Chapter 62: [Sword] [Splendid Blossoms]

In the underground palace, spherical Everlasting pearls emitted a white halo, revealing the entire panorama to Shen Yian.

It was vast, incredibly vast, making those within feel as if they had entered a new underground world.

Many stone platforms jutted out around them, each wrapped in a barrier that required a jade token to unlock.

Some platforms were already empty, while many others held a bamboo scroll, a jade token, or an ancient book.

Some world-class martial arts techniques that had been lost in the martial arts world could be found here in their only remaining copies.

In front of each platform was a stone tablet. Shen Yian approached one and placed his hand on it. The Eastern Emperor Scripture within him began to circulate, infusing golden true qi into the tablet.

In an instant, small golden characters began to appear on the stone tablet.

It must be said that the old Shen Family truly thought of their descendants.

Not only were the names and annotations of the techniques carved on the tablets, but there were even detailed insights and experiences. Shen Yian could have cried.

This time, he had come mainly to find a suitable sword technique for Ye Liyan. If she put effort into the path of the sword, her future achievements would be no less than his own.

His own primary sword technique was too focused on killing and was not suitable for a woman.

Among the martial arts in the Martial Pavilion, except for some special ones that couldn’t be passed on, the old man wouldn’t interfere with the others.

Moreover, once Ye Liyan married into the family, she would be half a Shen Family member, and the old man would care even less.

The future held too many uncertainties. Who knew if the heavens would play a joke, and those Demonic Sect fellows wouldn’t give up easily, surely using any means to capture Ye Liyan.

He couldn’t guarantee that he could protect Ye Liyan at all times.

As the saying goes, to forge iron, one must be strong oneself. How could such good cultivation talent be wasted?

He set a small goal for Ye Liyan: not aiming to become an invincible female demon lord of the world, but becoming the King of Chu’s consort, unparalleled in both sword and music – that shouldn’t be a problem, right?

After all, this world didn’t have many entertainment options. Shopping and picnics would eventually become boring. Wouldn’t it be nice for the couple to secretly work on improving their strength together at home?

Once Ye Liyan’s strength and realm improved and everything settled down, he could make a five-year plan to leave home. They could travel to famous mountains and rivers together, letting her see the world and experience the martial arts world, creating a beautiful story together. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

Yes, that’s decided.

As for Great Qing, with his brothers and the old man being so formidable, why should he, a mere prince, worry?

Question Shen Tengfeng, understand Shen Tengfeng, become Shen Tengfeng!

After wandering around for two laps, Shen Yian finally stopped in front of a stone platform in a corner.

[Sword]

The cover of the ancient book was damaged, leaving only the character for “sword” in small seal script. 

The Shen Family ancestors seemed too lazy to rename it, directly leaving it as [Sword] on the stone tablet.

After quickly reading the tablet, Shen Yian’s eyes showed shock.

Draw in the righteous qi, gather one’s natal sword.

In simple terms, it meant condensing a sword unique to oneself at the Dantian. Once the sword formed, it would awaken a unique divine ability.

This [Sword] had been cultivated by three people: the Shen Family ancestor, the Shen Family tomb keeper, and the King of Langya, Shen Lingxiu.

In the end, only the Shen Family tomb keeper had successfully condensed his natal sword.

Both the Shen Family ancestor and Shen Lingxiu left behind insights: just as the life-bound sword was about to form, it would inexplicably shatter, as if lacking some crucial element.

The Shen Family tomb keeper left only a short sword mark.

Even Shen Yian felt his heart tremble at the traces of sword intent leaking from the mark.

This… cultivation?

Shen Yian’s mouth twitched involuntarily, but upon reflection, he realized he might be overreacting.

This world’s cultivation system framework was laid out there, inherently similar to a Union of Souls between martial arts and immortal cultivation.

After pondering for a moment, he felt this [Sword] was very suitable for Ye Liyan, condensing one’s own life-bound sword, with an added divine ability.

Not only could Ye Liyan practice it, but he could too. He hoped Long Yuan wouldn’t get jealous.

“Fifth Uncle.”

“Hmm? Didn’t find anything you like?” Shen Lingxiu looked puzzled seeing Shen Yian return empty-handed.

“No, Fifth Uncle, I have something I’d like to ask you about.”

Shen Yian didn’t beat around the bush, directly expressing his interest in learning about that [Sword].

“Sword? You mean that [Sword]!”

Shen Lingxiu shook his head slightly: “That can’t really be considered a sword technique. If you want sword techniques, I can recommend two that suit you.”

Changing tack, Shen Lingxiu furrowed his brow and said: “If you insist on practicing it, I won’t stop you, but there are some things I should explain.”

“You won’t be able to condense a life-bound sword from that [Sword] unless you enter the Heavenly Martial Realm.”

Shen Yian was stunned: “Didn’t our ancestor enter the Divine Wandering realm back then? So why could the Shen Family tomb keeper succeed?”

This requirement didn’t seem too high; he had thought one needed to reach the Divine Wandering realm to condense the sword.

