Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 238: Chapter 236: Everyone Has Decided You Have Heaven-Defying Aptitude

The moment Suo Qian’s voice fell, the tip of the Stone Sword suddenly exploded, shattering a third of its length.

He and Tang Yuan were dumbfounded. What was happening?

It wasn’t until all ten Trial Takers were ejected that Suo Qian finally snapped out of it.

”Someone took the last Flying Sword from the Secret Realm. Without its stabilizing artifact, the Third Layer of the Secret Realm naturally ceased to exist...”

Suo Qian felt a twinge of melancholy, but it was quickly replaced by wild ecstasy.

Regardless of the reason, a Tier Four Flying Sword actively choosing a master would be a massive boost to the Tianhe Sword Sect’s strength.

If this lucky person could successfully reach the Nascent Soul Realm with the help of the Tier Four Flying Sword, the Tianhe Sword Sect would witness its most glorious era.

Three Nascent Soul True Monarchs, each wielding a Tier Four Flying Sword.

The Sect’s power would be unrivaled in the Northern Domain.

Even if the person only ever reached the Core Formation Realm, the Tier Four Flying Sword had already acknowledged its master. It wasn’t as if it could just fly away.

When that person passed away, the Sect would still have another Tier Four Flying Sword, and sooner or later, a suitable new master would be found.

It would just mean the first scenario would happen a little later.

’I wonder which lucky person earned the favor of a Tier Four Flying Sword. There was no one in this batch of disciples whose talent stood head and shoulders above their peers.’

Suo Qian still had some doubts. ’Perhaps my judgment was lacking, and I failed to see this disciple’s deeply hidden, extraordinary talent.’

”Who was it that obtained the Tier Four Flying Sword?”

Faced with Master Suo Qian’s question, the seven Sword Sect Disciples looked at each other, unsure how to answer.

Finally, the long-bearded, Black-Faced Cultivator stepped forward and said, ”Reporting to Master, I had just obtained the Tier Three Phoenix Soaring Sword and been transported to the Third Layer of the Secret Realm when a strange phenomenon occurred... A stream of moonlight shot across the sky, heading directly for the second layer.”

”That’s right, Junior Martial Uncles! We were still in the second layer searching for Flying Swords when the entire area filled with moonlight... Then we were teleported out. We didn’t even see a shadow of a Tier Four Flying Sword!”

Another Sword Sect Disciple had a dazed look on his face; forget a Tier Four Flying Sword, he hadn’t even caught a glimpse of a Tier Three one.

”What? The Tier Four Flying Sword left the third layer on its own and went to the second layer to choose a master?”

Suo Qian’s face fell. He had been so confident that the Tier Four Flying Sword would end up in the hands of a Sword Sect Disciple precisely because only their own disciples could enter the third layer.

The Trial Takers who entered the Secret Realm with a Sword Key were restricted to the second layer.

Even if they obtained a Tier Three Flying Sword, they would be immediately teleported out of the Secret Realm.

But if the Tier Four Flying Sword went to the second layer, didn’t that mean even those few Cultivators who weren’t from the Sword Sect had a chance to get it?

At the same time, he thought about just how terrifying a person’s Sword Dao Talent must be to make a Tier Four Flying Sword disregard the cost and rush to the second layer to acknowledge them as its master.

Back then, Yann Yuanzai, at Foundation Establishment Perfection, had achieved Great Success in Sword Qi Thunder Sound and was just beginning to grasp the Realm of Refining Sword into Silk. He had to defeat three Sword Talisman Puppets in a row in the third layer using only his Swordsmanship.

Only then did he attract the Xing Yao Sword, which acknowledged him as its master after some interaction.

To be more precise, it was using Yann Yuanzai’s body as a means to leave the Sword Tomb Secret Realm.

Their relationship was less like master and servant and more like partners.

For a Tier Four Flying Sword to cross layers like this could only mean one thing: this person’s talent was so high that the Sword Spirit believed they would certainly reach the Nascent Soul Realm, and perhaps even had a chance at Divinity Transformation.

’Either that, or they’re an Immortal Seed of a Sword Immortal who has already mastered Refining Sword into Silk and comprehended the True Intent of One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws while still in the Foundation Establishment Stage.’

A Tier Four Flying Sword is Spiritual; it can already discern and choose its master, knowing which choice is most beneficial for itself.

Suo Qian’s gaze swept over all the Sword Sect Disciples, and his heart sank bit by bit.

