Chapter 354
Chapter 354
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: Sword Seed
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When Lu Yang emerged from the Welcoming Hall, he was greeted by the somewhat helpless gaze of Perfected Being Demon-Quelling.
"I didn't expect you could really offer incense to the ancestor."
"Come with me."
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling sighed, said nothing more, and led Lu Yang aloft on a beam of escaping light. In short order, they arrived at the utmost peak of the Sword Pavilion's sect gate.
This spot commanded the heights, overlooking all lesser peaks. A majestic hall stood prominently there, and at that moment, figures of light had already manifested—one glance showed they were all Foundation Establishment Perfected Beings.
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling brought Lu Yang here without delay. He beckoned forth a thick Dao scripture.
"Today, disciple Yan Xiao enters the Welcoming Hall to offer incense to the ancestor."
Holding the Dao scripture solemnly, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling intoned:
"In accordance with the ancestor's decree, list him as a Sword Seed of the sect. Exhaust form and lifespan, cultivate diligently, uphold the orthodox Dao to regulate the world."
With that, he inscribed the name of Lu Yang's present incarnation into the Dao scripture.
"You are my first disciple under the seat. By generation, you belong to the Ming cohort. Today, I bestow upon you the Dharma name Minghe. Strive to live up to it."
"This disciple pays respects to Master."
Lu Yang bowed with utmost respect and received from Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's hand the token symbolizing Sword Seed status.
He then withdrew of his own accord.
"Sword Seed status rivals Foundation Establishment."
"With the token in hand, seek out a cave abode for yourself within Extreme Heaven Cliff. Your prior life's foundations run deep—cultivate diligently and swiftly reclaim your former Perfected Being rank."
Watching Lu Yang depart, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's gaze abruptly turned grim.
Almost simultaneously, a Foundation Establishment Perfected Being approached with a smile.
"Congratulations, Perfected Being. With this new beloved disciple, the day all karma dissolves draws near."
This was Ye Cheng.
As a Ye family disciple, delight shone plainly on his face.
"I've heard tell this one harmed Xingfeng. Fitting that he reaps his past bitter fruits!"
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's expression darkened further.
For outside cultivators joining Sword Pavilion, the sect had a thorough system for whitewashing them. The Welcoming Hall formed its pivotal step.
"All outsiders joining Sword Pavilion first have their past-life memories purged. Then they offer incense in the Welcoming Hall, their luck drained and recast as Sword Pavilion luck."
"I thought Fellow Daoist Lu's talent too lacking to learn the Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter—leaving some room to turn things around. But who knew it would prove irreversible, like water spilled upon the ground."
At this thought, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling sighed once more.
"...Heaven's will."
The Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter stood as Sword Pavilion's famed rank one true technique.
Yet across the sect, practitioners were few and far between.
Even true Sword Pavilion direct descendants seldom pursued it.
A close count would reveal only one sort took it up: those who had been outside Perfected Beings in past lives, reincarnated before joining Sword Pavilion!
Within the quiet chamber of a cave abode on Extreme Heaven Cliff.
"Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter."
Vast and profound, this technique spanned over ten thousand characters, embracing all under heaven.
Most crucially, it demolished every established cultivation paradigm!
What defined a sword cultivator?
Common wisdom held any sword-wielding cultivator qualified.
Yet the Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter deemed this a deviant path.
True sword cultivation meant cultivating the sword itself!
Singular focus, forsaking all else. Sword alone as companion, communing day and night. Sincerity birthing divine accord. Sword as Dao.
Only then merited the name sword cultivator!
Lu Yang frowned at this.
To date, he had encountered many Sword Pavilion cultivators.
By this technique's measure, even within Sword Pavilion, only Perfected Being Demon-Quelling Ye Guangji truly bore the title "sword cultivator"!
'Something's not right.'
Years immersed in Primal Saint Sect intuition screamed at Lu Yang: a problem lurked here!
A rank one true technique—casually shown about?
'...Unless it's a trap!'
A colossal one!
Redoubling his caution, Lu Yang pressed on through the Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter.
Soon enough, his expression shifted.
Moments later, he closed his eyes.
'I knew Sword Pavilion wouldn't hand out favors like candy. Rank one true technique? More like gelded! The cultivation portion cuts off at peak Foundation Establishment!'
The Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter was indeed rank one—Lu Yang's first encounter with a method of true "empty proof."
Its creator aimed to forge a [Sword Dao Fruit Position] from absolute nothing.
Ambition to stir the soul.
Even [Heaven of Non-existence] fell short of pure empty proof, strictly speaking.
'[Heaven of Non-existence] found an embryonic fruit position, then reshaped it via personal Dao law into the ideal form.'
Lu Yang now knew the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner's secret.
That power letting him ape a great Perfected Being? An embryonic fruit position, acquired and sealed by some innate Perfected Being!
Thus [Heaven of Non-existence] retained roots.
But the Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter's target [Sword Dao Fruit Position] brooked no such crutch.
From void absolute, manifest reality!
Grand vision.
But the price?
'We foot the bill!'
'Past Foundation Establishment or no, divine abilities be damned—cultivate this, and you become a [Constant Worldly Grasping Metal Sword Base].'
'Even innate divine abilities convert wholesale!'
Like [Heaven of Non-existence], it dragged alien Dao bases into the mire to patch Sword Dao's abyss!
'[Sword Dao Fruit Position] defies proof, so it demands we rank-one practitioners pour in lifetime talent and insight, inching it toward completion. If [Sword Dao Fruit Position] is canvas, we supply the ink and brush.'
'This technique... tailor-made for outsiders!'
Comprehension dawned on Lu Yang.
External Perfected Beings bore labyrinthine Dao bases. Past memories erased, yet souls unwashed by reincarnation, foundations unaltered.
Ideal for this rank one true technique's second scouring.
Memories first. Luck next. Dao base last.
Sword Pavilion harvested luck, fattened [Sword Dao Fruit Position]. Overflowing gains!
And I still owed him karma for this!
'Sword Seed... ah, Sword Seed!'
'Without Sword Seeds like us pouring lifelong attainment in, how sprouts [Sword Dao Fruit Position], grows to heaven-scraping tree?'
Yet here Lu Yang paused sharp.
"No—the Sword Pavilion lineage isn't devoid of its cultivators. Perfected Being Demon-Quelling! Pure sword cultivator if ever there was one!"
Lu Yang had witnessed Perfected Being Demon-Quelling in action.
Facing Mysterious Spirit Realm's host of Heavenly and Earthly Immortals, this peak Foundation Establishment great one unleashed no divine abilities.
Sword drawn—that famed [Non-Killing Sword Intent], hallmark of sword cultivation!
'Why court such a yawning pit?'
'Like me, past-life external Perfected Being? Impossible. Ye family direct blood, purest Sword Pavilion stock.'
'...[Heaven-Receiving Orthodox Virtue True Lord]?'
Abruptly, from within the Ten Thousand Spirits Banner—where Ancestor Master Tingyou pored over the Sword Lord Discussing the Profound and Grasping Metal Secret Chapter alongside Lu Yang—came a voice, expression peculiar.
"What has been shall be again."
Ancestor Master Tingyou sighed deeply, then intoned gravely:
"Perfected Being Demon-Quelling Ye Guangji—surely he didn't formerly cultivate [Wall Earth]?"