Chapter 58: Sword Cultivation Technique

The Mortal Realm

Qin Sang flipped to the end of the clan genealogy but found no Foundation Establishment stage cultivators. The highest cultivation level achieved was by a man named Song Yi, a contemporary of Song Hua’s grandfather, who had only reached the seventh layer of the Qi Refining stage. He had disappeared without a trace after an excursion.

The Sword Intent Edict from Shaohua Mountain was very likely still resting in the tomb of the Song Clan’s Old Ancestor!

Qin Sang’s fingers gripped the Song family genealogy, his eyes flickering. Although his understanding of the cultivation world was still limited, the benefits of joining a sect were undeniable.

Just like the shop owner next to the Divine Artifact Pavilion, the envy rogue cultivators felt towards sect disciples was evident in their every word.

However, Song Hua had saved his life. Whether intentional or not, Qin Sang felt he owed a debt of gratitude. He never claimed to be a good person, nor would he actively harm his benefactor.

Besides, Shaohua Mountain was a major orthodox sect. If he truly lacked a spiritual root, even obtaining the Sword Intent Edict would be useless to him.

Qin Sang sighed softly, put down the Song family genealogy, and picked up another nameless book. At the same time, he retrieved the Ebony Sword hidden in his chest.

The nameless book was actually the “Song Family Sword Art,” the very art required to activate the Ebony Sword!

The so-called “Song Family Sword Art” was, in fact, a modified version of Shaohua Mountain’s Sword Manipulation Art, adapted by the Song Clan’s Old Ancestor.

Upon cultivating this sword art, one could control a sword with divine sense, soaring through the clear sky. With a single thought, the sword light would streak across the firmament, as graceful as a startled swan, as agile as a soaring dragon, appearing and disappearing in an instant, striking enemies a thousand miles away.

Cultivating the Sword Manipulation Art to a certain realm would allow one to transform sword qi into a rainbow and achieve sword flight, demonstrating immense divine power that was truly captivating.

Qin Sang had long coveted sword flight. Among the basic spells of the “Netherworld Sutra,” the Wind Walk Art merely enhanced movement speed, and the Air Control Art only allowed one to stand in mid-air for a short period, not to fly freely.

The reason Qin Sang couldn’t activate the Ebony Sword was precisely due to the lack of this sword art.

The Song family genealogy recorded that a fourth-generation ancestor of the Song clan once obtained a fragment of a flying sword magical treasure while exploring a cave dwelling left by an ancient cultivator.

Though only a fragment, it still possessed the essence of a magical treasure.

Only cultivators at the Core Formation stage or higher could refine magical treasures. Each magical treasure was crafted from exceptionally precious spiritual materials, meticulously refined day and night by Core Formation cultivators. Their power was terrifying, far surpassing even the highest-grade magical artifacts.

After obtaining the flying sword fragment, that Song ancestor was overjoyed. He spared no expense, using his entire family fortune to commission a renowned master artificer in the market to refine the fragment into this Ebony Sword.

As a result, the Ebony Sword was unique; it resembled a magical treasure yet wasn’t quite one, differing significantly from common magical artifacts. Its essence as a fragment of a magical treasure made it far harder and sharper than ordinary spirit swords or artifacts, and it required a specific sword art for activation.

However, its drawbacks were equally apparent. The Ebony Sword consumed an enormous amount of spiritual power. Only Foundation Establishment cultivators could sustain its usage, and even Qi Refining cultivators at the tenth layer or above could barely activate it.

Cultivators below the tenth layer of Qi Refining had spiritual power too weak for it; they would need to hold spirit stones to accumulate enough spiritual power just to unleash a single strike.

With Qin Sang’s current resources, he could unleash at most eight strikes.

Of course, the Ebony Sword’s power was quite extraordinary; opponents of the same realm would find it difficult to withstand.

Holding the “Netherworld Sutra” in one hand and the “Song Family Sword Art” in the other, Qin Sang fell into deep thought.

Whether cultivating sword arts or spells, neither could be achieved overnight. Both required a long, gradual effort.

If practicing spells negatively impacted his cultivation, it wouldn’t be worth the loss.

