https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-154-The-Embryo-and-the-External-Elixir/12582834/
Chapter 153: Ascending the Peak
Chapter 153: Ascending the Peak
Within the cave mansion.
Fang Xing fiddled with a blue jade slip.
"According to the intelligence from the Eight Winds Tower, that Heavenly Sword True Lord, Chu Kwang, enjoys wandering the four seas and seeking swords across the world. He shouldn't be in the sect now..."
"As long as I don't run into a Nascent Soul True Lord, my true body shouldn't have any problems."
"As for me, should I find a time to bear witness?"
He smiled and took out a sound transmission talisman.
Not long after, an old man with a weathered face arrived outside the cave mansion, carrying a fishing rod. "Jianzi."
This person was none other than Butler Xue! However, compared to before, he seemed more solemn.
"Butler Xue, your arrival is most fortuitous. I have many doubts about the sect's cultivation techniques and the flying sword bestowed by the sect. I would like to seek your guidance..."
Fang Xing invited Butler Xue into the cave mansion and offered him spirit tea. "By the way, since I'm now a true disciple, who will be my master?"
"This... it depends on which Inner Court Elder is willing to take on an apprentice..."
Butler Xue replied somewhat embarrassedly, "It's easier to talk about the Outer Court Elders, but those Inner Court Golden Core Sword Cultivator Elders rarely take on apprentices... Most disciples can go to the 'Listening Sword Peak' to observe and learn from the swordsmanship. As for the true disciples, they mostly rely on self-enlightenment, waiting for the day when they catch the eye of one of the sect's Elders or even the Sect Master..."
'Sword Cultivators are mostly cold and ruthless. It seems I shouldn't get my hopes up... Good! I don't want a Golden Core master anyway...'
Fang Xing shook his head inwardly and began to discuss the issue of Sword Cultivator techniques with Butler Xue: "I've already browsed through many of the sect's sword manuals. I'm not sure how to choose..."
When it came to this topic, Butler Xue immediately became more spirited: "Our sect's swordsmanship is divided into seven major schools, each stemming from a different sword cultivation manual. There's the Emotionless Path, the Stellar Path, the Five Elements, Metal Element, and Wood Element, among others. If we're talking about cultivation techniques, the best one is undoubtedly the _Zixia Sword Manual_! Our sect's Grand Elder follows this path. Aside from that, the _Everlasting Sword Key_ is also remarkable. It's a rare Wood-attribute sword technique, and our Sect Master, Kong Zhenren, is of this lineage..."
Fang Xing listened intently, matching the techniques with his own insights, and couldn't help but nod in agreement.
The _Zixia Sword Manual_ was the pinnacle of the Stellar Sword Path. Zixia was the lord of the stars, and the Zixia Sword naturally led the myriad stars, producing the most dazzling and majestic sword light.
He had browsed through this sword manual in the sixth layer of the Scripture Pavilion and discovered that upon reaching the perfection of foundation establishment, one would need to accumulate 350 drops of liquid spiritual power, making it the cream of the crop among top-tier techniques!
In comparison, the _Everlasting Sword Key_ was slightly inferior. At the perfection of foundation establishment, one could accumulate at most 300 drops of liquid spiritual power. However, it followed the path of a Wood-attribute sword technique, and the spirit sword was crafted from spirit wood, making it unique. It also had advantages in the path of longevity, unlike orthodox sword cultivators.
There were also many mysterious sword techniques and even the path of sword formations.
This was a happy dilemma.
Fang Xing had previously worried about not having a single sword cultivation technique, but now he had too many, and he didn't know which one to choose.
"When choosing a technique, one should naturally consider their spiritual root attribute first and then their personal preferences..."
Butler Xue said, "Additionally, since sword cultivators require a spirit sword, the material of the spirit sword is also very important. Although the sect will provide a spirit sword to true disciples without delay, if it doesn't have the required materials, there's nothing that can be done..."
