Today, Xia Dao Palace is composed of numerous villages and towns, with most inhabitants being mortals. Men and women, elders and children alike, can be seen bustling about.

One day in the real world equals one year in Xia Dao Palace.

Mortals within the illusion realm experience aging with the passage of time, and after death, they are reborn as infants, ensuring that Xia Dao Palace maintains a population of 400,000.

On the surface, the number of participants in the deductions appears to have decreased, but this is not actually the case.

The reality of the illusion does indeed make the simulations significantly more efficient.

The Spirit Root Worm squirmed its body.

Each of the Corpse Mountain Tenants was implanted with Illusion Spirit Roots, and Xia Dao Palace slowly expanded, with occasional conflicts erupting among mortals.

The Immortal Sect remains shut away, exuding the aura of an orthodox Cultivation World presence.

Due to Xia Dao Palace's influence, Li Mo's thoughts have become remarkably clear, allowing him to comprehend two forms of Lower Level Sword Intent.

Wood Attribute Sword Intent [Seed Root]

Metal Attribute Sword Intent [Black Iron]

Li Mo wished to directly comprehend Superior Sword Intent, but aside from Illusionary Sword Intent, all other sword intents required a foundation in Middle Lower Sword Intent.

Twenty thousand corpses—Spirit Root Worm managed them within merely fifteen days.

Li Mo noticed that the number of spirit patterns on the Spirit Root Worm had increased to 127, underscoring the importance of the Corpse Mountain Tenants.

"If the Spirit Root Worm ascends to the level of Spiritual Treasure, would it be able to produce a genuine illusion realm?"

"If it was truly a genuine illusion realm, could it even create an entire cultivation technique system from scratch? Though most likely, a Low Grade Spiritual Treasure couldn't achieve that."

Li Mo shook his head slightly.

"It's about time to destroy the cellar and resolve the nuisance of the Copper Mirror quickly."

Li Mo scanned the ground and used his Lifebound Flying Sword to convey orders to all Heavenly Palace Stage Sword Cultivators, demanding they make a Heart Demon Oath to harbor no malicious intent toward him, thus permitting them to approach the Great Sun Evil Extermination Eight Directions Sword Formation.

"I can't be the only one dealing with the cellar's dangers; the risks must be shared."

Killing a batch of opposing sword cultivators and then forming alliances with others seems inevitable; after all, I can't do everything myself.

Jiang Xi hesitated for a moment before steering her flying sword back to the Great Sun Evil Extermination Eight Directions Sword Formation.

The other Heavenly Palace Stage Sword Cultivators exchanged uncertain looks.

Some couldn't resist the lure of the Sword Tomb; others sought to curry favor with Li Mo; and the majority didn't dare refuse out of fear that he might erupt into violence.

Jiang Xi clasped her hands and said, "I pledge my allegiance as a future disciple of Yu Xin Palace."

"No matter, I care little for rank or profit; I simply can't tolerate anyone backstabbing me in secret. Perhaps I am overly vengeful?"

Li Mo glanced around, the underlying threat in his words unmistakable.

"The Chief naturally speaks with wisdom."

"Sword cultivators' temperaments should be this way to begin with."

"Having Taiyi Daoist as the leader is far better than entrusting it to mediocrities."

The remaining sword cultivators responded with awkward smiles.

They understood that with Li Mo's talent, he had no need to adhere to the rules of the Heavenly Sword Sect—much like Yu Xiao, who'd kill for righteousness without restraint.

"Hahaha, let's focus on suppressing the Sword Ghosts; the bigger picture matters most."

Li Mo smirked insincerely, then closed his eyes and unleashed a torrent of Sword Rain over the cellar's location, breaking through the taboos that composed the mini world.

He deliberately dismantled the cellar cautiously, ostensibly out of prudence, but actually to reveal its internal structure to the gathered sword cultivators.

Li Mo immediately sought out Ye Zhuo Daoist.

Ye Zhuo Daoist, relying on the Black Coffin, had reached the room where Daoist Bai Shuo's consciousness was imprisoned.

However… the situation proved rather complicated.

Ye Zhuo Daoist stood in a corner, confronted by dozens of mutated, out-of-control Bai Shuo Daoists.

"Ye Zhuo Daoist, have you forgotten? Get me out of here!" pleaded a two-headed Bai Shuo Daoist, his eyes fixed on the Black Coffin, his breaths frantic, causing the secondary head's face to turn purple.

