Chapter 679: A Sacred Sword
Xu Changsheng said, "Senior Sister, don't you find this utterly baffling? Remember, Lin Yue only broke through to the Fish-Dragon Realm a few months ago. How could he have undergone such a tremendous transformation?"
The Flame Giant spoke calmly, "Xu Changsheng, I can sense a strong hatred and jealousy burning within you. That is not a good thing. You must understand, the world is vast and full of wonders; anyone can encounter extraordinary fortunes. What is so strange about that?"
Xu Changsheng bowed once more, clasping his hands. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister. I was nearly blinded by jealousy and resentment."
The Flame Giant continued, "Instead, I think you should investigate Qi Feiyu. Based on your description and what I know of her, her behavior is indeed too abnormal."
"Alright! I will definitely look into her," Xu Changsheng said.
"Before long, I should emerge from seclusion. When I do, I will personally meet this Lin Yue and see if he truly has issues," the Flame Giant said.
Xu Changsheng's face lit up with excitement. "Has Senior Sister finished her seclusion and broken through to the Half-Saint realm?"
"Not quite."
"This seclusion, I have mainly been cultivating the 'Slaughter Breaking Cloud Heaven Sword Art.' It is now nearly perfected, and it is time to emerge," the Flame Giant said.
Xu Changsheng marveled inwardly. Senior Sister was indeed a prodigy with her innate Supreme Yang Body, truly a one-in-a-million talent. In just one year, she had mastered the Ghost-level upper-rank martial technique, the Slaughter Breaking Cloud Heaven Sword Art.
How many people in the entire Kunlun Realm could cultivate a Ghost-level upper-rank martial technique at the Fish-Dragon Realm?
With a thunderous crash, the Flame Giant collapsed, transforming back into wisps of flame that surged like a crimson tide back into the Earth Furnace Valley.
Afterward, Xu Changsheng left the valley, preparing to begin his investigation of Qi Feiyu.
Over the next two days, after a series of battles, the Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation-level sword dao competition finally determined the ten group champions: Qin Yufan, Qi Feiyu, Dao Xuanqi, Can Dong, Yuchi Hong, Xu Changsheng, Zhao Wuyan, Mo Xin, Yang Qi, and Lin Yue.
The final round, the challenge match, gave the remaining participants who had entered the top one hundred a chance to challenge. If successful, they could replace that person's position and become one of the top ten.
Having witnessed the previous rounds, everyone had a deep understanding of the strength of the ten group champions—all formidable figures not to be trifled with.
As a result, many only dared to challenge Mo Xin and Yang Qi.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen was challenged twice as well, but both times, he dispatched his opponents with a single, clean strike.
From then on, no one dared to challenge him again.
During the challenge matches, Zixia Half-Saint specifically invited Yuanlong Half-Saint to come and watch together.
Zixia Half-Saint sat beside Yuanlong Half-Saint, a smile on her face. "Yuanlong Half-Saint, I recall that back at the Taiqing Palace, you once promised Lin Yue that if he entered the top ten, you would gift him a sacred sword. I haven't misremembered, have I?"
Yuanlong Half-Saint's face darkened like the bottom of a pot, his cold gaze fixed on Lin Yue below. "Lin Yue only broke through to the Fish-Dragon Realm a few months ago. How could he have become this strong?"
"Furthermore, Lin Yue never cultivated to the Supreme Extreme Realm in the four martial stages. Even with his Three Spirit Treasure Body, he cannot defeat a top expert at the Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation with his Fish-Dragon Fifth Transformation cultivation. He is not Gai Tianjiao; there is absolutely no way he can leap across so many realms to defeat an opponent."
"I propose we push him into the Transformation Pool to verify his identity and see if he is truly Lin Yue."
Zixia Half-Saint's eyes turned cold, and she showed anger. "Old man Yuanlong, if you want to renege on your debt, just say so. Why resort to framing and slander? Taiyi Ancestor personally verified Lin Yue's identity and instructed me to guide him carefully. If Lin Yue truly had issues, do you think Taiyi Ancestor, with his cultivation, would not have noticed?"
Beside them, Jinglan Half-Saint also looked displeased. "Yuanlong, your words are going too far. The Transformation Pool can indeed strip away the disguise of the Undying Blood Clan. But if a normal person is pushed into it, their meridians and martial soul will suffer severe damage, possibly never healing."
"Lin Yue has the potential to become a Sword Saint. If you truly push him into the Transformation Pool and damage his physique and martial soul, can you bear that responsibility?"
Earlier, Yuanlong Half-Saint had said this partly because he genuinely suspected Lin Yue's true identity.
Another reason was that he indeed wanted to back out of his promise.
After all, a sacred sword, in a Half-Saint family, could serve as a clan-guiding treasure.
Although Yuanlong Half-Saint possessed two sacred swords, they were his greatest wealth, obtained after risking life and limb from a medieval relic site.
How could he bear to give one away?
At the time, he had said those words just to provoke Zixia Half-Saint, never expecting that a casual remark would cost him a sacred sword.
Yuanlong Half-Saint's heart ached as if bleeding, and he wished he could slap himself twice.
Seeing the other five Half-Saints all staring at him, as a Half-Saint, he had to maintain dignity and composure.
