Chapter 580: News of the Sword Wiping Assembly

"..."

Song Yan was somewhat speechless.

Actually, the price was extremely cheap, but if I don’t buy it, are you going to force me to?

He had noticed the young girl just now, because most female Cultivators in the Cultivation World had fair skin and beautiful faces.

This freckled girl naturally stood out a bit.

In medical texts, this was called ’black stars on the face,’ and in some remote, uncivilized places, people with such a face were regarded as ’Seamless’ and an ominous sign.

"Hey! Xiao Ju, what are you doing?"

The other female Cultivators from Seamless quickly ran out; one stopped the girl, and the others apologized to Song Yan.

"Sorry, Senior Brother, she’s a bit strange..."

"Don’t stoop to her level."

Song Yan nodded, glancing at her. The girl’s face was stubborn, as if she was enduring something.

He pondered for a moment, then walked away.

Actually, Song Yan was already somewhat tempted by the price of three Spirit Stones, but this tailored Daoist robe was optional for him at the moment.

If he truly needed one, he could always custom-order it later.

"..."

Passing an alley in the market, he seemed to recall something.

"That Xianxin Pavilion... seems to be here."

Relying on his memory, he arrived at the pavilion where he had previously bartered with Ke Huai and others.

The doorman asked, "Are you here to sit and drink tea, or do you wish to reserve a private room for discussion?"

"...I’ll just sit and drink tea."

"Alright, two Spirit Stones for entry."

Two Spirit Stones?!

Song Yan’s first reaction was that it was a bit expensive!

But then he thought about it.

If spiritual fruits and spiritual tea were provided, it didn’t seem like a loss. Moreover, the environment here was elegant and clean, so he immediately paid the Spirit Stones.

A plate of spiritual fruits, a pot of spiritual tea.

At this moment, the hall upstairs was not full of Cultivators. Song Yan sat alone at a table, carefully reading the ancient book in his hand.

"Ancient Sword Cultivators often carried sword gourds and sword boxes, containers specifically for nurturing their Natal Flying Swords..."

Sword gourds are rare in the Cultivation World today.

But sword boxes still exist, though they are usually not truly used to hold Flying Swords. Some Cultivators simply collect them when they enjoy collecting ancient artifacts.

After all, taking a Flying Sword or Spiritual Artifact from a qiankun bag versus taking it from a sword box or sword gourd made no difference; it even sounded a bit redundant.

The Legacy of ancient Sword Cultivators was severed, and now sword boxes and sword gourds have become mere decorations.

The ’Ancient Sword Chronicles’ stated that Sword Cultivators were not uncommon in the past, and sword boxes and sword gourds had many wondrous uses, but what those specific uses were, is now unknown.

That era has long been submerged in the river of history.

"..."

Song Yan suddenly sighed softly.

Since obtaining the liangyi pearl until now, he had read numerous materials and ancient texts concerning ancient Sword Cultivators.

Yet, a certain frustration had accumulated in his heart... all because the descriptions he read consistently spoke of how powerful Sword Cultivators were.

Things like "one sword breaking all techniques," or "defeating the strong with the weak, slaying enemies beyond one’s cultivation level"... but if the Sword Cultivator lineage was truly so powerful, why did it suddenly disappear?

A simple phrase like "extremes lead to decline" could not put Song Yan’s mind at ease.

"What exactly happened..."

He did not know.

"Sword Cultivators are not all righteous individuals who slay demons and uphold the Dao..."

Hmm?

Song Yan’s eyes narrowed, and he continued to read.

"Ancient pure Sword Cultivators were wholeheartedly fixated on the single word ’sword,’ and this naturally formed an undisputed consensus in the Cultivation World..."

"Those of the Sword Cultivator lineage are mostly stubborn and obstinate individuals." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝔀𝓮𝒃𝙣𝓸𝒗𝒆𝒍.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Among them, countless have taken extreme paths and gone astray, ignoring the dissuasion of their companions and Fellow Daoists."

"Once a Sword Cultivator’s Dao Heart is disturbed by demonic thoughts, falling into the Evil Path is something no one can reverse."

"An Evil Sword is a special Flying Sword formed when a Sword Cultivator falls into the Demonic Path, and their Natal Flying Sword becomes demonized under the influence of their Dao Heart and Sword Intent."

