Chapter 001: I ask you, are you my steed?
At the moment the contract was completed, the sword spirit followed the contract channel and heard the girl's panicked thoughts
During the training of the Wind Chasing Sword, one must strike a hundred wooden stakes every day. Fortunately, there is no shortage of wooden stakes as long as Grandpa Tree is around. However, with frequent strikes on the wooden stakes, it is inevitable that the sword will become dull or even break. A single fine steel long sword, no matter how carefully it is used, will not last more than three days. Li Qingming has been practicing the Wind Chasing Sword for over three months, and she has already damaged more than twenty long swords, which has also exhausted her pocket money
No, Grandpa Tree, you are mistaken. That was not a loss of grip; I was merely... just practicing the Flying Sword from the Heavens. Look, after the Thirty-Six Paths of the Wind-Chasing Sword, suddenly releasing the sword will catch the enemy off guard...
Of course, this is the fundamental function of the master-slave contract
Picking up the long sword again, Li Qingming recalled her earlier loss of composure, and could not help but blush even more: "Broken sword, it is all your fault, causing me to be unable to practice swordsmanship smoothly."
To become the mount of the Celestial Sword from beyond the heavens is an opportunity that no cultivator could possibly refuse. At that time, Li Jiulong was chosen as the chief mount due to his exceptional sword forging skills, which caused the other eight celestial beings to feel envious and resentful for a long time.
When she stood on the stage, the youthful innocence on Li Qingming's face vanished completely. Holding the long sword with one hand, she took a deep breath, her small chest slightly rising, and an imposing aura naturally emerged.
Li Qingming opened her mouth, feeling somewhat breathless, "What did you say? Mount?"
Before falling into slumber, he was known throughout the Jiuzhou Continent as the Celestial Sword, a savior revered by all. One may be unaware of their own parents, but it is impossible to be ignorant of the Celestial Sword, the savior of the Jiuzhou Continent. Thus, no one has ever dared to ask such a foolish question in his presence
Until yesterday, Li Qingming meticulously calculated and realized that instead of changing swords every three days, it would be better to live frugally and spend a bit more money to buy a high-quality practice longsword. She did not seek sharpness or agility, nor did she desire any mystical properties, but simply required it to be durable and not easily destroyed. Such longswords are not uncommon among white-tier weapons, and their prices are not too expensive. Therefore, she rummaged through her belongings, sold some childhood toys, and gathered a total of nine taels of silver to bring this white-tier ancient sword home. As long as it was durable and not easily destroyed, it was sufficient. Such longswords are not uncommon among white-tier weapons, and their prices are not too expensive. Therefore, she rummaged through her belongings, sold some childhood toys, and gathered a total of nine taels of silver to bring this white-tier ancient sword home.
Given that my explanation is concise and accurate, I believe you should have understood my identity. Now, moving on to the next question, I ask you, are you my steed
Li Qingming could not clearly explain why she chose it. When selecting a sword at the market, she immediately set her eyes on this unremarkable white sword and then spent all her savings to purchase it
Practicing the sword to the point where the long sword slips from one's hand, this is likely a scandal that the Li family of Qingyun City has not heard of in a hundred years
However, at this moment, a rather significant problem arose: the practice longswords had already been completely used up
With a sword in hand, the world is at my feet
The process of signing the contract is very simple. The Sword Spirit takes a small amount of bodily fluid rich in the vitality of a young girl—specifically, the sweat from her sword training—and then takes a bit of her essence—namely, her complete concentration at that moment. After merging with itself, the master-servant relationship is established.
I hope I didn't buy the wrong one from you
The cultivation of the world is divided into nine levels
What?
... ...
Now, I only hope that this long sword can be worth its value. I do not seek it to cut through iron like mud; it is sufficient that it is sturdy and durable, assisting her in mastering the Wind Chasing Sword.
The signature sword technique of the outer disciples of the Li family in Wind City, when practiced to perfection, manifests a sword momentum akin to the wind, making it difficult for opponents to defend against. Li Qingming has been taught this sword manual half a year ago and has been diligently practicing day and night. To date, she has reached the seventh level of the Gale Realm, and with her sword drawn, the first three strikes are as swift as the wind, with sword light flashing like lightning, leaving her only one step away from the accomplished Tempest Realm.