"For example, if one cultivates the Stellar Sword Path, the spirit sword should ideally be made from stellar-attribute materials like 'Stellar Iron' or 'Meteorite Iron'. If one wishes to go further and cultivate the _Zixia Sword Manual_, the spirit sword should be made primarily from 'Extraterrestrial Purple Gold' or 'Tianxuan Star Sand'. These two rare treasures are extremely hard to come by. Even the Grand Elder didn't have access to them and could only make do with the fourth-grade 'Purple Gold Iron'."
Butler Xue was being extremely forthright: "If it's the _Everlasting Sword Key_, the ideal material for a foundation establishment cultivator's spirit sword would be the third-grade 'Everlasting Wood'... For qi cultivation true disciples, it would be the second-grade 'Everlasting Green Wood'... Fortunately, our sect's treasury has a good amount of that."
The spirit sword was intimately connected to sword cultivators; it was the second most important thing after one's spiritual root. Its importance couldn't be overstated.
Fang Xing listened with widened eyes, deep in thought.
In fact, considering his circumstances, the _Golden Primal Sword Manual_ was still the most suitable. Using metal-attribute materials to forge a spirit sword would result in a luxurious setup.
But if there were better options, they were worth considering.
Hence, his true body had seized this opportunity to make a move.
"Right... Butler Xue."
The two were having a pleasant conversation, and after drinking several pots of spirit tea, Butler Xue prepared to take his leave. Just then, Fang Xing took out a storage bag: "Butler Huang gave me a lot of spirit stones today, which makes me feel rather uneasy. Please take them back..."
"If I take them back, Butler Huang will be the one losing sleep..."
Butler Xue smiled bitterly and shook his head, refusing the offer.
As the two chatted, at the Jianxin Peak.
Fang Xing's true body altered his appearance, his figure becoming like a gust of wind, or perhaps a fleeting shadow, swiftly ascending the four hundred steps.
'If we're talking about the legacy of swordsmanship, this place is probably the best...'
With his hands clasped behind his back, he continued climbing, not making a sound.
The terrifying pressure and even the sword intent seemed to be sucked into a black hole, unable to escape by even a hair's breadth.
—Mahavairocana Mantra!
Ever since Bai Ri experimented with it and realized that this place was somewhat similar to the Myriad Spirit Tome, Fang Xing knew that the Mahavairocana Mantra would be equally effective here.
This proactive attack on the sea of consciousness, imbued with sword intent, was nothing but fuel for the Mahavairocana Mantra.
Furthermore, since he lacked a spiritual root and was akin to a mortal, the power he endured should be slightly lesser than that of a cultivator!
'Not bad... Not bad... Bring on more.'
A smile appeared on Fang Xing's face as his body moved like lightning, rushing straight towards the peak!
Countless sword intents fell into his sea of consciousness, only to be devoured by the crimson Mahavairocana, transforming them into the purest insights of the Sword Dao.
'With these... As long as my cultivation clones put in a little effort, cultivating Sword Qi and transforming it into Sword Threads shouldn't be a problem at all...'
'Even refining the sword into silk and differentiating the sword light... is but a matter of reaching out.'
In the blink of an eye, Fang Xing had already climbed nine hundred steps, surpassing the limit of the Grand Elder from back then!
"As expected... This formation prohibits Golden Core cultivators from entering, but it seems there's a bug in its judgment of me, treating me as a mortal?"
"Even the pressure of nine hundred steps is given to me according to mortal standards, so it's like a gift..."
A sword light appeared in Fang Xing's eyes.
That sword light was platinum, scorching, and fierce... It also possessed the speed of the heavens! In the instant it was seen, he was already struck by the sword!
However, for a third-stage body, it was like a gentle breeze brushing past his face.
On the other hand, that extremely fierce sword intent was burned by the Mahavairocana Mantra, causing Fang Xing to gradually understand the path of the Sword Heart.
"After refining the sword into Sword Qi, the next step is to comprehend Sword Intent! This often requires a Golden Core Sword Cultivator to achieve..."
