Chapter 31 The Fifth Island

In the past, Ji Ning believed that the Heavenly Dao was the rule governing the operation of the Three Realms, and surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao meant surpassing the rules of the Three Realms.

But now, having truly broken through and comprehended the 'Five Treasure Sword Art,' Ji Ning understood the true meaning of surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao.

The Heavenly Dao...

It is not the Heavenly Dao of the Three Realms, but the omnipresent Heavenly Dao!

Chaos worlds like the Pangu Chaos World and the Wujian Chaos World each have their own 'Heavenly Dao,' and the Heavenly Dao of each chaos world is different! Even in the endless Chaos... there is the Chaos Heavenly Dao covering all places, such as the Moon Under the Abyss, the World Prison, the Void, and other places, all shrouded by the Chaos Heavenly Dao.

There is an invisible layer of rules... covering all places in the endless Chaos.

Within this layer of rules, there are many restrictions. For example, the fastest speed can only be the speed of light! Time can only move forward, never backward. The so-called spell 'Time Rewind' merely allows one to observe past events, not truly reverse time. There are limits to the maximum power of lightning, fire, wind, and water...

These are rules, shackles that bind countless living beings. It is precisely because of these shackles that each chaos world can operate stably. Otherwise, if allowed to erupt recklessly, chaos worlds like the Pangu Chaos World and the Wujian Chaos World would have been destroyed long before they even collided with each other.

Of course—

Among countless living beings, there are some exceptionally brilliant ones who can break through these shackles and reach a higher level.

Ji Ning's sword, in terms of speed, had now broken through the shackles.

'The invisible rules, the invisible shackles, are everywhere.' Ji Ning traced with his finger, and in an instant, his finger surpassed the speed of light, touching the invisible rules and shackles. Without truly transcending, one could never sense this layer of rules and shackles.

'Even great powers are still under the control of the Heavenly Dao of the Three Realms. Only beings like Goddess Nuwa can transcend the Heavenly Dao.' Ji Ning sighed inwardly.

Chaos Immortals and World Gods have absolute power that exceeds the limits of the rules and shackles, reaching a new level.

Ji Ning, on the other hand, was far from such absolute power; he had only surpassed the limits in the speed of his sword technique.

'In terms of the speed of my sword technique, I am among the top in the Three Realms!' Ji Ning thought to himself. 'In terms of swordsmanship, I should rank in the top three in the Three Realms.'

Who is the number one Sword Immortal of the Three Realms?

There has always been debate.

The once-recognized number one Sword Immortal of the Three Realms, Patriarch Fuju, has died. Currently, the most revered is 'Patriarch Shenghuo.' Patriarch Shenghuo, like Ji Ning, has only reached the fourth level of Sword Force and mastered the Five Treasure Sword Art! In the Three Realms, there are still a few great powers who have reached the fifth level of Sword Force.

The fifth level of Sword Force is astonishing in power and more exquisite in technique, but the sword speed still has not surpassed the limits of the Heavenly Dao, remaining at the speed of light.

When the speed gap is too great...

Even more exquisite sword techniques are useless.

Although Patriarch Shenghuo is only at the fourth level of Sword Force, he is still considered by many experts to be the number one Sword Immortal of the Three Realms, though it is controversial. As for other extraordinary figures like the 'Dark Light Swordmaster' of the Wujian Sect, who is an old fellow at the fifth level of Sword Force, no one claims he is the number one Sword Immortal of the Three Realms. After all, the essence of the sword lies in 'speed.'

Even a simple 'thrust' of the sword, if its speed surpasses the speed of light, will have terrifying power, making it difficult for enemies to block. Speed is the essence of the sword!

...

Back then, Lü Dongbin believed Ji Ning could become a Sword Immortal, and Patriarch Bodhi had even higher hopes for Ji Ning. But neither of them could have imagined that in just three hundred years, Ji Ning's sword technique would reach such a level.

The reason for such rapid progress

was mainly due to the trials and training in the Moon Under the Abyss. Many of Ji Ning's other avatars in the Three Realms were also comprehending the Five Treasure Sword Art, but they were still far from mastering it. Clearly, life-and-death training in a special environment... and solitary contemplation yield completely different results. In the Three Realms, there are no such miraculous sword techniques as 'Sorrowful Sword Technique' or 'Soul-Severing Sword Technique' to guide him.

'If I can reach the fifth level of Sword Force, then I will be the undisputed number one Sword Immortal of the Three Realms.' Ji Ning's heart was full of anticipation, but he also knew that reaching the fifth level of Sword Force was probably almost as difficult as reaching the fifth level of Heart Force.