Not a single disciple showed any lingering traces of Sword Intent from having come into contact with a Tier Four Flying Sword.

In truth, he had already guessed as much when the long-bearded, Black-Faced Cultivator finished speaking, but he had still held onto a sliver of hope.

Whether it was a Divinity Transformation Seed or a peerless Sword Dao genius who had mastered Refining Sword into Silk, such concepts were far too removed from this group of disciples.

Even if someone had an Invisibility Talent, it was too exaggerated. It simply didn’t make sense.

The worst-case scenario had happened after all.

Among the remaining three outside Cultivators, there was indeed a peerless prodigy whose talent was so high it could move a Tier Four Flying Sword from a layer away.

”Was it you who obtained my Sect’s Tier Four Flying Sword?”

Suo Qian scrutinized the remaining three one by one, his gaze finally landing on a young man who carried himself with a free and natural air, yet also possessed a mature and confident demeanor.

There was a faint trace of moonlight on this person, invisible to the naked eye and undetectable by Divine Sense. Only with a Sword Heart could it be sensed.

The Flying Sword in his own hand was trembling slightly, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Unlike other Magical Treasures, for a Flying Sword to achieve the step of becoming Spiritual was as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

It wasn’t like other Top-Grade Magical Treasures, which could accumulate power over long periods of time and cultivate Spirituality.

Then, at an opportune moment, that Spirituality would sublimate, turning it into a Low-Grade Spiritual Treasure.

When a Flying Sword was refined as a Tier Three weapon, it would remain a Tier Three Flying Sword for its entire existence.

Advancing from a Tier Three Flying Sword to a Tier Four Flying Sword was not something that could be achieved simply by nurturing it over time and re-Refining it with a few pieces of Tier Four Ore.

A Tier Four Flying Sword was equivalent to a Top-Grade Spiritual Treasure, placing it at the very pinnacle of Magical Treasures in the Human World.

This was equivalent to a Top-Grade Magical Treasure transforming into a Top-Grade Spiritual Treasure.

The magnitude of the leap and the difficulty involved were immense.

Therefore, for the vast majority of Sword Cultivators, a Tier Three Flying Sword was the pinnacle.

A Tier Four Flying Sword was a treasure one could only hope to encounter by chance, not seek out deliberately.

”It was indeed I. The Moon Xuan Sword acknowledged me as its master in the Secret Realm,” Bai Zichen said.

Bai Zichen felt a little awkward. He had only been hoping for a Tier Three Flying Sword.

He never expected the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo to be so alluring that it would directly attract the last Tier Four Flying Sword in the Sword Tomb Secret Realm.

It had even caused the third layer of their Secret Realm to collapse.

’However, legally speaking, since I’ve been acknowledged by the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword Embryo, I can be considered a successor to the Upper Realm Sword Immortal who left behind the two Secret Realms.’

’From that perspective, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I’m half the master of the Moon Xuan Sword.’

Hearing Bai Zichen’s frank admission, the veins on the back of Suo Qian’s sword-wielding right hand bulged, and his knuckles turned white from his tight grip.

”Senior Brother, calm down!”

Tang Yuan stepped in front of the emotionally volatile Suo Qian, afraid he would actually swing his sword and kill the young Sword Cultivator.

Although the Tianhe Sword Sect didn’t claim to be an orthodox and righteous sect, its Sword Cultivators often had a chivalrous spirit.

More importantly, as the Sword Cultivation Holy Land of the Northern Domain and the leading Sword Dao Sect, if the Tianhe Sword Sect were to actually steal a Trial Taker’s opportunity and silence them by murder, the damage to the Sect’s reputation would be devastating if it were ever exposed.

”Kid, has the Moon Xuan Sword truly acknowledged you as its master?”

Suo Qian took a deep breath and asked again.

”That is correct.”

A flicker of moonlight flashed in his palm. The Moon Xuan Sword, treating Bai Zichen as its boss’s boss, was exceptionally obedient, doing whatever it was told.

It showed none of the legendary arrogance of a Tier Four Flying Sword, which was rumored to be unapproachable by anyone other than a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

”Where are you from? Which sect’s disciple are you?”

Suo Qian’s eyelid twitched. To be able to command a Tier Four Flying Sword so effortlessly just moments after it acknowledged a master was simply too bizarre.

This was something that could only happen if the Moon Xuan Sword was cooperating a hundred percent willingly, with no need for Refinement or communication.

’Just how high is this kid’s talent, for the Moon Xuan Sword to throw itself at him to this degree?’

