The Sword Tomb

There were no calendars in the mountains, and no years in cultivation.

After taking a master and becoming an Official Disciple, Li Gan's life of cultivation had settled back into its old tranquility.

It was as if the troubles from before had never existed.

Li Gan gradually let the matter go.

He didn't seek out Song Yingying to ask how the secret had been leaked, either.

The two had only met once, after all. Aside from Elder Song, they had little to do with each other.

Everyone had their own path, and he had his own way.

Dong!

The clear, resonant bell echoed through the mountain forest, breaking the quiet of the Divine Sword Sect.

It marked the start of a new day.

After ringing the Chen Bell, Li Gan immediately assumed a stance and practiced the Heartless Sword Technique. His abundant Internal Qi surged through his body, set in motion by the Internal Cultivation Technique.

A startlingly sharp aura spread out, slicing through the air. As he practiced, streaks of Sword Qi circled and darted around him. By the end, only Sword Qi could be seen; Li Gan had vanished from sight.

Only the ringing cries of swords echoed atop the Bell Tower.

After a long while, Li Gan suddenly sheathed his sword, but the invisible sword intent lingered.

As the surging Internal Qi within him settled, he let out a long breath. His eyes gleamed, sharp and spirited.

Suddenly, a thought came to him. He summoned the System Interface to check the latest information.

Host: Li Gan.

Cultivation Base: Postnatal Realm (Fifth Layer 9/100).

Sacrificial Tool: Chen Bell (Treasure 993/1000).

Martial Arts: Sword Piercing Fist (Perfection), Heartless Sword Art (Minor Accomplishment 23/100).

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

His cultivation had now reached the Fifth Layer of the Postnatal Realm.

That was already a decent pace.

After all, in just half a year, he had advanced from the Second Layer to the Fifth Layer of the Postnatal Realm, climbing three minor levels.

This was naturally thanks to the help of Blood Vitality Pills, Spirit Nourishing Pills, and Exotic Beast Jerky. The bell's effect had also been indispensable.

Meanwhile, his Heartless Sword Art had reached Minor Accomplishment.

Even so, his cultivation progress now gained only one point every two days, while his Heartless Sword Art's Minor Accomplishment required three days to gain a single point.

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

Li Gan was full of anticipation.

Time really did fly.

He had been in the Divine Sword Sect for more than three years.

That afternoon,

Li Gan was working in the fields.

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

"Brother Gan, I probably won't be able to bring you night soil anymore."

After emptying the two buckets into a pit, Chen Yong spoke up.

"Oh? Did you get the job transfer sorted out?"

Li Gan wasn't surprised. He smiled as he asked.

"I did. I've been assigned to the Gengluo Room."

Chen Yong said.

Compared to the Night Fragrance Room, the Gengluo Room was a better job. The only problem was that the work schedule was upside down.

Chen Yong had been a Menial Disciple for three years already. He wasn't a newcomer, and could switch to a somewhat 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 about to start again this year. Are you planning to take part?"

Chen Yong asked again.

"Too much trouble. I'll pass."

Li Gan shook his head.

He hadn't told Chen Yong that he had become an Official Disciple.

All things considered, Chen Yong was one of the friends he got along with fairly well in the Divine Sword Sect.

"I'm still planning to give it a shot 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 are gone. The competition on this year's Combat Ranking List should be a little easier."

Chen Yong looked eager to try.

He had worked extremely hard for more than three years and believed his cultivation and strength had improved considerably. He was eager to make a name for himself on the Combat Ranking List.

"Then I hope you make a name for yourself on the Combat Ranking List."

Li Gan smiled.

"I definitely will."

Chen Yong's face was set with resolve.

He didn't want to leave the Divine Sword Sect in disgrace like Zhang Mingcan and Yi Zhong.

He was actually puzzled. After Yi Zhong had won first place on the Combat Ranking List, he still had a chance to become an Official Disciple, so why had he suddenly left the sect?

