Li Yin retreated half a step and glanced at the game panel that popped up.
【Skill Unlocked: Meridian Acupoint Spectrum】
【Achievement Reward: Directed Random (1)】
She had just touched this senior sister’s hand and hadn’t expected such a windfall. If she remembered correctly, this was a Pill Cauldron Sect skill. Those who mastered it understood meridians and acupoints thoroughly.
However, cultivators had spiritual energy protecting their bodies. To strike acupoints, one needed to pierce through with spiritual energy to hit the cultivator’s acupoints accurately.
Thinking of the Pill Cauldron Sect made Li Yin’s heart skip a beat.
The Pill Cauldron Sect was a major sect encompassing pills, talismans, formations, and artifacts. Every cultivator depended on these four paths, so the entire sect was fabulously wealthy. They never lacked money, held a transcendent status, and their disciples commanded great respect outside.
Of course, aside from that, the things that could make the Player’s little heart skip were usually just two.
Either she had encountered a new capture target, or an old one.
That save file…
She zoned out for a moment, but now was not the time for reminiscing.
“Ehh—” Seeing the kind-hearted fellow Daoist retreat half a step and actually let her stand in front, the Pill Cauldron Sect female cultivator let out a short, sharp cry.
Another strand of sword qi slashed through the air. Although she stood in front, she was so frightened that she hugged her head. “It’s coming again, it’s coming again—”
Li Yin snapped back to attention. She wrapped an arm around her and cast Fire Control Technique with a backhand motion, deflecting the incoming sword qi. The two of them sidestepped together to dodge it.
They flew to a safe spot, and the dull gray sword silently followed alongside.
It made no sound and took no action, yet this sword carried itself with the bearing of a grandmaster.
Li Yin ignored it. When she finally loosened her grip, she realized the female cultivator beside her had clutched her sleeve.
“Fellow Daoist, you’re incredible.” This timid senior sister from some sect rummaged through her mustard seed pouch with rustling sounds. She pulled out a few talismans and pills, stuffing them into Li Yin’s hand. Trembling, she added, “Truth be told, I was chased by a swarm of spirit bees as a child, which left me with some trauma. The sword qi swarms here really look just like bee swarms. I truly can’t handle them.”
She continued, “A meager gift. Thank you for helping me, Junior Sister.”
Li Yin received the talismans and pills—her thank-you gift—and examined them curiously.
Both the talismans and pills were unfamiliar to her.
The female cultivator assumed she looked down on them and grew uneasy. Then she heard the girl ask, “What are these?”
Her bright eyes were clear and innocent, filled with genuine confusion. It was obvious this little junior sister had no idea what the gifts were.
The female cultivator froze for a moment, then burst out laughing. “This is Condense Essence Powder. It helps cultivators break through to Nascent Soul. These are Divine Movement Talismans and Golden Bell Talismans—they can save your life.”
The little junior sister immediately understood. She sorted the items and stored them away.
The girl’s frank and open nature made the female cultivator want to befriend her. She introduced herself proactively. “My name is Mo Xiangwei. I’m a Pill Cauldron Sect disciple. And you, Junior Sister?”
Li Yin exchanged names and sects with Senior Sister Mo.
The Pill Cauldron Sect’s wealth was undeniable, but their Dao focused on pill-refining and artifact-forging. They rarely needed to venture out for life-or-death trials.
Somewhat puzzled, Li Yin asked bluntly, “Is Senior Sister Mo a pill cultivator? Do pill cultivators go out for training too?”
Mo Xiangwei stammered, “Well… not entirely for training. I’m just short one spiritual material for pill-refining.”
Meeting her curious gaze, Mo Xiangwei went on. “The Pill Appreciation Conference is coming up. Junior Sister Yin might not know this, but us pill cultivator disciples have to present pill formulas or finished pills—whether original creations or improvements—for our masters or elders to evaluate.”
With that, Li Yin got it. It was like a research innovation project or academic conference.
“I see. But who would have thought Hidden Sword Mountain’s secret realm produces spiritual herbs too? With all this rampant sword qi, I wonder what kind. I can help Senior Sister take a look around.”
After she spoke, Senior Sister Mo replied a bit shyly, “N-No, it’s not spiritual herbs… Actually, I’m here for a strand of high-grade sword qi. The Heartbreak Pill needs a fierce, dominant spiritual material as its main ingredient. Sword qi is so forceful, so I wanted to give it a try.”
“But according to the rules, high-grade sword qi is sold to Hidden Sword Mountain first. Unless it’s something I obtain personally, it’s hard to buy…” As she spoke, she muttered bitterly, spilling everything. “I even hired an Orifice Exit Stage minor Dao Lord with pills to help, but we got separated right after entering and ran into a sword qi swarm…”
Li Yin listened, stunned.
In that save file, the Player had been a Pill Cauldron Sect pill cultivator. Though unskilled and expelled for offending her superiors, she had never seen sword qi used as medicine.
“I see.” Shocked as she was, Li Yin didn’t discourage her senior sister’s bold idea. Instead, she said, “So what’s Senior Sister’s plan next? I’m heading to find my sect brothers and sisters.”
Junior Sister Yin’s jade token pointed in a certain direction. Mo Xiangwei checked her own, hesitating briefly. “If you don’t mind, Junior Sister, could we travel together? I naturally won’t skimp on your thank-you gift…”
“Senior Sister Mo is too polite. You’ve already given me the gift.” The girl smiled sweetly, politely declining the second offering. “Going together is perfect. We can watch each other’s backs.”
The dull gray sword watched quietly from the side, as if silently observing the disciples’ character.
It was unclear what it gleaned from its observations, but Li Yin set off with her new senior sister acquaintance.
