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"Very well, here it comes again, witness my 'Myriad Blades Splitting the Ocean!}"

The 'Nine Yin Manual' was created by Huang Chang in his quest for revenge against the Demon Cult. Its martial arts techniques were designed with the intent to counter the cult's abilities. For instance, the "Nine Yin White Bone Claw" counters the Earth Escape of the Heavy Soil Banner in the Five Elemental Flags, the "Heart Shattering Palm" deals with the Vine Armor of the Giant Tree Banner, the "Setting Sun Heaven Skill" specifically opposes the sharp arrows and spears of the Sharp Metal Banner, and the speed of the "Yellow Springs Phantom" was devised to neutralize the cult's secret lightness kung fu, the "Celestial Bat Illusionary Shadow." The peerless saber technique, "Heaven and Earth Quiescence Saber," found in the lower volume of the manual, was created to counter the cult's ultimate art, the "Great Shift of Heaven and Earth."

According to vague records in the 'Nine Yin Manual,' Huang Chang suffered greatly under this ultimate art, hence he crafted this saber technique. It consists of five stages: "Myriad Blades Splitting the Ocean," "Thousand Blades Chopping the Sky," "Hundred Blades Demolishing Mountains," "Ten Blades Eradicating Mortality," and "One Blade Severing Heaven and Earth." The technique simplifies from complexity, returning to ordinariness, with each advancement requiring the fusion of ten into one, resulting in a dramatic increase in destructive power. At the "One Blade Severing Heaven and Earth" level, even if the opponent has mastered the rumored seventh level of the "Great Shift of Heaven and Earth," and both have comparable skills, they would still be cleaved in two. Although no previous Demon Cult leader reached the highest stage, Huang Chang, to ensure absolute safety, isolated himself to create this supreme art, anticipating a sudden emergence of a genius.

After obtaining the Tiger Essence, I realized its form and power were exceptionally suited to this most ferocious and rigid saber technique, as if nature itself had intended it. The "Heaven and Earth Quiescence Saber" ranks among the mightiest martial arts in the 'Nine Yin Manual.' Its entry requirements surpass those of the "White Bone Claw" and "Heart Shattering Palm" by several times. Without the augmentation abilities of the Tiger Essence supporting me, given my mere third level cultivation in the Sinew Transforming and Marrow Cleansing Chapter, I would likely not even qualify to practice the "Myriad Blades Splitting the Ocean."

Upon unleashing the "Myriad Blades Splitting the Ocean," millions of silver-blue blade lights appeared, not in chaotic slashes but layered upon each other, continuously advancing in an impenetrable formation. If mastered perfectly, it could slice water as easily as it splits the ocean. No longer able to withstand the impact of the Tiger Essence, the magical barrier split into two before me, revealing a wide gap.

"Time to seek the treasure, Icicle Wind," came the cue. Icicle Wind, understanding the unspoken message, promptly leapt in. The fissure behind him slowly closed amidst the perpetually flowing radiance of the protective barrier. Even the dispelled illusions gradually resumed, testament to the extraordinary craftsmanship of the Twelve Sages.

Chapter 18: A Bizarre Tale Unfolds in One Astounding Moment

I never imagined that one day, Orcs would become my adversaries. These cowardly, cunning, and greedy creatures always lacked the courage for direct confrontation, even when they outnumbered their enemies by dozens. Yet, anything can happen in this world, much like how I never expected to be stabbed to death by a sniveling brat in my previous life. This time, I encountered a group of fierce and skilled fighters among the Orcs. It was then that I realized their overall combat strength, determined by their formidable strength and physique, was not much inferior to that of Werewolves. What they lacked was merely the unyielding instinct for battle.

As I stepped into this enchanting meadow, I was immediately surrounded by a multitude of orcs. However, they were not the legendary "Red Boar Guard," but a group of ordinary green-skinned orcs. Nevertheless, unlike the disorganized mob outside, these orcs, armed with pure steel battleaxes, possessed commendable martial skills and formidable combat power. They moved in perfect coordination, advancing and retreating with tactical precision, as if they were a seasoned army. Coupled with their fearless nature, they exerted a considerable amount of pressure upon me.

Even disregarding my own cultivation, the Tiger Soul Divine Edge, coupled with the divine speed of Icewind, ensures that light cavalry can decisively overpower unarmored infantry. Moreover, the first realm of the 'Heaven-Earth Obliteration Blade,' 'Myriad Blades Sundering the Vast Sea,' is the most intricate and dazzling, its changes unpredictable. Once an opponent enters the embrace of my blade's luminescence, they are immediately shredded to pieces. Furthermore, the vital energy constantly devoured by the Tiger Soul incessantly replenishes my expenditures, fueling my battle prowess and leaving me unwearied, growing stronger with each passing moment.

There were several hundred Centaurs across the entire meadow. Though each of them fought valiantly, I exploited the swiftness of my Frostwind to weave in and out, gradually picking them off one by one. After roughly two hours of battle, they were all fallen to my blade, ending in their complete annihilation.

"If it were the 'Red Boar Guard,' that would be one thing, but why do ordinary orcs possess such power and courage? It seems this temple holds secrets yet unknown to us."

Gazing at the hundreds of bodies sprawled in pools of blood, I couldn't help but feel a tinge of emotion. These weren't the usual scum I slaughtered, but genuine valiant warriors. The number of Half-Orcs dwelling in their barren lands had never been accurately counted, but it surely exceeded a million. If even one-tenth of them could become warriors like these, possessing Aura, then even if they were merely Bronze and Silver rank warriors, their collective strength would likely rival that of a major race within the Alliance. However, the emergence of such warriors seemed abnormal. Perhaps some unusual power was manipulating their actions.

Concluding the battle, I didn't immediately enter the ruins of the temple but instead allowed the Icewind Aegis to protect me while I silently cultivated, assimilating the essence energy absorbed from the fight. Although my innate true qi could automatically absorb essence energy continuously, if the inflow exceeded its absorption rate, the excess would remain within my body, causing unrest. While I wasn't afraid of it turning against me, it was still an uncomfortable sensation. This served as a lesson, reminding me to control the pace of absorbing essence energy in future battles.

After two hours of rhythmic breathing and circulation, I finally managed to entirely dissolve and absorb the essence of these hundreds of Aura-infused half-beasts. I felt my genuine energy surging like tidal waves. Given the time to seclude and cultivate, I would be able to ascend to an even higher realm. More astonishingly, my Aura cultivation soared two levels, reaching the eighth stage of the "Azure Star Rain" realm. To my utter surprise, I could sense a new kind of power flowing within me. When I exerted control over this force, a faint golden glow surfaced on my skin's surface.

According to ancient lore, when the Golden Bell Shield is cultivated to its ultimate stage, a golden aura resembling an actual bell surrounds the practitioner, serving as an impregnable barrier. However, when I reached the twelfth level of the Golden Bell Shield, no such phenomenon occurred. Initially, I believed the legends had been exaggerated. Now, it seems that the modified version taught to me by my master back then might have been flawed. To enhance the speed of cultivating inner energy from the outside, the protective strength might have been compromised. It is only with my recent progress in skill that the true power of this technique is being revealed.