30: The new apprentice is a taciturn person

Lin Xuan, holding Ye Chen like a chick, set him down on the ground. Ye Chen was still dazed. The golden, shimmering Nine Revolutions Life-Extending Golden Pill he had consumed had indeed saved his life, and the deadly Silent Extinction Sword Soul within him had been temporarily suppressed. However, he was still listless and as thin as a stick. His eyes, though, were terrifyingly bright, albeit a little bewildered, and he looked at everything with the wariness of a wolf cub.

"Here, this will be your home from now on," Lin Xuan said, pointing to the nearby Myriad Realms Spirit Spring, which was steaming and rich in spiritual energy. "Go soak in it first, wash off that garbage-heap smell, and stabilize your cultivation. The Nine Revolutions Golden Pill's medicinal power is potent, don't waste it."

Ye Chen didn't speak. He just stared at Lin Xuan with his dark, eerily bright eyes, then looked at the mist-shrouded spring water, which was clearly not ordinary. Finally, he glanced at the two ice-cold figures of Leng Yuechan and Zombie Princess Yu Lin, and a large cocoon of a living soul emitting a soft white light, all soaking in the spring. His gaze grew even more cautious. This place... it didn't look like a proper sect.

"Roar! Boy, why are you standing there? Get in! This spring is a treasure! One soak is worth ten years of your arduous cultivation!" The Lie Tian Divine Tiger, having reverted to its mountain-like size, was lying nearby, licking its paws. Seeing Ye Chen dawdling, it impatiently poked him with the tip of its tail.

Ye Chen stumbled from the huge tiger's tail poke. He pursed his chapped lips, but ultimately couldn't resist the allure of the spring water, which made his withered vitality leap with joy. He carefully shed his tattered, rag-like tunic, revealing more alarming old and new scars beneath, and then splashed into the spring water with a plop.

Warm, pure spiritual energy instantly enveloped his entire body. Ye Chen was so comfortable he almost moaned, but he quickly bit his lip hard, suppressing the sound, and only his eyes remained alert, observing his surroundings.

Lin Xuan couldn't be bothered with this newly acquired taciturn disciple. His mind was currently filled with the good stuff he had just obtained: that ball of Chaos Sword Body Origin, silently suspended in the system's inventory!

This thing didn't look like much, just a grey, misty mass, but the unparalleled sharpness within it, the Sword Intent that seemed capable of splitting heaven and earth, and that all-encompassing, myriad-path-suppressing chaotic aura, made Lin Xuan's heart burn, even across the system space!

"System, are there any precautions for fusing with this thing?" Lin Xuan rubbed his hands, a little excited.

"Chaos Sword Body Origin is the source of all swords and the root of Chaos! The fusion process may involve minor discomforts such as ten thousand swords piercing the heart and chaotic tearing. Please maintain a calm state of mind, Host."

"Estimated fusion time: three incense sticks."

"Fuse immediately?"

Minor discomfort? Ten thousand swords piercing the heart? Chaotic tearing? System, you call this minor?

Lin Xuan's mouth twitched, but thinking of the benefits after fusion—a skyrocketing Sword Dao realm! Explosive physical strength! And a chance to get close to the Nirvana Law, making it easier to beat up bugs later on! The temptation was too great!

"Let's do it! Fuse!" Lin Xuan gritted his teeth, found a flat, large stone a little distance from the Spirit Spring, sat cross-legged, and with a thought!

Buzz—!

That grey mass of origin instantly vanished from the system space, appearing directly within Lin Xuan's Dantian Qi Sea!

Boom!

Lin Xuan felt as if ten thousand massive bells had been shoved into his head and were all ringing at once! His entire body, from the inside out, every single cell, was screaming in agony!

What did "ten thousand arrows piercing the heart" mean? Lin Xuan finally understood! The feeling was as if the grey mist in his Dantian exploded instantly, transforming into billions of invisible, formless, yet extremely sharp Chaos Sword Qi! These Sword Qi were completely uncontrollable, like runaway mad dogs, fiercely piercing, cutting, and stirring through his meridians, flesh, and bones! Wherever they passed, agonizing pain, like a tsunami, crashed over his nerves in waves!

Even more infuriating, these Sword Qi also came with a chaotic tearing effect! His body felt as if it was being stretched into noodles one moment, then kneaded into dough the next! Illusions of dislocated joints and separated flesh constantly emerged! If it weren't for his Chaos Undying Body already being perfected, and his physical body being abnormally strong, anyone else would have exploded into a mist of blood in the first second!

