Chapter 126: Stabilizing the Eight Directions

Qian Ye steadied himself, slowly recovering from the oppressive weight of the sword formation.

The sword technique, already凝成 within the Book of Darkness, spontaneously gave rise to the basic martial methodology within Qian Ye’s consciousness. He memorized the way to channel power and the forms of the technique within his mind before redirecting his contemplations toward another matter—the enigmas hidden within the Book of Darkness.

At the moment the Desolate Severance manifested, he had been tirelessly refining core foundational sword techniques. At that time, he had established remarkably steady basic foundations, though without the inheritance of profound martial techniques of battle. Hence, despite possessing Dong Yue, an awe-inspiring sword, he lacked deadly strikes to match its strength. The Book, then, distilled the Desolate Severance from a hundred fundamental techniques, crafting a swordsplay ideally suited to Qian Ye and Dong Yue that others could hardly execute.

Now this new martial move unmistakably emerged as a response to facing multiple foes amid fierce battle. Recalling recent incidents, Qian Ye came increasingly certain the Book had responded yet again—perhaps owing to the desperate clash against the Dark armies at Bai Valve Fort and multiple harrowing pursuits by beast swarms and traitors. The technique’s sheer magnitude in sword pressure was immense; obviously intended explicitly for Dong Yue. Such a mighty cleave would fail entirely with lesser, lighter blades.

Yet, this freshly-tempered strike remained imperfect. Pondering, recalling how he first mastered Severance Desolate, Qian Ye soon grasped the nature: this new form from darkness’ tome bore considerable imperfection, roughly equaling techniques guarded within ancient aristocratic bloodlines—a foundational mastery most core heirs were privy too.

Even within their exalted families, this wasn’t particularly rare. For example, the Zhao dynasty maintained a tier above—exclusive inheritable secrets passed only to elites. Zhao Jun Du’s Eight Compassionate Subjugations was among the most treasured Zhao techniques, far outweighing this darkness-forged martial prowess evident from his tome.

However, the Book’s yielded methods such as Severance Desolate left ample room for progress that relied upon his diligence—meditated insight through ceaseless repetition. Indeed over time Severance Desolate intensified to near rivalry alongside closely safeguarded techniques once exclusive domain to high blood houses.

Through contemplation, comprehension grew clearer. He recognized these tome-forged martial legacies required precise conditioning: not merely physical sacrifice in the form of pure blood or refined technique, the circumstances also mattered and ceilings always remained. Without diligent polishing over fundamental form, the Desolate Severance would never have surfaced. Nor would this current move materialize had conflict not spurred deep strategizing to overcome many adversaries simultaneously. Receiving these techniques still required study, relentless cultivation for mastery.

The Book itself served as a beacon in the dark, granting crucial signposts—but always tempered within reality’s constraints; less a panacea than he once naively believed.

Secretly inherited battle techniques throughout the noble dynasties traced their lineage back some twelve centuries, originating from dawn force awakenings of primordial masters. Qian Ye realized even these techniques, through painstaking discovery amid countless battlefields spanning an eon, emerged far beyond he might ever accomplish alone—however far his latent potential ran. Setting aside such musing, he turned his focus instead onto unraveling this new move recently revealed.

The move, slashing in every direction, wielded a simplicity apparent even amidst its grandeur both in sword art and dawn force meditations—a brilliance distilled into overwhelming force, undeniable presence. Prior, when Severance Desolate had materialized runes shimmered across shadowed script giving it a name, but this fresh technique emerged silently—an anomaly he pondered gravely. Whether it required more sacrifice in vital energy, or perhaps another constraint obscured to his mind?

Mulling possibilities momentarily, he eventually murmured—”War Across the Directions… No—Settling Dominion Over the Eight Ways suits this better.” Just a single word altered in intent—but the subtle shift between battling and settling conveyed drastically differing martial philosophies. Naming it Settlement Over the Directions stirred a sudden awakening within him, deepening comprehension beyond surface technique.

In time measured in only a few moments’ meditation, basic mastery unfolded in his mind, and so he arose, blade in hand, eager testing followed in earnest.

