"The [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal]..."

It was dim and shadowed within the great void. Faint phantoms descended, while the grand formation's crimson radiance shone brilliantly. Though the great void appeared empty, waves of light kept surging forth, only to vanish in the next instant.

Endless pale yellow illusions spread downward to form an almost boundless splendor of light and shadow. The drifting clouds within the great void scattered and dispersed, vanishing at remarkable speed as Chi Buzi withdrew into the distance.

When the radiance finally faded, a man could be seen seated within. He appeared youthful, with fine brows and bright eyes, carrying an air of refined elegance.

He gazed calmly into the great void before suddenly turning his head to ask, "Fellow Daoist, what do you think of this treasure?"

At once, thunder rumbled in waves. On the other side, purple lightning and drifting clouds intertwined, coalescing into a valiant woman with willow-like brows and almond eyes. She held a silver spear and gave off a commanding presence.

"I have not examined it closely. But the Dragon Monarch has spoken... This object is indeed connected to something, though its source remains unknown."

The two moved through the great void. With a single step, the scenery around them collapsed like a falling curtain, transforming endlessly. Purple lightning flickered into being within the darkness as the void swelled, forming a vast purple-white circular pool.

Dense clusters of purple-white thunder liquid rose to the surface as bolts of purple lightning crashed down into the pool. Dark green bronze and iron emerged from within, etched with countless lightning patterns, preceding an entire silver-white palace that then sprang forth.

They had arrived at the Thunder Pool.

Dongfang Heyun's expression remained calm as he took a seat in a small pavilion within the palace. The woman formed from purple lightning lifted a teapot. It was none other than Li Qinghong.

She poured tea for the both of them, filling their cups before speaking softly, "The former master of Jade True... Was he truly so remarkable?"

Dongfang Heyun chuckled twice, raising his cup as he replied softly, "To speak bluntly, among all the great figures throughout history, fewer than ten could truly surpass him!"

The composed man lowered his head to take a sip, only to be caught off guard by the unexpectedly striking flavor. His expression twisted for a brief moment.

He smacked his lips, set the cup down, and then said, "I have followed my lord for many years, so I can tell you a thing or two.

"The foremost figures throughout all ages are the Immortal Lords. This term often refers to cultivators who existed before the birth of the Five Virtues as well as the Five Waters and Five Fires. As for their Dao lineages, this is how the Dragon Monarch refers to them..."

He slowed, "The Primordial Two Rites."

Dongfang Heyun paused slightly before continuing, "Later, the Five Virtues came into being, and the Five Waters and Five Fires descended upon the world. Fruition Attainment could then be achieved, and True Monarchs and Immortals appeared one after another within the Three Profundities.

“Though their strength was extraordinary, none of them would call themselves Immortal Lords any longer. Many demonic creatures had also attained proper fruition. Among them, the most outstanding was the True Hornless Dragon, known as the foremost demon, whose cultivation was so profound that it stood at the pinnacle of the Immortal Inherent Rank.

"With Pristine and Converging intertwining, the Nine Sons were then born. The master of Converging Water was the Eastern Sea Dragon King, honored as Dongfang Riju, who was often suspected by ancient cultivators to be the reincarnation of the True Hornless Dragon. From the moment of birth, he stood at the peak of the Golden Core Realm.

"The so-called Nine Sons of the True Hornless Dragon, six Converging and three Pristine, with the Pristine occupying Intercalary Positions and the Converging occupying Surplus Positions, all later met with calamity and were slain one by one. The Eastern Sea Dragon King fell at the hands of the first sword immortal in the world... And as for the second sword immortal..."

He looked steadily at Li Qinghong and answered, "That would later be the master of Jade True."

Li Qinghong fell into thought, then said, "So that is how it is... Then the current Jade True achieving the Dao, could it be that a sword immortal's identity has also aided him?"

Dongfang Heyun nodded. "Exactly!"

He sighed and said, "Jade True is one of the Three Shamanic Daos and governs the great Dao of illusion and reality. The difficulty of such transformations is immense. That one has already reached the Immortal level, and anything he transforms, even other Immortals would be unable to discern!"

