Jiang Yuechu stopped in her tracks.
She hesitated before turning around.
Although I've never been particularly proficient in poetry and literature in either my past or present life, my memory has always been excellent.
The broken sword that she had casually tossed aside was leaning against a piece of rusty iron, its tip pointing to the left.
Why is the sword tip pointing to the right now, and has it been retracted half an inch?
The location has changed.
Jiang Yuechu stared at the offering table expressionlessly for a moment, without making a sound.
She turned around silently, lifted her foot, and took two more steps forward.
Then.
He suddenly stopped and turned around abruptly.
The once lifeless pile of broken metal was now covered with swords, and the dog crept furtively into the shadows at the far end of the altar.
Jiang Yuechu suddenly turned around.
All the broken swords and scraps of metal froze instantly, motionless, and the commotion vanished into thin air.
Jiang Yuechu gasped.
A strange look flashed across her pretty face.
Is one of the Nine Great Dao Sects being haunted in broad daylight?
However, this thought only lingered in her mind for a moment before she shook it off.
It's not like it's a past life; it's not unusual for fantasy worlds to be haunted...
Since there's something strange about it, things will be easier to handle.
Without further hesitation, Jiang Yuechu's dark robes fluttered slightly, and she instantly appeared before the altar.
Without the slightest probing, she stepped forward decisively, clenched her fists, and grabbed the hiltless, broken sword that had dodged the fastest.
[ Bone and Flesh as Furnace ] activated.
A surge of energy poured out from his arm, directly into the broken sword, instantly assuming a posture as if to forcibly refine it.
As soon as they started, the altar erupted in chaos.
The dozen or so broken copper and scrap iron swords that had been feigning death suddenly sprang up from the altar, hovering in mid-air in alarm, their tips trembling wildly, wanting to escape but daring not to.
The broken sword that Jiang Yuechu was holding in her palm struggled violently.
However.
It clearly underestimated the horror of this body.
The immense force firmly suppressed the sword.
Jiang Yuechu narrowed her eyes slightly, about to increase the force to see how long this thing could last.
Suddenly.
An angry voice suddenly rang out in the empty Sword Pavilion.
"Stop!"
"You brat, how rude of you! How dare you treat this old man so disrespectfully!"
Jiang Yuechu did not lessen the force in her hand, but her eyes suddenly turned cold as she coldly swept her gaze around.
"Who is speaking?"
The broken sword trembled slightly. "What are you looking at! I'm talking to you! Let go of me right now!"
Jiang Yuechu lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling on the bare, broken sword in her hand.
He asked, somewhat puzzled, "You... can talk? What are you?"
The broken sword seemed to have suffered a great insult. Its tip suddenly pointed upwards, and it proudly declared, "I am Shadow-Bearer! The superior-grade Spirit Artifact, Shadow-Bearing Sword! It's no wonder you're so young and ignorant. Back in the day, I followed my master across Cloud Dream, how spirited I was! The Painting Realm of Hua Jing who died under my sword is at least eight hundred, if not a thousand!"
Jiang Yuechu remained unmoved, her eyes as calm as still water.
Seeing that the girl had no reaction, Shadow-Bearing Sword assumed she didn't believe him and raised his voice a few decibels.
"Don't let my current appearance fool you, it's because that battle back then was too brutal! My master was a true master of the Painting Realm! Do you understand the Painting Realm? A single thought can create an array, a splash of ink can form a boundary! As the personal sword of a master of the Painting Realm, I am an ancestor in this Hidden Sword Tower!"
The remaining broken swords and scraps of iron on the altar emitted a faint hum, as if echoing or in fear.
Jiang Yuechu listened quietly and nodded slightly.
"Oh."
Shadow-Bearing Sword was stunned.
That's it?
I've already invoked the title of a master Painting Realm, and all you reply with is an "Oh"?
Why are these newly accepted disciples of the Azure Boundary Sect so stubborn and unyielding?
Jiang Yuechu flipped her wrist, examining the Cheng Shadow-Bearing Sword, which claimed to be a high-grade Spirit Artifact.
