Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 234: Chapter 232: Secret Realm Information

”A Tier Three Flying Sword? Senior, surely you jest... Even the Upper Sect takes twenty to thirty years to refine a single one. If one ever found its way into the world, it would be the final, show-stopping treasure at an auction. How could you possibly buy one so casually?”

The steward was so shocked he was babbling, waving his hands frantically.

”But you claimed you could procure anything related to flying swords... Were you just messing with me?”

Bai Zichen, of course, hadn’t expected just any random shop in Sword City to be able to solve his problem.

However, this steward’s boasting and grand promises had given him a sliver of unrealistic hope.

It turned out he had expected too much.

”Senior, I meant within a reasonable range. If someone came in asking for a Tier Four Flying Sword, is our Pavilion supposed to just go get one for them?”

The green-robed steward with the goatee didn’t panic just because his customer was angry.

”You are a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, so what you need is a Tier Two Flying Sword... No matter what type or what special properties you require in a Tier Two Flying Sword, our Pavilion can find one to your satisfaction.”

He was in Sword City; he’d seen plenty of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Besides, the man wasn’t a disciple of the Tianhe Sword Sect, so the steward wasn’t afraid of causing offense.

His own master was a direct descendant of a Core Formation True Man from the Upper Sect. If not for a lack of interest in the Sword Dao, his master would have become a Tianhe Sword Sect disciple long ago.

With such a powerful backer, other businesses in Sword City always showed the Divine Sword Pavilion a certain degree of deference.

”Do I need you to tell me what Tier of flying sword to use?”

Bai Zichen’s expression turned cold. He was reminded of how the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion had swindled him on the Spirit Rice deal, and his opinion of the Divine Sword Pavilion sank even lower.

The steward was only at Qi Refining Perfection. Bai Zichen’s cold glance made him feel as if spikes were digging into his back, and in a panic, he pressed the hidden Forbidden Alarm under the table.

A few sharp whistles sounded, and four Foundation Establishment Cultivators instantly appeared in the private room. They all stared nervously at Bai Zichen.

”Why are you causing trouble in the Divine Sword Pavilion? You should know that a Core Formation True Man presides over Sword City! Anyone who violates the Upper Sect’s Decrees will be sentenced to sixty years of hard labor at a minimum. Don’t bring this upon yourself!”

The lead cultivator was tall and thin, with two flying swords on his back. The first impression he gave was that of his extremely long arms.

His hands hung at his waist, his fingers were broad, and their tips reached his knees.

”Furthermore, this Pavilion’s properties are held by a direct lineage clan member of Master Suo. Any rude behavior from you in our Pavilion will be seen as an offense against Master Suo.”

Through the magical power fluctuation ring in the shop, the lead cultivator detected that the man before him had a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

The four of them were all at Early-Stage Foundation Establishment. Even if they joined forces, they might not be able to defeat him. It would be best to scare him off with words and avoid a fight if possible.

”You all should get the story straight. Am I the one making trouble? Or was it your employee who made wild claims, couldn’t produce the flying sword I asked for, and then decided to turn the tables and blame me?”

Bai Zichen remained perfectly calm, not moving an inch. He simply tossed his Tianhe Sword Sect VIP Identity Token onto the table.

”Xiaowu, what exactly happened!?”

When the lead cultivator saw the VIP token, which was modeled after the Supreme Profound White-Haired Sword, his attitude changed instantly. He quickly pulled the steward in front of him and demanded an answer.

Anyone with this kind of Identity Token was the honored guest of an Elder from the Sword Sect.

The Divine Sword Pavilion’s greatest backing was useless in front of this person.

Moreover, seeing the man’s calm demeanor and then looking at his own steward, whose face was ashen and body was trembling like a leaf, he started to guess what had happened. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

”I apologize on behalf of our Pavilion, Fellow Daoist. This was due to our inadequate training... I have already sent for our Pavilion’s master. She will be here shortly to apologize to you in person.”

After learning what had happened, he understood that the cause was nothing more than a common tactic for attracting customers.

