Sword Tomb

In the mountains, there is no concept of time; in cultivation, years pass like a blink.

Ever since he was accepted as an official disciple, Li Gan's cultivation life had returned to a state of tranquility.

It was as if the previous troubles had never existed at all.

Li Gan gradually put the matter behind him.

He did not go to find Song Yingying to ask why she had leaked the secret.

Come to think of it, the two of them had only met once. Aside from the connection through Elder Song, they had no real ties to one another.

She had her own path to walk, and he had his own way to follow.

Dong!

A clear, resonant bell toll echoed through the mountain forest, shattering the silence of the Divine Sword Sect.

It signaled the start of a new day.

Yet, immediately after striking the Chen Bell, Li Gan assumed his stance to practice the Heartless Sword Technique, his potent Internal Qi circulating under the guidance of his internal cultivation technique.

A startling, sharp aura permeated the air, slicing through it. As he practiced, streaks of sword qi swirled and darted around him until, in the end, only the sword qi could be seen, not the man.

Only the sound of the sword whistling remained, ringing out across the Bell Tower.

A long while later, Li Gan suddenly sheathed his sword, yet the invisible sword momentum lingered for a long time.

Calming the boiling Internal Qi within his body, he let out a long breath. His eyes shone with a brilliant, sharp, and spirited light.

Suddenly, a thought stirred in his mind, and he summoned the system interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Gan.
Cultivation Base: Postnatal Realm (Fifth Layer 9/100).
Sacrificial Vessel: Chen Bell (Treasure 993/1000).
Martial Arts: Sword Piercing Fist (Perfected), Heartless Sword Art (Minor Achievement 23/100).

In seven more days, the Chen Bell would be able to upgrade again.

His cultivation base had already reached the fifth layer of the Postnatal Realm.

Such a speed could hardly be considered slow.

After all, in half a year, he had risen from the second layer of the Postnatal Realm to the fifth, an improvement of three full minor levels.

All of this was naturally aided by the Blood Vitality Pills, Spirit Nourishing Pills, and the Exotic Beast Jerky, while the effect of the bell tolls was also indispensable.

Furthermore, the Heartless Sword Art had also reached the Minor Accomplishment stage.

Even so, his current progress in Cultivation Base only allowed for an increase of one point every two days, while the Minor Accomplishment stage of the Heartless Sword Art required three days to gain a single point.

Once the Chen Bell upgrades, subsequent cultivation should become much easier.

Li Gan felt immense anticipation.

Time really flies.

He had been in the Divine Sword Sect for over three years now.

In the afternoon.

Li Gan was working in the fields.

Suddenly, Chen Yong came sprinting over, carrying two buckets of night soil.

"Brother Gan, I don't think I'll be able to bring you night soil anymore in the future."

After pouring the two buckets of night soil into the pit, Chen Yong spoke up suddenly.

"Oh? Did you manage to get that job transfer sorted out?"

Li Gan was not surprised and asked with a smile.

"It's settled. I've been assigned to the Gengluo Room," Chen Yong said.

Compared to the Night Fragrance Room, the Gengluo Room was slightly better; the only issue was that it required working through the night.

Chen Yong had been a Menial Disciple for three years now. He was no longer a newcomer and was eligible to switch to a better job.

After all, the Divine Sword Sect took in a new batch of Menial Disciples every year.

"Brother Gan, the Combat Ranking List is starting again soon. Do you plan on participating?" Chen Yong asked again.

"It's too much trouble. I won't be participating."

Li Gan shook his head.

He had not told Chen Yong about becoming an Official Disciple.

Come to think of it, Chen Yong was a friend he had a fairly good relationship with in the Divine Sword Sect.

"I still plan on participating this year. Besides, quite a few of the old Menial Disciples have left over the past two years—even Senior Brother Zhang Mingcan and Yi Zhong have left. The Combat Ranking List should be a bit easier this year."

Chen Yong said, eager to give it a try.

He had worked incredibly hard over the past three years and believed his Cultivation Base and strength had improved significantly. He was desperate to make a name for himself on the Combat Ranking List.

"Then I wish you success in making a name for yourself on the Combat Ranking List."

Li Gan said with a smile.

"I will definitely do it."

Chen Yong said, his face full of determination.

