Chapter 1067: I Am God and Buddha, Law Heaven Phenomenon Heaven

"There is a renowned sword technique called Mo Jian Shu, and its path is that of Mo. This sword can cut through myriad things, even harming the true self."

With Red Plum in hand, Mei Jiren was no longer his usual mild-mannered self. His brows furrowed in focus, his body became like a sword, his energy piercing the clouds.

With a whoosh, a vortex of energy swirled into existence a hundred li away.

Then, one after another, verdant Mo swords rose from the air in response to Mei Jiren’s words, transforming into a surging river. They roared and coiled, instantly shattering Jiang Buyi’s sacred domain!

The torrent of sword energy turned into endless green light, flowing into the red plum at Mei Jiren’s fingertip.

In that moment, the red plum became like a sword, its fragrance replacing the sound of blade song, wafting for thousands of li.

"Mo Jian Shu, first realm: Qing He Jian Jie!" Xu Xiaoshou’s eyes widened.

He recognized this sword—it was the one Gou Wuyue had used in his battle against Ba Zun An back in the day.

But could Mei Jiren also wield it?

And moreover, his Qing He Jian Jie was powerful enough to break a sacred domain?

"This is insane!" Xu Xiaoshou clutched his head, his eyes filled with sheer shock.

Is this the true caliber of a veteran sword master?

Is this the ability mastered by someone from the same era as Master You Tu, the former lord of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang, one of the Seven Sword Immortals?

The bearing of a sword immortal, capable of challenging a half-saint?

So… in the end, Gou Wuyue was just a lesser version, not worthy to represent Mo Jian Shu, right?

His thoughts had barely formed when he saw Mei Jiren, holding the red plum with his fingers, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, his edge fully revealed. That piercing killing intent completely tore through Jiang Buyi’s oppressive aura.

"Walking the sword realm, the sword river parts the clouds…"

"Break!"

With that final word, Mei Jiren casually tossed the red plum.

It flew forward, blooming into a vibrant red sword flower before the descending Zhu Sheng Yun Guang could strike, fully withstanding the impact of the sacred force.

"Theoretically, even if a sword immortal’s power is strong, it shouldn’t surpass sacred force, right?"

As Xu Xiaoshou watched anxiously, the red sword plum that had held back Zhu Sheng Yun Guang trembled slightly. Then, as if responding to Mei Jiren’s true words, countless verdant Mo swords burst forth from within.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

Having absorbed the endless Mo swords of Qing He Jian Jie, the red plum endured the suppression and purifying power of Zhu Sheng Yun Guang, and even countered it!

The cloud-like sacred light couldn’t obscure Xu Xiaoshou’s view.

He could see those Mo swords piercing straight through Zhu Sheng Yun Guang with unbreakable force, from below to above!

"Hiss—"

Xu Xiaoshou sucked in a sharp breath.

Even the Yao Yao Xuan Cang divine sword couldn’t withstand Zhu Sheng Yun Guang!

Could Mei Jiren’s Mo Jian Shu really break Jiang Buyi’s half-saint technique?

This couldn’t just be called “Mo Jian Shu” anymore, could it? Or were the versions he’d seen before just subpar?

"Mo Jian Shu, Mo Jian Shu…"

Xu Xiaoshou recalled something.

The greatest ability of Mo Jian Shu is to ignore defenses and deliver true damage.

In other words, it wasn’t that Gou Wuyue was weak; it’s that when Mo Jian Shu reaches Mei Jiren’s level, even sacred force can be shattered by a single plum blossom.

Surpassing levels in battle is normal, but going from Tai Xu to challenging a saint…

Could that even count as normal?

He wasn’t sure; he’d have to watch more.

"Xu Xiaoshou, watch closely…"

Remembering Mei Jiren’s words before he struck, Xu Xiaoshou finally understood his mentor’s intention.

He wanted to teach him, just like Elder Sang had that day, how to counter sacred force.

Xu Xiaoshou grew excited.

Earlier, he hadn’t taken the nine great sword techniques of the pure ancient sword path seriously because he thought his “Jian Shu Jing Tong” made him self-sufficient and didn’t need lessons from others.

But along the way, he realized that wasn’t the case.

