[Ding! Xiao Qingluan has cultivated diligently for an entire morning! She is one step closer to the Golden Core realm! Random feedback is being processed... Congratulations to the Host for advancing your cultivation...]
Chen Ye slept until noon, awakened by the system's prompt.
He sensed his own cultivation. Wow, he was at the ninth level of the Divine Sea realm, just a single step away from the Martial Sovereign realm!
He then looked at Xiao Qingluan, who was cultivating diligently outside his hut...
Does she have to be so intense?!
He shook his head and got up to cook.
Then, he remembered something and called out, "Oh, Junior Sister, don't forget we need to go to Soaring Sword Peak to collect your sword from the Sword Pavilion."
This was the prize from his bet with Luo Tian.
Now that Xiao Qingluan had won, it was time for her to get a sword of her own.
Xiao Qingluan had always felt that without a suitable weapon, her combat effectiveness was greatly diminished. Of course, she wouldn't miss this opportunity and readily agreed.
Not long after, she followed Chen Ye to Soaring Sword Peak.
Seeing the two of them, the disciples of Soaring Sword Peak were not very friendly. After all, Chen Ye had injured Zhang Bai and Wang Zheng, and Xiao Qingluan had publicly defeated Luo Ziyun, causing Soaring Sword Peak to lose a great deal of face. It would be strange if they were greeted with smiles.
But Chen Ye didn't care at all. He led Xiao Qingluan to the summit of Soaring Sword Peak, where a magnificent pavilion stood. The building radiated a palpable sword energy, emitting a chilling sword intent that prickled the skin.
This was the destination of their trip... the Sword Pavilion!
It was said that the Sword Pavilion was established by the Peak Lord of Soaring Sword Peak, and it housed the swords of the various swordsmen he had defeated over the years. Every disciple of Soaring Sword Peak could enter and attempt to gain the recognition of one of the famous blades.
However, famous swords have spirits. So far, only a handful of disciples had ever successfully taken a sword from the Pavilion.
Chen Ye believed Xiao Qingluan would be one of them.
When Luo Tian heard that Senior Brother Chen Ye and his junior sister had arrived, he knew they were here to collect their prize. He had no intention of reneging on the deal and came personally to open the doors to the Sword Pavilion.
In an instant, a tidal wave of sword intent surged out from within!
Xiao Qingluan's eyes narrowed, then she lifted her chin and stepped inside.
Many disciples gathered to watch, eager to see what kind of sword this legendary Holy Body could retrieve from the famous Sword Pavilion.
Inside, as soon as Xiao Qingluan entered, the aura of her Phoenix Holy Body emanated outwards. In an instant, every sword in the pavilion began to hum and vibrate.
All the swords wanted to recognize a Holy Body as their master!
These swords, which were arrogant and aloof in front of the disciples of Soaring Sword Peak, now acted like fawning courtiers before Xiao Qingluan. The trembling blades seemed to be crying out...
Choose me, choose me!
Xiao Qingluan looked down on these so-called famous swords. Her gaze swept around, and she suddenly noticed a sword tucked away in a dusty corner.
Unlike the other dazzling, gleaming blades, this sword was covered in rust, looking like a piece of scrap metal.
But Xiao Qingluan knew that a place like the Sword Pavilion would never house a piece of scrap. This sword had to be extraordinary.
She walked forward to inspect it.
The moment her hand grasped the hilt, a strange aura emanated from the sword. It actually resonated with her Phoenix Holy Body, triggering the release of Phoenix Fire!
The ethereal flames burned brightly, enveloping the sword. The rust on the blade gradually melted away, revealing its true appearance.
It was a sword as red as blood.
A faint phoenix shadow seemed to swim along the blade's surface. The moment she grasped it, a set of profound and mysterious sword techniques flooded into Xiao Qingluan's mind.
It was a technique called the [Phoenix Sword Art]...
A Transcendent-grade Art!
Outside the Sword Pavilion, Chen Ye stood with his hands behind his back, waiting for Xiao Qingluan to emerge.
Suddenly.
