The three pillars of the sect reunited and discussed intensely the art of sword cultivation, the meaning of enlightenment, as well as sword moves and sword intent.

They even considered going to the sparring arena to see who was better, but all their suggestions were rejected.

"There's no need to go. Lexi, your priority is to find the direction for enlightenment. Constantly sparring will only waste your energy. It's better to save it for a breakthrough."

"Our most important task now is to integrate sword intent and divine consciousness into one, and truly understand the unity of sword and man."

"Yes, it's about becoming one with it, making it instinctive!"

The three of them argued back and forth for a long time before finally reaching a consensus.

They decided to start with this, allowing their sword intent and divine sense to merge into one at the most harmonious level, before attempting to comprehend the mysteries of different sword styles.

Lexi was also very happy after hearing what her senior sister said.

In this way, he figured out and studied the things he didn't understand before on his own. Apart from that, he was just bothered by his senior sister... It's embarrassing to admit.

Not only did it waste time and talent, it also widened the gap between them, and their cultivation could not advance further once they reached a certain level.

Fortunately, his senior sister is now willing to guide him. With her guidance, he feels much clearer-headed and has a better perspective.

Le Xi was secretly delighted. While listening to her senior brothers explain the mysteries of sword intent, sword soul, and sword energy, she wrote and drew on the paper with a pen, looking completely focused.

“Junior brother, Master once said something very true: sword intent is the highest realm of the unity of man and sword. The higher the realm of sword intent, the more enlightenment one gains, and the more unfathomable one's cultivation will be.”

You must carefully study the true meaning contained in this sentence in order to truly understand its profound mystery.” Song Yan mumbled something like a charlatan, calculating with his fingers.

Le Xi kept nodding as she remembered Song Yan's teachings.

He has now memorized every word they said and is just waiting for enlightenment through meditation!

Song Yan and the other man left without disturbing him further, telling him to go into seclusion and then departing.

Song Yan had already begun learning divination at this time. After receiving the inheritance, he unexpectedly opened a little bit of his Heavenly Eye, which allowed him to glimpse a tiny bit of the secrets of heaven.

No one knew that the legacy was left behind by Tianjizi, the first founder of the Tianji Sect.

It was only after the sect leader accidentally discovered Song Yan's inherited talent and consulted hundreds of ancient books that he learned it was a legacy left by their Heavenly Mystery Sect's ancestor. But why the eighth level of the Nine-Story Demon Tower had appeared remained a mystery to the sect leader.

Later, Song Yan not only had to practice swordsmanship, but the sect leader also personally taught him the art of star observation and divination, as well as divination and destiny, passing on all the knowledge left by the ancestors without holding back a single thing.

He had very little time to grow; Song Yan had to solidify his sword cultivation while also spending time learning astrological divination. His dedication was no less than Wei Wenru's.

Song Yan was actually trying to understand the great calamity that Nian Wanzhou had mentioned, but his cultivation was insufficient and he was a novice, so he could only see a little bit.

"Sect Master, the great calamity seems to be related to the abyss." He told the sect master about this discovery, but he couldn't figure out when it would happen, so he could only take precautions.

The sect leader seemed to be deep in thought, and he sent more people to guard the abyss, to report immediately if anything happened.

He also relayed the message to the other families, hoping they would also be on high alert.

Many were immersed in cultivation and thought this great calamity was utter nonsense: "Wasn't that a great calamity last time? I heard that many people from your Heavenly Mystery Sect died. How could there be another calamity in such a short time?"

"Exactly, you wouldn't be trying to stop us because you're afraid we'll cultivate too fast and steal your number one spot, would you?"

"Don't worry, if you're envious, just focus on your cultivation. Why do you have to pull these scary stunts? Causing unnecessary panic is not good for anyone."

"Now that spiritual energy is abundant, cultivation is the most important thing. How could there be a great calamity when the world is at its best? The abyss has long been suppressed and is quiet. Only the black mist occasionally comes out to cause trouble. Brother Chen is still too cautious."

"That's right, and don't you have Little White Dragon? She can suppress the black mist. If there's a real situation, she can lead the disciples with magical artifacts to the formation."

Apart from a few sects with which they had good relations, no one accepted the sect leader's offer of goodwill.

No one would believe that a great calamity would occur. With spiritual energy reviving and all things shining brightly, how could a crisis arise at this time? Unbelievable, unbelievable indeed.

You're worrying unnecessarily!

No one knew that a year from now, their indifference would lead them to witness a cataclysmic disaster.

...

The year was Yuanlang 42, which was also the sixth year since Nian Wanzhou left the sect.

The Heavenly Mystery Sect, and indeed the entire cultivation world, is now a place of peace and harmony.

It seems that everyone has forgotten that many years ago, when Nian Wanzhou predicted the great calamity, they were all striving to ascend to heaven instead of finding ways to deal with the calamity.

In the unknown abyss, the black mist slowly awakens.

A gigantic skull emerged from the black hole, slowly protruding towards the abyss's edge, greedily inhaling the smoke and fire of the outside world, emitting a cackling sound.

Each time it reveals half of itself, the surrounding space shakes and makes cracking sounds, like a mirror shattering.

Upon closer inspection, it is an ancient rune used to suppress demons.

As the shadow continued to crawl outwards, the runes gradually dimmed.

Just then, the runes suddenly brightened, emitting a dazzling light that shone on the shadowy figure.

But it was directly smashed by the black shadow, and a faint 'crack' sound rang out. The runes that had been running for tens of thousands of years eventually began to lose their effectiveness.

The light emitted by the runes grew weaker and weaker until it finally disappeared.

The shadowy figure climbed faster and faster, eventually breaking free of the runes and revealing its true form.

It turned out that this was actually only half a dragon skeleton.

The reason it can be recognized is because it has no head, but its limbs and bones are clearly those of a dragon.

It was pure white, yet shrouded in black mist, its massive body rolling around in the smoke and fire, seemingly delighted to finally emerge.

It began to greedily devour the smoke and fire, treating it as a delicious meal, squinting its eyes in enjoyment, thoroughly content.

The vibrant atmosphere of everyday life, the vitality of humanity, the life force of the mainland.

The dragon bone suddenly opened its mouth, spewing out thick, blood-red black mist that drifted down with the wind and spread throughout the Abyss Realm. It continued to expand outwards, instantly enveloping several mountain peaks, as well as the villagers and the cultivators guarding them.

Instantly, the area became a living hell.

The villagers were touched by the black mist and immediately turned into a puddle of pus. They screamed, collapsed to the ground, convulsed, and then died.

The crimson black mist quickly absorbed the surrounding corpses, and in the blink of an eye, only a withered skeleton and mangled limbs remained in the entire village.

As the black mist rolled in again, several villages in succession were turned into mountains of corpses and seas of fire, devoid of any life and rife with death.