Fairy, return my flying sword to me

Chapter 229 Li Feng Valley

"What level is this guy? How come he can participate in this Sword Ruins Secret Realm with us?"

"Among the nine of us Golden Core cultivators, only he is a Foundation Establishment cultivator. If he goes in, he'll only hold us back. Let's ignore him and go in ourselves."

Feng Lingling, the eldest disciple of the Longevity Sword Clan, frowned slightly and glanced at the lonely cultivator beside her with pity. She said, "But the spots in this secret realm are hard to come by. He finally managed to get one. If we don't bring him along, he will soon be kicked out of the secret realm. Then there will be no point in experiencing it."

"What does that have to do with us? If he wants to train in our sect's secret realm, he can't expect us to protect him, can he? If he doesn't have the ability, why invite humiliation upon himself? Since he has the ability to exchange for this secret realm spot from the sect, then he should have the ability to fight his way there himself instead of relying on us!"

Liu Mufeng, the eldest disciple of the Lufeng Sword Clan, whom he had met once before, reminded him somewhat displeasedly, "We are all human, and our enemies are those demon cultivators and heavenly demons. It is only natural for us to help each other. Is it inappropriate for us to target each other like this?"

"Is it inappropriate? We didn't harm him, but we're not obligated to take him along on this exploration of the secret realm, are we? When you were speaking up for him, did you ever consider my junior brother Qingyan? He performed so well. If it weren't for a spot being allocated, this opportunity to explore the secret realm should have been mine!"

"Or perhaps my senior brother Chang Li? Although I took over the position of the eldest disciple of the Burning Heaven Sword Clan from my senior brother this time, his strength level remains unchanged. It's not up to outsiders to say anything, is it?"

Even the two newly joined elders, who were seeking a breakthrough, said frankly: "Yes, the situation in exploring the secret realm is treacherous. We have never truly fought our way to the deepest part. Even we ourselves can hardly move an inch in the secret realm, so how can we bring along an outer sect disciple who is only at the Foundation Establishment stage?"

"Let's go, ignore him. If we don't let these outsiders know how difficult our secret realm is, there's no guarantee that even more people won't covet it in the future. This is a good opportunity to teach these outsiders a lesson, and we can avoid similar troubles in the future. Why not?"

Even if Feng Lingling and Liu Mufeng had many opinions, they would not abandon their fellow disciples to firmly support an outsider when faced with the decision made by their other companions.

After discussing and agreeing on a plan in their minds, the nine of them set off together.

As they collectively channeled their inner energy into the crystal, the connection between the secret realm and the crystal began to take effect imperceptibly.

Nine hazy rays of light emanated from the light screen, completely enveloping the nine people within it. Then, they instantly transformed into nine streams of light, flashing into the passage formed by the hazy light.

"Wow! They're already inside?"

Lin Jian stood to one side, feeling as if countless messages had flowed through the two minutes of silence just now.

But it doesn't matter, since I didn't expect anyone else to help me explore this secret realm anyway.

Following the nine people, Lin Jian imitated them, channeling his true energy into the crystal, and then transformed into a stream of light, disappearing into the light curtain...

Watching the ten explorers of the secret realm completely disappear at the entrance, the elder who had led them here shook his head and sighed inwardly.

“How pitiful…”

Like a pitiful little dog that nobody wants.

But there was nothing they could do. No matter how much the elders decided on the overall strategy, they couldn't force these disciples to lead an outsider.

There was nothing they could do if these disciples didn't want to be taken on.

But in any case, they have fulfilled their responsibilities. Now it all depends on whether this kid can prove himself and go far enough in the exploration of the secret realm.

On the training ground, the scenery surrounding the Sword Ruins Secret Realm was reflected in the water mist mirror.

The desolate natural scenery is dotted among the lush greenery covering the mountains and fields, with only the hazy light curtain revealing the extraordinary nature of this place.

After all ten explorers of the secret realm disappeared from their original positions, a buzzing sound arose among the disciples watching around the martial arts arena.

"He was ostracized after all... I wonder how far that outsider can go?"

"Serves him right! How dare an outsider like him covet what doesn't belong to him!"

"Should we open a betting pool to see when that kid will be out?"

