Chapter 609: Young Man, Have You Heard of the Sword-Destroying Alliance?

Zhu Bajie said, "Jiang Shang and Chijing Daoist are planning to sneak into the Shu Mountain Sword Sect and the Hidden Sword Mountain Villa."

Tang Luo said, "Oh? Can they get in?"

The two are quite capable, though upon entering the mission world they encountered an elder named Lin who posed a threat to them.

But Elder Lin, placed in this world, is still a mid-to-high-level powerhouse.

For the two to infiltrate an ordinary sect and become guest elders would certainly be no problem, but if it were the Shu Mountain Sword Sect and the Hidden Sword Mountain Villa, it would not be so simple.

Such major sects rarely accept disciples who bring skills with them upon entry.

"They seem quite confident; they must have some special method." Zhu Bajie said.

Both are extremely experienced god-demon wanderers; setting aside strength, they are far more formidable than Tang Luo and his group, with more methods and stronger adaptability, able to blend in as "locals" in the vast majority of mission worlds.

"Let's wait and see what progress they make, then decide based on the situation." Tang Luo said.

Zhu Bajie nodded and looked toward the dueling platform: "Huh, someone is contacting Xiao Bailong."

It's normal for someone to contact Ao Yulie; the Jade Dragon Prince, a foundation establishment cultivator, has some local fame as a swordsman nearby, known for being handsome and fighting handsomely.

As for strength, he's just a foundation establishment sword cultivator—no one would pay much attention; being handsome is enough.

It's common practice to casually train on such dueling platforms, and after sparring, a group of flirtatious female cultivators often gather around.

But this time is unusual, because the person chatting with Ao Yulie is a middle-aged man.

Judging by their appearance, they seem to be getting along quite well.

"Master, this guy sent me a mental message, saying I'm not a sword cultivator—should we take care of him?" Soon, Ao Yulie's fierce and menacing voice came from the gray mist.

"Aren't you holding a sword?" Tang Luo said.

"Cough." Zhu Bajie coughed once, "If you're not holding a sword, you're not a sword cultivator."

"Speaking of which, what exactly counts as a sword cultivator?" Tang Luo suddenly wondered.

It seems not simply that using a sword, knowing sword techniques, or having sword-related divine abilities makes one a sword cultivator.

Chijing Daoist and his group are secretly investigating and researching related information, and have already found some clues.

Tang Luo and his group, however, are carefree and have not given it any thought at all.

"Let's make contact first; we are monks, we shouldn't always be fighting and killing." Zhu Bajie said.

"Alright." Ao Yulie agreed.

Soon, the two were seen parting with a look of mutual regret at having met late.

The middle-aged man had many female cultivators staring at him with sword-like gazes from behind, but he remained very calm, his somewhat plump face bearing a friendly smile.

Ao Yulie also had a smile on his face, showing no trace of having just been discussing physical transcendence with Tang Luo and the others.

The two came to a nearby place, namely the tavern where Tang Luo and his group were staying, and requested a private room.

The middle-aged man pinched a hand seal and cast a spell to isolate this room from the outside world.

What happens inside will not be detected by the outside.

This trick made Ao Yulie glance at him twice.

In this world, aside from various sword techniques, divine abilities, and spells, the remaining spells are not entirely absent, but the vast majority are extremely crude—whether the spell itself or its manifestation, it is all quite crude.

Compared to sword-type spells and divine abilities, it's like a primitive man's thick club versus a precision-guided missile that strikes exactly where pointed.

The spell this middle-aged man displayed has already reached the level of a flintlock gun.

Speaking of which, in some sense, this world is truly very compatible with Tang Luo.

"Rest assured, here no one can hear our conversation or see us two, even if his cultivation is higher, it won't work." The middle-aged man said confidently.

"Oh." However, Ao Yulie's calmness did not satisfy the middle-aged man's vanity.

Because of Ao Yulie's calmness, the middle-aged man asked: "You, could it be that you have an organization?"

The man's name is QI JINGHUAN, a Golden Core cultivator, sect leader of the Xia Ji Ba Qi Sword Gate, an affiliated sect of the Qing Tian Sword Sect, with only two or three little cats in the sect, besides him as the Golden Core sect leader, there are just over ten Qi Refining disciples and two Foundation Establishment elders.

Yet few look down on this small sect, because as an affiliated sect of the Qing Tian Sword Sect, the Xia Ji Ba Qi Sword Gate has the authority to recommend disciples to the Qing Tian Sword Sect.

If they receive a promising seedling, they recommend it to the Qing Tian Sword Sect to join one of the strongest sects; for a cultivator, this is no less than a student gaining admission to the highest academy.

This is a matter great enough to change one's life.

The Xia Ji Ba Qi Sword Gate is also quite interesting, for even as an affiliated sect, when they encounter a promising seedling, they will furtively take him into their own sect.

After all, who wouldn't want their sect to produce a powerhouse?

But the Xia Ji Ba Qi Sword Gate stubbornly goes against the norm—just in QI JINGHUAN's generation alone, they have sent over a dozen heaven-defyingly talented cultivators to the Qing Tian Sword Sect.

In QI JINGHUAN's own words: "My small sect, upon encountering a genius, retaining them would be delaying others, wouldn't it?"

"Better to recommend them to the Qing Tian Sword Sect; if they become powerful later, there will still be karmic ties."

"After all, the Xia Ji Ba Qi Sword Gate rose precisely by this method."

