Cultivation: But Not a Game-Chapter 224 - 135: Journey to the Sword Palace, Dueling with Swords
Su Yu asked:
"Why?"
"Is it because the difficulty is too high?"
Su Huan shook his head and said:
"If it was just purely high difficulty, someone would eventually reach it. After all, this Sword Palace is a major source of top-tier Sword Formulas and high-level Flying Swords within human civilization. Every year, sword geniuses from various human powers try their luck."
"Humans have existed for a hundred thousand years; outside, rarely seen Holy Bodies of the Sword Dao, like innate sword bodies, will always have some super geniuses appear."
"But the highest test of the Sword Palace is not just about difficulty; it also requires the recognition of the Artifact Spirit of the Sword Palace. This is the most critical part."
"No matter how high your talent is, even if you pass all the tests of the Sword Palace, without the recognition of the Artifact Spirit, you cannot achieve the highest accomplishments and cannot inherit the Sword Palace."
"According to my friend’s observation, this Artifact Spirit seems to be waiting for something. They speculate, based on the fact that countless super geniuses have failed the test in the past hundred thousand years, that it’s possibly waiting for the reincarnation of the previous master of the Sword Palace. Therefore, no matter how talented others are, they cannot gain the recognition of the Artifact Spirit."
"Isn’t that unlikely?"
Su Yu was somewhat skeptical.
"The previous master of the Sword Palace is probably a figure from ancient mythology. If they were really capable of reincarnation, they would have done so long ago, not delaying until now."
At this time, Luo Qingchan, who had been listening to their conversation, suddenly said:
"This is true!"
"It is said that Immortals have entered the Sword Palace and communicated with the Artifact Spirit before. The Artifact Spirit is indeed waiting for the reincarnation of the Sword Palace master and can confirm that the previous master has always been in the cycle of reincarnation, but for some unknown reason, they’ve never arrived at the Sword Palace."
"Did something unexpected happen during reincarnation?"
"It seems so."
"If that’s the case, then there’s no hope for the highest reward."
Luo Qingchan nodded:
"The second-best reward is also not bad. I’m currently lacking two Tier Ten Immortal Swords, hoping to obtain one in the Sword Palace."
Su Yu raised an eyebrow, full of envy.
As far as he knows, if there’s no chance of obtaining the highest reward from the Sword Palace, the best second-tier reward is either a Supreme Tier Sword Formula or a Tier Ten Flying Sword, and one can only choose one of the two. Generally speaking, a Supreme Tier Sword Formula is more valuable. Since she wants a Tier Ten Immortal Sword instead of a Supreme Sword Formula, it means she’s currently practicing a Supreme Tier Sword Formula.
He doesn’t have a choice; if he can make it to that point, he can only choose a Supreme Tier Sword Formula. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢
The Jade Sinking Ship continued forward, and the three of them chatted idly.
The second brother told him everything he knew about the Sword Palace, while Luo Qingchan occasionally added some information. By the end of the day, Su Yu’s understanding of the Sword Palace was already on par with his second brother.
After a long journey, traveling day and night without any rest, it took a full two months to cross over ten million kilometers to reach the deep sea where Su Yu had never been before.
It was already the deep sea here. The water was so deep it turned black, and storms and tornadoes frequently swept the heavens and earth.
By this point, no players were in sight, and not a single island was visible for hundreds of thousands of kilometers at times.
The levels of the sea monsters were also rising, with those appearing on the sea surface reaching level ninety or more, and occasionally, legendary monsters of over a hundred levels surfaced. Diving into the sea for less than a kilometer, one would find giant sea fish over level one hundred.
Super BOSSes of over two hundred levels, rare in the Feixing Island sea area, were often seen in the depths of the ocean. Just on their journey, they had encountered four super BOSSes.
One was an overseas divine bird with a wingspan of over ten kilometers, identical to the one they had killed before but larger in size, presumably from the Wind God Palace.
Another was a giant tortoise, large as an island. They thought it was an island when they flew over it.
Another was a deep-sea dragon whale surfacing for air, a fleeting glimpse. It had a mythological template, level 270, and a body length of dozens of kilometers, exaggeratedly large.
The last one caused a storm covering hundreds of thousands of kilometers on the sea surface. In the towering tornado, a mysterious tentacle stretched out from the water, several hundred kilometers long. It was too far to see its attributes or know what deep-sea giant beast it was.
In this deep ocean, Su Yu’s true dragon form at level 200 was honestly nothing.
One would need to reach at least level 250 to have any means of self-preservation and above level 280 to hold their ground. To roam here invincibly, one must be over level 300.
Fortunately, the true dragon form could keep leveling up.
Earlier, using his true dragon form, he had taken down several super BOSSes and slaughtered many, gaining 4 levels. Now he was at level 204, with several million more health points and an attack increase of 40,000, equivalent to an attack power increase of 10,000 per level. The boost from a mythological template was truly impressive.
This rate of advancement is considered lightning-fast for someone over level 200.
If he continues like this and puts in a bit more effort, in the future, he might elevate his true dragon form to level 299 and then trigger a Celestial Tribulation, passing a Celestial Human Tribulation for ultimate bliss.
After traveling over ten million kilometers and reaching the depths of the ocean, the three of them arrived, Su Huan opened the map, directing the Jade Sinking Ship to circle this sea area twice, finally finding an unnamed small island. They used it as a coordinate to fly several hundred thousand kilometers in a certain direction, and from a distance, saw an island appear in the blackened sea.