Since the other party does not object, we can proceed to the third step
The hilt of the sword faintly reveals exquisite cloud patterns, yet most of them have been worn away by the passage of time, leaving only two ancient characters barely discernible, conveying a sense of the vicissitudes of life
At the end of the path, there is a secluded courtyard, with a dark red gate tightly closed, and an old plaque inscribed with 'Shen Garden' hanging forlornly on the door. Li Qingming smiled slightly, did not push the door, calculated the time with her fingers, and ran to a spot about ten steps beside the door, then with a leap of her feet, she soared over the ten-foot-high courtyard wall like a little bird
Sign the master-servant contract
The Sword Spirit was also taken aback by this question
The Sword Spirit noticed the girl with a blank expression and did not think much of it, as this question would not have a second answer anyway
The girl instinctively said: "Ghosts and sword spirits are the same! Wait! ? You, you can hear what I'm thinking! ?"
However, I soon felt that I was overreacting. After all, this old residence was left by my mother before her passing, and the courtyard is equipped with a formation meticulously designed by a practitioner of the Mountain-Toppling Realm. Even if it has fallen into disrepair over the years, it should not be vulnerable to any evil spirits or external forces taking advantage of it.
Although this white-tier longsword is not a divine weapon, does it perhaps carry a curse as well
Li Qingming lightly bounced to motivate herself, re-embracing the long sword and swiftly running along the path.
Reflecting on the difficulties encountered while practicing swordsmanship, it feels utterly wrong. How could a whiteboard sword weighing over 6 jin be so burdensome? Given her achievements during her childhood training, even wielding a pair of stone locks weighing 60 jin would not have left her exhausted and dropping them. There must be an issue with the sword itself
... ...
"I am not a ghost, I am a sword spirit," the sword spirit earnestly corrected Li Qingming's misconception
Jian Ling smiled and said: "Indeed, congratulations to you for being chosen as the mount of the Celestial Sword. From now on, you shall serve me as your master, allowing me to command you, sharing my power and wisdom... Now, please share your thoughts."
After talking for a while, Li Qingming became increasingly awkward, almost on the verge of exploding
The material is neither metal nor stone, light and agile to the touch, yet it reveals not a trace of spiritual energy, resembling an utterly ordinary white long sword devoid of any extraordinary powers.
Although this mount is indeed weaker than him, it has nonetheless awakened him, and at this moment, the sword spirit does not intend to be picky.
Li Qingming was stunned for a full half minute before she let out a sharp scream, threw aside the long sword, and rushed back to her room to retrieve a stack of talismans to suppress evil. She held half of them in her hand while tremblingly scattering the other half around the long sword
Li Qingming, holding a long sword, walked through the bustling market, her petite figure darting through the crowd like a fish. Her small head appeared and disappeared like duckweed on the ocean, evoking both fear and admiration, yet she remained unharmed.
What on earth is this thing?
A towering pine suddenly appeared before him, resembling a fierce guardian blocking the way. However, Li Qingming collided with it as if it were invisible, passing through without any hindrance and landing lightly on the ground
Before long, the young girl left the market and walked onto a secluded path. Her pace slowed slightly as she excitedly lifted the longsword she held in her arms, examining it closely, much like a groom lifting the red veil. However, it wasn't long before a hint of doubt and hesitation flickered in her gem-like eyes
Although this swordsman is still quite young and possesses very shallow cultivation, having only reached the perfection of body refinement and the entry level of the Wind Rising realm, he is at the very bottom of the cultivation world, and may not even be considered to have truly entered the cultivation realm
What exactly are you?
At this moment, she was no longer a fourteen-year-old girl, but a swordswoman
Then he ran straight into the house, scooped a ladle of cool water from the kitchen's water tank, and drank it heartily. Wiping his mouth with his small hand, he let out a sigh, picked up the long sword, and stood on the training ground behind the house.
Li Qingming suddenly recalled what the vendor had said, "Do you dare to use a divine weapon worth fifty taels? Aren't you afraid of the curse attached to it?"
Help! ! !
