Before the Sword-Sealing Stone of Lishan Town was privatized as a forbidden relic, it was a natural mineral mountain, devoid of any greenery, with only bare, craggy rocks exposed.
When the Sword-Sealing Stone's restrictions were lifted, countless cultivators rushed to this treasure mountain, hoping to obtain a magical weapon or two.
By now, the differences in cultivation levels had become clear. Most cultivators could barely withstand the sword aura at the foot of the mountain.
Another group of cultivators managed to reach the mountainside, where there was a sword grave. It contained masterless swords whose owners had long since passed away.
These abandoned swords included ancient blades from the time of the Ji Clan of Immortals, as well as new swords with gleaming edges that had yet to experience much of the world.
Many spirit swords still bore traces of their former owners – congealed blood on the blade, sword tassels with only half the jade remaining, cracked scabbards, and tattered red silk. Everything spoke to the desolation of this place.
As humans have their burial grounds, swords too have a place for their spirits to return. The sword grave was filled with the mournful cries of spirit swords. Even sunlight entering this area seemed to lose its warmth, leaving only cold reflections.
Cultivators gradually made their way to the sword grave, standing on the stone platform at its edge, stunned by the scattered and dilapidated spirit swords within.
Of course, some couldn't help but feel greedy at the sight of the famous swords in the grave.
"Look! Isn't that the Lonely Arrogance Sword? Liuying Taoist once used it to cleave Cangya Mountain in half, and sword echoes can still be heard in that crevice to this day. I never imagined that after Liuying Taoist's death, this sword would be buried here."
The man spoke with a frenzied expression and was about to jump into the sword grave to retrieve the once-renowned blade.
His words prompted other cultivators to recognize several other legendary swords within the grave.
Just as the crowd was growing restless, a voice suddenly came from behind. It was clear and gentle, like a cool spring striking jade, and it advised: "These are all sorrowful swords that have lost their masters. I urge my fellow Daoists to think thrice before acting."
The crowd turned to look and saw a group of people emerging from the mountain path. The speaker was Pei Jingchao, the top disciple of the Lishan Sword Sect. He wore a narrow-sleeved, moon-white robe with silver bamboo leaf patterns on the collar that reflected a faint moonlight.
Beside him was Yao Yuxiu, the only daughter of Juechen Taoist, the master of Lishan. She wore a dress of the same color, with bright eyes, white teeth, and fluttering black hair. Standing together, they truly made a perfect couple.
Behind them, apart from two Lishan disciples, were Shen Qingzhi from Zhaohua Palace and Zhang Kuang from the Blazing Sun Sect.
These six were all well-known figures, especially Pei Jingchao. He had recently made a splash at the Ten Thousand Immortals Conference, and Lishan had thrown a grand wedding banquet for the couple. As such, everyone present recognized him.
Yao Yuxiu looked around and noticed that among the cultivators trying to steal swords from the grave were several disciples from the Twelve Great Immortal Sects who were attempting to hide their identities. This infuriated her.
She placed her hand on the sword at her waist and said sternly, "This Sword-Sealing Stone is the foundational treasure of our Lishan Sword Sect. It has always been restricted to Lishan's inner disciples only. Those who are not Lishan disciples, please leave immediately, or don't blame me for being impolite."
The group of cultivators by the sword grave looked at each other. Yao Yuxiu was right – this was indeed the Lishan Sword Sect's treasure. If it hadn't suddenly appeared in the clouds, they would never have had the chance to enter, let alone see that so many famous swords were buried in this Sword-Sealing Stone.
These people didn't dare offend the Lishan Sword Sect, but with superior spirit swords right before them, how could they leave empty-handed?
So, a quick-witted cultivator in the crowd racked his brains and found a loophole. Hiding behind the crowd with his head lowered, he said in a voice that was neither loud nor soft, "Juechen Zi publicly announced that anyone who could help the Lishan Sword Sect find the Sword-Sealing Stone would be allowed to enter and choose a divine weapon."
"The Sword-Sealing Stone appeared in the clouds, and we who witnessed it can all be considered to have found it. Of course, we can come in here and find a weapon according to the agreement."
As soon as the cultivator's words spread, everyone chimed in, suddenly becoming righteous.
Even the few disciples from the Great Immortal Sects who were about to leave out of respect for their sect's reputation stopped in their tracks.
"I think what he says makes sense. We all found the Sword-Sealing Stone, so of course we have the right to be here."
"That's right, it was your father who made the public announcement. We traveled thousands of miles to help Lishan find the Sword-Sealing Stone. Now that it's been found, don't tell me your great immortal sect is going back on its word?"
Yao Yuxiu's face flushed red with anger, and she shouted, "The Sword-Sealing Stone broke through its own restrictions and appeared in the clouds by itself. How can you claim you found it?"
Before she could finish speaking, someone immediately retorted, "We all came here to find the Sword-Sealing Stone, and we saw it here. How does that not count as finding it?"
Yao Yuxiu's fingertips twitched slightly, and her spirit sword at her waist hummed, emitting a flash of bright sword light. Angrily, she was about to draw her sword to teach a lesson to the disrespectful cultivator. However, just as her sword was an inch out of its sheath, a slender hand pressed it back.
Pei Jingchao didn't look at her, his gaze fixed on the crowd before him. He spoke calmly, "What you all say is quite right. Our Lishan Sword Sect is certainly not one to break promises. If you wish to take a spirit sword, you may do so at your convenience."
"Senior Brother!" Yao Yuxiu couldn't believe he would say such a thing and interrupted him in disbelief.
