After picking up the blade art, Su Yun looked dazed, as if a scene of mountains of corpses and seas of blood had appeared before his eyes.
Clearly, like the Extreme Shadow Fiend Blade, this blade art was designed for killing enemies and could only be mastered rapidly through slaughter.
Seeing that Su Yun seemed to have finished choosing, Elder Mu turned to him with a smile.
"Have you chosen?"
In truth, all the high-grade Mysterious Grade techniques kept in this secret chamber were powerful, rare, and well worth learning.
"Elder Mu, I've made my choice."
"I'll take this Slaughter Blade Art."
Su Yun nodded.
Elder Mu glanced at the manual.
Then he smiled and said, "Su Yun, this is an excellent technique. You've made the right choice."
At that moment, Elder Xiao reminded him, "Su Yun, you need to memorize the technique here first. There's no need to rush; you have plenty of time."
"The techniques here are all special. You're not allowed to take them outside."
"Understood, Elder Xiao."
Su Yun nodded, then began turning the pages of the manual.
"Take your time studying it, Su Yun."
"I've already notified Song Que. He'll arrange for a few disciples to help you pack your things and move to the area for Inner Sect disciples."
"Once you've finished memorizing it, remember to go find Song Que and choose a place to live."
After a few final reminders, Elder Mu turned and left.
Watching Elder Mu depart, Su Yun smiled faintly.
Now he had established a firm foothold in the Inner Sect of the Mystic Blade Sect.
But on the long road of cultivation, this was only the very beginning.
Steadying his thoughts, Su Yun continued studying the Slaughter Blade Art and began memorizing it.
As a high-grade Mysterious Grade blade art, its contents were obscure and exceedingly complex.
However, Su Yun had already mastered eighty percent of Blade Momentum. His understanding of blade arts was nothing like it had been when he first started cultivating.
As a result, it took him less than half an hour to memorize the Slaughter Blade Art completely.
When he was done, Su Yun returned the manual to its original place.
"If only I could choose another high-grade Mysterious Grade technique."
Su Yun was reluctant to leave it at that.
If he could choose another high-grade Mysterious Grade body-refining technique, his physical body would grow much stronger.
"Right, Senior Sister Chen mentioned that if I pass the trial on the third floor of the Scripture Depository, I can exchange Contribution Points for a Mysterious Grade technique."
Su Yun suddenly remembered.
So he asked Elder Xiao, who was standing nearby, "Elder Xiao, I'd like to attempt the trial on the third floor of the Scripture Depository. I want to use my Contribution Points to exchange for a high-grade Mysterious Grade technique."
Elder Xiao was taken aback.
Then he furrowed his brow and cautioned, "Su Yun, the Slaughter Blade Art you just chose is already very difficult to cultivate."
"Since the Mystic Blade Sect was founded, we've recruited many talented disciples, but fewer than ten have managed to cultivate this blade art to perfection."
"Your talent for cultivating blade arts is arguably the best in the sect. If you divide your attention by cultivating other techniques as well, you may end up losing more than you gain."
He had said this to make Su Yun see reason.
He shouldn't bite off more than he could chew.
"Elder Xiao, I still want to give it a try," Su Yun said firmly, without changing his mind.
"Since you're so determined, follow me."
Elder Xiao offered no further objections.
With that, he led Su Yun to the trial space on the third floor of the Scripture Depository.
The space was vast.
As soon as Su Yun entered, he saw three square arenas, each a different color.
From left to right, they were blue, purple, and gold.
"Su Yun, I know you've just passed the top-grade assessment and are very strong—far stronger than some Inner Sect disciples."
"But if you want to exchange for a high-grade Mysterious Grade technique, you have to follow the rules. The same goes for every other disciple."
Then Elder Xiao pointed to the golden arena on the far right and said slowly, "If you want to exchange for a high-grade Mysterious Grade technique, you'll have to step onto that arena and pass the trial."
Su Yun nodded.
He gripped the Black Blade in his right hand and leapt onto the golden arena.
The next moment, the entire arena blazed with a dense golden light.
Buzz!
In an instant, the scenery around him changed completely.
Golden ripples rippled beneath his feet, like those on a lake, reflecting his figure.
With every step he took, faint ripples spread across the golden surface.
"Another formation?"
Su Yun's expression shifted.
Splash, splash, splash!
Suddenly, the lake before him churned.
Then three golden figures burst out from beneath the surface.
Their auras were powerful, and all three were at the ninth level of the Mystic Profound Realm.