"Hiss... System, I'll beat you up... you call this minor discomfort?" Lin Xuan's forehead bulged with throbbing veins from the pain, beads of sweat instantly drenched his clothes, and his teeth ground loudly. He could only frantically circulate his Chaos Nascent Soul, mobilizing the vast power of Chaos Origin to envelop, guide, and assimilate those rampaging Chaos Sword Qi!

This process was painful and prolonged. Every second felt like rolling on a mountain of knives and bathing in a pot of boiling oil!

Ye Chen, who was soaking in the Spirit Spring, had been absorbing the medicinal power with his eyes closed when he suddenly felt an indescribably terrifying Sword Intent, capable of annihilating everything, erupt erupt from not far away! He abruptly opened his eyes and saw his cheap master sitting on the large stone, his body trembling violently, his face pale, and sweat pouring down him like a stream. Even stranger, the space around his master's body was subtly twisting, as if countless invisible sharp blades were furiously cutting through it!

Ye Chen's pupils constricted! The Silent Extinction Sword Soul within him, as if provoked by an existence of equal caliber, actually began to stir uncontrollably! A similarly sharp, yet utterly desolate and destructive Sword Intent, uncontrollably emanated from him! Although faint, the scent of destruction was incredibly pure!

Buzz!

The moment the Nirvana Sword Intent emerged from Ye Chen, the Chaos Sword Body Origin within Lin Xuan, which was being forcibly reined in, seemed to be drawn by something. It suddenly released a wisp of pure, grey Sword Qi, which, as if finding a vent, instantly crossed space and directly plunged into Ye Chen's glabella!

"Ugh!" Ye Chen stiffened as if struck by lightning! That wisp of Chaos Sword Qi was overbearing, yet it carried an indescribable power of inclusion and guidance. It instantly rushed into his body, slamming violently into his restless Silent Extinction Sword Soul!

There was no violent conflict or explosion as imagined. That wisp of Chaos Sword Qi, like the whip in the hand of the most skilled animal trainer, struck the chaotic and disordered core of the Silent Extinction Sword Soul with undeniable authority and a hint of... strange homologous attraction!

Crack!

A crisp sound that only the soul could hear!

Ye Chen felt his soul tremble along with it! The Silent Extinction Sword Soul, which had always been like an unruly beast, constantly trying to devour and destroy him, let out a whimper of fear and... submission under this whip? The violent and chaotic Sword Intent was instantly doused with a basin of ice water, becoming much quieter! The power of backlash that sought to destroy his own vitality was forcibly suppressed to an unprecedented low!

Even more miraculously, that wisp of Chaos Sword Qi did not dissipate. Instead, it transformed into a tough yet gentle "bridge," one end connected to the vast Chaos Sword Body Origin within Lin Xuan, and the other gently resting on the temporarily subdued core of Ye Chen's Silent Extinction Sword Soul!

A pure, gentle, yet supreme power of Sword Dao Truth, flowed along this "bridge" in trickles into Ye Chen's body, slowly and steadily nourishing and repairing his foundation, which had been riddled with holes by the backlash of the Myriad Tribulations Sword Body! At the same time, a profound Sword Dao comprehension, like a trickling stream, poured into Ye Chen's consciousness!

Ye Chen was completely dumbfounded! This... what was happening? What heaven-defying thing was his old master fusing with? The aftershocks were this fierce? And it could even help him suppress his Sword Soul, repair his foundation, and impart knowledge?

His gaze at Lin Xuan, for the first time, was filled with unbelievable shock and... a trace of heartfelt awe! This master... seemed... a little too awesome?

Lin Xuan wasn't having an easy time either. Releasing that wisp of Sword Qi, while seemingly helping Ye Chen, was actually a burden on himself. It was like a great dam, already on the verge of being overwhelmed by a flood, actively opening an outlet to release water. Although it diverted some pressure, it also made the entire fusion process more turbulent and unstable.

"Damn it! You brat! You're benefiting and making me distracted!" Lin Xuan grimaced in pain, cursing inwardly, but his actions didn't stop. He fully circulated his Chaos Nascent Soul, like a giant millstone, frantically grinding and absorbing the rampaging Chaos Sword Qi Origin within his body!

Time passed by, minute by minute.

Three incense sticks felt longer than three hundred years to Lin Xuan.

Finally!

When the last trace of violent Chaos Sword Qi was completely ground down and fused into the Chaos Nascent Soul, perfectly merging with his Chaos Undying Body!

Boom—!

An indescribably terrifying aura, like an ancient slumbering giant god awakening, suddenly burst forth from Lin Xuan!

There was no earth-shattering momentum, but it carried an absolute sharpness and weight that transcended all paths! The hard immortal mountain rock he was sitting on silently turned into the finest powder! The surrounding space shattered inch by inch like fragile glass, revealing the deep void turbulence behind it!

