Chapter 1989: Conditions for the Promotion of the Tung Blouse Sword

Elder Bai Ye knew Zhang Xuan's true identity, but before he could report it, the sword trial began, and then all this happened.

Thus, no one present had expected that this super genius who had comprehended the Sword Intent of the God would not be in the core sect, nor the inner sect, nor the outer sect... and would not even be a disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion!

This was awkward.

A person who was not even a disciple had not only comprehended the founding patriarch's sword intent but had also beaten everyone from the inner sect to the sect master!

After hearing the introduction, Han Jianqiu, Elder He, and the others had faces flushed red, their breathing uneven, and felt like killing themselves.

What is this all about...

If word gets out, it would be utterly embarrassing!

"You... really only arrived at the Sword Pavilion a day ago? And you comprehended the sword intent while passing by the mountain gate?"

Elder He wanted to cry.

He had stood at the mountain gate, continuously meditating for over thirty years, through cold and heat without rest, and in the end... he hadn't comprehended a single thing. But this guy, passing by and taking a single glance, had comprehended it...

There's no need to be so discouraging!

"Yes, it took about a few breaths," Zhang Xuan nodded.

"……" Elder He's vision went dark.

"It seems that the Divine Sword Intent is not something that can be successfully comprehended the longer one stays here!" Seeing Elder He looking utterly despondent, Sect Leader Han Jianqiu offered a word of comfort before turning to look over: "To comprehend the ancestral sword intent is to become the next sect leader, irreplaceable... It's fortunate that you are not a disciple! From now on, you will be a core elder of the sect, enjoying all the privileges of an elder!"

In thousands of years, he was the first to comprehend the ancestral sword intent. Whether the Lingyun Sword Pavilion could become the Lingyun Sword God Pavilion might depend on this person before them; they certainly could not let him leave.

Since he was not a disciple, it would be inappropriate to recruit him as an inner or core disciple... After all, he had single-handedly challenged the sect leader and the grand elders; no one in the entire sect was qualified to teach him swordsmanship!

Under these circumstances, it was better to make him an elder.

They would be on equal footing, and it would be much simpler for him to succeed as sect leader later.

"Elder?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned.

He became an elder just like that?

"Indeed, but... this elder status cannot be announced for the time being. It can only be revealed after you... reach the cultivation of an Immortal Lord!" Han Jianqiu said.

The news that the Divine Sword Intent had been comprehended had already leaked. Suddenly having such a young elder would inevitably arouse suspicion.

For safety's sake, it was better to keep a low profile.

"Then... may I go and browse the elders' library?"

After a pause, Zhang Xuan asked.

Whether it is announced or not makes no difference; he doesn't like to show off anyway. As long as he has books to read, everything else is trivial.

"Of course..." Han Jianqiu nodded, flipping his wrist: "This is the Elder Token representing your identity. It doesn't bear your name, but it contains my special mark. You can go anywhere a core elder can go! You can also use the sect's resources for yourself, but... not too much!"

"Thank you, Sect Leader!"

Zhang Xuan took the token.

With this, he could gather techniques and manuals for the True Immortal realm and successfully break through!

Once he reached the peak of the True Immortal realm, with his ability to fight above his level, he could even contend with Immortal Lord realm experts, and even across the entire continent, he would be considered safe.

"Well, according to normal practice, every elder has their own separate residence, but... for safety, I won't prepare one for you for now. You can still stay in the inner sect..."

After a pause, Sect Leader Han Jianqiu said with slight embarrassment.

After all, he was the future sect leader... the treatment was really hard to mention.

"Okay!"

Zhang Xuan didn't mind at all.

If he were given an elder's separate residence now, it would reveal his identity, making it hard not to attract attention.

After everything was explained, Han Sect Leader paused for a moment: "You are now an elder, so don't go to the core or inner sect's Communication Halls anymore..."

Zhang Xuan agreed.

With the token gifted by Master Kong, he lacked for nothing in terms of cultivation resources, so naturally he couldn't be bothered to stir up trouble among the core and inner disciples.

"Farewell..."

Having asked what he needed and confirmed the other's identity, Zhang Xuan said no more, turned, and walked out of the Elders' Hall.

Elder Bai Ye followed him out and saw him off.

As soon as he left, the room fell silent.

After an unknown length of time, Elder He looked at the old man before him: "Sect Leader, to comprehend the divine sword intent, it's best to enter the Sword Intent Palace directly for cultivation—that would speed up his progress. He's now qualified for it, so why did you..."

The Sword Intent Palace, the most mysterious place in the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, where one enters to hone sword intent after becoming Sect Leader, thereby breaking through to the Pseudo-God realm and greatly increasing one's cultivation!

Since this Zhang Xuan had comprehended the divine sword intent, his becoming Sect Leader was a foregone conclusion, beyond dispute. To help him advance quickly, entering the Sword Intent Palace was the best choice—why hadn't the Sect Leader even mentioned it?

"The Sword Intent Palace preserves the precious sword intents of countless ancestors of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion. Later generations can enter to revere, learn, and hone their own power—it indeed allows rapid progress, but..."

Sect Leader Han Jianqiu gave a wry smile: "This Zhang Xuan has already comprehended the divine sword intent, with a realm higher than all our ancestors... I fear that if he enters, not only will it fail to hone him, but it might destroy the entire Sword Intent Palace. After all, in a single day... he's challenged the inner sect, the core sect, and even our Elders' Hall. Let's... spare the ancestors some face!"

"..."

Elder He's eyebrows twitched.

That made sense.

This fellow was quite the troublemaker—he'd already challenged the inner and core sects. If he ran off to the Sword Intent Palace, not to learn but to challenge, how could the ancestors save face?

The sect leader is still the most thorough in his considerations; otherwise... as a junior, I would have lost all face.