When wielding Dong Yue, Qian Ye calmed his mind before suddenly shouting and cleaving it directly forward!

Simultaneously his dawn force flowed like cascading waters. Dong Yue instantly weighted manyfold heavier, straining muscles that lifted a small hill’s mass. Just one blow drained significant portions of vitality! He immediately pivoted into striking outward to the left. Dong Yue’s mass increased further, now consuming more than half of what remained in his being! Attempt number three only managed partial swings of Dong Yue’s sweeping before weight again surged, plunging downward, the blade tilting sharply as metal sank deep into soil—its momentum dispersing entirely.

Though Qian Ye expected Settlement To All Directions to strain deeply, the results astounded him beyond expectations. Encompassing eight total cuts to cover surrounding angles entirely, a devastating pattern—no escape within its deadly geometry.

The power held promise, certainly. But consuming such copious dawn force, beyond imagination—could he, despite his current cultivation, realistically complete only a modest three attacks?

While stunned by his findings, distant, continuous faint crackles reached his auditory senses before snapping sight into action! Observing his surroundings confirmed origin within ten meters of where he struck before!

Previously, vibrant purple matter covered this zone yet now turned grey—the ever-rippling essence once flowing freely through it vanished within moments. Transformations erupted across vast swathes. What was vibrant purple momentarily changed to dark grey—a stark lifelessness followed.

Cracked networks spiderwebbed across entire sections before bursting outward—thin trails of grayish smoke billowed sky-high. Ash dispersed. Hidden darker soils revealed themselves. Every inch of those grounds once smooth, now marred by crusted sword etchings densely littered across—so many overlapping slashes even rodents might’ve been reduced in dozens.

To his flank, some ten paces distant: an isolated enormous tree shook violently. The tree screamed, emitting heart-rendering wales as if possessed.

As Qian Ye beheld the display, a silvery thread shimmered within its bark, spreading outward into an expanding band—three-meters-long and a span wide within seconds. The tremors from the tree amplified the fracture’s force.

In the blink of an eye the seam burst forth violently, disintegrating into countless grey flakes that sprinkled into surrounding skies like a shower. A gash now marred the trunk—ten paces long, a pace wide.

The trembling only intensified its agony. Surrounding treetops shook simultaneously, wailing.

Confounded at the scene, memory sparked recollection. Qian Ye shot his gaze instinctively toward canopy tops. Confirming his fear; the spherical leaf crowns wriggled and pulsed. Hidden creatures struggled within, ready erupting membranes like birthing sacs about to burst.

But it was not only this tormented tree suffering this fate. Countless such phenomena spread endlessly throughout entire woodline—hundreds, thousands!

Chills broke across Qian Ye’s back involuntarily. Before he resolved on what to do next—a cataclysm erupted!

A chorus of tree crown ruptures erupted like spring torrents in full descent—beasts and tiny humanoid figures plummeted down endlessly—a swarm of hundreds or thousands descending all around!

In the face of sheer terror, Qian Ye wasted no moments—clenched grip upon Dong Yue as sprint propelled him away while the world behind transformed into a living abyss trailing his footsteps in endless, snarling fury.

He ran like never before, disregarding need for masking his presence—each delayed heartbeat could cost him his escape. The entire point in cultivating Settlement Over The Directions was meant for precisely these conditions, but at the moment not only could he not hold against countless foes—he couldn’t even defend a singular opponent. His path reduced to a flight for sheer existence.

Thankful to innate endurance, remnants dwelled within his bloodstream. With stamina rival the ancient aristocrats, his velocity blazoned faster than mortal eye followed even with severely depleted dawns force reserves! Time collapsed into blur—he couldn’t tell when but eventually the relentless pursuit behind faded until gone. Not allowing complacency Qian Ye carried onward many more miles before at last finding temporary respite behind another massive tree.

Chest heaving from exhausted breath Qian Ye leaned back against bark—mind still reeling over the relentless onslaught mere moments gone. The forest that stood silently now felt strangely alien—almost menacing watching him through ancient foliage.

Last time Qian Ye ventured within the Sleepful Beastes region, he hardly spent days wandering this Mistforest before reaching the heart’s great subterranean labyrinths below. Back then, though multiple encounters transpired during his previous passage, the land never responded.

