Chapter 21: Flying Sword

Holding a sliver of anticipation, Zhang Nuo cradled the "Nine Dragon Sword Case" in his arms. He released his Divine Sense into the sword case and branded it with his Divine Sense Mark. Afterward, with a movement of his Divine Sense, the entire sword case emitted a faint spiritual light. At the same time, a flash of electricity sparked on the side of the case, and a white light shot out rapidly. After shooting out more than a zhang, that white light suddenly stopped in mid-air.

Zhang Nuo's eyes followed the white light as it came to a halt. When the white light dissipated and he focused his gaze, he saw a white Flying Sword, half a foot long and two fingers wide, hovering there.

The appearance of this Flying Sword was somewhat peculiar; it had no hilt and was pointed at both ends, looking like a long iron plate with sharp blades polished along all sides.

The Flying Sword flickered with a faint cold light, yet one could clearly see many notches on the blade—scars obviously left behind after experiencing several great battles.

With a light beckon of his hand, the Flying Sword suspended in mid-air arrived before Zhang Nuo. Upon closer inspection, Zhang Nuo could not help but gasp; the blade was covered in pits and hollows, as if it would shatter at the slightest touch.

Although Lin Fan had previously told Zhang Nuo that the "Nine Dragon Sword Case" was on the verge of being scrapped after experiencing several great battles, he had not expected it to be in such a state.

Frowning slightly, the joy Zhang Nuo felt from his advancement diminished somewhat upon seeing the Flying Sword. With the sword so dilapidated, could it still fight?

Moving his Divine Sense again, another Flying Sword flashed out from the sword case. The "Nine Dragon Sword Case" contained a total of eighty-one Flying Swords, divided into nine groups of nine. Depending on one's cultivation level and strength, the number of Flying Swords one could use varied. Zhang Nuo wanted to see if the other Flying Swords were in the same condition.

As soon as this Flying Sword appeared, Zhang Nuo's heart went cold. The degree of damage to the second Flying Sword was no less than the first; if anything, it looked even worse.

"Swish! Swish!"

Immediately following, two more Flying Swords flew out from the sword case, but the result was the same: each one was dilapidated and broken. When Zhang Nuo tried to summon another Flying Sword, a wave of dizziness washed over his mind, as if several steel needles had been driven directly into his brain. It seemed that with his current cultivation, having four Flying Swords appear at once was his limit.

Rubbing his aching head with one hand, Zhang Nuo guided the three Flying Swords back into the sword case with the other. A moment later, the headache eased slightly. Although he had reached the Sixth Layer of the Qi Refining Stage, the Spiritual Qi within his body was simply insufficient to drive four Flying Swords.

His gaze fell once more upon the Flying Sword before him. Suddenly, Zhang Nuo gritted his teeth, and under the fluctuation of his Divine Sense, the Flying Sword slashed toward the wall of the room.

"Boom!"

After a muffled thud, the Flying Sword left a gash over half a foot long on the wall, and gravel fell to the floor. Zhang Nuo, who had been somewhat worried, felt his heart lift again upon seeing this scene. Despite the dilapidated appearance of the Flying Sword, it still possessed a certain lethality when attacking.

Just at this moment, Lin Fan's voice suddenly came from outside the stone door.

"Nuo Er, what happened in your room?"

Lin Fan had been meditating in his own room. With his Golden Core Stage cultivation, it was impossible for him not to have noticed such a loud sound coming from the Cave Abode! Especially since he sensed the sound had come from Zhang Nuo's room, he was even more worried.

His little disciple had been in seclusion for half a year. Judging by Zhang Nuo's cultivation aptitude, this half-year of seclusion should have been his limit.

Fearing that Zhang Nuo might have encountered some accident during his seclusion, Lin Fan flickered a few times and arrived at the entrance of Zhang Nuo's room.

Hearing his master's voice, Zhang Nuo hurriedly put away the Flying Sword, got off the stone bed, and walked quickly to the door. As soon as the stone door opened, he saw Lin Fan standing outside with an anxious look on his face.

Upon seeing Zhang Nuo for the first time, Lin Fan felt a sudden jolt in his heart. Judging by the aura emanating from Zhang Nuo, he had almost reached the Sixth Layer of the Qi Refining Stage.

"You have advanced?"

Lin Fan could hardly believe his eyes. He used his Divine Sense to scan Zhang Nuo repeatedly several times, but the final result was the same!

"Yes! Now I have reached the Sixth Layer, and I am fully qualified to participate in the Chief Disciple Assembly!"

Zhang Nuo nodded affirmatively. Looking at Lin Fan, a sense of gratitude welled up in him; if Lin Fan had not taken him in as a disciple back then, he would likely be nothing more than a small person doing odd jobs within the sect.

Just then, Gao Dakuan, Qu Yuan, and Ye Ling'er also walked out of their rooms upon hearing the noise. When they saw the change in Zhang Nuo, all three of them opened their mouths in astonishment. Gao Dakuan, in particular, was so happy he almost jumped up; Zhang Nuo had finally reached the Sixth Layer, meaning he could finally participate in the Chief Disciple Assembly.

With a weight lifted off his heart, Gao Dakuan was almost moved to tears. He stepped forward and pulled Zhang Nuo into an embrace; for some reason, he liked this little junior brother even more now.

"Nuo Er, tell me the truth, how did you cultivate so quickly?"

Just as everyone was rejoicing, Lin Fan's expression suddenly turned cold, and he spoke sternly. This instantly extinguished the heated atmosphere. Gao Dakuan and the others also calmed down, their gazes gathering once again on Zhang Nuo. Based on the aptitude Zhang Nuo had previously displayed, it was impossible for him to have such a cultivation speed!