61: Immortal prodigies! Heavenly Sword Trial! Sword Soul Secret Realm

Lu Yu tidied up and, taking Lin Wanqiu with him, flew his sword toward the Tianyan Square on the main peak.

A large crowd had already gathered on the square, mostly Core Disciples and True Disciples at the Nascent Soul Stage and Soul Transformation Stage, each possessing an extraordinary aura.

However, as the Tianyan Immortal Sect Divine Son, Lu Yu naturally wouldn't stand in the middle of the large square; instead, he came to the very front of the line.

At the very front were not the Progeny or True Disciples of the various peaks, but Disciples with even higher status!

Prodigies known as Immortal Seeds!

What is an Immortal Seed?

It represents that one's Aptitude holds a glimmer of possibility for future Immortal Ascension. Their natural talent, Comprehension Ability, or Physique is extremely powerful, making them peerless Prodigies focused on by the Sect for cultivation!

The sole task of these Immortal Seeds is to Cultivate diligently, seek Opportunities, and strive to undergo tribulation for Immortal Ascension in the future!

However, this doesn't mean every Immortal Seed is guaranteed to achieve Immortal Ascension; it depends on their development on the path of Dao later on.

The path of Immortal Ascension is like rowing upstream; if you don't advance, you fall back. Sometimes a single wrong step means there will no longer be an Opportunity for Immortal Ascension.

Thus, within the Sect, the status of an Immortal Seed is even above that of Progeny and True Disciples!

But being an Immortal Seed doesn't mean one can rest easy.

Every so often, Immortal Seeds must undergo a Sect assessment trial.

If they fail the assessment trial, their title as an Immortal Seed will be revoked, and all Immortal Seed treatment will be canceled!

The Sect provides you with so many cultivation resources and Heaven And Earth Treasures; if you can't even pass an assessment trial, it means you've wasted those resources, which should be left for those more suited for them!

Among the Progeny and True Disciples, as long as they pass the assessment, they can also be promoted to become new Immortal Seeds of the Sect!

Even an Inner Sect Disciple, if they pass, can ascend to heaven in a single bound and become an Immortal Seed!

Immortal Seeds don't look at status or background, only at your own Aptitude!

If your Aptitude is sufficient, you can become an Immortal Seed and receive vigorous cultivation from the Sect.

If your Aptitude is insufficient, even the Sect Master's own son won't do!

Lu Yu led Lin Wanqiu step by step to the very front of the Disciples, positioned ahead of the Immortal Seeds, and sat on a chair that had been deliberately placed there.

Behind him were the Sect's Immortal Seeds, spanning various Realms.

"Brother Lu, look at the chair I brought for you. Aren't I thoughtful!"

A young man with fiery red hair standing on end stood behind Lu Yu with a smile on his Face, acting like a lackey and feeling no shame for it at all.

Lu Yu looked at him with a smile.

"Zhang Yang, not bad. Haven't seen you for a month, and you're already about to Breakthrough to Soul Transformation. Looking at you, are you about to undergo tribulation?"

The Immortal Seed named Zhang Yang chuckled.

"I still can't compare to Brother Lu. You go out and come back, and whoosh! Just like that, you've reached the Nascent Soul Third Level. I believe it won't be long before Brother Lu surpasses me!"

His fawning manner made several nearby Immortal Seeds move further away, not wanting to be near him.

"So, you need to work hard!"

Zhang Yang nodded with a smile. In the Sect, Zhang Yang had no status or background; he was a commoner Prodigy. He knew that for someone like him to live well in the Sect, he had to find a reliable backer!

And among his peers, Lu Yu was the biggest backer!

His Revered Master was a Grand Elder, and his Senior Sisters were all undisputed powerhouses within the Sect!

Lu Yu also liked Zhang Yang's way of handling things; he was comfortable to be around. The guy was smart—if you were sincere with him, he would be sincere with you in return.

He also knew that only sincerity can be exchanged for sincerity!

Over the years, Zhang Yang truly saw himself as Lu Yu's subordinate.

Previously, the Eldest Senior Sister Ling Feiyan, fearing that people with ulterior motives might approach Lu Yu, had observed Zhang Yang from afar and deemed that Lu Yu could take him in.

