Xie Xuanyi summoned the Martial Arts Divine Embryo.

Golden light illuminated the cliff, and the fierce Sword Intent tore through the wind and snow.

The two Dao Realms of Life and Death transformed into black and white qi, suspended above the Lifebound Flying Sword.

"What is this?!"

Seeing this, the Snow Demon looked aghast.

Did this guy really fall in rank?

What are these two top-level Dao Realms!

The Snow Demon cursed and turned to leave, merging into a heap of shattered frost and snow, dissipating into thin air.

With a cold expression, Xie Xuanyi controlled the sword and headed deeper into the wind and snow.

...

...

A white Sword Qi Stele descended amidst the mountains.

Jiang Miaoyin sat in front of the Sword Qi Stele.

She had been in seclusion here for a hundred days.

A thousand years ago, the Ice Soul Cave Heaven already existed... Within this Sword Qi Stele lies the essence of the swordsmanship of the sages of Yuping Peak over the past millennium.

Divine Thought immersed within.

Like a green leaf falling into rivers, lakes, and seas.

Jiang Miaoyin saw the evolution of the Sword Intent of Yuping Peak over a millennium. One by one, the predecessors of the Sword Palace left behind their Sword Dao before their demise... Perhaps in the future, she too would become one of them.

The comprehension of the Sword Qi Stele of the Thirty-three Cave Heavens actually bears some resemblance to the sword intent legacy of the Lotus River.

The predecessors plant trees, the successors enjoy the shade.

But there is one difference.

The comprehension of the Sword Qi Stele's "Sword Intent" does not require an immediate choice. If one walks through the Lotus River without making a choice, the chance for legacy might vanish... But the "Sword Intent" of the Sword Qi Stele can be revisited and pondered repeatedly.

However, the scenes each person can see from the same stele differ.

Fortune is there, but one must be destined to receive it.

Jiang Miaoyin was not greedy.

She did not care what kind of fortune was hidden in this Sword Qi Stele.

Her reason for entering the "Thirty-three Cave Heavens" was merely to seek inner peace in her Dao Heart.

Ten years ago, Jiang Miaoyin made a wrong choice, and for the next ten years, she was in pain, consumed by guilt.

Even though Xie Xuanyi did not die.

Even though Xie Xuanyi forgave her.

She could not forgive herself.

Perhaps it was divine favor, but everything went smoothly after stepping into the Thirty-three Cave Heavens. Jiang Miaoyin spent only a few hours to reach the "Sword Intent Stele" of the Ice Soul Cave Heaven. As her Divine Thought immersed into the stele, all her distractions, unease, and pain were soothed.

She seemed to transform into a pebble, sinking into the vast river.

The Sword Intent within the Sword Qi Stele rose like fireworks piercing the sky.

She saw a particularly brilliant, extraordinarily dazzling light.

When her Divine Thought merged into it.

Jiang Miaoyin seemed to shed her physical shell, truly becoming a speck of dust. In the centuries since the existence of the Ice Soul Cave Heaven, no one had ever touched this most radiant "light" with Divine Thought. This was the "Sword Dao Realm" left behind by the founder of Yuping Peak.

...

...

She started cultivation at the age of nine.

Five years in Qi Refinement, five years in Foundation Establishment, five years in Qi Control, five years in Grotto Heaven.

This pace was not considered fast for the founder of Yuping Peak; it was even considered "very slow".

No prodigy throughout the ages was like this.

But the most remarkable aspect of this founder was that she reached the twentieth level of Yin God in just five years.

In cultivation, one must move forward or be swept back.

Each step up was increasingly difficult.

Jiang Miaoyin saw the "life" of this founder within the Sword Qi Stele. After being accepted into Da Sui Sword Palace, she faced few obstacles, with the sect's founding Sect Leader personally teaching her the initial "Jade Screen Sword Skill", and then never appearing to guide her again.

She walked this long journey alone, slow yet fast.

Jiang Miaoyin felt a bit lost.

To her, the most astonishing sword cultivator in the world was Xie Xuanyi.

Xie Xuanyi took only five years to progress from Qi Refinement to Grotto Heaven.

But...

Wasn't this founder of Yuping Peak equally astonishing?

