170: Flawless Sword Spirit

On the glazed platform outside the Sword Washing Pool, the leading Elder suddenly snapped his eyes open.

"This is... the Origin of the Sword Washing Pool!"

The leading Elder was shocked.

"After so many years, someone has finally triggered the Sword Washing Pool's Origin again." A look of reminiscence appeared on the old man's face:

"The last one to trigger the Sword Washing Pool's Origin was the Jinghong Swordsman from a thousand years ago, wasn't it..."

As the cyan-gold light flooded into the Sword Spirit's body, its aura climbed steadily, and its form became increasingly complete.

Its aura also became more agile and full of vitality, making it almost indistinguishable from a true living being!

Finally, Lin Yan watched with his own eyes as the Sword Spirit transformed into a child of about seven or eight years old.

The child was dressed in cyan clothes, and his features were seventy percent similar to Lin Yan's, though he looked much more tender.

"Master, I... I am... Sword Spirit!"

A crisp, childish voice rang out—no longer a mental transmission, but a real voice!

The child looked down at himself, then up at Lin Yan, his eyes filled with surprise and attachment.

"Sword Spirit." Lin Yan's mind shuddered.

Looking at the child before him, he felt an indescribable sensation.

It was as if they were connected by blood, like his own child.

"I've suddenly become a father..." Lin Yan mused to himself.

Just as Lin Yan was preparing to withdraw the qinggang sword, a sudden change occurred.

Above the Sword Washing Pool, the clouds were torn apart by an invisible force, revealing the deep firmament.

Immediately after, streaks of purple lightning were generated out of thin air, with a faint hint of blood-red mixed within, eventually turning into a sea of lightning that was purple tinged with red.

"What's going on?" Lin Yan frowned as he looked at the sky.

This scene looked familiar.

"Master, this is my Lightning Tribulation." Sword Spirit's childish voice rang out:

"Wait here, I'll be right back!"

With that, the child-like Sword Spirit, holding the qinggang sword, charged out of the lake's surface to face the lightning striking down from the heavens.

A Lightning Tribulation is the Heavenly Dao's lock on a living being; no matter where you are, it is the same—you cannot hide from it.

The massive sound jolted the other Disciples within the Sword Washing Pool.

One after another, they surfaced and looked at Sword Spirit, who was Undergoing Tribulation.

"A Lightning Tribulation? Why is there a Lightning Tribulation?"

"Who is that Undergoing Tribulation? A child?"

"That doesn't seem to be a person... it seems to be... a Sword Spirit!"

"A Sword Spirit? How can a Sword Spirit undergo a Lightning Tribulation?"

...Although the Disciples were all Prodigies, they had never seen such a scene before.

"Ordinary Sword Spirits don't trigger Lightning Tribulations, but there is one exception! That is a Flawless Sword Spirit!"

The one speaking was that Prodigy Disciple of the Purple Mansion Realm, Jin Chiye, who possessed the Li Huo Sacred Body.

"Legend says that a Flawless Artifact Spirit can Cultivate on its own and is no different from a living being; its talent even far exceeds the mundane, and its Lifespan is extremely long!"

"Such Artifact Spirits are too Heaven-Defying. When they are born into the world, they trigger a Lightning Tribulation!"

Hearing this, a look of realization appeared on everyone's faces.

"Whose Artifact Spirit is this?" a Disciple asked curiously.

Everyone looked at each other in confusion before finally landing their gazes on Lin Yan, who was closest to the Lightning Tribulation area.

After Chen Ming, Qing Wuhe, and the others saw Lin Yan's face clearly, a look of deep regret appeared on their faces.

Without needing to think, this definitely had something to do with that fish.

But at the thought of Lin Yan's Heaven-Defying combat power, their regret turned into a sense of loss.

They only hated that they didn't have more legs to catch the fish before encountering Lin Yan!

...Amidst the lightning, the child held a sharp qinggang sword, took a step forward, and soared into the sky.

He stood beneath the sea of lightning, his small figure showing not even a hint of fear.

"Come!" the child shouted clearly, raising the qinggang sword high and pointing its edge directly at the sky.

