crimson beam slammed into Lin Xin, seamlessly integrating.

His extended palm abruptly grasped a crimson Treasure Bead.

Boom!

The second crimson beam then struck Lin Xin.

He shuddered violently, his palm now clasping a peculiar longsword of pallid hue.

The blade lacked a guard, appearing forged from blood-extracted bones, inscribed with countless ghastly human faces.

Lin Xin shut his eyes, savoring the colossal energy unleashed by the Earthfire Nine Spirit Beads and Sword of Joy's return.

This represented their frenzied harvest from the twin black universes.

"Refinement and conversion remain necessary."

Dark universe energy bore incomplete laws; its finalized yield diminished sharply.

Nevertheless, the bounty from these two Divisions thrilled Lin Xin immensely.

"Qing’er, rest soundly for now; adaptation to this realm comes soon."

Lin Xin murmured tenderly to the slumbering Nan Shunqing within the Sword of Joy, relocating her to the nether realm.

Power roiled turbulently inside him, fusing, refining, and perfecting ceaselessly.

The immense volume compacted rapidly, shrinking to a mere quarter of before.

"Now... the moment arrives to seek insight into the Sword of Compassion...." Sensing his surging might, Lin Xin’s serene eyes turned toward the remote great universe.

The Sword of Compassion embodied self-directed mercy.

Recalling the final sword's technique and mindset.

Lin Xin abruptly grasped an elusive revelation.

’Five emotions' flux births wind, spirit-convening gale—truly..... Divine Wind!’

"Less Supreme Jiuyue Divine Wind Sword, more a blade of emotional forging, transformation via emotive force."

"Mastering the ultimate sword may hinge on flux, emotion's origin."

Lin Xin abruptly comprehended.

He pointed a finger, slicing softly ahead.

Hiss....

The forward cosmos split asunder, exposing a realm of swirling gray fog.

From the fog's depths echoed faint grinding of colossal wheels.

There stood the great universe's Shattered Wheel Hall, site of myriad souls' rebirth.

The dark universe's Shattered Wheel Hall served as mere echo of the great.

"First, a test—answers may dwell herein...." Lin Xin beheld the fog-veiled Shattered Wheel Hall, sheathed the Sword of Joy within, and advanced.

Sizzle!

The rift sealed, erasing his cosmic trace.