The system prompt chimed in his mind.
[Ding! It has been detected that Xiao Qingluan has comprehended the Phoenix Sword Art! Feedback from her successful practice is being processed... Congratulations to the Host for comprehending the Phoenix Sword Art at the Great Perfection level!]
Chen Ye was slightly stunned.
An uncontrollable, peerless sword intent erupted from his body.
In that single moment, Luo Tian, who was standing beside him, felt his eyes narrow. He stared at Chen Ye, pure horror filling his gaze.
For a split second, he had thought Chen Ye had transformed into an ancient, peerless Sword Phoenix. A single glance felt like it could unleash a thousand sword energies to annihilate him.
But the feeling came and went in a flash, disappearing without a trace.
Luo Tian even wondered if it had been an illusion.
"This Chen Ye... he must be hiding a massive secret! He is definitely not as simple as he appears. At the very least, he is absolutely not the mortal physique everyone talks about. A mortal physique could never give me that feeling!"
Luo Tian took a deep breath. When he looked at Chen Ye again, his eyes held a distinct trace of fear.
And at that moment...
Inside the Sword Pavilion, crimson flames shot into the sky. A torrent of sword energy gushed out from the flames, transforming into a magnificent phoenix that hovered in the air, emitting an astonishing sword intent.
This intent was so powerful that it caused the swords in the hands of all the sword-wielding disciples present to tremble uncontrollably.
A figure in white robes arrived at the Sword Pavilion. He was not surprised to see the phoenix made of sword energy above.
"As expected, she has gained the sword's recognition."
This person was none other than the Peak Lord of Soaring Sword Peak!
Luo Tian asked curiously, "Master, which sword is that?"
"I discovered that blade when I was exploring an ancient ruin in my youth. It is said to have been wielded by a Sovereign who possessed a Fire Phoenix Royal Body, and it contains the Sovereign's sword inheritance! It's a pity that I was never fated to obtain it."
"I placed the sword in the Pavilion, hoping that a brilliant disciple might appear on Soaring Sword Peak one day and be recognized by it. I never expected that brilliant disciple... would come from Jade Bamboo Peak."
Thinking of this, the Soaring Sword Peak Lord couldn't help but feel a pang of envy towards Shen Ziling.
Not long after, the phoenix of sword energy gradually dissipated.
Xiao Qingluan walked out of the Sword Pavilion. Everyone's eyes immediately fell on the sword at her waist.
The sword was blood-red, radiating a powerful sword spirit and gleaming with precious light. It was clearly no ordinary weapon. It was a... Transcendent-grade weapon!
Cultivator weapons, like techniques, were graded: Low, Medium, High, Extreme, Transcendent, Saint, and the legendary Emperor-grade.
A Transcendent-grade weapon was a rare treasure even on the Myriad Dao Continent. Everyone looked at Xiao Qingluan with undisguised envy.
A Holy Body, a Transcendent weapon, and a Sovereign's inheritance...
Comparing oneself to others was truly infuriating. She was on a completely different level.
Xiao Qingluan, having obtained the sword, was in high spirits. A smile graced her face as she said to Chen Ye, "Senior Brother, I got the sword."
"Good. Let's go."
Chen Ye led Xiao Qingluan away under the envious gazes of the crowd.
"Master, are you just going to let them take a Transcendent weapon like that?" some disciples asked, unwilling to accept it.
The Soaring Sword Peak Lord snorted. "What else can we do? We lost the bet. Can't my Soaring Sword Peak afford to lose?"
Of course, the most important reason was... he couldn't beat Shen Ziling.
"It's all my fault. If I hadn't made that bet with Chen Ye, how could Xiao Qingluan have taken away a Transcendent weapon?" Luo Tian said, filled with guilt.
The Peak Lord was magnanimous. "What's done is done. There's no need to blame yourself. You just need to remember this: from now on, Jade Bamboo Peak is not the Jade Bamboo Peak of old. Whether it's Chen Ye or Xiao Qingluan... you must treat them with caution! They are not to be underestimated!"