But those spatial fragments, powerful enough to tear apart a Soul Transformation cultivator, were directly crushed into nothingness by an invisible force field, imbued with Chaos and Sword Intent, when they approached within three feet of Lin Xuan's body.

Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

In the depths of his eyes, billions of Chaos Sword Qi seemed to be born, annihilated, and evolving, creating and destroying worlds! It was as if vast star rivers flowed, encompassing all phenomena! His entire demeanor became more profound and restrained, yet he was like an peerless divine blade hidden in its sheath; once unsheathed, it would surely shake the heavens!

The Chaos Sword Body Origin had successfully integrated!

"Roar! Master! You... you seem to have become even more handsome!" The Lie Tian Divine Tiger was the closest and felt it the most. The terrifying Sword Intent and Chaos pressure that made its soul tremble caused its massive tiger body to slightly crouch, its eyes filled with reverence.

Lin Xuan ignored this flattering glutton. He immediately looked inward.

Physical strength? He felt that now, relying solely on his physical body, he could directly contend with True Immortal magical treasures! Before, it was resisting; now, he could smash them!

Sword Dao realm? Before, he understood the sword; now, he *was* the sword! With a thought, a wisp of gray Chaos Sword Qi flickered on his fingertip. Seemingly unremarkable, it contained the power to annihilate laws and shatter the void! Its power was several times more refined and overbearing than the previous Chaos Return to Nothingness Tribulation Light, and it consumed less energy!

Most importantly, his perception of the "Nirvana Law" became incredibly clear! It was as if he could effortlessly draw upon a trace of Nirvana True Intent and integrate it into his sword moves! If this were to strike an insect... tsk tsk, the effect would definitely be outstanding!

"Awesome!" Lin Xuan couldn't help but wave his fist, feeling that this suffering was not in vain!

Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully integrating the Chaos Sword Body Origin!

Host's Sword Dao realm has been elevated to: Sword Dao Reaching God, Early Stage!

Physical strength has been elevated to: Half-step True Immortal level!

Nirvana Law affinity doubled, damage bonus against Insectoids and Asura Clan increased by thirty percent.

Chaos Nascent Soul gains the Chaos Sword Soul characteristic, attack power increased by one hundred percent.

A series of system prompts made Lin Xuan grin from ear to ear. A huge profit! Absolutely a huge profit!

Just then—

Ding! Detected that the host has successfully integrated the Chaos Sword Body Origin and guided disciple Ye Chen to initially stabilize his Silent Extinction Sword Soul!

Triggering chain quest: Passing on the Torch, Spreading Branches, Stage Two.

Quest objective: Seek out and recruit a direct disciple in the Mortal Realm who possesses the qualifications of a Child of Fortune or a peerless genius of all ages, and who must have a special connection to the current calamity, the Insectoids and Asura Clan.

Quest time limit: Fifteen days!

Quest reward: Determined by the disciple's talent and connection! Minimum guarantee: Sect's luck +30,000 points.

Failure penalty: Lie Tian Divine Tiger's growth period extended by fifty years! Randomly strip one pseudo-divine artifact from a direct disciple.

Lin Xuan's smile instantly froze.

Again? System, are you the reincarnation of a deathLife-soothing demon (Life-soothing demon - literally 'life-urging ghost', meaning one who urges you to your death or rushes you to do something)? It just quieted down for a bit! And this punishment... stripping a pseudo-divine artifact? And one that hasn't been fully paid off? If Leng Yuechan's Immortal Slaying Sword Sheath or Chu Xinghe's Star Chart were stripped, wouldn't those two little brats cry themselves to death? Lie Tian Divine Tiger extended by fifty years? That won't do either!

"Mortal Realm... Child of Fortune... peerless genius of all ages... and has to be connected to Insectoids and Asura Clan?" Lin Xuan rubbed his temples, feeling a bit exasperated. These conditions were even harsher than the last one! A nuclear-level genius like Ye Chen was already a stroke of luck to find; where was he going to find another one?

He subconsciously looked at Ye Chen, who was soaking in the spiritual spring.

Under the dual nourishment of the Chaos Sword Body Origin and the Nine Revolutions Golden Elixir, this kid's aura had stabilized a lot. Although he was still at the peak of the Golden Core stage, the sense of imminent self-destruction had faded significantly. At this moment, he was closing his eyes, seemingly trying to digest the Sword Dao insights that had surged in through the "Sword Qi bridge" earlier, his small face tightly strained, looking very serious.

"Hey, kid," Lin Xuan called out.

Ye Chen suddenly opened his eyes and looked over warily.

"In that Blackrock City you used to stay in, or nearby, were there any particularly evil... uh, particularly powerful, or particularly unlucky, or kids involved with insects or monsters? Around your age or younger?" Lin Xuan tried to ask in words Ye Chen could understand.

