108: Dividing up the Lingbao

The mountaintop platform was eerily quiet. Apart from the wind and the faint sound of swords clashing from the foot of the distant mountain, only ragged gasps and groans of varying lengths remained.

The murderous slaughter aura that had filled the air had dissipated, but the smell of blood, the scent of scorching, and the chaotic energy fields left behind by the collisions of various Sword Qi still assaulted the nose.

Lu Yu sat leaning against a rock, feeling as if every bone in his body had been disassembled and reassembled. There wasn't a single spot that didn't hurt.

He grimaced and checked Tang Jia Third Young Master's Storage Pouch. There was nothing worthwhile inside, only junk, completely incomparable to his own status as the Tianyan Divine Son.

However, the qiankun bag inside was quite good—a rare spatial treasure capable of storing living creatures.

He just didn't know how Tang Jia Third Young Master had obtained this item.

He had heard from the System that the reason his remnant soul had traveled from twenty thousand years ago to the present was due to that damaged Immortal Artifact, the universe cauldron. Was there any connection between this qiankun bag and the universe cauldron?

Or perhaps this qiankun bag was something Tang Jia Third Young Master had created by relying on the universe cauldron?

He didn't dwell on it. He would find out after he captured Tang Jia Third Young Master.

This time, that little rat had also managed to escape by relying on that universe cauldron. It just goes to show that an Immortal Artifact is truly an Immortal Artifact; even somewhat broken, it still possesses great power. Otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to escape!

It's just that he himself still didn't have an Immortal Artifact for escaping danger.

He then took out some Medicinal Pills and consumed them. As the medicinal efficacy dispersed, gentle streams of Qi began to repair his battered and bruised body.

The self-healing ability of the Nine Yang Haori Body was also slowly taking effect. The fine cuts on his skin began to close and scab over at a visible rate.

He raised his eyes and looked around.

Xiao Wuqing sat cross-legged not far away, meditating with his eyes closed. His complexion wasn't much better either, but that chilling aura of 'keep away' had recovered considerably.

Xie Lingfeng, Gu Yan, Lei Jianming, and the Canglan Female Cultivator were still lying scattered about. However, after being fed Medicinal Pills, their breathing had stabilized somewhat. They wouldn't die, but they wouldn't be able to move for several days.

He didn't know how that girl Lin Wanqiu was doing on the mountainside, but she should be fine. The chaotic Sword Qi currents on the mountainside were much gentler than at the summit.

Lu Yu's gaze finally settled on the center of the platform.

That terrifying demon sword broken hilt was completely gone, not even a speck of debris remaining.

But the seven Spirit Treasure-grade longswords embedded around it were still standing there. Although their spiritual glow had dimmed somewhat due to the earlier energy impact, they still faintly shimmered with treasure light, clearly extraordinary items at a glance.

The Chixia Sword and the fenyue sword were already in his possession.

Seven remained, each of different colors and designs, but all emanating remarkably impressive Sword Intent.

Lu Yu stroked his chin.

Take them all? That didn't seem quite right.

If Xie Lingfeng and the others hadn't desperately maintained the sword formation earlier, and if Xiao Wuqing hadn't single-handedly held off Tang Jia Third Young Master and those four bastards, forget about destroying the broken hilt and comprehending a new ability—he would have been chopped into mincemeat by that slaughter obsession long ago.

Although these people had their own agendas initially, they did contribute at the critical moment. They could be considered temporary comrades-in-arms who had rolled over nail boards in the same trench.

The Cultivation World is about the strong preying on the weak, but one shouldn't be too unsightly or unreasonable in doing so, especially when these people all have major overlord Sects backing them.

It's not worth offending everyone to death over one or two Spirit Treasures.

After all, if not for them, he, Lu Yu, wouldn't be sitting here safe and sound right now.

Moreover, he had just gained immense benefits—the Sword Heart Illuminating Clarity Realm and the Grand Void Sword Heart. These things were far more valuable than ten or eight Spirit Treasures.

