Chapter 67: The Blade's Thread Is Forged

Master Qingyou surveyed the Sword Comprehension Cliff.

Among so many disciples of the Eastern Spirit Sect, all seeking to understand swordsmanship together, it was Jiang Min whose sword enlightenment drew the greatest attention—her presence was impossible to ignore.

Moreover, she had only recently begun her journey into the way of the sword.

“If she can seize this opportunity to perfect her mastery of sword threads, she will be unrivaled below the Foundation Establishment stage,” Master Qingyou mused quietly.

Every step in the sword path was exceedingly difficult to comprehend. Yet once grasped, within the same realm one would be unstoppable.

In the blink of an eye, twenty more days had passed.

More and more sword cultivators from the Eastern Spirit Sect entered the state of sword enlightenment. Talented disciples like Yu Xiu displayed various phenomena of sword comprehension; even Yu Qinghe, sitting cross-legged, was surrounded by surging sword intent, his aura so fierce it radiated intense heat.

Among them, Jiang Min’s manifestation was particularly astonishing, rivaling even those from the myriad Sword Gate. She was encased in whirling, interwoven threads of sword energy, delicate and dense as silk, enveloping her like a cocoon. The yellow sands carried by the wind, falling onto her, were instantly sliced into finer dust.

Within this cocoon of sword threads, her eyes lightly closed, immersed in enlightenment. Sweat had soaked her outer sect robe, leaving it wrinkled and sticky.

Having gone more than twenty days without food, her strength was greatly depleted—her lips were cracked and her face pale.

Master Qiyun of the Eastern Spirit Sect, a tall and slender swordsman with a youthful appearance, noticed that Jiang Min was still in the state of sword enlightenment and approached Master Qingyou, who was guarding them. “That disciple has persisted for over twenty days? And hasn’t eaten at all?”

Master Qingyou nodded.

Master Qiyun frowned, a trace of concern in his voice. “With her level of Qi Refining, I doubt she can hold out much longer.”

The Qi Refining stage had not yet transcended the mortal body; cultivators still needed fasting pills for everyday sustenance, especially when expending so much energy.

Usually, the state of sword enlightenment did not last long, so disciples would take fasting pills or elixirs in between, then continue their comprehension.

Yet Jiang Min’s enlightenment persisted this long.

Each person’s experience and state of sword enlightenment differed, so no one knew exactly what kind of condition Jiang Min was in.

Master Qingyou glanced at her and said, “Her breath is steady, her spirit clear—she knows what she’s doing. Unless it’s time for her to leave, we need not interrupt.”

Nearby, Yu Qingqiu watched Jiang Min with shining eyes, her face serious, and said in her childish voice, “When I cultivate, I want to be this amazing too.”

She was still young, learning characters and scriptures and practicing martial arts daily; she could not begin cultivation until she turned eight, so she deeply admired such realms.

Two more days passed.

The sword threads surrounding Jiang Min finally began to change.

The whirling, dense sword threads gradually slowed and dissipated.

She slowly opened her eyes; a sharp gleam flashed and vanished, leaving her slightly dazed. She felt exhausted and hungry, and looking down, found her body reeking from sweat, giving off a sour stench.

“How much time has passed?”

In the state of sword enlightenment, she had no sense of time. All she knew was that she had been practicing ceaselessly, as if countless ages had passed—so long that she felt almost lost.

Now, awake, she could hardly bear the filth, so she quickly formed a hand seal and cast the Cleanse Dust Spell, barely managing to restore herself to freshness.

Hastily, she took out a fasting pill and swallowed it.

She had lasted this long only thanks to a trace of cultivation, but hunger had left her dizzy and faint. If she didn’t eat, she truly might collapse.

“But…”

Jiang Min pressed her fingers together, focusing her mind.

A sharp sword thread emerged from her fingertip, dense and long. Under her control, it spiraled and darted, responding to her will, slicing the air with swift, crisp sounds.

“Sword threads… have formed.”

Joy blossomed in her heart and spread to her face—Jiang Min smiled in delight. Now that she had reached the sword thread realm, below Foundation Establishment, she could defend herself in any duel or dire threat, perhaps even surpass her opponents.