And over the years, Lu Yu hadn't treated Zhang Yang poorly; since he was someone close to him, any good things naturally wouldn't miss him.

Now, Zhang Yang's strength among the Immortal Seeds was quite impressive!

Lu Yu saw several familiar fellow Disciples near Zhang Yang and nodded in greeting.

They also nodded back to Lu Yu, their address carrying a sense of respect.

"Divine Son!"

"Divine Son!"

Within the Sect, the status of Divine Sons and Divine Daughters was naturally higher than that of these Immortal Seeds.

Among the six Immortal Seeds present, three were at the Nascent Soul Stage, one was at the Soul Transformation Stage, and two were at the Golden Core Stage. They were all Prodigies with special Physiques, and their Comprehension Ability and Aptitude were very high.

Zhang Yang's Physique was the Great Sun Divine Physique, which, like Lu Yu's, was of the Yang-Fire attribute.

He also saw Mu Lingxi; she stood beside the Sect Master, her figure tall and straight, her aura cold and aloof. Sensing Lu Yu's gaze, she turned her head slightly and gave him a faint smile, a tenderness that only he could understand.

Mu Lingxi was, of course, also an Immortal Seed.

Soon, the figure of Sect Master Mu Xinghe appeared on the high platform at the front of the square.

He was a middle-aged man with a refined Face but eyes as sharp as swords, his aura as deep as the ocean.

"Everyone."

Mu Xinghe's voice wasn't loud, yet it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"We have just received a message from the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect in the Heavenly Sword Domain. The Sword Soul Secret Realm has shown activity and is about to open. The Heavenly Sword Trial will be held in half a month to select candidates for the Sword Soul Secret Realm. You all know that the Sword Soul Secret Realm is the greatest Opportunity for Sword Cultivators in the Cloud Heaven Realm. You must seize this chance well..."

Heavenly Sword Trial?

A low murmur of discussion rose from below the platform.

The eyes of many Sword Cultivator Disciples shone with eagerness.

The Heavenly Sword Divine Sect was the universally recognized Holy Land of the sword in this Lower Realm of the Cloud Heaven Realm. However, the Heavenly Sword Trial was not hosted by the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect alone; it was a trial ground for Sword Cultivators jointly organized by the Seven Great Domains of the Human Race.

It was simply located at the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect.

Firstly, it was to test the strength of the younger generation of Sword Cultivators of the Human Race, allowing them to validate their own sword Dao against each other.

Secondly, it was to filter out the outstanding Sword Cultivators in each Realm. These selected elites would have the chance to enter the Sword Soul Secret Realm, making the sword Dao of these juniors even stronger!

Although the Sword Soul Secret Realm is located in the Heavenly Sword Domain, it doesn't belong to the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect; it is jointly managed by the Seven Great Domains of the Human Race, just situated in the Heavenly Sword Domain.

The Secret Realm opens roughly every fifty years. The Sword Soul Secret Realm contains Opportunities that countless Sword Cultivators dream of; even obtaining a small Opportunity would be of immense benefit to oneself!

Therefore, every time the Sword Soul Secret Realm opens, countless Sword Cultivators from the Seven Great Domains go to participate in the Heavenly Sword Trial, hoping to secure a spot!

As long as one enters the Sword Soul Secret Realm and comes out alive, the harvest will definitely not be small!

"This trial will still be divided into five groups: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Soul Transformation."

Mu Xinghe continued, "This time, Elder Yun Guying will lead the team and select outstanding Sword Cultivator Disciples from each Realm to participate."

Yun Guying?

Everyone's gaze turned toward a cold figure below the platform.

It was indeed appropriate for this acknowledged sword Dao powerhouse of the Sect to lead the team. Moreover, in her own year's Heavenly Sword Trial, she had reached the top by stepping over all the sword Dao Geniuses of the Cloud Heaven Realm, carving her surname at the top of the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect's sword stele.

One wondered if she would carve the rest of her name during this trip!

To carve words on the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect's sword stele, it didn't depend on cultivation strength at all, but rather on one's attainment in the sword Dao corresponding to their current Realm!

