Chapter 206: Rewards! Yin-Yang Mark’s Reaction!
While the demonic clone was dealing with the aftermath of Pure Glaze Island, Chen Xuan’s true body in the Tianxuan Domain had equally important matters to attend to.
Not the affairs of his newly accepted third disciple. Rather, it was time to examine the harvest that disciple had brought him.
Core Formation realm!
This was Xiao Lingxi’s cultivation, making her, by far, the strongest disciple Chen Xuan had accepted so far.
Naturally, his expectations for the System’s rewards were considerably higher than before.
Would they prove as useful as the rewards he had obtained after accepting Huo Ling’er and Chi Yao?
Or, because of the vast difference in cultivation between Xiao Lingxi and him, would the rewards end up being far less useful than he hoped?
Chen Xuan didn’t know.
Still, judging from the System’s consistency until now, he found himself leaning toward the former. After all, it had yet to truly disappoint him.
Rubbing his hands together in anticipation, Chen Xuan summoned the System Panel before confirming that he wished to receive his rewards.
Instantly, several lines of text appeared before him.
...
[Congratulations on receiving the following rewards:]
[1x Pure Glaze Stone]
[1x Pure Sword Art]
[1x Azure Breeze Scripture]
[1x Azure Breeze Sword]
[1x Sword Law Mark]
...
The list wasn’t particularly long, totaling only five rewards.
Yet Chen Xuan showed no disappointment. A single truly useful reward often surpassed dozens of ordinary treasures.
What he needed was not a bunch of low-level treasures, but something that could help him in his future path.
Judging from their names alone, it was obvious that every one of them was closely related either to Xiao Lingxi herself or to the Dao of the Sword.
Chen Xuan found the latter somewhat surprising.
After all, Xiao Lingxi had displayed remarkable healing abilities as well. Yet only one of the rewards appeared directly related to that aspect.
Still, he didn’t dwell on the matter for long.
As his attention settled on the rewards, their descriptions immediately appeared.
...
[Pure Glaze Stone: A spiritual stone capable of greatly enhancing a cultivator’s comprehension. While holding this treasure during cultivation, one’s understanding of techniques, Laws, and Dao will improve significantly. Its effects resemble a rudimentary version of the Pure Glazed Heart.]
...
[Pure Sword Art: A complete collection of sword techniques, ranging from the most basic sword forms to quasi-immortal sword arts. Fully comprehending this inheritance grants one the potential to reach the peak of the Mortal World.]
...
[Azure Breeze Scripture: A cultivation scripture that perfectly fuses the Dao of the Sword with the Dao of Healing. Its practitioner can wield a sword capable of both unparalleled destruction and miraculous restoration. Cultivating this scripture requires extraordinary comprehension, as it demands maintaining perfect harmony between two seemingly opposite forces.]
...
Chen Xuan’s eyebrows rose slightly.
He had long since realized that the System tailored its rewards according to the disciple it recognized.
Huo Ling’er had rewarded him with treasures centered around fire and physical cultivation.
Chi Yao had granted him demonic arts and techniques.
As for Xiao Lingxi? Her path appeared to combine swordsmanship with healing.
At first glance, it sounded rather unusual.
However, recalling the Pure Glazed Heart and its incredible effect on comprehension, Chen Xuan soon found the combination surprisingly reasonable.
Healing demanded precision. Swordsmanship demanded absolute control.
Both paths required an exceptional understanding of their own force.
Perhaps only someone blessed with the Pure Glazed Heart possessed the talent necessary to perfectly merge the two into a single cultivation path.
Chen Xuan had never encountered anyone cultivating such a Dao before, making it impossible to judge its true strength.
Even so, merely seeing the first reward convinced him that accepting Xiao Lingxi had been more than worthwhile.
What did he need the most at this moment?
Treasures? Techniques? Magic weapons?
None of those.
The greatest obstacle before him was improving his cultivation.
More specifically, strengthening the Yin-Yang Law Mark.
Doing so required a high level of comprehension, especially considering it was an Immortal Law Mark.
The Pure Glaze Stone had appeared at precisely the right moment. Simply reading its description made Chen Xuan feel tempted to retrieve it immediately.
A treasure capable of assisting one’s comprehension was priceless. Even among Soul Formation cultivators, such an item would almost certainly trigger a bloody struggle.