Pei Jingchao patted her hand reassuringly and continued, "I advised you all earlier not to enter the sword grave only because the swords within are all sorrowful blades that have lost their masters. Sorrowful swords are fierce and can easily harm people. Those who fall in might not be able to escape unscathed."
With famous swords before them, his words couldn't dissuade them. The crowd was unmoved and sneered, "Hmph, that sounds nice, but I think you're just afraid we'll take the famous swords from here."
Among the group, a cultivator with narrow eyes and a short beard had been lingering at the edge of the sword grave. He finally confirmed that one of the spirit swords in the grave looked familiar.
Pointing at that long sword, he said angrily, "I'd like to ask Fellow Daoist Pei, if this Sword-Sealing Stone is from Lishan, why is the sword of our sect's elder in this sword grave? After the old man passed away, his sword vanished without a trace. I never expected that you Lishan people had hidden it away!"
"That's right, Liuying Taoist wasn't from your Lishan either. Why is her Lonely Arrogance Sword in the Sword-Sealing Stone?"
"You've hidden all the spirit swords of the world in your own sect and only allow your disciples to choose from them. Isn't that a bit too greedy?"
Pei Jingchao stood tall before the crowd. Under their questioning, he explained calmly and confidently, "The Sword-Sealing Stone contains the essence of sword spirits. Many spirit swords that have lost their masters are drawn by the sword aura within the Sword-Sealing Stone and automatically come to this mountain to rest."
"It is for this reason that our sect created this sword grave here to house these spirit swords. Unless a masterless spirit sword actively chooses one of our disciples, Lishan disciples never enter the sword grave to select swords."
At this point, both sides were at an impasse. The crowd naturally didn't believe his words. Even if what he said was true, those who had come this far wouldn't easily give up the chance to enter the sword grave and choose a famous sword.
"The Sword-Sealing Stone has always been hidden deep within your Lishan, inaccessible to outsiders. Who knows if what you're saying is true or false? If I hadn't come in here today, I wouldn't have known that Elder Tao's sword was here."
As he spoke, the narrow-eyed cultivator resolutely jumped into the sword grave, running towards what he claimed was Elder Tao's sword.
For a moment, all eyes were on him, watching as he made his way unobstructed to a completely black long sword stuck diagonally in the ground. He cupped his hands and bowed, performing a disciple's salute to the spirit sword. The entire sword grave remained undisturbed.
This made the crowd even more convinced that Pei Jingchao had been trying to scare them. As a result, more and more cultivators jumped into the sword grave, running towards the famous swords they had set their eyes on. When two or three people wanted the same sword, they began fighting on the spot.
As soon as someone made a move, spiritual energy spread throughout the sword grave, immediately stirring up the sword aura throughout the grave. The mournful sword sounds intensified, sweeping across the entire sword grave like a chaotic current. Blood splattered amidst the sword light, and some unfortunate souls perished on the spot.
"It's hard to talk sense into those destined to die," Shen Qingzhi observed this spectacle, holding a jade brush for talisman-making against his lips, commenting with schadenfreude.
Pei Jingchao, the man who had been constantly questioned despite his good advice, now disregarded past grievances and swiftly darted into the sword grave.
He drew out the Bone Destiny Sword, its scarlet blade glowing like burning flames, deflecting the chaotic sword energy as he swiftly maneuvered through the sword grave, grabbing people and tossing them out.
In no time, he had rescued several individuals.
Yao Yuxiu stood at the edge of the sword grave, stomping her foot impatiently, "Senior brother, why are you still saving them? They deserve to die here."
Zhang Kuang remarked with great approval, "Brother Jingchao is truly a person of great kindness and righteousness."
...
The commotion in the sword grave on the mountainside was intense, with the humming of sorrowful sword sounds drowning out the activity on the path leading to the Weapon Tempering Platform.
Xue Chenjing was climbing a deep, narrow stairway between two walls, aiming to reach the Weapon Tempering Platform at the mountain's central peak.
This mountain path was the most coveted sword-claiming route for disciples of the Lishan Sword Sect. The higher one climbed, the closer to the Weapon Tempering Platform, the higher the grade of spirit sword one could obtain. However, ascending was no easy feat.
The spirit swords embedded in the walls of the path seemed to sense his intention to reach the Weapon Tempering Platform, letting out a chorus of sword hums. The surging sword energy converged in this deep, narrow stairway, like waves of a flood growing stronger, attempting to expel this reckless intruder who dared to challenge the Weapon Tempering Platform.
Xue Chenjing was engulfed by sword lights of various colors, each step bearing the weight of a thousand jun. Amidst the flickering sword lights, the writhing tentacles of air around him were clearly outlined.
Those transparent tentacles formed a thick cocoon, enveloping Xue Chenjing, their tips wriggling menacingly. When the sword light entered the tentacles, it seemed to slow for a moment, as if sinking into a gel.
This brief moment provided an opportunity for the demonic creatures, led by the Bone Demon, to counterattack.
Crackling sounds occasionally rang out - the noise of spirit swords on the walls being shattered by the demonic creatures.
Despite this, as they drew closer to the Weapon Tempering Platform, the sword currents grew denser and more powerful. A fine layer of sweat appeared on Xue Chenjing's forehead, his pupils flickering with light. One careless move, and he would be swept by the sword lights as dense as a sudden downpour.
Although protected by demonic creatures, his physical body was extremely fragile. With cultivation barely at the Foundation Building stage, if he were truly struck by a sword, he would perish instantly on this long stairway.
Thus, even though the female protagonist's favorability towards the host kept dropping after entering the formation, almost reaching zero, the system didn't dare make a sound, fearing it might distract him.
It could only silently pray that the female protagonist could hold out a bit longer in that formation, and not be completely devoured by the remnant fierce demonic energies.
