Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Cultivating the Unranked Holy Spirit Sword Art! (3rd Update)
A Swordsmanship of no rank?
Lu Changsheng had never before obtained such a cultivation technique.
The Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator displayed the detailed information of the “Holy Spirit Sword Art”.
[Holy Spirit Sword Art, unranked, divided into eighteen levels, requires two individuals with connected minds to use in tandem, incredibly fast and exceedingly fierce when unsheathed. Once cultivated to the eighteenth level, the pattern of threes is endless, and that of sixes boundless, capable of slaying enemies with a sword net. With higher levels of the Yin Yang Dual Cultivation Skills, the stronger the cultivations and deeper the Sword Dao Comprehension of both parties, the more powerful the sword art becomes.]
“How come an unranked sword technique seems to have more potential than an Immortal-ranked one?”
Lu Changsheng, who had cultivated several sword techniques, knew that techniques could be strong or weak, yet this “Holy Spirit Sword Art” that required two people to wield, despite its lack of rank, appeared to be stronger still.
The advantage and drawback of the “Holy Spirit Sword Art” lies in its requirement for two practitioners; it cannot replace the “Primordial Sword Scripture” or the “Grand Thousand Sword Formation”.
If the two individuals can’t achieve mutual understanding, or if they become enemies, then they will be unable to use the technique ever again.
“The Sect Master of the Joyous Union Sect could never have dreamed that not only would he fail to kill me for revenge, but he would also allow me to gain an exceptional sword technique.”
Lu Changsheng unexpectedly received a sword technique refunded by the system, gaining an extra card up his sleeve.
“Fairy Xia, I have an unparalleled sword technique here that requires two people to cultivate together. Would you be willing to stay at Qingyun Peak for some time?”
Lu Changsheng transmitted his message to Xia Ningxue.
“What?”
Xia Ningxue was stunned, her ears burning hot.
Lu Changsheng inviting her to Qingyun Peak as a guest to cultivate an unparalleled sword technique?
“Master, I plan to make a trip to Mount Shu. Lu Changsheng wants to convey a set of swordsmanship to me.”
Xia Ningxue sought guidance from Fairy Su.
“You must not neglect your cultivation for the sake of romantic feelings. Once you learn the swordsmanship, return to Misty Peak.”
Fairy Su, thinking only of the Ancestral Master of Mount Shu who revealed the sword techniques to Lu Changsheng through dream divination, agreed, believing it might aid her disciple’s cultivation.
“The four Great Demon Sects have obtained the Immortal Artifact from the Refinement Sect, the next time they strike, it will be with the force of thunderbolts. Please, fellow Daoists, prepare yourselves, ardently cultivating. If necessary, I will attempt to take that step…”
Taiyuan the Immortal, before parting ways with the other Sect Leaders at Meteor Iron Mountain, did not forget to remind them.
Fairy Su was worried, “Are you certain? Taking that step requires facing the Sixfold Heavenly Tribulation, second only in difficulty to the ultimate Ninefold Heavenly Tribulation. The slightest carelessness could lead to total obliteration. Although you were the foremost among us during our era, breaking through the Void Refinement Realm is nonetheless fraught with the risk of falling.”
“Qian’er, I wronged you back then.”
Taiyuan the Immortal took a deep breath, aware that breaking through the Void Refinement Realm was fraught with insurmountable difficulties. Many Sect Leaders and Supreme Elders were stuck in the ninth level of the Void Refinement Realm, yet they dared not take the final step, for fear of being unable to overcome the Sixfold Heavenly Tribulation and turning to ash and smoke.
One only attempts to break through the Void Refinement Realm with either a foolproof plan or when one’s life is at its end.
From the Dao Palace Realm to the Void Refinement Realm is the Threefold Heavenly Tribulation, exceptional talents like Li Changye and Wandaoyi need decades of preparation.
From the Void Refinement Realm to the Unity Realm is the Sixfold Heavenly Tribulation, requiring centuries of preparation, yet countless extraordinary individuals still fall midway.
Taiyuan the Immortal, lacking full certainty, finally spoke before attempting the Tribulation, revealing his feelings to the Pavilion Master of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.
“Do you know, I’ve waited three thousand years for these words.”
Fairy Su’s clear eyes welled up with moisture.