“Don’t rush, Little An, let me finish.”

“Besides entering the Heavenly Martial Realm, you’ll need to borrow a strand of qi from heaven and earth to complete the sword body. Only then can you successfully condense the sword.”

“As for that tomb keeper, his constitution was special, so he could successfully condense a life-bound sword. He called that strand of qi the ‘origin qi,’ but I’ve never seen this so-called origin qi and don’t know exactly what it is.” Shen Lingxiu shrugged, his tone quite helpless.

“Fifth Uncle, is that tomb keeper still alive?” Shen Yian asked carefully.

“He was from the same era as our ancestor. What do you think?”

Shen Lingxiu rolled his eyes.

Silence fell. Shen Yian found himself in a dilemma, unsure whether to waste a jade tablet on a gamble. 

The tomb keeper had a special constitution, and Ye Liyan’s constitution was special too, but whether they could condense a life-bound sword was pure chance.

His mind began racing, and he realized the original story never mentioned the term “origin qi.”

Hm?

A flash of inspiration hit Shen Yian. His eyes lit up, and he spoke with utmost sincerity: “Fifth Uncle, I want to learn. Can you teach me?”

The person before him had practiced it before! Why waste a jade tablet? He could just ask for guidance directly!

Shen Lingxiu was completely stunned.

Huh? No…

“You little…” Shen Lingxiu smiled through gritted teeth. This brat was trying to exploit a loophole, huh?

“I won’t teach you!”

Shen Lingxiu turned away with a flick of his sleeve.

Shen Yian stepped forward and directly hugged one of Shen Lingxiu’s arms, his tone even more sincere, even with a hint of coquettishness: “Fifth Uncle, I know you’re the best to me!”

To achieve great things, one mustn’t be bogged down by trifles. What’s wrong with acting coy with an elder? The squeaky wheel gets the grease!

“Get off, it’s disgusting!” Shen Lingxiu tried to break free but found that Shen Yian’s two big hands were like vises gripping him tightly.

If Shen Yian were ten years younger, he could accept an eight or nine-year-old child acting coy, but a grown man?

After several rounds of tussling at the entrance of the underground palace, Shen Lingxiu compromised. 

He truly couldn’t refuse the conditions Shen Yian offered.

“You’re not lying to me, kid?”

“I wouldn’t dare deceive Fifth Uncle.”

“You’d better not be lying. I have responsibilities, but that doesn’t mean I can’t leave the Martial Pavilion. Otherwise, hmph hmph.” Shen Lingxiu raised his fist threateningly.

We scholars use our learning to reason, and our fists to make others see reason.

“I wouldn’t dare deceive Fifth Uncle!” Shen Yian inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. If money could solve a problem, then it wasn’t really a problem.

Three jade tablets, he’d keep one as a token for now, to come to the Martial Pavilion and deliver things to 

Shen Lingxiu.

What Shen Lingxiu needed was just one thing: interesting leisurely books, similar to novels, preferably with illustrations. The shocking part was the quantity—he asked for a thousand books right off the bat.

Shen Lingxiu was tired of the martial arts classics in the Martial Pavilion and wanted a change of pace.

“Fifth Uncle, I have a question. Since you can leave the Martial Pavilion, why can’t you buy them yourself or have someone else help you buy them?” Shen Yian asked timidly.

“Hmph.” Shen Lingxiu turned his head and snorted, looking like he was throwing a tantrum.

Shen Yian understood immediately. No need to think too hard—it was because the old man wouldn’t allow it!

“Little An, don’t disappoint me.” Shen Lingxiu turned back, placing both hands on Shen Yian’s shoulders, his eyes full of hope.

Shen Yian had just demonstrated a sleeve storage technique, instantly giving him hope. This was the perfect skill for smuggling leisure books!

“Fifth Uncle, Father won’t find out, right?”

“Hah, don’t worry about that. I’ll hide these books in the underground palace. Even if Second Brother comes to inspect, he won’t discover them.” Shen Lingxiu smiled like his scheme had succeeded.

With their agreement reached, Shen Yian went for another look around and finally chose a bamboo scroll.

[Splendid Blossoms]

It comprised three forms: One Sword Falls Like Misty Clouds, One Sword Reflects Mountains and Rivers, One Sword Dreams of Seasons Passing.

Each sword form seemed beautiful just from the description. He liked it.

“Wait, how many jade tablets did Second Brother give you?” Shen Lingxiu asked curiously.

Shen Yian had used one now. What if he ran out of jade tablets to smuggle leisure books for him?

“In response to Fifth Uncle, three.”

“Tsk! What did you do, kid? Second Brother is being so generous?”

“Well, I just helped Father kill someone. Nothing worth mentioning.”

Shen Yian blinked: “Fifth Uncle, why don’t we start with the [Sword] now…”

“Little An, when can you get me the books?”

“Within three days.”

“Hmm…” Shen Lingxiu pondered for a moment and nodded: “Alright, come upstairs with me first.”