Sword Soul
Ding! Mission "Vindication" completed. Mission objective: Preserve Liu Rufang's position as the Azure Sword Sect Master. Reward: 12 million Experience Points and 1 copy of "Southern Departure Finger".
As Zhuge Xiang sat cross-legged, meditating and regulating his breath, Mechanical System Prompt, reminding him that Liu Rufang had successfully stabilized the Human Heart of the Azure Sword Sect. That made sense; with the Great Elder dead, Liu Rufang was the only one in the Azure Sword Sect with the cultivation of the Divine Ability Stage. It would be an easy matter for her to regain her Sect Master Position.
"Ding! Level up, gained 1 Skill Point, current cultivation level is Level 1 of the Spell Control Stage".
As the mission completion notification appeared, a warm current swept through Zhuge Xiang's body, and his cultivation officially broke through the Divine Ability Stage, entering the Spell Control Stage Realm. With this small realm advancement, Zhuge Xiang could sense that the Heaven and Earth Vital Energy had become different in his eyes...
The Flame red of fire, the gentle, nourishing water, the raging, domineering Lightning...
Cultivator at the Divine Ability Stage, having initially reached the stage of Refining Qi to Spirit, experiences a significant increase in Divine Sense. Although they can mobilize the Heaven and Earth Vital Energy for their own use, they merely absorb it indiscriminately.
However, once one reaches the level of the Spell Control Stage, Divine Sense becomes powerful enough to perceive the essence of the Heaven and Earth Vital Energy in minute detail. Thus, by simply mobilizing one of these elements, one can achieve twice the result with half the effort and form a more powerful Spell.
A breakthrough in cultivation is something to celebrate. Having survived the Heavenly Tribulation, one's cultivation had already reached the Tenth Layer of the Divine Ability Stage. Now, it has risen even higher, reaching the first level of the Spell Control Stage, enough to unleash the Spell of Heaven and Earth and earth. Only then can one truly be considered to have entered the hall of cultivation, able to command the wind and rain...
Southern Departure Finger (Beginner's Guide): A fire Spell that gathers Southern Departure Fire between the fingers and shoots it out. It has Penetrating Power and inflicts a 'burn' effect, causing the target's HP to be reduced by 50% of the caster's attack per second for 10 seconds. It costs 800 MP and has a 20-second cooldown.
Zhuge Xiang allocated a Skill Point to the Southern Departure Finger. Looking at its information, he was quite satisfied. Although the Southern Departure Finger Spell didn't increase attack power, it could inflict continuous damage on the opponent, equivalent to five of his normal attacks.
Looking at it, I realized that since breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage, I had hardly used any of my more than 10 Skill Point, and had directly stacked the Southern Departure Finger to the highest level of Perfection Level.
Southern Departure Finger (Perfection Level): A fire-based Spell gathers Southern Departure Fire between the fingers, condenses it, and shoots it out with Penetrating Power, inflicting a 'burn' effect. The target's HP is reduced by an amount equal to 120% of the caster's attack per second for 10 seconds. Consumes 1500 MP, with a 20-second cooldown.
The Southern Departure Finger, now at its peak of Perfection Level, was indeed different; its attack power had soared several levels. With a thought, Zhuge Xiang sat cross-legged on the bed, raised two fingers together, and a wisp of condensed crimson Flame burned between his fingers. The concentrated Flame appeared, but the temperature in the room did not rise. This showed that Zhuge Xiang's control over the Southern Departure Finger had reached the point of perfect harmony.
All things considered, although he has only just reached the Spell Control Stage, he already has three Spell Skill: the lightning Spell Palm Thunder, the Earth Spell Triple Rock Collapse Technique, and the fire Spell Southern Departure Finger.
"Young Master Zhuge, the Sect Master requests your presence in the Great Hall," came the voice of Azure Sword Sect disciples from outside the door as dawn broke in the east.
"Okay..." Zhuge Xiang replied upon hearing this, and stood up.
