"What kind of technique is this?!"
Seeing Li Xuan's actions, Ye Zhengwei and the other seven were about to stop him but it was too late. When they saw Li Xuan's aura directly break through to the Martial Saint realm, even Ye Zhengwei was stunned. Such a method was unheard of.
Moreover, Li Xuan had broken through his cultivation realm simply by inserting a Heaven sword into his dantian, which was utterly absurd. After all, Li Xuan's cultivation realm had never changed before this.
Li Xuan smiled faintly and replied, "Levels aren't that important to me."
Ye Zhengwei and the other seven exchanged bitter smiles. Just before, they were worried that Li Xuan's low cultivation realm would embarrass them in the disciple competition. Now, it seemed they had underestimated Li Xuan.
"Sect Master, senior brothers, senior sisters, I will go into seclusion for now. Once I reach the Primordial Beginning realm, I will naturally appear," Li Xuan said, cupping his fists.
Ye Zhengwei and the other seven nodded one after another. Since Li Xuan was so confident, and they had witnessed his cultivation realm breakthrough firsthand, they were finally at ease.
"It seems our Body Sect has struck gold this time," Ye Zhengwei remarked with emotion as Li Xuan departed.
The Peak Master of Shenshan Peak nodded slightly, "Just the method of breakthrough, Junior Brother's, is simply unfathomable. In all my years, I've never seen someone absorb and improve their cultivation realm by inserting a spirit sword into their dantian."
"It only proves one thing: Junior Brother's origins are not simple," stated Peak Master Bi Jiang.
Ye Zhengwei turned to look at the Peak Master of Shenshan Peak and the other six, saying, "There's no need to investigate Junior Brother's origins. As long as he acknowledges our Body Sect, his background is irrelevant. Furthermore, if we were to investigate, it would surely chill Junior Brother's heart. There are seven months left until the disciple competition, so during this time, focus your efforts on the core disciples of your respective peaks."
"We obey the Sect Master's decree!" The Peak Master of Shenshan Peak and the other five immediately bowed in response.
Within the central area of the Body Cultivation Mountain Range.
After leaving the main peak, Li Xuan's divine consciousness extended outwards, and he directly arrived at this location. After casually setting up a barrier, Li Xuan entered the Prison of Suppression.
Although Li Xuan only needed to absorb spirit swords to improve his cultivation realm, it still required time. If calculated by external time, breaking through to the Primordial Beginning realm in seven months would still be somewhat difficult. After all, before this, Li Xuan had once taken more than half a year to advance one stage. The temporal flow of the second layer of the Prison of Suppression was undoubtedly Li Xuan's best choice.
After a brief exchange with the Heavenly Dao Brush and the Azure Spirit Tower, Li Xuan sat down cross-legged and took out his own spirit sword, as well as the immortal swords gifted by the Peak Master of Shenshan Peak and the other six.
Originally, Li Xuan had planned to keep them to guard the second layer of the Prison of Suppression, but now he could only take them out for temporary use. After all, Li Xuan had no idea how many spirit swords he would need to absorb to break through to the Primordial Beginning realm.
With everything prepared, Li Xuan closed his eyes and focused his mind. After adjusting his state to its optimal condition, Li Xuan's eyes snapped open, and he plunged a human-sword into his dantian to begin absorbing it.
However, perhaps it was too slow, so Li Xuan took action again, inserting three more human-swords into his dantian. Soon, with the absorption of the Spirit Stream, Li Xuan instantly felt the speed increase. As the Spirit Stream absorbed and transformed, Li Xuan gradually felt the changes in his rising aura.
Sensing this, Li Xuan completely calmed his mind and waited.
Time quietly slipped by. A month had already passed since Li Xuan entered the Prison of Suppression. If Ye Zhengwei and the seven Peak Masters of Shenshan Peak were present, they would be shocked to discover that Li Xuan had already reached the intermediate stage of the Martial Saint realm in just one month. And Li Xuan's aura was still steadily climbing.
