42: Chapter 42 Peak Tests

The hostility of the Blood Fiend Sect, his own secrets, the unfinished exploration regarding his father...

Everything urged him that he must, within this Qinglan Sword Sect, acquire the power to deal with everything as soon as possible.

The mountain wind was biting, fluttering his robes.

Outside the guest house, a sharp sword light came from afar, arriving in an instant.

The sword light dissipated, revealing a middle-aged Cultivator in green robes with a cold expression and an Aura even more unfathomable than Liu Qingchen's.

His gaze was like lightning, sweeping across Li Changsheng.

"You are Li Changsheng? Follow me, the Sword-Wielding Elder wants to see you."

The middle-aged Cultivator in green robes identified himself by the surname Ye, a sword-attending Disciple under the Sword-Wielding Elder.

He did not say much, only telling Li Changsheng to follow closely behind.

Immediately, he steered a green sword rainbow, far more swift and sharp than Liu Qingchen's "qingyun shuttle", and soared into the sky, heading straight into the depths of the Qinglan Mountains.

The sword light pierced through layers of clouds and mist, crossing several majestic immortal peaks—some as steep as swords, others as exquisite as paintings.

Along the way, one could see pavilions and towers built in an orderly fashion upon cliffs and clouds, dotted with spiritual springs and waterfalls. Occasionally, immortal cranes and spiritual birds fluttered past, and the concentration of Spiritual Qi permeating the air was thousands of times greater than in Qinghe Town.

But Cultivator Ye did not stop at any of the seemingly magnificent peaks, instead flying straight toward the western side of the mountain range, to a peak that was pitch-black, shaped like a giant sword stuck upside down, solitary and cold, faintly emitting an invisible, sharp intent.

"This is 'Juque Peak', the place where the Sword-Wielding Elder cultivates in seclusion."

Cultivator Ye's voice was mixed with the wind, remaining concise.

The sword light landed on a black stone plaza at the peak, as flat as a mirror and gleaming with a metallic luster.

At the end of the plaza was a stone hall with a very archaic, even crude style. It had no plaque or inscription, only a deep sword mark carved above the hall entrance, seemingly containing endless Sword Intent and vicissitudes of life.

The light inside the stone hall was not bright, and an old man sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion in the center.

His hair and beard were completely white, his face lean, and his eyes closed. He wore the simplest grey cloth robe, with a sheathed long sword resting horizontally across his knees.

The scabbard was also archaic and unadorned, appearing neither like wood nor stone.

There was no intimidating Aura emanating from the old man; he seemed to have merged with the surrounding environment.

But the moment Li Changsheng stepped into the hall, he felt the hairs on his body stand on end, as if he had been swept by countless invisible and sharp gazes, causing the True Qi and Spiritual Qi circulating within his body to involuntarily stagnate slightly.

"Is this the Sword-Wielding Elder of the Qinglan Sword Sect?"

A great Sword Cultivator who was at least at the Golden Core Late Stage, or perhaps even the Nascent Soul Stage!

"Disciple Ye Feng, acting on the Elder's orders, has brought Li Changsheng here."

Cultivator Ye bowed and saluted.

The old man on the meditation cushion slowly opened his eyes.

What kind of eyes were those?

At first glance, they were ordinary, but looking closer, they seemed to contain the birth and destruction of thousands of sword shadows.

Wherever his gaze fell, it seemed able to pierce through falsehoods and point straight to the Origin.

His gaze fell upon Li Changsheng.

There was no oppressive feeling of scrutiny, yet it made Li Changsheng feel that he had no secrets left from the inside out.

Of course, this was just an illusion.

The existence of the samsara simulation system, the Dao Laws of Longevity he carried, and the memory fragments from other worlds remained hidden in the deepest part of the mist, not easily seen through by Cultivators of this realm.

"Li Changsheng?"

The Sword-Wielding Elder's voice was calm but carried a texture like metal rubbing against metal.

"Junior Brother Yun Yin sent a message saying that you might possess a special Physique."

"In a mundane place, using Martial Arts combined with shallow Spiritual Qi to temporarily seal an ancient demonic thought—your Heart-Nature, Comprehension Ability, and Opportunity are all extraordinary. Let me take a look."

He did not stand up, nor did he touch Li Changsheng; instead, his gaze seemed to turn into substance, transforming into strands of subtle yet incredibly pure Sword Qi that silently probed into Li Changsheng's body.