"Most Evil Swords will gradually become dull after the Sword Cultivator perishes."

"Over time, the Dao Heart, Sword Intent, and demonic thoughts all dissipate."

Song Yan was deep in thought, his fingertip gently tracing the next line of text.

"However, some Evil Swords, in reality, their Natal Flying Sword is not contaminated; it is merely trapped within the sword body by demonic thoughts, and the sword body is controlled by demonic thoughts..."

"..."

"Hoo..."

He took a deep breath.

Song Yan spent about half an hour reading through the entire ’Ancient Sword Chronicles.’

It really was quite complex... Could ’Heart Demon’ be such a Flying Sword?

"..."

Closing the book, Song Yan finally had time to gently put down the cup lid.

Smelling the tea in the cup, he took a sip.

A long time had passed; the tea was no longer hot as it entered his mouth, flowing warmly into his stomach.

Immediately, a trace of coolness rose from his abdomen.

His Divine Sense felt refreshed, and the slight weariness from reading disappeared without a trace.

"This spiritual tea is so wondrous..."

"Although it cannot increase Divine Sense, it seems to relieve fatigue to a certain extent."

With this refreshing sensation, Song Yan’s thoughts drifted, and he began to ponder and organize his next moves.

Now that he had embarked on the path of an ancient Sword Cultivator, there was no doubt that in the future, he would need to focus on improving the grade of his Sword Dao Seed, and comprehending and tempering his Dao Heart and Sword Intent.

In another seven months, it would be the appointed time to meet with Rong Xiaofeng and Wu Huaguo.

"Even if that Cultivator’s Immortal Cave doesn’t contain supreme spiritual items, this matter should still be put on the agenda..."

Just as Song Yan was pondering to himself, the Cultivators in the hall of Xianxin Pavilion gradually increased.

The noise also began to grow louder.

Checking the time, it was already nearing evening.

Most Cultivators who had stalls or traded in the market had already finished up.

Unless it was a specific day, the Night Market would not be open, so staying longer was meaningless.

Might as well go drink tea.

Song Yan ate two spiritual fruits, and a wisp of cool spiritual energy rose in his abdomen.

"Five Spirit Stones, not a loss!"

He was about to get up and return to his Immortal Cave when he overheard a few Cave Abyss Sect Disciples chatting nearby.

"Senior Brother Zheng, I feel like recently, there have been many Inner Sect Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters in the Sect whom I’ve never met before..."

"Counting the days, it should be because the Sect Sword-Wiping Tournament is about to begin."

"Oh..."

"Some Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters travel outside for years; it’s quite normal for them to be gone for five or six years."

The person speaking seemed to be an Inner Sect Disciple, already somewhat advanced in age.

"The Sect’s steward Disciples will send out spiritual pigeons to Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters traveling abroad about a year and a half in advance. Those who can make it back will all return to participate in this grand event."

"So that’s how it is."

Song Yan actually knew about this matter.

Whether in the Heart Cultivation Institute or the Outer Sect Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, everyone in the Sect seemed to be discussing this matter these days.

The reason was simple: for some unknown reason, the rewards for next year’s Sword Wiping Assembly were extraordinarily astonishing.

According to experienced Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters in the Sect, in previous years, it was merely a formality to promote newly advanced Disciples.

This time, however, was vastly different. It seemed to be in preparation for a super grand event to be held in the Central Region, so the various rewards were extremely generous.

Almost all Disciples who were traveling abroad and received the spiritual pigeon message were rushing back.

"I wonder if there are any supreme spiritual items among the rewards of the Sword-Wiping Tournament..."

It could be said that Song Yan could fully imagine the difficulty of winning a reward under such circumstances, but... how would he know without trying?

Song Yan returned the way he came, passing Seamless.

There was no one in front of the shop now. The freckled girl sat on the ground in front of the store, her arms wrapped around her knees, her small face buried deeply.

"..."

A neatly folded but old and damaged Daoist robe was placed in front of the girl.

On it lay three Spirit Stones.

"?"

The girl looked up, Song Yan’s gaze calm.

"I want a Daoist robe, exactly the same."

His Daoist robe had been heavily damaged in the battle in Jiran Valley, and after much thought, he indeed needed a new one.

But others couldn’t force him to buy... that was his freedom.