19: Chapter 19 The Sword Heart

The true legacy secret techniques of Sects in the cultivation world are never shared with outsiders, but many Sect-guarding Cultivation Techniques can erode a Cultivator's seven emotions and six desires.

Cultivators have long lifespans; having witnessed too much life and death, it is easy for them to become emotionally numb.

If a powerful Cultivation Technique were placed before them at the cost of discarding their emotions and desires, many would not hesitate.

For instance, in the Cold Moon Palace, every woman is free from worldly desires, having severed their emotions to focus solely on seeking the Dao and longevity.

Some have even created the Dao of Severing Affection, where they cultivate feelings only to cut them down, using this method to Breakthrough major Realms.

Of course, Su Yang's wariness of Sects was not entirely due to these reasons.

Most Sects' methods are not so extreme.

They recruit young children, fostering loyalty and a sense of belonging to the Sect from a young age, shifting their emotional attachment from their families to the Sect.

However, based on Su Yang's understanding of the cultivation Sects in Great Wei, the Wan Jian Sect actually belonged to the third type—Family erosion!

The Wan Jian Sect had already been deeply rooted by several cultivation families.

Most Disciples came from the families of the Sect Elders; only a few were commoners or orphans without power or influence.

The purpose of these families taking deep root was self-evident: they wanted to devour and replace the Wan Jian Sect, and they would stop at nothing to achieve this.

For someone like Su Xuanheng, who was not part of those families, it might be fine if he remained obscure after joining the Wan Jian Sect. However, once he showed his brilliance, he would certainly be targeted or even killed if an opportunity arose.

Unless Su Yang were one of the Elders of the Wan Jian Sect, he would not agree to Su Xuanheng joining them.

As for the claim that Wei Yan's Master was the Sect Master of the Wan Jian Sect and could provide protection for Su Xuanheng...

Only a Child would believe such words. Su Yang would never place his son's life in the hands of another.

“Little girl, go back and have a word with your Elder first to see what he says.”

Su Yang did not believe the Wan Jian Sect would accept Su Xuanheng, especially given his explicit refusal. Anyone with a bit of worldly wisdom would know this matter could not be forced.

“Is Uncle Su worried that Junior Brother Xuan Heng will be bullied in the Sect?”

Wei Yan asked, her willow-like brows slightly furrowed.

Su Yang smiled and shook his head. Before he could respond, Su Xuanheng stepped forward himself.

“I said I won't go with you to the Wan Jian Sect. I am the eldest son of the Su Family's first generation; my Family needs me!”

Wei Yan could not understand this. “If you join the Wan Jian Sect, you can still look after your Family. Moreover, with the Sect's protection, others would have to think twice before acting against the Su Family.”

“The fate of a Family should be held in its own hands, not dependent on the deterrence of outsiders.”

Su Xuanheng's words not only stunned Wei Yan but even surprised his father, Su Yang.

Wei Yan fell silent.

She suddenly realized that the position of the Family in Su Xuanheng's heart was the same as the position of the Sect in hers.

If she were asked to leave her Sect to join a larger one with the promise of protecting her original Sect, would she agree?

The answer was obvious; she would make the same decision as Su Xuanheng.

“I understand. I will no longer force Junior Brother Xuan Heng to join the Wan Jian Sect. We shall meet again if fate allows. I apologize for the intrusion today.”

Wei Yan gave Su Xuanheng a sweet smile, cupped her hands in a salute to the two of them, and turned to leave with a heroic and spirited air.

Su Xuanheng glanced at his father and, after receiving a nod of approval, went out to see her off.

“Miss Wei, why were you so certain that my talent in the way of the sword is exceptional?”

Once they were outside the inn, Su Xuanheng could not help but ask curiously.

He clearly hadn't shown any sword talent in front of Wei Yan, yet she had been certain of his extraordinary talent from the start and had tried so hard to invite him to the Sect.

Wei Yan smiled slightly and replied, “I thought you'd never ask. The reason is simple: like me, you possess a Sword Heart!”

“Sword Heart?”

“That's right, a Sword Heart!”

Wei Yan nodded her head and raised her hand in a gesture.