The choice of how to prioritize was something he had to weigh himself.

Qin Sang had not yet fought against other cultivators, so he didn’t know which of the five spells would be best to choose. However, it was definitely not advisable to focus all his energy solely on the “Song Family Sword Art.”

Even if he found Yin-Shattering Qi and had a constant supply of soul pills, his cultivation speed would still gradually slow down as his realm advanced. Coupled with occasional bottlenecks, breaking through to the tenth layer of the Qi Refining stage within a few years was out of the question.

Before reaching the tenth layer of Qi Refining, he would have to absorb spirit stones and prepare in advance every time he used the Ebony Sword. In critical moments, his opponents would not give him time to prepare.

He would still have to rely on spells and magical artifacts like the Purple Soul Bell to face enemies. The Ebony Sword would, at best, serve as a trump card.

Of course, he still had to practice the “Song Family Sword Art.”

After discarding Song Hua’s miscellaneous belongings and packing his own items, Qin Sang felt a sense of relief. Carrying all that gold and silver had been quite burdensome.

The Purple Soul Bell and Heavenly Silkworm Armor remained outside, ready to deal with any crisis. Qin Sang then lost all inclination to cultivate the “Netherworld Sutra” and plunged headlong into the “Song Family Sword Art.”

For an entire day, Qin Sang did not step out of the small courtyard, completely immersed in the “Song Family Sword Art,” unable to pull himself away.

The primary focus of sword manipulation was sword nurturing. Only by thoroughly understanding the characteristics of one’s spirit sword and merging one’s mind with it could one truly control the sword at will and unleash the sword art’s full power.

Qin Sang used his mind to communicate with the Ebony Sword. Following the sword art’s guidance, he first used his vital essence blood to temper it, gaining the Ebony Sword’s acknowledgment. It took him a full day to finally store the Ebony Sword within his dantian, where he would constantly nurture it.

This method of nurturing a spirit sword was Shaohua Mountain’s most basic sword-nurturing technique.

The “Song Family Sword Art” stated that true mastery of sword nurturing, reaching the realm of human-and-sword unity, was considered the entry point into the Way of the Sword. This was still too distant for Qin Sang.

Even when not cultivating, Qin Sang could still sense the Ebony Sword in his dantian.

Qin Sang opened his palm, and with a thought, a faint black light appeared in his hand. The small Ebony Sword floated above his palm. The originally unremarkable wooden sword now shimmered with a subtle glow, looking remarkably divine.

Qin Sang’s face was slightly pale, but he couldn’t hide the excitement in his eyes. He couldn’t help but point forward and softly command, “Go!”

The Ebony Sword trembled, then wobbled forward very slowly. After flying less than ten feet, Qin Sang’s face suddenly turned ashen. He hurriedly recalled the Ebony Sword back into his body, then let out a long breath, a lingering look of lingering fear on his face.

In his momentary excitement, he had forgotten how much spiritual power he had expended during the sword-nurturing process.

Moreover, the Ebony Sword’s spiritual power consumption was astonishing. Flying just that short distance had nearly depleted all the spiritual power in his body.

After meditating and recuperating for a while, Qin Sang recovered. Knowing that sword nurturing couldn’t be rushed, he took out the “Netherworld Sutra” and began to practice its spells instead.

These basic, auxiliary spells were all quite simple. With his experience from the Object Manipulation Art, Qin Sang learned them all in just a few hours.

Of course, mastering their application would require diligent practice.

Qin Sang reviewed each of these spells detailed on the parchment, but the results were disheartening.

Ultimately, Qin Sang chose the Cloud Escape Technique and the Miles of Ice Seal. One was for escaping, the other for relying on in combat—both were techniques he urgently needed.

He already possessed the Purple Soul Bell and Heavenly Silkworm Armor, which had effects similar to the Mist Locking River and Water Condensation Barrier spells, so he didn’t need to prioritize cultivating those two.

As for the Form Displacement and Shadow Transference spell, Qin Sang believed that even if he conjured an illusory clone to confuse an enemy, he still wouldn’t be able to escape once the enemy saw through it.