It wasn’t really an island; it looked like a mountain peak emerging from the sea.
The peak extended over three thousand meters above the sea surface, straight like a sword peak. The top was flattened, appearing from afar as if there was someone on top.
Su Huan guided the Jade Sinking Ship closer to the small island, speaking to them in a low voice:
"The Sword Palace is located in this sea area, but it exists in a different realm. Normally, it cannot be seen nor can one enter it without using the transmission function of the Sword Palace Sword Talisman to teleport directly there."
"Although you can use the Sword Talisman to enter the Sword Palace at any time, the assessments inside the Sword Palace generally occur every six months. Entering early means waiting inside, but the rules in the Sword Palace are very strict. Outsiders cannot roam around freely and are very constrained."
"So, some people have found islands near the Sword Palace to stay on until the Sword Palace assessment opens for everyone to enter together."
"The next assessment will open in about half a month. Let’s wait here for now."
He continued to advise:
"Those heading for the Sword Palace assessment are not only the elites from the Blue Mountain Archipelago but also elites from nearby Wanxiang Islands and Three Mountains Monarch Island. Even elites from farther away will come from miles around, so there will be many people by then. Sword Cultivators condense their sword hearts, moving forward with unyielding vigor, and love to engage in sword duels. Be careful when the time comes."
"By the way, Miss Qingchan, it would be best if you concealed your appearance to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Luo Qingchan nodded and summoned a veil to cover her head, which quickly turned transparent and disappeared, making her appearance ordinary but unable to hide her extraordinary grace.
The group prepared, and the Jade Sinking Ship flew toward the sword peak standing in the sea.
From a distance, the sword peak didn’t look big, but its summit covered four to five square kilometers, where hundreds of flying ships of various sizes had already gathered.
Many flying ships were anchored on the sea surface around the sword peak, with numerous players waiting idly and engaging in level-up exercises. Loose Immortals, who are rarely seen, were everywhere here.
Like Second Brother, they were also escorting their disciples or relatives and friends.
Everyone coming here is an elite; none are poor. The worst are on Spiritual Wing Flying Ships, with Dragon Scale Flying Ships occasionally seen, and even several Jade Sinking Ships. Besides these, there are many high-level flying ships that he had never seen before but could tell at a glance were advanced.
The Jade Sinking Ship’s landing attracted only a few glances, and the concealed Luo Qingchan, although extraordinarily graceful, did not draw much attention due to her ordinary appearance.
"So many people!"
Su Yu curiously observed the many Sword Cultivators. All the young ones were Sword Cultivators, with condensed sword hearts, unreservedly sharp and fierce.
Su Huan nodded and said:
"Yes, they are all Sword Cultivators, all geniuses, not much older or younger than you. Most have only been cultivating for two or three years, at most not more than five, so the difference in strength isn’t too great."
In just this short moment, several pairs had already agreed to leave the sword peak for duels on the sea.
No, between Sword Cultivators, it’s not called a duel; it should be called a sword duel.
The Jade Sinking Ship stopped in the sky above the sword peak. Su Huan said to the two of them:
"You can disembark now. You can go watch the sword duels or go to the sea to level up, but try to avoid conflicts with others."
"However, if someone provokes you, don’t be afraid to fight back. If someone bullies you because of your age, come find me."
"Okay."
Su Yu ascended into the air, smiled, and asked Luo Qingchan:
"Do you want to go watch and see the level of Sword Cultivators from other places?"
She nodded and rose into the air, and the two flew together toward the island’s edge.
Su Huan crossed his arms, watching the young couple leave, and smiled kindly:
"What a perfect match!"
"The kid’s luck isn’t bad; Miss Qingchan doesn’t seem to mind."
Su Yu and Luo Qingchan flew to the sea, about ten kilometers away from the sword peak. By then, those Sword Cultivators who had agreed to duel were already fighting, and dozens of young Sword Cultivators were watching.
After watching for a while, Su Yu got an idea of the swordsmanship level of the two dueling Sword Cultivators.
"A notch below me!"
Their swordsmanship realm wasn’t much different, both at a level where they understood Sword Light Division, which was similar to him as a beginner. However, their swordsmanship techniques were slightly inferior to Su Yu’s.
Normally, Sword Cultivators need diligent practice. Any slack could lead to regression. Swordsmanship techniques fluctuate with one’s state of mind and emotional state, which is called one’s condition. When in good condition, one is stronger than usual.
But Su Yu was different; he had no such concept as condition.
With the talent bonus, his swordsmanship was solidified; any minor progress would be recorded by his talent, solidified, and, next time, he would progress again based on this foundation, unaffected by conditions and exceptionally stable.
Thus, since Su Yu began practicing swordsmanship, he has been consistently progressing—it’s just the speed of progress that varies.
Even though it seemed like his swordsmanship realm had not changed from the moment he entered Sword Light Division, it doesn’t mean he hasn’t progressed. He has, in fact, been progressing all along; it just hasn’t been enough to make a qualitative change.
Su Yu knows well where he has improved and how long it will take to break through again.
Perhaps he isn’t a true Sword Cultivator, but with this talent bonus, one day, he will be stronger than any Sword Cultivator.
The two Sword Cultivators’ levels were similar, both using Tier Seven Flying Swords, leading to a stalemate in their sword duel, taking almost as long as a stick of incense to determine the winner.
Just after the fight ended, another duel started within the battle circle.
Rarely coming across high-level sword duels, both Su Yu and Luo Qingchan were keenly interested in observing them.
