Inside Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness, the tranquility of deep sleep felt like a sound dampener enveloping all chaos. The Ancient Devil Monument, which had faded back into a pillar of dark red stone, now emitted a more stable light, as if the chaotic energy from Zhi Xuan's mad oath had been channeled.

  Dawn broke. Faint morning light filtered through the ancient tree canopy, illuminating Zhi Xuan who was still asleep. The cold Blue Sky Sword supported his back. Although he had only slept for a few hours, his Dao Vow had cleansed his soul of weakness, and the lost jade Essence had recovered quickly, reinforced by peaceful sleep.

  Zhi Xuan woke up, his sapphire blue eyes open. He no longer felt the lingering exhaustion, the pain from the Blue Sky Sword's spins, or even the fear of pursuit. There was only a cold calmness, though not fully formed yet. The oath he spoke in the night felt like a long-held promise, a promise that would elevate his life.

  "I must have been crazy last night," Zhi Xuan mumbled, looking at his palm that he had used to point at the sky. His brow furrowed, creating a comical expression. "Now, heaven will surely make things even harder for me!"

  'Of course, Monkey. Heaven does not like blatant declarations of coup,' Ruo Xianxue countered, her voice filled with a rare humor. 'But do not worry, it was a powerful oath. It has unified your will. Now, you must feed it with equally insane actions.'

  Zhi Xuan got up, stretching his body. Every muscle felt stiff, but he ignored it. He cleaned his tattered robe of mud and dry leaves, then picked up the Blue Sky Sword on the ground.

  The flying artifact felt colder in his hand this morning, as if the tension of the previous night had subsided. The Blue Sky Sword, apparently, had learned. It did not sulk, but only trembled slightly, responding obediently even though it was a low-grade artifact.

  "You are the one who caused me to be emotional last night!" Zhi Xuan pointed sharply at the Blue Sky Sword, his voice shouting an accusation. "If you had not spun around, I would not have pondered until I uttered a crazy oath!"

  The Blue Sky Sword, now held upright, trembled again, this time with a more subtle resonance, as if trying to defend itself.

  'He is not sulking, Monkey,' Ruo Xianxue interrupted. 'He was merely responding to your panicked will. Now that your will is centralized, he will serve you better. Of course, he is still a low-grade Wind Sword. Do not expect miracles.'

  Zhi Xuan snorted, but he sensed the truth in Ruo Xianxue's words. He channeled a little Taiyin Essence into the sword, and the Blue Sky Sword immediately emitted a stable cold blue light. The control felt much easier than last night, as if he were rowing a boat on calm waters, not riding a wild horse.

  He wasted no time. Shoutuo City was far behind, but he knew the pursuit would continue. He had to move quickly toward the cruel sanctuary, the Demon Mist Swamp.

  Zhi Xuan leaped onto the Blue Sky Sword. This time, he did not fly awkwardly. He shot into the air with a smooth and fast movement, cutting through the morning dew at a much greater speed than last night.

  "Red Stone, is it alright if I continue to use Taiyin?" Zhi Xuan asked skeptically; he remembered Ruo Xianxue's warning about him needing to reach the Blood Transformation realm first to prevent Taiyin from eroding his foundation from within.

  'Of course it is alright if you continue to use Taiyin, Monkey. To a certain extent,' Ruo Xianxue countered, her tone returning to a mix of mockery and technical expertise. 'You have passed the Divine Wheel. Your Sea of Consciousness foundation is strong enough to contain Taiyin Essence in small doses. The energy will no longer erode your organs and meridians, as long as you do not attempt to use it for prolonged battles or extreme purification.'

  Ruo Xianxue further explained, 'The problem is, Taiyin is pure cold essence. This Blue Sky Sword is a Wind artifact, which is neutral-light in nature. The use of Taiyin will cause exhaustion to the artifact itself and to your Taiyin Essence. We will use the Blue Sky Sword for speed and mobility, not for battle. Keep the Essence you use as minimal as possible—just enough to maintain flight.'

  Zhi Xuan nodded internally. He channeled the Taiyin Essence in a very subtle flow, just to keep the Blue Sky Sword stable and fast. The sword responded obediently, gliding calmly over the vast forest canopy.

  'Blue Sky Sword, do not burden yourself with the name of the sky,' Zhi Xuan said in his heart, still shuddering from the crazy event of the previous night, while channeling a more stable essence. 'I will just name you Blue Wind Sword.'

  Zhi Xuan flew southeast, crossing the vast grassland. The scenery changed drastically. Lush vegetation was replaced by stunted and strange trees, covered in a layer of gray moss. The air became thick, humid, and cold. A rotten odor mixed with a faint smell of sulfur stung his nose—the aroma he had faintly smelled last night.

  They had been flying for about two hours when Zhi Xuan noticed a change in the scenery below. The ancient forest canopy had completely disappeared, replaced by an expanse of murky water and decaying vegetation. The air became more humid, thick with the stench of rot and heavy Yin spiritual Essence.

