Chapter 509: The Ancestor of the Immortal Sect's Sword Dao

Passion.

A person who is passionate about the Sword Dao.

Even if comprehension is poor, talent is poor, perhaps one cannot go far, but this single point is enough.

In this era when the Sword Dao is just beginning to rise, what is needed is precisely such people, to slowly nurture and spread the Sword Dao, letting it grow strong.

The Sword Champion has been decided.

Year 9, Month 9, Day 9 — the Immortal Sect's first Huashan Sword Discussion, the first laurel crown appears.

"A fine moment indeed, this is a day worth commemorating."

Jiang Ding praised.

Screech!

From the void came a high-pitched, sharp cry that pierced the clouds and split the rocks; the Sun Divine Wood collapsed layer upon layer, its spiritual light scattering.

And then,

A Sun Divine Crane with a thousand-meter wingspan spread its magnificent wings, pure gold blazing white; the Sword of Destruction intent spread in all directions, causing layer upon layer of unstable ripples to appear in the void.

"Go."

Jiang Ding said softly.

Screech!

Another cloud-splitting cry rang out; the Sun Divine Crane lightly spread its wings, tearing through space, rumbling as it went, and vanished into a spatial rift.

The black web-like cracks slowly healed.

Jiang Ding closed his eyes.

The Taiqing Flying Sword carried his Jin Dan, carried a portion of his divine soul — one could say it was a more important version of himself, and could fight independently all along; it was simply unnecessary in the past.

……

The peak of Huashan.

Under the gaze of ten thousand people, the first Huashan Sword Discussion's Sword Champion, Wang Tian Sheng, was receiving everyone's cheers; this process was broadcast live to the entire Immortal Sect and the thirteen minor realms.

In an instant, his name shook the world.

Even though Wang Tian Sheng was the top scholar of the Immortal Sect's examinations, at this moment he felt somewhat elated and lightheaded — this was the nature of a young heart.

"Will Senior Jiang come?"

Wang Tian Sheng secretly sent a voice transmission to Wei Hu, who was not far away.

This one — at merely Foundation Establishment realm had personally slain multiple candidates for the Xuanwu Heavenly Palace Dao Child, countless true disciples, and seized Ganghan Realm, nearly becoming a legend of the Immortal Sect.

The Immortal Sect had over ten thousand top scholars, yet none had ever shone so brilliantly.

"He will."

Wei Hu's face showed a respectful expression.

Although both were at Qi Refining, he did not consider himself to be on the same level as the other.

This was someone who would certainly form a Jin Dan, with at least a ten percent chance of Nascent Soul as well.

Wang Tian Sheng felt reassured.

The hundred-plus thousand people around Huashan also held their breath, gazing at the sky; among them were not a few Jin Dan cultivators.

Screech!

Accompanied by a cloud-piercing, rock-splitting sword cry, a black dot appeared in the sky's space; the black dot spread into web-like cracks, and the terrifying aura of shattered space spread in all directions.

The thoughts of over a hundred thousand people froze, unable to breathe under the pressure.

Even the divine souls of many Jin Dan cultivators trembled, their bodies shaking, as if facing a natural disaster; they themselves were as fragile as a candle flame in the wind, liable to be extinguished at any moment.

"Jin Dan? Jin Dan!"

"He's at Jin Dan? Damned, how did I not know!"

Many Immortal Sect Jin Dan cultivators secretly began cursing.

"Dao Child, the Immortal Sect's Dao Child!"

"This is absolutely a Dao Child!"

Other Jin Dan cultivators who had participated in the inter-realm wars were trembling with excitement, truly confirming it, fantasizing about what wonderful scenes might unfold, occasionally laughing foolishly, as if gone mad.

First the crane's head emerged, breaking through space, its tip sharp as a sword.

Then came the swan-like elegant neck, the magnificent body, and finally the thousand-meter wingspan of the Sun Divine Wings; the heavy pressure of destruction swept out in all directions.

A thousand miles of white clouds dispersed; the warm Sun Divine Light shone upon the earth, draping the peak of Huashan in a layer of golden robes.

"Wang Tian Sheng."

