Chapter 176: The Heavenly Sword Appears
‘Twenty-five million extreme-grade spiritual stones!?’
Yeop Hyeon nearly blacked out.
The extreme-grade spiritual stones he’d brought back from Cho Country and Wol Country barely totaled a little over two million when combined.
But… what? Twenty-five million?
This was an unimaginable fortune—one he couldn’t amass even if he sold his own body.
O Ru-ju chuckled as if reading Yeop Hyeon’s thoughts.
“You might not know this, but True Tier spirit artifacts are incredibly rare not just in Qingzhou, but even in Jungto Sinju. Especially for sword cultivators—the price on a True Tier sword is astronomical.”
Yeop Hyeon waved his hands frantically.
“I don’t have that kind of money!”
“Haha, I know.”
“Then how did you even bring something like this…?”
Yeop Hyeon was dumbfounded. If it wasn’t for teasing him, why show off an item like this?
As O Ru-ju just smiled silently, Yeop Hyeon caught on to his intent.
“Is there… another way?”
O Ru-ju nodded.
“You don’t have to pay it all at once. If money’s short, you can pay in installments.”
Installments?
Yeop Hyeon’s eyes lit up.
“You can really do that?”
“Not for just anyone, but I can make an exception for you. If you need it, pay at least 250,000 extreme-grade spiritual stones a month. Clear the full twenty-five million within three years at Chwi Seon Ru. Bump up the payments in good months. That’s the best deal Chwi Seon Ru can offer.”
Three years?
Yeop Hyeon pondered it, then nodded.
“Deal!”
O Ru-ju placed the sword sheath before him.
“It’s called ‘Zangfeng’. With this, your flying sword arts will gain at least thirty percent more power. At that level, no one below the Myriad Laws Realm—save a few geniuses from Jungto Sinju—could withstand your single strike!”
The strongest below the Myriad Laws Realm?
Yeop Hyeon carefully lifted the sheath. The blade inside gleamed icy cold, etched with golden patterns.
He flicked his finger lightly. Five swords floated from the case, one sliding smoothly into the sheath.
In an instant, he pointed outside the door.
Shiiik—!
The five swords embedded themselves neatly into a massive tree fifty zhang away!
Yeop Hyeon’s expression flickered. Just as O Ru-ju said, the swords were over thirty percent faster than before. At this speed, opponents below the Myriad Laws Realm—or even peak experts—would lose their heads before they could react.
He stroked the sheath gently. No doubt about it—this was one-of-a-kind. Only downside: the price.
O Ru-ju took his first 250,000 spiritual stones and left Canglan Academy without lingering.
Yeop Hyeon carried the sheath into a secluded bamboo grove. Amid the dense stalks, he immersed himself in silence.
How much time passed? A breeze swept through, bamboo leaves fluttering down.
His hand moved lightly.
Shiiishiiishiiishiiishiiishiiik—!
In a flash, seven sword gleams danced like butterflies through the grove on a spring day, reverting to swords that returned to his side—each with several leaves stuck to the blades.
Then, a single bamboo leaf drifted slowly from above.
Yeop Hyeon turned and left the grove.
As the leaf neared the ground, a sword pierced it clean through and vanished.
Meanwhile, beyond his mad training sessions, Yeop Hyeon oversaw Canglan Academy’s reconstruction.
By now, Canglan Academy was Kanguk’s undisputed top power. Their finances dwarfed the imperial treasury’s annual revenue.
As Canglan Academy surged ahead, a massive event rocked Qingzhou.
Qingzhou’s southernmost tip—a barren wasteland shunned by travelers. One day, a sword gleam shot skyward. As it pierced the clouds, the cloud layer shattered across hundreds of li. The gleam lingered.
Qingzhou erupted in chaos.
Rumors spread instantly: a Heavenly Tier spirit artifact—a sword—had appeared in the south.
True Tier artifacts were already rarities in Qingzhou. A Heavenly Tier sword? Even scarce in Jungto Sinju.
Qingzhou buzzed with talk of the sword. Crowds rushed south. Even Canglan Academy and Jungto Sinju dispatched agents.
Who wouldn’t covet a Heavenly Tier artifact?
Meanwhile, in Canglan Hall.
Yeop Hyeon set down his teacup and spoke.
“Heard about that sword in southern Qingzhou?”
Mu Yun Qi nodded beside him.
“Something feels off about it…”
“What?”
“Dunno. Just a hunch.”
“Then shut up about it.”
“……”
Gu Jiu spoke from the side.
“I feel it too. This might be a ploy by Changmok Academy and their ilk.”
Yeop Hyeon and the others turned to her. Gu Jiu smiled faintly and continued.
