Chapter 77: Sword Cultivator Branch
This evil cultivator predecessor often roamed the southeastern central region and the Nine Nations on the border. Setting aside the evil deeds he committed,
he could be called a great cultivator who had seen much of the world and experienced countless battles.
During Foundation Establishment, he had once killed a Qi Refining Stage junior to snatch spiritual items.
He had also ambushed and killed cultivators of the same Golden Core realm and succeeded.
He had fought all kinds of cultivators, accumulating a great deal of combat experience.
Among them, he had a rather detailed description of sword cultivators.
“Sword cultivators are mostly stubborn and obstinate folk. Once they start fighting, there is no outcome other than death.”
The opening was a comment on sword cultivators.
Song Yan was already used to it.
It seemed that in everyone’s eyes, sword cultivators were no different from stubborn donkeys—every one of them was unyielding.
“Not really…”
He only slightly felt he was being wronged.
Or perhaps he wasn’t yet qualified to be called a sword cultivator.
“Sword cultivators can roughly be divided into three types.”
“The first is the most traditional sword cultivator, whose origins are unverifiable, perhaps existing since the birth of the cultivation world.”
“This type is rather ordinary and quite common in the cultivation world.”
“They mainly use containers like sword boxes or sword gourds to cultivate and nurture a natal flying sword, also emphasizing things like sword intent and Dao heart.”
“Their flying swords are quite powerful, but otherwise they are no different from ordinary cultivators.”
“In battle, one only needs to pay extra attention to the natal flying sword, and generally they are not too difficult to deal with.”
This predecessor’s understanding of sword cultivators was rather superficial.
His words often included phrases like “seems” or “appears.”
“The second branch originates from the Chu Kingdom.”
Song Yan was stunned.
“The Chu Kingdom?”
A small border kingdom like ours…
was actually the birthplace of a branch of sword cultivators?
He continued reading.
“This type, I haven’t encountered in all my years of wandering the cultivation world.”
“I’ve only heard that these cultivators are extremely ruthless and decisive.”
“Besides cultivating sword intent, comprehending Dao heart, and nurturing a natal flying sword, they also need to sever their spiritual root and open a ‘celestial palace’…”
“…”
Seeing this, he was speechless.
What merit did he have to receive a Golden Core devil’s “praise” of being ruthless and decisive…
Thinking about it again, it was actually true…
Dispersing one’s entire cultivation, and additionally severing one’s own spiritual root.
If even a small mistake occurred, one’s path to immortality would be cut off forever.
Recalling now, he had truly walked a dangerous path back then.
If he hadn’t been forced into a corner with no way out, he wasn’t sure if he could have made that resolution.
“This branch seems to be the culmination of the three sword cultivator lineages.”
“But this type is extremely rare. I’ve only heard of them, never seen them.”
“The last branch originates from the central region.”
“This type, this old ancestor has seen a few of them, but never fought them.”
“I hear this branch is even more radical than the second type.”
“They also sever their spiritual root and open a ‘celestial palace,’ but these people discard sword boxes, sword gourds, and even sword bodies.”
“They pursue the ultimate unity of sword and self.”
Because this predecessor hadn’t fought the latter two types, he didn’t mention much about how to combat them.
He only added one final note.
“Regardless of the type, sword cultivators are mostly deranged folk who fight without regard for their own lives.”
“Unless there is an irreconcilable grudge, it is safer not to fight them at the same cultivation level.”
“…”
The bold fear the reckless, and the reckless fear those who don’t value their own lives.
This evil cultivator predecessor only resorted to underhanded schemes and despicable methods for cultivation resources.
The purpose was simply to succeed more easily.
Everyone sought eternal life, so there was no need to throw one’s life away from the start.
“Whew—”
Song Yan exhaled deeply.
He hadn’t expected to find so much information about ancient sword cultivators in this evil cultivator’s combat “guide.”
This was truly an unexpected delight.
He brought out the Two Arts Bead and examined it carefully. “There’s no reason for this ‘predecessor’ to lie to future generations in such a record.”
“Then, this Two Arts Bead might belong to the second lineage he mentioned.”
“Not necessarily, but this possibility is the highest.”
Song Yan flipped through the book again from beginning to end but found no more information.
There wasn’t even a date for the book.
Otherwise, he could have determined when the ancient sword cultivators began to disappear based on the era.
“Sword boxes, sword gourds…”
“Haven’t seen them…”
For a newcomer to the cultivation world like him, these were old relics, so it was normal not to have seen them.
For now, he put the book away, his gaze falling on the Mysterious Calamity Bows to Spirit mask.
Judging from the mask’s basic function, it was actually quite boring.
“Searching for spiritual items.”
This evil cultivator predecessor had also mentioned that when he first obtained it, he didn’t really know how to use it.
The mask would often ring endlessly, and after searching for a long time, he would find it was just extremely ordinary herbs or spirit fruits.
Utterly useless.
It wasn’t until later that inspiration struck, and the mask became quite useful—even versatile.
Song Yan didn’t want to use this item to harm others, as that went against his true nature.
However, the predecessor’s methods did give him much inspiration.
He held the Two Arts Bead in one hand and the Mysterious Calamity Bows to Spirit mask in the other.
“Based on the previous experience with the flying sword ‘Wandering Boat’…”
“The Two Arts Bead…”
“seems to be able to fuse the sword intent left by predecessors in ancient swords into the Dao seed phantom through some profound means.”
“For my use.”
“But finding ancient swords containing sword intent is truly like finding a needle in a haystack.”
Then he looked at the Mysterious Calamity mask in his hand.
“If I could separate a wisp of formless sword intent and absorb it into the Mysterious Calamity mask…”
“Would the mask react if an ancient sword appeared nearby?”
Whether it was the Two Arts Bead’s function or how to use the mask, these were all his personal speculations.
To determine if it was true, he would need to experiment more.
Song Yan currently didn’t even have the capital to experiment.
Because separating formless sword intent required at least the complete formation of a natal flying sword.
“Sword intent…”
“Sword intent…”
“How can one comprehend sword intent…”
This thing was ethereal and intangible. Before, he had only gained a preliminary Dao heart through chance encounters with the Eight Desolations Return to Origin Sword Manual.
In the future, where would he find such good fortune?
“Whew—”
Taking a deep breath, Song Yan adjusted his emotions.
Sighing was useless, and complaining only added to his troubles.
Walking each step of the present path well was the true way.
He set about erasing Shan Zifeng’s spiritual energy imprint from the Mysterious Calamity Bows to Spirit mask.
With the owner dead, this was effortless.
A moment later, the refinement was complete.
Putting on the mask, Song Yan focused his mind, and the mask actually vanished from his face…
“So that’s how it is…”
No wonder after Shan Zifeng died, this mask had appeared on his face.
He counted the spirit stones in the cosmic bag.
There were about four to five hundred.
He knew very well that many of these resources were likely obtained by Shan Zifeng embezzling from outer disciples.
But of course, he couldn’t be like some great philanthropist, tracing the origins and returning them one by one.
Although it was for himself, he had indeed risked great danger to avenge those people.
He had eliminated the nightmare for those cultivators who lived every day under Shan Zifeng’s shadow.
He had done his utmost.
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(End of Chapter)