Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 70 Road Part Two

Chapter 70: Chapter 70 Road Part Two

Lin Xin followed his example, picked up the teacup, and drained it in one gulp.

What was strange about the tea was that the moment it touched his lips, it automatically melded into his skin, not entering his mouth at all. Before he could even feel anything, his lips had absorbed it completely.

This left Lin Xin somewhat astonished when he set the teacup down.

"Don’t be surprised, this tea is meant to be ’drunk’ with your lips," Ji Lu said with a smile.

"As for Huang Songzi’s matter, they lost a game this time, so you don’t need to worry. Right now, they’re too busy to deal with a little guy like you; they can barely manage their own affairs. Whatever mission you have, whatever you need to do, go ahead with confidence. We’re keeping an eye on their movements."

Lin Xin nodded.

"Your disciple understands."

"Additionally, I hope you can participate in the upcoming Tingjian Conference," Ji Lu said softly.

"The Tingjian Conference?" Lin Xin was puzzled; he had originally planned to focus on cultivating in seclusion, stabilizing his cultivation, and adapting to the state of entering the Innate Layer.

"Yes," Ji Lu nodded, "Most of the named disciples of Tingjian Valley are elusive, but many will attend the biennial conference, mainly because the rewards of spiritual medicines and magic artifacts are all exquisite items from the Sect. And the most important point is, it could capture the attention of the Foundation Establishment Elders. Of course, with your strength now in Tingjian Valley, you might make it into the top hundred and receive some rewards that would be of help to you." He winked at Lin Xin suggestively as he finished speaking.

Lin Xin also blinked, suddenly coming to a realization. He understood the implication in Ji Lu’s words; there was likely someone who wanted to see his current real strength and potential.

"Understood... I will participate."

"The date will be notified a month in advance. All right," Ji Lu suddenly stood up and walked outside the pavilion.

"Time is limited, and as your martial uncle, now that you’ve entered the Innate Layer, it’s time I formally guide you in choosing your main cultivation technique," he said.

Lin Xin hurriedly stood and stepped out of the pavilion, watching Ji Lu slowly draw the longsword from his back, standing under a large pink tree devoid of leaves, only countless pink blossoms.

"Please guide me, martial uncle," Lin Xin said, his expression turning solemn.

Seeing his serious attitude, Ji Lu got straight to the point.

"In our Songlin Sword Sect, before reaching the Innate Layer, there are myriad sword techniques and sword arts to freely choose from, with no restrictions. But once you reach the Innate Layer, it’s imperative to choose your main cultivation path, because those intricate sword arts and techniques have no further advancements, and their levels are too low."

Lin Xin then remembered that since his entry into the Sect, he rarely attended the Law Transmission elder brother’s classes, busy as he was with the arduous cultivation of the minor Return to Origin technique.

"In the Songlin Sword Sect, there are only three sword techniques with a complete lineage, all based on the Return to Origin technique, which can be cultivated up to the stage of transforming the soul towards the Supreme Great Dao," Ji Lu stated gravely and calmly.

"With me here, you needn’t go to any Law Transmission brothers. Your talent is exceptional, and you may break through Qi Cultivation before too long, so I intend to personally guide you in selecting your sword technique."

Lin Xin was momentarily startled, then felt somewhat helpless. His rapid advancement had indeed marked him as a genius in the Sect’s eyes—reaching the Innate Layer in less than a year, even with the aid of spiritual medicines, was a bit too quick. But wasn’t there still the aftereffects of the medicinal poison... shouldn’t the higher-ups’ attitude be less favorable... He was puzzled.

"Are you worried about the medicinal poison?" Ji Lu said with a slight smile. "If it weren’t for the poison, it wouldn’t be my turn to teach you the sword techniques; it would have been the masters from the Formation Hall personally instructing you."

Lin Xin immediately understood; indeed, those in the Formation Hall had seen some flaws in his foundation.

"Alright, no more idle talk," Ji Lu reverted to his serious demeanor, "Our Songlin Sword Sect has three paths of sword techniques that lead directly to the Tao. The first is the Void Mysterious Sword Technique that I practice. It allows one to unsheathe the sword so that the opponent doesn’t even know how to defend—an exceptional offensive sword technique."

"The second is the Four Spirits Chongyang Sword that Elder Brother Zhong Xuan practices. It is characterized by powerful and straightforward combat, its might immense but requiring time and exceptional talent to master."

"The third is the Three Extremes Luminous Sword Technique, which is all about versatility, one sword transforming into a thousand. To speak of it, all three sword techniques are unpredictable and extraordinarily powerful at the pinnacle of the Sword Dao, each with its own unique focus."

Lin Xin asked seriously, "So, are you saying that as soon as one enters the Innate Layer, one should start preparing for a principal sword technique?"

"Yes, after entering the Innate Layer, you may practice other magic artifacts and methods to increase your strength, but your core still lies in one of these three main sword techniques. Of course, you have to purchase the rights to practice these techniques," Ji Lu stated gravely. "That is the Sect’s rule; even I cannot violate it, but I can at least give you a discount."

"But in that case, doesn’t it mean that the sword techniques and methods used by every Qi Cultivator and above are more or less the same? Is strength determined by cultivation level alone?" Lin Xin asked, puzzled.

"Of course not. I won’t even mention the differences in magic artifacts. Even if it is the same sword technique, different people will achieve different effects because while the techniques are interconnected, the comprehensions are different. Moreover, there are many seniors and elder brothers who have created their own sword techniques based on the three great sword paths. Naturally, if there is an absolute difference in levels, then it is exactly as you say—the strength is determined by cultivation level," Ji Lu explained.

Lin Xin understood.