The blade was severely damaged, and the hilt was so rotten that only a piece of iron remained, making it look truly pathetic.
Her internal energy circulated, and her palms faintly emitted a crimson light.
Shadow-Bearing Sword keenly sensed the extremely dangerous aura and immediately panicked.
"Wait! What are you doing! I am a top-grade Spirit Artifact! Do you intend to destroy me?!"
Jiang Yuechu said calmly, "Since you're so powerful, wouldn't refining it help nourish your body?"
"Absolutely not! Absolutely not! Though I am damaged, my sword spirit remains undiminished, and my essence still endures! If you take me with you, I can teach you the Supreme sword path! I can recite all the sword techniques of the Azure Boundary Sect to you with my eyes closed!"
Jiang Yuechu shook her head.
I don't practice swordsmanship.
Shadow-Bearing Sword was speechless.
What are you doing at the Hidden Sword Tower if you're not practicing swordsmanship?!
Feeling the increasingly intense crimson light in his palm, Shadow-Bearing Sword completely abandoned its dignity as a high-grade Spirit Artifact.
"Heroine! Grandma! Not only do I know sword techniques, but I also know the secrets of the Azure Boundary Sect... I can even help you find treasure! Even if you don't practice swordsmanship, I am made of Nine Heavens Profound Iron, incredibly hard. You can use me as a brick to smash people!"
"..."
Listening to the broken sword in her hand constantly begging for mercy, Jiang Yuechu's eyes gradually became strange.
This cowardly and opportunistic behavior seemed strangely familiar to her.
In a daze, it seemed as if I saw the shadow of a Red Flood Dragon on this broken piece of iron.
When I first stepped into the Hidden Sword Tower, facing a room full of broken copper and scrap iron of unknown value, I didn't really have much confidence.
She has an extremely clear understanding of herself.
Without that mysterious panel to back him up, relying solely on his own talent and comprehension, he would be nothing special in the world.
To expect her to comprehend some ethereal sword intent and gain the approval of these proud and arrogant senior Spirit Sword masters is nothing short of a pipe dream.
But since this thing has gained sentience, can speak, and is afraid...
That makes things much easier.
Throughout her life, Jiang Yuechu has always adhered to an extremely simple principle.
If you're not happy, then fight me. Fight me until I cry for my mother.
It seems that this principle remains effective no matter where it is applied.
Seeing that the girl remained silent, the spirit of Shadow-Bearing Sword grew increasingly uncertain.
Originally, as the personal sword of a powerful Painting Realm, it held a prestigious position within the Hidden Sword Tower and was not afraid of anyone.
Even if the most talented disciples of the Azure Boundary Sect came here, it would still ignore them if it didn't like them.
Furthermore, Azure Boundary Sect members who have come here to comprehend swords throughout the ages have treated these swords left behind by their ancestors with utmost reverence, regarding them as divine deities.
Let alone grabbing it, even speaking a little loudly would be risky enough to disturb the spiritual energy within the sword.
How dare we be so presumptuous...
But who could have imagined that this girl in black, who appeared out of nowhere, would act so recklessly?
They showed absolutely no reverence for the swords of their ancestors, and even tried to forcibly refine them as a tonic at the slightest disagreement.
If it were the methods of an ordinary cultivator, the Shadow-Bearing Sword would naturally not be afraid.
But recalling the crimson energy that flowed into the sword through the girl's palm... the Azure Boundary Sect has always prided itself on being the orthodox sect of humanity. When did they attract such a monster who practices evil arts?
Jiang Yuechu's gaze swept over the broken swords and wrecked metal pieces on the offering table, which were still feigning death.
"Let me ask you, besides you, are there any other beings in this building who have developed sentience?"
Upon hearing this, the broken copper and scrap iron on the altar all shrank back in unison.
Shadow-Bearing Sword immediately understood and, in order to protect himself, betrayed his colleague without hesitation.