“Jian Shu Jing Tong” was like stuffing an entire sword dao library into his mind; knowing how to use it and unleash its full power required other sword moves as keys.

Undoubtedly, the nine great sword techniques, eighteen sword styles, and three thousand sword paths of the ancient sword cultivators were the keys to unlocking that library.

After all his experiences, Xu Xiaoshou had long wanted to seriously seek guidance from Ba Zun An on the sword techniques, styles, and paths of the ancient sword way.

But he hadn’t waited for Ba Zun An; instead, Mei Jiren had given him another chance, appearing before him and demonstrating personally.

"Mo Jian Shu…"

"Mei Jiren is demonstrating Mo Jian Shu right now, teaching me its highest-level power…"

"Or maybe this isn’t even the ‘highest level,’ but using Mo Jian Shu at the Tai Xu level to fight a half-saint is already incredibly advanced—extremely so!"

Xu Xiaoshou stared unblinkingly at the streams of verdant Mo swords shooting from the red plum, feeling as though each illusory sword was breaking down into sword dao insights in his mind.

And these insights could be verified and explained through his “Jian Shu Jing Tong” knowledge base.

He was like a greedy sponge, frantically absorbing the knowledge he needed.

"Mo Jian Shu is about ‘opening,’ ‘separating,’ ‘standing apart,’ ‘pressing forward relentlessly’…"

"It embodies the ‘Tou Dao’ from the three thousand sword paths—ignoring defenses, delivering true damage…"

"This is the second sword of a sword cultivator, coming from a parallel space-time, where all physical defenses in the current space-time are utterly ineffective against it, even sacred force should be the same…"

As Xu Xiaoshou pondered, Zang Ku appeared in his hand without him realizing.

He didn’t even notice that the black blade of Zang Ku, writhing excitedly like a worm, now had faint traces of verdant light.

He looked toward Mei Jiren.

The unrestrained swordsman in purple robes was at that moment epitomizing the most magnificent image of a “sword immortal” in Xu Xiaoshou’s mind.

That bold and expansive aura was completely different from the mild and unhurried elder he had known before!

Xu Xiaoshou pondered deeply, glancing at Zang Ku. The verdant light turned into a sword shadow, appearing beneath Zang Ku as his second sword.

Then…

This Mo sword started writhing wildly too!

Xu Xiaoshou: ???

What’s wrong with this?

He immediately shattered the verdant Mo sword and put Zang Ku away, not daring to experiment further.

That must be wrong, definitely wrong. Sword dao really needs someone to teach it hands-on; you can’t just figure it out yourself!

Turning his attention back to the battlefield, Xu Xiaoshou felt he now understood why Gou Wuyue’s Mo Jian Shu and Mei Jiren’s were so vastly different.

A sword cultivator’s will influences the sword in their hand.

Mei Jiren was a free spirit, a veteran elder with disciples everywhere, owing no one any favors, completely unbound.

This state was the most perfect match for Mo Jian Shu.

In contrast, when Gou Wuyue fought Ba Zun An, he was constrained by their past friendship and the pressure from above in the Sheng Shen Dian Tang.

He could use Mo Jian Shu, but he fell short of its second realm: the sword of desireless action.

Compared to Mei Jiren, who was as light as a feather, he was worlds apart.

Unless…

"Unless Gou Wuyue can break free from the shackles of the Sheng Shen Dian Tang and rediscover his own ‘freedom,’ then his sword dao attainments would surely rise with the tide. But is that even possible?" Xu Xiaoshou’s thoughts wandered.

In the arena, the red sword plum clashed fiercely with Zhu Sheng Yun Guang, and even Jiang Buyi was startled by Mei Jiren’s sword dao prowess.

Could a mere sword immortal truly block a sacred force strike?

"Mei Jiren, I must admit, living long has indeed given you more knowledge and deeper attainments than some youngsters. But the gap between a sword immortal and a half-saint isn’t something time can bridge." Jiang Buyi sneered.

If this person thought his full strength was only this much, he was gravely mistaken.

Zhu Sheng Yun Guang was just a warm-up.

Why use a full blade to kill a chicken, after all? But Mei Jiren wasn’t like Yao Yao; since he could withstand Zhu Sheng Yun Guang, he wasn’t insignificant.

However…

How strong could a mere bull be?