After a while, Li Qingming raised her head, and her gaze happened to meet the large tree by the courtyard wall, as if she were being gently watched by the ancient protective tree left by her mother, and her face immediately turned red again
The Blade and Soul said: "No, it is you who recognize me as your master, and I recognize you as my mount"
Li Qingming tilted her head helplessly, wearing a苦 face
Fool, it is clearly your own swordsmanship that is flawed
Wind Chasing Sword
Li Qingming lowered her head, large drops of sweat dripping down along her strands of hair, her neatly arranged black hair covering the girl's blushing face. Although this old courtyard is located in a remote area and usually no one comes here, the scene just now was witnessed by no one, yet it was still too embarrassing to think about!
Although nine taels of silver is not much, my allowance has been repeatedly deducted, and now I am almost out of money for meals. If I cannot master the Wind-Chasing Sword, it would be truly unimaginable
The young girl turned around and bowed to the phantom pine tree.
However, since the other party has asked a question, I shall respond earnestly. The Sword Spirit of the Celestial Sword, which was reborn from the essence of the Nine Realms after the Hundred Days Blood Sacrifice by the Nine Immortals, pondered for a moment and introduced itself: "I am the Sword Spirit of the Celestial Sword, reborn from the essence of the Nine Realms after the Hundred Days Blood Sacrifice by the Nine Immortals, having fallen into a long slumber after the battle with the Great Demon Emperor, and I have awakened at your call"
The sword measures 3 feet 4 inches in length, 2 inches in width, and weighs approximately 6 pounds. It is entirely snow-white, with a blade edge that is not prominent and a tip that is retracted, making it a genuine heavy blunt sword
The young girl exclaimed in astonishment: "What is a master-servant contract? You, you recognize me as your master now?"
It was just this one step, yet it had held her back for a full two months. From a strong wind to a fierce wind, the sword technique no longer needed to be faster, but rather stronger; otherwise, the sword's momentum would be like the wind, merely a gentle breeze, and how could it kill enemies and secure victory? The Chasing Wind Sword could become the signature sword technique of the Li family's outer sect, and the key was to combine speed with damage. To reach the realm of fierce wind, the swordsman must focus on strength, striving to deliver a single strike that can split gold and break stone. Li Qingming, as a woman, was petite and delicate, possessing agility but lacking steadiness, making the realm of fierce wind quite challenging for her. Fortunately, her comprehension was not lacking, and in recent days, she finally made a breakthrough. The sword's momentum was dense, and the sword wind was fierce, with her strength becoming increasingly formidable.
Now, the Sword Spirit has become extremely weak, even losing the ability to act independently. During this time, it naturally needs to find a mount for transportation, and the young girl Li Qingming is the choice it has made
Thinking of this, Li Qingming felt a chill run down her spine, even the gentle May sunlight seemed to carry a hint of coldness. The young girl instinctively wanted to run back inside to retrieve the talisman left by her mother to suppress the evil spirits.
However, after only a brief practice, Li Qingming felt her arms become sore and weak. The ancient heavy sword initially felt relatively light in her hands, but the more she used it, the more cumbersome and heavy it became, as if an invisible resistance was pulling at her arms. As a result, not to mention executing the sword's momentum to chase the wind, even maintaining a continuous sword momentum became difficult. By the end of a set of thirty-six moves of the Wind-Chasing Sword, Li Qingming could barely hold the sword steadily. In the astonished gaze of the young girl, her fingers went numb, and she inadvertently sent the long sword flying out of her hands, clattering along the stone ground.
As the winds rise and clouds surge, as the clouds shift and the rain falls, as mountains are overturned and seas are split, until the ultimate perfection breaks through the void, the nine layers of realms progress layer by layer, with each layer eliminating the previous one, forming a pyramid-like structure within the world of cultivation.
Of course, the Long March begins with the first step. The young swordsman clearly understands his position, assumes a stance, and focuses his mind. After a moment, his right hand rises, and the courtyard is filled with the brilliance of the sword. The sword light is like silk, yet it spreads densely like a net, swift as the wind.
What was initially a casual complaint, in the next moment, Li Qingming suddenly heard a clear voice ringing in her mind
Although the young girl's family wealth amounts to only a mere 9 taels, a plain weapon typically sells for no less than 5 taels, let alone this broken ancient sword. As for the boss's boast about its indestructibility, she is not a 3 or 4-year-old child; Li Qingming has just celebrated her 14th birthday and is no longer that naive.
Grandpa Tree, thank you for watching over the house
So, let us work hard together
Moments later, the cries from the girl's heart resounded deafeningly.