Sage of Humanity
Chapter 925 - 923: Actually, the disciple is a sword cultivator

It felt as if he had fallen into an endless abyss, his body continuously sinking. Everything around him became illusory, except for the warm, soft body in his embrace that gave Lu Ye a real sense of presence, keeping him barely conscious.

He did not know how much time had passed, but suddenly his body and mind stabilized.

As he regained his senses, a coarse voice unexpectedly echoed in his ear.

"An artifact is the weapon of a cultivator. Cultivation varies in strength, and so do weapons in quality..."

Feeling somewhat dazed, Lu Ye raised his eyes and saw an elderly man with white hair seated in front of him, imparting earnest teachings.

Bewildered by the situation, Lu Ye turned his head and met a pair of concerned eyes looking back at him.

It was Nian Yuexian; their eyes met, and confirming that both were unharmed, they finally felt at ease.

Ying Wuji was also present, seated on the other side, quietly observing their surroundings with suspicion.

At this moment, the three of them were positioned in front of a thatched cottage.

The elderly man sat cross-legged, while the three of them kneeled in front of him, seemingly in a respectful posture.

The sound of something cutting through the air could be heard, and the three collectively looked up to see light streaks sweeping across the sky in the direction of the sound.

"Those are flying swords!" Ying Wuji, with sharp eyes, immediately identified the source of the streaks.

As he spoke, numerous light streaks shot toward a steep mountain peak nearby, and in the next instant, a series of thuds echoed as the flying swords embedded themselves into the mountain's cliff face, leaving only the hilts exposed.

The elderly man's voice paused, and gazing at the cliff filled with flying swords, he spoke slowly, his expression complex, "Sword Mountain is the foundation of our Sword Weapon Sect. Today, the three of you enter my tutelage. On the day you craft a flying sword worthy of Sword Mountain, you will graduate."

This speech conveyed a wealth of information, at least offering Lu Ye some clarity.

This was the Sword Weapon Sect, and the mountain covered with flying swords was Sword Mountain. At this moment, the three of them were apprenticed to this elderly man.

From the elder's words, it seemed that the Sword Weapon Sect was a place to cultivate Artifact Refiners, and to graduate, one had to craft a flying sword worthy of Sword Mountain!

A secret realm!

Lu Ye suddenly realized that the vortex appearing on the stone platform was linked to a secret realm.

Not only Spirit Stream and Cloud River battlefields contained secret realms; those truly filled with great fortune were hidden within Nine Provinces, with some secret realms offering immense benefits even to Divine Sea Realm cultivators.

This secret realm was distinct from those Lu Ye had encountered in the Spirit Stream and Cloud River battlefields.

At the very least, Nian Yuexian was also here!

In other words, this was a secret realm where even someone at the Divine Sea Realm could gain benefits. Such a secret realm was a rare encounter; if he and Ying Wuji, both in the True Lake Realm, could grasp any opportunity here, it could benefit them for life.

Ying Wuji clearly realized the same thing, and his spirit was immediately uplifted.

Initially forced to come to the Slit of Sky in Liyuan with Lu Ye and Nian Yuexian, thinking he was merely acting as a guide. Who knew such fortune would come his way?

Amidst the joy, he felt a heightening sense of caution.

He wasn't foolish; he understood that opportunities often entailed risks. Who knew what dangers lurked in a secret realm accessible to Divine Sea Realm cultivators?

Lu Ye and Ying Wuji each had their thoughts, while Nian Yuexian slowly stood up, frowning as she asked, "You want me to be your disciple?"

To become someone's disciple was to acknowledge them as a master.

For someone of her standing, a mighty cultivator in the Divine Sea Realm, among the top echelon in Nine Provinces, who in this world could be her master?

Moreover, she had always been an independent cultivator since her cultivation began, with no master or sect. And at her current cultivation level, she wouldn't seek out a master.

Not even in a secret realm!

"Are you unwilling?" The old man looked at Nian Yuexian with indifference, seemingly unaffected by her icy demeanor.

"Willing or not, it depends on whether you have the capability." As she spoke, Nian Yuexian, with a flick of her hand, lunged the sword in her hand toward the elderly man.

The sword she held was the two-foot cutlass she had taken from the stone platform.

Such a cutlass was more suited as a weapon for a Ghost Cultivator rather than a Sword Cultivator. With her prowess as a Ghost Cultivator coupled with such a sharp sword, if she succeeded in a surprise attack, no Divine Sea Realm cultivator in Nine Provinces could withstand it.

However, even so, this strike was executed with unmatched momentum.

Lu Ye and Ying Wuji hurriedly stepped aside to avoid being splashed with blood.

They harbored no doubt about Nian Yuexian's strength. Moreover, despite unexpectedly finding themselves in a secret realm and asked to apprentice to such an old man, both were somewhat unwilling.

If Nian Yuexian could resolve this, it wouldn't be bad.

However, in the next instant, Lu Ye and Ying Wuji's pupils shrank, and Nian Yuexian's eyes filled with shock.

Because the seated old man didn't move at all. He merely lifted a hand, extended two fingers, and effortlessly clamped down on the cutlass in Nian Yuexian's hand. The old man squinted slightly, a glint of cold light in his eyes, as he spoke faintly, "Willow Catkins was crafted by this old man. I understand its power far better than you."

Nian Yuexian tried with all her might but couldn't pull the cutlass from the old man's fingers. Internally she was upheaved, finally realizing she had underestimated the old man's abilities.

