"Don't tell me you're joking, fellow Yin. I'm a disciple of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga!" Li Qingshan was taken aback before smiling uncontrollably.
"A secular disciple," Yin Xiaochou added.
Secular disciples possessed very low statuses in the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga. They did not even have the right to set foot in the inner courtyard, let alone any great cultivation methods. They did not have any resources either. They only possessed the name of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, which deterred people from taking advantage of them.
"Then do you know who my master is?"
Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow. He was a secular disciple, but he was no regular secular disciple. His master was a great cultivator who had undergone the third heavenly tribulation of the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, and he practised a peak cultivation method too. What right did the Sword Collection palace have to ask him whether he wanted to join them or not?
"Who doesn't know about the Unraging master? Who doesn't know about him?"
"Then I don't understand. Even if I want to join the Sword Collection palace, do I really have to get past my master?"
Li Qingshan asked in surprise. In the cultivation community, the relationship between master and disciple was very important. In particular, when your master came from a large sect and was a great cultivator who had undergone the third heavenly tribulation, a relationship like this was unbreakable.
"I'm not asking you to become a disciple of the Sword Collection palace or take someone as your master. Instead, you'll be like elder Zhou Tong of the Clear River prefecture, becoming a guest elder, "Yin Xiaochou explained.
Yin Xiaochou explained and reported how he had lost to Li Qingshan to the Sword Collection palace, which raised a great deal of attention. It was not just because of his cultivation, but also because Yin Xiaochou had said, "This person's path of the sword surpasses mine!"
This left the master of the Sword Collection palace and the elders in disbelief. Yin Xiaochou had practised the sword since he was young, practising the profound sword techniques of the Sword Collection palace. He had also inherited the sword intent within the Breaking Water sword, yet he actually admitted he was not as good as Li Qingshan, which made them interested.
Taking in cultivators who had undergone the second heavenly tribulation as guest elders was one of the traditions of the Sword Collection palace. There was an opportunity regardless of their identity or background. Some guest elders even held the position of sect master of other sects. As long as they became guest elders, they could study the superior cultivation methods and sword techniques of the Sword Collection palace.
However, not all cultivators who had undergone the second heavenly tribulation had the opportunity to become a guest elder of the Sword Collection palace. They had to wield and practice the sword, and they had to leave their swords on Sword Collection peak after death.
The Sword Collection palace had not only taken a fancy to the slovenly daoist priest, Zhou Tong, as a guest elder, but also because of the Lightning Slaughter sword in his possession.
With Zhou Tong's cultivation, living for several centuries would not be a problem at all. As long as he constantly refined it with the techniques of the Sword Collection palace, even a lump of earth could be reborn, let alone the Lightning Slaughter sword that was already an arcane artifact. It had a very good chance of becoming a powerful arcane treasure.
It was exactly through this method that the Sword Collection palace constantly gathered the renowned swords of the world. Even an arcane treasure like the Soaring Dragon sword that cultivators could only dream of could not be counted as one of the ten renowned swords, which only demonstrated just how deep their foundations were.
"I see." Li Qingshan came to a realization, and asked again, "But you said to change to a good sword, can I also draw a sword from the Hidden Sword Peak?"
He had never had a good impression of the Sword Collection palace. From the Soaring Dragon Elder to Fu Qingjin, they had all forced him into dire straits in the past, but the temptation of an arcane treasure was far too great. He thought to himself, "With my charm, when I get to that Hidden Sword Peak, those Ten Famed Swords will all come to me!"
"Regular guest elders can't draw a sword from the Hidden Sword peak, but you don't seem to have a suitable sword on hand, which is why we've made an exception. With your talent for the way of the sword, if you practise the sword techniques of the Sword Collection palace, you'll definitely be able to reach a whole new level!"
Yin Xiaochou said seriously. Although he had lost to Li Qingshan, he did not hold any grudges towards him. He carried out the mission that the Sword Collection palace had given him meticulously. This kind of bearing clearly did not come from his age and experience. A large part of it came from the influence of the Breaking Water sword, which only demonstrated the value of a good sword to the Sword Collection palace.
However, there were some things that he did not make clear. The reason why the Sword Collection palace was willing to make an exception and allow Li Qingshan to draw a sword from the Hidden Sword peak was because they had taken a liking to his way of the sword. Just like how "becoming one with the sword", not only did the sword assist the person, but the person also nurtured the heart of the sword. A good swordsman could improve a sword by an extremely large amount.
"I'll think about it!" Li Qingshan said in thought.
"Please take your time to think about it." Yin Xiaochou said nothing more.
Apart from Hwa Seung-zan, everyone present was shocked. Originally, they felt that Li Qingshan had undergone the second heavenly tribulation to be rather unreal, but they could not help but sigh now. Before they knew it, he had already reached this step.
A sect like the Sword Collection palace was something that they could only look up to. Even Hwa Seung-zan being able to become a disciple of the Sword Collection palace was something worth celebrating, and he still had to go through a test. However, Li Qingshan had actually been directly invited to become a guest elder. The difference in treatment was truly quite great. They also understood a little why Hwa Seung-zan did not celebrate on a large scale. Otherwise, Yin Xiaochou's words would definitely have stolen the spotlight.
Hwa Seung-zan invited Li Qingshan and the others to take a seat first. He smiled. "No matter what happened in the past, no matter what happens tomorrow, we have to drink to our heart's content tonight!"
"Alright!"
Li Qingshan sat down with a smile, and Little Ann sat down beside him. Han Qiongzhi sighed inside. Just when she was about to find another seat, she suddenly felt her waist tighten, and Li Qingshan had already pulled her into his arms. He asked with a smile, "What are you thinking about, madam?"
Han Qiongzhi's face reddened. "Let go of me!"
