Chapter 148: Chapter 147: The Dilemma of the Sword Monarch
Translator: 549690339
Only powerful beings in the Body Integration Realm and Transcendence
Tribulation Stage can refine the Secret Realm. After the refinement, the Secret Realm will come with its exceptional rules, such as the random tests in the
Mysterious Secret Realm, where Dream Pure had left only her remaining soul. Her strength is not enough to trap everyone in illusion or dreamland, so that’s caused by the Secret Realm rules.
Another example would be the three tests in the Sword Tomb, also due to the Secret Realm rules.
These types of Secret Realms are their personal belongings, having a certain independence from the Nine Provinces World. When Yin Yang Heaven Seal was enlightening Nine Provinces’ Spiritual Treasures, it did not enlighten the Spiritual Treasures in the refined Secret Realm. Therefore, the Spirit Sword of the second test is still a normal Spirit Sword, and it has not gained a soul.
It is said that all the Spirit Swords in the second test were from the past Sword Monarch. Some of them were his personal swords, and some were seized from his enemies. The number was enormous. These swords could be disguised by the Sword Monarch’s Divine Skills and were fixed by rules, allowing only one person to pull out one sword at a time, and it still depended on destiny.
Rules are rules. No matter how talented you are, like Bai Hongtu, you won’t be able to pull out the best Spirit Sword without destiny. You can only settle for the next best thing, missing the opportunity to enter the third test.
However, there is always an exception to the rule. Jiang Li could pull them out like pulling out radishes, with or without rules or destiny.
Having thrown a childish tantrum, Jiang Li put those Spirit Swords back in their place.
The space for the second test is vast. Jiang Li was just in a small area. Other people were too far away to witness Jiang Li’s miraculous operation.
Spirit Weapons, Magic Weapons, and Dao Weapons of Spirit Swords were acquired by the destined from time to time.
If the destiny is deep, one will get the Dao Weapon Spirit Sword. If the destiny is shallow, one will get the Spirit Weapon Spirit Sword, and those without destiny can only get an old rusty sword, barely distinguished from scrap metal.
There were several others who entered with Qin Luan. All their faces were brimming with unrestrainable joy, showing that they had gained a lot.
“Look, a Dao Weapon level Spirit Sword.”
“Mine is also a Dao Weapon level Spirit Sword.”
Qishadao and Qin Luan came over noisily, comparing with each other.
“Mr. Jiang, would you like to see whose Spirit Sword is of better quality?”
Qishadao thought that he had been destined with swords since he was a child. From when he slept holding a sword at three, his naughtiness was kept in check by his father with a sword sheath when he was five, and at seven, he used a sword as a crutch when his leg was damaged.
What does that show? It shows that Qishadao was naturally a Sword Dao seedling, and it was impossible for Qin Luan to compete with him! “Qin Luan’s Spirit Sword is of a superior quality than yours.”
“What?” Qishadao was dumbfounded.
Jiang Li continued to explain, “Both of you have received superior Dao weapons. It is said that the Sword Monarch used double-handed swords when he was in the Body Integration Realm. These two swords should be the male and female snake swords worn by the Sword Monarch. Your sword is the female one, and Qin Luan’s is the male one.”
“Your female sword won’t work when it encounters Qin Luan’s male sword.”
“Also, the snake swords can only bring out their maximum power when in the same person’s hands. If used separately, their power reduces by about
60-70%, or even more.”
Qishadao was overwhelmed by a strong sense of defeat.
Even though he was unwilling, he had to give the sword to Qin Luan.
Because his was the female sword.
However, Qin Luan refused and instead handed the male sword to Qishadao.
“Qin Luan, don’t insult me!” With grinding teeth, Qishadao glared at Qin Luan angrily, accepting the male sword.
“Qin Luan:
Your cognition seemed to be severely split from your body.
Ignoring Qishadao, he said to Jiang Li, “Mr. Jiang, actually before this male sword, I felt a connection with another sword. It might be the best sword in the sword tomb, but I can’t pull it out. So, I had to look for another Spirit Sword and found this male sword.”
