"When the tree breaks, branches fall, leaves scatter;
When the withered earth is nourished, new shoots rise.
If you cherish the fragrance, you must be mindful;
To hew, chop, and kill, one person must stand!"
Eyes open, Qi departs! Separate the wind, build the path! (At this moment, Liu no longer waited; their conversation would be continued outside.)
Sensing that the place was no easy matter, the planet's structure determined its purpose. Though not the highest echelon, Liu's understanding of it was sufficient.
From the moment of entering this altered state, he had been in a state of separation: his physical body remained outside, while his virtual image was within. The hourglass of his virtual life was being absorbed by the planet's specks, accelerating the process. Most fatal was that its suction not only interfered but also devoured, transforming into his own nourishment!
According to the secret art's effect, Sword Sheath Soul Return, there were no prior records of such a situation! What Liu was thinking was: "The Sword Saint's realm, I shall open it! Liú Jiàn! Son of the Ascendant Path! Pioneer the way!"
Therefore, the only thing he could do was to gamble on completing his self-reformation within three steps.
Before starting, Bai Wei ordered Liú Jiàn to lower his head and personally tied a triangular talisman on him, emphasizing utmost caution. Liu readily agreed, then mounted his sword to open the boundary and practice the divine path.
His virtual image fully opened its target zones: "Dazhu, Xuanzhong, Mingmen, Taixi" – strengthen the bones and grind the meridians; "Hegu, Neiguan, Xuehai" – temper the blood and enter the inferno; "Baihui, Tituo, Guanyuan, Zhongwan" – harmonize the organs and return to the court; "Shanzhong, Taichong, Gongsun, Qihai" – circulate Qi and seal the divine.
Solid Sword as the body, manifesting internally, priority of true control, inch by inch of meridians, inch by inch of bones, lifting Qi, concentrating spirit, intending the sword to break the body, opening acupoints, gathering whirlwind into a well; Virtual Sword as the sheath, virtual image externally, secondary control, summoning palaces, borrowing rain, transforming form into sword, gathering light in darkness, a thousand cavalry and myriad forces, rain traces build the path, a wave of the command and it descends.
Palms strike, consciousness opens the dual gates, Sword Sheath Soul Return!
At this very moment, the ranking within the Sword Pavilion wavered slightly, as if a vibrating heartstring was responding to the display.
"Come on!" Liu Ping relaxed his posture, spread his arms wide, closed his eyes, and rested his legs on a high peak.
Outside the street, a cacophony of ten thousand swords sang out, passing through the physical bodies of onlookers without their awareness, traversing streets and alleys, turning corners, pursuing closely. The Solid Sword projected, reaching to the heavens and the earth. Sensing the flicker of virtual light, it roared a long song, standing firm in the vortex, waiting only for this moment! A swift whistle, unhindered breakthrough, piercing the soul, virtual and real unite.
Immediately, the planet's specks continued their relentless assault. Nearby, many sharing the same plight saw their auras rapidly diminish. Facing the departure of loved ones, only a fleeting memory remained as the song ended and the crowd dispersed.
Witnessing all this, Bai Wei carefully hid behind Liu, waiting silently. She saw an incredible sight, clenching her fists to her chest, filled with worry.
"Ah! I can feel every part of my body boiling, both sides of my body are roaring, a scorching fire! Ah! The sword positions opening acupoint by acupoint, filling the voids, nourishing the meridians, binding the blood! Ah! It's so painful, undoubtedly a forceful integration of peeling rejection, like same poles of magnets! Ah! Hold on!" In the blink of an eye, she saw the final sword formation, stationed in the vortex of the acupoint map, crackling.
"Hiss! Come back to life! All of you, come! What are you waiting for! All of you, come through! Ah!"
Seeing this, Bai Wei became even more anxious, continuously calling out Liú Jiàn's name, praying silently.
Hissing! Hissing! Hissing! Puffing! Puffing! Burning Qi overflowed, the sword diagram was complete. Liú Jiàn, covered in blood and veins, felt pain radiating through him. The sounds of breathing, pulse, and heartbeat reverberated in his ears, rising and falling.
"They're all back. Deep breaths, relax, Bai Wei, let's go!" He controlled a sword with one finger, picked up Bai Wei, and charged outwards, also summoning the sword sheath. Upon exiting, he abandoned the sword, flipped, lifted his Qi, and threw his sword with his foot, merging it with the sheath.
Slowly descending, Liu still held Bai Wei, their eyes meeting deeply. He raised his eyebrows and smiled. Instantly, Bai Wei's face turned red. She reiterated with a commanding tone: "Put me down, hmph! But, look at you. Look, your fine eyebrows, your sun-like eyes, your well-proportioned nose, your exaggerated mouth, haha, haha, and also, your dashing face, your pointed ears. Overall, not bad! Fun, haha, uh, and, let me think, it is..." Bai said, laughing, her hand covering her mouth, nodding slightly, still seriously contemplating her words. Liu gently brushed the damp hair stuck to her forehead, leaving a poetic kiss upon it. At this moment, Bai's eyes trembled, blinking frequently.
"Hush, mere subordinates' favor is nothing; one waits for the flowers to bloom, disregarding the cost. If their fragrance fills the garden, how can you mere mortals tread beneath the flowers."
"The long awaited patience, your perseverance, and my mistakes, are for you to settle, My Princess!" Liu looked up and exhaled. Instantly, flowers bloomed all over the ground, a warm breeze blew, and fragrance permeated the air. Her long hair fluttered, bringing immense joy!
Bai Wei, radiating a happy smile, intimately felt the sensation of her hair brushing against her forehead. It was a witness, and more so, love!
At this moment, her memories turned, and within the laughter and joy, her consciousness helped her personally paint the true colors of life!