Chapter 43: Ji Ning's Sword

The attendants were limited, so almost all of them were accompanying the Dao Lords. Ji Ning entered and watched alone.

"Good heavens." Ji Ning looked at the distant treasures that emitted light like stars. He was startled by the first one he saw after entering.

Each treasure was protected by formation restrictions, resembling 'stars.' With a slight sense, one could obtain detailed information about the treasure. This one was a shuttle-shaped treasure.

"Wood-Fire Green Yang Shuttle: Consumes over ten thousand cubic units of Chaos Nectar over three thousand years to replenish its power. Each full charge allows one release, with power comparable to a Four-Step Dao Lord. Purchase price: eight million cubic units!"

"It can be used repeatedly?" Ji Ning muttered to himself. "It seems one can never judge a Dao Lord's strength by appearances. A seemingly weak One-Step Dao Lord might possess an incredibly heaven-defying treasure. Fortunately, such heaven-defying treasures are exorbitantly priced."

…

Ji Ning looked at the treasures one by one.

Some ordinary Eternal Divine Weapons that merely contained sword intent or blade intent were very cheap, rarely exceeding one hundred thousand cubic units. Thus, the divine weapons placed here by Emperor Qi Huo all had some special power.

These treasures also had special powers, which was why each exceeded one hundred thousand cubic units.

"Heart-Seizing Hundred-Shift Bell: Contains the secret art of a Four-Step Dao Lord who cultivates the heartforce. When activated, it can shake the enemy's mind. Those weaker in strength will lose control entirely. Purchase price: fifty million cubic units."

"Crazy."

Ji Ning was startled by this treasure. He knew well that in life-or-death battles, even a momentary disturbance of the mind could lead to death and annihilation. And it was explicitly stated to contain the secret art of a Four-Step Dao Lord who was a heartforce cultivator, so its power was certainly extraordinary. A person who didn't understand heartforce could still unleash means similar to a heartforce cultivator—such a treasure was too heaven-defying.

But the price was also heaven-defying: fifty million cubic units? Even ordinary Dao Lords on the verge of Dao integration would be reluctant to buy it.

…

There were flying treasures: when controlled, they could flee at a hundred times the speed of light instantly.

There were formations: when deployed, enemies would be trapped and find it difficult to escape.

There was a sword formation: two hundred and sixteen top-grade Eternal swords formed a sword formation with extraordinary power, suitable for Qi-refining Dao Lords. The stronger the Dao Lord, the more powerful the sword formation.

There was also the most expensive treasure here, a great sin treasure, containing nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine demonic fiends, each with strength comparable to a Three-Step Dao Lord. When the treasure was unleashed, even ordinary Four-Step Dao Lords would be swept away. However, this treasure was 'priceless' and required sufficiently astonishing treasures to exchange with Emperor Qi Huo.

…

Ji Ning muttered after looking around: "When I reach the ninth level of the Nine Source Divine Thunder, the ninefold divine thunder will sweep out and annihilate even Four-Step Dao Lords. Even if nearly ten thousand demonic fiends besiege me, they will all be destroyed by my divine thunder."

After a thorough look,

though he was secretly astonished, most of these treasures were not very useful to him, because he had the five puppets in hand! And after returning to the Endless Territories, he would soon become a Dao Lord, and then the 'Nine Source Divine Thunder' and 'Nine Source Divine Water' would advance by leaps and bounds! So there weren't many treasures that could truly move Ji Ning.

The ones that truly moved him were too expensive!

For example, the cheapest flying treasure cost over ten million cubic units and only achieved nine times the speed of light. As for those with a hundred times the speed of light, they were also 'priceless' and required treasures to exchange.

…

Ji Ning looked at a distant treasure, his eyes dazzled, and murmured to himself: "This is what I want most."

What he wanted most!

And it was something Ji Ning could afford.

In the distance floated a snow-white divine sword emitting endless icy cold aura. With a slight sense, he obtained the introduction of this divine sword.

"Lifebound Divine Weapon: The cultivator can infuse their own insights into the Dao of the Sword into it as the 'source of the sword dao.' When using one's own sword dao, the power is greatest! One can continuously perfect one's sword dao and elevate it. Moreover, the lifebound divine weapon can spontaneously absorb precious materials to grow. As long as the sword dao is strong enough, the materials are sufficient, and with some luck, there is hope of giving birth to a Universe treasure. Purchase price: thirty million cubic units."

"So this is a lifebound divine weapon." Ji Ning murmured to himself.