  'Get off your flying sword, this is the lair of fierce beasts at the Azure King level,' Ruo Xianxue warned subtly. 'Higher than the Sprouting Fang level that your village hunters defeated.'

  Zhi Xuan nodded, then with newfound skill, he dove the Blue Wind Sword—he had mentally changed its name—plunging down, gliding across the surface of the murky water, before finally stopping on a small island consisting only of moss mounds and rotten tree roots.

  His landing was much smoother this time—or at least, not embarrassing for someone who had just learned to use an artifact. He jumped off the sword, which he now stuck into the moss mound. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the new environment.

  A thin, yellowish-green mist enveloped the water surface and decaying vegetation. The Demon Mist Swamp.

  A vast expanse of stagnant, murky water, surrounded by dead trees that looked like giant skeletons, reaching toward the sky. The air felt heavy, and even though the morning sun had risen, the light here felt muted and cold.

  The smell of rot, sulfur, and decaying mushrooms blended with the thick Yin Essence, making Zhi Xuan feel a bone-chilling tremor.

  'Demon Mist Swamp. Thick Yin Essence,' Zhi Xuan mumbled. 'This is the perfect place for Yunyi Die's reincarnation.'

  "Azure King?" Zhi Xuan asked. In the Southern Continent, the spiritual monster levels were measured by color, with Sprouting Fang equivalent to Divine Wheel being the most common, and the strongest only Organ Transformation, followed by Azure King equivalent to Consciousness Transformation, and so on.

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  'Yes. Azure King. Your Divine Wheel level will be easily destroyed here. Spiritual beasts in this place evolve rapidly due to the rich Yin energy,' Ruo Xianxue explained. 'They are cunning and cruel. We must find a safe hiding place, Monkey.'

  Zhi Xuan sighed. Of course. He had just escaped two human Consciousness Transformation cultivators, and now he had to face spiritual beasts of the same level.

  "I need the Nine Lotus Blood Flower," he stated firmly. He took out the Ancient Map Scroll. Under the swamp's dim light, the ancient symbols on the map seemed to pulse faintly.

  'The Nine Lotus Blood Flower... it is in the heart of the swamp, Monkey,' Ruo Xianxue whispered. 'In a pure spring pool protected by an Ancient Seal Formation. It is the most dangerous location, where the most powerful Azure Kings will gather.'

  In the middle of the foul-smelling mist, Zhi Xuan looked at the map scroll now spread out in his hands. The hand-drawn lines, which felt so foreign yet resonated with the Ancient Devil Monument within him, pointed to a faintly pulsing red dot in the heart of the Demon Mist Swamp. A small circle, surrounded by ancient guardian symbols, marked the location of the Pure Spring Pool.

  "The heart of the swamp..." Zhi Xuan mumbled, his sapphire blue eyes scanning every detail on the map. "Ancient Seal Formation. The strongest Azure Kings." He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with the damp, cold swamp air. It was a challenge he could not avoid. First Ember. That was the next step, and the Nine Lotus Blood Flower was the key.

  'You need a safe place to set up Yunyi Die's reincarnation formation, and you also need a place to achieve the First Ember,' Ruo Xianxue said, her voice now more serious. 'Those are two goals you cannot achieve in the middle of the Azure Kings. We must find a cave, or at least a higher mound, shielded from view and the corrupting Yin Essence.'

  Zhi Xuan nodded. He could not just lie down on this moss mound and wait for death. He channeled a little Taiyin Essence into his left eye, purifying his half-blind vision. The surrounding mist thinned slightly, revealing more detail.

  He looked around. The swamp itself was a labyrinth of murky water, small islands of interlinked mud and roots, and dead trees adorned with faintly glowing moss. In the distance, he could hear strange sounds—hissing, low growls, and the trickling of water indicating movement.

  'Do not use excessive essence for vision, Monkey. That is a waste of Essence,' Ruo Xianxue admonished. 'Use your hearing. And feel the Essence fluctuations. The spiritual beasts here move with Yin Essence, not just sound.'

  Zhi Xuan clenched his jaw. Ruo Xianxue was right. He pulled the Taiyin Essence back from his eyes, relying on his hearing and subtler spiritual senses. The sounds in the swamp became clearer—moans from unseen creatures, the rumbling of water moving away, and a faint ground vibration.

  Zhi Xuan stepped carefully. The Blue Wind Sword in his hand felt cold and responsive. He no longer considered it a "wild horse," but an extension of his will. He stepped over protruding tree roots and sucking mud, heading northeast, away from the heart of the swamp.

  'We will search in that direction,' Zhi Xuan whispered in his heart, pointing toward a higher mound of soil, which looked like a small hill covered in strange trees. 'That is the only place that offers protection from view and standing water. This is the Demon Mist Swamp, this strange place, there must be a spot that can protect from the Yin Essence.'

  Ruo Xianxue did not reply, but he felt the Ancient Devil Monument in Zhi Xuan's Sea of Consciousness tremble faintly. Zhi Xuan moved with high vigilance. Every step felt tense. He knew he had to find a safe place quickly.

