This Sword Cultivator is Somewhat Dependable-Chapter 1557 - 32: More Than Just One Sword Hidden (Part 2)

"Conceal... artifacts?" Lu Qingshan repeated.

Zang Xiaojian nodded.

"Can you explain in detail?" Lu Qingshan had some guesses in mind, but he wasn't entirely sure.

"Watch," Zang Xiaojian gestured to Lu Qingshan, then extended her right hand.

With a whooshing sound, a flash of sword light appeared, and a pitch-black longsword materialized in her hand.

Three-feet Edge!

But it wasn't exactly the same as the Three-feet Edge from twenty years ago.

Twenty years ago, the Three-feet Edge was only a Low Grade Heavenly Artifact.

But now, the quality of the Three-feet Edge had reached Middle Grade Heavenly Artifact, even close to High Grade Heavenly Artifact.

This wasn't surprising.

If Zang Xiaojian were a Sword Cultivator.

A Life-bound Sword and a Sword Cultivator are mutually beneficial and grow together.

But the problem was, Zang Xiaojian had just clearly said she wasn't a Sword Cultivator.

"All Magic Artifacts have their own Spiritual Nature, it's just a matter of degree," Zang Xiaojian said. "Our Zang family's Divine Skill is to fuse all Magic Artifacts into our body."

"After fusing a Magic Artifact within the body, the Spiritual Nature contained in the Magic Artifact will be released. This Spiritual Nature is enough to help us quickly elevate our Cultivation."

"In a sense, as long as there are enough powerful Magic Artifacts, the speed at which my Cultivation enhances has no upper limit."

"Moreover, this is just the Primary Level stage."

"As my Cultivation deepens, I can even completely transform the Magic Artifacts fused within my body, making these artifacts integrate thoroughly with my flesh, thus granting parts of my body the various characteristics of these transformed artifacts."

Zang Xiaojian demonstrated to Lu Qingshan.

With a thought, the Three-feet Edge plunged into her right hand.

Then, Zang Xiaojian gently waved her right palm, and a radiant Sword Qi diagonally slashed out, forming a blinding white light curtain, while her palm shimmered with the same pitch-black hue as the Three-feet Edge.

Of course, Zang Xiaojian hadn't yet reached the stage where she could completely transform the artifacts within her body.

But with the Three-feet Edge hidden in her right hand, it was equivalent to holding the Three-feet Edge, unafraid of the slashes from Divine Weapons, and capable of injuring the enemy.

Human Arsenal...

Upon hearing this, a fitting descriptor emerged in Lu Qingshan's mind.

What does a moving arsenal mean? This is it!

"This Divine Skill allows us to possess the various characteristics of Magic Artifacts, so often, the strength of our Zang family's combat power depends on the Magic Artifacts fused within our bodies," Zang Xiaojian said.

After all, when Cultivation improves and the artifacts in the body are completely transformed, the cultivators of the Zang family effectively become humanoid weapons.

"You're a Sword Cultivator, you should know best that of all the Magic Artifacts in the world, in terms of offense, the sword is paramount."

"According to our ancestors of the Zang family, rather than refining a variety of different Magic Artifacts and possessing all sorts of fancy abilities, having the ultimate offensive and siege abilities is more substantial."

"Therefore, our ancestors of the Zang family chose the Sword Artifact as the primary choice for our family's concealed artifacts, designating it as the Island Artifact," Zang Xiaojian revealed another secret, and Lu Qingshan finally understood the reason for the many swordsmiths on the island.

"This Divine Skill is almost too powerful," Lu Qingshan marveled, then looked intently at Zang Xiaojian, "So, what's the limitation? Or rather, what's the price?"

Such an extraordinary ability would undoubtedly defy common sense without any limitations.

Zang Xiaojian wrinkled her nose, "There are three limitations."

She held up one finger, "First, the quantity and quality of artifacts that can be concealed are limited."

"That makes sense." Lu Qingshan had anticipated this.

If there were no limit to the quantity of concealed artifacts, with unlimited accumulation, the Zang family would have already become invincible in the mortal world.

"What kind of limitations?"

"The term 'conceal artifacts in the body' should actually be thought of as 'conceal artifacts in the apertures.'

"Apertures?" This was unexpected for Lu Qingshan.

"Yes, the reason we can conceal artifacts in our bodies is because our bodies contain apertures that can accommodate Magic Artifacts."

