Chapter 95: Useless Sword Box
…The Flower Festival concluded successfully.
Spirit Flower Valley began deliberating and handling the matter regarding Liang Feng.
In a few more days, once this matter was settled, the disciples from both sects would return to their respective mountain gates to report.
Today, Song Yan followed Yan Xun to visit the Yan clan’s ancestral grounds.
The Forging Sword Villa was situated at the northern foot of North Watch Mountain City.
A stone tablet before the villa bore the characters “Yan Clan.”
The Yan clan’s ancestral grounds covered a large area, with distinctions between the main family and branch families.
The branch families were located on the mountainside, while the main family was positioned near the peak.
Bluestone steps wound upward into the clouds, and the faint sound of metal striking metal could be heard drifting down from the summit.
Distant mountains veiled in thin mist, bathed in the first light of dawn.
As they climbed the mountain steps, the passersby became fewer, mostly dignified-looking young men with hurried expressions.
Yan Xun occasionally encountered a few acquaintances, exchanging greetings with each.
“Brother Yan, we’re just up ahead.”
Lake light and mountain scenery. The main family’s ancestral grounds.
“Oh, Fifth Brother is back!”
“Second Brother, where are you headed?”
Yan Xun stepped forward to greet the approaching person, who turned out to be his clan brother.
“I’m going to the Sun-Shooting Sect to deliver a few magical artifacts. Er… and this is?”
“This is Song Yan, a distinguished disciple of the Eastern Abyss Sect.”
Yan Xun quickly made the introduction. “The seniors of the Sun-Shooting Sect invited fellow Daoists from the Eastern Abyss Sect to observe the ceremony. Brother Yan is one of the accompanying disciples.”
“Oh!”
The man suddenly understood and hurriedly bowed, not daring to show any discourtesy.
“Yan Cheng of the Yan clan greets Fellow Daoist Song.”
Song Yan thought to himself that it was fitting for a great clan family – every one of them was quite refined. He returned the bow.
Along the way, the Yan clan members had all been quite courteous to him.
Speaking of which, the Yan immortal clan was publicly recognized by the Chu region’s cultivation world as the foremost among the four great immortal families of Chu Kingdom. Their strength was already not inferior to many small sects.
However, when facing the true six great sects, even outer disciples dared not show the slightest discourtesy.
“Young Master…”
Several servants approached, about to speak, but Yan Xun waved his hand. “No need for tea. Just prepare the noon banquet.”
“Yes, Young Master.”
Young Master…
What a noble address.
Song Yan, this poor child who had been poor since childhood, had always been quite envious of such a luxurious life of fine clothes and rich food.
Yan Xun led him straight toward a valley within the clan grounds.
As they walked, Yan Xun asked, “Brother Yan, forgive my curiosity, but where exactly did you obtain that flying sword of yours?”
Previously, Song Yan had mentioned to him that he had obtained a flying sword by chance. Although its grade was extremely low, the material was remarkably sturdy.
His main reason for visiting the Yan clan was to broaden his horizons and see if there were any such forging materials. If the opportunity arose, he also wanted to refine his flying sword and improve its grade.
After a moment’s thought, Song Yan replied. “…It was obtained from the belly of a demon beast.”
“That truly is strange.”
Ahead lay a deep valley, with mist churning within. Few clan members passed through here.
“This is where the old sword forge was located.”
Yan Xun explained as they walked. “Brother Yan, don’t take this the wrong way, but for outsiders to visit and enter the main forge, that is truly an enormous hassle.”
“Every level from top to bottom must be notified.”
“This was the former old sword forge. After several reforms within the clan, this place is now used to store common forging materials that aren’t needed, as well as some unclaimed damaged magical artifacts…”
“Your flying sword definitely couldn’t be made from common materials, so coming here is just the same.”
“No matter.”
This place actually resembled the outer sect’s Fire Workshop…
He recalled his former days of scavenging through the sect’s waste.
Nostalgia was nostalgia, but he wouldn’t dare hope to pick up some treasure similar to the Twin Jade Pearl from the trash heap again.
Looking back on it now, it seemed utterly absurd.