"One hour, maybe? At most two hours."

"An hour left? I think it's already a testament to his strength that he hasn't come out immediately. What would a cultivator who only knows alchemy do, waste such a hard-won spot?"

"Exactly! The longest our senior brothers who participated in previous years could last was three hours. This outsider thinks he can last one or two hours?"

"You can't say that. After all, when he first enters the Sword Ruins Secret Realm, he won't attract much attention from those sword spirits. As long as he doesn't do anything stupid, he can easily get through the initial period by finding a corner to hide in. But later on..."

Hearing so much discussion about their own disciples, both the master of transmission and the master of the scriptures looked somewhat tense.

Putting aside the matter of passing on skills, even within the Cangjing Heart Sect, there was initial resistance to the decision of Lin Jian, this disciple, to squander the sect's resources.

The Chunyang Sword Sect group was also impressed by this disciple.

The conditions they had prepared were worthless in the eyes of the Pure Yang Sword Sect. On the contrary, he easily obtained preferential treatment and even close cooperation from the Pure Yang Sword Sect by simply taking out a pill formula.

Now anyone who speaks ill of the woods is speaking ill of them.

Is it true that life in the woods won't last?

Hmph! Who doesn't last long?

Even if it doesn't last long...

"Will there be any danger?" The two elders asked nervously.

These promising talents must not be wasted here, otherwise we won't know how to explain them to the sect when they return.

"There will always be some danger..." The foreign affairs elder who had been receiving them for the past few days said with a smile, "But as long as he's not greedy, he'll definitely be able to come out unharmed. Our Sword Ruins Secret Realm is essentially a place that's half real and half unreal. One day in it is equivalent to one hour in the outside world. So don't listen to them talking about how many hours it takes. In fact, they have plenty of time to think calmly inside, and it's completely impossible for them to do anything impulsive that they'll regret."

"But……"

"No buts, now that he's inside, all we can do is believe in him. Maybe he can hold on until the end and even retrieve the immortal sword that our ancestor left behind?"

"Elder Zhou, there's no need to tease us. We just hope this kid comes back safe and sound. We never imagined he could travel so far in your sect's secret realm."

"Alright." Jian Xu appeared beside the three of them at some point. "I've already spoken to Mu Feng. Keep an eye on this junior brother. If he needs any help, feel free to lend a hand."

"Besides, this secret realm is special, and having more people is not necessarily an advantage. It just spreads the risks that each person has to face on average, and you will still have to face them when the time comes. Moreover, if your intention is to hone yourself, then it is indeed right for you to venture out alone."

"Thank you so much."

"Hey! They're all part of the future of our human race, no need to be so polite."

……

Lin Jian knew nothing about what was happening outside, and even the other nine cultivators who had entered before him disappeared after he came in.

There was no trace of their presence in the air, and their presence was not detected by their aura.

Since they didn't want to travel together, the other nine people naturally wouldn't take special care of them.

The Pure Yang Sword Sect had explored this secret realm for many years, and even though they hadn't cleared it, they had grasped some of its secrets. Through their research, they discovered that as long as their energy was closely linked when entering the secret realm, allowing the realm to treat them as a whole, they would naturally appear in the same place after entering.

If no one does it intentionally, then each batch of cultivators entering will naturally be thrown into various random places in the secret realm, such as east, west, south, and north.

At this moment, Lin Jian and the other nine people were naturally separated without a doubt.

Fortunately, the forest had not come in search of them.

Upon entering this somewhat hazy and distorted space, Lin Jian's first sensation was the countless sharp sword energies swirling in the air.

The air was filled with a scorching aura, like rust and the aftermath of lightning, and even an unconscious breath felt like swallowing a sharp blade.

Beneath our feet lies a vast expanse of golden-pink earth, where the true ground is invisible, like a mirror submerged in water, reflecting endless, distorted light.

The scene before me was filled with swirling mist and howling sword winds.

According to the information given by the Pure Yang Sword Sect elders before entering the secret realm, upon arrival, one would only appear on the outermost layer of the entire secret realm.

It is also known as: Lifeng Valley by the Chunyang Sword Sect.

