Even though Xuanming had said this cold blade was a divine artifact.
But.
From Chen Nan's current perception.
It was far more than just a divine artifact.
After all.
His physical body was truly terrifying.
Looking across the three realms, observing the past and present.
He was absolutely invincible among beings below the saintly level.
And yet, currently.
The blade energy released by the cold blade was causing him the pain of a thousand cuts.
If this cold blade were truly a divine artifact.
It shouldn't make him feel this way.
"Could this thing be a holy artifact?" Chen Nan's gaze grew increasingly fervent, like a lonely old bachelor who hadn't seen a woman in decades spotting a sexy supermodel in a bikini.
Even his breathing became rapid at this moment.
He desperately wanted to pin this sexy supermodel in a bikini to the ground and ravage her.
Of course.
These were merely metaphorical descriptions.
He hadn't actually intended to drag the cold blade onto the ground and ravage it.
Doing so would turn him into a eunuch...
"I still don't have a suitable weapon."
"Although I have the Pillar of Merit."
"But that item cannot be wielded."
"As for the sacred artifact of the alien demon race, though it counts as one, I require three powerful weapons if I were to unleash my Three Heads Six Arms."
"If I could get my hands on this cold blade, it would be incredibly awesome!"
Although Chen Nan was excited.
He didn't let himself become overconfident because of it.
Because the blade energy released by the cold blade was too terrifying.
Even he didn't dare to rush forward rashly.
"They say the only thing that can defeat magic is magic!"
"Perhaps, I can try another approach."
Chen Nan sat down cross-legged, allowing the blade energy to pierce his body and enter him.
His Dao heart was clear and bright.
He sensed the way the blade energy entered his body.
Chen Nan didn't understand swordsmanship.
Nor had he ever used a saber.
But now.
He seemed to understand how to use a saber.
He had gained some insight into saber techniques.
Saber techniques are divided into thirteen forms: chop, hack, lift, hew, thrust, intercept, push, stab, slice, churn, flick, point, and draw.
Of course.
These were the most basic moves.
Because for a true saber master.
Techniques were often the most superficial aspect.
To become stronger, one needed to condense blade energy.
However.
This was merely the second realm.
To become a powerful saber user, one needed to condense blade intent.
At that stage.
A single flower or blade of grass could become a saber, capable of severing the sun and moon, and splitting mountains and rivers.
This was the third realm.
But.
The world was full of countless saber users.
Very few could reach this realm.
However.
The ultimate potential of the saber was far beyond these three realms.
Above these three realms lay a fourth realm.
The fourth realm was simple.
No saber in hand, but saber in heart.
If one could reach this state.
They could sever eternity.
If one entered the Dao through the saber.
They could become a saint.
The saber, as the foremost of all weapons.
It represented dominance and ferocity.
If one could achieve sainthood through the saber, their power was self-evident.
------
"Why has he sat down?" Xuan Qingniao's beautiful eyes were filled with confusion.
Xuan Ming murmured, "Perhaps he wants to feel the fortune of this place!"
"It's useless!" Xuan Ji sighed. "Our clan members come before the cold blade after birth and nourish it with their vital blood, so that the cold blade remembers each of us."
"Chen Nan is not a member of our clan."
"How can he comprehend the fortune of the cold blade?"
Xuan Ming smiled and shook his head. "Actually, he has already received the fortune gifted by the cold blade."
Xuan Ji was stunned for a moment.
Then he fell silent.
Chen Nan tempered his body with the blade energy.
His physical body became even stronger.
This was also considered receiving the fortune gifted by the cold blade.
Two hours later.
Chen Nan opened his eyes.
The moment he opened his eyes.
Two white saber lights flashed across his deep, clear pupils.
And within the ten-meter radius he occupied, all the blade energy had been absorbed into his body.
He could now definitely be considered a skilled saber user.
"I can continue forward!" He stood up, his gaze resolute, and took another ten-meter step.
Logically, taking another ten meters would mean greater damage.
But the opposite was true.
Because he had absorbed the blade energy from the area behind him.
The damage he sustained at this moment was not significant.
He closed his eyes.
And once again sensed the blade energy in this area.
Silently absorbing that blade energy into his body.
"Do you know what this is?"
"This, damn it, is a genius!"
In the bamboo grove, Xuan Ming let out a hearty laugh. "The cold blade does indeed have a spirit; it can distinguish whether the other person is one of our clan members."
"But our ancestor can absorb the blade energy and deceive the cold blade, making it mistakenly believe he is one of our clan."
"It's settled!"
"This matter is settled!"
"Ancestor will surely be able to draw out the cold blade."
Xuan Ji was also amazed by Chen Nan's wisdom.
He looked in the direction of the sacred land and murmured, "I truly hope no accidents occur. I hope he can draw out the cold blade."
"Yes! If our ancestor can draw out the cold blade, then Qingniao will be saved!" Xuan Ming's eyes were complex. He hadn't considered restarting the Ascension Road before.
But now.
He understood what the existence of the cold blade signified.
This cold blade, which everyone believed in, admired, and revered, was the deadly blade hanging over his granddaughter's head.
If he could draw out the cold blade, his granddaughter would have a chance of survival.
Conversely.
They would have to send their children to their graves in immense grief.
Looking at the expressions on his grandfather's and father's faces.
Xuan Qingniao's heart was like a knife.
She had long come to terms with life and death.
It was precisely because of this that she had returned to the tribe before her death.
But what she hadn't expected was.
Even though she had come to terms with life and death.
She couldn't remain indifferent to her grandfather's and father's reluctance to part with her.
Not wanting the two elders to suffer or be sad.
And now.
She could only place her hope on Chen Nan.
------
Fifty meters!
Forty meters!
Thirty meters!
Chen Nan was like a hungry snake.
While tempering his physical body with blade energy.
He was also absorbing the blade energy emitted by the cold blade.
At the same time.
He also saw the true appearance of the cold blade when he was twenty meters away.
The blade was about one and a half meters long.
The hilt accounted for one-quarter of the total length, colored ink black, with raised veins like bulging veins on an arm.
Behind the hilt was an oval red stone, integrated with the hilt, appearing very harmonious.
The blade was a dazzling blue.
Terrifying blade energy and a chilling cold emanated from within it.
The cold blade floated silently in mid-air.
Below the cold blade was a stone.
On the stone was placed a square box made of jade.
"If nothing unexpected happens, the fragment of the Ascension Road painting must be in this square box!"
Chen Nan grinned.
Although he had been convinced all along, fortunately, heaven helps those who help themselves.
Without any further thought.
He absorbed the blade energy in this area at the fastest speed.
Then he took a step, appearing in the area ten meters away from the cold blade.
The blade energy and chilling cold here were even more intense.
Even though his physical body was terrifying.
Even though he had absorbed a lot of blade energy before.
He still felt a sensation of being chilled to the bone and stiff all over.
Buzz buzz buzz!
Without any warning.
The cold blade suspended in the air seemed to sense some unknown danger.
It let out a violent tremor.
Immediately after, a blade intent of immense power erupted from the cold blade.
Pfft!
Chen Nan had no time to react, instantly spitting out a mouthful of blood and being blasted out of the cave by the cold blade.
"Ten meters, only ten meters left!"
Chen Nan's eyes were bloodshot, filled with unwillingness. "Why can't I cross these ten meters?"