Chapter 96 - Heavenly Sword Pool (2)
Before stepping through, Su Ming’s gaze fell upon a massive stone slab standing near the portal. It was the Leaderboard of the Sword Pool, displaying the names of the top disciples who had reached the deepest parts of the Disciple’s Sword Pool.
Because the board was strictly for disciples, Peak Masters and elders were not listed on it. At the very top of the slab, carved in sharp, golden runes, sat a single name - Jian Wushen.
A group of inner disciples stood nearby, staring at the board and whispering in hushed tones.
"Senior Brother Jian is still at the top," one disciple murmured. "I heard he recently entered the innermost pool and is currently in seclusion there. To cultivate in the deepest pool... his talent is truly monstrous."
"Of course," another replied. "He is the personal disciple of the Peak Master, and more importantly, I heard he is chosen to be the successor of the Sword Saint himself."
Su Ming heard the whispers but remained calm. Obviously, this disciple Jian had nothing to do with him, and as an Elder, he was not going to compete with a disciple.
He turned to Lin Yao and Wang Tian.
"Let’s go," Su Ming said.
With a collective nod, the three of them stepped into the portal, leaving the mountaintop behind as the space shifted around them.
***
Su Ming, Wang Tian, and Lin Yao stepped onto a large stone platform. Before them lay the secret realm of the Sword Pool, and the sheer scale of the space was immense; a vast, clear blue sky stretched above their head. On the ground, a thick layer of dense gray mist drifted, clinging to the pools and vibrating with a constant, low hum.
Below the platform, several distinct outer pools were visible, spread across the ground. Instead of water, these massive basins were filled with a thick, glowing silver liquid. A pure, concentrated sword Qi that rippled and sloshed against the shores like a heavy tide.
Along the surrounding cliffs, ancient protective arrays were carved deep into the stone. Massive golden runes pulsed slowly, casting a warm light over the cold shores and anchoring the space.
The air and the mist carried a sharp, piercing edge, as if they were inhaling tiny, invisible needles that pricked their skin and throats with every breath.
"To temper your paths, you must sit in a lotus position, half-submerged in the liquid sword Qi."
Lin Yao looked at the shore, her heart thumping against her ribs. Even from the platform, she could feel the wind currents rising from the water, cold and sharp against her skin.
"There is a rule here," Su Ming continued, looking at his disciples. "The pool will force your inner Qi and Sword comprehension to flare up. If your sword path is unstable, your sword Qi will turn violent, flying out of your body as stray strikes. The more you struggle to contain it, the more your comprehension is tested. If you cannot contain these, you cannot progress."
Lin Yao and Wang Tian looked toward the edge of the pool. A few inner disciples were already sitting in the liquid, their faces tight with strain. As they watched, one of the disciples gritted his teeth, his breathing turning ragged. A sudden, sharp arc of silver sword Qi shot out from his back, striking the protective formation behind him with a loud crack. Faint golden runes flared on the stones, absorbing the strike, but the disciple had to immediately open his eyes, panting as he struggled to control his inner energy. He immediately left the pool.
The moment they walked into the shallow edge of the Outermost Pool, Wang Tian’s chest hummed. His Shattered Sword Physique, starved for sword qi, reacted to the massive liquid reservoir. His sword meridians vibrated as if begging him to activate his Sword Calls Sword ability to pull the entire lake into his body.
On his chest, the Threefold Meridian Restriction Seal flared with a protective, warm light, vibrating against his skin. It held his physique back, forcing him to keep his absorption controlled. Wang Tian closed his eyes, gritting his teeth as he fought the urge.
"Sit," Su Ming commanded.
All three sat, letting the cold, silver liquid submerge them up to their waists.
Immediately, the struggle began.
Wang Tian struggled the most. The moment the liquid sword Qi entered his body, his sword physique clashed with the sharp energy. Without any proper body or soul cultivation technique to regulate this energy, he had to rely entirely on his raw willpower and his physique to remain seated.
Stray, crackling arcs of flaming sword Qi began to shoot out from his skin, tearing at his robes and slicing tiny cuts along his arms. His face went pale, sweat dripping from his chin as he gritted his teeth, his knuckles turning white as he clutched his hands. His breath came in ragged, painful gasps.
Beside him, Lin Yao struggled a little. She had learned the True Soul Origin Scripture, but because she was barely at the first stage of soul cultivation, her internal control was still weak. The sharp sword Qi invaded her body, clashing with her nether-flame path.
Violet nether-flames of Sword Qi flared out from her shoulders and back, hissing as they met the cold air. She quickly circulated the Yin Yang Origin Scripture to stabilize the chaotic energy within.
Standing on the dry stone platform, Su Ming watched his two disciples, who were trembling under the pressure.
’It is partly my fault,’ he thought, a faint trace of regret rising in his chest. ’I have not yet given them proper body cultivation techniques, and Lin Yao has only started her soul cultivation. Wang Tian has no body or soul techniques at all, relying purely on his sword physique and his stubborn will to stay calm. Cultivating here is far harder for them than it should be.’
It was not due to his laziness, but rather the unique limits of their paths. Lin Yao possessed a highly advanced Yin affinity. Su Ming’s own Primordial Yang Sovereign Body Art was too Yang focued. Passing it to her would cause more damage than good.
Wang Tian’s situation was even more delicate. His Shattered Sword Physique was fundamentally different from normal cultivators. Standard body tempering would actually harm his development. He needed to temper his body using raw sword Qi itself to strengthen it and cultivate it.