According to the Tianhe Sword Sect’s confidential Ancient Texts, when True Monarch Tianhe first obtained the Profound Ink Jade Pendant that opened the Sword Tomb Secret Realm, he could be considered half the master of the Secret Realm.

Even with his True Monarch-level aptitude, it still took him over a month to finish communicating with the Supreme Profound White-Haired Sword and successfully tame the proud Tier Four Flying Sword.

”I am Bai Zichen of the Qingfeng Sect from Liang Country, currently traveling with my elder... My elder is an old acquaintance of Master Yann, and we arrived at your esteemed Sect a few months ago.”

Bai Zichen hurriedly explained his identity, hoping to prevent the two Core Formation True Men from getting any crooked ideas and acting against him.

Although the Moon Xuan Sword had been confidently conveying that it could escape even from a Nascent Soul True Monarch in the vicinity of the Sword Tomb Secret Realm.

Two mere Core Formation Cultivators were nothing to worry about.

But it was always better to resolve things peacefully. Once it came to blows, there would be no turning back for a civil conversation.

”So you’re Master Ge’s disciple...”

Suo Qian had wondered if the person might be a Loose Cultivator.

In that case, the matter would have been simple to resolve: he could just be inducted directly into the Tianhe Sword Sect.

At worst, they could have True Monarch Tang Fei personally accept him as a disciple.

That way, the Tianhe Sword Sect would gain a peerless genius and a Tier Four Flying Sword for free.

And the other party would go from being a Loose Cultivator to a Core Disciple of a Nascent Soul Major Sect, never lacking for cultivation inheritances again.

A mutually beneficial outcome, perfect for both sides.

But Suo Qian had heard the name Ge Cang twice now, because of his connection to Yann Yuanzai.

And in the recent Burial Immortal Valley incident that had shocked the Northern Domain, Master Ge Cang had demonstrated the highest level of combat power beneath the Nascent Soul Realm.

Making the disciple of such a figure switch sects would be difficult.

”Junior Brother Tang, handle matters here. Take this person to White Head Hall later... A Tier Four Flying Sword is a matter of great importance. I’m going to inform Junior Martial Uncle Tang and Senior Brother Yann.”

Suo Qian gave Bai Zichen one last deep look before transforming into a streak of Sword Light and flying away.

...

”Junior Brother Bai, I’m completely in awe of you... As an outsider participating in the Secret Realm trial, you actually managed to run off with the Tier Four Flying Sword that the Tianhe Sword Sect considers their private reserve.”

Qi Yue wore a strange expression, having gained a new appreciation for just how Heaven-Defying his junior brother’s talent was.

”I didn’t want this to happen either. Who knew it would provoke the Moon Xuan Sword to come out...”

Bai Zichen’s tone was full of helplessness. Even though he had already made it clear that his Sword Dao Realm was only at Sword Qi Thunder Sound...

...compared to the general population, he was of course a rare Sword Dao genius.

But that was still a far cry from the level required to make the Tier Four Moon Xuan Sword abandon everything to choose him.

However, neither Master Ge Cang and Qi Yue, nor the people of the Tianhe Sword Sect, believed his Sword Dao Talent was as simple as what he had shown.

One of the Sword Sect’s Core Formation True Men even went through Ancient Texts and found several types of hidden Sword Dao Spirit Bodies, trying to find evidence that Bai Zichen’s Sword Dao Talent was far greater.

Master Ge Cang and his disciple, who knew more of the inside story, attributed it to his Mysterious Holy Body.

Everyone’s understanding of the Sacred Body was practically a blank slate, so they just tossed any incredible event that occurred into that basket.

”I still don’t know what the Tianhe Sword Sect’s opinion will be...”

Bai Zichen thought back to the other day in White Head Hall, where all of the Tianhe Sword Sect’s Core Formation True Men had gathered. Even True Monarch Tang Fei had been present in person.

The more aggressive ones had glared at him, stating bluntly that he had to hand over the Moon Xuan Sword and return it to the Tianhe Sword Sect.

Otherwise, they would imprison him within the Sword Sect. In short, they absolutely could not allow the Moon Xuan Sword to fall into outside hands.

Those with a more moderate attitude didn’t immediately start screaming for his head.

But the meaning behind their words was still that the Tianhe Sword Sect could not simply lose a Tier Four Flying Sword for nothing.

If he wanted to take the Moon Xuan Sword, he had to offer something of corresponding value in return, so they could justify it to the disciples of the Sword Sect.