He had long heard of lifebound divine weapons.

Unfortunately, even the Sword Palace's Divine Weapon Valley did not have any, because lifebound divine weapons were too rare. Once a forging master painstakingly succeeded in forging one, cultivators would quickly buy it!

The reason lifebound divine weapons were named so was that they truly resonated with the cultivator.

The 'source of the sword' contained within was infused by the cultivator themselves.

And they could continuously grow.

They were the divine weapons most suitable for cultivators, best able to unleash a cultivator's combat power. For instance, if Ji Ning used an ordinary divine sword, he might only exert thirty to forty percent of the power he would with a lifebound divine weapon. Such was the power of a lifebound divine weapon, and it could grow infinitely. Generally, when buying a divine sword, a top-grade Eternal divine sword was the limit.

But a lifebound divine weapon could continuously grow. As the cultivator's strength increased, it would become more and more powerful. In someone else's hands, it might be an ordinary top-grade Eternal divine sword, but in the owner's hands, its power would be many times greater.

Eternal Emperors almost all used lifebound divine weapons.

And with luck... a lifebound divine weapon could completely transform into a Universe treasure!

"In the Sword Palace, all are sword cultivators. If a lifebound divine weapon were discovered, they would fight over it." Ji Ning's gaze burned. "In this alternate universe, I have encountered a lifebound divine weapon."

Only the first owner of a lifebound divine weapon can truly merge with it as their lifebound weapon.

Once the first owner dies,

the lifebound divine weapon becomes an ordinary divine weapon.

"This is the most suitable for me. My sword dao encompasses all directions of the sword. It's hard to find a divine sword that suits me." Ji Ning thought to himself. "As high as I can grow, the lifebound divine sword can grow to match."

"Fellow Daoist."

Ji Ning looked at a distant attendant and immediately sent a voice transmission.

That One-Step Dao Lord attendant looked at Ji Ning with confusion: a World-level cultivator calling me for what?

"I need this lifebound divine weapon." Ji Ning transmitted.

"Lifebound divine weapon?" The distant attendant was greatly startled. He quickly walked over, stepping through the void, and arrived before Ji Ning in a single breath.

"This fellow Daoist." The attendant hurriedly smiled.

"Can this lifebound divine weapon be discounted?" Ji Ning asked.

"If you know the Emperor, or know the Emperor's senior disciple, it might be cheaper. I am just a small attendant and have no such authority." The attendant said. "This lifebound divine sword was only put out not long ago. If it were later, it might have been bought by another sword cultivator."

Ji Ning nodded.

A sword cultivator is sincere to the sword.

With a single sword, focusing on the sword, one sword breaks all methods.

No matter what demonic fiends or other means you have, with one sword strike, heaven and earth shatter, and everything is annihilated. Ji Ning's sword dao was already terrifying enough; combined with the most suitable lifebound divine sword, it would be a perfect match.

As long as there was a chance to obtain a lifebound divine sword, any sword cultivator would be willing to give all their treasures.

"Thirty million cubic units..." Ji Ning looked at the snow-white divine sword emitting endless icy cold aura. He truly felt the pain, after all, the deceased Dominator had only given him fifty million cubic units, and the Space Fire Netherstone he obtained was worth only ten million cubic units.

"I'll buy it." Ji Ning nodded.

"Please wait a moment. I will report to the higher-ups." The attendant said. "I cannot undo the restriction to retrieve the lifebound divine sword."

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded.

The lifebound divine sword was the most critical; if anyone touched it and refined it, this sword would be ruined and become an ordinary divine weapon. The first refinement of a lifebound divine sword had strict requirements to achieve lifebound cultivation.

The attendant left to report.

Ji Ning looked at this sword and muttered to himself: "If only I had six lifebound divine weapons, then my strength would be even greater." If others knew of Ji Ning's delusion, they would probably laugh to death, because lifebound divine swords were too precious. Six? He dared to think it.

After only a moment, the attendant suddenly returned, but his expression was strange. He stared at Ji Ning as if looking at some monster.

"This fellow Daoist." The attendant's attitude became more humble and respectful. "Please follow me?"

"Hmm?" Ji Ning looked at him.

The attendant transmitted: "The Emperor has ordered that you come see him."

"The Emperor?" Ji Ning was startled.

"Naturally, it is my Emperor, Emperor Qi Huo." The attendant transmitted. He was also puzzled; usually, other great powers sought to visit Emperor Qi Huo, but this time, Emperor Qi Huo took the initiative to see a small World-level cultivator.

…