Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 159 - 152: Forging the Sword, Part Four

Chapter 159: Chapter 152: Forging the Sword, Part Four

"The results could be disastrous, not only might the Red Flower Sword disintegrate due to the disruption of the metallic energy within, destroying its structure as if a master martial artist lost control and went into devilment, severing all his meridians and becoming completely useless, but even the villa master could be implicated, suffering internal injury!" Old Master Yang said slowly, "That’s why these days the manor is heavily guarded on the outside, and under a strict ban on smoking—it’s for this reason."

As he was speaking, another group of people walked in. Leading them were Lin Xin’s parents and a host of relatives.

"May I ask Old Master Yang how my son is doing now?" Lin Zhiwen asked with some concern, "So many days have passed, why hasn’t he come down yet?"

Zhao Yu Niang was also somewhat worried.

"Lingling has also asked me for updates several times..."

"Both of you need not worry. As long as no external force disturbs the villa master, everything should go smoothly," Old Master Yang reassured.

Despite their worries, the two elders could do nothing to help and could only gaze eagerly towards Lin Xin, waiting.

********************

Far to the south of the Yufu Territory lay the Heavenly Light Realm.

"The intention to visit dreams of the North stirs, there is a premonition, a premonition..."

"Brother Yue, yet again you have a premonition. Is there a new treasure emerging this time? Can your Treasure Light Divine Ability point out the direction?"

Atop a tavern, two scholarly-dressed men sat opposite each other, leisurely tasting wine. They conversed while one glanced at the view outside the window and spoke in a soft transmitted voice.

"It’s just that a magic artifact with some potential is about to appear," the thin-faced scholar said with a beaming smile, "What good can there be in your Four Sects’ territories?"

"The Golden Jade Sect has the Golden Jade Rules, which can resolve all poisons and release a golden light to suppress the sect, isn’t that something good?" The other man, wearing a black square cap, had bright black eyes shining like pearls and full, ruddy cheeks, looking quite prosperous.

"That counts," said the scholar surnamed Yue with a nod.

"And the Plum Blossom Sect’s thirty-six Sky Gang Plum Blossom Formations, rumored to be arranged from thirty-six Sky Gang Plum Blossom Needles, isn’t this set of magical treasures something good?"

"That counts as well!"

"The Pine Patterned Swords of the Sword Sect can pierce the heavens with a single strike, disperse clouds, and clear Yin evil, settling Yin and Yang—isn’t that something?"

The scholar surnamed Yue paused slightly.

"That’s an exaggeration. The Sky-Piercing Pine Patterned Sword has gone beyond the Third Grade, also entering the incalculable level of divine weapons. However, divine weapons and magical artifacts differ in strength and nature, some even lacking the ability to slay enemies. Like the Golden Jade Ruler of the Golden Jade Sect, its main use is for detoxification. That’s actually not comparable."

"Then why has Brother Yue come to my territory this time?" The prosperous scholar gently poured himself another cup of wine and asked.

"The Demon Queen has appeared. I’ve just rushed back from the Xingchi Outer Regions when I heard the elder brother came out of seclusion planning to take action personally. The last time I saw your Wind-Riding Drum was two hundred years ago, such a treasure must be closely inspected."

"Brother Yue flatters me. I think your true purpose is for the Celestial Maiden of the Plum Blossom, isn’t it?" The prosperous scholar also smiled.

The smile on the scholar surnamed Yue’s face tightened slightly, "That’s not what we’re talking about. For this Demon Queen suppression, I specifically went to Huang Dragon Temple to borrow the Dragon Celestial Bottle for you, to ensure nothing goes wrong."

"My thanks, Brother Yue!" the prosperous scholar said, bowing solemnly.

"We have a friendship of a thousand years, such formalities are unnecessary," the scholar surnamed Yue waved his hand, pulling out a small, exquisitely crafted golden narrow-necked bottle from his sleeve and placing it on the table between them, then gently pushed it across.

"So, in which locations have traces of the Demon Path appeared that need setting up?" he changed the subject and asked.

The prosperous scholar took the small bottle.

"More than a dozen territories under the Four Sects have exhibited signs of the Demon Path’s presence—we cannot effectively prevent all cultivators from infiltrating with our lax jurisdiction."