But... Does such a powerful being truly exist in this world?

"Your disposition is not calm enough. With some cultivation in you, you become arrogant and disregard everything. You're not suitable to be under my sect. Leave!"

As he said this, he suddenly spat out a sword light from his mouth, slashing directly towards Nian Yuexian.

Nian Yuexian's expression changed instantly.

Because this sword light was the strongest she had ever seen in her life. The elder seemed to strike casually, yet it was more powerful than her full-power attack.

At the moment the elder's mouth spat out the sword light, he also released his grip on the Willow Catkins Cutlass, allowing Nian Yuexian to retreat, holding the sword horizontally in front.

Accompanied by a ringing sound, Nian Yuexian let out a muffled grunt, and her whole body flew away like willow catkins, disappearing in an instant, not knowing where she had been struck.

Only then did the elder's voice resound again, "The Willow Catkins is in your hand, which means it's fated with you. I hope you won't bury it."

There was no intention whatsoever to leave the Willow Catkins Cutlass behind.

Lu Ye and Ying Wuji stood not far away, eyes wide in shock at this bewildering scene, not daring to move.

Until the elder turned his head and looked towards them, they quickly walked back, sitting respectfully, shoulder to shoulder, before the elder.

Ying Wuji even shouted, "Disciple Ying Wuji pays respects to Master!"

Forget Nian Yuexian, forget Wan Zhanggang. After witnessing the eldritch methods of this elder, Ying Wuji finally understood the saying, there's always someone better, and beyond the sky, there's another sky.

Being apprenticed to such a great strength is no disgrace!

Ying Wuji has always been one who can yield or stand firm willingly, first recognizing Lu Yiye as senior brother, today accepting a master, why not!

The elder chuckled lightly, "It's too early to talk about apprenticeship. Today, I'm only bringing you two into the sect. My Sword Weapon Sect has always been stringent in accepting disciples. Whether you two can stay will depend on your own skills."

Ying Wuji sat upright, feeling a bit disappointed. He thought he had latched onto a powerful figure, but it turns out that the person wasn't trying to take him as a disciple.

"The sect members of my Sword Weapon Sect are not only the finest Artifact Crafting Masters but also the finest sword cultivators. The flying swords they use are all crafted by themselves. You two must remember this."

"Yes!" Lu Ye and Ying Wuji responded together, obediently like little cats.

"I am Khong Khong, the 163rd Sect Master of Sword Weapon Sect. Today, you two enter the sect, and you must remember the sect rules and precepts..."

What followed were numerous cumbersome sect rules, but whether Lu Ye or Ying Wuji, both were accomplished in cultivation, and memorizing these things was naturally no trouble.

As he was speaking, Khong Khong suddenly frowned, looking at Lu Ye's waist with displeasure, "You use a saber?"

Lu Ye corrected his expression, quickly realizing the problem. It seems that not only do those with sabers disdain those with swords in the Nine Provinces, but those with swords disdain those with sabers, and it's the same here in the Sword Weapon Sect!

He silently put the Boulder Mountain Saber away, took out a longsword and hung it at his waist, calmly said, "That was merely a disciple's spoils. Actually, the disciple is a sword cultivator."

"Heh..." Ying Wuji nearly laughed out loud.

But upon noticing Lu Ye's sharp gaze, he quickly sat upright.

Only then did Khong Khong's expression slightly ease, "Remember, those who use sabers are crude men; the sword is the king among weapons."

"Yes." Lu Ye respectfully responded, crude or not, your fists are big, you have the final say.

"Today you're new here, just leave for now. Tomorrow, I will teach you two the method of Artifact Refining. When you can forge a notable flying sword, I will then impart the way of sword cultivation to you two!"

Lu Ye and Ying Wuji respectfully retreated.

Upon looking back, the Sword Weapon Sect Master who called himself Khong Khong was already gone, not knowing where he went, only a grass hut standing still in the original spot.

The two exchanged a glance, both feeling a sense of dread in their hearts.

"You scout the surroundings." Lu Ye instructed Ying Wuji, then pursued the direction where Nian Yuexian was blasted away.

The place where the grass hut was located was a mountain valley, with one side being Sword Mountain, filled with flying swords just now, a magnificent sight.

Ying Wuji had the same intention; coming here for the first time, naturally, it's important to investigate the environment first and understand what kind of world this is and what challenges await them.

The two separated, Lu Ye went to find Nian Yuexian.

Soon he found her because Nian Yuexian hadn't gone far, she was standing at the mouth of the valley.

She had already changed into clean clothes, but she had expended a lot previously and suffered numerous injuries, her face still pale.

Seeing her safe and sound, Lu Ye felt slightly relieved, and stepped forward to say, "My Lady."

"Hmm." Nian Yuexian nodded, "Did that old gentleman make things difficult for you?"

Previously, she did not pay much regard to Khong Khong, but after their exchange of blows, Nian Yuexian already understood that Khong Khong's cultivation far exceeded hers.

In other words, Khong Khong was quite possibly above the Divine Sea Realm!

This piqued Nian Yuexian's interest, inspiring a desire to explore, because the Divine Sea Realm cultivators in the Nine Provinces have been exploring the cultivation path ahead for many years.

They can sense that the Divine Sea Realm is not the end for cultivators, but how to take that step remains elusive.

Having seen Khong Khong today, Nian Yuexian naturally wanted to inquire and understand, but unfortunately, she had offended him at first, making it inconvenient to ask anything now.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.