At the very least, Chen Xuan had never heard of such a thing before. At most, there were treasures that could grant one a relevant Physique.
As for outrightly enhancing comprehension? He had neither heard nor seen of it.
Fortunately, he quickly restrained that impulse. There was still no rush.
The remaining rewards deserved his attention first.
Calming himself, Chen Xuan shifted his gaze downward once more.
...
[Azure Breeze Sword: The companion weapon of the Azure Breeze Scripture. It can bind itself to its master and grow alongside them similarly to an Artifact. Only those who cultivate the Azure Breeze Scripture may wield its true power. Initially ranked as a High-Grade Spirit Weapon.]
...
[Sword Law Mark: A Heaven-Grade Law Mark left behind by a Soul Transformation expert. Studying it grants profound insights into the Dao of the Sword, greatly increasing one’s comprehension of sword techniques and Sword Intent.]
...
The remaining rewards followed much the same theme.
Both revolved around the Dao of the Sword and Healing.
Unlike the previous techniques, however, these were tangible treasures.
One was a weapon.
The other, a Law Mark.
Although the Azure Breeze Sword possessed rather unique characteristics—being able to evolve alongside its owner much like an Artifact—it failed to attract Chen Xuan’s attention for long.
The Sword Law Mark, however, was another matter entirely.
This was only the second Heaven-Grade Law Mark he had ever encountered.
The first belonged to Mu Xuanyin, when she first introduced the Law Marks to him. It had been the fusion of several elements coexisting perfectly, somewhat similar to the path he later took to create the Yin-Yang Law Mark.
At that time, however, Chen Xuan neither possessed the knowledge nor the strength necessary to properly study such a thing.
Now things were different.
Without the slightest hesitation, he retrieved the reward from the System Inventory.
Instantly, a silver pattern materialized above his palm.
Its countless intersecting lines resembled sword scars. Each edge appeared incomparably sharp.
Merely looking directly at it caused a faint stinging sensation within his eyes.
The surrounding Spiritual Energy instinctively flowed around the Law Mark instead of touching it, as though even heaven and earth sought to avoid its edge.
The moment it fully manifested, the cultivation room filled with boundless sword intent. Invisible strands of sword qi spread in every direction, leaving tiny ripples in space.
Had Chen Xuan not suppressed them, the entire room would likely have been riddled with countless cuts within moments.
Even his palm experienced a faint prickling sensation, as though he were holding the sharpest blade.
Far from alarming him, the phenomenon only heightened his excitement.
After suppressing the surrounding sword qi with a wave of his hand, Chen Xuan lowered his gaze toward the Sword Law Mark once more.
The instant his eyes landed upon it, an unfamiliar sensation suddenly emerged.
At first, he couldn’t identify it.
Only after carefully observing his own body did he finally discover its source.
Yearning.
Not his own yearning. It originated from the Yin-Yang Law Mark.
Chen Xuan immediately understood what was happening.
The moment the Sword Law Mark appeared, his Immortal Law Mark had begun resonating with it.
It seemed to want the outside Law Mark to become part of it.
In simple terms... it wanted to devour it.
Curiously, the Sword Law Mark itself didn’t seem to resist. Its fluctuations remained calm throughout, almost as though it had silently accepted its fate and could not resist the Immortal Law Mark.
Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow.
He had no idea why such a reaction had occurred.
Was it because the Sword Law Mark happened to complement the Yin-Yang Law Mark?
Or was this simply an innate characteristic shared by all Immortal Law Marks?
Unfortunately, he had no means of verifying either possibility.
Faced with the increasingly intense resonance, only two options remained before him.
He could suppress the Yin-Yang Law Mark and preserve the Sword Law Mark exactly as it was, or he could allow his Immortal Law Mark to proceed, letting it attempt to assimilate the Sword Law Mark into itself.
The more Chen Xuan observed the phenomenon, the more convinced he became that this wasn’t ordinary devouring. If he allowed the Yin-Yang Law Mark to proceed, the Sword Law Mark would truly disappear forever.
This treasure, being the crystallization of a Soul Transformation cultivator’s lifelong comprehension, would be erased from existence.
As for what Chen Xuan would gain in return? He had no idea.
It might very well enhance his Law Mark, improving his cultivation. Likewise, it could very well cause his Yin-Yang Law Mark to grow out of balance and thus out of control.
After only a brief moment of contemplation, Chen Xuan made his decision.
Instantly...