Shushan, Purple Cloud Peak, Canxia Temple.
"A tenth-order flying sword?" True Lord Minghua, the master of Purple Cloud Peak, furrowed his brow and fell into thought.
He was a high-ranking Nascent Soul Realm elder of Shushan, a stern, imposing man in his forties. Dressed in a plain robe and tall crown, with wide sleeves and a broad sash, he sat cross-legged atop a lotus dais, listening as the male and female disciples below described what had happened at the sword pool that day.
"The flying sword was three feet and six inches long, entirely black, with what looked like a black lotus at the guard," the male disciple said. "But with the Grass Cutting Sword Immortal there, we didn't dare get close to look. We waited until they left, then came straight to report to you, Master."
"Entirely black, with a blue-green lotus..." True Lord Minghua mused. "Could it be the Qingping Sword?"
"No, that can't be. The Qingping Sword was shattered by the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree during the ancient War of the Chan and Jie Sects. It lost all its spiritual nature."
"Perhaps it was reforged in its likeness, or perhaps it's another sword with a similar appearance. Since it caused the Astonishing Pool phenomenon and drew the swords into a circling formation around it, it must surely be a tenth-order Immortal Sword."
"If True Lord Qisha, Su Jian, were still around, I wouldn't dare provoke him in the slightest. But Su Jian has been in seclusion for a long time. I expect he's more likely dead than alive. An Zhisu already has Shuangjiang as her Destiny Sword Artifact. This sword must have been prepared for her junior brother."
"But Ling Yunpo is only at the Qi Refining Stage. He hasn't reached the Marrow Cleansing Stage, so he can't use the Nourish Sword with Body method. Naturally, he couldn't immediately refine that Immortal Sword into a Destiny Sword Artifact, either."
After considering this, True Lord Minghua felt he had thought the matter through and looked up at the disciples again.
When they saw their master raise his head to survey them, the disciples in the hall grew excited.
Was he going to seize the sword?
It was a tenth-order Immortal Sword! A tenth-order Immortal Sword whose forging method had been lost, leaving only those from ancient times to seek out!
A tenth-order Immortal Sword whose full might could be brought to bear by anyone, whether at Foundation Establishment, the Golden Core Realm, or the Nascent Soul Realm—even after becoming an immortal!
"Lou Zhizheng," True Lord Minghua suddenly called.
Among the disciples, a short, plump boy who had only recently joined the sect hurried out. His face was alight with joy.
"This disciple is here."
"I was watching you just now. Did you have something to say?" True Lord Minghua asked unhurriedly.
Lou Zhizheng's thoughts raced, and he spoke at once.
"True Lord Qisha is in seclusion, and Green Snail Peak has only two people left. How could they possibly deserve a tenth-order Immortal Sword? Since ancient times, treasures have belonged to those of virtue..."
"Preposterous," True Lord Minghua said coolly. "You're all disciples of Shushan's peaks. How can you scheme for another's sword? Think again!"
Lou Zhizheng broke into a cold sweat. It was a long while before he managed to say, "This disciple... this disciple wants to challenge Green Snail Peak to a sword contest! Yes, I want to test my swordsmanship against theirs!"
"Against whom?" True Lord Minghua raised his gaze. "An Zhisu?"
"N-no, naturally against Ling Yunpo!" Lou Zhizheng's heart settled at the suggestion. Inspiration flowed like a spring, and he chuckled. "This disciple is at the Qi Refining Stage, and so is Ling Yunpo. It's in accordance with Shushan's rules for sword contests."
"If I initiate the challenge and Ling Yunpo refuses, sect rules require him to pay spirit stones. If, for some reason—heh—Green Snail Peak can't afford the spirit stones, they can use the Immortal Sword as payment instead. Our Purple Cloud Peak is willing to buy it, with the price adjusted accordingly."
"And what if Ling Yunpo accepts the challenge?" True Lord Minghua continued.
"Then I ask Master to intervene!" Lou Zhizheng said with a smirk. "Once the challenge is approved, please bestow pills upon me to help me ascend the heavenly ladder and reach the Marrow Cleansing Stage!"