“A Heavenly Tier artifact appearing in Qingzhou? Impossible. Even if real, the fanfare’s suspicious—like bait. Someone’s orchestrating this!”
Mu Yun Qi and the rest glanced at Yeop Hyeon.
If Gu Jiu was right, it targeted him.
“So they’re luring me out alone?”
Gu Jiu nodded.
“High chance. They’ve set the stage just for you.”
“Hm. What makes them think I’d go?”
“My guess? The sword’s real. They figure a sword cultivator like you can’t ignore it. A gamble, really.”
“Haha! Then their gamble fails!”
A Heavenly Tier sword did tempt him. But he wasn’t fool enough to walk into a known trap.
“Why not go?”
All eyes turned to Gu Jiu.
“It’s a trap, sure—but also a chance. You can’t dodge their provocations forever. Canglan’s tangled in too many ventures and alliances. Skip this, and they won’t stop.”
Geom Cho-cho nodded in agreement.
“Gu Scholar’s right. Skip this sword, another comes. Your grudge with them won’t dissolve easily.”
Gang Gu frowned.
“But they know your strength. They won’t skimp on prep. Rashly going could be…”
Gu Jiu smiled.
“What’s there to fear?”
Eyes fixed on her again. The woman’s poise belied her youth.
“They set the board—we counter on it.”
“How?”
As Gang Gu pressed, Gu Jiu set down her cup and met Yeop Hyeon’s gaze.
“Imok died by your hand recently. They won’t risk Myriad Laws or Law Realm experts lightly. Their options: one, borrow blades from Jungto Sinju outsiders. Two, arrays or barriers to strike when you’re weakened.”
“Three?”
Gang Gu urged. Gu Jiu’s voice dropped low.
“Three: let the sword kill you!”
Yeop Hyeon’s eyes widened.
“The sword kills me? Possible?”
“Yes.”
Geom Cho-cho answered.
“A Heavenly Tier sword harbors a sword spirit attuned to heaven and earth. Feign loyalty, then strike—it’d be fatal.”
A Heavenly Tier sword…
Yeop Hyeon’s face darkened briefly.
His Spirit Water Sword couldn’t absorb a Heavenly Tier yet. If it attacked instead, he’d be defenseless. But absorption wasn’t essential—subdue it by force.
A single True Tier sword cost hundreds of millions in gold. A Heavenly Tier? Astronomical.
No denying the allure. But they wouldn’t dangle such treasure without strings.
Gu Jiu pressed on.
“As I said, it’s a chance. Succeed, and you claim the sword—buying time to train Canglan students and Dao soldiers.”
She locked eyes with him.
“Even a Myriad Laws expert—you’d hold with your skill and the twelve golden men. No Jungto Sinju fighter below that could kill you.”
Gang Gu shook her head.
“Still too risky.”
As Gu Jiu opened her mouth, Yeop Hyeon grinned.
“Gu Scholar, one question…”
She met his gaze; he smiled.
“How long do we let them drag us around?”
Gu Jiu stared, then smiled and shook her head.
“My fault. But soon, we’ll turn the tables.”
“What’re you two on about?”
Mu Yun Qi, silent till now, looked baffled.
Gu Jiu chuckled.
“Read a book.”
Mu Yun Qi’s face twisted.
“You calling me dumb?”
Bai Ze patted his shoulder.
“Yun Qi, stay quiet and you’re mid-tier. Look at me—no clue, but I shut up, so no one knows I’m the fool!”
“……”
Gang Gu and the others gaped; Bai Ze blinked.
“What? Wrong?”
They shook their heads silently.
Mu Yun Qi patted Bai Ze with pitying eyes.
“……”
Dusk fell. Yeop Hyeon left Canglan Academy, heading somewhere.
That instant, night clouds scattered in all directions.
Daeun Realm, Changmok Academy.
Ma Qingxian stared at the green leaf sword embedded in the plaque before Hoyeon Hall.
After a long while, a black-clad figure appeared behind him.
“Dean, Yeop Hyeon left Canglan Academy. Heading south Qingzhou, no doubt. But his trail vanished after. We lost him.”
Ma Qingxian closed his eyes slowly, voice low.
“Tracking a Sword Lord’s no easy task. Don’t worry. His destination’s the Heavenly Sword. Time to begin. Notify Daeun Empire and the shadow network!”
Word of Yeop Hyeon heading south spread across Qingzhou like wildfire.
His target: the Heavenly Sword, obviously.
Debates raged: could he claim it?
As all assumed southbound, a black-robed figure with sword sheath slipped silently into Daeun Realm.
Unseen even by ghosts!