"Elder He, Elder Qiu, I'm afraid it's not entirely safe even within the Sword Pavilion, so I'll trouble you two to pay extra attention and look after this Zhang Xuan! He's only been in the sect for a day... and has already comprehended the Divine Sword Intent. Perhaps our Lingyun Sword Pavilion can not only restore the glory of our ancestors but also, like the Divine Communication Hall, tower above the other five great sects!"

Han Jianqiu's eyes were filled with excitement.

Although this fellow named Zhang Xuan seemed unreliable, his strength was truly formidable!

Especially his understanding of swordsmanship, which surpassed theirs by an unknown margin.

As long as he grew to the same realm as himself, the Lingyun Sword Pavilion might reclaim half its former glory, become the foremost of the six great sects, or even surpass the Divine Communication Hall—who could say!

"Rest assured, Sect Leader!"

Elder He and the others nodded.

For the sake of the sect, they had no excuse to shirk!

...

Returning to Shan Xiaotian's courtyard, after instructing Bai Ruanqing and the others for a while, Zhang Xuan went back to his own room.

After setting up restrictions all around, he turned his wrist, and the token from Master Kong appeared in his palm.

He dripped blood onto it to refine it, and soon understood its purpose.

It was not a Divine Communication Jade Talisman, nor could it be used to enter the Divine Communication Hall; it was a kind of token.

Once refined, entering the Divine Communication Hall in the outside world, one could freely purchase treasures to enhance cultivation, no matter how many, without spending any money!

In other words, the other party had handed him an unlimited credit card, free to swipe!

As expected of Master Kong... truly generous!

"I'm in the Lingyun Sword Pavilion now; I'll wait until I leave here..."

Reluctantly, he put the token back into his ring.

Now that he was inside the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, even if he had a Divine Communication Jade Talisman, he could only enter the 'local network.' To enter the Divine Communication Hall in the outside world and enjoy the pleasure of unlimited gold coins, he had to leave the specific range.

After refining the token and knowing he couldn't use it for now, Zhang Xuan turned his palm again, and the Tongshang Sword given by Han Jianqiu appeared in his hand.

As soon as the long sword appeared, cracks formed in the surrounding space, as if it could not bear the power emanating from the blade and would be torn apart at any moment.

Truly a weapon at the peak of the Immortal Lord level, its power astonishing.

"Kid, I am under orders to stay by your side. If you want to refine me... your current strength is far from enough! I advise you not to waste your effort. Also, it's best not to take me out unless necessary, or I'm afraid I might lose control and give you a beating!"

The Tongshang Sword twisted and snorted.

As a peak Immortal Lord weapon, acknowledging a mere Void Immortal kid as its master was a sheer humiliation.

"Beat me?" Zhang Xuan smiled, lightly tracing his finger along the blade: "If I'm not mistaken, you were forged by Ouyang Qingfeng, the third-ranked swordsmith on the continent, right?"

"Not bad!" The Tongshang Sword trembled.

Ouyang Qingfeng was a renowned swordsmith on the continent, immensely famous. In his life, he had forged a full seven Immortal Lord-level long swords, becoming a legend.

For this reason, the sword had always taken pride in this identity.

"Master Ouyang Qingfeng's swordsmanship is indeed formidable. Using Profound Iron and Deep Sea Crystal, two treasures, combined with a masterful forging technique, your level could have advanced further, yet you are only at the peak of Immortal Lord... Do you know why?"

Zhang Xuan looked at it.

The materials used in the long sword before him were rare and precious on the continent, and the forging technique was also superb. Under normal circumstances, with good luck, it could have had a chance to advance to the Pseudo-God realm, but now it was only at the peak of Immortal Lord—truly a pity.

"Advance further? There are hardly any Pseudo-God weapons on the entire continent. How difficult it is to succeed! Spare me your coaxing..."

The Tongshang Sword shook: "If you think a few words will make me submit, save your breath..."

A weapon that had reached its level would not easily acknowledge a master.

Even its previous master had spent untold effort to gain its recognition and finally refine it.

"Coaxing? You think too much. I'm just stating a fact! With your material and forging technique, under normal circumstances, the chance of advancing to the Pseudo-God realm is only one in ten! Moreover, it requires a special power boost..."

Zhang Xuan smiled lightly and looked over: "However... with me, as long as I'm willing, I can make you reach the Pseudo-God realm with one hundred percent certainty!"

"Oh? Why are you so confident? Let's hear it!"

With a lazy demeanor, the Tongshang Sword didn't believe it at all.

If Pseudo-God weapons were so easy to advance to, there wouldn't be so few on the continent!

Even Han Jianqiu couldn't do it, so it didn't believe a mere Void Immortal kid could accomplish it.

"Very simple..."

Without further ado, Zhang Xuan formed a sword with his fingers and lightly tapped, and a sword intent immediately spread out.

It was the Divine Sword Intent he had comprehended earlier!

Feeling the sword intent, vast and mighty as if personally wielded by a deity, containing endless mysteries, the Tongshang Sword stiffened: "You've comprehended... the Divine Sword Intent?"

"That's right. You should understand that the Divine Sword Intent can only be wielded by deities. With this sword intent nourishing you, what are the chances of you advancing to the Pseudo-God realm?"

Zhang Xuan said.

For an Immortal Lord-level long sword to advance to a higher realm, sword intent nourishment is the best method, and his Divine Sword Intent was the optimal choice—no second option.

"The chances are high, but your cultivation is too low now. I still won't submit to you..."

After a pause, the Tongshang Sword still refused outright.

Whoosh!

Just then, a gourd suddenly appeared before him, shook lightly, and swallowed the long sword.

"Why waste so many words with it? If it won't submit, just swallow it..."

The gourd's voice rang out.