He did not want to end up like Zhang Mingcan and Yi Zhong, leaving the Divine Sword Sect in disgrace.

In truth, he was very puzzled. After Yi Zhong had taken first place on the Combat Ranking List and still had hopes of becoming an Official Disciple, why had he suddenly left the Divine Sword Sect?

As for Zhang Mingcan, his situation was normal; he had been first on the Combat Ranking List for two consecutive years, only to lose it in the third. He basically had no hope left.

A person's peak period is limited. Rather than wasting three years in the Divine Sword Sect, it was better to head down the mountain and strive for success in the secular world.

This was the tragedy of being a Menial Disciple.

Evening.

Li Gan arrived at the wooden cabin in the valley.

He did not return every day now.

Generally, he came once every three to five days.

"Do you remember the Sword Tomb I mentioned to you last time?"

Zhou Buping said.

"Disciple remembers. Only those who are True Disciples are qualified to enter. Furthermore, every True Disciple only has one chance in their lifetime to enter, where they can perceive the Sword Intent Imprints left behind by the predecessors of the Divine Sword Sect and have the chance to have a divine sword acknowledge them as its master."

Li Gan nodded and said.

"Originally, only True Disciples were qualified to enter. This time, the higher-ups of the sect decided to relax the conditions, allowing Official Disciples who have never entered before to also have one chance to enter."

Zhou Buping said, "Of course, this is limited to this time only."

"Master, do you intend for me to enter the Sword Tomb this time?"

Li Gan asked.

"Under normal circumstances, the deeper one's comprehension of the Sword Dao, the better, so that one will not become trapped within the Sword Intent Imprints of the predecessors while perceiving them."

Zhou Buping said, "After all, the paths of those who came before are not necessarily the most suitable for oneself. Combining the paths of predecessors with one's own insights to forge a path that belongs to oneself is the best way. Therefore, how you choose is up to you to decide."

Li Gan understood his master's meaning.

This year's situation was special, allowing even Official Disciples to enter the Sword Tomb.

Once this opportunity was missed, one would have to become a True Disciple in the future to be eligible to enter.

Unless one had absolute confidence in becoming a True Disciple later on, choosing to enter this time was the wisest decision.

"Master, if I have already comprehended Sword Intent, is there still a need to enter the Sword Tomb?"

Li Gan asked.

"Hahaha, of course there is a need! Comprehending Sword Intent is merely stepping onto one's own path of martial arts. Only by experiencing hardships and feeling a myriad of Sword Intents—and even the Will of Martial Arts—can one walk further and higher. Furthermore, the Sword Tomb contains not just the Sword Intent left behind by our predecessors, but also powerful swords. For us sword cultivators, a powerful sword is also of vital importance."

Zhou Buping laughed heartily.

"Master, I once read a book that recorded a powerful swordsman. He said his first sword was a gleaming sharp blade, fierce and unstoppable, which he used to contend with heroes before the age of twenty. His second was a soft sword, used before the age of thirty; because it accidentally wounded a righteous man, he felt deep regret and discarded it. His third was a Black Iron Heavy Sword; heavy and without an edge, it relied on great skill rather than sharpness, and he used it to roam the world before the age of forty. His fourth was a decayed wooden sword; after forty, he was no longer constrained by objects, and grass, trees, bamboo, or stones could all serve as swords. I wonder if this is true?"

Li Gan said.

This was actually something mentioned in a martial arts novel from his past life.

He asked it now because he wanted to know if the Sword Dao of this world, at its highest levels, could also reach a state where all things could serve as a sword.

"Not constrained by objects, where grass, trees, bamboo, or stones can all serve as swords... Such a Sword Dao is miraculous. Even I have only heard of it; I have never seen it."

Zhou Buping shook his head and said.

Li Gan understood.

When one's Cultivation Base is high enough, whether or not one has a sword is unimportant.

But for the present, a powerful sword was absolutely the top priority.

"Master, I will wait until I have the opportunity to become a True Disciple in the future before entering the Sword Tomb."

Li Gan said.

His Heartless Sword Art was only at the minor success stage, and he was still a long way from comprehending Sword Intent.

Entering the Sword Tomb now would likely yield little gain.

"It is good that you think this way."

Zhou Buping revealed a look of satisfaction.

He did not want Li Gan to enter the Sword Tomb so early.