Yuanlong Half-Saint took a deep breath and forced a smile. "Since Taiyi Ancestor personally verified Lin Yue's identity, then Lin Yue is certainly without issue. For the Liangyi Sect to produce a sword dao prodigy like Lin Yue, we should indeed nurture him vigorously. A sacred sword is nothing; I must certainly gift it to him."
The challenge matches ended, and the top ten cultivators remained the ten group champions, unchanged.
This also showed that their strength was indeed formidable, far surpassing other Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation cultivators.
According to the pre-competition reward system, each of the top ten cultivators would receive a Colored Glaze Treasure Pill as a reward.
The Colored Glaze Treasure Pill was a ninth-grade pill, priceless, and impossible to buy on the outside market.
A Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation cultivator who took the Colored Glaze Treasure Pill could quickly cultivate the "Colored Glaze Treasure Body" and break through to the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation.
The ten cultivators arrived beneath the Sunset Cloud Palace and simultaneously bowed to the six Half-Saint ancestors above. "We pay homage to the Half-Saint ancestors."
With the Colored Glaze Treasure Pill soon to be in hand, the ten cultivators were naturally quite expectant.
Jinglan Half-Saint nodded approvingly. "Good. For you to enter the top ten of the Fish-Dragon Eighth Transformation-level sword dao competition shows that you all have a great chance of stepping into the Half-Saint realm."
"In short, cultivate diligently and strive to soon stand on equal footing with me."
Then, Jinglan Half-Saint began distributing the pills, handing out ten fist-sized Cold Jade Boxes to the ten cultivators.
Zhang Ruochen was also quite eager for the Colored Glaze Treasure Pill, so he opened the Cold Jade Box lid immediately.
From within the box surged a dazzling Colored Glaze radiance, and a rich medicinal fragrance wafted out. Just one whiff made Zhang Ruochen's bones crackle and pop.
The other cultivators experienced the same phenomenon.
Zixia Half-Saint cleared her throat and glanced at Zhang Ruochen with a smile. "Lin Yue, Yuanlong Half-Saint greatly admires your sword dao talent and has prepared a special gift for you."
Zhang Ruochen's lips curled slightly, immediately understanding what Zixia Half-Saint meant.
Back then, Yuanlong Half-Saint had nearly made Zixia Half-Saint spit blood in anger. Now that Zhang Ruochen had entered the top ten, Zixia Half-Saint had finally turned the tables. How could she not take revenge?
Zhang Ruochen certainly would not be polite. He stepped forward immediately, clasping his hands and bowing to Yuanlong Half-Saint. "Thank you for your kindness, Yuanlong Half-Saint."
Yuanlong Half-Saint struggled to keep his expression relaxed as he took out a white ancient sword. Reluctantly, he handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
"This sacred sword, I found in a medieval relic site. For its sake, I nearly died inside."
"Now, I give it to you."
"I hope with its help, your path in sword dao can go further, making you the next Sword Saint of the Liangyi Sect."
Yuanlong Half-Saint's words were earnest and heartfelt, as if he truly valued Lin Yue and had high hopes for him.
Seeing this, the other cultivators were naturally envious.
After all, that was a sacred artifact-level sword, far more valuable than the Colored Glaze Treasure Pill. For a sacred artifact, many Half-Saints would risk their lives and fight tooth and nail.
Yuanlong Half-Saint added, "However, this sacred sword is a relic from the medieval era. The sword spirit within has fallen into a deep slumber. Only by awakening the sword spirit can this sword truly unleash its sacred artifact-level power."
The reason Yuanlong Half-Saint chose to give this sword to Zhang Ruochen was that, no matter what method he tried, he could not awaken the sword spirit.
A sacred sword with an unawakened sword spirit was a dead sword. Its power was at most slightly stronger than a twelfth-rank True Martial Treasure, incomparable to a true sacred sword.
Zhang Ruochen drew the white sacred sword and examined it. The blade was covered in rust, and the sacred qi within was extremely thin.
After a careful look, Zhang Ruochen shook his head. This sacred sword was at best a defective product among sacred swords. Its quality was even inferior to the Golden Snake Sacred Sword.
Such a shabby sacred sword, and Yuanlong Half-Saint had treated it like a treasure to give to him. Zhang Ruochen was deeply disappointed.
But it was still a sacred sword. Shouldn't a Fish-Dragon Realm cultivator be overjoyed upon seeing such a treasure? Then kneel and thank him?
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's disdainful expression, Yuanlong Half-Saint's anger nearly burst through his skull, and he wanted to rush forward and take the sword back.
Even if it was a defective sacred sword, Zhang Ruochen would not return it to Yuanlong Half-Saint.
Zhang Ruochen sheathed the white sacred sword and said flatly, "A fine sacred sword. Thank you again, Yuanlong Half-Saint."
Yuanlong Half-Saint's teeth were nearly ground to dust, but he managed to force a stiff smile and nod at Zhang Ruochen.
Seeing Yuanlong Half-Saint's pained expression, Zixia Half-Saint's mood was naturally extremely pleasant.
Zhang Ruochen stepped back, and Jinglan Half-Saint stepped forward again to announce, "The ranking matches will be held in one month. I hope by then, your cultivations have all reached the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation. At that time, your ranking matches will be held together with the top ten of the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation level."