novelraw Chapter 77 : How Is This Person's Brain Wired
Chapter 77 : How Is This Person's Brain Wired
The sword formation's power intensified several-fold!
The swords' unified cry was deafening and cacophonous. Chu Sang abruptly looked up to see illusory flying swords descending from all directions, hundreds or even thousands of sword lights exuding overwhelming killing intent.
The two's maneuverable space grew increasingly constricted, trapped within the sword formation, unable to advance or retreat—there was simply nowhere to evade!
"What do we do now? There are far too many flying swords in the formation to move forward. Even if we wanted to forcibly cut through and create an escape route, our strength is far from sufficient!" Tantai Ming gripped his long sword, standing back-to-back with her, one in front and one behind, cooperating tacitly.
As he spoke, several more swords flew towards them. He swiftly swung out over a dozen sword energies to knock them down.
But the next second, more swords came flying, impossible to cut down completely.
Chu Sang formed hand seals and cast several high-grade Golden Armor Talismans, barely managing to withstand the sword formation's attacks.
But mere defense was far from enough. To advance, they had to break through this sword formation!
Mo Qingchen followed closely behind the two. His Ice Sword in hand stirred up winds and clouds, advancing with unstoppable force. Dozens of silvery-white sword lights were unleashed at his will, cutting down all surrounding flying swords, and quickly converging to form a protective shield around him. He actually managed to inch forward in this fierce sword formation.
"He has comprehended Sword Intent!" Shang Ziling stared intently at the movement within the sword formation, her tone slightly heavy.
Many cultivators saw it—the power Mo Qingchen just displayed was not comparable to ordinary sword energy, but clearly a higher level of Sword Intent!
In the cultivation world, there were numerous cultivators who could use sword energy. Every disciple of the Eight Great Sects' sword cultivation divisions was a prodigy of the younger generation, wielding sword energy with ease.
However, those who could use Sword Intent were few and far between. Even in the entire cultivation world, not many cultivators could skillfully use Sword Intent.
Among the new generation of direct disciples in the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, only Shang Ziling could use Sword Intent. Moreover, she had broken through to Nascent Soul nearly half a year ago, and could only barely use Sword Intent, not proficiently.
Mo Qingchen had just broken through to Nascent Soul a few days ago, yet he could skillfully use such powerful Sword Intent. This person's strength... was truly not to be underestimated.
Chu Sang glanced over, also recognizing the other's Sword Intent. She couldn't help but nudge Tantai Ming, "Seventh Senior Brother, look at how others have comprehended Sword Intent. If I had urged you to practice sword techniques more often, we wouldn't be in such a dire situation now."
"We can't start practicing now, can we? If we don't get out soon, we'll be skewered by these swords." One always wants to punch their past lazy self, but now he couldn't even find a foothold for last-minute cramming.
Chu Sang said nothing. She maximized her comprehension, focusing intently on Mo Qingchen's every move in the distance.
Her mind was exceptionally clear, as if seeing through clouds and mist. The other's every move appeared slowed down in her eyes, her hands at her sides unconsciously mimicking the movements.
A moment later, she took a pill, gripped her long sword tightly, gathering all her spiritual energy into the blade. Imitating Mo Qingchen's actions precisely, she swung the sword heavily.
A red sword light burst forth unstoppably.
It was at least ten times stronger than before!
The crowd outside the formation erupted in commotion. Lin Qi rubbed his eyes, "Senior Sister, did I see that right? Did Chu Sang just unleash Sword Intent?"
Shang Ziling nodded gravely, "Neither of us saw wrong."
The nearby sword cultivators were shaken, "That female cultivator is only at the Golden Core stage, yet she can comprehend Sword Intent?"
This person's talent was even more terrifying than Mo Qingchen's.
Who wouldn't exclaim at such abnormality?
Comprehending Sword Intent at the Golden Core stage in such a short time was already abnormal enough, but the key was that the sword technique she used to comprehend Sword Intent was from the Tianyan Sect. Surely she couldn't have mastered and integrated another sect's sword techniques in just half an incense stick's time?
As people were pondering this, suddenly a disciple from the Pill Refining Sect spoke up, "...Strange, if I remember correctly, she used to be a disciple of the Tianyan Sect!"
"But she's not wearing Tianyan Sect robes," someone objected.
Others speculated, "Could she have been expelled? But with such good talent, which sect would be willing to let her go?"
If it were the elders in their sects, they would probably cherish her like a treasure, afraid she might melt away.
The Pill Refining Sect disciple shook his head, "I don't know the specifics, but I'm certain she was indeed a direct disciple of the Tianyan Sect before. I've seen her several times with my own eyes."
