Chapter 1130: Staying Alone

Gu Qing Shan stood still.

From the perspective of other people, he seemed simply stunned.

But if they were acknowledged by the countless world fragments, they would find a completely different scene.

Countless sprites were circling, flying around Gu Qing Shan, constantly producing strand after strand of faint white light that were being absorbed into Gu Qing Shan’s forehead.

Gu Qing Shan maintained a thoughtless state of mind, silently accepting the knowledge from each cultivation world.

——usually, knowledge exchange between cultivators would either be conducted through verbal teaching, jade tags, or through direct bestowal techniques.

But the way that these world fragments were sending knowledge to him was by directly converting all the knowledge that they found suitable into ‘enlightenment’ and pouring them directly into Gu Qing Shan’s Thought Sea.

‘Enlightenment’ was a phenomena that could even be attained by observing a flower bloom at the beginning of spring, natural and obvious, a state where one was able to thoroughly comprehend everything about a certain matter without the need to even think or ponder upon it.

Since Gu Qing Shan was a sword cultivator, the cultivation world fragments were specifically transferring mostly swordsmanship-related knowledge.

Of course, there was also knowledge of the Elements, Martial Arts, Secret Arts, precious natural resources, Divination, Talismans, Formations, Spirit cooking, Forging, Pill making, etc. but only the very best were chosen to be transferred to Gu Qing Shan.

After an entire incense stick’s worth of time.

Gu Qing Shan opened his eyes.

“Swordsmanship…”

He softly muttered.

In truth, some of these destroyed world fragments had actually been a part of other Realities, which were naturally forming worlds unlike the worlds present in the space vortex, so they contained a complete system of knowledge inheritance, as well as a deep understanding of swordsmanship cultivation.

Frankly speaking, the path of a sword cultivator had always been tough. It took nothing less than a genius to reach the level of Sword Saint, let alone the following steps of Convergence Realm and Sword Deity.

Such people weren’t common even in those cultivation worlds.

Perhaps there were sword cultivators whose cultivation reached a very high level who could claim themselves unbeatable in those worlds, but when considering swordsmanship alone, they might not have attained the realm of Sword Deity.

The will of these worlds directly turned the lives of the only two sword cultivators who managed to achieve Sword Deity into enlightenment and transferred it to Gu Qing Shan.

Studying this level of swordsmanship through enlightenment, Gu Qing Shan’s horizon was greatly broadened, he instantly confirmed many points that he hadn’t been able to resolve, as well as realizing many issues that would have taken a lot of practice and combat experience in order to understand.

Lines of glowing text appeared on the War God UI:

[Your swordsmanship is swiftly improving]

[During the next period of time, you may enter and leave the state of deep enlightenment as you wish]

[When you enter a state of deep enlightenment, the knowledge residing within your Thought Sea will thoroughly become your own]

[Note: Once you’ve enlightened enough knowledge on swordsmanship, you will be able to understand ‘Enemy-killing Sword Technique’, thus practicing the mystical sword technique within]

Gu Qing Shan fully understood.

[Enemy-killing Sword Technique] was the true inheritance from the Bygone Era that Xie Gu Hong had chosen, which he later passed on to Gu Qing Shan.

When he left the Age of Old, the Earth Creator kept a lot of things in that era to avoid Gu Qing Shan running into issues while traveling through the River of Time.

[Enemy-killing Sword Technique] was hidden inside the gold coin and was brought to the future along with Gu Qing Shan.

Later on, when the Fairy of Time merged the silver star with the gold coin, forming the complete Coin of the Earth, [Enemy-killing Sword Technique] was placed in Gu Qing Shan’s mind by the coin, once he had attained the appropriate level in swordsmanship, he would be able to unseal that technique and practice it.

Other than that, through enlightenment, Gu Qing Shan had also noticed something interesting.

——the issue of cultivation realms.

Compared to other worlds, the cultivators of Cultivation-type worlds had to face too many Heaven’s Tribulations. To be exact, from Qi Training realm to Sumeru Lord realm, there were a total of 21 realms.

Not only do cultivators felt a headache with this division, the other worlds that had come into contact with cultivators also felt a headache from this division of cultivation realms.

Because with regards to conversing or welcoming reception, each world had its own standards and rules specifically geared for people of different levels; but since cultivators divided themselves into so many levels, the worlds that divided their power systems into broader and more generalized levels usually found themselves troubled on exactly what to do.