All that remained was to return and cultivate the third layer of the Thunderfire Myriad Sword Technique.

Her sword arts would advance yet another step!

Jiang Min struggled to her feet, truly exhausted.

Continuing to comprehend other fragments of sword techniques was beyond her now, but achieving the sword thread realm on this trip was an immense gain. She decided to rest and prepare for the upcoming Ancient Path of Sword Intent.

She looked around at the others.

On the Eastern Spirit Sect’s side, various phenomena abounded—some had visions gathering above their heads, some were surrounded by sword intent and sword energy. These were all exceptional sword talents, and the state of sword enlightenment, rare for most, was something they all had experienced and could attain again with ease.

Looking to the myriad Sword Gate, the sword cultivators’ manifestations were even more extravagant.

Though they claimed to be demonstrating for the Eastern Spirit Sect disciples, it was clear they were competing. Both the Sword Comprehension Cliff and the Ancient Path of Sword Intent would see these elite disciples from the myriad Sword Gate participate, secretly vying with the Eastern Spirit Sect.

Being from a sect dedicated solely to sword cultivation, they had access to more trials in the way of the sword; even their manifestations were far more dramatic. Some had red clouds rising from their bodies, some displayed sun, moon, and stars above their heads—while around Lin Guanyu, ten sword shadows appeared!

Sword shadows—the realm above sword intent.

If a sword master, with a mere gesture, could unleash thousands of sword shadows to cleave heaven and earth.

For cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage, the limit was nine sword shadows.

Yet Lin Guanyu had produced ten, surpassing that boundary.

Many disciples gazed at Lin Guanyu in admiration; one such gaze came from Jiang Min herself.

She did not realize that her own sword enlightenment was equally astonishing, admired by others as well.

Soon, the Sword Comprehension Cliff’s session drew to a close.

The disciples of the Eastern Spirit Sect were reluctant to leave; each had gained something, though such opportunities were not as frequent as those enjoyed by the myriad Sword Gate.

Nevertheless, their performance was carefully observed by the three Golden Core masters: Qingyou, Qiyun, and Zifeng. Upon returning, they would report to the Martial Hall; the better the performance, the more attention and cultivation resources would be given in the future.

Master Qiyun’s gaze fell on Jiang Min and he sighed softly, “What a pity—a fine seedling, but with five spiritual roots. If she had four, I’d want to take her as my disciple.”

Seeing Jiang Min’s talent in the way of the sword, Qiyun was truly moved to accept her as a disciple. Yet with five spiritual roots, the path ahead would only become more difficult. In his hundred years, he had seen many such cultivators, even those with great fortune or powerful backgrounds, but most could not even cross the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

Those with fewer roots merely needed to accumulate their foundation and progress naturally.

But for those with five roots...

They must survive the life-and-death ordeal of the Five Elements Tribulation.

Beside him, his longtime friend Master Zifeng laughed, “Such a young sword thread realm—if she had four roots, would you even have the chance to take her as your disciple?”

The two had known each other for years and often exchanged barbed remarks. Qiyun retorted, displeased, “What do you mean, I wouldn’t have the chance?”

Zifeng cast him a disdainful glance, “You?”

The two began bickering again, while Master Qingyou quietly took Yu Qingqiu away, lest they corrupt the child. Still, she glanced at Jiang Min, then withdrew her gaze.

Once all the disciples had adjusted their states, Master Wenyu stepped forward and addressed the Eastern Spirit Sect masters and disciples, “The Ancient Path of Sword Intent is some distance from here. We must first travel to a nearby ancient teleportation array and use it to reach our destination.”

“Please follow me.”

The group passed through a mountain path and arrived at a simple stone platform in a valley.

The platform was severely damaged, its array markings worn and faded. Many new patterns had been carved atop the old ones, clearly added by later generations to keep the teleportation array functioning.

Master Wenyu cast a spell onto the array.

A deep hum resonated.

Everyone was enveloped by a mysterious force and vanished from sight.