27: Sword

Time always passes quickly.

Especially with Lu Xian so engrossed, five days flashed by in an instant; he did not even notice it himself.

Cultivation knows no time—this saying is truly no lie.

Some great experts enter seclusion for a short while, and it often lasts for decades or even centuries.

Inside the room.

Lu Xian's thoughts shifted slightly, and three items simultaneously floated up. Under the control of his Divine Sense, they moved exactly as he wished, without the slightest hesitation or obstruction.

Only a slight throbbing sensation came from between his brows.

With my current Divine Sense strength, controlling three items at once is already the limit. However, it is enough for combat—activating a Talisman, controlling a Formation Plate, and wielding a Flying Sword all at the same time.

A smile played on Lu Xian's lips, and he was quite satisfied with this.

For a typical Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator, being able to steadily control one Magical Artifact is already no easy feat.

His current Divine Sense strength was not far from the Foundation Establishment threshold, and its coverage could reach several dozen zhang.

Deep in the quiet of the night, Lu Xian came into the courtyard.

He took out the captured Flying Sword, gripped the hilt tightly, and slowly poured his mana into it.

Hum—the sword body trembled slightly, emitting waves of sharp, cold light.

The quality is not bad; it is actually a High Grade Flying Sword! That Bandit Cultivator was quite wealthy.

Lu Xian laughed.

That Bandit Cultivator probably spent his entire fortune to buy it, and only after exhausting his Spirit Stones did he take the risk to become a Bandit Cultivator to recoup his losses.

This kind of way to make money had actually flashed through the minds of ninety-nine percent of all Loose Cultivators.

It was just that the vast majority of people dared not put it into action.

However, once one tasted the sweetness of killing and plundering treasures, it was very easy to become addicted to this path, always thinking of gaining without working, eventually stepping onto a path of no return, rarely meeting a good end.

The path of Cultivation is just like this; without a deep background, if one does not fight or compete, it is difficult to move even an inch.

Even I have to raise chickens and farm. Gaining without working? That will not last long.

Go!

With his mana fully infused, Lu Xian gave a soft shout.

In an instant, the Flying Sword flew out of his hand, rapidly weaving and roaming through the night sky.

Wherever his thoughts pointed, the sword tip arrived in an instant!

If that Bandit Cultivator had mastered the Object Manipulation Art that day, the one who would have lost his head would likely have been me... It is time, it is fate.

Lu Xian recalled the Flying Sword and silently recited the incantation.

The sword grew slightly larger. He stepped onto it, and mana was continuously poured into the Flying Sword through the soles of his feet.

Under the guidance of his Divine Sense, the Flying Sword steadily lifted his body.

It wobbled and flew up!

Let's go—

Rising to a height of ten zhang, Lu Xian's thoughts stirred, and the Flying Sword carried him, speeding away toward the outside of the Shantytown!

Although the speed was not fast, the exhilaration of riding a sword through the void still made his heart surge with excitement!

The scenery below was fully in view.

Hahaha—Lu Xian could not help but laugh out loud.

This caused the passersby below to shrink their necks and hurry away, not daring to look up.

Foundation Establishment... it must be a great Foundation Establishment Cultivator! Can't provoke, dare not provoke!

In the common perception, only the thick mana of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could support long-term sword flight.

A typical Qi Refining Cultivator, even at Great Perfection, could only manipulate an artifact for a few minutes.

What they did not know was that Lu Xian was simply relying on the deep accumulation of his Five Spirit Simultaneous Cultivation to force himself to sustain it for half an hour.

Not good, my mana is about to run out!

He had been too immersed in the pleasure of flying against the wind, and Lu Xian had momentarily neglected his Dantian and Qi Sea.

He hurriedly changed direction, but still exhausted his mana halfway, so he had to walk back to his small courtyard on foot.

It was exhilarating, but aside from ordinary travel, the practicality is low.

The speed is not even as fast as me running with my full physical strength on the ground, and compared to specialized flight Magical Artifacts, the mana consumed by sword flight is also overly astonishing.

However, the advantage of sword flight is that it can ignore terrain. If traveling long distances, it is much less strenuous than running on the ground, and it is also more useful for dealing with enemies who have no anti-air capabilities...

Lu Xian analyzed calmly.

He took out the quasi-immortal jade token and probed his Divine Sense into the Ten Thousand Laws Department to search.

Sure enough, he found a Yellow Rank Medium Grade Sword Evasion Technique.

Sword Shadow Evasion: Mana consumption reduced by ten percent, sword flight speed increased by fifty percent.

Not enough! Too useless!

A mere fifty percent speed increase could also be achieved by sticking a High Grade Gale Talisman on one's body and running.

Lu Xian browsed a circle; there were several types of Sword Evasion Techniques, but the speed increase range all hovered around forty to fifty percent.

If it is not fast enough for running away, it is better not to use it!

Lu Xian put down the jade token. It was too difficult for a Loose Cultivator to obtain techniques; higher-level Sword Evasion Techniques were not open within the Ten Thousand Laws Department.

He would search slowly.

Perhaps... there would be more helpful Fellow Daoists with no eyes jumping out to gift techniques and equipment?

Lu Xian took a nap.

Although the effect of the bedroom was small, it was precisely because he persisted in sleeping, day after day, that he now had a Divine Sense far exceeding those of the same rank.

The next morning.

Lu Xian put three Jade Marrow Chickens into a sack and went out.