"Indeed, the power of the Loose Cultivators is also troublesome. Give me a list of the territories that need inspection."

"Very well."

The prosperous scholar nodded, reached out for a white jade-colored scroll, and slowly unrolled it, sweeping his hand over it gently as a line of writing slowly surfaced.

Among them, under the listing for the Sword Sect, the three characters for Yufu Territory stood out...

"I will personally send someone to investigate these suppressors within the territories, if they discover..."

"If any problems are found, you may dispose of Brother Yue’s people as you see fit, to execute on the spot. This is the collective will of the Four Sects," the prosperous scholar said decisively.

"Alas... with the way the world is, the Mysterious Leaf Cult likely has already colluded with the cultivators of the Far North Land. Both sides were greatly weakened after the battle in the Far North, yet he still has the capacity to secretly plant spies and sabotage the Yang layer..."

"Our Southern Manor cultivators are blocked by the vanishing winds of the Outer Regions, and with the long distance through the boundless cloud sea, has the Mysterious Leaf Cult found a safe way through?" The prosperous scholar was astonished.

"I’m not sure... anyway, we’ll first deal with the Demon Queen suppression and talk about the Mysterious Leaf Cult later," said the scholar surnamed Yue.

"Indeed..."

*************************

Music Mansion Realm

Each night, a red glow, as if steaming, enveloped Spirit Heart Villa; gradually, word of this spectacle began to spread among the major cities outside the Villa.

Some said that a rare treasure must have descended into the world.

Others speculated that the Villa was refining some precious artifact, while there were those who surmised whether it was an omen that Spirit Heart Villa would soon be struck by a calamitous blood disaster.

Given that the Villa had always held a sterling reputation within the Music Mansion Realm, naturally, people flocked to the major temples to pray for the stability of the Villa.

If the Villa remained stable, then so would the Music Mansion Realm, and all could live and work in peace.

Yet, there were always a few restless souls who made their way stealthily to the scene, among them loose cultivators, Daoist Masters, and Demon Kings.

**************

In the woods surrounding Spirit Heart Villa.

A black-robed Daoist, cradling a child swaddled in black, and with a face etched with scars, stood in the forest gazing at the distant Villa’s commotion. His eyes were slightly closed, as if he were sensing something.

Pfft.

Suddenly, from about ten meters behind him, a puff of white smoke rose, and a large tiger, with yellow fur, spotted with white on its forehead, materialized on the ground.

The shape of the tiger distorted momentarily, emitting a faint white light. In a flash, it stood upright on its hind legs as white smoke enveloped it, and in just a moment, it transformed into a yellow-robed Daoist with a tiger’s head.

"I wondered who it was, and it turns out to be Daoist Master Bao Ying of Black Wind Mountain. You’ve traveled a long distance to hide in these woods and watch a common Villa. What for?" the tiger-headed Daoist asked coldly.

"This is the territory of the Pine Forest Sword Sect, and you, White Tiger Demon King, are no different. Having nothing better to do, you come here—what are you planning?" Daoist Master Bao Ying retorted with a cold sneer.

"Heh heh, a fair number of fellow Daoists have arrived here; it seems we all have the same objective," the White Tiger Demon King laughed, glancing around. Although it called itself a Demon King, there were stronger and weaker among the Demon Kings, and its current cultivation at the Shape-shifting Stage was equivalent to a human Qi Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Stage. So, while it called itself a Demon King, it was indeed much weaker compared to those at the Demon Core Realm.

Daoist Master Bao Ying was the same; he cultivated the Divine Path, not adhering to the cultivation route of Core Formation or Nascent Soul Transformation that Qi Cultivators took, instead cultivating the Gathering Divine Strength, transforming the faith and offerings of mortals into divine form, and was known far and wide as one of the renowned loose cultivators. "Daoist Master" was merely an honorary title.

"It turns out that two esteemed personages have emerged." From within the depths of the surrounding forest, at this moment, groups of people with various attires began to emerge, with one group speaking out loudly.

Among loose cultivators, reaching the Foundation Establishment Layer was already considered a very high level.