Su Xuanheng understood instantly and lightly touched her palm; it felt cool and soft.

In an instant, a mysterious sensation like an electric current surged from his palm into his spine, finally reaching his cerebral cortex.

The bustling and noisy Guangling County suddenly became silent. Only two sharp strands of Sword Intent hung above their heads, humming in resonance and forming two sharp magnetic fields that constantly rubbed and collided.

This feeling lasted only for a moment before Wei Yan withdrew her hand, her smile even more radiant than before.

“This is Sword Intent. To refine Sword Intent, one must start with Sword Qi. When the comprehension of Sword Qi reaches its limit, one can realize Sword Momentum. Only when Sword Momentum solidifies into substance can it become Sword Intent.”

“Those with a Sword Heart are born with Sword Intent, though they usually cannot use it or even sense it.”

Wei Yan chuckled. “Both you and I are people of the Sword Heart, which is why I could determine your sword talent at a glance.”

Su Xuanheng was dazed after hearing this. Had a strand of Sword Intent really been hovering over his head all this time?

“For those with a Sword Heart, their Sword Intent is clear and bright. Comprehending Sword Intent is merely our starting point. Use your talent well to protect your Family. I'm off.”

Wei Yan waved her hand and disappeared into the flowing crowd with light, graceful steps.

Su Xuanheng remained where he was, lost in thought.

Was this Sword Heart really something he was born with?

...

The next day.

Guangling County seemed to be set ablaze. Before the first light of dawn, the city gates were already crowded with people and blocked by carriages.

This was because the Immortal Treasure Tower was holding its once-in-a-decade auction today. Cultivators and Martial Artists from surrounding counties and those passing through had all flocked here upon hearing the news.

Su Yang led Su Xuanheng into the Immortal Treasure Tower's auction hall. The clamor hit them like a heatwave; shadows of people were densely packed, forming a circle around the auction stage, and every seat in the house was taken.

Su Yang attended this auction just to try his luck, to see if there was a High-Tier Breath Concealment Art or anything else the Su Family could use.

The auction soon began.

A beautiful auctioneer with a pair of fair, white legs stepped onto the stage and got straight to the point without any idle chatter.

“Welcome, everyone, to this decade's auction at the Immortal Treasure Tower.”

“First, our first item: a remnant manual of a sword technique from a Golden Core Cultivator—Sword Transforms into a Long Rainbow!”

“The starting price is five thousand Spirit Stones, with each bid increase being no less than one hundred.”

The good items at an auction are usually saved for the end, so everyone was rather uninterested in the early items.

When they first heard it was a Golden Core Cultivator's sword technique, everyone was momentarily stunned, thinking the organizers were trying a different tactic, until they heard the words 'remnant manual,' at which point they were relieved.

That made more sense; how could they start with something huge right at the beginning?

A remnant Golden Core Sword Technique was of extremely low value to Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

A so-called 'remnant manual' didn't just mean it was missing one or two moves; it meant that not a single move in the entire book was complete.

Even a complete Golden Core Sword Technique was not something Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment Cultivators could comprehend, let alone one full of incomplete moves. Only a Golden Core Cultivator might be able to glean a thing or two from it.

The Cultivators present were all at the Qi Refining Stage or Foundation Establishment Stage, and absolutely no one was willing to bid for this sword technique.

The auction started off a bit cold, but the auctioneer was professional and used to such things.

After calling twice without a single bid, she instinctively looked toward the private booth where the Wan Jian Sect was located.

Wei Yan sat in the main seat of the booth and asked the middle-aged man standing beside her, “Uncle Jiang, do we not want this Golden Core Sword Technique?”

“No need. The Wan Jian Sect has collected all the sword techniques in Great Wei; Sword Transforms into a Long Rainbow is already in our Sect's records.”

The man addressed as Uncle Jiang responded nonchalantly.

“Five thousand Spirit Stones!”

Just as the auctioneer finished the third call and was about to declare the item unsold, a voice familiar to Wei Yan suddenly rang out.

She followed the sound with her gaze and saw that the person who had spoken was none other than Su Yang.