Sect Guide

Cloud banks slid past the mountain peaks.

The Spiritual Power in her body still seemed to retain the scorching heat brought on by the hundred steps of rosy light as she climbed the Dao Seeking Ladder.

The words "Qi Refining Great Perfection" kept burning in her heart.

It was as though she could hear the Artifact Refining Pavilion disciples whispering again. Their voices buzzed in her ears like flies.

"She has to cultivate the Sword Refining Art!"

"Don't worry. Leave it to me..."

In her mind, the immortal sword called "Selfless" flashed past, its blade reflecting the despairing profile of her own face.

She couldn't panic.

She absolutely couldn't let them know she'd heard.

Otherwise, the consequences...

Su Ling'er lowered her eyelids, concealing all her emotions, then put on the dazed, helpless expression of someone utterly exhausted.

She had already been teleported to the foot of the Dao Seeking Ladder.

Thud.

Thud.

Thud.

Steady footsteps drew closer. Lin Qingfeng stopped in front of her.

His tall figure completely enveloped her in shadow.

Backlit, Senior Disciple Brother's face was difficult to make out. Though he wore a kindly smile, a chill ran through her at the coldness beneath it.

"Little Junior Sister, congratulations."

"To climb a hundred steps shows that your Dao heart is extraordinary. This is truly cause for celebration."

Su Ling'er looked up and replied haltingly, "Yes... Thank you, Senior Disciple Brother."

Lin Qingfeng suddenly asked,

"What did you see on the Dao Seeking Ladder just now?"

"What held your heart demons in thrall? I can offer you some advice."

Su Ling'er's heart gave a sudden leap.

"I... I just faced my past obsessions and some terrifying illusions all by myself."

Seeing that his little junior sister didn't want to say more, Lin Qingfeng didn't press the matter.

After all, heart demons... Well, you know how it is...

"To glimpse the hundredth step's illusion without becoming ensnared by it shows that your Dao heart is clear.

"To cut off the thoughts of the past shows that your will is resolute.

"With such astonishing willpower, wouldn't it be a terrible waste not to match it with an unparalleled cultivation art?!"

She looked up, showing just the right amount of confusion and hesitation.

"Senior Disciple Brother, you mean..."

Lin Qingfeng thought it over. His little junior sister had been resistant to the Sword Refining Art before, so he decided not to say it outright.

He'd take her to the Sword Mound to finish the task. Besides, there was a good show waiting for her there!

"Before that, I still need to take you somewhere."

"There's a place within the sect called the Sword Mound. It's where sword cultivators of past generations passed away, and where the sword path of our Gui Xi Sect has been passed down."

With his hands behind his back, Lin Qingfeng once more looked every bit the venerable master imparting the Dao.

"Your roots may be poor, and you may have a Pseudo Spiritual Root, but your Dao heart is firm, and your will is truly commendable."

"Come with me. You should experience the path of the sword cultivator and see where it leads."

He gave her no chance to refuse. The atmosphere he created didn't even let her feel inclined to refuse.

It was the compassion of "I have your best interests at heart," and the resolve of "this is your only way out."

In this situation, what else could Su Ling'er say?

She could only go along with it and nod to Senior Disciple Brother.

"Yes, Senior Disciple Brother."

Keep acting. Go on, keep acting.

If it really comes down to having no choice but to cultivate the Sword Refining Art...

Then...

Then...

Then I'll just take it one step at a time!

The Sword Mound.

When Su Ling'er followed Lin Qingfeng into the area, she was stunned by the sights around her.

Qing Xu Temple had no such heritage. She'd only ever heard of things like this in storybooks.

There was none of the bloodshed or resentment she'd imagined.

Countless broken, ancient, and rusted swords stood embedded among the gray stones, forming an ancient forest made of sword hilts.

The surroundings were utterly silent. The countless swords made no sound, yet an invisible sword intent seemed to permeate the air.

A killing aura. Solemnity. Even the weight of a pilgrimage.

Could this... be an important place for the Gui Xi Sect?

A place these demonic cultivators took seriously?

Su Ling'er's thoughts raced.

The Dao Seeking Ladder tested the heart, letting her see her own path and strengthen her Dao.

Then what about the Sword Mound...

Was it meant to let her choose a weapon that suited her?

Could she finally stop using that wooden sword?

Or...

Was this place not really a burial ground for sword cultivators?

Was it actually filled with countless victims like her, forced to cultivate the Sword Refining Art, turned into human-shaped flying swords, and discarded once they'd outlived their usefulness?

Did an unwilling soul lie beneath every sword?

The moment the thought occurred to her, a chill rose from deep within as she looked out over the forest of swords.

"This is where swords find their final rest."

Lin Qingfeng's voice drifted over from beside her.

He stood before the forest of swords with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the countless broken weapons. In truth, he was reading the information panel for the sect's Sword Mound territory, visible only to players.

"Three hundred meters to the left is the 'Fearless Zone.'"

"The swords here all saw a hundred battles. Their masters were brave warriors who charged into the fray. Their sword intent knows only attack, never defense—forward without hesitation."

As he spoke, he began to walk.

Su Ling'er couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.

"Fearless"? Doesn't that mean using the disciples as cannon fodder?

They turn the most defiant disciples into flying swords, bind their souls, and call it "forward without hesitation"!

"Five hundred meters ahead is the 'Unedged Zone.'"

"The swords here embody the greatest skill in the simplest forms. Their masters were all sect guardians. They sought not to kill, but to protect. Their sword intent is weighty and unshakable."

Su Ling'er's imagination ran wild again.

They turned the tough, thick-skinned disciples into shield swords, just to block attacks, didn't they?

"Unshakable," indeed. They use them and throw them away, saving even the spirit stones they'd need for repairs. This really is a demonic sect!

Lin Qingfeng finally stopped in the most desolate part of the area.

Most of the swords here were as bright as new, yet lifeless.

"Those who come here are all peerless geniuses of the sword path."

"Unfortunately, they were ensnared by love, their Dao hearts clouded. In the end, their swords broke and they perished."

"Since ancient times, love has brought only sorrow; this sorrow goes on without end."

Su Ling'er understood!

She understood again and again and again!

The Fearless Zone was for cannon fodder.

The Unedged Zone was for meat shields.

And this Heartless Zone must be where they buried the geniuses who discovered the sect's true nature and tried to resist, only to be mercilessly killed!

First, they lured them with benefits. Then they tortured them into swords!

And in the end, they even dressed up the victims' desire to resist as lovesickness, using it to warn those who came after them at the Sword Mound!

While Su Ling'er's imagination continued to fill in the terrifying truth about this demonic sect, Lin Qingfeng led her through the final area.

Just as he was about to offer a few words of summary and burnish the sect's image, a game notification suddenly rang in his ears:

[Welcome Mission: Sect Guide (Completed)]

[Mission Rating: A (Though the process was full of twists and turns and the target NPC's mental state was extremely unstable, she has developed some interest in the sect. Contribution mission completed!)]

[Mission Rewards: Sect Contribution Points +500, Spirit Stones +750, Cultivation +5000, Sword Control Art upgraded to Grandmaster level, Sword Mound ancient sword "Unnamed" attunement x1]

At that moment, Lin Qingfeng couldn't care less about looking like a venerable master. Seeing the generous rewards, he immediately clicked [Claim].

The next instant.

BOOM—!!!