LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 418: The Sword Sheath Chooses the Sword
After Jian Wuxia gave detailed instructions for entering the Sword Pool, she pulled out a segment of a dark sword blade.
A surge of spiritual power flooded into the dark blade, quickly causing an infinite number of dark sword lights to emerge. The sword lights instantly filled the entire hall, shooting around wildly.
With a hand seal made by Jian Wuxia, an overpoweringly strong sword intent rose from the center of the hall, enveloping Lu Xuan and the others, and they vanished in an instant.
"Is this the mysterious Sword Pool?"
After a few moments of disorientation, Lu Xuan opened his eyes to find himself in a strange space.
A world of sword energy.
The ground was covered in numerous remnants of flying swords, from which various shapes and sizes of sharp sword lights burst forth from time to time.
Above, the sword energy obscured the sky, and the sound of it whooshing past filled his ears. In the distance, powerful sword energies occasionally shot straight into the clouds, accompanied by a sonorous sound of sword cries.
"Yes, this is the Sword Pool, the core of the Sword Hall, with a depth of heritage beyond imagination. It contains countless high-grade flying swords, and rumors say that some sect members have found fifth-grade swords and sword pills among other treasures here."
Before Lu Xuan could respond, the surrounding infinite sword energies, sensing their foreign presence, swarmed towards them with a whistling sound, attacking rapidly.
From a distance of several tens of feet, a massive silver-white sword light appeared out of nowhere and instantly arrived in front of them.
Lu Xuan saw nothing but white in front of his eyes, feeling a momentary lapse in his spirit. He was about to use the Azure Stride Shoes to dodge the sword light when suddenly,
the Sword Fruit in his hand floated out on its own. The sword energy within it raged, and the unstoppable silver-white sword light, along with the pervasive sharp sword energies, all suddenly subsided, bypassing Lu Xuan and Zhong Baiyu.
"Junior Brother Lu, there's no need to panic. With the Sword Fruit in hand, the sword energies in the Sword Pool will not actively attack us,"
Zhong Baiyu said, seeing Lu Xuan's cautious demeanor and reassuring him.
"It's my first time entering the Sword Pool. Even though I was prepared, seeing so many sword energies attacking me at once still unsettled me,"
Lu Xuan explained.
"I've been here once before, so I have a bit more experience than Junior Brother Lu,"
Zhong Baiyu said. "Junior Brother, according to you, the myriad sword energies in the Sword Pool won't actively attack sect cultivators, but what if there are special circumstances? For example, if a fellow sect member accidentally loses their Sword Fruit, or while subduing a flying sword or competing with others for a sword artifact, the Sword Fruit is damaged, wouldn't that trigger a mass attack of sword energies?"
Lu Xuan inquired curiously.
"If the Sword Fruit is lost or damaged, it naturally won't offer any protective effect. Although this situation adds some risk, it's generally not a big issue,"
Zhong Baiyu explained as he led Lu Xuan slowly through the myriad sword energies. "Those who enter the Sword Pool can withstand the sword energies for a while. During this process, they can ask for help from other sect members who have Sword Fruits. If all else fails, they can urgently contact a Core Formation elder guarding the Sword Pool."
"I see,"
Lu Xuan nodded, his hand turning translucent jade as he reached out to touch the swirling sword energies nearby.
Sensing the familiar aura from the Sword Fruit, the sword energies, like fish, actively avoided Lu Xuan's hand.
"Junior Brother Lu, as you're aware, the Sword Pool nurtures many high-grade sword artifacts and sword pills. Over time, many swords gradually reveal anomalies and even develop a hint of sentience,"
"For example, that silver-white sword light just now was likely from a third-grade flying sword,"
"The Sword Pool contains a large number of third-grade swords. If Junior Brother Lu is not confident in obtaining a fourth-grade sword or sword pill, you might start with securing a third-grade one as a backup,"
Sword Hall disciples have a limited time to stay in the Sword Pool, just half a day. During this time, searching for and subduing high-grade swords and sword pills takes a considerable amount of time.
Moreover, to prevent anyone from hoarding too many swords, the Sword Hall stipulates that each disciple can only obtain up to two sword artifacts.
Often, disciples, not wanting to waste their precious opportunity on third-grade swords or sword pills, aim only for higher-grade, rarer flying swords, ending up empty-handed.
"If Junior Brother
finds a sword to his liking, he can try to subdue it with his sword techniques. If subduing it proves impossible, he might attempt to forcefully suppress and collect it using his cultivation level,"
"Alas, the Sword Pool's high-grade swords are very picky. Only those with innate sword bodies like Sister Jian Wuxia attract them to approach willingly,"
"When the likes of us get close, those swords with full sentience even actively avoid us. So, if you encounter a desired sword, you must seize that fleeting opportunity and subdue it with lightning speed,"
Zhong Baiyu said with a wry smile, continuing to remind Lu Xuan.
"Having talent really allows one to do as they please," Lu Xuan agreed.
"Thank you, Brother Zhong, for the reminder. I wish you success in finding the treasures you desire,"
He expressed his gratitude to Zhong Baiyu, and they each chose a direction to venture into the sea of sword energies.
Subduing a sword artifact requires the effort of the Sword Hall disciples themselves. Relying on others could lead to adverse effects, and if two people covet the same sword artifact or sword pill, it's not easy to divide it between them.
Thus, they tacitly agreed to separate.
As Lu Xuan delved deeper into the Sword Pool, he encountered an increasing number of sword energy anomalies, bizarre and ferocious beasts, items materialized from various types of spiritual sword energies, and even distant and majestic sights like the sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers.
In the endless sword energies, the effectiveness of spiritual consciousness was greatly diminished, and the distance it could probe was less than a tenth of normal.
Encountering sword energy anomalies, the Profound Sword Sheath at his waist occasionally trembled slightly, its sentience seemingly urging Lu Xuan to hurry and search for them to subdue.
"You flirtatious sword sheath, seeing so many swords, are you almost unable to hold back?"
Lu Xuan sent a teasing thought.
The Profound Sword Sheath had gradually adapted to its identity after being inserted with the Purple Lightning Sword, Wind Thunder Sword, and a small green sword among other swords and sword energies. When it encountered suitable flying swords like the small green one, it was half willing, half reluctant, and quite welcoming.
A symbolic resistance at first, but afterward, it fully integrated, no longer distinguishing between you and me.
"Let me pick a top-quality flying sword for you to fully satisfy you,"
Lu Xuan kept an eye on the changes in the sword energies.
"This area is rich in water spiritual energy, likely hiding a water-attributed flying sword. Its smoothness shouldn't be a problem,"
"There's probably a fire-attributed flying sword here, with such wild and fierce aura. I wonder if you, flirtatious sword sheath, can withstand it,"
"A flying sword with the appearance of a demonic beast, do you like this taste?"
He mused silently as he searched for sword energy anomalies.