Spirit Stones do not last long!

The seven hundred Spirit Stones he had accumulated over half a year were almost bottomed out, and together with the two hundred plus pieces gifted by the Bandit Cultivator last time, they had all been consumed to upgrade the Chicken Coop and spirit plant field.

If he wanted to purchase spirit plants and Formation Materials, he had to sell some Spirit Bird first.

He headed straight for the Drunken Immortal Tower in the city.

Young Master, you have come again.

The maid welcoming guests was still the same one, but the Lu Xian before her was no longer the Mortal from last year.

Three Jade Marrow Chickens. Is Shopkeeper Kong in? Lu Xian's tone was calm.

He had not been here for half a year, so the frequency was not high.

Any slight suspicions should have been laid to rest.

He is, he is. Please, go to the second floor.

He pushed open the door to the private room.

Hahaha, Young Friend Han, haven't seen you in half a year. Have you been well?

Shopkeeper Kong laughed heartily, then his face showed surprise, You... are at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining?

Lu Xian nodded slightly.

He was almost constantly operating the Xuanpin Qi Concealment Art, suppressing his outward cultivation from the sixth level of Qi Refining to the fourth.

But even so.

Going from entering the path to this point in one year was enough to shock people.

By Luck, I have had good fortune and took some Medicinal Pills, Lu Xian explained simply.

Shopkeeper Kong shook his head: Luck is also a part of strength. Opportunity, Opportunity—opportunities are only for those fated to receive them. Young Friend, your future is boundless. Next time the Cangye Sect recruits, I fear you will be on the list.

His tone carried a hint of wistfulness.

Although the Kong Family had developed by borrowing the momentum of the distinguished guest from the prefecture city last time, their foundation was ultimately insufficient, and recently, hostile families had jumped out to snatch resource points.

Shopkeeper Kong, you joke. Last time, the Kong Family had a Prodigy go straight into the inner sect. With my meager cultivation, I fear I would not even qualify for a servant role.

Lu Xian feigned humility, but he did indeed remember that among the four inner sect names last time, there was one named Kong Yexing.

Hahaha, Yexing has extraordinary talent and a top-grade Spiritual Root; a Golden Core is expected! It is a pity that this old man is withered and old; I fear I will not live to see that day... Young Friend, you are also no object in a pond; you are much stronger than those useless collateral descendants of the Kong Family...

Shopkeeper Kong stroked his beard and smiled, but hidden in the depths of his eyes was a trace of scrutiny.

A normal person would struggle to encounter one Jade Marrow Chicken a year, yet this Young Friend Han brought two or three every time; there must be something fishy about it.

However, he had no intention of delving deep... turning them into spirit food and reselling them meant triple the profit. Wouldn't it be delightful to make money while lying down?

In business, harmony is the only way to generate wealth.

This was also the reason why the Drunken Immortal Tower's reputation had always been decent.

Not at all, not at all. Lu Xian took out the sack, Shopkeeper, still three. My elder at home spent a great deal of effort to find them deep in the mountain forest.

He muttered inwardly: One of your Kong Family's collateral branches already died in my courtyard; they are indeed useless.

Shopkeeper Kong's smile was warm, and he did not expose him: Fine, the old rules: 40 Spirit Stones each, 120 in total. Young Friend, keep them safe.

Lu Xian took the Spirit Stones, and thinking of something, he suddenly asked: Shopkeeper Kong, do you know how one can obtain Mid-Grade Spirit Stones?

Oh? Why does Young Friend ask about this?

Shopkeeper Kong just assumed he was interested and continued, Mid-Grade Spirit Stones are rarely used even by typical Foundation Establishment Cultivators; they are mostly used by Golden Core True Persons to recover mana. Only a Tier 3 Spirit Stone vein can produce them.

If you really want to exchange, it is quite simple. You just need to go to the Huifeng Bank. The ratio is approximately 1200 Low-Grade Spirit Stones for one Mid-Grade; the extra 200 is just considered a loss.

However, this kind of sucker's deal is almost ignored by everyone.

Fortunately, it is not difficult, just a bit expensive...

Lu Xian had a count in his heart and bowed, Many thanks, Shopkeeper, for clearing up my confusion. I shall take my leave.

Leaving the Drunken Immortal Tower, Lu Xian strolled down the street.

Unknowingly, he had arrived again at the stall area where Loose Cultivators gathered.

The stalls on both sides were noisy and bustling.

His Divine Sense spread quietly, capturing the conversations of the Cultivators.

Have you heard? An underground Immortal Cave has appeared in the northwest. The news I got is that it was left behind by a Foundation Establishment Senior from a thousand years ago, and there is a Cultivation Technique Legacy inside!

Are you stupid? Even if there is one, with our cultivation at the third level of Qi Refining, going there is just a fate of being cannon fodder!

Exactly! It might even be a Cultivation Technique not recorded by the Immortal Dynasty; what use is it to get it?

Those not recorded by the Immortal Dynasty are easier to deal with; if you hand it over voluntarily, after your memory is cleared, you can still be rewarded with a copy to Cultivate. If it really is a Profound Rank Cultivation Technique... would we not have hope for Foundation Establishment?

Old Wang, are you going or not? This is our last chance! Otherwise, if we wait for the next Cangye Sect recruitment, our age will be over the limit!

Go! Do not bully the poor in their old age; I'll risk this old life of mine and gamble on it!