“Our Yan clan, both the main family and branch families, has undergone several reforms. This old sword forge was abandoned… it must have been sixty or seventy years ago.”
Yan Xun had already begun examining the forging materials stored in specialized Qiankun bags or iron chests along the edge of a small circular plaza.
“Hum…”
Song Yan summoned the Untethered Vessel, sending the flying sword to Yan Xun’s side for convenient observation and comparison.
“Brother Yan, let me search. You can look around as you please…” Yan Xun said. “Now that this old sword forge is abandoned, the valley is peaceful. The scenery is actually much nicer than the main forge.”
“Alright.”
Song Yan walked slowly along the circular plaza.
Yan Xun was absolutely right. This sword forge must have been abandoned for a very long time.
The stone bricks were cracked in many places, with nameless vines and weeds growing in the gaps.
He circumambulated a sword furnace that had been extinguished for who knew how many years, arriving before the ruins of a grand hall that resembled a pavilion.
“Thousand Mechanisms Hall…”
What an impressive name…
Unfortunately, it was now covered in dust.
He stepped inside.
The space within was considerably larger than it appeared from outside…
Looking up, along the walls of the great hall, countless magical artifacts were stored, the majority of which were swords.
Approaching for a closer look, he saw compartments marked with names.
Were these magical artifacts stored here by Yan clan disciples?
Or…
Thinking of what Yan Xun had said about this place being abandoned long ago, another, more likely possibility occurred to him.
But he didn’t dare make random guesses.
He wandered aimlessly through the hall. Some of the magical artifacts had extremely interesting shapes and colors, such as the shape of a butcher’s cleaver, or the form of a gourd walking stick.
The designers and craftsmen were truly unconventional and remarkable people.
“Brother Yan!”
After a moment, Yan Xun entered from outside the hall. “I knew you’d be here.”
“I searched for quite a while but really couldn’t find the material of your flying sword.”
“Saying it’s poor, it’s indeed remarkably sturdy. Saying it’s good, this flying sword’s workmanship is ancient and refined, yet it only possesses the strength of a mid-grade magical artifact…”
“Truly strange.”
Song Yan withdrew his flying sword and smiled. “No matter, no matter. I was just trying my luck.”
“Oh right, these names are…”
He pointed to the names on the compartments.
“Oh, those. They were all left behind by ancestors of the Yan clan.”
“Although they’re all damaged and unused magical artifacts, they serve as memorials. Since this sword forge was abandoned anyway, they were all moved here.”
“I see.”
Song Yan nodded.
At that moment, he suddenly felt a stir in his mind.
The Twin Jade Pearl had actually hummed for an instant!
It quickly fell silent again.
He hurriedly searched all around, thinking this was not good.
With this entire hall of damaged magical artifacts, how was he supposed to find the one connected to the Twin Jade Pearl?
Just as he was fretting, among several magical artifacts leaning against the wall in a corner, one caught Song Yan’s eye.
“This is…”
“A sword box?”
“Hmm?” Yan Xun followed his gaze. In the corner of the great hall, several nameless magical artifacts leaned against the wall.
Among them, a dusty dark blue long box stood out somewhat amongst the various swords and blades.
“Oh, those are all unwanted magical artifacts.”
Yan Xun explained. “I’ve seen this sword box before. I don’t know which ancestor forged it, but they only finished half of it and left it here…”
“Nowadays, flying swords don’t need sword boxes, so no one reforged it. It’s just been sitting here.”
The two approached. Song Yan lifted it gently, brushing off the dust atop it.
Was it this one?
So far, the Twin Jade Pearl’s “sensing” had been bizarre and haphazard. He couldn’t be sure.
Could the Twin Jade Pearl even sense a sword box?
He pondered without speaking.
“Brother Yan, I didn’t expect you to be interested in these old things… If you like it, just take it.”
Yan Xun spoke up. “However, these magical artifacts are all defective products. This sword box in your hand is even more unfinished. Besides collecting it, it’s utterly useless.”
“Mm…”
Song Yan pondered for a moment and spoke. “I am indeed quite interested.”