Just then, Su Huayu was also woken up. Led by the Azure Sword Sect disciples, the two of them arrived together at the Great Hall of the Azure Sword Sect. In the Sect Master Position, Liu Rufang was dressed in a blue dress and did indeed have the air of a sect Sect Master respect without anger.
"Young Master Zhuge, you first rescued me from the Beast Taming Sect's dire straits, and then helped me Vindication. Your kindness to me, Liu Rufang, and to my Azure Sword Sect is immense, and we, the entire Azure Sword Sect, are eternally grateful," Liu Rufang said solemnly as she saw Zhuge Xiang arrive, standing up and bowing respectfully to him. Her usually icy voice had somehow gained a touch of approachability.
"Not at all. I said I wanted to join the Azure Sword Sect, so I'm practically one of them. Sect Master, there's no need for such formalities," Zhuge Xiang said, returning the greeting in front of all the disciples of the Azure Sword Sect, since Liu Rufang was the Sect Master.
Zhuge Xiang had already told Liu Rufang his reasons for wanting to join the Azure Sword Sect. Nodding, Liu Rufang solemnly extended an invitation to Zhuge Xiang, saying, "Liu Rufang, the Azure Sword Sect Master, formally invites Young Master Zhuge to serve as the Great Elder of the Azure Sword Sect. I wonder if you would be willing?"
"It's an honor..." Zhuge Xiang replied with a smile. Although Azure Sword Sect was only a Small Sect, having such a formal identity as Canghai Commandery made it perfectly legitimate for them to participate in the Dragon Phoenix Ranking.
"The Great Elder has rendered great service to our Azure Sword Sect, and now he is one of our own. The entire sect has no way to repay him. I see that the Great Elder is also Sword Dao Cultivator, so I have made a special permission for him to enter the Sword Tomb for one day to comprehend the Sword Intent," Liu Rufang nodded as she saw Zhuge Xiang agree, and then spoke.
"Sect Master!"
As soon as Liu Rufang finished speaking, the other high-ranking officials in the Great Hall who had remained silent couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.
Even Hua Lingsha's expression changed drastically, and she exclaimed in a low voice, "Sect Master, the Sword Tomb is the place where our Azure Sword Sect's Nascent Deity Transformation stage predecessors have passed away. No one except the Sect Master is qualified to enter. You..."
Before Hua Lingsha could finish speaking, Liu Rufang raised her hand to stop her from saying anything more, and said, "Although my Azure Sword Sect is gradually declining, we dare not forget our Sect's principles. Cultivators should always have a clear conscience, repay kindness with kindness, and avenge wrongs with wrongs. Only by having a clear mind can one maintain a stable peak. Young Master Zhuge has shown great kindness to my Azure Sword Sect, which we have no way to repay except with the Sword Tomb. We hope that Young Master Zhuge will not refuse it."
Refuse? How could he? Although he didn't know what was going on with this Sword Tomb, it was obviously beneficial. With an opportunity to improve his strength right in front of him, Zhuge Xiang would never refuse, so he naturally nodded happily in agreement.
"Alright, Young Master Zhuge, come with me." Seeing that Zhuge Xiang agreed, Liu Rufang set off, taking Zhuge Xiang with her. They flew on their swords towards the back Back Mountain Azure Sword Sect. Zhuge Xiang followed, and in a short while, they arrived at the Sword Tomb on the Back Mountain.
The stone gate, covered with Runes, slowly opened at the command of Liu Rufang, the Sect Master. Even before the gate was fully open, an incomparably sharp Sword Intent poured out from the cracks in the gate. The terrifying Sword Qi, like a storm, caused the Sword Intent within Zhuge Xiang's body to automatically emerge.
At the same time, Liu Rufang also unleashed her own Sword Intent. Only when they got closer did Zhuge Xiang realize that Liu Rufang's Sword Intent had reached a terrifying level of 70%, which was 20% higher than that of the Great Elder of the Spell Control Stage.
Unleashing their own Sword Intent, Liu Rufang and Zhuge Xiang, braving the surging and sharp Sword Intent, lifted their feet and stepped into the Sword Tomb. The Sword Tomb of the Azure Sword Sect was finally fully revealed to Zhuge Xiang.