This level doesn't yet contain the sword spirits that the Pure Yang Sword Sect's disciples fear most. All that remains are the sword qi and gales that endlessly echo here because of lingering obsessions.

Those howling winds were the most intense sword energy.

They blew and howled freely, galloping wildly through this fantastical space.

According to the strategy guide given by the elders of the Chunyang Sword Sect, the most important thing in this level is to dodge.

Even without lofty ambitions to explore deeper, one can still feel the enduring sword intent in the air, even from this outermost layer.

This space is a mixture of the sword intent and obsessions of countless senior sword cultivators. Even just quietly contemplating and observing it can greatly enhance one's understanding of the sword path.

But the prerequisite is to avoid those fierce, swirling winds.

Following the advice that Jianxu had been repeatedly telling Lin Jian, he could have stayed there indefinitely until the inner sword spirits sensed the intrusion of something and drove it away.

Before that, he could fully appreciate the countless experiences of his predecessors in this outermost sword energy space.

The elder's suggestion was good, but he didn't intend to listen.

Because this contradicts Chunxue's original intention in bringing him to this Sword Ruins Secret Realm.

He channeled his inner energy in the forest, and a faint golden light appeared on his body—the Golden Spirit Body.

Then, they actually went to meet a raging storm head-on.

The sword energy's gale was like a tornado carrying countless knives; as it swept across Lin Jian's body, it felt as if countless knives were simultaneously scraping across his body.

If a cultivator does not possess a certain level of cultivation, they will be swept away by this gust of wind, leaving only a skeleton with white bones.

Even if you are fully prepared in the forest, you will not feel good when you are hit by this strong wind.

The golden spirit body on his body clattered and blocked countless knives for him, but the bone-scraping sword energy still managed to pass through the thin golden film and grazed his body.

The moment the gale passed, countless fine scratches appeared on the surface of the forest.

Then countless drops of blood seeped out from these sword wounds.

Even those who have cultivated a magical artifact-like physique can resist the erosion of these countless sword energies.

But even in that fleeting gust of wind, wisps of sword energy were absorbed by the Golden Spirit Body, turning into nourishment to refine itself.

The sword energy invaded the body, and the body, which was already developing in a certain direction, suddenly moved firmly forward in the predetermined direction.

Even some of the purest power within the sword energy, after circulating throughout the body but still unable to be absorbed and utilized, could only be added to the true energy reserves in the forest.

Under the operation of the technique, it easily transformed into Taibai Xuan Gang, which was much purer than ordinary true qi, and added to the qi sea in the forest.

The original Earth Spirit Body of Body Cultivation was a method that was half defense and half cultivation. How could the modified version given by Chunxue forget the most important basic function of the original body?

The outermost layer of this Sword Ruins Secret Realm, where countless years of ceaseless sword energy and gales have swept through, is the first precious resource that Chunxue sent Lin Jian to target.

……

"Get away! Get away quickly!"

"An extremely strong storm is approaching from the east. Fellow disciples, please be extra careful."

"This storm is too big; if we try to break through, we might all get scattered."

Moreover, when splitting up to dodge, one is easily hit by countless other small gusts of wind.

We must get through this together!

"We must explore inwards, and we absolutely cannot expend too much energy on this outermost layer. Everyone, please be careful and come closer to cast spells together to defend!"

In another corner of the secret realm, the nine-person team was in complete chaos.

The sword energy's fierce winds don't care how many people there are; they all blow the same way.

Moreover, everyone is stuck together, restricting each other's movement space.

The winds blew wildly from all directions, and occasionally the two sides would accidentally collide.

Fortunately, having many people also has its advantages. In the rare instances where it's difficult to avoid all the gale-force winds, they can work together to create a large magical barrier to protect everyone.

Moreover, since it was a joint effort by nine people, the energy expenditure was naturally very small.

The greatest significance of teaming up in this secret realm is that it spreads the risks of each person acting alone and ensures that there are teammates who can lend a helping hand in the event of some major dangers.

"A storm is coming! Prepare for the impact!"

A dazzling light, like amber, enveloped the nine people.

A colossal storm of sword energy, reaching to the heavens and earth, swept in, carrying with it endless malevolence...

(End of this chapter)