As for Zhang Mingcan, his departure made sense. He had placed first on the Combat Ranking List for two consecutive years, but lost in the third. After that, he had virtually no hope left.

A person's prime was limited. Rather than waste three years at the Divine Sword Sect, he might as well go down the mountain and make a life for himself in the secular world.

That was the tragedy of Menial Disciples.

At dusk,

Li Gan arrived at the wooden hut in the valley.

He no longer came back every day.

Usually, he visited once every three to five days.

"Do you remember what I told you last time about the Sword Tomb?"

Zhou Buping asked.

"This disciple remembers. Only True Disciples are normally allowed to enter, and each True Disciple gets just one chance in their lifetime. Inside, they can comprehend the Sword Intent Imprints left behind by the Divine Sword Sect's predecessors, and may even have the chance to become the master of a divine sword."

Li Gan nodded.

"Originally, only True Disciples were eligible to enter. This time, the sect's higher-ups have decided to relax the rules and allow Official Disciples who have never entered before one chance as well."

Zhou Buping said, "Of course, this applies only this time."

"Master, are you planning to have me enter the Sword Tomb this time?"

Li Gan asked.

"Under normal circumstances, the deeper your understanding of the sword path, the better. That way, you won't lose yourself when comprehending the Sword Intent Imprints left by your predecessors."

Zhou Buping said, "After all, the path of those who came before isn't necessarily the one best suited to you. The best thing is to build on their path, use your own understanding, and forge a path of your own. So the choice is yours."

Li Gan understood what his master meant.

This year was unusual. Official Disciples were being allowed into the Sword Tomb, too.

If he missed this chance, then from now on he would have to become a True Disciple to qualify for entry.

Unless he was absolutely confident he could become a True Disciple in the future, choosing to enter this time would be the wisest option.

"Master, if I've already comprehended Sword Intent, would I still need to enter the Sword Tomb?"

Li Gan asked.

"Hahaha, of course you would. Comprehending Sword Intent is only the first step onto your own path of martial cultivation. Only after enduring hardships and experiencing all kinds of Sword Intent, even the will of martial arts, can you go farther and reach greater heights. Besides, the Sword Tomb holds more than Sword Intent left by the predecessors. It also contains powerful swords. For sword cultivators like us, a powerful sword is crucial."

Zhou Buping laughed.

"Master, I once read a book about a powerful swordsman. It said that his first sword was a gleaming green blade, fierce and unyielding, sharp enough to cut through anything. He wielded it against all the heroes of the land before he turned twenty. His second was a flexible sword, which he used before he turned thirty. He accidentally wounded a righteous man with it, took it as an ill omen, and regretted it deeply, so he abandoned it. His third was a Black Iron Heavy Sword—blunt-edged, yet artless in its perfection. He relied on it to roam the world unchecked before he turned forty. His fourth was a decayed wooden sword. After forty, he was no longer bound by objects; grass, trees, bamboo, and stones could all serve as swords. I wonder if that's true?"

Li Gan said.

That story had actually come from a martial arts novel in his previous life.

He asked about it now because he wanted to know whether, in this world's sword path, reaching a profound enough level meant that anything could become a sword.

"Bound by nothing, with grass, trees, bamboo, and stones all serving as swords. Such a sword path is wondrous beyond belief. I've only heard of it, never witnessed it myself."

Zhou Buping shook his head.

But Li Gan understood.

When one's cultivation was high enough, it didn't matter whether one had a sword.

But at present, a powerful sword was absolutely the best choice.

"Master, I think I'll wait until I have a chance to become a True Disciple before entering the Sword Tomb."

Li Gan said.

His Heartless Sword Art had only reached Minor Accomplishment. Comprehending Sword Intent was still far beyond him.

If he entered the Sword Tomb now, he probably wouldn't gain much.

"That's the right way to think about it."

Zhou Buping looked pleased.

He didn't want Li Gan entering the Sword Tomb so early.