【Ge Banqing's expression froze for a moment before he suddenly understood: "Palace Leader Shangguan, you make a valid point!"】

【You let out a wild laugh while roaring: "Imposter, taste my blade!"】

【The Soul Awakening Blade in your hand erupted with starlight, its massive form descending with terrifying ferocity】

【Facing this overwhelmingly powerful strike, Ge Banqing's eyes revealed horror】

【But he immediately gritted his teeth, the dark Soul Awakening Blade in his hand also emitting dazzling light】

【He leaped forward, meeting your strike with all his strength】

【BOOM——!!】

【The two Soul Awakening Blades collided violently in mid-air】

【The shockwave whipped up towering waves, making the sea surface tremble violently】

【Ge Banqing shot backward like a high-speed cannonball, crashing into the sea with a thunderous impact that sent up a massive white spray】

【Ge Banqing lost consciousness, slowly sinking toward the ocean floor】

【You briefly sensed Ge Banqing's position and released Source Power to envelop him】

【You fished out both Ge Banqing and his counterfeit Soul Awakening Blade】

【You flicked a Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill into Ge Banqing's mouth, and moments later he gradually regained consciousness】

【Looking at his thoroughly drenched state, Ge Banqing realized you had saved him】

【He shook his head and body to dispel the seawater, then spoke with solemn gratitude: "Thank you, Palace Leader Shangguan, for showing mercy!"】

【You glanced at the Soul Awakening Blade in his hand and declared decisively: "Your blade is a counterfeit."】

【Ge Banqing hesitated for two breaths: "But, but I truly forged this Soul Awakening Blade myself, and I've used it for many years!"】

【You spoke calmly again: "Your blade is a counterfeit."】

【Ge Banqing stared blankly for a moment before finally saying helplessly: "Palace Leader Shangguan is right."】

【"Say it."】

【"My, my Soul Awakening Blade is a counterfeit."】

【You grinned widely: "That's right!"】

【Ge Banqing felt something wasn't quite right about this but couldn't argue】

【You reached out with your right hand and the officially certified counterfeit Soul Awakening Blade flew into your grasp: "Stop copying me from now on, forge your own blade."】

【Ge Banqing looked at his Soul Awakening Blade in your hand with reluctant eyes: "Palace Leader Shangguan, promise me you'll treat it well!"】

【"Don't worry, I'll be very gentle."】

【Before leaving, Ge Banqing said solemnly: "Palace Leader Shangguan, I will challenge you again!!"】

【You glanced up at Ge Banqing, thinking these so-called martial arts obsessives were quite annoying】

【Always challenging people everywhere—don't others have proper work to do? Don't they need to go to work? Such a waste of others' time】

【You sized up Ge Banqing: "I can accept your challenge anytime, but I won't play restraint games with you. One of us must die—guess who it will be?"】

【Ge Banqing's eyelids twitched, then he said with firm resolve: "Palace Leader Shangguan, I understand!"】

【You waved your hand, dismissing him】

【Ge Banqing flew away, looking back every few steps】

【You waited alone at sea for another ten-plus days】

【During this time, gradually no more Ultimate Grandmasters came to covet this Earth Source】

【Because those Ultimate Grandmasters you drove away spread the word about your presence here, and your fearsome reputation was currently at its peak in the martial world】

【They knew that daring to compete with you for the Earth Source might offer a slim chance of success, but absolutely no chance of survival】

【Some thick-skinned Ultimate Grandmasters returned and claimed they had battled you fiercely, only narrowly losing in the final move before reluctantly withdrawing】

【You couldn't really fault this explanation, since you had indeed only struck once】

【During these many days at sea, you weren't bored alone because your spatial storage was like Doraemon's pocket—it contained everything】

【You pulled out a large ship and placed it on the sea】

【During the day, you sat on the gunwale, fishing while enjoying the sea breeze】

【At night, you prepared a candlelit dinner, relaxing with cocktails you mixed yourself】

【The cocktails you mixed tasted quite good, though the chicken tail in the drink was a bit fishy, so you threw it away uneaten】

【On this day, as you were sunbathing with your belly exposed, the energy about a mile east of Sea Snake Island suddenly shifted dramatically】

【You bolted upright: "It's coming!"】

【You shot skyward, almost instantly hovering above where the Earth Source was about to appear】

【You secretly felt relieved that this Earth Source hadn't appeared inside that turtle-shell barrier, otherwise this trip would have been wasted】

【With a thought, the Earth Source suddenly appeared in your spatial storage】

【The snow-white mist-like Earth Source swayed gracefully, as if awaiting your exploration】

【You focused your spirit and directly probed into the spatial storage】

【The Earth Source also shed its hazy exterior, revealing its essence】

【When you saw this Earth Source, you immediately grew excited—this was exactly the Dry Metal affinity Earth Source you needed most】

【And it was ranked fourth among Dry Metal affinities: "Mountain-Cleaving Sword"】

【You were utterly delighted: "Marvelous! My luck is truly unmatched—whatever I wish for comes true! Thank heavens, thank earth, thank my author's arrangement!"】

【Having already fused with two Earth Sources, you were now invincible in the world】

【If you fused with a third Earth Source, you'd be doubly invincible, which sounded absolutely extraordinary】

【You grew increasingly excited about what heights you might reach after fusing nine, or even ten Earth Sources—that turtle-shell barrier would definitely be torn down by your brute force】

【The Mountain-Cleaving Sword Earth Source showed an image: a swordsman with his back to the viewer, casually cleaving a towering mountain with a single sword strike, demonstrating terrifying power】

【You immediately recalled the doubt you had when previously receiving information about all Earth Sources, particularly regarding the top four Dry Metal affinity Earth Sources】

【These three Earth Sources each showed only an image, all featuring the same swordsman delivering a terrifyingly powerful sword strike】

【As for the top-ranked Dry Metal affinity Earth Source, it was the sword in that swordsman's hand that made cameo appearances in all three images: the Mystical Sky Sword】

【You carefully observed the Mountain-Cleaving Sword Earth Source in your spatial storage, and as you looked, you suddenly made a soft sound of surprise】

【"Holy crap! Why does this swordsman in the image seem somewhat familiar?!"】

【You quickly mentally reviewed all sword-wielding acquaintances—the most formidable being Lin Jingzhi and Li Anlong—but neither matched】

【The clothing style of this swordsman in the image wasn't contemporary either】

【Comparing with Great Qian cultural texts you'd read, judging by the clothing style, this swordsman was active at least a thousand years ago】

【You grew increasingly puzzled: "Why would someone from a thousand years ago feel familiar to me?"】

【You pondered for two seconds】

【Suddenly, inspiration struck: "The Book of Years!"】

【You suddenly remembered someone you'd seen in the Book of Years】

【Though not an Ultimate Grandmaster, that person could effortlessly spar with a Great Qian Emperor who was an Ultimate Grandmaster】

【It was clear that person's strength significantly surpassed that Ultimate Grandmaster Emperor's】

【You took out the Book of Years and quickly accessed its memories】

【Then you carefully compared the swordsman's silhouette with that person's figure and posture from the Book of Years】

【That swordsman wasn't even an Ultimate Grandmaster yet could steadily suppress one, making you dare not imagine what heights he might reach if he became an Ultimate Grandmaster】

【"Wait!" you suddenly realized, "With that swordsman's strength, obtaining an Earth Source should have been easy. Why didn't he choose to fuse with an Earth Source and become an Ultimate Grandmaster?"】