The Sun Divine Crane spoke in human tongue.

"Greetings, Senior!"

Wang Tian Sheng excitedly bowed in greeting.

"You have won the first Huashan Sword Discussion's Sword Champion; in terms of swordsmanship, you are the foremost of the Immortal Sect's younger generation."

The Sun Divine Crane's sharp beak parted slightly, and a pure-gold flying sword flew out from its mouth, landing in Wang Tian Sheng's hand: "I bestow upon you one Huashan Sword; within it is stored my sword intent. In the future, if you are so inclined, you may reference it."

"Additionally, I bestow one hundred thousand lower-grade spirit stones."

"I wish you, young friend, smooth sailing on the path of immortality."

He knew the young man before him could not walk the Sword Dao, but this did not prevent him from offering guidance and patronage — just as many seniors had done for him many years ago.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Wang Tian Sheng bowed deeply and said loudly.

Jiang Ding nodded slightly.

"Fang Yilong."

He looked at a dark-skinned farmer in his forties or fifties.

"Greetings, Senior Jiang."

Fang Yilong gazed at the Sun Divine Crane before him with burning eyes, as though he were looking upon the true sun.

"You claimed second place in the sword trial. I bestow upon you thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones, one Silver Fish Sword, which contains sword intent within — you may study it for reference."

"Thank you, Senior!"

Fang Yilong bowed deeply to the ground.

"Liu Yu."

"I bestow upon you ten thousand low-grade spirit stones, a Bronze Fish Sword, which contains sword intent within — you may comprehend it for reference."

Jiang Ding completed the proceedings according to protocol.

Third place was a short-haired woman, apparently a student of Mulan University, equally formidable.

"That is all."

The Sun Divine Crane cast one final glance over those who had earned the right to be called sword seedlings, then tore open space and vanished.

After a long while, the oppressive might of the sword path dissipated.

A buzzing of voices arose as people excitedly discussed what had happened.

As expected, after today, a great flood of news about the Huashan Sword Discourse would dominate the headlines of every major Immortal Gate website.

The might of the sword path would be deeply imprinted upon people's hearts.

One could foresee that from now on, countless people would begin to attempt this path, choosing it as an option for their cultivation, no longer obscure and nameless.

……

Some time later.

The Taiqing Flying Sword returned, landing in the hand of a blue-robed youth at the Silver Sky Isle dormitory.

"Grow up quickly, little seedlings."

Jiang Ding looked expectantly at Fang Yilong and the other sword seedlings who had performed outstandingly in this first Huashan Sword Discourse, and who, as expected, would walk the sword path.

In the future, their cultivation would advance greatly, leaping forward by leaps and bounds, because the sword path was their innate talent — it had simply never been unearthed before.

Then, they would encounter bottlenecks, and try to break through them.

Some would succeed and advance further in cultivation; some would fail and die of old age.

But no matter what, they had existed.

Their very existence was itself a part of the Immortal Gate's exploration of the sword path.

Jiang Ding would not take them as disciples, keep them by his side, lavish resources upon them, and carefully nurture them.

What he needed was not one or two powerful individuals.

What he needed was a social environment that continuously produced sword cultivators — a true sword path that did not depend on any single person — a sword path for the Immortal Gate that possessed tenacious vitality.

He would provide help, provide a favorable environment, encouragement, support — letting true sword-path geniuses break through the soil, grow tenaciously, unbreakable and indestructible, seeking funding on their own when they met difficulties, forming teams to research and develop.

Not force-fed, rapidly fattened ducks, one after another.

Otherwise, even though he could be considered fairly well-off among Nascent Soul cultivators, he could not bear such a burden of support.

After a moment of reflection, Jiang Ding tucked the Taiqing Flying Sword into his glabella, rose, and flew into the sky.

"Jiang Ding!"

Not far off, An Siyan and Jin Lingfeng also flew over toward him, calling out in greeting.

The three had arranged to go today to inspect the Lianyun Port Shipbuilding Heavy Industries Group, and along the way to see the super warship Great Sun, whose construction was largely complete and which was currently having its outer deck and formations laid down.

(End of chapter)