Jiang Buyi raised his hand again, and the sacred image behind him hummed, bursting with radiant sacred light.

In that instant, the heavens and earth stilled, and the entire Miracle Forest ceased its tremors from the activated extreme land attributes.

The next second,

"Decree!"

Dark clouds gathered, day turned to night.

Gray-black clouds veiled the bright moon—though Void Island had no moon, only sky light, Jiang Buyi’s will changed the heavens, and moonlight naturally formed.

"Clouds cover the moon, the dao reverses order…"

Jiang Buyi’s lips didn’t move, but his will surged around him, producing a faint sacred chant.

He angrily formed seals, the gestures completing the technique atop the previously summoned Zhu Sheng Yun Guang.

"Cai Sheng Zhi Shou!"

With that command, thunder rumbled from the nine heavens.

Thick sacred tribulation energy surged, dark lightning striking into Zhu Sheng Yun Guang. The once bright and pure sacred light turned gray-black in an instant.

The red sword plum, which had been withstanding the immense pressure and cutting through Zhu Sheng Yun Guang, finally couldn’t hold against this half-saint’s furious strike of Cai Sheng Zhi Shou and shattered with a bang.

Jiang Buyi smiled in relief.

Cai Sheng Zhi Shou was meant for battling half-saints.

He had given Mei Jiren due respect; the question was whether he could handle it.

"Seven Sword Immortal, Mei Jiren… I’m truly curious how much you know and how much you can accomplish before me?"

Cai Sheng Zhi Shou, vast and boundless, pressed down amid Jiang Buyi’s mocking laughter. Even in his concealed state, Xu Xiaoshou felt his head buzzing, his sanity nearly scattering.

So, Mei Jiren’s red sword plum had been blocking not only Zhu Sheng Yun Guang but also the half-saint’s will influencing everyone in this realm.

Now that the red plum was shattered, even Xu Xiaoshou in concealment was struggling.

He couldn’t imagine the immense pressure Mei Jiren, facing it head-on, was enduring!

The half-saint Jiang Buyi, with his colossal sacred image behind him, stood in stark contrast to the solitary, isolated Mei Jiren.

"Suppressed, passive value: 1."

Xu Xiaoshou’s expression turned fearful, feeling that even if Ba Zun An were here, it might not help much.

That sickly fellow… Xu Xiaoshou’s knowledge couldn’t recall any technique from Ba Zun An that could counter this Cai Sheng Zhi Shou.

Because this wasn’t some sealed or restricted inner Void Island, nor was it against someone like Gou Wuyue, who was already weaker.

Mei Jiren faced the full fury of the half-saint Jiang Buyi!

Cai Sheng Zhi Shou—though only a few zhang in size, in the eyes of Xu and Mei, it loomed like it covered the entire Miracle Forest, infinite in power and vast beyond measure.

"How much do I know?"

"How much can I do?"

On the lonely pillar, Mei Jiren murmured softly, lifting his gaze upward. But unlike Xu Xiaoshou’s fear and helplessness, his eyes held no such emotion; he simply smiled, responding to Jiang Buyi’s words.

"What I know is little, merely the sword dao; what I can do is little, merely saving people."

With that, Mei Jiren lowered his eyes.

"Buzz—"

A piercing sword hum echoed through the entire Miracle Forest in that instant.

Jiang Buyi’s pupils contracted, seeing Mei Jiren lower his eyelids like a compassionate Buddha statue, with faint traces of a power that even made his heart stir emanating from him.

"What is this?"

Jiang Buyi couldn’t believe that a sword immortal at the Tai Xu level could possess such will.

What half-saints feared were only two things: the power of a saint emperor or ancestral source.

Could what Mei Jiren was displaying be one of those?

"Jiang Buyi, are you bullying me because I haven’t become a half-saint and lack a sacred image?" After lowering his eyes, Mei Jiren lifted them again, like an angry vajra.

In a flash, the jade pin binding his hair shattered, and he rose into the air, his long hair flying wildly. "In that case, you are gravely mistaken!"

He formed sword fingers with both hands, sealing them before his chest.

Mei Jiren’s voice deepened, the dao principles around him shattering as a thick sacred intent suddenly erupted from him!

Yes, sacred intent!