"I don't know if you've heard of a figure named Chu Sang a few years ago?" The Pill Refining Sect disciple's eyes showed nostalgia as he sighed, "A fire-attribute Celestial Spirit Root seen only once in a century. She was unrivaled for a time, and although she rarely left the sect, many outside had heard of her back then."
"Now that you mention it... I do recall," a nearby disciple slapped his forehead in realization, "I think I did hear about this person a few years ago, but not long after, she vanished. It was said that her spirit root was damaged, and her strength plummeted, even falling below that of outer sect disciples."
The cultivation world produces geniuses in every generation, and during that same period, the Tianyan Sect had also produced a genius sword cultivator in Mo Qingchen. As time passed, people forgot that such a genius had emerged a few years ago.
The Pill Refining Sect disciple nodded, "After her spirit root was damaged, people from the Tianyan Sect sought out our sect's elders to refine pills. Logically, while spirit root damage isn't a minor issue, it shouldn't be an intractable problem. But for some reason, her spirit root showed no signs of recovery."
"Not long after, the Tianyan Sect stopped mentioning this matter. Our sect's elders later found some secret medicinal pill formulas to try, but there was no response from the other side, and the matter was left unresolved."
The words were spoken lightly, but those present felt a tinge of regret.
Such a genius, abandoned so quickly by her sect? If the Tianyan Sect had put in just a bit more effort to seek remedies, it wouldn't have been so disheartening.
Someone looked towards the red-robed young woman in the sword formation, unable to take their eyes off her, murmuring, "But it seems her spirit root has recovered now. She's truly dazzling."
"A fire-attribute Celestial Spirit Root, no wonder her talent is so strong, mastering Sword Intent at the Golden Core stage." Someone spoke, then suddenly remembered something and looked in a certain direction, "The Tianyan Sect has been quite renowned these past few years, producing more than one young genius."
"Speaking of fire-attribute Celestial Spirit Roots, don't they have another little junior sister with one now? I think her name was... Xue something?"
The cultivators followed the gaze towards Qin Xixue, feeling somewhat disappointed—her strength at late Golden Core stage was decent, but she didn't seem as strong as the Golden Core initial stage girl in the sword formation.
In comparison, it seemed that not all fire-attribute Celestial Spirit Roots were equally formidable.
"......" Qin Xixue suddenly felt the several gazes on her particularly piercing. She tightened her slender fingers within her long sleeves, feeling extremely uncomfortable.
It was Chu Sang again!
Whenever this person appeared, it always made her feel uneasy. She should have let Master...
While the sword cultivators were engrossed in heated discussion, the Eight Trigrams Sect side was no less turbulent.
Cui Xiu hesitated, "...Is she dual-cultivating swords and talismans?"
He had seen Chu Sang use a sword before. Many weaker talisman cultivators and pill refiners learn to use some blade and sword magical tools for self-protection, which wasn't surprising.
Some even wielded them quite well, surpassing ordinary rogue cultivators.
But this could only be considered as an amateur who learned well, fundamentally unable to comprehend the more powerful Sword Intent like true sword cultivators.
Her left hand drew talismans with spiritual energy, her right hand wielded Sword Intent, a true dual cultivation of swords and talismans, and more impressively, a genius in both paths... How terrifyingly strong must her spirit sense be?
Cui Xiu couldn't help but feel dejected. How was this brain wired??
"Se-Senior Brother, I've suddenly realized the wisdom in your past teachings, that one shouldn't be arrogant or complacent, and should be humble towards others... Ah, I hope I haven't offended her before?" Lin Jing frantically sought support.
Cui Xiu gently gave him a punch, "Be quiet."
He also felt regretful in his heart. A genius in dual cultivation of talismans and swords, and she didn't become his junior sister.
But now, the ones who should be more regretful are probably those from the Tianyan Sect. Such a good seedling flowing to another sect, even he would feel depressed enough to contemplate suicide if it were him.
"...Your spirit root has recovered?" Mo Qingchen looked at Chu Sang in surprise. Unless it was a Celestial Spirit Root, it would be impossible to comprehend Sword Intent in such a short time.
"Fortunately, my senior brother was capable and healed my spirit root."
Mo Qingchen inexplicably felt that the 'senior brother' in her mouth became extremely jarring. He couldn't help but say in a low voice, "If you return to the sect now, the elders and Master will surely have no objections."
"Stop, stop, stop! How can you be like this, still harboring ulterior motives, trying to win over my little junior sister?" Tantai Ming noisily inserted himself between the two, ignoring the youth's cold gaze that seemed to want to kill, "Little junior sister is now a disciple of our Lingqing Sect, don't think about poaching halfway!"
