61: Chapter 61 This isn't a marriage proposal, it's an attempt to buy out the Sword Sect!

Central Province Sword Domain, Sword Sect mountain gate.

This place was shrouded in murderous Geng Metal Qi all year round. For a thousand miles around, not a blade of grass grew, and countless broken swords were stuck into the wasteland, forming a terrifying Sword Tomb. As the oldest and purest Holy Land for Sword Cultivators in the Central Province, the Sword Sect had always been known for its poverty... ahem, for its simple living and proud bones.

But today, this tranquility was completely shattered.

"Rumble—!"

Above the firmament, the clouds collapsed.

Eighteen void warships, resembling primordial beasts, carried the momentum of rolling thunder as they tore through the clouds, pressing down upon the Sword Sect mountain gate and blotting out the sky. The massive shadows cast the rolling sword mountains into darkness.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The shrill sound of the alarm bell instantly rang throughout the entire Sword Sect.

Countless sword lights shot up from various peaks. The Disciples of the Sword Sect all had solemn expressions, gripping their long swords, as if facing a formidable enemy.

"Which sacred entity dares to offend our Sword Sect!"

A hoarse and majestic roar came from the main peak.

Subsequently, a heaven-shaking Sword Intent soared into the sky, transforming into an old man in grey robes with white hair and beard. He stepped on the Void Realm, a simple and unadorned giant sword floating behind him, his body exuding the terrifying aura of a Saint-Grade level.

It was none other than the Sect Master of the Sword Sect, Jian Wuchen.

Behind him, a dozen Sword Sect Elders lined up, each exuding sharp Sword Qi, their eyes resolute.

"Sect Master, look at that flag... it seems to be purple and gold!"

A sharp-eyed Elder pointed at the sky, his voice trembling slightly.

Jian Wuchen focused his gaze.

He saw that on the leading nine-dragon golden carriage, a large purple-gold flag fluttered in the wind, embroidered with a dragon-flying-phoenix-dancing character "Xu", exuding the imperial pressure of the Ancient Xu Family that suppressed the ages.

"The Ancient Xu Family?"

Jian Wuchen's heart skipped a beat, and his grip on his sword tightened.

The Xu Family was a contemporary Imperial Clan with unfathomable foundations. Moreover, it was said that This Young Master Xu had been making waves in the Central Province recently and was an out-and-out malevolent star.

"Our Sword Sect has never had any grievances with the Xu Family. Why are they making such a big fuss?"

Jian Wuchen took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the dread in his heart, and shouted loudly:

"So it is the Imperial Clan Xu Family that has arrived. I wonder, Young Master Xu, bringing so many warships to our border, are you planning to flatten our Sword Sect?"

Although he was panicking on the inside, the pride of a Sword Cultivator could not be lost. At worst, it would be a case of the fish dying and the net splitting, both sides perishing together!

On the golden carriage.

Xu Chen shook his folding fan, listening to the old man's tone of fighting to the death below, and shook his head helplessly.

"Dark Elder, look."

"I said this bunch of sword practitioners have straight brains. We clearly came to deliver warmth, yet they insist on treating us like bandits."

Dark Elder chimed in with a fawning smile: "Young Master, this formation of ours... it does look a bit like bandits descending from the mountain."

"Since that's the case, then stop the nonsense."

Xu Chen closed his folding fan, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Pass the order down, 'fire' for me!"

"Let them witness what the firepower of an Imperial Clan is!"

"Yes!"

Dark Elder turned around and waved his hand at the eighteen warships behind him.

"All units! Target the Sword Sect plaza, prepare—fire!"

The Sword Sect crowd below felt their scalps tingle at the sight.

"Oh no! They are attacking!"

"Form up! Quickly, set up the sect-protecting formation!"

Jian Wuchen's eyes were splitting with rage, his Saint-Grade spiritual power burning wildly as he prepared to meet the destructive artillery fire.

However.

The expected spiritual light beams and explosions did not appear.

"Clatter—!"

Accompanied by a crisp and pleasant sound, like pearls falling on a jade plate.

Countless crystal-clear stones emitting rich Spiritual Qi poured down from the warships like a rainstorm.

Those were... Top-Grade Spirit Stones!

No, not just Spirit Stones!

There were also various Spirit Medicines emitting treasure light, rare Artifact Refining Ores, crates of Medicinal Pills...

This "treasure rain" lasted for a full half cup of tea.

When everything calmed down.

The originally empty and murderous Sword Sect plaza was completely filled by a glittering treasure mountain. The soaring treasure aura even dispersed much of the surrounding Geng Metal Qi, making the entire Sword Sect look flashy and vulgar.

"This... this..."

Jian Wuchen's hand holding the giant sword froze in mid-air, and he was completely stunned.

The Elders and Disciples behind him opened their mouths wide, their eyeballs almost popping out.

What kind of attack method is this?

Smashing faces with Spirit Stones?

"Young... Young Master Xu, what is the meaning of this?"

Jian Wuchen swallowed hard, feeling his Sword Intent had received ten thousand points of critical damage.

Xu Chen only then slowly walked out of the carriage, standing in the Void Realm, looking down at everyone from a high vantage point.

"Sect Master Jian, don't be nervous."