A familiar storyline, Jiang Li was interested, ‘Where is that sword?”
Under Qin Luan’s guidance, Jiang Li was brought to a small hillock, full of swords.
“It’s this one.” Qin Luan grabbed the hilt of one sword and could not pull it out with all his strength.
As soon as Jiang Li grabbed the sword and was about to use his strength, he felt a divine thought coming from the sword.
“Fellow Daoist, please don’t pull it out.”
“Sword Monarch?”
A puff of white fog rose from the Spirit Sword and formed a human figure. He was wearing a white robe and boots, was handsome and tall, with a unique arrogance in his brows that only a Sword Cultivator could have. Just one glance would impress upon people an oppressive feeling that comes from someone in a higher position.
Bai Hongtu had it before, but after a fight with Jiang Li, he had humbled down.
Qin Luan and others were seeing a genuine Transcendence Tribulation Stage for the first time. Unlike Jiang Li’s unadorned Mahayana Realm, the arrogant and condescending attitude of the Sword Monarch conformed more to their image of the strong.
If Jiang Li also had this attitude, Qin Luan and the others might not dare to follow him. The psychological pressure would be too great.
What Qin Luan didn’t know was that the Transcendence Tribulation Stage beings in the nine provinces originally had the same attitude as the Sword Monarch, arrogant and stubborn, thinking that they were invincible in the world.
After all, they were all in the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, and who could be worse than whom?
But then, the emergence of Jiang Li changed the attitude of these Transcendence Tribulation Stage powerhouses. Jiang Li demonstrated to them with his strength that there truly was a Mahayana Realm after the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, and their cultivation was still far from adequate, and they had no reason to be arrogant.
This has also led to all Transcendence Tribulation Stage beings in the Nine
Provinces now diligently cultivating, and no one dares to be arrogant anymore.
“Indeed, it’s me. I perceive that you have an unfathomable cultivation; you must be a Transcendence Tribulation Stage like me. Regardless of the case, please don’t stir up trouble, as this is my own business.”
The Sword Monarch couldn’t see through Jiang Li’s cultivation, which indicated that he was also at the Transcendence Tribulation Stage. The Sword Monarch did not consider the Immortal Realm or the Mahayana Realm, as the ladder to immortality had vanished, and no one could ascend to Immortality. As for the Mahayana Realm, in his view, it was even more improbable.
As a Transcendence Tribulation Stage being, the more he cultivated, the more elusive he felt the Mahayana Realm was, and he believed that no one could reach the Mahayana Realm.
“What is happening?”
“Four thousand years ago, when I stepped into the Transcendence Tribulation Stage, I felt grateful for the grace of heaven and earth and appreciated the beings who had sharpened my sword. So, I engraved twelve styles of swordsmanship on the stele as the first test. For the second test, I gathered all the swords from my lifetime and gave them to the destined beings. The third test is myself. Anyone who can meet me and pass my test, I will offer some guidance, and perhaps even accept him as a disciple.”
For a Sword Cultivator to receive guidance from the Sword Monarch, it would indeed be a great opportunity.
“It’s also quite embarrassing.” The Sword Monarch sighed, “Who would’ve thought that when I was secluding myself for the third trial, I would encounter the Heart Devil Tribulation, which shook my sword’s heart. I made a slight mistake and hastily lost, resulting in my body being occupied by the Heart Demon, and I, the original owner, being driven out and attached to a sword.”
“I am at the second layer; the Heart Demon is at the third layer. I’ve invoked some rules to keep him at the third layer. If he dares to leave the third layer, he will be backlashed by the rules. Although it won’t kill him, it will be enough for me to take the opportunity to defeat him and reclaim my body.”
“This sword is said to be the best sword in the second test, and only this sword can bear my soul. Anyone who pulls it out will be transported to the third test according to the rules. If I forcibly change the rules, the Heart Demon will run out from the third layer.”
“So, it led us to a stalemate, where neither of us could do anything about the other. We’ve been in such a state for four thousand years..”
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