Ling Tian Sword God

At this level of cultivation, the resources that could be purchased with gold and silver were becoming increasingly scarce; perhaps only the Black Market could provide them. As one's cultivation level increased, bartering items became more prevalent.

For strong Martial Artists, the Solid Reality Pill had become a common medium of exchange.

In the following days, Ling Chen didn't rush to enhance his cultivation. Instead, he focused on assimilating the combat insights he had gained in the Tianzong Ruins, making them truly his own. In the Tianzong Ruins, Ling Chen had fought continuously, making him battle-hardened. Every true battle, every opponent defeated or even killed, provided valuable combat experience. Once assimilated, this experience became his own, greatly benefiting his understanding of swordsmanship and martial arts.

Cultivation depended on accumulation over time, but the realms of martial arts and swordsmanship relied more on comprehension, even on-the-spot enlightenment.

「On the next day.」

Ling Chen, as always, went to the backyard to practice his swordsmanship.

However, just as he stepped out of his courtyard, he sensed something amiss.

HUM. The entire courtyard began to distort. Soon after, it visibly transformed into a magnificent palace.

The palace bustled with life. It featured ponds filled with lotus flowers, elegant pavilions, and jade-like structures everywhere, resembling an emperor's residence in its extreme luxury and splendor.

Illusion Technique?

Ling Chen narrowed his eyes; he could recognize that this was an Illusion Technique. This Illusion Technique must have been set up by that girl, Ling Yin.

What a mischievous girl.

Ling Chen shook his head. It was obvious; besides Ling Yin, no one else would come to his courtyard to set up an Illusion Technique.

However, this Illusion Technique was remarkably intricate. Despite Ling Chen's high mental strength level, he couldn't see through it immediately.

Although he couldn't see through it, Ling Chen wasn't alarmed. He walked out calmly. Ling Yin had likely set up this Illusion Technique merely to tease him; there was surely no real danger.

Passing through the courtyard, Ling Chen headed towards the palace's outer wall. Just as he reached the gate, a chorus of melodious singing reached him. He approached and saw a dozen beautiful, flamboyantly dressed girls dancing gracefully before him, like fairies descended to the mortal realm.

The girls danced in unison, their steps light and their movements agile as swallows. Upon seeing Ling Chen enter, they swarmed towards him, swaying their lithe bodies and casting alluring glances his way. Each girl cast seductive glances at Ling Chen. An ordinary man would have likely already been conquered by this Illusory Realm.

A slight smile touched Ling Chen's lips. Want to seduce me? Don't you know that seduction is what I fear least? He focused his mind, and his Sword Intent flared out, shielding his consciousness. Immediately, the dancing girls vanished one by one, dissipating like smoke.

Just as the women dispersed, a delicate voice sounded by his ear, "Brother Ling Chen, how was my Illusion Technique?"

"It was okay, but it's no use on me," Ling Chen said objectively.

"No use? That might not be true! Try this!" Ling Yin's voice sounded again. The next moment, a deafening roar suddenly erupted, startling Ling Chen.

Before him, a ferocious Exotic Beast had materialized out of thin air. The creature stood two meters tall, possessing two horns. It resembled neither a bull nor a tiger entirely, was dark black and hairless, and appeared incredibly fierce.

Ling Chen was taken aback. Is this... an Illusory Beast? An Illusory Beast was an offensive manifestation of Illusion Techniques. To conjure one, a person's Mental Power had to be at least level fifteen. He hadn't expected Ling Yin's Illusion Technique to have already surpassed that level. Moreover, judging by its appearance, this Illusory Beast was quite formidable.

CLANG! Drawing the Cloud-hidden Sword from his waist, Ling Chen dared not be careless. He then charged forward, slashing lightning-fast at the Illusory Beast's head.

ROAR! The Illusory Beast opened its great mouth and spat out a stream of distorted black light. This black light contained an intensely cold Energy. In an instant, it froze Ling Chen's Cloud-hidden Sword. Then, at a visible speed, it encased Ling Chen entirely, turning him into a lifelike ice sculpture.

In that moment, Ling Chen seemed to lose all signs of life.

CRACK! However, the profound stillness lasted only for an instant. A crack abruptly appeared on the surface of Ling Chen's frozen form. An instant later, a piece of ice broke off, revealing the slight upturn of Ling Chen's lips.

BANG! The layer of ice encasing him suddenly exploded outward. Ling Chen swept his sword out, decapitating the Illusory Beast.

The headless Illusory Beast rapidly dissolved into a pile of earth, scattering on the ground.

At the same time, the surrounding magnificent palace rapidly dissipated.

In his line of sight, a young woman holding a green Jade Flute was walking towards him.

A faint smile graced the young woman's lips. Her distinctive black and white hair, starkly contrasted, did not detract from her beauty but instead added a unique allure.

"You beheaded my Illusory Beast in a single strike! Brother Ling Chen, your strength has improved so much!" Ling Yin exclaimed, looking at Ling Chen with some disbelief. She had thought that under Elder Xie Chan's guidance, her strength had increased rapidly, perhaps even surpassing Ling Chen's by now. She had wanted to tease him, but she hadn't expected Ling Chen to be so much stronger than she imagined.

"You've done an excellent job. However, against me, with my high mental strength level and Sword Intent protecting my body, the power of your Illusion Technique is halved."

Ling Chen understood why. Sword Intent was the bane of all unorthodox methods, impervious to all malevolence, and naturally suppressed Illusion Techniques.

"With your Illusion Technique alone, you could already rank on the Heavenly List. If word of your progress spread, it would undoubtedly shock the entire Martial World."

The strength of Illusion Techniques isn't as easily demonstrated as Martial Arts Cultivation, making it difficult to assess. However, Ling Chen estimated that the Illusory Beast Ling Yin could now create was capable of killing an expert on the Heavenly List like Poisonous Scorpion. However, against an expert in the top twenty, like Wang Yan, its effectiveness would be uncertain.

"By the way, I have something good for you."

Ling Chen seemed to recall something. With a flip of his hand, he retrieved an ancient, yellowed secret manual from his Heavenly Mansion Ring.

The title on the secret manual read: "Secret of Mechanisms."

This "Secret of Mechanisms" was what Ling Chen had obtained from the Tianzong Mechanism Hall. It detailed various mechanism techniques, including methods to construct Sky Apex Puppets.

Such puppet mechanism technique had likely been lost to the current Martial World.

If the contents of the "Secret of Mechanisms" were revealed to the Martial World, it would undoubtedly cause a massive uproar and incite a frenzied scramble among the various sects of the Jianghu.