Xu Chen cupped his hands with a smile.

"This Young Master has recently gained some insights into the Dao of the sword, so I came to your sect specifically to exchange and learn."

"I heard that your sect's lifestyle... ahem, style is simple, so these vulgar objects are just my accommodation and meal fees."

Accommodation fees?

Jian Wuchen looked at the plaza full of top-grade resources, his mouth twitching wildly.

Where is this accommodation fee? It's enough to buy the entire Sword Sect!

"Young Master Xu is too polite..."

Jian Wuchen was, after all, a Sect Master, and soon reacted. Although he didn't know what medicine This Young Master of the Xu Family was selling in his gourd, there was no harm in accepting the benefits delivered to his door.

"Just to exchange and learn, why go to such expense?"

"Ah, this is just a meeting gift."

Xu Chen waved his hand, then took out a long gift list from his sleeve and threw it gently.

The gift list turned into a golden light and floated in front of Jian Wuchen.

"To tell you the truth, besides learning the Dao of the sword, I have another request."

"I heard that your sect's Chief Disciple, Nangong Waner, is Born with a Sword Spirit and has a divine command of the Dao of the sword. I have admired her for a long time and would like to ask her to come out and be my... private sword technique consultant."

"This is the betrothal gift."

Jian Wuchen subconsciously glanced at the gift list.

At this look, he almost had a myocardial infarction on the spot.

【Ten-thousand-year Sword Heart Grass, ten stalks.】

【Legacy Saint-Grade Weapon (sword type), three pieces.】

【A scroll of Great Emperor Sword Dao insights.】

【Top-Grade Spiritual Vein, one (transplantable).】

【...】

He couldn't see the rest, but just the first few items were enough to make any Sword Cultivator go crazy.

Especially that scroll of Great Emperor Sword Dao insights, that was a priceless treasure! If he could comprehend even a little bit, his Bottleneck, which had been stuck at the Saint-Grade for many years, might just loosen!

"Gulp."

Behind Jian Wuchen, a straightforward Grand Elder couldn't help but swallow his saliva and whispered:

"Sect Master... how about, we sell... ahem, marry off Waner?"

"Nonsense!"

Although Jian Wuchen was also greatly shaken, he still reprimanded with a straight face.

"My Sword Sect is a righteous sect, how can we sell a Core Disciple for mere worldly possessions?"

After saying this, he turned his head to look at Xu Chen, a smile as bright as a chrysanthemum appearing on his face.

"Young Master Xu, please come in! Please come in quickly!"

"That girl Waner is in secluded meditation in the back mountain, I will send someone to call her right away!"

"What private consultant? Too formal! From now on, the Sword Sect is your home!"

Xu Chen looked at this old man whose face changed faster than flipping a book, and secretly laughed in his heart.

Sure enough.

There is no mountain gate that cannot be opened by the power of money.

"Then I will disturb you."

Xu Chen put away his folding fan and, surrounded by the enthusiastic welcome of Jian Wuchen and the other Elders, swaggered into the main hall of the Sword Sect.

Leaving only a group of Sword Sect Disciples, surrounding the treasure mountain in the plaza, their eyes fixed, shedding tears of poverty.

"Is this the style of an Imperial Clan?"

"I want to go to the Xu Family to be a gatekeeper, I wonder if they still need people..."

...

Sword Sect back mountain, Sword Washing Pool.

This is the Forbidden Ground of the Sword Sect, the cold pool is bottomless, and Sword Qi runs rampant.

A young girl in a light green dress was sitting cross-legged on a giant rock in the center of the cold pool. She closed her eyes, a simple and unadorned long sword across her knees, surrounded by sharp Sword Intent, chopping the falling snowflakes into nothingness in mid-air.

She was the Chief Disciple of the Sword Sect, Born with a Sword Spirit—Nangong Waner.

"Senior Sister! Senior Sister!"

A Junior Sister ran in panting, breaking the tranquility here.

"It's bad! The Sect Master sold you!"

Nangong Waner opened her eyes abruptly.

At that moment, it was as if two sharp swords had been unsheathed, piercing the Void Realm.

"What?"

She frowned slightly, her voice as cold as a spring.

"A Young Master of the Xu Family came outside, bringing lots and lots of treasures, saying he wants to invite you to be some private consultant..."

The Junior Sister gestured, "The Sect Master saw those treasures and couldn't even walk, he is about to push you into that Young Master's arms!"

"Young Master of the Xu Family? Xu Chen?"

A trace of disgust flashed in Nangong Waner's eyes.

She had long heard of this Young Master of the Imperial Clan who had been making a lot of noise in the Central Province recently, known for "climbing the ladder through women", and she despised him deeply.

In her view, a Sword Cultivator should forge ahead, with only the sword as a companion.

Indulging in lust and relying on external forces are all Evil Paths.

"Hmph."

Nangong Waner snorted coldly and stood up, picking up her long sword.

"Want to buy me with Spirit Stones?"

"Is he worthy?"

"I will go and meet this so-called Young Master of the Imperial Clan right now, and let him know that the proud bones of the Sword Sect cannot be bought with any amount of money!"

After saying that, she turned into a green sword light and, with soaring anger, went straight to the front mountain main hall.