"A Marrow Cleansing cultivator against someone at the Qi Refining Stage—Ling Yunpo won't stand a chance. Green Snail Peak has only those two people. How could An Zhisu bear to let her only junior brother die? Heh. I'll make her offer up that Immortal Sword with both hands!"
The disciples around them wore complicated expressions.
On one hand, they felt the plan really could work. Shushan encouraged its Sword Immortals to fight one another, and challenges between cultivators of the same realm were permitted, so Lou Zhizheng's scheme was entirely within the rules.
On the other hand, they thought it was truly underhanded of him to come up with such a vicious plan on the spur of the moment, relying on strength to bully the weak.
First, he would scheme to leave Green Snail Peak short of spirit stones, then deliberately challenge them. That was bullying the weak.
He could have fought a fair sword contest, but instead he wanted his master to force him up to the Marrow Cleansing Stage. That was abusing his strength.
This junior brother was so malicious. They'd all better watch out for him from now on.
Oblivious to the wariness of his senior brothers and sisters, Lou Zhizheng continued to bow low.
"This matter needs careful planning. Please let me take charge of the whole affair. Once I get the Immortal Sword, I'll come back and offer it to you, Master."
True Lord Minghua sat atop the lotus dais and remained silent for a long time.
At last, he waved a hand casually, giving his approval.
On Green Snail Peak.
Ling Yunpo and An Zhisu spent a long time poring over the old books left behind by their master, Su Jian, but still couldn't determine the origins of the entirely black flying sword.
Only one old book mentioned the "Qingping Sword," whose description seemed quite similar to the flying sword's appearance.
However, the Qingping Sword had been shattered by the Seven Treasures Wonderful Tree near the end of the ancient War of the Chan and Jie Sects.
In other words, the flying sword might have been reforged from the shattered Qingping Sword, or it might have been modeled after it. Its specific properties and characteristics couldn't be determined.
For now, all they could do was wait until Ling Yunpo reached the Marrow Cleansing Stage, then Nourish Sword with Body and refine it into a Destiny Sword Artifact. After that, he could use his spiritual sense to examine it from within.
But back to the main point: now that he had a flying sword, An Zhisu began teaching him the Shushan Sword Control Technique.
Ling Yunpo discovered that the Kunlun Sword Control Art and the Shushan Sword Control Art were like the Qi Sect and Sword Sect of the Huashan Sect.
The Kunlun Sword Control Art followed a bold, straightforward path. That was because the Kunlun Sect revered the Qi Refining Technique above all else, believing that the key to sword control was one's cultivation realm.
As long as your cultivation overwhelmed your opponent, you could "break ten techniques with one force"—whatever you fought, it was like beating up on a novice.
By contrast, the general principles of the Shushan Sword Control Technique embraced myriad forms and endless variation, emphasizing victory over stronger foes.
Building on those principles, each peak had developed its own style of swordsmanship.
Green Snail Peak carried on the legacy of True Lord Qisha, Su Jian: the Shushan Qisha Sword Art.
"The Qisha Sword Art begins with attacking the body." An Zhisu formed a sword gesture, drew out her Shuangjiang flying sword, and recited the mental mantra. "With control, it's a partial officer; without control, it's Seven Killings. The two yangs overcome each other, and the two yins overcome each other. Seven places apart, they battle and overcome one another. If there are killings, discuss the killings first; if there are none, then discuss their use."
Ling Yunpo nodded repeatedly, making it clear he hadn't understood a word.
An Zhisu smiled faintly and explained.
"The Qisha Sword Art focuses on striking before the enemy can act, suppressing them and never letting them suppress you."
"Its style is like two people meeting on a narrow road: the moment you draw your blade, blood must be spilled. Give your enemy no chance to catch their breath."
"Its approach is to attack first, too. If you can kill them outright, don't bother restraining them. If you can restrain them, don't bother defending."
Ling Yunpo: ...
So this was why Senior Sister's killing intent ran so deep, why she was always ready to sever limbs, pierce chests, and split bellies open. It was all because she practiced the Qisha Sword Art!
Judging by that, my master, who's been in death-seclusion, was the founder of the Qisha Sword Art and the master of Green Snail Peak, True Lord Qisha, Su Jian. He probably wasn't an easy man to deal with, either!
Before you continue