Some verbal exaggeration, but he hadn’t expected to actually run into an anomaly among Foundation Establishment Cultivators, one who wasn’t even satisfied with a Tier Two Flying Sword.

The situation had escalated to the steward accidentally triggering the alarm. For a moment, the atmosphere in the private room grew icy and tense, on the verge of open conflict.

”That won’t be necessary. As long as the Divine Sword Pavilion operates with integrity from now on and stops making such wild boasts, that will be enough.”

Now that Bai Zichen knew the Divine Sword Pavilion didn’t have a Tier Three Flying Sword, he naturally had no interest in staying any longer.

”Fellow Daoist, if you seek a Tier Three Flying Sword, our Pavilion might actually be able to act as a go-between... Whether or not you can obtain it, however, will depend on your own abilities.”

A sweet voice came from outside the door, and a graceful female cultivator walked in.

”I am Suo Bihua, Pavilion Master of the Divine Sword Pavilion. My apologies, Fellow Daoist. I failed to properly discipline my subordinate and have made a fool of myself.”

”Banish this man and his entire family from the inner city. I don’t want people like him in the Divine Sword Pavilion.”

The green-robed steward begged for mercy, crying and wailing, but he received no forgiveness from Suo Bihua.

Suo Bihua sat down and quietly observed the eyes of the cultivator across from her.

But from beginning to end, the man’s gaze was indifferent, without the slightest flicker of emotion. This allowed her to make some deductions about his character.

”May I ask your name, Fellow Daoist? You don’t seem to be from the Immortal City. I know all the fellow daoists at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment nearby, and I don’t believe I’ve met you before.”

”I am Bai Zichen. I did just arrive in Sword City. Where is this Tier Three Flying Sword you mentioned? You’re not just going to introduce me to an Elder from the Tianhe Sword Sect who can refine one, are you?”

Bai Zichen could see that Suo Bihua was not very old, yet she already had a Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

Under the careful nurturing of a Core Formation True Man, having such a cultivation was quite normal.

”Of course not. A few months ago, Fairy Songx of the Transforming Soul Sword refined a Tier Three Flying Sword. Because it doesn’t match her own elemental affinity, she doesn’t plan to use it herself and is thinking of trading it.”

Suo Bihua’s confidential information must have come from Master Suo, the Evil Exorcism Sword Code True Man.

”Not many people in the entire Tianhe Sword Sect know this yet... Do you feel this information is a sincere enough apology, Fellow Daoist Bai?”

”It is. What does Fairy Songx want in exchange?”

Bai Zichen hadn’t expected to actually get a lead on a Tier Three Flying Sword in the Divine Sword Pavilion, and he asked eagerly.

”According to my grand-uncle, it would be best if she could trade it for a Tier Three Flying Sword that suits her... If not, Fairy Songx wants a piece of Taibai Golden Crystal. The buyer would have to make up any difference in value with Top-Grade Spirit Stones.”

Suo Bihua was interested in befriending this unfamiliar Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, not only because he possessed a Tianhe Sword Sect VIP Identity Token, but also because she felt a disquieting, heart-pounding aura from him.

Her supposed ’lack of interest in the Sword Dao’ was just an excuse for the public.

The real reason she failed to become a Sword Sect Disciple was that Suo Bihua’s Sword Dao Talent was simply too poor. Even after specialized training, she still couldn’t pass the sect’s entrance trial.

Left with no other choice, Master Suo used his connections to send Suo Bihua to the Celestial Secret Sect.

This Sect specialized in the Qi Observation Skill and claimed to be able to see good and bad fortune, being masters of all forms of divination.

Logically speaking, cultivation techniques related to Divination and Divine Calculation involve the Great Dao. Even a Nascent Soul True Monarch who specialized in it wouldn’t dare claim mastery.

And yet, the Celestial Secret Sect’s magic actually worked; you couldn’t say they were completely useless.

For example, when using divination to find someone, after dozens of attempts, a flash of spiritual insight would eventually occur, yielding the correct answer.

And their Qi Observation Skill was quite practical. With a single glance, they could see through a person’s true cultivation, even if they were using a Concealing Qi Technique.

When cultivated to a high level, it could even develop many other functions.