Though not yet a saint, possessing the will of one was usually just proof of potential for future sainthood.

But on Mei Jiren…

Will was the manifestation of power!

And his sacred will seemed to far surpass that of the half-saint Jiang Buyi before him!

"There is a sword technique called Xin Jian Shu, and its path is that of the heart, without gods or Buddhas, without law or heaven."

Mei Jiren spoke each word deliberately, his sacred voice echoing endlessly through the heavens.

Finally, his will condensed fully, and with an furious roar, he manifested it from nothing, decreeing its form.

"Because…"

"I am the god and Buddha, the law of heaven itself!"

In that moment, the extreme land attributes of Miracle Forest seemed to have their growth stifled.

Amid an unprecedented explosion, a colossal, terrifying divine demon illusion formed behind Mei Jiren, rising up and towering several times larger than Jiang Buyi’s sacred image!

"I…" Xu Xiaoshou plummeted from mid-air, staring blankly at the… illusion? summoned by Mei Jiren.

He hadn’t become a half-saint, so it was just an illusion, right?

But…

What kind of monster was this!

It was clad in the most splendid and magnificent colors, beautiful enough to seem like a phantom from a dream realm; surrounded by nine supreme heavy swords, steeped in the aura of the mortal world, forming its own realm; its feet trampled the ten kings of hell, with ten thousand swords bowing at its head; its hands grasped the void, yet they were verdant, invisible swords that one knew existed even without seeing!

"Oh my goodness…" Xu Xiaoshou’s scalp tingled.

He suddenly realized this wasn’t just a simple illusion; it was a fusion of illusion and another sword technique.

This was what Mei Jiren had visualized with his “Xin Jian Shu”! And this monster was the first realm of Xin Jian Shu—Mu Xia Shen Fo!

But “Mu Xia Shen Fo,” Xu Xiaoshou knew about it.

Ba Zun An had used it when fighting Gou Wuyue, but it was nowhere near as exaggerated as what Mei Jiren was showing now.

—Could this ferocious giant beast really be the visualization of the same will as the refined and elegant Mei Jiren?

The more Xu Xiaoshou looked, the more off it seemed. Suddenly, his eyes widened as if he’d finally grasped the essence of Mei Jiren’s Mu Xia Shen Fo.

"The splendid robes are ‘Huan,’ the heavy swords number ‘nine,’ the mortal aura is ‘Qing,’ the kings of hell are ‘Gui,’ ten thousand swords bow, grasping the void as ‘Wu,’ and verdant in color means ‘Mo’…"

"Damn, that’s seven out of the nine great sword techniques!"

"And this is just the first realm of Mei Jiren’s ‘Xin Jian Shu.’ If this Mu Xia Shen Fo truly reflects his inner self, then his everyday demeanor is surely the final technique—‘Zang’!"

"The nine great sword techniques, all in one person, Mu Xia Shen Fo rivaling a sword god…"

After seeing through this monster, Xu Xiaoshou didn’t just feel his scalp tingle—his whole body did.

He recalled Mei Jiren’s earlier words…

"What I know is little, merely the sword dao; what I can do is little, merely saving people."

So…

When Ba Zun An said, "Do you think I’m a god?" the next second, he summoned Void Island; when Mei Jiren said, "What I know is little," he followed with this nine great sword techniques composite Mu Xia Shen Fo.

Is this just how ancient sword cultivators are?!

"Shocked, passive value: 1."

The sacred domain was broken, and Cai Sheng Zhi Shou was split open by Mei Jiren’s Mu Xia Shen Fo from above. Xu Xiaoshou could see the… fear in Jiang Buyi’s eyes?

With his “Perception,” he could clearly see that the entire Miracle Forest was trembling along with it.

The extreme land attributes of Miracle Forest had already activated, but with Mu Xia Shen Fo’s appearance, ancient trees shattered anew, the ground crumbled once more, and all living things were subdued by the sword energy, bowing their heads in submission.

The once restless everything fell silent, making the whole Miracle Forest look like a strictly governed mortal school.

When a fiercely intimidating teacher enters the classroom and slams the desk, even the most mischievous students must quiet down, stand up, cup their hands, and offer a respectful and fearful greeting.

"Seen Master Mei Jiren."