145: comparison

The demonic blade before him was incredibly arrogant, believing that Chen Cuo’s failure to choose it was a mistake. Among the many weapons, it furiously lunged at Chen Cuo.

The power of this blade was truly immense; even among numerous Third-Grade Magic Treasures, it ranked at the top.

It was probably as formidable as the crystal crown Snowy Mei acquired. However, Chen Cuo’s immense strength was truly unreasonable, almost perfectly matching the Unsharpened Blade.

A heavy sword without an edge, great skill without artifice. As soon as he infused it with magical power, surges of vast, surging Qi continuously emanated from the blade. The blade also became increasingly heavy, and even a casual swing felt like a mountain pressing down on an enemy.

By the time he secured the Unsharpened Blade, a day had passed in a blur. He then walked out of the Saint Artifact Pavilion with the blade. Storage Pouches could be carried; after all, they needed methods to acquire Magic Treasures, even needing to cooperate with weapons. Weapons were also a display of strength, and acquiring Magic Treasures depended on overall strength.

However, the Storage Pouches worn were inspected. Chen Cuo’s Chasing Wind Blade was only temporarily placed inside to pass inspection, then returned to his body sheath.

Moreover, before entering, the oath included a vow to only select one Magical Artifact or Magic Treasure within the Saint Artifact Pavilion, not allowing multiple hidden items.

But the Time Blade was not a treasure of the Saint Artifact Pavilion, so Chen Cuo’s actions were not a breach of contract.

His body sheath talent could not be inspected by others, so he was not afraid of being discovered.

Time was up; the first stage of the assessment ended. You say it’s an assessment, but it doesn’t feel that formal. It can only be said that this assessment was implicit, not so obvious.

In terms of Artifact Refining talent, it was an assessment of the talent for communicating with the spirituality of Magic Treasures.

Chen Cuo had known the purpose of Lingbao Mountain through the Bai Family’s introduction even before entering the Sect. Lingbao Mountain’s philosophy for Artifact Refining was that a Magical Artifact had life, and refining a Magical Artifact was creating life.

The higher the grade of a Magical Artifact or Magic Treasure, the more spiritual it became. The spirituality of a Magic Treasure was the soul that controlled it, and Lingbao Mountain regarded it as the soul of an artifact.

Without spirituality, no matter how high the grade of a Magic Treasure, it would be nothing more than a dead object. However, Lingbao Mountain advocated for self-generated spirituality rather than forcibly capturing and filling souls.

Therefore, the Puppet Master lineage was not particularly popular in Lingbao Mountain.

In fact, this first stage primarily observed the communication between the true Disciple seeds and the Magic Treasures. This communication was not entirely active; there were also instances of Magic Treasures unilaterally recognizing someone.

For example, the two lucky fellows Chen Cuo accidentally encountered probably had certain qualities that resonated with these spiritual Magic Treasures and Magical Artifacts, leading them to voluntarily recognize them as masters.

Strictly speaking, Chen Cuo’s Blade God talent, which attracted countless precious blades, followed the same principle.

Of course, there were also those who actively communicated with the artifact spirits to gain recognition, like Snowy Mei, who went to connect with the crystal crown.

That crystal crown was absolutely extraordinary, and its effects were unknown.

Magic Treasures, so many Magic Treasures! Lingbao Mountain is truly wealthy!

“It seems not many people succeeded, less than half.” After Chen Cuo went out, he slung the Unsharpened Blade onto his back. This blade did not have the ability to change size at will; it remained a door-panel shape.

As he paced back and forth, it particularly drew attention, frequently making people turn their heads. As others scrutinized him, he also scrutinized them, discovering that among those who appeared, only about ten people were different from when they entered.

The Magical Artifacts they obtained were all displayed on their bodies. Some held golden bowls, some carried long spears, some wore red sashes around their waists, and some donned radiant robes. Those who had gains were all beaming with joy; acquaintances chatted with each other, while strangers observed one another.

Those who had no gains would not enter the second stage, meaning they would all be eliminated. Each one was dejected, as if they had lost a parent.

