My equipment is designed for cultivation; I started by slaughtering my way through a small world.

Su Changge mentioned the forbidden area trial; is he testing me?

Gu Qing's thoughts raced like lightning.

The next moment, he said seriously:

"The forbidden land is dangerous, but it cannot stop the steps of us cultivators."

"Shun" "To defy the odds and become an immortal."

"Danger? What path to immortality is without danger? Human tribulations, natural disasters, and all sorts of calamities await."

"Since the opportunity to establish my foundation is in the forbidden area, I naturally have to go there myself."

Su Changge nodded upon hearing this and said:

"It would be even better if Elder Gu also participated in this trial."

"There are many birds and beasts that were captured ten thousand years ago in the forbidden area. Many of them have multiplied into groups. Several thousand-year-old spiritual herbs used to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill are guarded by these beasts."

Among them, the five main medicinal herbs—the thousand-year-old Golden Spirit Ginseng, Green Wood Vine, Mysterious Water Lotus, Vermilion Fruit, and Earth Fire Mushroom—all grow in the territory of the Golden Core Beast Clan.

Golden Core beasts within the forbidden area are bound by the rules of the forbidden area and are not allowed to actively attack disciples of the Sword Sect, but Foundation Establishment beasts are not subject to such restrictions.

Therefore, many disciples collapsed in the forbidden area during each trial.

"With Elder Gu's strength participating in the trial, we can greatly reduce the casualties of our Azure Emperor Sword Sect."

Seeing that Gu Qing was willing to make sacrifices for the sect, Su Changge was very pleased.

Immediately, he formally extended the invitation:

"Elder Gu, you are currently a guest elder of our sect. The four great sword sects have agreed that only members of the four great sword sects who are Qi Refining Realm cultivators can participate in the forbidden area trial."

"I wonder if Elder Gu would be willing to formally join the Azure Emperor Sword Sect and become a sect elder?"

"hehe!"

"I couldn't have gotten it."

Gu Qing smiled and stated his position directly.

There was no elaborate scene of Su Changge making three visits to Zhuge Liang's thatched cottage, nor was there any repeated invitations from Su Changge.

"Ha ha."

"Elder Gu is very generous. From now on, we are family. We will share the same fate, whether it be prosperity or ruin."

Su Changge was very happy and laughed loudly.

After a moment of joy, Su Changge sighed again, thinking of certain things, "Elder Gu, do you know why my Azure Emperor Sword Sect hasn't had any other Golden Core Realm elders in the last three hundred years?"

"Um?!"

"Could it be because the level of the Bitter Bamboo in the contract is not high enough?"

Gu Qing remembered that Su Changge had vaguely mentioned in the Sword Tomb Secret Realm that the higher the level of the Bitter Bamboo in the Sword Realm of one's natal flying sword contract, the greater the chance of successfully forming a core in the future.

"That does have some influence, but it's not the main reason..."

After a pause, Su Changge looked outside the sect, towards the direction of the Wei Kingdom's capital, a hint of hatred appearing on his face.

"The fundamental reason for the decline of the Azure Emperor Sword Sect is actually the incomplete core inheritance of the sect."

"Three hundred years ago, the second volume of the sect's core inheritance, the Azure Emperor Sword Manual, was lost. This is why the Azure Emperor Sword Sect has had a hard time producing a Golden Core True Person for three hundred years."

"So that's how it is..."

The four essential elements for cultivating immortality are method, wealth, companion, and location; however, an incomplete cultivation method is the most fatal.

Of course, if someone has extraordinary comprehension and can create their own cultivation techniques, that's another story.

But in this world, most people can only walk the paths that others have walked before them.

Those who can create their own methods are few and far between.

"Sect Master, who stole the second volume of the Azure Emperor Sword Manual?"

"Can't we just take it back?"

Gu Qing also wanted to collect the inheritance completed by the Longevity Sword Master, so he couldn't get stuck at the first step.

"It's difficult."

"If I could have taken it back, I would have gone long ago."

Su Changge shook her head and continued to tell Gu Qing this story of the sect's past:

"Three hundred years ago, the daughter of the previous sect leader, who was also my senior sister, met a prodigy while she was training outside, and the two became Daoist partners."