Li Qingshan picked up the jar of alcohol and emptied it in a single gulp. He laughed aloud. "Forgive me for not being able to comply!"
The smell of alcohol assaulted her face, and Han Qiongzhi seemed to be slightly tipsy as well. The man who had once made her fall in love at first sight, when she had no idea what love was, was even more passionate than before. Just a single smile from him was enough to make her fall for him. It was like that in the past, and it was still like that now. Even if they could not become partners of cultivation, even if they spent more time apart than together, she felt no regret at all.
Everyone laughed. Li Qingshan watched as her face became redder and redder, almost to the point where she could not contain her embarrassment. Only then did he let go of her and let her sit down beside him. He continued to hold onto her waist, preventing her from running away.
Han Qiongzhi elbowed him viciously. She could only give up as she was unable to break free. She was embarrassed and annoyed, but there was a hint of joy in her eyes.
The group of people drank and admired the moon. It was quite a good time.
"Qingshan, if you can become a guest elder of the Sword Collection palace, we can travel together," Hwa Seung-zan said.
"If it's possible, I'd obviously like to obtain a renowned sword, but I still need my master's permission. I can't make the decision on my own."
Then Li Qingshan glanced at Yin Xiaochou. Yin Xiaochou was currently pouring himself a cup and drinking by himself, as if he had gone through the vicissitudes of life to drown his sorrows. However, in Li Qingshan's eyes, he was another pretentious peddler. The legacies he obtained from the sword did not truly belong to him at the end of the day. There was a subtle difference.
Since this kid is bold enough to mention it, no, since the Sword Collection palace is bold enough to mention it, don't tell me they're certain the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga will definitely agree to it? Otherwise, wouldn't they be utterly humiliated? Or perhaps the Sword Collection palace wants to form an alliance with the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga, and they want me to serve as a link?
Li Qingshan pondered and gradually made up his mind. Suddenly, he raised his head. "It's going to rain."
Everyone raised their heads. The bright moon hung in the sky. Only a few thin clouds drifted through the inky-blue night sky. It did not seem like it was going to rain at all!
But very soon, fierce winds arrived, whistling past the top of the mountain like an invisible hand had pulled over a great curtain. The clouds were densely packed, shrouding the entire sky in the blink of an eye. They pressed down heavily on the top of the mountain as if it was within reach.
"The Rising Wind Before a Storm!"
Li Qingshan said slowly. With the battle of the Clear River prefecture over, the nine provinces gradually fell into turmoil in the past few years. Humans and daemons constantly clashed, and demonic sects that had been suppressed for several millennia began to surface once more. They caused a great ruckus in the Cloud, Mist, Frost, and Thunder provinces.
The Great Xia empire's control over the various provinces rapidly declined. This could actually be seen from the White Lotus Sect. In the past, even if the White Lotus Mother fled to the Mist province, she would have to tuck her tail between her legs and behave herself. How could the Hawkwolf Guard allow her to rebuild their headquarters so openly? Now, no one cared at all.
And this was the border of the Mist province that was very close to the Green province and even the Dragon province. If it were another hundred thousand kilometers to the south, it would be easy to imagine what the South Sea commandery would be like.
Once the order collapsed, it would be time to see who had the strength to plunder. The Sword Collection palace and the Chan Monastery of Deva-Nāga were both so-called orthodox sects. At a crucial time like this, it only made sense for them to strengthen their alliance.
"Yeah!" Hwa Seung-zan sighed. None of the people present were stupid. They could tell what Li Qingshan was trying to imply, so they sank into their thoughts. For a moment, the platform fell silent. Only the wind whistled past their ears.
Everyone had personally experienced the brutality of the battle of the Clear River prefecture, but as it seemed now, it was only a small disaster, the mountain breeze before the storm. There was an even greater disaster waiting ahead!
Dark clouds obscured the moon, and rain poured down. The surroundings were pitch-black. The sound of rain rang out, but surprisingly, there was not a single peal of thunder.
The halls at the foot of the mountain flickered with lantern light, but they seemed to weaken as well, swaying in the wind and rain.
Although the rain could not land on everyone's heads, without the light of the moon and stars, the atmosphere became rather suffocating.
"The righteous path of the world and the suffering of all living beings require the protection of the swords in our hands!"
Yin Xiaochou stood up sternly. His black hair drifted in the wind as he radiated with awe-inspiring might.
With a clang, he drew the Breaking Water sword from its sheath and swung it at the pitch-black sky.
There was a flash of light, like a bolt of lightning that had ripped through the night sky.
A crack appeared silently in the clouds. Moonlight spilled through, and the stars flickered.
"Nice sword! Nice sword style! " Everyone praised loudly. The clouds seemed close, but they were actually far away. Splitting the clouds with a single strike from such a great distance was truly a remarkable feat.
"I still have to thank you for the defeat you bestowed upon me the other day. It gave me quite a lot of inspiration, allowing me to gain a new comprehension of the path of the sword. Why don't you widen our horizons?"
Yin Xiaochou turned around and stared at Li Qingshan, both to show off the might of the Breaking Water sword and vaguely to challenge him. Your cultivation might be a realm higher than mine, but you might not be able to achieve what I can do. I'm not your opponent right now, but once I undergo the second heavenly tribulation, you definitely won't be my opponent.
Li Qingshan stood up lazily and tossed the empty jar of alcohol in his hand off the cliff, pushing upwards with both hands!
"Ocean Wielding? The Cloud Parting Form! "
The clouds rose and fell, moving in all directions. Before long, almost half of the clouds in the sky had been parted, and the moonlight seemed even clearer.
Li Qingshan said, "Fellow Yin, I will report this to my master. If he has no objections, I'll accompany you to the Sword Collection palace!"
After the banquet, everyone dispersed.
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