The Sovereign’s Ascension

The Martial Hal had nine levels, and the number of people would decrease as you go up. After all, it wasn’t easy trying to increase the Sword Firmament Token’s grades. Even the tokens of most inner disciples were only fifth grade, and the contribution points needed to increase was an astronomical sum.

Under normal circumstances, disciples could only resort to completing missions incessantly. This meant that you have to contribute to the sect. After all, the sect couldn’t possibly open their martial and cultivation techniques to you without a price.

When Lin Yun arrived at the fifth level, there were only about ten people here. When they saw Lin Yun’s arrival, they nodded their heads out of manners. Those who could come to the fifth level were all elites in the inner sects, and their eyesight wasn’t something ordinary disciples could be compared to.

By the time Lin Yun came to the sixth floor, there were no disciples. As for the seventh floor, it was empty, not even a deacon. There were also fewer jade slips on the shelves. When Lin Yun came before the shelves that stored all the sword techniques, he was surprised.

There were hundreds of jade slips on the sixth floor, but on the seventh floor, there were only dozens of martial and cultivation techniques. When Lin Yun categorized them to sword techniques, there were only seven of them.

“You’re Junior Brother Lin?” A voice sounded out just when Lin Yun was about to look at the jade slips. He clearly sensed that there wasn’t anyone here, but he saw a youth when he turned around. The youth was dressed in blue as he walked over with a faint smile.

“That’s me. May I know who you are?” Lin Yun came to the seventh floor thanks to Guardian Plum, and for this youth to be here, this meant that this youth wasn’t as simple as he looked.

“Oh, I’m Tang Tong. You shouldn’t know me, but I watched the entire Alliance-Union Battle. So I have a deep impression about you,” said Tang Tong with a smile.

“Greetings, Senior Brother Tang,” replied Lin Yun.

Lin Yun’s response surprised Tang Tong. After all, Lin Yun was famed for his arrogance. He walked up and looked at the jade slips before Lin Yun. He asked, “Junior Brother Lin, you’re picking a sword technique?”

“I am. But there are only seven of them, and it exceeded my expectations.” Lin Yun nodded.

“Seven isn’t a small number. Do you know that it’s already impressive if other sects even have a spiritual sword technique?” Tang Tong smiled.

Lin Yun finally understood how precious spiritual martial techniques were after listening to Tang Tong’s explanation. You could still encounter lesser and intermediate profound martial techniques in the market, but advanced profound martial techniques were impossible, not to mention spiritual martial techniques.

Judging from grades, spiritual sword techniques weren’t any weaker than ordinary earth sword techniques. But the requirement to practice was lower than earth sword techniques. Judging from Tang Tong’s explanation, he didn’t put on any airs.

Tang Tong looked at the seven jade slips, and he continued, “If Junior Brother Lin trusts me, I’m willing to offer you some advice.”

“Thank you.” Lin Yun rejoiced inwardly.

Tang Tong then picked up the jade slips and introduced them to Lin Yun. The seven sword techniques were respectively the Thunderclap Sword, Astralcloud Sword, Bloodflame Sword, Icebreaker Sword, Clearwind Sword, Blazingsun Sword, and Aquaselenic Sword.

Tang Tong picked out four sword techniques for Lin Yun. They were the Thunderclap Sword, Astralcloud Sword, Icebreaker Sword, and the Blazingsun Sword. Those were easier to learn, and they were also powerful. They were common picks between inner disciples.

Most importantly, the Sword-Bearing Elders were proficient in those four sword techniques, and you could seek guidance from them. So it would be easier to practice the four sword techniques. Furthermore, if you were lucky enough with the Sword-Bearing Elders, you could even receive benefits in terms of resources. However, Lin Yun wasn’t too satisfied with them.

“Then we’re only left with the Clearwind sword, Bloodflame Sword, and Aquaselenic Sword. But we can first eliminate the Bloodflame Sword,” smiled Tang Tong.

“Why?”

“Junior Brother Lin, you’ll know with just a look at it,” smiled Tang Tong. He handed the jade slip over. Lin Yun placed it against his forehead and he could sense an outburst of violent aura.

Lin Yun smiled bitterly and placed the jade slips back, “Indeed, it’s not suitable for me.”

“The Bloodflame Sword is too ominous, and it has to be used with killing aura and hatred. The negative emotions to use this sword technique is too serious. It’s powerful, but there aren’t many cultivators capable of learning it…” Tang Tong paused briefly before he continued, “According to my knowledge, only your senior sister, Xin Yan, practices this sword technique among the inner disciples.”

Xin Yan? Lin Yun’s heart sank. Xin Yan seemed gentle and amicable to him, and she didn’t seem like someone who would practice the Bloodflame Sword. But when he recalled some rumours involving Xin Yan, the doubt disappeared in his heart.

