Chapter 28 - Inheritance assessment, three trials!
Chapter 28: Inheritance assessment, three trials!
The old man in white appeared solemn as he carefully observed the two individuals before speaking slowly.
“I’m not…”
To their surprise, it seemed they had mistaken his identity.
Gu Liuyun, showing respect, inquired, “May I ask for the senior’s name?”
The old man in white stroked his beard and calmly replied, “I am the Sword Spirit… responsible for the legacy.”
The two of them looked at each other. Gu Liuyun respectfully greeted, “We are disciples of Tianluan Peak, Murong Qianxue, and Gu Liuyun. We have come for the inheritance of sword cultivation.”
The Sword Spirit gazed at them, then pointed lightly. A spiritual light fell and created an entrance to a secret realm in the void.
“Enter the secret realm…”
The two exchanged glances, and Murong Qianxue said to Gu Liuyun, “Go, I will guard you.”
Gu Liuyun, somewhat surprised, asked, “Senior Sister, aren’t you coming in?”
Murong Qianxue gently shook her head and explained, “For such an important inheritance, if I enter, wouldn’t I be taking away your opportunity?”
Gu Liuyun smiled, appreciating his senior sister’s consideration.
He waved his hand and said, “Senior Sister, this inheritance is not exclusive to one person. You might also be the right candidate if I don’t meet the requirements.”
While Murong Qianxue agreed with his reasoning and felt curious about the sword cultivation inheritance, she still felt hesitant.
Gu Liuyun shook his head and smiled, then reached out to hold her hand. Without further words, he pulled her into the secret realm. Murong Qianxue was left in a daze but entered alongside him.
On Tiger Roaring Cliff, the Sword Spirit saw that both had entered the secret realm. He waved his hand to dissipate the entrance and gradually disappeared.
…
A sensation of weightlessness engulfed Gu Liuyun. When he regained his senses, he found himself floating in an endless void of darkness, with no sign of Murong Qianxue.
[Inheritance assessment begins!].
[Level 1: Sword Talent!].
The game prompt chimed in Gu Liuyun’s ears, and before he could react, a blinding burst of light suddenly filled his vision. Instinctively, he shielded his eyes with his hand, and when the intense light subsided, he found a sword in front of him, or rather, a damaged sword.
The sword was broken in half, and the remaining blade was covered in mottled markings, with several notches on the blade. This broken sword hung quietly in the void in the vast, endless darkness. As Gu Liuyun stared at the broken sword, a clear recollection of the sword’s history flashed through his mind for some inexplicable reason.
The previous wielders of this damaged sword passed before his eyes, one by one. A mighty sword cultivator with unparalleled power had once wielded this sword to conquer the world, cutting through the heavens and the underworld.
An extraordinary mortal emperor had wielded this sword to expand his dominion and receive homage from countless nations. A notorious figure in the world of dark cultivation had also used this sword to sweep through the realms, causing widespread slaughter and turning the land red with blood.
Even ordinary people from the mortal realm had used this sword, allowing it to gather dust and rust over time. A single sword once revered by the heavens and various races during its glorious days had now declined to the point of being no more than a common tool. Throughout the long river of time, the wielders of this sword were countless, but they had all faded into obscurity, entering the cycle of reincarnation.
Only this sword, weathered by the ages, still endured. In this endless reminiscence, Gu Liuyun found himself in the perspective of each sword wielder. With each swing of the sword, it was as if he experienced their actions and emotions.
[Ding! Sword Tao comprehension +1!].
[Ding! Sword Tao comprehension +1!].
[Ding! Sword Tao comprehension +1!].
……
[Ding! Sword Tao comprehension +100, completion 100%!].
After an unknown duration, as the final notification sounded, Gu Liuyun opened his eyes and slowly exhaled a breath. During the prolonged cycle of memories, he might have lost his mental composure by now if he didn’t possess full innate insight.
Gu Liuyun raised his hand and lightly pointed forward. A brilliant sword energy instantly sliced through the dark void and struck the broken sword. The shattered sword transformed into numerous fragments, and the formerly infinite darkness in the void shattered.
[Sword Tao talent is perfect! First level cleared!].
[Second level: Sword Heart Trial! Initiate!].
The previously broken void in front of him suddenly twisted, and the scene gradually changed. Gu Liuyun found himself in a hellish forest as the surrounding scenes became clearer. Everywhere he looked, there were dismembered bodies and spilled blood. Demons and monsters ran rampant, while countless souls wailed and fled in terror, creating a horrifying sight. No sun or moon was in the sky, and the ground was littered with lost souls and wandering ghosts.
Gu Liuyun was shaken to the core, unable to believe what he witnessed. At this moment, he realized that he was impaled on a cliff by a sword, with blood dripping continuously from his chest.
“Give up… Give up your obsession… Give up your long sword…”
“Give up all of this… I will grant you eternal life…”
A seductive voice echoed directly in Gu Liuyun’s mind, and an endless and boundless shadow hung in the sky. The enchanting melody penetrated his psyche, and Gu Liuyun subconsciously lowered his head as if to accept. But when his gaze fell on the long sword in his chest, an unwavering determination suddenly flowed through his heart.
“No, I refuse!”
The phantom was furious, and an overwhelming aura of malice rushed toward Gu Liuyun.
“Buzz!”
Gu Liuyun felt as if his consciousness had been violently struck by a heavy hammer, his mind on the verge of collapsing. His body shook violently, and blood continued to flow from his chest.
“Give up everything, surrender! Surrender!”
The haunting voice persisted, relentlessly assaulting his consciousness. Under the excruciating pain, Gu Liuyun clenched his teeth and roared.
“I will never surrender!!!”
……
[Sword Heart Trial, completion 100%!].
[Third level: Sword Path Ruthlessness! Initiate!].
Gu Liuyun felt a splitting headache and struggled to open his eyes, only to find himself in a room bathed in vivid red.
The bright red happy characters became even more celebratory and vibrant under the glow of candlelight. The candle flames danced as if in a celebration. To the left of the bed stood a dressing table covered with happy characters. The bedding featured mandarin ducks, and the bed was covered in peanuts, osmanthus flowers, and red dates.
The central point of the bed held a graceful figure. Her fiery red phoenix gown was incredibly beautiful, and her thin red veil had a faint radiance under the candlelight, revealing the woman’s exquisite beauty.
Gu Liuyun approached in bewilderment and gently lifted the red silk veil. With cherry lips and phoenix-like eyes, hair like flowing clouds, and a peach blossom hairpin adorning her forehead, she exuded an alluring and graceful charm.
This breathtaking bride was none other than Murong Qianxue!