Only later—after deep incursion of that cave systems and an accidental triggering—had an entire surge of indigenous beast swarms emerged, cascading into the cavernous war between warring factions leaving neither side unscathed.

While Qian Ye recovered some, awaiting strength and dawn force renewal, curiosity nudged a finger forward tapping nearby tree trunks idly.

Unfazed—the tree stood indifferent—its strange, huge canopy above suspiciously placid after the horrid birthing displays it displayed earlier. If not for his亲眼所见 countless spawns spilling from those nests, he would have dismissed it as a mere coincidence of natural oddities of forest.

Pacing around massive tree roots, thoughts solidified—maybe these perilous characteristics of this forest should be turned beneficially toward strategic use. It worked well enough to harry his escape with a massive beast humanoid horde in pursuit—a fate that would likely meet even more powerful adversaries unguarded against nature’s surprises.

Certainly such pursuers would be ill-prepared; few others could mimic Qian Ye’s speed combined with skill of breath-control and scent concealment. With luck guiding, this cursed thicket may just serve well as grave markers upon unwary foe.

With adrenaline gone direction blurred into uncertainty—but the Mistforest itself followed concentric circular geography: simply choosing one path long enough assured eventually emerging beyond canopy borders where celestial navigation might resume guiding forward.

After moving without care which way, mid-journey Qian Ye halted abrupt noticing sound in distance.

Immediately ceasing movements instinct compelled him suppressing all presence. Slowly maneuvering amidst thick growth, cautiously stalking source approached.

Distance shrunk through sensory limitations; even amidst low visibilities within the forest hearing revealed proximity—perhaps just beneath kilometer distance. While Qian Ye’s sensing capabilities surpassed ordinary elites; he never relaxed caution, knowing this battlefield hosted entire legions filled with secret arts users and rare prodigies of talent.

Approaching another hundred paces carefully using sight magic—shapes slowly solidified through mist. Silhouettes in formation matched synchronized footsteps forming disciplined war arrays uncommon in jungle terrain!

Surrounding main bulk—several scores of wolves roamed with irregular patterns, but closer observation clarified truth—those shapes revealed hulking lupine war beings shifting into primal battle modes, scanning the perimeter.

In trailing order, immense hulking spiderkin beasts served as rear guard supported by numerous jungle arachnids carrying vast supplies upon armored backs.

A shattering hissing whispered past ears, lowering eyes confirming source—a fist-sized arachnid creeping over foot with nonchalant disinterest. In reality—these were eyes and scouts for spiderkin—often utilized in battlefield reconnaissance.

However Qian Ye’s concealed blood presence—rendered him indistinguishable even against stone—a lifeless stump rather than viable quarry. The solitary spider marking just the herald.

In its wake followed a seemingly endless tide—myriads moving like liquid shadows in tandem with encroaching force.

Silhouettes multiplied endlessly past veil of grey; counting meticulously in silence confirmed thousands of soldiers assembled under banner.

Quantity alone paled against sheer potency—the legion comprised elite soldiers drawn from dark races. Centralized within—the most disciplined fighters bearing vampire traits—bloodlines renowned across countless battlefields.

This formation rivaled armies measured by empires: even when compared with imperial elite units like Scorpio Red or the Fallen Angel Specials.

Though Qian Ye never planned confrontation with such adversaries—he didn’t underestimate their lethality—this would be among the hardest clashes imaginable.

Waiting patiently—the unit faded beyond horizon’s edge before he took hesitant step releasing footfall with final snap. Crushing the last of trailing spiders—its body liquefying in red paste instantly under sole of boot!

Nearby tens of fellow arachnids spasmed momentarily—confusion rippling through ranks in response. They scurried mindlessly against foot’s callous base, finding nothing amiss.

He lifted his limbs; the last survivor turned into smear upon damp moss. Its bodily fluids spilled over violet terrain—prompting reactions. The vibrant purple material stirred, beginning absorbing organic remnants into its essence.

But this interaction didn’t spread across neighboring creatures—a most perplexing anomaly.

The anomaly was not normal.