There were hundreds of Lone Grave, none of them marked with tombstones. Instead, a sword was stuck in front of each grave. Some of these swords were rusty and looked like ordinary iron, while others were still as clear as autumn water, radiating a sharp Sword Light. A fierce Sword Intent emanated from these hundreds of swords.
"The Sword Tomb is the burial place of all the Nascent Deity Transformation stage predecessors of my Azure Sword Sect who have passed away. Their remains and their swords will all be buried in this Sword Tomb. Although the Artifact Spirit of the longswords are asleep, the Cultivator's obsessions and Sword Intent still remain. Over time, these swords gather together and can transform into powerful Sword Intent, tempering the will of the Sword Cultivator."
Liu Rufang began to explain the Secret History of the Sword Tomb to Zhuge Xiang. As she spoke, Liu Rufang walked to a new grave, knelt down, and remained silent.
Zhuge Xiang looked at it and saw that this new grave was the newest one besides the Great Elder he had killed. It was obviously the grave of Liu Rufang's Master, the previous Sect Master of the Azure Sword Sect.
The Great Elder, whom he had killed last night, was also buried in this Sword Tomb overnight. Zhuge Xiang recognized that sword.
"This Azure Sword Sect actually has such a wonderful place..." Closing his eyes, Zhuge Xiang couldn't hide his joy as he sensed the Sword Intent emanating from the Sword Tomb. Within the Sword Tomb, Zhuge Xiang could feel his Sword Tomb Sword Intent becoming increasingly solid under the tempering of hundreds of Sword Intent, some strong and some weak.
"Ding! Entering Special Zone. Weapon Intent Sword Intent State enhanced..."
The system notification sounded in Zhuge Xiang's mind. Hearing this, Zhuge Xiang was secretly delighted. Although it only enhanced his Sword Intent, not his entire Weapon Intent, it was already quite good. Perfection Level Zhuge Xiang's Sword Intent Weapon Intent reached the pinnacle of perfection. What level would he reach if he improved it further?
Liu Rufang simply paid her respects to her Master, and seeing that Zhuge Xiang was completely immersed in the way of Sword Dao, she left quietly without disturbing him.
Zhuge Xiang sat cross-legged, his Sword Intent flickering faintly. Yet, under the tempering of this Sword Tomb, Zhuge Xiang's Sword Intent not only failed to improve, but actually grew weaker.
No, if you pay close attention, it's not that it's become weaker, but rather that it has become more reserved...
Sword Intent is the manifestation of the unity between one's own Divine Sense and the sword in one's hand, reaching a Profound Mysteries realm. And now, Zhuge Xiang can feel that the connection between his soul and the sword has become more condensed, clearer, and perfectly integrated...
This feeling is like stepping from the Divine Power Divine Ability Stage to the Spell Control Stage. The Divine Ability Stage can only roughly mobilize the Heaven and Earth Vital Energy for one's own use, while the Spell Control Stage can deeply understand the differences in the Heaven and Earth Vital Energy, thus forming various kinds of Spell attacks.
"Ding! Sword Intent breaks through, entering the Sword Soul Realm."
He didn't know how much time had passed when a Mechanical System Prompt suddenly startled Zhuge Xiang awake. Immediately, it was as if a thunderclap had struck deep within Zhuge Xiang's mind, as if a Profound Mysteries and profound door had been broken through. At that moment, Zhuge Xiang's Divine Sense underwent a fundamental change.
Divine Sense is nothing more than Divine Sense. But now, Zhuge Xiang can feel his Sword Intent completely integrated into his Divine Sense, as if his Divine Sense itself had become an unparalleled sword.
Sword Soul, its wisdom as sharp as a sword, impervious to all Heart Demon and inner demons with Sword Slash. Opening his eyes, Zhuge Xiang could not hide his joy. The power of the Sword Soul was far stronger than Sword Intent. Focusing his attention on the state of Weapon Intent, the information displayed by this Skill had undergone a complete transformation. (To be continued...)