Mo Xiangwei glanced at the silent trailing sword. “Is this Junior Sister’s sword?”
Li Yin shook her head. “I don’t know it. We met here, and it’s been following me.”
Mo Xiangwei examined it again, hesitating. “I’ve heard rumors among the sword cultivator disciples. They say this is a sword immortal’s sword burial ground. Some disciples have encountered immortal swords here…”
At those words, Li Yin immediately turned to scrutinize the follower seriously.
The sword was lusterless, as if covered in dust. Its straight blade bore no decorations—just an utterly plain, grayish sword.
Unclear if it had overheard the two female cultivators, it continued flying freely, sometimes high, sometimes low.
Li Yin withdrew her gaze and exchanged a look with Senior Sister Mo.
Mo Xiangwei: “…It should just be rumors.”
The two paid no more attention to the odd sword. They skirted the sword qi swarm and, following the jade token’s guidance, Li Yin led her straight toward a mountain ridge. Her senior brothers and sisters were in that direction.
But as they traveled, the surrounding sword qi grew chaotic again. The jade token flashed repeatedly, disrupted by something, and suddenly went dark.
Li Yin patted it, but this time it wouldn’t recover.
Without the jade token’s guidance, reuniting with her seniors would be difficult. She stopped, and Mo Xiangwei halted too.
“This shouldn’t be happening.” Afraid of the sword qi swarms, Mo Xiangwei edged closer to her, frowning slightly. “Before coming here, I asked the sword cultivator disciples for plenty of intel on the Sword Tomb.”
“This area should be the outer region. There should only be sparse low-grade sword qi, not gathered like this—and definitely no mid-grade sword qi showing up.”
Li Yin looked into the distance. Sure enough, a mid-grade sword qi was flying over. According to Senior Sister Mo, something abnormal was clearly happening in the Sword Tomb.
She wasn’t a sword cultivator and couldn’t distinguish sword qi grades by aura, but she could tell by their luster. Mid-grade sword qi glowed brighter than the low-grade ones.
Oddly, though, this strand was neither as swift nor as sharp as the low-grade ones. It drifted erratically.
Li Yin considered. Since the jade token was broken and she had no idea how to reunite, she might as well fight.
The Player decided to try out this secret realm instance’s mechanics first.
She settled Senior Sister Mo nearby and had her keep watch.
Then she cast Fire Control Technique. Golden-red flames clashed head-on with the mid-grade sword qi. Sparks flew with a screech, and the gleaming sword qi dimmed for an instant. Stimulated, it flared up again, spiraling wildly.
Thanks to the unlocked sword cultivator skill, the girl’s aim was remarkably precise. Even as the sword qi twisted every which way, she accurately predicted its path and landed strike after strike.
Mo Xiangwei watched in secret amazement. This little junior sister from Myriad Beasts Sect cultivated Beast Taming Technique, yet her movements were so nimble. She was just inexperienced and didn’t know when to deploy the Sword Qi Gourd to capture it. Good thing she was there watching.
Seeing the sword qi nearly worn down, she called out a timely reminder.
Li Yin got the signal and hurled her Sword Qi Gourd to capture the mid-grade sword qi. But from the side, another Sword Qi Gourd suddenly flew in.
They collided perfectly. The two metal mini-swords clashed with a crisp “Clink!”, both knocked flying. Neither captured the sword qi.
The sudden turn made Li Yin leap forward. She caught her own Sword Qi Gourd and glanced sideways. A sword cultivator disciple flew up and snatched the other one.
The sword cultivator cupped his hands. “My apologies.”
“Senior Brother, what is this about?” Li Yin landed, puzzled.
Mo Xiangwei might be timid, but she had more experience. She spoke up. “My junior sister tempered this sword qi herself. By the rules, it belongs to her.”
Before the sword cultivator disciple could respond, a crisp female voice rang out. “What a coincidence. This sword qi was actually chased over by us. It wasn’t fully worn down, so it ended up here.”
Looking over, the speaker was Hidden Sword Mountain’s eldest senior sister, An Shanyue. She was leading several sectmates.
An Shanyue smiled at the girl in ink-green magic robes. “These disputes happen often. By the rules, disciples spar to decide ownership.”
At her words, Li Yin recalled the sword qi’s state when it arrived. It did seem true.
Mo Xiangwei noticed too and hesitated. “There is indeed such a rule.”
But the girl in ink-green magic robes was clearly from a beast-taming sect. How could she possibly duel a formidable sword cultivator disciple one-on-one?
It smacked of bullying. The sword cultivator disciple probably thought the same and froze in place.
As the standoff dragged on, another voice chimed in—a male voice, half-amused. “Oh? A sword cultivator against a beast-taming disciple? That’s a sure win, isn’t it? What’s with the hesitation?”
The youth stood motionless on the wind. His cyan robes and red hair ribbon fluttered dramatically. His gray eyes curved faintly as he gazed down at the group below.
Ji Lingyao turned his gaze and flashed a grin at the little junior sister looking up at him.
He was the Azure Profound Chief Disciple, trailed by some disciples in cyan robes. But they couldn’t match their chief’s wind-riding speed and lagged behind.
The little junior sister belonged to another sect, so he couldn’t interfere.
An Shanyue glanced at him, then at her own disciple and the girl opposite. “Go until one yields. Don’t ruin the harmony. Sword cultivators need sword qi that resonates with them to gain enlightenment. Compatible sword qi is rare. I hope Junior Sister understands.”
“Besides, if this junior sister finds it troublesome, she can simply yield to our sect disciple. He can compensate you with some spirit stones.”
Two options. Li Yin hesitated briefly.