"Yes, of course... The one with the broken tip is Dragon Abyss of the Supreme Being Elder back then. He has a terrible temper. And the one without even the hilt is Chunjun. He loves to act all high and mighty. If you need some tonics, I can find them for you..."
Outside the Sword Pavilion.
The large wooden gate was tightly shut, isolating the vast and chilling sword intent within.
True Lord Linghan stood with his hands behind his back, seemingly as steady as Mount Tai, but his gaze kept glancing at the unmoving door.
He Wuya and Tang Wanyin stood to one side, their expressions different.
A mountain breeze swept by.
He Wuya finally couldn't help but speak softly, breaking the silence. " Deacon Ling Han... won't it take a little too long for that Fellow Daoist Jiang to go in?"
True Lord Linghan coughed lightly, suppressing the slight unease that arose in his heart, and stroked his beard calmly, saying, "What's the rush... It's only natural that she, a girl who has never cultivated the sword path, would suffer a bit inside... I don't think anything serious will happen."
Just then.
The sea of clouds rolled across the sky, and several sharp Streak of Light roared in, tearing through the sky.
Before the Sword Qi subsided, the figure had already arrived.
Upon recognizing the newcomer, He Wuya and Tang Wanyin were both taken aback and quickly bowed, saying, " Elder Wuxiang, what brings you here?"
The newcomer wore a wide blue robe, had a white beard, and his face exuded an imposing yet irritating aura. Behind him were several elders from the sect with profound spiritual energy.
Elder Wuxiang lowered his sword, his gaze sweeping over the three people standing outside the Sword Pavilion. He frowned slightly and asked in confusion, "Why are you three gathered outside the Hidden Sword Tower instead of handling business outside?"
"Forehead..."
True Lord Linghan's expression froze, and his heart began to pound.
Bringing outsiders into the Hidden Sword Tower without authorization is a clear overstepping of authority.
If it were someone else who discovered it, that would be one thing, but it was Elder Wuxiang, with his notoriously fiery temper, who caught them red-handed. If they were to investigate, wouldn't they be getting a beating for no reason?
Seeing the strange expressions on the three people's faces, he stammered.
Elder Wuxiang was too lazy to argue with them. He casually waved his wide sleeves and said in a booming voice, "Fine, I'm too lazy to bother with your trivial matters... By the way, which peak's disciple just entered the Sword Pavilion?"
He Wuya's heart skipped a beat, and he forced himself to ask cautiously, "Elder, what... what's wrong?"
"What's wrong?"
Elder Wuxiang managed a slight smile as he stroked his beard and said, "Hehe, just now, the sect leader sent a decree saying that the spiritual energy of the Shadow-Bearing Sword has been sensed manifesting in the Hidden Sword Tower..."
The Spirit Sword within the Hidden Sword Tower are inherently proud and unyielding.
Especially those high-grade Spirit Artifact that once followed powerful figures in the Painting Realm to conquer the world, have never shown any sharpness for many years, preferring to gather dust and rust on the altar rather than submit to ordinary cultivators.
Now, the Shadow-Bearing Sword has finally spoken and revealed its power, its energy surging.
It seems she'll be recognizing her master and leaving home soon.
He smiled slightly, completely unaware of the deathly pale face of True Lord Linghan beside him.
"Alright, alright, I won't waste any more words with you."
Elder Wuxiang to see which peak has produced such a promising talent that can Shadow-Bearer bow his head."
That's all.
Led by several elders behind him, they surged toward the tightly closed wooden door of the pavilion.
"..."
Outside the Sword Pavilion, a mountain breeze swept by.
The three stood rooted to the spot like clay or wooden sculptures, silently watching the impatient figures of the elderly men.
He Wuya swallowed hard, turned his head, and looked at True Lord Linghan with a complicated expression.
His gaze unconsciously drifted downwards, and he couldn't help but whisper a reminder, " Deacon Ling Han, your pants..."
True Lord Linghan glanced down and his face twitched slightly.
He held out his hand, then waved it awkwardly. "Oh... it was pee, I thought it was sweat..."