Chapter 19: Storming the Dao Lord Cloud Realm

Ji Ning practiced alone in his quiet room, refining the seven great divine thunders and seven great divine waters, forming them into the 'Seven Star Two-Phase Formation'. Using these divine thunders and divine waters to form formations was a common technique among cultivators. For instance, the treasures Ji Ning had purchased earlier, like the 'Divine Water Seven-Flag Vase', allowed seven types of divine water to form the 'Divine Water Seven-Flag Grand Formation'.

After a brief practice to familiarize himself, Ji Ning calmed his mind, recalling his insights into swordsmanship over the years, and his heart gradually became empty and still.

In the blink of an eye, a day passed.

Ji Ning opened his eyes, a hint of eagerness in them. "It's time to storm the Dao Lord Cloud Realm."

Leaving the quiet room, he saw Danbao World God and Fire Fairy Su Youji sitting outside drinking. They immediately stood up upon seeing him, and Fire Fairy Su Youji said, "Master, are you going to the Dao Lord Cloud Realm?"

"Mm," Ji Ning nodded.

"Master," Danbao World God said quickly, "We've heard that many World-level cultivators recognized by the ancient tower across the twelve palaces have entered the Dao Lord Cloud Realm in a single day. The competition seems fierce, but I believe you will surely succeed."

"You know too?" Ji Ning was surprised. Was the selection through the Dao Lord Cloud Realm already known to everyone?

"Master, you didn't say anything, but even a fool could guess. How many World-level cultivators in the twelve palaces are recognized by the ancient tower? For so many to enter the Dao Lord Cloud Realm on the same day—it's too strange," Danbao World God looked at Ji Ning. "In my view, master, you will definitely succeed and even take first place. The other World-level cultivators are just chickens and dogs."

Danbao World God was naturally cute, and his words were not annoying but rather amusing.

"I hope so," Ji Ning smiled. "Alright, I'm off to the Dao Lord Cloud Realm."

……

Under the watchful eyes of Fire Fairy Su Youji and Danbao World God, Ji Ning flew away toward the distant Dao Lord Cloud Realm.

The Dao Lord Cloud Realm was the tallest building in the Sword Palace, appearing as four massive layers of cloud.

"This time, I'll go all out and see how far I can get," Ji Ning looked up at the Dao Lord Cloud Realm. Although he had challenged it many times before, it was always to test his sword techniques, never truly pushing to his limits.

"Whoosh."

Ji Ning took a step, entering the black mist range, and swiftly entered the Dao Lord Cloud Realm.

"Beiming Sword Lord has entered."

"All seven Sword Lords of our Sword Palace have now entered."

"I wonder what's happening. Across the twelve palaces, all these prodigies are going in one after another." In the distance, some black-armored Dao Lords on patrol were watching. They were always the best-informed in the twelve palaces.

……

The Dao Lord Cloud Realm had four layers.

Divided into the Black Cloud Realm, Green Cloud Realm, Silver Cloud Realm, and Gold Cloud Realm.

Every time Sword Palace cultivators entered, they had to start from the Black Cloud Realm, as the main purpose of the Dao Lord Cloud Realm was to provide suitable opponents for sword cultivators.

In the Green Cloud Realm, on a long path condensed from green clouds, Ji Ning walked in white robes, holding a long sword. Ahead, puppets of the One-step Dao Lord level came to block him.

"Bang."

A sword light casually struck the chest of a puppet shaped like a four-hoofed beast, sending it tumbling backward. This move was the Heaven Collapse style of Ji Ning's Brightmoon Sword Art.

"Whoosh."

The sword light flickered like a ghost, leaving countless afterimages in the air, indistinguishable from reality. The blade's edge sliced into the joint of a spider-like puppet, causing it to stagger, and then Ji Ning's sword light sent it flying.

Strolling along the green cloud path, Ji Ning repelled opponents time and again. But the further he went, the stronger the enemies became, and their numbers increased. Yet Ji Ning still used only one sword, always employing his Brightmoon Sword Art.

"I've never reached the end of this second layer before." Ji Ning's swordsmanship had indeed become more profound.

The five styles of the Brightmoon Sword Art were each more powerful than the seventh style of the Nameless Sword Art or the seventh style of the Heartprint Sword Art!

"With my current sword technique, I should be able to pass easily with just one sword." Ji Ning saw the end of the green cloud path in the distance. Having absorbed some essence from the Nameless Sword Art and Heartprint Sword Art, he had risen a level higher. Now, when he wielded his sword, it naturally carried a trace of the Reincarnation Sword Intent, allowing the five Brightmoon styles to change freely.

"Chii!"

A stunning sword light streaked across the sky.