Suo Bihua’s Sword Dao Talent was practically zero, but her Spiritual Root aptitude wasn’t too bad. After joining the Celestial Secret Sect, she found she was an excellent match for the sect’s cultivation techniques, and she would even have extra senses when using the Qi Observation Skill.

In any case, the news that Songx Qin of the Transforming Soul Sword was preparing to trade her newly refined flying sword would spread in a few days anyway. She was just telling him a couple of days early to curry favor.

’Taibai Golden Crystal... Is that the Tier Four Low Grade Spiritual Material that only has a one-in-ten-thousand chance of forming when a meteor from the Outer Heaven is incinerated by the Great Sun Celestial Fire while falling through the Ten Thousand Feet Gang Wind Layer?’

When Bai Zichen saw Suo Bihua nod slightly, his heart sank. He didn’t have any Taibai Golden Crystal on him.

He didn’t even have any other Spiritual Materials of a similar Tier to Taibai Golden Crystal.

It was obvious that Songx Qin was collecting Spiritual Materials to prepare for her next Sword Refinement. Only the Spiritual Materials she needed would move her.

She probably wouldn’t even give mere Spirit Stones a second glance.

Of course, if he were willing to take out that Fire Element Top-Grade Spirit Stone, that would be another matter.

’Even if I learned the news ahead of time and got a chance to meet Songx Qin of the Transforming Soul Sword, it’s useless. I don’t have the corresponding Spiritual Materials... It seems this path is a dead end. I’ll have to count on the Sword Tomb Secret Realm after all.’

Feeling slightly disappointed, Bai Zichen asked Suo Bihua about the Sword Tomb Secret Realm.

And Suo Bihua, as expected of someone with a Sword Sect Elder in her family, knew the Secret Realm like the back of her hand, even though she wasn’t a Sword Cultivator.

”The Sword Tomb Secret Realm is divided into three layers. The outermost layer has countless Sword Marks passed down from Ancient Times. Depending on your Sword Dao Talent, you can comprehend different things from them... Some have created top-tier Swordsmanship by observing the Sword Marks, while others have had direct breakthroughs in their Sword Dao Realm. The vast majority of Sword Cultivators who enter the Secret Realm with a Sword Key can only ever reach the outermost layer.”

Suo Bihua found it strange that this man, who was aiming for the Sword Tomb Secret Realm and was a VIP of the Tianhe Sword Sect, didn’t even know the basics about the Secret Realm.

But she patiently continued her detailed explanation.

”Only if the comprehensions gained from the Sword Marks in the outermost layer are acknowledged can one be transported to the middle layer. That is a world of flying swords. My grand-uncle said that at its peak, hundreds of flying swords filled the middle layer of the Secret Realm, available to those with fate... After several thousand years, the remaining flying swords have become harder and harder to obtain.”

”As for the core layer, it can only be entered with the true key left behind by True Monarch Tianhe... Both the Supreme Profound White-Haired Sword and the Xing Yao Sword appeared there. The greatest dream of every Sword Sect Disciple is to be acknowledged by the last remaining Tier Four Flying Sword.”

”However, a Tier Four Flying Sword has already gained sentience. As long as it doesn’t want to appear, no one will ever be able to find it.”

”Not even a Nascent Soul True Monarch?”

Bai Zichen asked curiously.

”The Sword Tomb Secret Realm has been passed down since Ancient Times, after all. According to True Monarch Tianhe’s speculation, the entry of any Nascent Soul Cultivator would accelerate the Secret Realm’s collapse. So, since its discovery, the Realm for Trial Takers has been capped at the Core Formation Stage.”

All of Suo Bihua’s knowledge about the Sword Tomb Secret Realm came from Master Suo, so it was detailed and reliable. Bai Zichen listened very attentively.

”And it seems the Great Power who created the Secret Realm set a restriction. Besides True Monarch Tianhe, the master of the Secret Realm, everyone else, even with a Sword Key, only has one chance to enter the Sword Tomb Secret Realm. If you try to enter a second time, you won’t be able to step through the entrance even if you activate the Sword Key.”