"In reality, what's lacking isn't a Sword Core, but a Sword Heart!"
"Only by comprehending the Sword Heart can one give birth to Sword Intent!"
"Is this the third-stage path of a Sword Cultivator?"
...
As Fang Xing pondered, he had already reached the nine hundred and ninety-ninth step!
By this time, the commotion at Jianxin Peak had already attracted the attention of the Celestial Sword Sect.
Swords lights cut through the moonlight and rushed over.
Their auras were astonishing, yet not a single one of them landed on Jianxin Peak.
After all, there was an array formation here that prohibited Golden Core cultivators and above from entering!
Swoosh!
A green sword light flashed, revealing the figure of Kong Fengge, the Sect Master of the Celestial Sword Sect.
"Sect Master... Someone has intruded upon Jianxin Peak!"
An elder with white hair and an ancient sword sheathed at his side, emitted a dragon-like sword cry, "It seems he's not a disciple of our sect..."
"He's just a mortal!"
Kong Fengge said.
"A mortal? How is that possible?"
"Doesn't that mean that this child's talent far surpasses that of the Grand Elder?"
"Is he a heavenly sword immortal incarnated?"
"Haha, this is a blessing for our Celestial Sword Sect, Sect Master... We must not let this child go, we must take him in as the only Sword Disciple!"
...
The group of sword fanatics shouted excitedly.
However, Fang Xing completely ignored them and stepped onto the one-thousandth step.
Boom!
At this moment, he truly felt what it meant to 'form sword intent with one's aura'!
At the peak of Jianxin Peak, the terrifying spiritual energy of heaven and earth was stirred, transforming into a mighty river of sword light that resembled the starry river of the nine heavens pouring down!
'Golden Core Sword Cultivators dominate with their sword intent...'
'But Nascent Soul cultivators can often slightly manipulate the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, and a single spell can have the might to move mountains and fill the seas!'
'Nascent Soul-stage Sword Cultivators can comprehend the 'Sword Intent Formation', using their sword to guide the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, their might far surpassing that of ordinary Nascent Souls... They can even seize control over the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, allowing them to dominate among Nascent Soul cultivators!'
'Fortunately, this isn't a true Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator attacking me, otherwise, I would be dead...'
A golden light appeared around Fang Xing's body, resembling the Arhat's Golden Body, as he pushed the 'Dragon Elephant's Indestructible Vajra Body' technique to its limit.
The vajra relic between his eyebrows shone brilliantly, unafraid of any sword intent assault.
This allowed him to stand firm amidst the weakened 'Sword Intent Formation', witnessing the scenery at the peak of Jianxin Peak!
"I've reached the top! I've actually reached the top!"
"The Exiled Sword Immortal! The Exiled Sword Immortal!"
Many of the Golden Core Sword Cultivators of the Celestial Sword Sect had tears in their eyes, "Sect Master... We can't let this person go!"
"Elders, assist me!"
Kong Fengge finally made up his mind, and a sword seal appeared in his hand, "Let's join forces to shut down the Jianxin Peak's restriction!"
This was almost equivalent to actively shutting down the sect's grand formation, a grave matter.
After all, Jianxin Peak was connected to the sect's grand formation, and shutting it down abruptly would definitely affect the sect's grand formation.
Fortunately, the Celestial Sword Sect had no external enemies, and these Sword Cultivators were also confident in their abilities.
Fang Xing paid no heed to the commotion outside.
The peak of Jianxin Peak did not have any special scenery, only a bare cliff.
And on a pitch-black rock, an ancient sword was inserted diagonally!
"A Spirit Treasure? Or something even higher?"
At this moment, a stream of information, along with countless sword insights, emerged in his mind, allowing him to know how to obtain the final reward.
Fang Xing lightly tapped his toes and landed on the cliff, reaching out his right hand to grasp the hilt of the ancient sword.
Boom!
In an instant, a large amount of text and images frantically poured into his spiritual sea...
(End of Chapter)
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