Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

This time, the transformation took a very long time.

The time taken for all of Chen Qing's Gu transformations combined was not as long as this experience.

He felt as if a whole month had passed.

Even though the butterfly on his chest no longer fluttered, Chen Qing's blood still flowed throughout his body.

It appeared quite dormant, merely sustaining Chen Qing's basic life functions.

It was as if he had fallen into a deep sleep.

Ying Wugang and Zuo Chuan, one stood at the edge of the cliff above Chen Qing's head, the other stood at the bottom of the stone wall.

They occasionally brushed their hands over their weapons, ready to draw their blades at any moment.

It was not until a full day and night had passed that Chen Qing finally awoke from that hibernation-like state.

The butterfly on his chest began to flutter again, and the blood flowing through his body returned to normal.

Lifebound Light Butterfly, Ninth Transformation!

Chen Qing rose, feeling a sense of lightness throughout his body.

He gazed into the distance, his eyes traversing layers of clouds and mountains, "Next, I should travel thousands of miles, observing the death of all things."

To him, his Lifebound Light Gu should be the easiest to advance to King Rank.

Whether Fu Luo or the scholar, Red Lotus or Yao Feng, they were all much more difficult than his.

He wondered how strong it would be after advancing to King Grade.

Based on the current level of strength, once the Lifebound Light Butterfly advanced to King Grade, it was likely to be exceptionally strong compared to others at the same level.

At least Chen Qing believed that it should be much stronger than Li Chonghuan's King Gu.

"What you mentioned, I agree to it!"

"The Sword Ghost is in the Sword Abyss, you can take it!"

"By the way, bring me the rest of the Sword Gu scriptures!"

Chen Qing chuckled; he had been discovered.

Sword Gu, unlike Power Gu, had more complex methods of advancement due to its peculiar yin-yang inclination, not something that could be fully captured in one book.

Chen Qing had only given the State Preceptor one book, the rest remained with him.

This was why he had dared to easily give one to the State Preceptor before.

"Ying Wugang, bring the remaining parts of the Sword Gu Chapter here."

After finishing speaking, Chen Qing leaped from the giant pine tree, and plunged into the misty Sword Abyss ahead.

Upon arriving, Chen Qing saw a Sword Ghost, resembling a Daoist, sitting cross-legged on a withered tree, gazing absent-mindedly at a small flower on a corner of the stone wall.

Chen Qing reached out, effortlessly capturing the Sword Ghost in his hand, transforming it into a red fish.

The black fish symbolized resentment, while the red fish stood for obsession.

Chen Qing stuffed it into his mouth, sitting down cross-legged to absorb the sword Dao insights and memories within.

Sword Ghosts differed from ordinary ghosts; they were obsessions, purer in essence, leaving only pure sword moves in memory.

This saved Chen Qing considerable time and effort in eliminating distractions.

The elder Chen Qing swallowed, any knowledge of his name or experiences was lost within his memory.

Chen Qing only learned one sword move, Rock Cutting.

Chen Qing spread his fingers, the Dragon Sparrow Sword in hand, executing the Rock Cutting move and cleaving the stone wall in front of him, slicing open a ravine that reached the top.

The ravine was about several tens of feet long, which Chen Qing carefully observed, "Not bad."

"Continue consuming, the Grandmaster Realm is within reach!"

During this period, Chen Qing roamed the Sword Abyss beneath Hidden Sword Mountain, incessantly capturing and consuming Sword Ghosts that had taken form.

Two, three, ten, twenty, thirty...

Each time Chen Qing consumed one, he ensured he had completely mastered the sword moves of the Sword Ghost before releasing it.

As the month slowly passed, Chen Qing had consumed a total of one hundred and eighty-two Sword Ghosts, assimilating insights from two hundred eighteen sword moves.

Now, within the Sword Abyss, there remained only three of the stronger obsessions.

In life, they had all reached the Grandmaster Realm.

Chen Qing could feel that he had completely attained the Dharma Eye Realm in Martial Arts.

He could now instantly discern his opponent's weaknesses when watching them draw a sword.

At this moment, even if Zhang Can were to face him with a sword, he would not be a match.

Reflecting on Zhang Can's sword moves carefully, previously he had no idea how to counter them, only able to withstand them.

But now, almost all of them were riddled with flaws.

Composing himself, Chen Qing approached the last three Sword Ghosts.

The first Sword Ghost seemed to be a female cultivator during her lifetime, with a body emanating a red murderous aura.

She remained unmoved at Chen Qing's approach.

"Her life name was Red Ying, learning the sword at the age of three, entering the Sword Dao Reach Profound Realm at ten, her sword could reach profoundness."

"At eighteen, she entered the second realm, Dharma Eye."

"At seventy-two, she reached the Grandmaster Realm."

"Her talent in swordsmanship had been the highest since the founding of Hidden Sword Mountain."

"She was the second patriarch!"

"Her swordsmanship was exquisite, standing peerless in the world!"

"Her splendor was unparalleled!"

"She was most adept at striking the weaknesses of her enemies and finding their flaws."

"Often, with one move, she could defeat her enemy!"

"Not striking was one thing, but when she did, it decided life and death in an instant."

"She was strongest in the Sword Drawing Skill and Sword Nurturing Skill."

"With the sword nurtured in its sheath, once drawn, its might was earth-shaking!"

"Although the Sword Drawing Skill was the most ordinary sword move, in the hands of the second patriarch, it could destroy all methods with one sword!"

The State Preceptor recounted slowly.

Chen Qing then slightly straightened his posture, bowing to Red Ying's obsession and performing the disciple's salute.

"Senior, I must offend you today!"

"Alas, my innate talent is dull, relying only on learning from seniors' sword moves to barely survive!"

"I apologize!"