Shi Lang nodded and asked, “How can you talk now when you are mostly silent in the sect?”
Raksha replied, “Hmph, if not for you being as weak as an ant in the face of an Immortal Emperor, would I have to hide like this? That old man down there is also an Immortal Emperor. If I am to show my breath, they will confine me like that sword inside the sword hall. As for why I can speak now, thanks to the barrier they have cast here. It prevents Immortal Emperors from scanning this place.”
The terran nodded and focused on the three boxes before him. He looked around and said, “I think soul cultivation is the rarest of them all.”
Raksha replied, “Obviously. Did you think anyone could be a soul master?”
Shi Lang raised his brow and asked, “What is a soul master? Wait, how do you even know all this?”
The sword spirit replied, “It is just something I made up, but it fits.” 𝒐𝐕𝗅xt.𝑪𝗈𝑚
Shi Lang shook his head and probed the three boxes with his spiritual sense but found something very interesting. The boxes were not visible to his spirit energy. He could see them with normal eyes but not spiritually. Thinking about it, he closed his eyes and controlled his immortal soul.
The immortal soul resided in his soul sea. The immortal soul looked like a teenage Shi Lang. It was made up of lightning energy like the sword in his dantian. The spirit avatar seemed to be meditating. Under Shi Lang’s manipulation, the teenager opened his eyes.
Shi Lang probed the three boxes. This time, he met with a greater shock. The young man could see a jade slip placed atop the three boxes. These slips were not visible to him earlier. As he probed deeper, information regarding the content of the boxes appeared in his mind.
The first technique was called the Blooming Lotus Soul technique. This technique was useful for pill refiners as they needed a gentle nature to calm the spirit fire and observe the ingredients’ spiritual blending.
This technique was not useful for Shi Lang, and he needed something that could allow him to counter or take his enemy by surprise. He shifted his attention to the second box, and the jade slip atop this box provided the rudimentary information for the Dragon soul technique.
This technique allowed a person to attack with their soul energy. To practice this soul, Shi Lang would have to hunt spirit beasts, and the higher-level beast’s soul essence he absorbed, the higher his cultivation would rise. However, this practice had a drawback. If Shi Lang fails to calm down the grudge in the spirit beasts lingering consciousness, the backlash will injure his soul.
He gave up the idea of trying this technique because let alone settling the grudges of the consciousness. The beast might injure him in physical combat only. Or if he managed to absorb a soul, it would tint his spiritual energy. Soul consumption was not something that came free of cost.
Raksha nodded and said, “Despite being a laid-back kid, you are very reliable.”
Shi Lang rebuked, “Woman, my soul is a few decades older than you. Who are you calling a kid?”
The sword spirit smiled, and then Shi Lang looked at the third box. He had little hope, but the jade slip mentioned the Silent Moon technique. This technique was the slowest among the rest of the techniques, and it needed the cultivator to absorb moonlight and use it to nourish the yin element of the immortal soul.
Once a cultivator reaches the first level, they can manipulate a small object within ten feet of their body. As the level increases, the range will increase by ten feet. There was no shortcut for this technique. However, when a cultivator has reached the fifty feet range, the cultivator can use this technique to stun the enemy.
In a life-and-death battle, a momentary daze could lead to death. Shi Lang smiled as he liked this technique. The young man smiled and said, “I choose you.”
Opening his eyes, Shi Lang picked up the box but could not open it. Thinking about a solution, he tried to open the box with his soul. However, he stopped when his soul energy was about to probe the lock. Raksha asked, “What is it?”
Shi Lang said, “What if they placed some restriction on these boxes? Will I not die if I trigger it?”
The sword spirit nodded and said, “Go, take the box to the old man below. He will help you.”
Shi Lang nodded and descended the stairs of the Sutra hall quickly. He came to the desk and found that the elder was moving his hands and placing various scrolls on the shelves behind him. The scene shocked Shi Lang, but then he looked at the box and then at the elder.
He thought, ‘What are the chances for the elder to have practiced the same technique?’
The old man turned his head and asked, “Have you selected?”
Shi Lang nodded and put the box on the counter. The old man turned around and was surprised for a moment. Then he took out a stone from his space ring. The crystal was as big as a fist, and the old man said, “Channel your spirit energy into the crystal.”
Shi Lang nodded, and after taking the stone, he did what the elder told him. The crystal glowed gently at first, but after a few moments, it glowed so strong as if Shi Lang was holding a torch in his hand. The old man said, “That is enough.”
Shi Lang stopped, and the old man took back the crystal. He said with a solemn tone, “I will not warn you not to practice this script, but I have one piece of advice if you feel like your soul has more yin than yang, stop practicing.”
He did not say anything more, and the box was opened with a wave of his hand. The old man cast a prolonged gaze at the scroll before he took a jade slip from the side and used his spirit energy to inscribe the contents of the scroll on it.
He gave Shi Lang the scroll and said, “After you are done memorizing, the jade slip will crumble to dust.”
Shi Lang nodded and took the jade slip. He thanked the old man and left the place. The elder said, “My name is Yin Shing. If you find any difficulty in the technique, you can find me here.”
Shi Lang was stunned and bowed properly in gratitude. The old man waved his hand, and Shi Lang rushed away. The terran rushed to the forging peak. Unlike before, this time, he did not stop at the seven hundred seventy-seventh step. He rushed straight to the peak and found the peak master.
The peak master was a man with bulging muscles and a frank attitude. He led Shi Lang directly to the forgery and said, “I knew you would be coming over. After the outer disciple tournament, Martial Sister Mei came to be, and she asked me to forge a sword suitable for you.
The trouble with this sort of commission is the material. So, after some search, we acquired a stalk of thousand-year-old purple lightning bamboo. The material is tougher than metal and lighter than a feather. However, we could not find the metal to quench the extreme yang of the bamboo.
Such a pity that we had to quench the sword in hundred years old spirit liquid. If only we could have found a five-hundred-year-old pond. However, I guarantee you that before you step into the peak of the immortal king realm, the sword will not let you down. However, this sword will not be useful when you step into the Immortal Emperor realm.”
Shi Lang smiled and said, “Peak Master Wan, you do not have to worry. I am just an immortal soldier, holding a sword made by an immortal king, and last till I reach the immortal king realm is already something I am obliged and grateful for.”
Peak Master Wan nodded and took out a long box. He said, “You should carry a sword on your waist. Weapons have spirits. The more freedom you allow them, the better they grow.”
Shi Lang nodded, and the old man opened the box. Shi Lang peeked at the sword, and he was surprised. The sword had a metallic blue glint to it. The blade was only three inches wide and three feet long.”
The young man picked up the sword, which fit right in his hand. He flicked the blade and said, “Very good sword.”
He flicked his find on the blade, and a humm echoed in the chamber. Shi Lang said, “Lightning Swallow.”
Elder Wan nodded and said, “Good name.”
Shi Lang talked to the elder for a few minutes and then took his leave. He was getting late and had to leave with the Dragon Sword Disciples. He rushed through the sect and reached the peak where the guests stayed. However, to his surprise, all the sect elders and the disciples of many other peaks were present there.
They had come to wish Shi Lang good luck and a safe journey.