Chapter 106: Ancestral Sword

The Virtual Illusory Realm, also known by many as the False Immortal World, is a vast illusory world built around the Ancestral Sword.

Cultivators who enter it experience sensations identical to reality, yet they do not truly die.

The most famous among them is the Combat Ranking List.

Unlike the several divine aurora lists that hang like waterfalls, this list evaluates a cultivator's potential.

The Combat Ranking List, however, measures actual combat power.

As Chi Jiuyu said, the Combat Ranking List was established to motivate disciples, granting substantial contribution points to the top one hundred from Qi Condensation to Return to Void.

Rankings for Qi Condensation, Foundation Establishment, and Jin Dan fluctuate periodically, but the top spot in Nascent Soul has gone unchallenged for a long time.

The reason is simple: no one can beat her.

Chi Jiuyu, as the top young cultivator of the Xian Sect, has no rival among her generation—except for a prodigy from the Orthodox Alliance who ascended to Spirit Transformation Stage long ago.

As a result, even the Nascent Soul sword cultivators within the Xiang Jianzong have grown apathetic—why fight for second place? In the bedroom.

Zhang Yunlu sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes tightly closed.

On her right ear hung a device resembling a Bluetooth earpiece, its casing encircled by a faint blue glow, exuding high-tech aesthetics.

With the aid of this device, her consciousness had already entered the Virtual Illusory Realm.

……

……

Virtual Illusory Realm.

Zhang Yunlu sat in the spectator seats.

Below, on the broad arena, two sword cultivators were locked in combat.

Both were Jin Dan cultivators; one wielded a great sword, each swing radiating fierce might, while a flying sword circled beside him, launching relentless attacks.

His opponent was a sword cultivator practicing the Sword Pearl technique—two white, spinning sword pearls, the size of marbles, revealing their sharpness only when striking.

Neither held back; every move targeted the opponent's vital points.

The spectator seats erupted in continuous cheers, deafening in volume.

Zhang Yunlu raised her hand to examine her palm—her fair, delicate skin showed faint palm lines; she clenched her fist, and the sensation was indistinguishable from reality.

With a thought.

Immediately, a translucent pale blue interface floated before her, shifting position as her gaze moved.

【Name: Zhang Yunlu】

【Realm: Qi Condensation Level Nine · Comprehending Principle】

【Position: None】

【Current Combat Ranking: None】

Below were small icons: Tip, Friend, and Team Communication.

After two gold coin icons appeared a number—200.

These were her contribution points.

Overall, it felt much like her previous trial participation, just more refined.

Ding~ The number after the two gold coin icons changed to 199.

The Jin Dan sword cultivators' battle was a performance match—one contribution point granted ten minutes of viewing.

Time to go.

Zhang Yunlu stood up; she had so few contribution points, she couldn't waste them here.

After leaving the performance area, she headed straight for the Combat Zone.

She needed to earn some contribution points—and also see how she compared to the Xiang Jianzong's Qi Condensation sword cultivators.

…………

Meanwhile, deep within the Inner Sect of the Xiang Jianzong, in the Sword Master Hall.

A bright, impossibly vast space stretched before them, strands of spiritual light extending from all directions, connecting to branches of white jade-like leaves.

The translucent, glass-like leaves emitted a faint radiance.

Thousands of branches and veins nearly filled the entire overhead space; cool, moonlit white light spilled down, adding a touch of solemn stillness.

Looking inward along the flawless, perfect branches—seemingly not of this world—lay a magnificent trunk, crystal-clear and swirling with radiant auroras.

A tree.

A divine tree resembling the moon laurel of myth.

Xu Xing and Bie Xuening stood beneath it, like specks of dust beside mountains. "All these years, she's worked hard," Xu Xing smiled.

"It's also a kind of trial—to temper her impatience."

Bie Xuening extended her hand, her fingertip gently touching the crystalline trunk.

Like a pebble dropped into a lake, the surface of the white jade-like trunk rippled in concentric waves.

Boom—! The divine tree, as massive as a mountain, suddenly trembled; the entire space shuddered, and the auroras within the magnificent trunk flowed faster.

As if something terrifying were about to break free from within the tree.

Soon, a silhouette appeared on the trunk's surface—a sword.

A sword three feet three inches long, its blade bright as solidified moonlight, its hilt wrapped in ancient engravings.

Zong! A sliver of sword qi leaked out, manifesting endless scenes of destruction.

Mountains shattered, sun and moon darkened, the Milky Way churned, divine beings screamed! Vast seas of blood drowned the stars.

Kill!

A ferocious, violent roar echoed in their ears—its murderous intent could turn any cultivator below Dao Union into a mindless monster.

Xu Xing remained unmoved by all of this.

And Bie Xuening merely watched coldly.

Soon, the blade trembled, emitting a slightly plaintive sword hum, and the vision of destruction conjured by the sword qi vanished.

"Come out," Bie Xuening said calmly.

Hum? The transmitted thought seemed almost disbelieving.

Xu Xing stepped forward, a crimson longsword appearing in his hand, its flowing divine light dimming even the radiance of the Divine Tree.

It was Yue Ying.

"For the time being, Yue Ying will take over your duties."

Only when Xu Xing spoke these words did the sword within the Divine Tree's trunk finally confirm that Bie Xuening's earlier words were true.

It immediately shot forth as a streak of light.

Soaring into the sky, it circled the massive trunk of the Divine Tree hundreds of times in an instant—anyone could see her joy.

This was the Ancestral Sword Yue Ling, Bie Xuening's sentient sword.

Many years ago, for no reason destroying several resource planets, she had been cast here by Bie Xuening to reflect.

Unfortunately, long before Xu Xing joined his master's sect, this sword already had a name.

Aah~ Soon, Yue Ling, circling above, dove down.

Bie Xuening opened her hand.

But Yue Ling did not land in her palm; instead, she landed behind Xu Xing, transforming into a little girl under a meter tall, with a topknot and a white long dress.

Her face was exquisitely crafted, like a porcelain doll, her eyes a beautiful red.

One hand gripped Xu Xing's sleeve, the other extended, pointing at Bie Xuening.

"You cruel old woman, exploiting child labor!"

"Hmm?" Bie Xuening's gaze grew cold.

Yue Ling shuddered, quickly retracting her hand and hiding behind Xu Xing.

"You have three seconds to come out from behind your junior brother."

"No!"

"One."

"Unless you apologize to me!" Yue Ling shouted.

"Two."

"I'm your sentient sword, not your employee—why do you exploit me like this?!"

"Three!"

Plop! The little girl knelt down with complete, unhesitating obedience, humbly admitting fault.

"Master, I'm sorry."

Second chapter update; one more to come.

(End of Chapter)