"Don't believe his nonsense; I'm the real Bai Shuo. If I hadn't carved markings on my arm, Ye Zhuo Daoist, you wouldn't have noticed anything amiss."

The hunched elder shoved aside the two-headed Bai Shuo Daoist.

"Ridiculous, truly ridiculous. A pile of deceitful objects vying for my body," scoffed Bai Shuo Daoist, who bore four arms, his gaze tinged with killing intent, causing his flesh to boil as extra eyes mutated onto his forehead.

They each strained to approach the Black Coffin, forcing Ye Zhuo Daoist to retreat several steps.

"Hiss…"

Ye Zhuo Daoist realized at once why so many Bai Shuo Daoists had appeared.

He had mostly figured out the taboo of the cellar but hadn't speculated on the mastermind behind it.

Ye Zhuo Daoist supposed that Bai Shuo Daoist had repeatedly attempted self-rescue during each reincarnation. However slim the chances, there would always be a few entities retaining fragments of memory.

"How the hell am I supposed to choose?" Ye Zhuo Daoist lamented, deeply vexed.

The true consciousness of Bai Shuo Daoist could not be discerned solely through visual inspection.

"After coming to the cellar, the Black Coffin has been completely inert. Should I first extract Bai Shuo's true body and let him decide for himself?"

"No, if the true body leaves the Black Coffin, they'll undoubtedly riot."

After a few moments of hesitation, Ye Zhuo Daoist decided to gamble on the improbable, directing his sword pill into the right arm of Bai Shuo's true body.

Instantly, he sensed Sword Qi emanating from the corpse piles in the corridor.

This indicated that none of the Bai Shuo Daoists in front of him were real.

"Screw all of you."

Ye Zhuo Daoist's forehead bulged with veins as he grabbed his Lifebound Flying Sword from his waist.

Clang.

It emerged from its sheath.

The Sword Qi nurtured by the feeding sword scabbard flashed.

Dozens of Bai Shuo Daoists were cut down at the waist, allowing Ye Zhuo Daoist to escape swiftly. The Blood Soul carried away a corpse from the corner as he fled.

As soon as he reached the corridor, countless Sword Rain enveloped the room.

Ye Zhuo Daoist's eyelid twitched.

"Brother, aren't you worried I might select the wrong target? You're killing them all in one go."

The corpse, once placed into the Black Coffin, rapidly disintegrated as swarms of tiny black worms burrowed into it.

"Huff…"

Bai Shuo Daoist opened his eyes, appearing as if he'd awakened from a dream, lying dazed inside the Black Coffin.

"Rise."

Ye Zhuo Daoist opened the Black Coffin, allowing Bai Shuo Daoist to take a few steps forward with a vacant expression. His countenance shifted several times before settling into a bittersweet smile.

"Looks like I didn't choose wrong; it's you, Bai Shuo, you fool."

"Ye Zhuo Daoist, spare me your jokes," Bai Shuo Daoist said, awkwardly flexing his limbs, as spiritual power gradually returned under his control.

Ye Zhuo Daoist clicked his tongue in amazement.

After enduring hundreds of deaths and the dissolution of his Dao, Bai Shuo Daoist's mental realm had undoubtedly improved, even showing signs of comprehending Superior Sword Intent.

"Who'd have expected being trapped in the cellar to have such benefits? Haha, though I'd rather live carefree and die without suffering," Ye Zhuo Daoist quipped.

The two departed the cellar, finding Fire Spirit Hall effectively stabilized, surrounded by Sword Ghosts pulled underground by the Great Sun Sword Tomb.

Ye Zhuo Daoist patted Bai Shuo Daoist on the shoulder. "Come on, have a drink with me."

"Alright, thanks for your help, Daoist friend."

In the past, Bai Shuo Daoist's inflexible personality might have rejected the invitation outright, but now he nodded in agreement.

"A drink for what? Focus on seizing the opportunity," Li Mo's voice suddenly rang in their ears.

"With the Great Sun Sword Tomb aiding your Sword Intent comprehension, chances like this are rare. It could save you centuries of arduous cultivation."

As he spoke, Li Mo directed a Flood Dragon to carry both of them into the center of the formation.

Upon seeing the gathered Heavenly Palace Stage Sword Cultivators, Bai Shuo Daoist instinctively prepared to speak, only to find them stepping aside to clear his path voluntarily.

"Haha, it's no wonder you're the elder brother; you've subdued them completely."

"Stop wasting time. Don't let this opportunity slip by."

