As the group approached the clearing, they were enveloped by an invisible Sword Intent.

They soon felt a piercing pain throughout their bodies, which intensified with every step forward, as unbearable as being devoured by countless ants.

"Oh my God, this is some powerful Sword Intent! Even my Crocodile Skin can't freaking block it!"

"This just goes to show that the person who set up this Sword Array was on a whole other level!"

Pig Dragon couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, but no one paid him any mind.

Looking around, the clearing was shrouded in a strange mist, with occasional, tiny flashes of lightning. Through the mist, one could only faintly make out scattered skeletons; the swords themselves were nowhere to be seen.

That was because the swords were all on Kuang Pi's back.

Yan Daoling stopped, stroked his beard, and said, "Though the core of this Azure Dragon Sword Array is missing, the first nine layers are still perfectly intact."

"If any of you use a sword, you can try breaking through the Array, starting from the first layer.

"With each layer you break, you will make significant gains. At the very least, your Sword Intent and physique will be honed.

"But I must warn you, this Sword Array is also quite dangerous. One careless move could cost you your life, so you must gauge your strength accordingly. If you feel you can't hold on, you must exit the Sword Array immediately."

Yang Zhilu took a deep breath and stepped forward slowly.

"I want to give it a try."

Next, Dou Dou walked up, holding her black umbrella.

"Dou Dou also wants to challenge this Sword Array and see how many layers I can break. But a genius like me will surely make it to the end."

Pig Dragon, acting cute, waved his pot-lid-sized fists. "Go for it, Dou Dou!"

Aside from Luo Xiu, only Dou Dou and Yang Zhilu used swords.

A short while later, as the two young women formally stepped into the Sword Array, those outside, like Luo Xiu, could only see the strange mist swiftly envelop them. The two then began moving forward as if deprived of their five senses, slowly groping their way through.

Yan Daoling turned his head to look at Luo Xiu and chuckled. "Disciple, why not have a try?"

Luo Xiu glared at him. "I haven't accepted you as my master."

Yan Daoling laughed heartily, shamelessly replying, "That's going to happen sooner or later. Just let your master get used to it ahead of time."

Luo Xiu couldn't be bothered to waste his breath on him and walked directly toward the Sword Array.

The moment he stepped within the Array's range, the strange mist rolled in.

Luo Xiu immediately felt a heavy weight on his mind and body, as if every inch of his flesh was being scoured by the Sword Intent's impact. At the same time, the scene before his eyes was no longer the clearing, but a range of rolling green hills that resembled a giant dragon sprawling across the vast land!

He tried to step forward, but his body felt incredibly heavy, and an invisible wall seemed to block his path, making each step a struggle.

Suddenly, he furrowed his brow.

At the far end of the rolling green hills, he saw a human skeleton!

The skeleton maintained a cross-legged sitting posture. Beside it was a broken sword, long since corroded by time.

Master Ping's voice suddenly echoed in Luo Xiu's mind. "I remember now, that's the Azure Dragon Venerable! This Sword Array must have been formed by the Sword Intent he left behind after his death. Kid, this Sword Array contains Yin Thunder Qi, which will help with your condition's side effects. At the very least, it can temper and strengthen your physique, so you won't suffer as much when your illness acts up."

Luo Xiu smiled. "Seems this trip wasn't a waste after all. This Sword Array is interesting."

Master Ping added, "But just entering the Sword Array to temper your body like this will actually harm you."

Luo Xiu naturally understood his own condition better than Master Ping. "I know. That's why I need to slowly adapt to this Yin Thunder Qi from outside the Array first."

With that, Luo Xiu closed his eyes, took a step back, and decisively left the Sword Array.

Seeing Luo Xiu retreat almost as soon as he had entered, Yan Daoling was taken aback.

With this lad's astonishing talent, why did he exit after just a few seconds? Is he even a man?!

In contrast, the two young women who had entered earlier were still pressing forward.

Luo Xiu seemed spineless by comparison.

But Luo Xiu didn't bother explaining his reason for leaving. He looked around, selected a spot most suitable for withstanding the assault of the Sword Intent, and walked over to sit down cross-legged.

The area fell silent.

All the humans and demons watched Luo Xiu.

Pig Dragon suddenly walked over to console him. "Big brother, it's okay. After all, it's your first time. It's perfectly normal to come out after just a few seconds. After you do it a few more times, you'll get used to it. We need to think big! As long as you persevere, you'll definitely break the time record!"

"You little..." Luo Xiu shot to his feet and delivered a swift roundhouse kick to Pig Dragon's rear.

Why do this oaf's words of comfort sound so strange? Luo Xiu thought, momentarily dumbfounded.

