I have an Apocalypse City
Chapter 1182 - Chapter 1182 Chapter 1184 Sword Spirit Pool_1

Chapter 1182: Chapter 1184: Sword Spirit Pool_1 Chapter 1182: Chapter 1184: Sword Spirit Pool_1 “Are you interested in taking it?” Song Jian turned and asked.

Xin Ling was startled and nodded eagerly, somewhat anxiously saying, “Of course, this is a Legendary level quest! Look at that reward, it’s a Legendary martial arts manual, a manual, not just some skill!”

In the game world, ninety-nine percent of players had not learned any martial arts. Martial arts differed from swordsmanship and other skills; if a player were compared to a tree, martial arts would be the trunk while swordplay, magic, and other skills would be the branches and leaves.

Currently, most players learn skills based on their class, which may seem impressive, but are like trees without roots or rivers without sources. Against someone who practices martial arts, they would collapse like sandcastles against the tide.

Even a common white-grade martial arts manual could be exchanged for an epic item in the game world as it improves all of a player’s attributes. A player with a white-grade martial arts manual, even without passing the first-tier combat power assessment, could contend with those who had.

Song Jian had previously seen a white-grade martial arts manual at an auction house; at level one, it only added two points to strength, three points to agility, two points to constitution, and one point to spirit. Even at max level, it probably only added thirty or forty attribute points, yet such a manual was bid up to tens of millions of Doomsday Coins, which left Song Jian astounded.

Different martial arts have their own attributes too. If one chooses a martial art incompatible with their class, not only would they not benefit, but it could also ruin their development.

Previously, becoming initiated into a sect to learn martial arts was extremely difficult, accessible only to the extraordinarily lucky. But now, due to the Abyss invasion, sects started to take in disciples from outside, making martial arts vastly more accessible.

Despite that, a Legendary quality martial art would likely remain out of reach for players for a long while. It was no wonder that Xin Ling’s eyes sparkled with excitement and she lost all reason at the sight of the words ‘Legendary martial art’.

Song Jian’s brow furrowed slightly; to say he wasn’t covetous of the Legendary martial art would be self-deception. He also had another task, to enter the Ancient Desolate Abyss and find the Demon Suppression Tower.

According to the original plan, it would be a year or two after Song Jian became an official disciple of the Imperial Sword Sect before he could be assigned to guard the perimeter of the Ancient Desolate Abyss, from which he could then find an opportunity to search for the Demon Suppression Tower.

This Legendary quest now provided a legitimate excuse to enter the Ancient Desolate Abyss without having to wait that long.

However, the danger of the Ancient Desolate Abyss was something Song Jian had only vaguely sensed before. After viewing the demonstration model of the Ancient Sword Star, he realized that the Abyss was a thousand times more dangerous than he had imagined.

Given the strength of the Imperial Sword Sect, the fact that they couldn’t fully expel the forces of the Ancient Desolate Abyss from Ancient Sword Star and had to maintain a defensive posture against it illustrated the peril there.

Moreover, while the rewards for a Legendary quest were substantial, the difficulty of the quest would obviously match its rewards, which also indicated the danger involved.

If he had studied at the Imperial Sword Sect for a year or two and significantly increased his strength, Song Jian would have the confidence to undertake a journey to the Ancient Desolate Abyss. But now, with only the high-damage skill of Karmic Fire Red Lotus Thousand Swords Art at his disposal, he wasn’t particularly confident about the venture.

Xin Ling looked at Song Jian with anticipation. Although she wanted to take on the quest, she knew that with her strength, venturing into the Ancient Desolate Abyss was courting death. If Song Jian did not go, she wouldn’t dare to accept the quest alone.

“Sect leader,” Song Jian said to Duan Xingliu with clasped hands, “although I greatly desire to serve the sect, I have just joined and lack strength. I am willing to lay down my life for the sect, but I fear my insufficient power may cause the mission to fail and harm the sect’s greater interests.”

Duan Xingliu stared intently at Song Jian’s face for a long time as if trying to discern whether Song Jian was sincere. After a while, Duan Xingliu nodded slightly and said, “What you say is not without reason.”

After a moment of contemplation, Duan Xingliu spoke, “If you truly wish to serve the sect, then before heading to the Ancient Desolate Abyss, you can spend three days in the Sword Spirit Pool to solidify the foundation of your sword bodies. Afterwards, the Elder of Transmission will impart some basics of sword techniques to you. With that, you should at least possess some ability to protect yourselves.”

“Thank you, Sect Master. Since that’s the case, I’ll accept this task!” Song Jian nodded with a smile on his face. In fact, after careful consideration, Song Jian had already decided to take on the task, but he hadn’t expected to reap some benefits before embarking on the mission, which was a pleasant surprise.

“Then I’ll accept it too!” Xin Ling hurriedly said, following closely.

“Good!” Duan Xingliu revealed a satisfied smile on his face and nodded, “There’s no time to delay. Head to the Sword Spirit Pool first. In three days, the Elder of Transmission will teach you the way of the sword. How much you can comprehend will depend on your own abilities!”

…

Soon, guided by a disciple dressed in purple robes, the two followed a secluded mountain path to an area that seemed desolate and quiet.

This place was only a few hundred square meters, surrounded by stone pillars that were several meters tall. The pillars were etched with various patterns, ranging from flora and fauna to groups of people hunting primitive beasts, and scenes of human sacrifices, all exuding a sense of primordial desolation.

Many of these pillars were damaged, each marked with numerous cracks, and some were even cleanly split in half. The broken pillars lay quietly in the soil, with most of them covered by the earth.

The site looked dilapidated and did not seem at all like an important location of the Imperial Sword Sect.

Song Jian looked around. In the center of these pillars, there was a pool about the size of a swimming pool, shrouded in a thick white mist, obscuring the view inside the pool.

“This is the Sword Spirit Pool, you just need to enter,” said the disciple in purple with a smile, “Although it’s called the Sword Spirit Pool, there’s actually no water inside, it’s quite clean. It’s a pity you haven’t learned any techniques; otherwise, you could just meditate and practice your quietude in the pool.”

The Sword Spirit Pool was not unfamiliar to the disciples of the Imperial Sword Sect. As long as they earned merits, they could be rewarded with a few days in the Sword Spirit Pool. Most direct disciples had entered the Sword Spirit Pool more than once. A rare few had obtained the Sword Body because of it, but many more simply used the Sword Spirit Pool as a place to enhance their cultivation efficiency. After all, the Imperial Sword Sect did not have many who were lucky enough to gain the Sword Body.

“Thank you for the guidance, senior brother. May I know your honored name?” Song Jian asked with a bow.

“I am Duan Hui, a direct disciple of the Sect Master!” Duan Hui returned the salute and said with a beaming smile.

“So it’s Senior Brother Duan; I have seen Senior Brother Duan,” Song Jian said with a smile.

Duan Hui nodded, “Hurry in, this place is very safe. In three days, I will come to fetch you to the Hall of Transmission!”

Watching Song Jian and Xin Ling slowly enter the Sword Spirit Pool, their figures engulfed by the white mist, Duan Hui turned and left.

…

PS: Thanks to “Tired Uncle” for the reward of 100 starting coins~