“Then we’re left with two sword techniques. I suggest you go with the Clearwind Sword. It’s powerful, and you can kill soundlessly with the wind energy in your sword. But the only flaw in this sword technique is the perverse comprehension required.” Tang Tong retrieved the Clearwind Sword, and he smiled, “But since Junior Brother Lin can even learn the Overlord Sword, I believe that the Clearwind Sword won’t be a problem for you.”

This was a good sword technique, and Lin Yun was tempted. But he wasn’t in a rush. He looked at the last jade slip, and he asked, “What about the Aquaselenic Sword?”

“It’s best for you not to go with that. This sword technique is too weird. The techniques will fluctuate in terms of strength, and it’s weird. When it’s powerful, it’s comparable to other sword techniques here. But when it’s weak, it’s even weaker than profound sword techniques. Even if it stabilizes after reaching greater mastery, it’s too ordinary.” Tang Tong waved his hand.

If that was true, then the Aquaselenic Sword did seem like a fraud. If the strength of the sword fluctuates in battle, wouldn’t that mean that it was easy to be killed in battle?

Lin Yun smiled helplessly, “It looks like no one will really go for it.”

“I’ve picked it…and paid a great price to swap for another sword technique later on,” smiled Tang Tong bitterly as he coughed to conceal the awkward atmosphere.

“Let me take a look at it first.” Lin Yun diverted the topic. The Aquaselenic Sword was a sword technique with the elements of water, softness, moon, and yin energy. This piqued Lin Yun’s interest because it was rather compatible with the icy energy in the Iris Sword Sutra.

“Brother Tang, you’ve practised it to greater mastery?” Lin Yun asked.

“I’ve already reached greater mastery half a year ago, but it’s too lacking compared to other spiritual sword techniques in greater mastery.” Tang Tong nodded.

“Then I’ll go for it.” Lin Yun made his decision a brief moment later.

“Junior Brother Lin, you have to reconsider it again. Otherwise, you’ll need 100,000 contribution points if you want to change it to another sword technique in the future,” warned Tang Tong.

Lin Yun smacked his lips when he heard that. 100,000 contribution points would probably take him one year. Then again, Lin Yun was fond of this sword technique. “It’s fine. I’m fond of this sword technique. I believe there’s a reason why the strength fluctuates. Even if I can’t find the reason, it’ll still be decent after reaching complete mastery.”

Tang Tong still tried to persuade, but he didn’t say anything else when he saw the resolution in Lin Yun’s eyes.

“I’ll be going to pick a movement technique. I’ll not see you off then.” Tang Tong cupped his hands together.

“Thanks for your explanation. Let’s meet up again and have a drink.” Lin Yun was in a good mood since he managed to pick his sword technique thanks to Tang Tong’s explanation.

“Haha, I’ll take you for that.”

“Farewell.” Lin Yun handed the jade slip and quietly waited after he returned to the main hall.

When the elder saw the jade slip, he frowned. But a long time later, he sighed, “Come again if you think that it’s not suitable half a year from now.”

The elder knew Lin Yun’s temperament well and handed the complete Aquaselenic Sword over.

“Thank you.” Lin Yun felt a surge of warmth in his heart. The elder had treated him well, and it was impossible for someone else to receive this treatment. Keeping the Aquaselenic Sword, Lin Yun rushed towards the Locket Mountain.

After he left the Locket Mountain, he saw a group of people coming in his direction. The disciples who met them all had fear in their eyes as they avoided the group. From a distance away, Lin Yun instantly recognized that they were Gentlemen Union’s disciples.

They just happen to bump into Lin Yun. Then again, it wasn’t purely coincidence since it was natural for them to bump into each other as long as they were heading to the Martial Hall.

Lin Yun found them familiar and recognized that they were the Gentlemen Union’s Eight Vajra along with other disciples. The eight of them look proud. They were the Gentlemen Union’s pillars, and they were all Earth Ranking experts.

Wang Yan was usually arrogant, and no one dared to face the eight of them alone. If Lin Yun remembered correctly, Fu Lingtian gave him a palm on his way back to the Locket Mountain after he killed Ye Liuyun. The other party even took advantage of his cultivation shamelessly.

“And here I’m wondering who it is. So it turns out to be our Zhong Yunxiao, Junior Brother Zhong. Haha, Junior Brother Lin is pretty amazing.” Fu Lingtian was briefly stunned when he saw Lin Yun before he laughed.

“And what has it got to do with you?” Lin Yun asked.

“What an arrogant brat. Do you really think that you’re invincible since you’re the champion? Do you think that you’re now on the same level as us? Get lost!” Fu Lingtian sneered.

“Why are you even talking to him? Just teach him a lesson.” A robust figure stood out among the Eight Vajras. That robust figure was emitting a killing aura as he slammed his palm down.

Did these people still think of him as a cultivator in the second stage of the Profound Martial Realm back then?