Chang Shengzi watched from afar, his expression peculiar, as if he wanted to laugh but didn’t. He saw some richly dressed Disciples turn green in the face.

Those people truly thought the Sect was giving away treasures for free. They were excited before entering the Saint Artifact Pavilion, fantasizing about a Magic Treasure recognizing them as its master and From then on ascending to the Peak of their lives.

But after a day, they found they had gained nothing of significance.

At this moment, a Cultivator from the Zhao Family, looking at Hua Yun, who had spoken arrogantly at the entrance of the main hall, said, “Tsk tsk, isn’t this our Young Master Hua? Yesterday, you said you’d make a Sacred Artifact recognize you, but how come you came out empty-handed today? Could it be that no treasure took a liking to you?”

The Zhao Family was also one of the Foundation Establishment Families of Lingbao Mountain. Because in recent years, White Jade Orchid’s prime had passed, and she gradually withdrew from the competitive stage, she ceded most of the markets she had previously managed to the other two Families, the Hua Family and the Zhao Family.

And these two Families were currently at their sharpest, often clashing. At this time, the Zhao Family’s Disciple, named Zhao Yuan, was a contemporary of Hua Yun. Although neither had reached Foundation Establishment, due to their Family backgrounds, they had many supporters around them.

Seeing Hua Yun fail to acquire an artifact and face elimination, Zhao Yuan couldn’t help but mock him.

And several of his close friends around him, mostly disadvantaged figures within the inner Sect, took the Opportunity to chime in.

“Hahaha, I think, most likely he has too high standards and didn’t fancy the various Magic Treasures in the Saint Artifact Pavilion, so he didn’t choose any!”

“Ah, Brother Hu, excellent point, it must be so.”

“Hahaha…”

Hua Yun’s face turned ugly, completely flushed. “You scoundrels! I don’t know which beast did this good deed! I was clearly on the verge of getting a Tiger Killing Blade’s recognition, but then that blade suddenly flew away on its own!”

“Alas!”

Chen Cuo was originally watching the show. Logically speaking, the Bai Family, Hua Family, and Zhao Family, all being Foundation Establishment Families, should be united and form alliances. But after Chen Cuo entered this realm, he had been focused on cultivation and wasn’t familiar with these people, nor did he have any interest in befriending them; they were just small fries he could swat to death with one palm.

He was quite happy to watch the drama. It had been a long time since he had seen such a face-slapping scene. What a pity the protagonist wasn’t himself.

However, in the next instant, Hua Yun’s words caught everyone’s attention, turning the spearhead towards him.

“Yes, yes, me too! I had already obtained a precious blade and was communicating with its spirituality, but then the blade spirit suddenly said it sensed its master’s aura and flew out of my hand, and then I failed!”

“Me too, me too…”

“That’s right, just now inside the Saint Artifact Pavilion, all the blades chimed together. I wonder who caused that commotion.”

“…”

Chen Cuo couldn’t help but feel flustered at this moment. He then realized that among the other dozen or so people, not a single one had taken a blade. He had evidently attracted everyone else’s Opportunities.

This…

It was just that the large door-panel on his back didn’t really look like a blade; otherwise, with the intelligence of Cultivators, he would have been stared at intently by countless people by now.

Although being glared at by others wouldn’t do anything, facing the gazes of flies was still quite annoying.

However, just as Chen Cuo was lost in thought, Chang Shengzi, who had been secretly observing from outside, slowly walked in.

He held a bamboo scroll, the bamboo glowing with a pure white color, looking like warm jade.

Chang Shengzi didn’t put on airs. With a cold face, he read, “Snowy Mei, Middle Stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, obtained the Illusory Crystal Crown, pure in nature, communicates with all methods, wields the language of true spirits, skilled in moving the sounds of the four seas… Scored eighty-nine points!”

“Ling Bu Zi… Scored eighty-six points!”

…

“Chen Cuo, Low Grade Foundation Establishment cultivation, obtained the Unsharpened Blade, possesses boundless strength, divine blade techniques, suppresses all directions… Scored eighty-seven points!”

Well, now everyone knew who caused the chiming of all those blades!