A ripple spread from the cave entrance.
Space-bending power surged, and the void twisted. Ji Mo and the Void Sword Sect group, aboard a flying boat, were transported to a wondrous land.
Before their eyes, everything was a blinding white, the light so piercing that their eyes could barely stay open.
Around them, screams echoed in a continuous chorus.
All beings who had arrived in the secret realm gazed up at the sky, their faces filled with awe.
Ji Mo narrowed his eyes and looked up, also profoundly surprised.
The light illuminating the sky was not from the sun, but from a sword wheel.
High above, sword light blazed across the firmament.
Countless sword beams converged, forming a colossal sword wheel that rotated slowly, emitting a radiance even brighter than the sun.
"Hiss, Void Sword Intent! Constructing a sun with sword light, this is the realm of transforming the void into reality. Great Immortal Kongxu is truly remarkable; his swordsmanship has reached the divine!"
"It is said that Great Immortal Kongxu was invincible in the Immortal Spirit Realm back then. I never believed it, but now it seems true. With no gods appearing, who could possibly withstand his sword?"
"Great Immortal Kongxu was indeed exceptionally talented, but sadly, he was short-lived. If he were alive today, he would have likely ignited the divine fire and attained godhood."
"The sword wheel contains infinite sword essence. If one can comprehend even a fraction of it, the benefits will be immeasurable."
...
Almost all beings poured all their attention into careful contemplation, hoping to seize this opportunity to comprehend the Void Sword Intent.
As for the sword cultivators, their eyes turned green with envy.
If, one day, they could construct such a sword wheel, they would undoubtedly be unstoppable, slaying gods and buddhas alike.
The disciples of the Void Sword Sect did not attempt to meditate. They understood clearly that without their sect's unique cultivation methods, comprehending the Void Sword Intent was almost impossible.
"Heh, trying to take advantage of our Ancestor? Dream on."
Sima Hongfeng sneered, "Our Ancestor has always been stingy. It's always you taking advantage of others, and others can't even get half a strand of wool from you. Right, Ancestor?"
Ji Mo's face was covered in black lines. Who was he calling stingy?
He thought Sima Hongfeng was the one who was stingy. He had painstakingly helped him swindle the wealth of a flying boat, and Sima Hongfeng hadn't even shared a single copper coin. Did his conscience not ache?
"Thank you, Ancestor, for bestowing this technique. I've gained enlightenment again."
Er Lengzi suddenly shouted excitedly.
He looked directly at the sword wheel in the sky, as if he had a sudden realization. The sword light reflected in his pupils, and sharp sword energy erupted from his body.
Behind him, a faint spectral image of a small sword wheel actually appeared.
Er Lengzi had previously comprehended the Void Sword Intent from the Sword Essence Azure Stone, and now his swordsmanship had advanced by leaps and bounds, even managing to condense a sword wheel.
Although it was merely a blurry shadow, his future achievements were immeasurable.
The commotion caused by Er Lengzi's cultivation of the sword wheel attracted the envious gazes of countless people.
While lamenting the sheer luck of this foolish boy, they simultaneously felt a surge of hope, confidently believing that they would soon become the next fortunate one.
Sima Hongfeng rubbed his hands together, his gaze fixed on Ji Mo with burning intensity, his intentions clear.
As the Sect Master of the Void Sword Sect, not understanding the Void Sword Intent was a great loss of face.
He also yearned to learn it, desperately hoping Ji Mo would impart it.
Xia Wan'er was much more direct, tugging at Ji Mo's sleeve and whining pitifully, "Give it to me, give it to me, I want it."
Ji Mo could only pretend to ignore her. It wasn't that he was petty and unwilling to teach, but rather that he truly couldn't.
He began to survey the surroundings, trying to figure out what kind of place this was.
Looking out, green mountains were nestled in verdant splendor.
Mountain ranges interlocked and undulated, an endless sea of forests. Ancient trees spread like umbrellas, exuding a wild, untamed aura. The land was vast, like a miniature world.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth here was incredibly abundant, with immortal spiritual energy condensing into clouds and mist that drifted about. It was a rare sacred ground for cultivation.