As the first bolt of lightning struck down, his body swayed, and a trace of cyan blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, yet he stubbornly stood tall and unmoving.

The second, the third... bolts of lightning fell one after another, leaving scorched marks on his body, but they also caused the Sword Intent around him to become increasingly condensed and sharp... The Lightning Tribulation naturally attracted the attention of the Great Powers within this small world.

"What a fine Flawless Sword Spirit!" Bai He whispered as he watched from afar:

"To think this kid would actually give me such a pleasant surprise!"

One must know that every Flawless Sword Spirit is destined to grow into a powerhouse at the level of a Great Power or higher in the future.

Furthermore, their Lifespan far exceeds that of humans, easily surpassing ten thousand years.

What kind of concept was that? Every Flawless Sword Spirit is a guardian deity of the Sword Pavilion!

They are the absolute foundation of a Sect!

The Hundred Refinements Artifact Sect is able to stand among the top-tier Dao orthodoxies precisely because of its Flawless Artifact Spirits... Within the sea of lightning, the child's Sword Intent clashed with the lightning; each time forced a pained groan from him, but his eyes became increasingly determined.

He seemed to be using the lightning to temper himself, transforming every bolt of electricity into a part of his Sword Intent.

After an unknown amount of time, the final bolt of lightning fell, and the sea of lightning in the sky slowly dissipated.

The scorched marks on the child's body had not yet faded, but his aura was several times stronger than before.

Holding the qinggang sword, he slowly descended back to the surface of the Sword Washing Lake, stumbling slightly before being caught by Lin Yan.

"Are you alright?" Lin Yan asked nervously, a trace of heartache showing on his face.

This was his own child!

The child looked up and gave a weak but brilliant smile: "I'm... fine... Master."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure faded, turning into a streak of cyan light that re-entered the qinggang sword.

The sword's blade trembled slightly, letting out a satisfied, clear hum.

Lin Yan gripped the qinggang sword, feeling the familiar and powerful aura within it, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

From now on, the qinggang sword was no longer just his weapon!

Just as Lin Yan was about to return to the bottom of the lake, the Sword Washing Pool beneath his feet suddenly jolted, as if the entire body of water had been startled awake from a deep sleep.

Deep ripples spread across the water's surface, and from the depths of the lake's center, three clusters of brilliant halos broke through the water.

Everyone looked closely and saw that these were not ordinary spiritual lights, but three clusters of almost physical Pool Water Essence.

Each cluster was crystal clear, with sword runes faintly visible inside, emitting a heart-palpitating sharpness and sword-path spiritual rhythm.

Just looking at them from afar made everyone's hearts sway, as if their Souls were about to be sliced apart by that sharp edge.

"Ninth-grade... Pool Water Essence!"

Someone cried out in shock, instantly igniting the greed and desire in everyone.

The three clusters of halos floated quietly, as if scrutinizing everyone present.

Everyone deployed their movement techniques, rushing toward the Pool Water Essence like arrows released from a bow string.

Among them, three figures were the fastest, being the first to land steadily before the three clusters of essence.

They were the three Prodigy Disciples.

The Li Huo Sacred Body, Jin Chiye, with red hair like flames and surrounded by Heaven-Burning Golden Fire; wherever his gaze landed, the air distorted.

The Jianmu Spirit Body, Chu Yaozhi, in cyan clothes as vibrant as spring, with wood growing from her hair and overflowing with vitality, like a sky-propping ancient tree.

The Xuanming Ice Body, Meng Shuangling, covered in blue gauze and emitting a piercing cold that even caused fine ice patterns to freeze on the lake's surface.

"This item is destined for me. Everyone, please turn back." Jin Chiye's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an unquestionable dominance.

But how could the others be willing to give up?

Before Jin Chiye could finish his sentence, a Prodigy Disciple couldn't hold back and struck, his sword light like a rainbow aimed directly at Meng Shuangling.

"Treasures belong to those who are destined for them. Senior Sister, forgive my offense!"

The one who made the move was Chen Ming, who had been chasing the fish at the bottom of the lake earlier.

Missing out on that fish had filled him with regret.

Now, a new Opportunity was right before his eyes; no matter what, he had to go all out!