This sect originally had no connection whatsoever with the Qing Tian Sword Sect; it was merely considered a small sect within the Qing Tian Sword Sect's sphere of influence.

In a certain generation, the sect leader, while going out to recruit disciples to continue the sect's lineage, discovered a child born with a sword bone.

Then, he gritted his teeth, raised the child for two years, merely having him strengthen his body and build foundations, without transmitting any teachings; after two years, he brought him to participate in the Qing Tian Sword Sect's open recruitment.

The child naturally entered the Qing Tian Sword Sect, and a few hundred years later grew to become a pillar of the sect.

Thus, the Xia Ji Ba Qi Sword Gate became an affiliated sect of the Qing Tian Sword Sect.

As the sect leader of this generation, QI JINGHUAN, yet using a mysterious and secretive tone, said to Ao Yulie: "You have an organization?"

Like an underground worker.

Ao Yulie's mind worked like lightning; he did not answer, but instead said: "You are not a sword cultivator either."

He spoke with a definite tone.

"Of course not." QI JINGHUAN said, "I am just like you, an ordinary cultivator; seeing this kid's reckless appearance, he doesn't look like someone with an organization."

Does he have a naturally big heart?

"……I have met a few companions." Ao Yulie thought for a moment and said, "They are like me."

"I see," Qi Jinghuan said. "That's what I said, right? How could truly organized people be this stupid? Not afraid of being discovered and cut down with a single sword strike."

Next, Qi Jinghuan told Ao Yulie a story.

A relatively simple story; to summarize, it was the story of ordinary non-sword cultivators rebelling against sword cultivators.

On the surface, sword cultivators had already completely ruled this world; in the dark, non-sword cultivators hid their identities and were seeking an opportunity to strike back.

A loose sandplate naturally wouldn't do.

Non-sword cultivators united and secretly established some organizations.

The one Qi Jinghuan was in was the largest organization among them — the Exterminate Sword Alliance.

There were also the Destroy Sword Alliance, Shatter Sword Alliance, and the like.

"You mean you want me to join your Exterminate Sword Alliance?" Ao Yulie said.

"Of course, we need to unite all forces that can be united to overthrow the rule of those sword cultivators and tear open this sky canopy!" Qi Jinghuan's tone was intense. "You've also lived through days of constant anxiety, afraid of being discovered by those sword cultivators, right? Personally experienced the despair of being unable to truly cultivate no matter how you cultivate, no matter how many sword cultivation methods you switch to, only able to cover it up with a single flying sword and imitated sword techniques."

"Do you still want to continue living such days?"

Facing the impassioned Qi Jinghuan, Ao Yulie was very calm; he even stretched out a hand and waved it, signaling "that's enough," before asking: "I want to know why we cannot cultivate normal sword cultivation methods."

From Qi Jinghuan's words, he had already learned some information.

Distinguishing whether someone is a sword cultivator is very simple when put simply — just look at whether the other party has cultivated a sword cultivation method.

What is a sword cultivation method? Anyway, in the current cultivation world, what everyone practices are sword cultivation methods.

As a foundation, the true essence formed after cultivation is called Sword Essence, innately carrying a "Sharpness" effect; cultivating various sword-type spells and divine abilities yields twice the result with half the effort.

In contrast, other spells are comparatively difficult whether in learning, cultivation, or execution.

After cultivation reaches a certain level, sword cultivators will also condense their own "Sword Intent."

Most are Five Elements Sword Intents — Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth; a few are special non-Five-Elements Sword Intents.

That Elder Lin is the Metal Sword Intent among the Five Elements Sword Intents, belonging to sharpness upon sharpness.

If he crossed swords with a sword cultivator of the same cultivation level who had Fire Sword Intent, the most likely outcome would be Elder Lin's sword severing the opponent's sword while simultaneously being burned and destroyed by flames.

Then the question arises: why can some cultivators not cultivate sword cultivators' methods, and even if they force themselves to practice, cannot generate Sword Essence?

"Don't know, probably heaven's punishment," Qi Jinghuan shook his head.

"Cough." Ao Yulie did not press further; Qi Jinghuan wasn't lying, he could tell that much. "But I feel my current days aren't that bad either."

"That's because your cultivation is too weak," Qi Jinghuan said. "Right now you're just a small shrimp; no one notices you. But when you reach Golden Core, reach Nascent Soul, when Sword Intent should appear but you have none, or when you encounter a slightly stronger opponent and truly fight — will you still be able to hide?"

Ao Yulie fell silent; in his heart he really said: "True Dragon Ao Yulie could slap those people dead with one dragon claw, okay?"

But on the surface, he sank into struggling contemplation.

"We are natural comrades-in-arms; there is no possibility of betrayal between us," Qi Jinghuan said. "Even if you don't believe me, once you walk out this door, I won't report you. If you feel there's no need, then just leave."

After saying so much, at the critical moment, he played hard to get.

This move was perfect; it hadn't failed in many years.

Sure enough, the Young Master Jade Dragon before him took the bait — no, not exactly took the bait; he said: "I need to discuss with my companions."

"Tomorrow at this time, I'll wait for you here." Qi Jinghuan left.

Before leaving, he didn't set up any tricks; he was very open and aboveboard, and didn't touch a table full of dishes.

After a while, Tang Luo and Zhu Bajie walked over.

"Master, join or not?" Ao Yulie asked.

"Quite interesting, join and take a look," Tang Luo said with a smile.