Later, the man told his senior sister that he was a prince of the Wei Kingdom.

This wouldn't have been a big deal...

However, after her senior sister married a prince of Wei, it aroused the greed of the Wei family patriarch. The patriarch used the Heavenly Puppet Technique to secretly manipulate her senior sister back into the sect to steal the Azure Emperor Sword Manual.

"Although the Wei family's conspiracy did not succeed completely, they still managed to steal the second half of the Azure Emperor Sword Manual."

"As for the Wei family patriarch..."

"This person is at the tenth level of the Golden Core Realm, just one step away from the Purple Mansion Realm!!"

"Even if I take action myself, I cannot force my way into the Wei Kingdom's palace and snatch back the second volume of the Azure Emperor Sword Manual."

Su Changge was putting it mildly.

If it weren't for the other three of the four major sword sects restraining the Wei Kingdom, the Wei family would have had a hard time resisting if they mobilized the entire nation to attack the Azure Emperor Sword Sect.

If the situation deteriorates to this point, he can only retreat to the Azure Emperor Sword Sect's stronghold and use the sect's sword formation to block the enemy.

"Tenth level of the Golden Core Realm!!"

Gu Qing was also secretly surprised upon hearing this news.

"Sect Master, rest assured, I will definitely make a trip to the Wei Kingdom's palace in the future. I will not only bring back the second volume of the Sword Manual, but also personally kill the Wei family's patriarch to avenge my martial uncle."

The promise is meant to be made, and given the opportunity, Gu Qing certainly wouldn't mind going to Wei to snatch the cultivation technique back.

Whether it can be done is another matter entirely.

"hehe--"

Su Changge smiled upon hearing this, then picked up the inheritance jade slip on the table and handed it to Gu Qing.

"I believe you can do it."

"This is the first half of the Azure Emperor Sword Manual, which records basic sword moves and the profound mysteries of six basic wood-attribute sword techniques."

"Elder Gu, I hope you can carry forward the Azure Emperor Sword Manual in the future."

"Thank you for your trust, Sect Master."

"I, Gu, will never let down the sect's expectations."

Taking the inheritance jade slip from Su Changge, Gu Qing said earnestly.

The Azure Emperor Sword Sect treated him quite well, and if possible, he would naturally help the Azure Emperor Sword Sect reclaim the sword manual inheritance, just like he did in the ancient martial arts world, bringing back the original [Reflecting Heaven Sword Manual] of the Western Mountain Sword Sect to his sect.

Afterwards, the two discussed the forbidden area trial.

About half an hour later, Gu Qing returned to Cuiyun Peak to study the newly acquired Azure Emperor Sword Manual.

Inside the main hall, Su Changge's gaze was deep as she watched Gu Qing's departing figure.

"You're from that place too..."

"With the talent you've shown these past few days, you're a dazzling presence even in that place."

"Senior Sister!"

"I won't let you die in vain... The Wei family will pay the price."

Su Changge knew that people from that place would never be content with just half a scroll of the Azure Emperor Sword Manual.

With Gu Qing's talent and methods, he will definitely cause trouble for the Wei family in the future.

Wei family, no matter how mysterious your background is, if you are targeted by the prodigies of that place, it is impossible to avoid bloodshed!

I just hope that Gu Qing's sword is sharp enough.

……

Gu Qing, upon returning to Cuiyun Peak, was completely unaware that Su Changge had already made some guesses about his background.

Gu Qing is currently using the inheritance jade slip of the [Azure Emperor Sword Manual].

"equipment."

After silently reciting the instructions, Gu Qingchao looked at the equipment panel.

[Equipped Item: Jade Slip Inheriting the First Half of the Azure Emperor Sword Manual]

[Rank: Mid-level Earth-grade True Technique]

Completeness: 100%

[Equipment Effect: Gain insights into the profound mysteries of six wood-attribute sword techniques from the Sword Manual's True Method inheritance.]

[Note: Every three months after equipping the item, you will permanently gain the first profound insight into its essence. The six wood-attribute sword techniques are related to the solar terms; if you obtain the complete inheritance, you can analyze the seasonal power.]

……

"Special powers related to the seasons?"