Mo Qingchen narrowed his eyes, giving him a cold look before withdrawing his gaze and turning back to question Chu Sang, "Do you truly wish to stay in this insignificant small sect? You and I are both Celestial Spirit Roots, we should stand together at the peak of all mountains."
Chu Sang, "......" Please don't, she's not worthy.
A cannon fodder female supporting character fears nothing more than the male lead speaking to her for more than three sentences. It would accelerate her demise.
"Isn't the one with you that Xue something? She's also a fire-attribute Celestial Spirit Root. You already have one, why do you keep thinking about our little junior sister?" Tantai Ming angrily punched him.
Mo Qingchen didn't know how to explain, so he simply stopped speaking and went back to breaking the formation.
The Ten Thousand Swords Sect disciples also came to help.
It took a full three days of concerted effort to finally break through this sword formation!
"I hope there aren't any more traps ahead?" Zhao Yun's face looked grim as he moved further back in the line. He had used up nearly half of his magical tools and treasures.
All the way here, they had encountered few opportunities but many traps, each more hidden than the last, leaving people constantly on guard and exhausted.
Having just crawled out of one trap, they feared falling into a new one the next second.
Chu Sang walked backwards to his side, "I have a way to know if there are traps ahead. Want to try?"
"If you have a method, just say it quickly. Don't dawdle and keep us in suspense." Zhao Yun was extremely impatient.
Chu Sang smiled and said "Alright," then kicked him in the next second.
Before Zhao Yun could react, he was kicked into a hole by her.
Only then did Chu Sang lead the others in, "See? I told you there was no danger."
Zhao Yun was furious, glaring at her viciously, mentally repeating several times—don't provoke her, don't provoke her, I'm above arguing with a lunatic—until he finally managed to hypnotize himself.
He squeezed out a sentence, "With so many of my junior brothers and sisters watching, can't you give me some face?"
Stop always getting physical with him.
"Oh, should I give you a heads up next time?" Chu Sang was quite amenable.
Zhao Yun, "...Forget it."
He walked forward with a cold face, but after a few steps, he stopped, "This is an underground mine."
Chu Sang followed the crowd to take a look, and suddenly discovered that the ground before them was covered with iron ore, crystal ore, and spirit ore.
Many cultivators' eyes reddened as they rushed forward, scrambling to grab the crystal ores.
Chu Sang felt that the sudden appearance of so many crystal ores in this place was somewhat strange, so she didn't move immediately.
However, faced with so many crystal ores, she was also a bit excited, thinking about how many spirit stones they could sell for.
A single sentence from Xiao Bai, however, enlightened her, "Mama, there's demonic energy. These crystal ores are fake, it's an illusion formation!"
Chu Sang's eyes turned cold, and she hurriedly threw out several illusion-breaking talismans. Where were the crystal ores now? It was a pile of densely packed insects.
The crystal ores in the cultivators' hands had turned into disgusting insect eggs.
She had seen this type of beast in demonic beast texts. They hatch by absorbing cultivators' flesh and spiritual energy, then imperceptibly parasitize cultivators' bodies, feeding on the cultivators' flesh and reproducing more insect eggs until they completely drain the host.
"Not good, quickly throw them away!" Chu Sang directly knocked the insect eggs out of a nearby cultivator's hands, then threw out more than a dozen burning talismans on the spot, burning everything here to ashes.
Only then did the others wake up as if from a dream. Seeing the true appearance of these things, they were all disgusted, goosebumps rising.
This secret realm seemed to be even more dangerous than they had imagined.
As they continued forward, several forked paths appeared before them.
Chu Sang always trusted her intuition and led several senior brothers and sisters down the rightmost, more secluded path.
Qin Xixue had originally intended to take the left fork, but seeing Chu Sang and the others go the other way, her eyes flickered, and without a word, she left her group to follow.
Chu Sang couldn't be bothered with the parasite following behind, she continued with her training.
To be honest, this secret realm was quite suitable for training. From time to time, some demonic beasts, magical plants, illusions, or formations would appear, greatly exercising one's ability to adapt to random situations.
She seemed to understand why the Eight Great Sects would send disciples here for training. This secret realm was different from ordinary ones, more like a [Training Secret Realm] specially made by ancient great sects to cultivate disciples.
It would be nice if their sect had a [Training Secret Realm].
Of course, this was just wishful thinking. Such a large secret realm couldn't be moved away out of thin air.
On the seventh day, just as Chu Sang had cut down some clinging demon vines, a cry for help came from ahead. She looked up to see a round-faced little loli being chased... pecked at? by a large, fire-red bird.