Each gripped a golden blade.
What's more, Su Yun could sense the aura of Martial Dao Momentum coming from them.
Clearly, all three golden figures had already mastered Martial Dao Momentum!
"Not many people can pass this trial."
Su Yun's gaze remained calm as he thought.
To defeat the three golden figures, one needed not only to comprehend Martial Dao Momentum, but also to have a sufficiently high cultivation level.
On top of that, one had to cultivate a technique of decent quality to perfection.
Only then would there be a chance of passing.
So the key to this trial lay in one's own strength—in the depth of one's foundations.
After all, how precious were high-grade Mysterious Grade techniques?
The sect's higher-ups only passed them on to its most outstanding disciples.
Anyone who couldn't even pass a trial like this could hardly be called a martial prodigy.
"Let's finish this quickly."
Su Yun slowly raised the Black Blade.
Whoosh!
At that moment, the three golden figures opened their cold, blood-red eyes and charged at Su Yun.
The blade art they used seemed to be some kind of Yellow Grade technique.
In an instant,
blade energy crisscrossed the arena, and golden light shimmered everywhere.
"Extreme Shadow Fiend Blade!"
Su Yun shouted. His body darted forward like a nimble roc, blade in hand!
Then he swung his blade.
Ten streaks of blood-red light swept across the arena!
In an instant, the golden blade energy unleashed by the three figures was swallowed by the crimson light, vanishing without a trace.
The next second,
as the blade light flashed past,
Crack!
The three golden figures were severed in half.
They dissolved into nothingness.
At the same time, the scenery around Su Yun shattered like glass.
Bit by bit, the world around him returned to normal.
Outside the arena,
Elder Xiao was still keeping time.
After all, there was a time limit for the trial.
It had to be completed within the time it took an incense stick to burn.
He guessed it would take Su Yun about half an incense stick to pass this trial.
But in the next moment, he saw the formation on the golden arena gradually fade away.
One after another, golden ripples dissipated.
Seeing this, Elder Xiao froze.
He knew exactly what this meant: Su Yun had passed the trial.
At the thought,
the corner of his mouth twitched.
From the formation activating to its disappearance,
had only three breaths passed?
Soon, Su Yun appeared on the golden arena.
"Elder, can I choose a technique now?" Su Yun asked with a smile.
Elder Xiao didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward, astonishment on his face.
"It seems I underestimated you."
Then he waved a hand and said, "Go ahead. You can choose any Mysterious Grade technique on the third floor of the Scripture Depository."
"Thank you, Elder Xiao."
Su Yun cupped his hands in thanks.
Then the two of them left the trial space.
Before long, Su Yun arrived at the area where the techniques were kept.
Unfortunately, he couldn't choose another technique from the secret chamber.
Those techniques couldn't be exchanged for Contribution Points; they were priceless treasures.
Since the Mystic Blade Sect was founded, it had only collected and created a dozen or so of them.
The sect had already been generous to give him one for free.
Now Su Yun began choosing among the techniques here.
Rows of purple bookshelves stood quietly in place.
Su Yun walked up to them and began examining them carefully.
A brief description was written beside each technique.
"Wind Thunder Spear. A high-grade Mysterious Grade technique. Once mastered, each thrust strikes like thunder descending from the heavens. Its speed is astonishing, making it difficult to guard against, and its might is terrifying."
"Sky Cloud Thirteen Swords. A high-grade Mysterious Grade technique. This was the signature sword art of the Sword Saint of Sky Cloud eight hundred years ago. It has thirteen forms. Master it, and you'll be hailed as a sword prodigy."
"Extreme Ice Soul Blade. A high-grade Mysterious Grade technique created by the previous sect master. Its conception is profound and its power unfathomable. It is difficult to cultivate, but once mastered, it also has the remarkable effect of tempering a martial artist's soul."
After some time, Su Yun had looked through all the techniques, but none satisfied him.
Then, at a certain moment, he stopped.
His gaze fixed on a particular manual.
"Great Sun Profound Heaven Technique. A high-grade Mysterious Grade technique obtained by the sect's founding ancestor from an ancient ruin overseas. Once cultivated, it allows one to absorb the essence of the Great Sun, temper the body's qi and blood, and generate Great Sun power."
"If cultivated to perfection, the mere release of one's qi and blood can slay countless evil spirits."
"Additionally, it allows one to condense a suit of Great Sun True Armor, greatly increasing the power of the physical body!"
"Exchange cost: 300,000 Contribution Points!"
Before you continue