When the complaints of various Technological worlds, Magical worlds, Savagery worlds, etc. finally reached them from every direction, the Cultivation worlds finally realized this was an issue.

Finally, after much discussion, the final conclusion was——

They wouldn’t change it.

Because before {Yama King} realm, cultivators were constantly being weeded out by the Laws of Reality with numerous Tribulations; but starting from {Yama King} realm, each realm received a very clear response from a Law of Reality.

For example, a {Mahesvara King} realm cultivator could have 48 Dependants; a Sumeru Lord realm cultivator had 120 Followers; while a Star River Saint was able to condense seeds of the void, manifesting a treasure tree of stars.

These realms represented the very clear difference between cultivators and other Professions, so regardless of whether the other Professions were used to them or not, Cultivation civilizations as a whole would definitely not change it.

Gu Qing Shan soon exited from the state of enlightenment.

It was good to improve his swordsmanship, but there was currently a more pressing issue.

“Everyone” he turned to the various word fragments: “Do you perhaps know why the Azure Dragon wants to kill the people who came to face Tribulation in this world?”

The fragments of the world danced and whispered into his ears: 「 Killing intent… boiling…」

Gu Qing Shan went silent.

—–he had never witnessed an Azure Dragon, nor could he think of a reason why this dragon would want to kill these cultivators.

However, he had gone to the Age of Old and summoned the four Divine Beasts of Barren Cloud Heavenly Palace, so he had witnessed the actual living Golden Dragon.

That dragon was most likely just on the verge of reaching Paragon realm.

Since the Divine race would definitely not allow any species to become stronger than they were as they created the various worlds, that Golden Dragon probably couldn’t represent the true power of the dragon race.

An Azure Dragon…

He had seen it earlier, although it wasn’t quite as powerful as Reneedol who he saw in his vision, it was still powerful enough for Gu Qing Shan’s spirit sense to raise danger alarms.

Gu Qing Shan pondered a bit and asked: “Do you know where it came from?”

The whispers of the worlds resounded again:

「 Wraith… presence…」

Gu Qing Shan realized what was going on.

“So, it came to kill me”

He was speechless.

The Wraith realm world had collected and fused with 70% of the Wraith realm fragments, so its living beings had most likely reached an unimaginable level of strength.

A mere servant was equipped with a mask that had an unblockable hex technique, as well as a golden pair of chopsticks with a Causality Law.

That servant also had the courage to try and persuade a {Yama King} realm sword cultivator to surrender.

With that in mind——–

What about a dragon from the Wraith realm?

How strong would it be?

Gu Qing Shan remained silent for a long while without saying anything.

Shifu is currently in the middle of her Tribulation.

This Sumeru Lord realm Tribulation had become so incredibly dangerous that no one had been able to successfully pass it for numerous years.

Although Shifu is incomparably stronger than other cultivators in the same realm.

The issue at hand isn’t from the Sumeru Lord realm Tribulation alone.

There is also the Azure Dragon.

Not even Shifu had managed to discover the hidden Azure Dragon.

Gu Qing Shan sighed emotionally.

Although the Pillar To Heaven had been broken, it isn’t particularly hard to scale it.

The true difficulty arrives after we reach Mount Sumeru.

But even if we reach Mount Sumeru, as long as I’m there, the Azure Dragon would definitely chase after us by following the Pillar To Heaven.

At that time, not only would Shifu need to face the Sumeru Lord realm Tribulation, but the Azure Dragon as well.

Even without that, if I run into trouble, how could Shifu toss me aside without care?

Gu Qing Shan was a bit irritated.

I didn’t think that there would actually be a day where my troubles would adversely affect Shifu…

He tapped his Inventory Bag and took out everything he had.

The various Technological items, coins from the Strife Zones, the tattered fragments of numerous Cards, all of his cultivation resources, even some of his other gains were all thrown into the air.

As soon as they left his hands, these items started fading away.

The grateful voice of the world fragments resounded from the void of space:

「 Thank… you…」

Gu Qing Shan said: “You’re welcome. I have something I want to ask of you, but I don’t know if you’ll be able to do it”

「 What? 」the world fragments asked.

“It’s very simple, a small matter” Gu Qing Shan smiled.

…

At another location.

Xie Dao Ling was meditating with her eyes closed in the palace.

“Strange, why do I feel some sort of obscure uneasiness?” she opened her eyes and doubtfully wondered.

Rumble rumble——-

The ground began shaking.

Xie Dao Ling took out several coins and was about to perform a Divination when Gu Qing Shan entered.