"The Twenty-Four Solar Terms correspond to six of them: Beginning of Spring, Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Spring Equinox, Pure Brightness, and Grain Rain."

"Are the six solar terms each associated with a different supernatural force?"

"Or is it that the six solar terms combine to form some kind of special power?"

Looking at the information displayed in the equipment panel, Gu Qing was slightly surprised.

Gu Qing had no idea how powerful the seasonal energy, formed from the condensation of six profound sword techniques, would be.

Gu Qing suddenly thought of Ying Changge, whom she had met in the Bloodline Competition.

This person used the [Nine Chapters of Thunder] ultimate technique, fusing five kinds of thunderous mysteries, and almost defeated Gu Qing's self-created pseudo-dual attribute fusion ultimate technique, a single thought revealing a thousand meanings.

The power of fusing six single-attribute profound mysteries is no less than that of fusing ordinary dual-attribute profound mysteries.

These are two different paths.

Not only that.

Squad leader Wang Jian once said that when one comprehends the tenth type of single-attribute profound mystery, a qualitative change will occur.

The Azure Emperor Sword Manual alone contains six profound mysteries of the wood attribute, while the Heavenly Grade True Method inherited by the Longevity Sword Lord, the Wood Longevity Sword Scripture, actually has 24 basic wood attribute sword mysteries.

The Longevity Sword Master, who created this Heavenly Grade True Technique, is definitely a monstrous genius.

"If I were to comprehend the four mysteries of the wood element myself, and combine them with the six mysteries of the Azure Emperor Sword Manual..."

"Soon we will be able to collect all ten wood-attribute mysteries and complete the first stage of mysteries transformation."

"This doesn't seem too difficult!!"

Thinking about this...

Gu Qing then looked at his natal spiritual root, the Bitter Bamboo of the Sword Realm.

Based on the profound insights gained during the advancement of the Bitter Bamboo Sword Realm, this speed will only be faster.

"What kind of strange beasts will we encounter?"

"I must become stronger as soon as possible before the forbidden area trial."

Having made up his mind, Gu Qing immediately entered seclusion mode.

Next.

Gu Qing had been cultivating in seclusion on the back mountain of Cuiyun Peak.

During this period, Gu Qing's natal spiritual root, the Bitter Bamboo of the Sword Realm, evolved from Blue Jade to Purple Jade. In this evolution process, Gu Qing analyzed the profound fluctuations transmitted by the Bitter Bamboo of the Sword Realm and comprehended another profound mystery of the wood attribute.

In stark contrast to "The Mystery of Flowers Blooming," it corresponds to "The Mystery of Flowers Withering," representing the power of decay.

The strange flower on the bitter bamboo in the Sword Realm, its blooming and withering respectively represent vitality and decay.

In the process of transformation from life to decay, hope is also being nurtured.

Until three months later,

The forbidden area trial jointly organized by the four sects is about to begin, and Gu Qingcai has just stepped out of the bamboo forest behind Cuiwei Peak.

……

Qingdi Sword Sect Plaza.

All the disciples participating in this forbidden area trial have gathered here, and almost all of them are at the perfected tenth level of the Qi Refining Realm.

The difference in spiritual power cultivation among them is not significant; the biggest difference lies in their profound understanding.

There are about one hundred disciples from the Azure Emperor Sword Sect participating in this trial. Among them, more than thirty have comprehended profound powers and can be considered the elite among the Qi Refining Realm disciples of the Azure Emperor Sword Sect.

As is customary, disciples who have comprehended profound powers enter the forbidden area to collect millennia-old spiritual herbs.

The other disciples went to collect the auxiliary ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Based on past experience, the mortality rate in forbidden area trials is around 40%.

of course.

Disciples who have successfully completed the forbidden area trials will be highly valued and generously rewarded by their sects.

Suddenly, the disciples in the square heard a sword cry and all looked towards the direction of Emerald Cloud Peak.

"They're here!!"

"It was Elder Gu's escape light."

With Gu Qing participating in this trial, everyone felt somewhat relieved.

Gu Qing's combat strength is beyond doubt in the Qi Refining and Foundation Building stages.

I'm currently reading Chapter 122 of the novel "Inheritance in Hand" on Cola Novel, completely engrossed in it.