She knew that in Taiyuan the Immortal’s heart, there was a shadow she could never replace.
The living can never compare to the departed.
“Let’s return to Mount Shu.”
Taiyuan the Immortal sighed deeply and led the people of Mount Shu away.
The Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, Hidden Dragon Temple, Immeasurable Temple, and Martial Alliance each went their separate ways, preparing to deal with the next move of the four Great Demon Sects.
“Taiyuan, if you plan to take that step, I shall be your protector.”
“But for us of the Righteous Dao, taking that step is not easy. You must resolve past inner demons; otherwise, once they arise, you will surely fail to overcome the Sixfold Heavenly Tribulation.”
“When my master failed his ascension, it hit me hard, so I left Mount Shu to wander the world for a thousand years. Only then did I have a great realization, resolved my cares, and took that step.”
On his way back to Mount Shu, the Sect Leader’s uncle glanced at Taiyuan, worried that Taiyuan might develop inner demons from past grievances, jeopardizing his cultivation.”
The events of that year were witnessed by the Sect Leader’s uncle himself.
Taiyuan’s thoughts seemed to travel back three thousand years: “To cope with the calamity, I had no choice but to risk taking that step. It was my responsibility as the Sect Leader of Mount Shu.”
“Master is preparing for his Tribulation; that’s the Unity Realm!”
Li Changye had been training with Taiyuan for the longest time and knew what the Unity Realm meant.
The Unity Realm represented the strongest group of cultivators in this world. The previous Sect Leader of Mount Shu and the Sect Leader’s uncle were both powerful cultivators of the Unity Realm.
Reaching the end of the Unity Realm meant ascending to the Immortal Realm.
However, even with Taiyuan’s talent, he could not guarantee that he would overcome the Sixfold Heavenly Tribulation.
The more extraordinary the talent, the more terrifying the Heavenly Tribulation.
Even peerless geniuses could fall to the Sixfold Heavenly Tribulation.
After returning to Mount Shu, the Sect Leader’s uncle and Taiyuan immediately began their preparations.
Lu Changsheng and his disciples returned to Qingyun Peak.
Differently from before, Lu Changsheng brought back Xia Ningxue, the Holy Maiden of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, to Qingyun Peak.
“My cave dwelling is rather spacious; you can live inside.”
The foot of Qingyun Peak was where the servants lived, the mountainside for the disciples. Since Xia Ningxue and Lu Changsheng were of the same generation and to quickly master the Holy Spirit Sword Art, Lu Changsheng simply arranged for Xia Ningxue to stay in his cave dwelling.
Lu Changsheng’s cave dwelling was comparable to a palace inside a mountain, with many rooms and various arrays and Spirit Gathering Arrays. Lu Qinglian would sometimes temper her body there, so having Xia Ningxue around was not a problem.
Xia Ningxue did not refuse.
The two began cultivating the unranked Holy Spirit Sword Art.
As Xia Ningxue perused the sword technique, her eyes shone brightly.
She, inheriting Fairy Qingxia’s legacy, advanced rapidly in her swordsmanship talent and knew that the Holy Spirit Sword Art was a special sword technique not inferior to those of the Immortal rank.
Lu Changsheng would still find time to teach his disciples amid his schedule.
Having used up this month’s allowance to return Immortal Artifacts, Lu Changsheng rewarded his disciples with various Elixir Pills and Talismans instead.
Elixir Pills were still the most consumed treasures.
At the gate of Qingyun Peak, a big yellow dog was cultivating a technique, absorbing Mount Shu’s nature’s spiritual energy as well as the earth’s strength, converting it into his own cultivation.
“All of nature’s spiritual energy is gathering towards Mount Shu. Could it be that the entire mountain is actually a giant Spirit Gathering Array?”
Daoist Earth Hound had an epiphany.
Mount Shu seemed like a suspended mountain, yet its spiritual energy was never depleted, and magic held up the massive mountain. It appeared to be a giant magic formation.
Suddenly, a voice echoed in Daoist Earth Hound’s mind: “Come to my cave dwelling; your master has a fortuitous encounter for you.”
“Woof!”
Daoist Earth Hound was so excited that he made a sound from before his transformation.
One saw a big yellow dog wagging its head and scampering towards the cave dwelling.