Translator: Lynn
Sword-shaped wood!
Upon uttering these three words, even Yun Lie’s eyes couldn’t help but flicker slightly.
As a dedicated swordsman, Yun Lie had naturally heard of this peculiar tree. However, it existed only in ancient texts, an extremely distant legend. For tens of thousands of years, no one had laid eyes on it.
Yet, the twelfth prince of the Yan Empire dared to speak of it so confidently. Even if he didn’t truly know the tree’s location, he must have some clues!
Xu Ziqing, proficient in the ways of vegetation, had also heard of it. Legend had it that sword-shaped wood could only be born in places where numerous sword cultivators, having comprehended the sword intent, fell in battle. After countless years of evolution, when the earth could no longer contain the residual sword intent, this unique tree would emerge. Its true appearance, however, remained lost to history.
Nevertheless, in all legends, a sword cultivator who laid eyes on this strange tree would reap unparalleled benefits!
If it were possible to find the sword-shaped wood, not only would Yun Lie benefit, but even Xu Ziqing, possessing the “Ten Thousand Woods Great Heart Planting Technique,” might harbor some interest.
Reflecting on his weakness after the battle with the wild beasts, Xu Ziqing realized the need to strengthen himself. His current accumulation offered no benefit, even if he reached the golden core stage in the future. To keep pace with his senior, he had to collect more wood, even secondary wood. The skills at his disposal could only grant him more power by accommodating more plants and trees. By feeding Bloodthirsty Demon Vine with flesh and blood, the natal tree protected him and provided him with more pure wood energy.
Feeling enticed for a moment, Xu Ziqing composed himself and responded, “Of course, I’ve heard of it. What do you mean, senior?”
Xuan Ze chuckled. “I think both of you understand that to gain more benefits from the secret store, you must possess a map. Unfortunately, I happen to have such a map.” After a pause, he continued, “Moreover, the map in my possession specifically records information about the sword-shaped wood.”
Surprised, Xu Ziqing asked, “Senior, are you saying there’s sword-shaped wood in the secret realm, and your map reveals its location?”
Xuan Ze appeared pleased, “Precisely.”
Inwardly contemplating, Xu Ziqing considered his recent stroke of luck—discovering the whereabouts of the two fragmented pictures in just a few daysand obtaining one. Now, if he could temporarily cooperate with Xuan Ze, he would be more confident. However, since it was closely tied to his senior brother’s swordsmanship, the final decision rested with him. With this in mind, Xu Ziqing looked at Yun Lie.
Yun Lie conveyed through a voice transmission, “Listen to the details.”
This signaled a willingness to cooperate.
Xu Ziqing’s heart stirred, and he said to Xuan Ze, “If you have a task for us, senior, please let us know.”
Realizing that the matter was halfway settled, Xuan Ze also felt a sense of satisfaction. He continued, “The birth of Heavenly Secret Realm occurred five years ago. Afterward, I plan to invite both of you to stay in my palace temporarily until the secret treasure surfaces. Then, we can join forces to reap the benefits. Rest assured, I have my own motives; otherwise, it wouldn’t require your strength.”
As a prince with numerous brothers vying for status, Xuan Ze was astute and never stepped into others’ shoes. Understanding the doubts in the two individuals’ hearts, he openly clarified, aiming to gain their trust. He knew well that hiding information at this point would be interpreted as insincerity, prompting them to leave.
While Xu Ziqing lacked the cunning and craftiness of Xuan Ze, his intuition was sharp. Hearing the prince’s words, he believed them to some extent but still inquired cautiously, “What is it that senior desires?”
Xuan Ze calmly replied, “It is a peculiar medicine derived from the flesh and bones of the living dead. My royal family holds ancient secret records mentioning its high probability of growing in a place where life is severed. The location of the sword-shaped tree aligns with this description, and when a sword master kills, if ‘kill’ and ‘death’ coincide, there is a 70% possibility.”
Deep in thought, Xu Ziqing understood why.
Obtaining such a miraculous medicine would essentially grant an additional lease on life. Which cultivator in the world wouldn’t desire it? He would never consider that the so-called “living dead flesh and white bones” could only regenerate broken limbs. It must be that if this substance could be utilized, even the realm wouldn’t decline. This prospect could entice the prince, who had witnessed countless rare treasures in the empire.
Xuan Ze then signaled, and Xi Lin, a young man in black, stepped forward, saying, “Your Highness has welcomed me as a guest because I’ve grasped the third level of Sword Intent, which might prove beneficial for this journey. However, my skills pale in comparison to Fellow Daoist Yun. If he agrees to accompany you, the odds of success will significantly increase.” A hint of envy flashed in his eyes as he added, “After all, with the Wanjian Immortal Sect in the picture and its abundance of sword cultivators, especially those who have comprehended the sword intent, they won’t let the sword-shaped tree go easily. Although the Wanjian Immortal Sect has many swordsmanship practitioners, only a few have reached the fourth level of sword intent!”
Contemplating the secret treasure’s dangers and challenges, Xi Lin acknowledged that acquiring its rewards wouldn’t be straightforward. The vast fallen world harbored numerous beings willing to risk their lives for the secret treasure, intensifying the perils within.
