"Pavilion Master Jiang, you don't need to worry. With my senior brother here, there should still be hope." Seeing Li Xuan leave directly, He Shumíng spoke to Jiang Shàng, who had not yet recovered from his shock.
In fact, He Shumíng also felt a sense of relief at this moment. Since Li Xuan had displayed his strength, the pressure on him had been growing day by day. It was like being on an altar, and Li Xuan's departure after his failure had undoubtedly made He Shumíng feel much more relaxed.
As for the spatial ring given to Jiang Shàng, He Shumíng merely regarded it as compensation.
Jiang Shàng sighed helplessly and then, with a thought, his divine sense swept into the spatial ring.
The next moment, Jiang Shàng's expression changed drastically.
"This... this is..."
"Pavilion Master Jiang, what happened?" He Shumíng asked, somewhat confused.
Jiang Shàng hurriedly pocketed the spatial ring and looked around. Seeing that no one was paying attention to him, he swallowed hard and breathed a sigh of relief.
"I'm feeling a bit unwell. You wait here for your senior brother." Jiang Shàng would naturally not tell He Shumíng that the spatial ring given by Li Xuan contained the Snow Lotus Nine Lotuses. After speaking to He Shumíng, he vanished.
Since he had obtained the Snow Lotus Nine Lotuses, Jiang Shàng could no longer sit still and remain there.
Moreover, with He Shuqiǎn's strength, it would be very difficult for him to enter the top ten. As the second-in-command of the Thunder Sound Pavilion, he would surely have this discernment after seeing the numerous contestants.
He Shumíng: "..."
Meanwhile, Li Xuan had already left Spirit Mountain.
"Young Master, how was your trip?" On a mountain peak, Li Xuan's figure, holding the Heaven's Dao Brush, also appeared.
Li Xuan fell silent for a moment and then looked towards the distant horizon, saying, "Although there was no substantial breakthrough, the gains were great. The biggest gain from this trip is that it has further solidified my state of mind. For a practitioner of the Buddhist path, a devout heart is the only way to go further."
"But I am a sword cultivator. After this experience, I feel that by strengthening my inner self, my future path as a sword cultivator will be even more long-term. Buddhist practitioners believe in Buddha, while I believe in myself."
"I believe in my sword."
As Li Xuan finished speaking, the Master Sword within his body let out a sword cry, and a sword intent shot straight into the sky.
The Heaven's Dao Brush, seeing this, said with some relief, "Breaking through to the Divine Realm, or even a higher realm, in ten years. With your previous cultivation method, Young Master, absorbing spirit swords would have easily allowed you to reach it. But such an advancement would have significant drawbacks in the future."
"Bringing Young Master to this Bliss Continent was primarily to temper your state of mind. Only with a state of mind as firm as rock, laying an indestructible foundation, will Young Master's strength be truly terrifying when you reach the Divine Realm and even the God-Breaking Realm."
Li Xuan nodded slightly and then smiled, saying, "Little Brush, only a few months have passed. I don't think there's any need to linger on this Bliss Continent anymore, is there?"
The Heaven's Dao Brush sighed helplessly, "Young Master, can you just say what you want to say?"
"Where do we go next?" Li Xuan asked with a smile.
The Heaven's Dao Brush pondered for a moment and then said, "Your state of mind has passed the test, so we must move on to practical combat. Next, let's go to the Continent of Myriad Martial Arts."
"Continent of Myriad Martial Arts?" Li Xuan asked with some curiosity.
The Heaven's Dao Brush nodded slightly. "It's a continent whose full name is Chongwu. The Bliss Continent is the peak of Buddhism, while the Continent of Myriad Martial Arts is considered the peak of the Martial Sect. I believe you will have many opportunities for combat on the Continent of Myriad Martial Arts."
"More importantly, the experts on the Continent of Myriad Martial Arts have extremely strong combat awareness. This is an opportunity for you to learn at present."
Li Xuan nodded slightly. "Hearing you say that, I'm rather eager."
Seeing this, the Heaven's Dao Brush's tip flashed, and a beam of spiritual light entered Li Xuan's brow.
Li Xuan absorbed it for a moment, and then the Master Sword appeared in his hand.
The next moment, a sword light flashed, enveloping Li Xuan's body and vanishing from the spot.
Just as Li Xuan left, a Buddhist light rapidly surged in.
"Did this humble monk arrive a step too late?" The person who arrived was Ānán. Seeing the empty mountain peak, he let out a wry smile.
"The chosen one has their own path. Since things have come to this, you shall remain in the Buddhist sect." A thunderous voice echoed from the sky. Ānán clasped his hands in respect and listened.
"Disciple obeys the Buddha's oral command." Ānán glanced regretfully at the mountain peak, then his spiritual light flashed, and he disappeared.