“Shifu, I have something to report” Gu Qing Shan spoke sternly.

As her spirit sense was interrupted, Xie Dao Ling could only put the coins away and asked: “What is it?”

“There is an issue with this world” Gu Qing Shan replied.

As soon as he said so, the night outside abruptly turned into day.

——-it wasn’t actually daytime yet, but the illusory worlds outside the city were beginning to give off an intense glow.

They were expanding and contracting intensely as if they had fallen into a state where they would immediately collapse at any moment.

Xie Dao Ling was shocked: “What’s going on? There shouldn’t be any issues in this Heaven Pillar world”

Gu Qing Shan appeared worried and said: “This world looks like it might be destroyed at any moment, Shifu, perhaps we should begin the Tribulation now!”

Xie Dao Ling tossed the coins in her hand forward.

Clink clink clink!

The coins were strewn all over the ground.

Xie Dao Ling muttered the results of the Divination.

The Divination results were great woe!

She scowled: “I can also feel the world is undergoing some sort of great change, but I can’t tell what it is”

Boom!

The ground was trembling even more.

“Shifu, let’s climb the Heaven-supporting Pillar and quickly leave this world, that way we won’t have to worry about what happens here” Gu Qing Shan suggested.

Xie Dao Ling stood up from her chair and sternly replied: “Very well, then let us face the Tribulation now”

Gu Qing Shan handed her a jade brick.

“What’s in here?” Xie Dao Ling was surprised.

“Your disciple was met with an opportunity and obtained some cultivation scriptures from other worlds, they’re all inside” Gu Qing Shan replied.

Xie Dao Ling skimmed through them all and nodded.

She smiled: “This is truly great, even better than what I had been able to get my hands on. Not only would this help me, but I can also bring them back to our world as the foundation of our world’s inheritance”

Gu Qing Shan also smiled.

“Shifu, as the price for obtaining these cultivation scriptures, I will have to cut this Tribulation short and return to where I originally was, there is a bit of business to attend to”

Xie Dao Ling stared closely at him.

Gu Qing Shan explained: “These cultivation scriptures came from the remnant will of numerous worlds, I will need to help them with a few matters first. When I come back to face the Tribulation next time, they will help me”

“Will of worlds?” Xie Dao Ling repeated.

Gu Qing Shan pointed at his left eye.

Xie Dao Ling reached her hand out and waved over it.

“How miraculous, you really have obtained a great opportunity, not only can you become acquainted with worlds, there is a world hidden inside your iris as well, if I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t have believed this” Xie Dao Ling exclaimed.

Despite how unbelievable it seemed; Xie Dao Ling had no choice.

“Yes” Gu Qing Shan nodded, “This is my great opportunity, so I won’t be able to follow Shifu during this Tribulation”

Xie Dao Ling replied: “It is fine, such opportunity only arrives once every thousand years, it’s best that you focus on what you need to do”

The Spirit Tortoise suddenly appeared from the void of space and narrowed his eyes, watching Gu Qing Shan.

He was displeased: “Hmph, you little brat, ignoring your Shifu as soon as you find yourself an opportunity, do you know how long it had been since someone managed to pass the Sumeru Lord realm Tri——”

“No need to say so much” Xie Dao Ling cut him off, “Qing Shan’s opportunity is unheard, it’s much more important than my Tribulation”

She told him in concern: “Then your master shall begin scaling the Heaven-supporting Pillar, you should leave Heaven Pillar World soon——- the Divination shows that this world’s collapse is nearly inevitable”

Gu Qing Shan looked at her and muttered: “Shifu, your disciple cannot be there to protect you, such worry is nearly impossible to ease. I only hope that Shifu will be able to turn all danger into fortune and smoothly make it to the summit of Mount Sumeru”

“Do not worry, I’ll be leaving now”

Saying so, Xie Dao Ling’s figure flashed and vanished from the palace.

Before leaving, the Spirit Tortoise even glared at Gu Qing Shan in disdain.

Right after that, the cry of a phoenix resounded in the sky outside that soared into the sky above.

——-Xie Dao Ling was summoning all the cultivators who had come here to face their Tribulation.

A few moments later, every cultivator had gathered under the night sky.

Under Xie Dao Ling’s lead, they flew up the Pillar To Heaven.

The Sumeru Lord realm Tribulation had officially begun!

A few moments later.

All the cultivators disappeared from this world.

The only person left in Heaven Pillar world was Gu Qing Shan.

He silently stood in the middle of the palace.