...

The tenth guardian watched as Ji Ning's finger traced through the void, his expression changing slightly as he murmured, 'Surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao?'

'Sorry to keep you waiting.' Ji Ning walked over with a smile.

He was in an excellent mood.

His strength had greatly increased, giving him more control over his fate in the great calamity. Moreover, he could now take the two hundred plus Celestial Immortals out. Ji Ning knew how desperately those Celestial Immortals longed to leave.

'Let me see how formidable you are.' The tenth guardian transformed into a streak of light and charged at Ji Ning.

Ji Ning continued to walk leisurely, feeling in complete control. No matter how exquisite the opponent's sword technique, its speed could not surpass the speed of light. As the opponent's sword light attacked him, Ji Ning simply extended his right hand with his sword. The sword light shot out like a venomous snake, a simple but incredibly fast thrust.

The Blood Drop Style of the Brightmoon Sword Art!

The tenth guardian tried his best to block, but Ji Ning's sword light still grazed the sword body and struck the tenth guardian's brow. The tenth guardian involuntarily tilted his head back, flying backward before stumbling to a stop. His expression turned complex as he murmured, 'Surpassing the limits of the Heavenly Dao, indeed surpassing the limits... With the sword so fast, how can one block it? There's no way to block it.'

Note that the fifth level of Sword Force is incredibly exquisite in technique. Yet compared to the fourth level of Sword Force with the Five Treasure Sword Art, it is still at a disadvantage.

A single word: speed.

It is enough to make countless experts despair, and even great powers are willing to abandon other paths to comprehend the Five Treasure Sword Art.

'You win.' The tenth guardian looked at Ji Ning, a glimmer of hope in his dead eyes. 'This sword technique, is it the Five Treasure Sword Art of your Three Realms?'

'You've heard of the Five Treasure Sword Art?' Ji Ning was surprised.

'Those Celestial Immortals of yours often spoke of it in the Moon Under the Abyss.' The tenth guardian looked at Ji Ning.

'It is the Five Treasure Sword Art.' Ji Ning nodded.

The tenth guardian's expression was complex as he sighed, 'I guard the Ten Thousand Blade Path, proficient in many close-combat techniques like sword techniques, spear techniques, and blade techniques. But none can surpass the limits of the Heavenly Dao. To lose to you, I am convinced.'

'You were the guardian for all of them?' Ji Ning was amazed.

'Of course. The nine guardians you encountered before were also me.' The tenth guardian smiled. 'But each time I only displayed one set of sword techniques... Alright, you have won. You can now proceed to the fifth island. Once you reach the fifth island, you can leave the Moon Under the Abyss.'

'Go on.' The tenth guardian smiled and then dissipated.

The surrounding darkness also vanished, and the bright moon in the sky reappeared.

Ji Ning transformed into a streak of light and continued flying forward.

...

After flying for about half an hour, he vaguely saw a huge, beautiful island. On the island were many small lakes, dazzling and brilliant. Some lakes were like flames, some were golden, some were red, and some were emerald green... The light was hazy, like a fairyland.

At the end of the floating wooden bridge stood a man in gray robes with flowing silver hair, smiling at Ji Ning.

'Eh?' Looking at the silver-haired man in the distance, Ji Ning felt puzzled. 'He doesn't seem to be a living being.'

'This is the last island of the Moon Under the Abyss, the 'Falling Moon Island.'' The silver-haired man smiled at Ji Ning. 'Northdark Celestial Immortal, you are the second Celestial Immortal to pass the Ten Thousand Blade Path and reach this place. Moreover, your strength is even greater than that of Jueming back then... Alright, come with me. I will take you to choose treasures. This is also the last time you can choose treasures.'

Ji Ning nodded.

Of the five islands, the last three islands each allowed him to obtain three treasures.

In just the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ji Ning made his selection.

Ji Ning had searched the memories of prisoners from the Nine Chaos Kingdoms and knew the value of these treasures. The great powers of the Three Realms had long coveted them. Although Ji Ning had no use for them himself, they could help the great powers on his side.

'Return the treasures of Feng Hou Celestial Immortal and Zui'e Celestial Immortal to me.' The silver-haired man said.

'Here.' Ji Ning had them ready and handed them over, then asked in confusion, 'What about the treasures of Dameng Celestial Immortal and Xu Jiu Celestial Immortal? Do I not need to return them?'

Dameng had killed Xu Jiu back then.

Ji Ning had then killed Dameng, so the treasures naturally fell into his hands.

'Since you killed them, they belong to you.' The silver-haired man said. 'Come with me to the next place. After that, you can leave the Moon Under the Abyss.'