"The two esteemed personages, please be our advocates!" the voice continued, "Spirit Heart Villa is domineering, oppressing fellow Daoists in the Music Mansion Realm, casually destroying families and exterminating clans, committing crimes so heinous they defy the will of Heaven! Alas, that villain Lin Xin has secluded himself within the Villa’s formation, denying us even an opportunity for revenge."

"So, upon hearing the news, you specifically came over intending to join forces and take action?" A white-haired elder in another group sneered. "A bunch of wastrels, that’s what you are. If there wasn’t an inside source revealing that Lin Xin was at a crucial moment in his cultivation, I suppose none of you would even dare to gather, would you?"

"Huang Ci, you old coot, what do you mean by that?!" The original voice suddenly rose in pitch.

"It means nothing; I just can’t stand the sight of you pretending to talk about revenge. What do you think you’re doing—do you think everyone else is blind and can’t see? I’m just here for the Third Grade phenomenon; where there’s such a phenomenon, a Third Grade magical artifact will surely emerge. But now that the two esteemed personages have arrived, I have no expectations, I’ll settle for sipping at the leftovers at most," Huang Ci chuckled. "Not like you lot, using revenge as a pretense for your true intentions—everyone’s well aware!"

"Huang Ci, you are of such an advanced age, yet you spare no thought for your own decency. Beware lest you shorten your own lifespan..."

"Whether I shorten my lifespan or not, what’s that to you?" Huang Ci scoffed coldly.

The rest of the people were scattered about; some were solitary travelers, others in small groups. Among them were men and women, old and young, some mere passersby who came to watch the excitement, and others who intended to follow the majority and get a share of the spoils. Thus, some were quietly silent, while others were constantly heckling, seeking to incite everyone to act together for greater safety.

Daoist Master Bao Ying scanned the crowd and understood the situation clearly.

Most of these people were loose cultivators from the nearby regions, and the characteristic of loose cultivators was that, when there was a prospect of profit, they flocked like flies to rotten flesh.

His gaze swept over the dozens of people, most of whom were at the Qi Cultivator Realm. Clearly, the Music Mansion Realm could not possibly have so many experts; evidently, they had rushed over after catching wind of the news from other places.

There were also many who wore magical artifacts that concealed their cultivation level, and he could not see through them; perhaps there were also old monsters at the Daoist Master Level like himself hidden among them. After all, a nearly completed Third Grade magical artifact was extremely precious. When a magical artifact was upgraded, its connection to the owner was at its weakest. If one could successfully acquire it, it would save a great deal of effort during the sacrificial refinement.

He pondered for a moment, then said.

"Since heroes have gathered here, and we are all here for the red glow, why don’t we form an alliance and agree in advance on how to divide the treasures we find?"

"What’s this talk of division!" bellowed the White Tiger Demon King, "When the time comes, it’ll all be a matter of capability!"

"A mere oppressive Qi Refinement Realm Villa Master can’t possibly withstand our assault, but to provoke the Immortal Sect cultivators might lead to real trouble afterwards!" Daoist Master Bao Ying continued. "The Pine Forest Sword Sect is not to be trifled with..."

"Scared of what! Once the treasure is in hand, one can simply take to the far reaches of the land. Even if the Pine Forest Sword Sect is powerful, would they chase after a mere Qi Cultivator for thousands of miles?" someone said.

At those words, most people fell silent.

Indeed, the Pine Forest Sword Sect had previously chased assassins thousands of miles for the killing of one of their oppressors, in order to uphold the dignity of the Immortal Sect, which tolerated no disgrace.

The oppressor wasn’t just a representative of a Qi Cultivator’s status, but more significantly, it symbolized control, the absolute dominion of the Immortal Sect over that region.

While a Third Grade treasure was incredibly precious, one only had one life to live.

Unfortunately, blinded by greed, a Third Grade magical artifact, even for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, would require many years of accumulation just to gather the materials for one attempt at a magical artifact’s refinement, because of the high failure rate when inscribing the Formation Patterns. Once a failure occurred, the artifact would be utterly destroyed. Hence, one must prepare at least five sets of materials, an expenditure that forced even the most powerful Foundation Establishment Cultivators to accumulate slowly. .(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)