This probe was not violent; instead, it carried a mysterious rhythm, traveling along Li Changsheng's Meridians, acupuncture points, and Dantian.

It sensed the nature of his True Qi, his Spiritual Qi cultivation, his Physical Body strength, and even... his ethereal "Sword Heart" or "Sword Bone" Aptitude.

Li Changsheng held his breath and focused, making no resistance and allowing the probe.

He knew that this was a crucial moment determining his starting point in the Qinglan Sword Sect.

The probe lasted for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

The initial, imperceptible expectation in the Sword-Wielding Elder's eyes gradually turned into calmness, finally transforming into a barely audible sigh.

He withdrew his gaze and shook his head slightly.

"Your Physical Body Foundation... is passable, far exceeding Martial Artists of the same rank. This should be the result of the combination of that special Physique and Martial Arts."

"Your Spiritual Qi cultivation... Qi Refining Level 1. To enter the path on your own in a place barren of Spiritual Qi shows some Comprehension Ability."

"Your Spiritual Qi is pure, and your control is meticulous, showing a steady Heart-Nature. However..."

He paused, speaking bluntly.

"On the path of the sword, your 'Aptitude' has nothing special."

"You have no Innate Sword Meridians in your body, and your Divine Soul and temperament are not those of someone sharp and indomitable; your resonance with Sword Intent is weak."

"Simply put, you do not have superior talent for the path of the sword."

"Forcing yourself to walk the path of a Sword Cultivator will yield half the result with twice the effort, and it will be difficult to reach a Major Achievement."

This conclusion surprised Ye Feng, who was standing to the side.

The trace of importance he had held for Li Changsheng, stemming from the "Sword-Wielding Elder personally summoning him," quietly faded away.

In the Qinglan Sword Sect, Sword Cultivator talent is almost one of the most important criteria for evaluation.

Li Changsheng felt no great waves in his heart.

He had long been self-aware; in terms of Martial Arts, he was better at flexible and varied fist and palm techniques.

Although he did not reject the sword, he indeed lacked that obsession and compatibility that came from the bones.

The Sword-Wielding Elder's evaluation was fair and professional.

"This Disciple understands."

Li Changsheng bowed respectfully.

"Thank you for your guidance, Elder."

The Sword-Wielding Elder nodded slightly.

"Your Dao body is special; your potential may not lie in the path of the sword."

"Within the Sect, there are other Daos that can be pursued."

He looked at Ye Feng.

"Take him to Wanqi Peak, Baicao Hall, and other places, and let other Senior Brothers take a look as well."

"Yes."

Over the next few days, under Ye Feng's leadership, Li Changsheng visited several other important halls within the Qinglan Sword Sect that were parallel or auxiliary to the path of the sword.

Wanqi Peak.

This peak specialized in Artifact Refining, crafting Flying Swords, Magic Treasures, armor, and other items for the Sect.

The person who met Li Changsheng was a Foundation Establishment Stage Artifact Refiner with a ruddy complexion, large hands, and a scorching Aura radiating from his entire body.

He took out a "Melting Crystal Stone" to test sensitivity to metal Spiritual Qi and talent for fire control, and then had Li Changsheng try to activate a basic Earth Fire Formation with his Spiritual Qi, observing the stability of his palms and his control over subtle changes in Spiritual Qi.

The results were equally unsatisfactory.

Li Changsheng's sensitivity to metal Spiritual Qi was ordinary, and his fire control talent was mediocre.

Although he could barely complete the test by relying on his powerful Mental Energy and Spiritual Qi control.

However, he clearly lacked the affinity and passion for spiritual materials and flames that an Artifact Refiner needed—almost instinctively.

The Elder of Wanqi Peak, after reading the record, also shook his head.

"He could serve as a chore Disciple to handle scrap materials, but becoming an Artifact Refiner... is difficult."

Baicao Hall.

This place was responsible for cultivating Spirit Medicine, refining Medicinal Pills, and treating injuries and illnesses.

A female alchemist with a gentle temperament and surrounded by the scent of medicine received him.

The tests included: identifying the medicinal properties of several basic Spiritual Plants and the delicate techniques for processing some medicinal materials.

And trying to use his own wood-attribute Spiritual Qi to gently stimulate the vitality of a dying Spiritual Plant.

Li Changsheng, relying on his "Proficiency in Medicine" and keen sense of vitality.

Performed passably in the first two tasks, even making that alchemist's eyes light up.