The Pig Dragon let out a miserable howl, clutching his butt as he ran into the distance.

"Big brother, it's just a Sword Array! So what if you can't break it? That doesn't say anything about your talent. You need to think bigger!"

Luo Xiu watched him flee, a helpless smile on his face, before sitting down cross-legged again.

He figured everyone probably thought he couldn't break the Sword Array. In reality, he had seen its end—the skeleton—the moment he entered. He had only exited because he needed to prepare.

Yan Daoling said, "Disciple, how about this? I'll take you and this big bear directly to the ninth layer. Once the Sword Array is restored, I'll break the tenth layer myself and find an unsurpassed opportunity for you!"

Luo Xiu shook his head gently. "There's no rush. Let's take it slow."

Yan Daoling sighed softly and said no more.

Just then, a sharp phoenix cry suddenly rang out from the center of the clearing.

Luo Xiu looked up to see a flaming phoenix soaring into the sky. It spread its wings, carrying a furious power as it collided with the strange mist flickering with lightning in the air above.

Yan Daoling's brow furrowed, his expression solemn. "This is... the ultimate understanding of the Sword Dao, Phoenix Feather! Could Luo Qingxian also be in the Azure Dragon Sword Array?"

Gritting his teeth, he added, "That demoness... She already broke the Fire Phoenix Sword Array and obtained an unsurpassed opportunity. Why is she now coveting the Azure Dragon Sword Array? How can she be so greedy? Disciple, you need to step up! Even if you aren't as good as the Plateau Saintess, you can't fall too far behind!"

Suddenly, the wind howled through the clearing, accompanied by flashes of strange light. Figures cried out as they appeared out of nowhere, as if conjured from thin air. Many even fell from the sky, plummeting to the ground like a volley of dumplings and landing in a dazed, dizzy heap.

"Looks like Luo Qingxian touched the core of the Sword Array," Yan Daoling said with a hint of schadenfreude as he watched the figures. "It's just that because the core is missing, the Array rebounded and expelled everyone inside. Nevertheless, Disciple, these are all prodigies from the Upper Realm. Even the weakest among them could break through to the fifth layer. You really have to try harder. But I, Yan Daoling, believe that my disciple is no worse than these so-called geniuses!"

Luo Xiu looked at Yan Daoling, speechless for a moment.

He was about to scold the old man when his vision suddenly went dark.

Before Luo Xiu could react, something fragrant and soft slammed into his face. The force was substantial, knocking him backward. His body was then pinned down by the soft weight.

At the same time, Luo Xiu heard shouts of surprise from nearby. Realizing what had happened, he quickly pushed with both hands to get the woman who had landed on him off.

Using the momentum from his push, the woman gracefully backflipped and landed elegantly on her feet.

When Luo Xiu got a good look at her, he was stunned.

She was a fairy.

She wore a white dress, and her long hair fluttered about her. Over the dress was a layer of lace mesh, which teasingly revealed her snow-white thighs, adding a mysterious and sensual allure. Her cool eyes, however, held a bone-deep chill that warned others to keep their distance.

"Ahem!"

Yan Daoling coughed twice from the side. "Princess Luo, what a coincidence! I didn't expect to see you here."

This woman was none other than the Lingtian Plateau Saintess—Luo Qingxian.

Luo Qingxian merely gave Luo Xiu a detached glance, acting as if nothing had just happened. She then turned to Yan Daoling, her lush, red lips parting slightly. "Elder Yan, do you also intend to break the Azure Dragon Sword Array?"

Yan Daoling chuckled and pointed at Luo Xiu. "This old man is just showing his newly accepted disciple the world."

"However, I'm sure you've already noticed that the Azure Dragon Sword Array's core is missing. It's incomplete, so no one can break through."

Luo Qingxian nodded slightly, then asked, "Elder Yan also accepts disciples from the Lower Realm?"

"Hehe, my disciple is no less capable than you prodigies from the Upper Realm."

At that moment, several young men hurried over, their faces full of concern for Luo Qingxian.

"Princess Luo, are you all right?"

"Are you hurt?"

"Let me see!"

"Don't be so reckless next time, or I'll worry myself sick!"

Gradually, their gazes shifted to Luo Xiu, who was still sitting on the ground. Remembering what they had just seen—Princess Luo's chest colliding with Luo Xiu's face—they were overcome with envy, jealousy, and resentment. They desperately wished they could have been in his place.

The Plateau Saintess was so sacred and noble, yet this Lower Realm Mortal had been allowed to take such a huge advantage of her!

One of the red-haired youths grew angrier the more he thought about it. He strode toward Luo Xiu and said coldly, "Lower Realm Mortal, this spot was claimed by Princess Luo first. Scram!"

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