"Ahem..."

Lu Yu cleared his throat; his voice was still a bit hoarse.

"Ahem, Brother Xiao, and you few lying on the ground, can you hear me?"

Xiao Wuqing opened his eyes and looked over. On the ground, Xie Lingfeng's eyelids twitched, and Gu Yan let out a vague groan in response.

"The battle is over. Time to divide the spoils."

Lu Yu pointed with his sword towards the seven swords in the center.

"Those things, shall we split them according to merit?"

As soon as these words were spoken, even the meditating Xiao Wuqing slightly raised his eyelids, let alone those on the ground.

Spirit Treasures! Not cabbages!

Even though they were powerhouses from various regions, Spirit Treasures weren't something one could easily obtain, especially such fine relics from ancient times.

Xie Lingfeng struggled to sit up, failed twice, and had to lie there, speaking weakly but clearly.

"Fellow Daoist Lu... what do you mean by that? Those swords..."

"What I mean is," Lu Yu cut him off bluntly.

"Out of these nine swords, I'll take two—the Chixia and the fenyue. I used them in the fight earlier, they're handy. The remaining seven, you all split. The Heavenly Sword Divine Sect contributed greatly, and Brother Xiao was the main force; taking one or two extra is only right."

"The fellows from Fentian Sacred Valley, Canglan Sacred Sect, Star Holy Land, and Purple Cloud Divine Palace also fought desperately. Those present get a share. How exactly you split them, discuss it among yourselves; I won't interfere."

He paused and added, "Of course, if anyone feels their merit is particularly great and wants more, that's fine too. After we leave, we can arrange a place to... discuss it properly."

That final "discuss it properly" was spoken in a very flat tone, but combined with the lingering awe from him instantly killing a Soul Transformation cultivator from the Demonic Realm and frightening off Tang Jia Third Young Master, its weight was considerable.

The platform fell silent for a moment.

No one expected Lu Yu to be so "generous."

According to the conventions of the Cultivation World, the normal operation was for whoever had the biggest fist to take everything.

Not only did he proactively propose distribution, but he also limited himself to only two swords. This posture immediately elevated the situation's grandeur.

Xie Lingfeng gave Lu Yu a complicated look. The resentment and grudge he felt from losing to Lu Yu earlier inexplicably diminished quite a bit.

He remained silent for a moment before speaking, "My Heavenly Sword Divine Sect... will take one with the 'Gengjin' (Metal) attribute."

He pointed to a sword that was entirely silvery-white, its Sword Qi extremely sharp.

Xiao Wuqing looked towards a white jade sword.

"I'll take that 'Baiyuan Sword.'"

Gu Yan also spoke weakly, "My Fentian Sacred Valley... will take that 'Lihuo' (Departing Fire)."

It was a sword burning with pale purple flames, less domineering than the fenyue sword but more agile.

The Canglan Female Cultivator was sparing with words, "'Xuanbing' (Profound Ice)."

She pointed to a sword that was icy blue, translucent, and exuded a bone-chilling cold.

The two from Star Holy Land discussed briefly and chose a sword dotted with starlight, the "Chenhui" (Starlight) Sword.

Lei Jianming from the Purple Cloud Divine Palace took the 'Leiming' (Thunderclap) Sword. The person from the Great Yin Dynasty took a vibrant emerald green sword full of vitality, the 'Qinglin' (Green Rain).

The distribution plan was thus settled, surprisingly smoothly, with no objections.

On one hand, it was because Lu Yu's displayed strength and fair attitude were convincing. On the other hand, everyone was seriously injured and truly lacked the energy to start another dispute.

Next came healing and recovery.

Everyone present were Immortal Seed Prodigies from major Sects, all possessing excellent healing Medicinal Pills. They all began rapidly recovering from their injuries.

Lu Yu himself also seized the time to circulate his Cultivation Technique, digest the pills, and restore his spiritual power.