Ye Chen frowned, seemingly thinking very seriously, then slowly shook his head, his voice a little hoarse from not speaking for a long time: "Didn't notice." He had struggled just to survive before; how could he care if others were evil or not?

Lin Xuan: "..." Well, that was useless.

"Roar? Master, how about... we go wander around the Mortal Realm again? This time, a bigger city?" Lie Tian Divine Tiger suggested.

"Wander my ass!" Lin Xuan snapped impatiently. "A needle in a haystack? Fifteen days! That's tough!" He irritably ruffled his hair. Suddenly, his gaze swept to the large cocoon of white spiritual light, a nascent soul, soaking in the nearby spring eye.

A bold and shameless thought emerged.

"System," Lin Xuan asked slyly in his mind, "What if... I were to take that unawakened Netherworld nascent soul as my ninth disciple... could I fool you? After all, she has SSS+ level talent and special attack against Insectoids, so her connection is maxed out!"

Ding! The unnamed nascent soul is in a state of deep slumber, without independent consciousness, and cannot complete the master-disciple ceremony!

Forced binding is invalid! Host, please be down-to-earth and do not resort to opportunism!

Lin Xuan: "..." System, you really don't leave any loopholes!

Just as he was wondering if he should have Su Yuan use his compass to deduce clues—

Buzz!

The white light nascent soul cocoon, which had been as quiet as a chicken, suddenly flashed violently without warning! A surge of extremely pure fluctuations, carrying purification and life aura, rapidly spread out!

When this fluctuation swept over Ye Chen, who was meditating with his eyes closed, his Silent Extinction Sword Soul, which had just been appeased by the Chaos Sword Qi, trembled violently like a cat whose tail had been stepped on! A surge of Nirvana Sword Intent, full of destruction and repulsion, uncontrollably leaked out!

Buzz!

Almost simultaneously! The black coffin that Lin Xuan had stored in the special isolation area of the sect's core warehouse, despite layers of spatial restrictions, also violently shook! A chilling, deathly Nirvana aura penetrated the restrictions, faintly leaking out! It, along with the Nirvana Sword Intent emanating from Ye Chen... and the life purification fluctuation from the white light nascent soul, formed an extremely strange, mutually repulsive yet subtly attracting triangular resonance!

The space in the entire spiritual spring eye area began to fluctuate unstably! The temperature oscillated between hot and cold!

"What the hell? What's going on?" Lin Xuan was startled. Why was this ancestor making trouble again?

Warning! High-concentration purification life / Nirvana origin abnormal resonance detected!

Analysis: Ye Chen's Silent Extinction Sword Soul, the unnamed nascent soul's life reshaping, and the unknown black coffin's Nirvana purification are mutually generative and restrictive, forming an unstable triangular force field!

The force field fluctuation is spreading! It may attract unknown entities such as: Netherworld prisoners, or the attention of the Asura Clan!

Recommendation: Host, immediately take action to stabilize or isolate the connection between the three!

Attracting unknown entities? That True Immortal level one from the Netherworld? Or the even more terrifying Asura Clan?

Lin Xuan's face turned green! Was this like kicking a hornet's nest? Taking a disciple also came with a monster-attracting feature?

"Lie Tian Divine Tiger! Set up a Chaos Barrier! Seal off this area for me! Not even a fly is allowed in!" Lin Xuan roared urgently.

"Roar! Understood!" Lie Tian Divine Tiger also knew things were serious. Its body erupted with crimson-gold divine flames, instantly transforming into a massive flame barrier that enveloped the entire spiritual spring eye area!

Lin Xuan, with a flash, rushed to Ye Chen's front, pressing a palm on his head. Chaos Origin mixed with the newly integrated Chaos Sword Soul power surged out, forcefully suppressing the restless Silent Extinction Sword Soul within him: "Brat! Concentrate! Stop thinking nonsense!"

He then looked towards the white light cocoon and the warehouse direction, a splitting headache. This new quest had no leads yet, and these three ticking time bombs at home were starting to provoke each other again! He couldn't live like this!

"Damn it! I must find the ninth disciple quickly! Maybe that Child of Fortune is the key to solving this triangular debt!" Lin Xuan looked at the spiritual spring area, which was isolated by the Chaos Barrier but still had chaotic energy inside, gritting his teeth, "Mortal Realm... it seems I have no choice but to go! This time... I'll have to go big!"

He brought up the system panel, looking at the remaining five thousand-plus luck points and the eight Heaven-Reaching Mall lottery tickets, his eyes hardening:

"System! Draw! Give me a treasure that can find people!"