Chapter 62

Zongshou lay weakly on top of the carriage, but still tried to maintain the circulation within his body. He vibrated his muscles and practiced internal breathing techniques to absorb the power of the scorching sun.

His limbs felt warm, as if he were standing next to a fire. However, his soul felt a sense of discomfort.

Soul power is yin in nature and cannot withstand the fire of the scorching sun. Yet, at the beginning of a Spirit Master's cultivation, a large amount of yin soul power needs to be accumulated. This is the point of conflict with martial cultivation, which only improves when one reaches the Yang Restoration stage.

However, martial cultivation is not without its benefits. A strong body and vigorous blood and qi can also serve as a foundation for soul power.

Under the intense sunlight, almost every moment, Zongshou felt his body becoming stronger.

Unfortunately, Yin Yang still had not broken through to the innate realm.

Regaining some strength, Zongshou sighed and sat up, saying, "Uncle Yin, don't be anxious. Although breaking through to the innate realm also depends on opportunity, you have already touched that barrier. Advancing to the next stage is likely within half a month. Just calm your mind and don't force it. Who knows, it might happen tomorrow!"

"Thank you, Young Master!"

Yin Yang, who was driving the carriage, turned back with a smile, showing no signs of dejection, only a bit of regret: "I'm not really anxious, but I feel somewhat guilty towards the Young Master. These days, the Young Master has spent so much time demonstrating the mysteries of martial arts for me. Yet, I, with my limited talent, have still not broken through."

Zongshou chuckled, knowing his servant had already figured it out. He had deliberately practiced the Great Sun Brightness Fist on the carriage to guide these two. Then, he heard Yin Yang ask curiously, "Young Master, did you use sword intent in the battle with Zhao Yanran seventeen days ago?"

"Why do you ask this?" Zongshou raised an eyebrow and then laughed self-mockingly, "To use sword intent, one must at least be at the Martial Ancestor level. I don't have that qualification yet. Being able to grasp the essence of sword techniques is already quite good."

"No!"

Yin Yang shook his head solemnly, his eyes full of disbelief: "Since that day, I have been reflecting on the Young Master's sword techniques every day. The more I think about them, the more profound and unfathomable they seem. I feel that the Young Master's martial achievements are several times greater than mine. Especially the last sword strike, I have no memory of it at all. Or perhaps I should say, I can't remember it—"

At this, Chuxue's eyes suddenly widened. Recalling carefully, she indeed had no impression of the last sword strike that repelled Zhao Yanran, even though she had seen it with her own eyes a few days ago.

"That demoness said the Young Master had already achieved spiritual connection with the sword and asked if the Young Master knew about sword intent. There must be a reason for this. Even if the Young Master didn't use sword intent at that time, it must have been very close!"

Zongshou smiled without answering, thinking to himself that no matter how profound martial intent is, in his current state, even Zhao Yanran, who hadn't used innate true qi, could only barely defeat him.

However, if Yin Yang could see this, it meant that his breakthrough to the innate realm was really close.

Just as he was about to give some more guidance, Zongshou frowned and looked ahead.

"What is he doing?"

Without Zongshou's reminder, Yin Yang and Chuxue had already noticed the abnormality ahead.

About a thousand feet away, there was a mighty river. At a high point, a huge silver waterfall dropped over three hundred feet, creating a thunderous roar.

On both sides, there were dense forests, with trees reaching up to forty feet. Only in the center was there a path for carriages and pedestrians.

However, the road was now blocked by over a hundred various carriages. The people in the carriages all looked anxious, gazing in the direction of the riverbank.

Zongshou, curious, stood up and tiptoed to look far ahead. Faintly, he saw a figure sitting in the middle of the waterfall.

He couldn't see the expression, but the figure seemed to be sighing.

There was nothing extraordinary about this person, yet the carriages on both sides of the river did not dare to pass, blocking the riverbank. Zongshou's expression also became serious. His gaze shifted to a large black steel knife beside the person.

It looked more like a huge steel plate than a knife, about ten feet long, embedded in the ground, with dragon patterns carved on it. Just looking at it gave a sense of immense pressure.

Besides this person and the knife, there were also a dozen burly servants standing at the entrance, blocking all the carriages from crossing the river.

"This knife feels familiar!"

Zongshou fell into deep thought. He was familiar not with the knife itself, but with the 'intent' and spirit of the knife, which had been cultivated by its owner day and night.

Yin Yang, however, leaped out directly, running on the ground and reaching the front in just a few steps. He casually asked someone and then returned with a grim face.

"Young Master, I heard that the person ahead is cultivating martial arts. He is observing the Mirror Mountain and the Cloud-Falling Waterfall here. He finds the pedestrians disturbing the atmosphere, so he doesn't allow anyone to pass! It's said he has been sitting here for seven or eight days."

"Cultivating martial arts?"

Zongshou frowned and looked to the east. There was a huge mountain, shaped like a mirror, with a smooth side that could reflect people. This place was indeed a scenic spot, and martial cultivators often emulate nature to cultivate martial arts, which makes sense.

"With so many carriages on both sides of the river, why isn't anyone complaining?"

This place, though not the only route to Yunsheng City, was the most convenient. The Daoyuan River, stretching for three thousand miles, is five hundred feet wide even at its source. Most sections are turbulent, but only at the Cloud-Falling Waterfall does the water become slightly calmer.

Yin Yang's expression became even worse: "Several merchant groups here have hired martial masters, even seven at the Secret Martial stage. They have tried to drive him away, but were all driven back. I have also carefully observed the person, but I can't gauge his strength—"

Zongshou laughed wryly, knowing that the intent gathered on the giant knife was far beyond what a martial master could handle.

Even Zhao Yanran from that day was far from enough. Ling Yunlong, who had reached the Dayou stage, also lacked the qualification.

"Only someone who relies on brute force!" Chuxue huffed, indignant, "This person is really over the top! Why choose this place to cultivate, blocking everyone's way?"

The Fanyun carriage could fly ten feet high, making it somewhat all-terrain, so they didn't need to specifically choose a river crossing. However, changing the route would still take some time.

The other carriages were even worse. If they couldn't pass here, they would have to detour for ten days. This place, being a remote wilderness, would also attract animal herds if they stayed too long.

Zongshou didn't need to worry much about animal herds; with that person around, even intelligent beasts wouldn't come close.

However, he couldn't afford to waste time. After a moment's thought, he shook his head, "Let's detour! There's nothing we can do about this person."

Yin Yang nodded silently. This matter was unrelated to them, and it would only add half a day to their journey. Just as he was about to turn the carriage, they suddenly heard a commotion ahead. The carriage drivers and martial masters were all agitated, and some bold ones were even cursing loudly.

"Hey, you there! Do you know how much business we lose by being delayed here for a day?"

"Hey, be reasonable and get out of our way! If you want to cultivate martial arts, go somewhere else! Damn it, don't block us here!"