The higher the attainment, the higher the height at which one could carve.

Currently, only three people have successfully carved their full names at the very top of the sword stele.

Two of them were figures from eighty or ninety thousand years ago, while the third was a contemporary figure from their Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect!

It wasn't Yun Guying; she had only carved her surname at the top so far.

This person was Ye Hanshuang, Lu Yu's Third Senior Sister!

The person with the highest sword Dao attainment in the current Cloud Heaven Realm!

Even those old monsters of the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect couldn't compare to Ye Hanshuang in terms of sword Dao attainment!

In the current age, Ye Hanshuang was the idol and goddess in the hearts of all Sword Cultivators!

She was also an insurmountable mountain for them.

"Participants in the trial must be Sword Cultivators and no more than two hundred years old."

Mu Xinghe's gaze swept across the crowd below.

"Each peak can recommend its own candidates and report them to the Deacon Hall in three days. The final list will be decided by Elder Yun and the accompanying Elders."

After finishing the announcement, Mu Xinghe left.

The square immediately became lively, as many Sword Cultivator Disciples began to prepare themselves, discussing the details of the trial and potential candidates.

Lu Yu had no concept of this Heavenly Sword Trial and was about to leave when a cold voice sounded beside him.

"You, come with me."

Lu Yu turned his head. Fourth Senior Sister Yun Guying had stood beside him at some point, still holding her hanyuan sword, her eyes devoid of emotion.

However, the meaning conveyed in those eyes brooked no refusal!

"Me? Senior Sister, I don't specialize in the sword Dao..."

Lu Yu was a bit dazed; his sword practice was just amateurish, he wasn't a professional Sword Cultivator!

"Revered Master's intention is also my intention."

Ye Hanshuang was concise.

"Our requirements for you aren't high. In this trial's Nascent Soul group, the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect's contemporary Sword Child Xiao Wuqing is your biggest opponent."

Ye Hanshuang looked at him, a very faint... expectation seemingly flashing in her icy eyes?

"Third Senior Sister and I both defeated our respective Sword Children back then and forcefully carved our names on the sword stele. As the Junior Brother of the two of us, you naturally cannot lose Revered Master's Face!"

"Furthermore, Revered Master has already informed the Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect that you are the strongest contemporary Sword Cultivator of our Heavenly Evolution Immortal Sect, and that their Sword Child is a joke who can't compare to you at all."

"You'd better watch out for yourself!"

Lu Yu: "..."

Lu Yu was speechless!

Revered Master, you're really setting me up!

Sword Child Xiao Wuqing! That's a sword Dao ruthless character who comprehended a Sword Heart during the Nascent Soul Stage!

Being able to comprehend ordinary Sword Intent during the Nascent Soul Stage already makes one a sword Dao Prodigy!

From this, one could see the terrifying nature of the Heavenly Sword Divine Sect's contemporary Sword Child who had comprehended a Sword Heart.

(Sword Momentum, Sword Intent, Sword Heart, Sword Soul, Sword Domain)

He wanted to cry but had no tears, and seeing Yun Guying's cold and proud gaze, he immediately deflated.

Fine, the big boss has spoken, there's no choice.

Lu Yu suddenly felt a mountain of pressure.

"Senior Sister, this..."

Lu Yu wanted to struggle a bit.

"There's still half a month."

Yun Guying interrupted him and turned to leave, leaving behind a cold sentence.

"Increase your daily sword swings to fifteen thousand. My guidance for you will also intensify. Within half a month, I will try my best to make you comprehend Sword Intent."

Lu Yu watched the Fourth Senior Sister's departing back, then looked at the fellow Sword Cultivator Disciples excitedly discussing on the square, suddenly feeling that his days of peaceful cultivation back in the Sect were about to end again.

Heavenly Sword Trial? Sword Child?

At this moment, he really didn't have much confidence. If it were an all-out fight, he had absolute confidence that he could beat that Sword Child Xiao Wuqing until he was a pathetic mess!

But the problem was that this was a sword Dao trial!

It was a place for competing in the sword Dao; one could only use the sword Dao to fight!

Whatever, come what may, I'll deal with it when it happens!