Encountering any valuable treasure inevitably sparked contention, and if the Wanjian Immortal Sect secured the benefits of the sword-shaped tree, they wouldn’t relinquish the rare medicine willingly. No one in the world disliked accumulating too many benefits!
Most highly gifted sword cultivators gravitated towards the holy sect of swordsmanship—the Wanjian Immortal Sect. Other sects struggled to cultivate even a handful of sword cultivator prodigies, let alone those adept at comprehending sword intent.
Xuan Ze had invested considerable effort in securing Xi Lin’s loyalty, and Xi Lin’s third level of sword intent provided hope. Now, encountering Yun Lie, a sword cultivator with great potential on the Tianlong List, who also possessed the fourth realm of Sword Intent, further fueled Xuan Ze’s eagerness to recruit him.
It was only now that Xu Ziqing fully grasped why the prince treated them with such courtesy. He scrutinized the situation multiple times but found nothing amiss. Moreover, being direct disciples of a second-rank Xianzong and holding the status of senior brothers set them apart. As cultivators of the human race, Xuan Ze presumably wouldn’t act duplicitously.
However, precautions were necessary…
With this in mind, Xu Ziqing exchanged a few words with Yun Lie through sound transmission.
Yun Lie nodded subtly, conjuring a message talisman with a swift movement of his palm.
In front of Xuan Ze, he conveyed that he and his senior brother had been invited by Xuan Ze, the twelfth son of the Emperor of the Dayan Empire, to visit the Western Regions as guests in the remaining few years, without delving into further details.
Observing this, Xuan Ze not only didn’t hinder him but displayed a reassuring smile.
The summoning talisman then soared, and Xu Ziqing accepted the proposal on behalf of his senior brother, stating, “Since your highness is so enthusiastic, my senior brother and I would be delighted to go.”
Xuan Ze’s smile deepened as he responded, “Just wait for this matter. The Xiao Wang will prepare everything.”
Thus, both parties benefited, and everyone departed content.
After solidifying their cooperative relationship, Xuan Ze’s tone became more intimate when speaking to Xu Ziqing again.
Afterward, Xuan Ze arranged for the maid to escort the two to their guest room, allowing them to settle in and await the conclusion of the ongoing war on the plains.
Naturally, Xu Ziqing and Yun Lie departed as they pleased.
Once their figures vanished, a young man in the room spoke up, “My lord, are you sure you won’t accept those two individuals?”
Xuan Ze maintained his smile, saying, “Establishing a good relationship comes first; everything else can be addressed after the secret collection.”
Upon hearing this, the rest of the subordinates were momentarily taken aback.
Indeed, over the past few years, receiving gracious hospitality has often led to genuine camaraderie. If one possessed real skills, forming friendships became easier and could facilitate alliances. Moreover, who stipulated that disciples of prestigious sects couldn’t have affiliations with others? It wasn’t about coaxing people to defect from their sects, as disciples often enjoyed a degree of freedom. There was no inherent conflict between the two.
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In the subsequent days, the siblings meditated within the confines of the house, refraining from venturing out to hunt recklessly, aiming to reassure Xuan Ze. As expected, Xuan Ze and his entourage reciprocated the courtesy. Xi Lin frequently engaged in sword discussions with Yun Lie, fostering a comfortable rapport between the two sides.
However, in the external realm, the war showed no signs of abating.
The clash between the wild beasts and Zhenbian City endured for ten days and nights.
During the initial seven days, an array of one-horned, two-horned, and three-horned beasts surged forth, engaging in dark and fierce battles with numerous warriors and cultivators. A plethora of formations, magic weapons, and various supernatural powers were employed, yet the beasts remained fearless, ferocious, and daunting.
Amidst such a fierce battle, countless beings, both humans andbeastst, met their demise. The beasts suffered a greater toll, forming towering walls of flesh from the accumulated corpses, hindering their own progress.
Then, a dreadful turn of events unfolded.
Subsequent waves of beasts began devouring the fallen corpses to clear a path. However, those who consumed their fellow beasts displayed darker-colored horns or possessed more toxic blood, posing an increased threat to the human forces.
The battle escalated into a more tragic state, with many human soldiers’ corpses becoming prey for the wild beasts. Due to the pressing circumstances, there was no time for Daoists to obliterate the remains.
On the eighth day, four-horned wild beasts started arriving in groups, displaying higher spiritual intelligence and greater tactical ruthlessness compared to their predecessors. Human commanders and strong figures above the commander-in-chief rank fought valiantly against them.
The ninth and tenth days witnessed a full-scale melee, with the appearance of five-horned beasts. Their blood poison proved lethal even through its scent, claiming numerous lives among warriors and cultivators with lower cultivation levels.
Finally, the Nascent Soul cultivator entered the fray!
The battle between the Nascent Soul monster and the five-horned beast was tumultuous, yet the numerical advantage lay with the latter, numbering as many as ten. Besides the few generals, the three princes overseeing the battle also made their presence felt.
In addition to the encountered Tiancheng Wang Xuan Ze, there were Tianjin Wang Xuan Li, and… Tianfeng Wang Xuan Yuan.
Please let me know if there are typos/mistakes in the chapter.
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