Clearly, the Void Mysterious Sword Technique, the Four Spirits Chongyang Sword, and the Three Extremes Luminous Sword Technique are the foundation of the Pine Forest Sword Sect.

"What about the Minor Return to Origin then?"

Ji Lu smiled slightly.

"The Minor Return to Origin is a simplified version of the Return to Origin, which in turn is the accompanying Decree for these three Sword Dao. That’s all there is to it. In fact, the Flameless Swordsmanship you are practicing is a simplified version of a simplified version of the Four Spirits Chongyang Sword."

He held a Longsword in his hand, and seeing Lin Xin uncertain, he didn’t speak. Instead, he gently thrust the sword blade forward.

The tip of the sword was silent, as if it had entered the Void, and the front part of the sword blade directly disappeared. On the trunk of a flowering tree directly ahead, a delicate cut appeared abruptly.

"This is the greatest characteristic of the Void Mysterious Sword Technique," Ji Lu said calmly as he put away the sword blade.

Lin Xin watched this scene thoughtfully.

There was no sound, no breath, no sign—in short, the Void Mysterious Sword Technique was an extremely formidable Assassination Sword Technique. From several meters away, a single thrust, and an opponent’s vital spot would be pierced, bringing downfall. Truly formidable...

"If you could acquire a Divine Weapon, in combination with the Void Mysterious Sword Technique, you could almost achieve killing beyond your own level without fear," Ji Lu boasted. "Legend has it that at a higher realm, a single thrust can directly destroy and sever the vital organs within your body, ignoring Defense. It’s simply an unbeatable top-tier Slaughter Sword Technique."

Lin Xin contemplated carefully, wondering how to maximize his own advantages and which path to choose to fully unearth his potential in a systematic way.

His Skill ability could make his learning capability terrifyingly strong, with an extreme ease in getting started. This ability was best utilized in Alchemy Dao and Formation Path. It seemed that unless he found a Sword Technique that could integrate his Formation Path, just like the Talisman Sword, that would be only the most fundamental application...

Lin Xin knew that his Skill ability endowed him with the advantage of maximizing precise repetitive operations. Complex tasks that would require others to exhaust much mental effort, he only needed to succeed once, and then he could effortlessly replicate them over and over.

"However, unlike a pure Sword Cultivator like me, you have a talent for formations, which allows you to follow a different path. This is also the most common path among other Sects," Ji Lu began to speak again at this point.

"Please enlighten me, senior uncle," Lin Xin quickly asked. He always felt that pure Sword Cultivation didn’t suit him.

"The path of magic treasures and magical artifacts," Ji Lu replied softly.

"Magic treasures, magical artifacts..."

"Correct, magic treasures and magical artifacts, intertwined with the lives of cultivators. During the Sacrificial Refinement of a magical artifact, the cultivator’s own prowess will gradually become attuned to it, using the magic artifact to enhance cultivation speed, protect oneself, with the most powerful ones capable of flight and earth escape, possessing intimidating strength. Additionally, most magic treasures and magical artifacts are quick to form, powerful, and not too difficult to handle, so the cultivators who pursue this path far outnumber Sword Cultivators."

"Magical artifacts, magic treasures..." Lin Xin seemed enlightened.

"Of course, magical artifacts and magic treasures have their own difficulties, such as materials. The quality of the materials affects the grade of the artifact, with fewer and weaker formations they can hold. One must first find suitable materials for the artifact, then ask a Forging Master or forge it oneself, followed by inviting an Array Master to inscribe formations. The expenses through this process are massive, and ordinary cultivators need to accumulate resources over time just to get one. Afterward, a long period of Sacrificial Refinement is required to achieve unity with the artifact. These are the challenges," Ji Lu explained more, seeing Lin Xin’s interest.

Lin Xin kept the key points of the magical artifact path in mind. He was adept in the Formation Path and could skip the Array Master stage altogether. Perhaps his prowess in formations could even significantly increase the power of a magical artifact. This was precisely the path of integration he was seeking.

After a detailed guidance session, Lin Xin presented all his cultivation practice problems to Ji Lu, who answered them one by one unhurriedly, without a trace of impatience.

At noon, having received the answers he wanted, Lin Xin bid Ji Lu farewell, guided down the mountain by a young disciple.

On the way, he pondered over the direction he should take in the future.

Returning to his stone dwelling, he found it in disarray, covered in dried blood, so he decided to simply grab his sword and head towards the front ranking stone dwellings.

It was a good opportunity to change his dwelling now that his cultivation had improved, and to see just how high a rank he could secure for himself.

To his surprise, he found several stone dwellings unoccupied. Advancing further meant reaching the nineties in ranking, and not even Kun Si Lang was past ninety-eight. With the rankings within the Innate Layer and the Sword Valley Conference imminent, Lin Xin dared not act rashly and had to clean his dwelling. He went to the market to hire someone to clean and tidy up.

In the following days, he decided to remain behind closed doors, re-crafting Luminous Talisman Swords while also sorting out his thoughts.

During this period, Xiao Lingling and Wang Chong came looking for him twice, both to recruit him into their cause. However, it seemed that Xiao Lingling was not in a hurry anymore, and it appeared more like an excuse to chat and build a closer relationship with him.

Meanwhile, new disciples seemingly arrived in Tingjian Valley, with a significant number admitted all at once. Whatever was happening was a mystery.

Lin Xin stayed secluded, asking Dongyue to help acquire materials for making new Solar Yang Talisman Swords, three Luminous Talisman Swords, and ten Luminous Talisman Stones. After not pursuing further creations, he put aside his work and headed straight for the Formation Hall and Law Transmission Forest.

This time, he intended to formally seek guidance from the revered elder on the second floor regarding the path of Formation Magical Artifacts.