However, in the distance, faint, terrifying roars could be heard, sending chills down one's spine. Clearly, this was no safe haven, but a place harboring endless dangers.
Ji Mo felt a headache coming on. The place was so vast; finding Great Immortal Kongxu's residence would likely not be easy.
"Let's go."
Ji Mo did not want to waste time. He instructed Sima Hongfeng to pilot the flying boat towards the depths of the secret realm.
He was unsure if there was a time limit for the secret realm's opening, and felt it was best to hurry.
Seeing the Void Sword Sect group begin to move, everyone else stopped contemplating the Void Sword Intent and scattered, seeking their own fortunes.
Some cunning beings, however, stealthily followed behind the flying boat.
"The Void Sword Sect group must know where Great Immortal Kongxu's遗物 (yíwù -遗物) is hidden. When they find it, we'll find an opportunity to snatch it."
These individuals were quite cunning.
Feng Kun was among them. The primary reason was that he found Ji Mo suspicious; he had managed to break the seal of the Void Secret Realm so easily, and likely knew more secrets about this place.
Following him would undoubtedly lead to great rewards.
The flying boat sped forward. Along the way, they encountered many ferocious beasts and fierce birds, but upon sensing the sword intent emanating from the Sword Essence Azure Stone, they all retreated.
This was Great Immortal Kongxu's territory, and his aura naturally possessed an inviolable supreme majesty.
As they ventured deeper into the heart of the secret realm, Sima Hongfeng and the others began to feel uneasy, sensing as if a pair of sinister and terrifying eyes were secretly watching them.
"What is that monster?"
Xia Wan'er looked ahead in alarm.
In the distant mountain range, seven colossal, peculiar figures appeared, their bodies shrouded in mist, like gods and demons.
Ji Mo squinted and was taken aback.
Indeed, they were fellow villagers, and truly "Kongxu" (空虚 - empty/void). Great Immortal Kongxu had actually concocted these things.
They had large, square faces, rhombic eyes, and their bodies were colored red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple.
They were clearly the Seven Calabash Brothers.
However, they were not real people but statues.
One had to admit that Great Immortal Kongxu's craftsmanship was exceptional. He had sculpted seven great mountains into seven calabash babies, lifelike and as if they were real.
"Just Calabash Brothers."
Ji Mo's face beamed with a smile, his eyes slightly reddening.
He could finally confirm that Great Immortal Kongxu was indeed a fellow villager from the same place as him.
"Mr. Ji, so you like big fat babies. But it's not easy for ordinary people to have septuplets. Can you do it?"
For some reason, Xia Wan'er's pretty face inexplicably flushed.
She was actually of mixed heritage, with a quarter of the Seven Treasures Calabash Vine bloodline in her body.
Did these Calabash Brothers carry some hidden meaning?
The more she thought about it, the more flustered she became. If Mr. Ji made any improper requests, what should she do?
Septuplets were quite difficult. Her body was fine, but she heard that Mr. Ji was "xu" (虚 - weak/impotent)...
Ji Mo was momentarily speechless, sensing that Xia Wan'er was acting very strangely. He flicked her forehead with a snap of his fingers. "You little girl, what are you talking about? Where am I not capable?"
He turned and instructed Sima Hongfeng to search the area. Great Immortal Kongxu's residence might be nearby.
After they had moved further away, Feng Kun appeared in mid-air, looking down at the seven mountains.
As a Grandmaster of formations, he quickly sensed something was amiss. These seven mountains, carved into humanoid shapes, were problematic and concealed a great secret.
"Tianshu, Tianxuan, Tianji, Tianquan, Yuheng, Kaiyang, Yaoguang. These seven mountains each contain different energies and correspond to these seven directions, forming a vast formation diagram whose power is unimaginable. Could it be the Heavenly Gang God Slaying Formation? The audacity of the old scoundrel Kongxu to create such a grand display, is he trying to slay gods?"
Feng Kun couldn't help but gasp, his face filled with shock.