In fact, after Li Xuan left the vast continent, both his state of mind and his comprehension had improved considerably. Coupled with his cultivation in the Body Sect, Li Xuan's foundation had become even more solid and stable. Now, absorbing spirit swords posed no burden whatsoever. Moreover, with the divine sword Spirit Stream presiding over him, Li Xuan accepted almost anything.
In the blink of an eye, another two months passed in the outside world.
As the disciple competition of the Three Sects and One Palace drew near, the disciples of the six peaks became restless. Many disciples cast their gazes towards the mountain peak, where the core disciples of each peak resided. And three months prior, the core disciples of each peak had already begun cultivating under the personal tutelage of their respective Peak Masters.
"I wonder if our Body Sect can achieve victory this time," a disciple remarked.
"Alas, it's difficult. Our Body Sect always comes in last in the disciple competitions, and this time, it will likely be no different. Although our defenses are very strong, we can't withstand their powerful offenses. And with some special spirit weapon divine abilities, we have no way to retaliate, only endure."
"This time might be different. I heard that two months ago, Senior Brother Song Tao of Songluan Peak broke through to the Universe realm. Not only that, but he also comprehended the Star Manifestation, one of our Body Sect's three ultimate body cultivation divine abilities. With this divine ability, we will surely redeem ourselves!"
"Star Manifestation! If that's true, our Body Sect will finally have a leader!"
"..."
The disciples of the six peaks discussed animatedly, clearly paying close attention to the upcoming disciple competition of the Three Sects and One Palace. Even the disciples in the central area were now gathering in groups, looking towards the core area of the Body Sect. Today, the list of participants for the disciple competition was to be announced. This was because only ten disciples from each side were allowed to participate in the disciple competition of the Three Sects and One Palace.
"By the way, do you still remember Li Xuan, who was taken as a disciple by the six Peak Masters more than four years ago? This core disciple hasn't appeared for more than four years, has he?" At this moment, someone suddenly brought up Li Xuan's name.
Zhu Xu, who was among the crowd, immediately looked at the purple-robed man beside him. They too were curious about Li Xuan, as they hadn't seen or heard any news of him since challenging the Giant Spirit Venerable.
"That Senior Brother is probably still in rigorous cultivation. Even with the guidance of the six Peak Masters, even with exceptional talent, it's hard to reach the level of the other eighteen core disciples. Time decides everything," someone said doubtfully.
"I think so too. If I recall correctly, when this Senior Brother joined the Body Sect, he was only at the peak of the Martial God realm. You must know that the minimum requirement for the disciple competition of the Three Sects and One Palace is the Primordial Beginning realm," someone echoed.
"Zi Xu, what do you think his current level is?" Zhu Xu asked Zi Xu, listening to the discussions.
Zi Xu pondered for a moment and replied, "With the personal guidance of the six Peak Masters, in nearly five years, at least he should have reached the Saint realm."
"It's similar to my guess, but even at the Saint realm, he can't participate," Zhu Xu nodded in agreement.
*Buzz.*
At this moment, a brilliant light suddenly rose from the main peak. The next moment, the figure of the Grand Elder Yang Wenlin appeared before everyone's eyes.
"The list of participants for the disciple competition of the Three Sects and One Palace is as follows."
Yang Wenlin's voice, like a roaring bell, spread throughout the entire Body Cultivation Mountain Range. Everyone present fell silent and listened attentively.
"Juhe Peak, Yu Heng, Qiu Mu."
"Songluan Peak, Song Tao, Mo Chen."
"Chaoyun Peak, Qi Yao, Lin Chu."
"Cuiping Peak, Mu Ye."
"Wangxia Peak, Jing Yi."
"Shengquan Peak, Jia Wei."
Yang Wenlin paused, then looked at the names on the list with some surprise before finally speaking.
"And, Li Xuan."