"Each aperture can only accommodate one Magic Artifact."

"Moreover, the number of these apertures is limited."

"Like me," Zang Xiaojian said proudly, "I was born with eighteen apertures."

"My father said this is extremely rare even in the history of the Zang family."

Could she be a protagonist of a version of the original plot? Lu Qingshan thought as he glanced at Zang Xiaojian with a peculiar look, her chin slightly raised.

"Remarkable indeed." Having raised Gu Yiyi for so many years, Lu Qingshan had become adept at handling young girls, and promptly offered timely praise.

And rightfully so.

Eighteen apertures, that means eighteen swords...

Simply in terms of quantity, even not being a Sword Cultivator, she's surpassed Sword Cultivators.

Receiving the expected compliment, Zang Xiaojian was quite pleased and continued, "As for the quality limitation, that's because of our own condition."

"As I said before, after fusing a Magic Artifact into the body, the Spiritual Nature contained in the Magic Artifact is released to aid our Cultivation advancement.

When Cultivation is low, refining a Magic Artifact of outstanding quality, its powerful Spiritual Nature is something we absolutely cannot endure."

This was easy to understand, like how a weak patient cannot withstand potent restorative medicines and might even suffer in return... Lu Qingshan nodded silently.

"During the Foundation Establishment Stage, the maximum quality of Magic Artifacts I can refine is Low Grade Heavenly Artifacts, and the Three-feet Edge just happens to match my endurance."

"It's serendipitous," Lu Qingshan remarked.

"The second limitation." Zang Xiaojian held up a second finger.

Zang Xiaojian thought for a moment and gave an example, "In the mundane world, martial artists have physical bodies stronger than ordinary people, so they often need to consume more food to maintain their body function."

"And when artifacts are fused into the body, especially when Magic Artifacts are transformed within the flesh, these artifacts become part of our bodies. Their power is something the physical body cannot compare to, similarly, this means we also bear significant energy consumption."

"I haven't yet reached the stage of transforming artifacts within my flesh, but my father has."

According to my father, he can no longer improve his Cultivation through Cultivation Techniques.

Because for him, the Element Force gained through cultivating techniques only slightly exceeds the consumption of the fused artifacts," Zang Xiaojian sighed.

Scientifically speaking, when the artifacts are transformed within the flesh, the Zang family members suddenly gain "muscles," greatly increasing their metabolism. Their daily "intake" merely compensates for this gap, keeping them from "losing weight," but wanting to "gain muscle" is out of the question.

Those who want to wear the crown must bear its weight.

Gaining the power that artifacts bring naturally means bearing the significant consumption they entail.

Compared to ordinary cultivation, acquiring power through concealing artifacts is quicker and simpler, even surpassing most people, although not perfect.

However, for most people, this is a "perfect" gift.

Yes, it has an upper limit in the later stages, but so what?

Even if they hit a bottleneck and their Cultivation halts, it's still far stronger than countless people in the world.

"What about the third limitation?" Lu Qingshan noticed Zang Xiaojian wasn't continuing.

"The third..." Zang Xiaojian seemed a bit bashful, finally puffing up her cheeks and saying, "My father said, due to our family's unique constitution, our Bloodline is extremely hard to continue, making it especially difficult for us to produce offspring. So, for many generations, we've been passing on as a single line."

No wonder there are only three members in the Zang family so far... Lu Qingshan thought internally, also feeling the challenge in the Zang family's legacy.

With the talent for concealing artifacts, it seems the Zang family would never face a gap in the generations, each one growing rapidly, and with a single line transmission, resources could be concentrated on one person.

But, a single line of transmission means no room for error.

If anyone had an accident in any generation, the Zang family's legacy would be cut off.

In this light, Zang Xiaojian appearing in the South Sea with Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivation was even more unreasonable.

"How many Sword Artifacts have you concealed within your body now?" Lu Qingshan asked curiously.

"Eleven," Zang Xiaojian gestured, quite proud.

Insider matters are best understood by those within.

Such things, of course, are best shown off to a Sword Cultivator.

Upon hearing this, Lu Qingshan couldn't help but glance at Zang Xiaojian's petite body again, finding it hard to imagine that it hid eleven swords, and one day they would become part of her body.

He shook his head, somewhat in awe.

Zang Xiaojian, oh Zang Xiaojian, you've concealed more than just one sword...