Ji Ning's sword was like a meteor, like the most beautiful sight in the world, blurring the line between illusion and reality. His sword was incredibly fast, and with a 'puchi,' it pierced the throat of a puppet controlling a treasure. Such puppets usually stayed far away, but this was Ji Ning's last opponent.

With a 'puchi,' the sword light pierced the puppet's throat.

"Ah?" Ji Ning was surprised. "Pierced through? Most of the previous puppets couldn't be pierced."

"Whoosh." The puppet with the pierced throat flew backward, its throat rippling like water, the wound disappearing. It withdrew from the green cloud path.

"Finally reached the end of the second layer." Ji Ning flew out of the green cloud path. Ahead was a small island only a few li in circumference, on which lay a suit of green armor.

Ji Ning glanced at the green armor and smiled.

"Green armor? Looks like I need to change my armor."

The first time he cleared the Black Cloud Realm, he obtained black armor. The first time he cleared the Green Cloud Realm, he could also obtain a suit of green armor. Ji Ning had long obtained the black armor, a Dao-level top-grade armor, but it was less useful than the 'Water Element Armor' he bought at the treasure meeting. The green armor, however, was at the Eternal treasure level.

"Collect." Ji Ning stepped forward, easily collecting the green armor, then sat cross-legged to slowly refine it while preparing to challenge the third layer, the Silver Cloud Realm.

Silver Cloud Realm...

World-level cultivators had no hope of truly reaching the end! Because clearing it meant reaching the threshold of a Three-step Dao Lord, which was utterly impossible. Even if Ji Ning's Nine Source Divine Thunder and Nine Source Divine Water reached the 'Triple Divine Thunder' and 'Triple Divine Water' level, capable of killing One-step Dao Lords, he would only be considered formidable among Two-step Dao Lords—still no hope of clearing the third layer.

Even prodigies like Beta Leo or Dong Xiu couldn't do it!

However, the threshold of a Two-step Dao Lord was easily reached by over ninety percent of those recognized by the ancient tower. For Ji Ning, with the support of the Blueflower Mist Force, he could match a One-step Dao Lord. His current swordsmanship surpassed 'Reincarnation Style' and 'Heart of Heaven and Earth,' and was even higher than that of many ordinary Two-step Dao Lords! So he cleared the Green Cloud Realm with just one sword.

"Green armor, Eternal treasure low-grade, only has the effect of weakening impact?" Ji Ning shook his head inwardly. The Water Element Armor also had a rebound effect. "But as my opponents grow stronger, the Water Element Armor becomes less useful. And the opponents in the third layer, the Silver Cloud Realm, are all at least at the Two-step Dao Lord threshold."

Ji Ning put on the green armor, but still transformed it to white.

Then he sat cross-legged, resting silently, recovering the Blueflower Mist Force consumed while clearing the first and second layers, and pondering the gains and losses in his sword techniques during the battle. After all, this was Ji Ning's first time challenging the Dao Lord Cloud Realm in over a hundred years, and his first time truly clearing the Green Cloud Realm. His gains were significant.

He recalled scenes from the battle, contemplating his swordsmanship.

"On the last day, I'll challenge the Silver Cloud Realm." Ji Ning made his decision.

……

Ji Ning was quite slow.

Because most of the World-level cultivators recognized by the ancient tower had already finished their challenges.

In the Imperial Palace, the Thirteen Thrones of the Void.

"Haha, as expected of a heartforce cultivator. Feng Yi's heartforce is becoming more and more terrifying," Yin Feng Dao Lord laughed heartily. "He can rank first, and our Saber Palace is truly convinced."

So far,

Ranked first was 'Feng Yi Heart Lord' of the Heartforce Palace, while second, third, and fourth were all from the Saber Palace!

"Hmph," Woodflower Palace Master snorted coldly.

The Sword Palace and Saber Palace had never gotten along well, as the sword and saber were the two most skilled paths in offense across the endless territories. In the endless territories, sword cultivators were more numerous, while saber cultivators were relatively fewer.

"Woodflower," Yin Feng Dao Lord glanced at Woodflower Palace Master, grinning oddly. "Five of your Sword Palace members have already cleared it, right? The best one is only ranked seventh, with no hope at all."

"Hmph," Woodflower Palace Master's expression was grim.

He didn't argue much, mainly because the Saber Palace was indeed monstrous, and their Sword Palace's performance was truly poor.

These great beings who could become palace masters or deputy palace masters had almost reached the end of their cultivation. If they succeeded in the Dao, they would become Eternal; if they failed, they would perish. At their level, they valued face even more.

"We'll see," Woodflower Palace Master said coldly.

……