Ye Zhuo Daoist wasted no time, gliding over to sit beside Li Mo.

After expressing his gratitude, Bai Shuo Daoist eagerly began his cultivation, immersing his consciousness in the ocean formed of Yang Attribute Dao Rhythm.

Li Mo gestured.

As the cellar collapsed, he sealed the Little Night Wander [Rebirth] within the trapped sword platform. Its taboo absorbed the fear of living beings, then used the devoured flesh to nurture corpses.

Among millions of Sword Ghosts he had encountered, this was the first taboo capable of generating corporeal bodies.

"Without the cellar's environment, the Rebirth Sword Ghosts will likely lose their effectiveness."

"But once the trapped sword platform completes its Sword Dao Spirit Pattern and reaches the Magic Treasure level, it should be able to rear Sword Ghosts in the Corpse Mountain Mini World."

Li Mo resumed comprehending Sword Intent.

A few days later, he grasped Middle Level Yang Attribute Sword Intent [Radiance].

He could sense that he was close to mastering the second branch of Sun Sword Intent.

Li Mo glanced at Ye Zhuo and Bai Shuo. Bai Shuo Daoist seemed poised to ascend to Superior Sword Intent within the next decade, while Ye Zhuo Daoist remained stuck at Lower Level Sword Intent.

The Heavenly Palace Stage Sword Cultivators faced similar predicaments.

They spent decades digesting the subtle profundities gained from the Great Sun Sword Tomb, yet they were unlikely to breach their bottlenecks.

The most significant function of the Great Sun Evil Extermination Eight Directions Sword Formation was clarifying the path ahead.

"If the mastermind achieves their goal, the calamity will end within a few years."

"With your meager talents, if there arises a contest for leadership among the Twenty-Eight Sword Tombs, others might assume my followers are inept."

Li Mo pointed a finger, sending two Bodhi Fruits into their mouths.

Compared to the Nourishing Yuan Fruit, Li Mo held little regard for Bodhi Fruits. His comprehension already far exceeded the ordinary, sometimes needing only a chance encounter.

The two immediately plunged into enlightenment.

Bai Shuo Daoist's Fire Burning Sword Intent began transforming on the spot.

Ye Zhuo Daoist not only saw his Sword Intent advance but also witnessed his Lifebound Flying Sword benefit tremendously.

Six years passed.

Fire Spirit Hall became devoid of Sword Ghosts, its structures gradually withdrawing from the seventh layer of the Copper Mirror.

"The Night Patrol Deity has been dealt with…"

Li Mo's trapped sword platform containing the Ghost Tiger Illusion trembled as all the Sword Ghosts wailed in unison, "Luan Chuan, Luan Chuan Immortal shall not live, shall not live, aaaaaah!"

Indeed, the Night Patrol Deity was Luan Chuan. The mastermind likely uncovered the truth.

Li Mo's gaze flickered.

Lost in thought, the Symbiotic Dharma Body emanated chaotic bursts of Sword Intent.

Branches of Sun Sword Intent emerged, alongside the ascension of Fire Attribute Sword Intent to Superior Level, with Sword Qi spilling from Li Mo's right eye and ear.

At this moment.

Throughout the towns, the Three-Life Skulls suddenly shrieked sharply. "Aaaaaahhhhh!!!!!"

Li Mo readied the Illusion Fish Sword, prepared for an imminent clash.

The Three-Life Skulls began to chant.

"Ten Mountain Patrol, seeking Immortal Fate, one dies of illness—nine are left."

"Nine Mountain Patrol, swimming in the Demon Pond, one drowns in the depths—eight are left."

"Eight Mountain Patrol, reaching the deep pit, one falls to death—seven are left."

"Seven Mountain Patrol, heading out to sea, one encounters a Flood Dragon—six are left."

"Six Mountain Patrol, attacked by beasts, one consumed by the Tiger—five are left."

"Five Mountain Patrol, scaling Sky Sword Peak, one crushed by falling stones—four are left."

"Four Mountain Patrol, entering Hundred Herbs Forest, one poisoned by wild plants—three are left."

"Three Mountain Patrol, eating vegetarian, chanting prayers, one achieves Nirvana—two are left."

"Two Mountain Patrol, passing by martial training grounds, one beheads themselves—one is left."

"Only one Mountain Patrol remains, lonely in solitude, hanging themselves—a double emptiness."

"Close your eyes, wake anew~"

"And there are ten Mountain Patrol again."

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.