With a surge of spiritual power, Chu Nan infused the willow branch, and it instantly stood upright as if it turned into a real sword.

Then he swung it twice in a rather convincing manner, feeling it suitable for his hand, and couldn't help but exclaim, "Just infusing spiritual power to use it as a sword, this is truly a wonderful thing."

"From now on, let's call it the Willow Branch Sword."

Everyone exchanged glances, completely oblivious to the extraordinary nature of the willow branch, and instead felt an urge to laugh.

They really couldn't understand why Chu Nan, with so many good treasures available, would choose something as insignificant as a willow branch.

Lu Chi couldn't help but laugh out loud, mocking, "Chu Nan, though there are no swords to choose from here, you can't possibly choose a willow branch."

He felt a sense of pride, thinking Chu Nan was too foolish, while wondering if Chu Nan was trying to curry favor with him.

But Jiang Yixing wore a contemplative expression, being the only one who felt there was deeper meaning behind Chu Nan's choice of the willow branch.

After putting away the willow branch, Chu Nan also selected a millennium-old spirit plant to prepare for his breakthrough to the ninth stage of the Spirit Pill Realm.

He was about to step into the thirteenth level, not far from the sixteenth level where the Nine Fire Lotus bloomed.

To compete for the Nine Fire Lotus, his current cultivation was slightly lacking.

Zheng Yao followed closely after Chu Nan, choosing a martial skill and a spirit martial weapon.

Soon, all the treasures on the ground were picked by others, and everyone's gaze gradually fell on the staircase leading to the thirteenth level.

However, Lu Chi and Jia Yu occasionally glanced at Chu Nan, planning to end his life here!

Chu Nan also sensed the killing intent from Lu Chi and Jia Yu, silently preparing to use the Roaming Dragon Shocking Wind Step to quickly dash into the thirteenth level to shake off these two.

Just as the tension between the parties was about to reach a breaking point, Jiang Yixing suddenly said, "Junior Brother Chu Nan, are you heading to the thirteenth level?"

Chu Nan was somewhat surprised, as this was the first time Jiang Yixing had initiated a conversation with him.

So he nodded, "That's right."

Jiang Yixing nodded slightly and then said, "In that case, how about we go together?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yixing's gaze fell on Lu Chi and Jia Yu, making them feel uneasy and not daring to meet his eyes.

Chu Nan's heart was filled with joy. With Jiang Yixing's protection, entering the thirteenth level would be smooth, and as long as he reached the thirteenth level first, he could quickly hide using the map given by Chen Kaiyang.

Lu Chi and Jia Yu would find it much harder to locate him!

"I would be honored, Senior Brother!" Chu Nan immediately agreed.

Lu Chi and Jia Yu's eyes flashed with reluctance. The chance to kill Chu Nan was right in front of them, but they dared not act.

Jiang Yixing appeared gentle, but when he acted, he was fiercer than anyone!

Thus, with Jiang Yixing's protection, Chu Nan smoothly proceeded to the thirteenth level.

Watching Chu Nan disappear on the twelfth level, Lu Chi secretly clenched his fist, thinking angrily, "I'll let you live a few more days!"

Jia Yu, on the other hand, rolled his eyes and asked Lu Chi, "Lu Chi, I've heard that Chu Nan is heading to the sixteenth level to find the Nine Fire Lotus, is this true?"

Hearing Jia Yu mention this, Lu Chi's anger flared even more, "That scoundrel ruined my plans! If it weren't for him, Gu Nianxue would have been mine by now!"

...

In the Haotian Tower's thirteenth level, Jiang Yixing led Chu Nan around for a while, confirming no one followed them, then stopped.

Jiang Yixing looked at Chu Nan and said, "Junior Brother, though you are at the eighth stage of the Spirit Pill Realm, I see your strength as comparable to the top ten on the True Transmission list, with boundless prospects."

"From my observation, perhaps only you can become my opponent in the future Cyan Mountain Sword Sect."

Chu Nan humbly replied, "Senior Brother, you praise me too much."

Jiang Yixing, who had comprehended martial intent, was someone Chu Nan dared not act arrogantly in front of.

Jiang Yixing scanned the Haotian Tower's thirteenth level and said again, "While the martial artist's realm is important, martial intent is also indispensable."

"The last six levels of the Haotian Tower are filled with opportunities to comprehend martial intent. Don't let trifling matters distract you, seize this opportunity."

"I hope the sect can produce another disciple who comprehends martial intent so that I can have a true opponent!"

Jiang Yixing's eyes were sincere, filled with hope for Chu Nan.

In fact, he had said this to many people, but none met his expectations, being like mud that couldn't be shaped.

But this time, he was genuinely earnest, as Chu Nan possessed an emperor-level martial vein and could fight across realms.

Within the entire sect, he was a unique presence.

Chu Nan also eagerly replied, "Rest assured, Senior Brother. I will surely grasp martial intent!"

"If so, then I shall take my leave." Jiang Yixing nodded slowly, then quickly departed.

Chu Nan watched for a while, only drawing out the Haotian Tower map after Jiang Yixing vanished, choosing a suitable location of opportunity.

The first six levels of the Haotian Tower housed demon beasts, the middle six levels had puppets, and the last six levels hid ferocious corpse monsters!

The so-called corpse monsters were martial artists' corpses that had long since died, devoid of feelings and will, driven by the same killing instinct as puppets.

Where these corpse monsters came from, what their cultivation was before death, and who killed them, no one within the sect knew.

However, within the corpse monsters lay great opportunities!

Following the map's directions, Chu Nan found a mound nestled within the mountains and forests, which was the hiding place of the corpse monsters.

Unlike puppets, corpse monsters were few in number but exceedingly powerful, with even the weakest having the Spirit Pill ninth stage cultivation, and they could even use martial skills. Engaging them required full attention!

Chu Nan drew out the Willow Branch Sword, decisively striking it with no hesitation.

The Willow Branch Sword, indeed born to be a sword as a unique spirit plant, showed extraordinary prowess even without undergoing artifact refining techniques.

The speed of converting spiritual power into sword qi far surpassed mortal martial levels, and even most spirit martial weapons.

The released sword qi was three times stronger than before.

The Cyan Mountain Sword Technique's sword qi pierced through the mound, splitting it in two and revealing a pitch-black cave.

"Roar!"

A shrill howl echoed from the cave, and a tall figure swiftly crawled out.

With a bloated, pale body covered in rotten and grisly wounds, the overpowering stench of decay evoked deep aversion.

The corpse monster opened its massive mouth, revealing beast-like ferocious teeth, and swung its fist at Chu Nan, gathering a tiger-like phantom on its fist.

"It knows martial skills?" Chu Nan found it quite novel, yet dared not underestimate it.

"Cyan Mountain Radiant Sun Sword!" Raising his hand, he unleashed his strongest sword attack, giving the corpse monster no breathing room.

The blazing sun roared as it fell, and the Spirit Pill ninth-stage corpse monster was blasted to pieces in a mere instant.

"Even without refining, the Willow Branch Sword can exhibit the power of a high-grade spirit martial weapon. With it, even without using the Desolate Profound Transformation, I can kill a peak Spirit Pill ninth-stage martial artist."

"If I utilize the Desolate Profound Transformation, even against Lu Chi, I can stand on equal ground!"

The true heirs of the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect were all top-notch in the Spirit Pill Realm, having mid-grade or high-grade spirit martial weapons, as well as Yellow Grade martial skills or cultivation techniques, unmatched by rogue martial artists.

With Chu Nan's current strength, unless they were the true heirs of the Cyan Mountain Sword Sect, no Spirit Pill Realm martial artist could last a single move against him!

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