  The mist swamp looked bleak even in the morning; the mist covered the faint sunlight, casting horrifying shadows that could deceive the eye. Zhi Xuan clenched his jaw, slowing his pace as if afraid to make a sound.

  'Ruo, I think morning is a good thing,' Zhi Xuan said internally, although he still felt wary. 'This swamp... I do not know what is in here.'

  In the damp, cold silence, Ruo Xianxue finally replied. 'Morning is indeed better, Monkey. Spiritual beasts that rely on Yin Essence usually hide underwater or in the depths of the swamp at dawn. They are most active at night. But do not be fooled by this calm. If an Azure King is here, it means there is treasure to protect, and they will not sleep for too long.'

  Zhi Xuan clenched his jaw, every step on the wet mud felt deliberate. He moved along the slightly higher ground, avoiding the stagnant murky water that smelled foul. The scent of sulfur grew stronger, mixed with a faint fishy odor, which might have come from creatures moving underwater.

  'Are you sure? This swamp... It is too quiet, I feel a bad premonition.'

  Zhi Xuan tightened his grip on the Blue Wind Sword. He had heard enough hunter stories about swamps and beasts disguised as dead wood or rocks. In this place, every moss mound could be a monster's head.

  Just a moment after he thought this, the next step he took felt strange. As if stepping on something soft and pulse-like.

  Zhi Xuan's step halted. His left foot, which he had just placed on a seemingly stable moss mound, suddenly sank slightly deeper than it should have. It was not just mud. The surface he stepped on felt springy and pulsating, sending a strange sensation through the sole of his worn boot.

  In a fraction of a second, his instincts honed by life-and-death in the arena screamed. "Jump!" Ruo Xianxue yelled, her voice cutting through the silence with a chilling urgency.

  Zhi Xuan did not need to be told twice. He channeled Taiyin Essence into his right foot—the only foot still on safe ground—and leaped with explosive force.

  As his body soared into the air, the moss mound where his left foot had just landed suddenly erupted upwards.

  WHUUMMPHH!

  The large mass covered in moss and tree roots that looked like a small hill, turned out to be part of a massive swamp monster. The creature, which looked like a giant snake with a moss-layered shell, raised its wide head. Its eyes, two deep black holes without pupils, emitted a faint red light that absorbed the light.

  A Giant Moss Python — at least Peak Organ Transformation realm, just a step away from Azure King.

  Its mouth opened, revealing long, jade-dagger-like fangs, and it released a foul-smelling breath. The air released was thick with a heavy Yin Poison, capable of paralyzing a Divine Wheel cultivator in seconds.

  Zhi Xuan, still airborne, instinctively covered his nose and mouth with his sleeve. The Taiyin Essence in his body immediately spun, trying to counteract the Yin Poison that was piercing through his pores.

  Hiss!

  The giant snake wasted no time. It lunged with surprising speed, its entire body parting the swamp water, creating a horrifying wave of mud and water. It targeted Zhi Xuan, who was the only visible prey, with deadly speed.

  'Quick, Monkey! Blue Wind Sword!' Ruo Xianxue yelled.

  The Blue Wind Sword, which Zhi Xuan had stuck into the safe moss mound, was about five meters away. Zhi Xuan could not reach it. He turned back, seeing the giant snake only a few feet away from him.

  In cold desperation, Zhi Xuan ignored that he could not channel essence outwards. He stretched out his hand, and with his newly formed Dao Will, he commanded the sword. He did not channel essence, but only pure will.

  "Come here!"

  The Blue Wind Sword, still stuck in the moss mound, responded to the sudden and absolute will. The artifact trembled violently, then quickly, flew from the moss mound and shot into Zhi Xuan's hand.

  The process was awkward, but successful. Zhi Xuan, now having a foothold, immediately channeled Taiyin Essence into the blade. He could not escape by running; the snake was too fast. He leaped onto the Blue Wind Sword, just before the giant snake's fangs struck the spot where he was hovering.

  CRACK!

  The fangs hit the air, but the snake's giant tail, moving like a steel whip, swept the spot where Zhi Xuan had just been.

  Zhi Xuan, now gliding in the air, felt the strong tail wind. He plunged upward, letting the tail miss narrowly.

  "Red Stone Sword, you saved me again!" Zhi Xuan exclaimed, slightly joyful that he had not died on the first bite.

  Hiss!

  The giant snake was undeterred. It lifted a third of its body out of the swamp, its faint red eyes fixated on the small dot hovering above it. It could not fly, but it could jump.

  WHUMP!

  The snake launched into the air, moving like a launched projectile.

  'He will jump higher! He is Peak Sprouting Fang level, Monkey!' Ruo Xianxue yelled.

  Zhi Xuan saw it. He knew he could not fight. He had to run. He forced his Taiyin Essence into the Blue Wind Sword, ignoring the warnings about exhaustion.

  Swoosh!

  He shot forward, passing dead trees and foul mist. The giant snake jumped, reaching a terrifying height, but it failed to catch Zhi Xuan.