Li Qinghong frowned, "Then the techniques of the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal]..."

"The [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal] cannot be calculated." Dongfang Heyun shook his head and said softly, "The story of the [Xinyou Pristine Marsh Seal] was not deduced by any great figure. It was something Immortal Yingze once told the Six Sons of Chongming!"

Li Qinghong nodded silently, thinking it over before asking with a frown, "The Eastern Sea Dragon King... fell to a sword immortal... There should be a relationship of mutual restraint among Dao lineages, but what kind of Dao lineage did that Immortal cultivate?"

Dongfang Heyun's expression grew distant as he replied, "His honored title can no longer be spoken... That great figure was one who attained the void, or Void Attainment!"

Li Qinghong pressed further, "Void Attainment?"

Dongfang Heyun explained, "Void Attainment means using existence to prove nonexistence. There was originally no such Fruition Attainment. Whether borrowed or concealed, one can still realize it through the Dao itself, bringing forth an additional attainment into the world!"

"What?"

Li Qinghong now understood Fruition Attainment quite well, yet this sounded even more inconceivable.

Dongfang Heyun shook his head, a deep trace of dread surfacing in his eyes as he said, "This is a matter from ancient times, so take it as a tale. This position belongs to the Sword Dao... It is the source of all Sword Essence and Sword Intent in the world, and also the foundational inherent rank of sword immortals! The sword is the lord of all weapons, and this is where that saying comes from."

Dongfang Heyun fell silent for a long time before finally saying with a sigh, "I have heard that there are distinctions even among Void Attainments, but this figure was truly terrifying. Without borrowing or concealing anything, he achieved it from nothing. Truly, he was one of a kind. During the immortal-devil war, he slew two Wood Virtues and wounded countless ancient cultivators before drifting away. From ancient times until now, he stands as the foremost of all..."

His voice grew subdued as he added, "That is also why the Wood Virtue has remained weakened to this day."

Li Qinghong was left speechless. After a long moment of thought, she finally said, "So this is the foundational inherent rank of sword cultivators... No wonder... No wonder sword immortals can sever divine abilities and destroy the Shenyang. So this is the reason!"

Dongfang Heyun let out a faint laugh and shook his head, "Do you know why sword immortals must usually complete their path before attaining divine abilities?"

Li Qinghong's pupils widened slightly as she looked at the refined man before her.

He answered, "Divine ability is itself a Dao lineage, and Sword Intent is an exceptionally domineering and unique form of profound power. It cannot tolerate cultivators who have already set foot on another path coming back to seek it!"

Li Qinghong let out a long breath, suddenly enlightened. Quick-witted as she was, she immediately drew further conclusions and asked, "If that is the case, then the two Sword Intents possessed by True Monarch Shangyuan back then... could they have been two manifestations of the Sword Dao's mystical power? His strength must have been beyond measure?"

Dongfang Heyun hesitated, lowering his head in thought for quite some time before shaking it. "I do not think it should be understood that way. That sword immortal's path was unique, and one Sword Intent was already the limit. As for the present great figures, most suspect that the two Sword Intents of True Monarch Shangyuan were transformations of Jade True's Dao of illusion and reality..."

He let out a quiet sigh. "Besides, once one ascends to Fruition Attainment, Sword Intent no longer provides the same level of support it did at the Purple Mansion Realm..."

As the conversation shifted, a disturbance stirred within the great void as a narrow-eyed woman appeared, with two strands of hair falling along her cheeks. She wore flowing robes, and had an imposing presence.

The two rose at once, as if to receive her, but the woman waved them down repeatedly, signaling them to sit as she said, "Fuxin has received the lord's instructions and has come to deliver a message. There is no need for formalities."

She carried an air of authority and did not smile. Even her polite words sounded anything but warm. Without lingering, she continued, "It is said that both Mount Changhuai and the Underworld's judiciary have undergone changes. The overall situation within the mainland is beginning to take shape. The lord has long been nurturing the devouring thunder, and the nature of True Essence is about to transform. I ask that the two of you lead the various kings there."