As Jiang Miaoyin's Divine Thought merged into the brilliant flame, she unknowingly experienced "life." When she realized the comprehension had ended, she unhesitatingly reintegrated her Divine Thought into the stele...

She achieved tranquility again.

And once more saw the simple yet remarkable heart beneath the brilliant flame.

This founder lived a very ordinary life.

The cultivators stationed at Yuping Peak spent most of their lives in seclusion.

The founder held her own and safeguarded the Thirty-three Cave Heavens. She had nine Taoist venue leaders under her, all disciples of Yuping Peak. At that time, the peak's status was second only to Lotus Peak, even subtly equalling Lotus Peak... The equality with Lotus Peak was due to the origin of Yuping Peak's swordsmanship being different from other peaks of Da Sui Sword Palace.

The founding Sect Leader of the Sword Palace and the Mountain Master of Tianyuan Mountain from the Taoist path had an "indescribable" relationship. After their fallout, Da Sui Sword Palace saw the emergence of Yuping Peak, and the Taoist path saw the birth of Yuqing Pavilion.

In these ten years.

Due to a mistake in the North Sea, Jiang Miaoyin sealed herself away.

She was unwilling to face others.

Maybe it was because she was born into the most prestigious family in Qing State.

Or perhaps because she entered the most illustrious sect in the world.

Countless people admired her, countless people looked up to her...

She did not know how to face these people's expectations.

As Jiang Miaoyin began to comprehend the Sword Intent left by the founder of Yuping, she vaguely understood that perhaps what truly trapped her for the past ten years was not others, but herself.

The path left by the founder of Yuping was a "Path of Great Peace."

Do not seek externally; look within oneself.

The Sword Intent and Sword Dao of Da Sui Sword Palace were mostly valiant and vigorous, either sacrificing oneself for righteousness or exchanging injury for life.

But this path was different.

Great Peace.

Before achieving peace in the world, one must first find peace within.

As she comprehended it repeatedly, Jiang Miaoyin's Heart Lake grew calmer.

She had lost count of how many times she had comprehended the "Path of Great Peace"...

If uninterrupted.

This marvelous state would continue indefinitely.

Unfortunately.

A familiar voice interrupted her comprehension.

"...Senior Sister Miao Yin."

Jiang Miaoyin opened her eyes and slowly turned around.

Amidst the falling wind and snow, a familiar figure in black fluttered, sword brows reaching the temples, phoenix eyes commanding. Unlike before, this black-robed figure now had a majestic Golden Robed Divine Fetus above his head, carrying a chillingly golden flying sword.

Jiang Miaoyin's expression wavered slightly.

The face of this black-clad figure, no matter how many times she saw it, always moved her.

"Senior Brother?"

Jiang Miaoyin stared blankly at the figure, instinctively speaking.

Xie Xuanyi's expression softened, holding the golden sword, he approached slowly, his tone reproaching: "How could you be so careless as to enter this place to comprehend the Sword Stele without even setting up a formation... don't you know there's a 'Snow Demon' lurking in this Ice Soul Cave Heaven?"

After a few steps.

Xie Xuanyi halted.

A ring of silver Sword Intent, like ripples, floated and surrounded Jiang Miaoyin.

"The Big Snow Sword Formation, this formation is good."

Xie Xuanyi squinted, smiling and praising, "It's perfect for self-defense."

Swoosh!

Jiang Miaoyin raised her palm, retrieving the silver Sword Intent. The endless silver threads entered her palm, transforming into a white talisman.

Jiang Miaoyin caressed the talisman, murmuring softly, "Senior Brother... You gifted me this formation, how could it be unreasonable?"

"Oh?"

Xie Xuanyi chuckled, just about to speak.

The next moment.

His smile froze on his face.

Xie Xuanyi looked down to see a silver flying sword that had somehow pierced his chest, almost exactly where the golden flying sword had struck before.

Thus this hard-won black-clad figure and the Martial Arts Divine Embryo once again disintegrated into an avalanche of snow.

...

...

(P.S.: To explain a bit, the reason for the delayed update was that I wrote a segment of "Yuping Founder's" story, but after much thought, I decided to delete it as it was irrelevant to the main text. This volume will aim to push the main storyline forward, avoiding unrelated narratives.)

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.