Chapter 422: Purple Lightning Sword Claims Its Master

Chen Mobai walked directly to the fourth floor and opened the sword case of the Purple Lightning Sword.

The gleaming sword caught his eye. The high-grade spirit stone beside it was noticeably dimmer than last time. The Purple Lightning Sword had previously been sealed, maintaining its rank with a minimal supply of spiritual energy. However, after the final selection round began, Hao Cao unsealed it, which increased the Purple Lightning Sword's demand for spiritual energy. Naturally, this high-grade spirit stone was being consumed much faster and was almost depleted.

Without hesitation, Chen Mobai followed the incantation taught by Hao Cao, allowing his mind to resonate with the Tier 4 sword. A gleam of light shot from the hilt of the Purple Lightning Sword, making contact with Chen Mobai's projected spiritual sense. In an instant, purple light flashed. When Chen Mobai regained his senses, he found himself in a mysterious space.

The space was empty, with streaks of deep purple lightning flickering. The Purple Lightning Sword was diagonally plunged into the ground before Chen Mobai. A reddish-purple glow emanated from its blade, forming a head-sized ball of light. The ball of light developed seven orifices, then coalesced into a small, round face with indistinct features. Only its azure-blue eyes were exceptionally clear, revealing a faint, sharp chill, as cold as a sword.

Within the Immortal Sect, Tier 5 magical artifacts possess complete sentience, almost indistinguishable from humans. As a Tier 4 sword, the Purple Lightning Sword had also evolved sentience, though it only possessed the simplest form of thought. Nevertheless, due to retaining most of its previous owner's memories, its basic logical reasoning was sound.

"Greetings, Senior Purple Lightning Sword," Chen Mobai said, deciding to treat it as an elder cultivator. He politely performed the ancient ritual of the Dancing Weapon Academy.

He extended his hand and grasped the hilt. The azure-blue eyes met Chen Mobai's gaze, and an invisible wave conveyed a message to him. Chen Mobai nodded, relaxed his mind, and reached out to grasp the hilt of the Purple Lightning Sword in this space. A tingling sensation then surged through his entire body. He felt his being shattered instantly under the onslaught of surging lightning power, but after this destruction, a powerful vitality emerged, reassembling his fragmented body. At that very moment, Chen Mobai's consciousness succumbed to the intense pain and fell into a coma. Seeing this, the Purple Lightning Sword slightly shook its head.

After an unknown number of cycles of pulverization and rebirth, Chen Mobai awoke from a prolonged darkness. Opening his eyes, he found himself sitting perfectly fine on the fourth floor of the Sword Pagoda. The Purple Lightning Sword had returned to its case, seemingly having fallen back into slumber. Chen Mobai raised his hand and confirmed that he hadn't actually been torn apart by lightning. It must have been a mysterious sword art that directly affected his spiritual sense.

But what was the outcome? Chen Mobai hadn't forgotten that he was here to wield the Purple Lightning Sword. "Senior? Senior Purple Lightning Sword?" He called out to the sword in its case twice, even activating the incantation Hao Cao had taught him again, but received no response. Was that it? "If the Purple Lightning Sword doesn't respond, it means the resonance has ended, and you can come out," he recalled Hao Cao's words before he entered.

He took out his phone and checked the time, realizing that only half an hour had passed during the sword resonance. Everyone had a full day, and Chen Mobai felt he could still try harder. Besides, leaving so soon would be embarrassing. He reached out to grasp the Purple Lightning Sword in its case, intending to pull it out, but a powerful surge of purple lightning energy spontaneously emerged from the hilt, repelling Chen Mobai's right hand. If the Purple Lightning Sword hadn't intended him no harm, his palm would likely have been charred instantly.

Chen Mobai hesitated for a moment, then went straight for his "ultimate move," taking out the enormous raw spirit ore from his storage pouch and presenting it with both hands before the sword case. The Purple Lightning Sword, which had been as steady as a mountain, suddenly trembled. Chen Mobai extended his hand towards the sword case again. The purple lightning essence re-emerged, but this time it didn't directly repel him as it had before. Instead, it resisted, seemingly unwilling, but only preventing his hand from grasping it.

"My name is Chen Mobai, Chief Disciple of the Dancing Weapon Academy, and I am quite wealthy," he declared. "This raw spirit ore is a gift for Senior Purple Lightning Sword upon our first meeting. If you are willing to choose me as your master, I will offer a high-grade spirit stone like this every year. This year's offering can be presented in advance, and there will be additional tokens of goodwill during festivals." As Chen Mobai spoke, he took out another handful of five high-grade spirit stones from his storage pouch. Then, he picked up one of them with his left hand and offered it.

The previously flickering purple lightning essence, clearing a path for the high-grade spirit stone, began to retreat inch by inch. After a stalemate of three breaths on the hilt, it finally opened completely. Chen Mobai placed the high-grade spirit stone on the other side of the Purple Lightning Sword. This unused, spiritually abundant, and crystal-clear spirit stone, compared to the other one supplied by the Immortal Sect, which had been depleted and recharged countless times, was like the difference between a vibrant flower blooming after rain and scattered, withered petals and leaves.

After Chen Mobai placed the high-grade spirit stone in the sword case, the last lingering essence of purple light around the hilt completely vanished. Seeing this, Chen Mobai extended his right hand and gently grasped the hilt of the Purple Lightning Sword. Upon being grasped, the Purple Lightning Sword subtly trembled, as if struggling, but ultimately offered no further resistance, allowing Chen Mobai to lift it with both hands.

The Purple Lightning Sword was then plunged into the enormous raw spirit ore. The abundant spiritual energy, which it hadn't felt since its creation, caused the Purple Lightning Sword to emit a clear, resonant hum. An invisible sword hum conveyed a message to Chen Mobai: *Is this for me?* Chen Mobai nodded slightly, indicating that the Purple Lightning Sword was free to absorb the spiritual energy from the raw spirit ore.

*Too much, overflowing, too full...* After an unknown period, the Purple Lightning Sword hummed again, sending a message to Chen Mobai, signaling him to pull it out. After the sword was returned to its case, Chen Mobai noticed that the raw spirit ore had dimmed by nearly half. In just half an hour, the Purple Lightning Sword had absorbed an immense amount of spiritual energy, equivalent to nearly one and a half high-grade spirit stones. This made the sword, which had been "hungry" for countless years, understand the meaning of "stuffed" for the first time.

"Senior Purple Lightning Sword, if you are willing to join me, you won't need to exert yourself normally. Just lend a hand when my life is in danger," Chen Mobai continued. "The spirit stone compensation remains as previously discussed: one high-grade spirit stone per year. Should you save my life, additional high-grade spirit stones will be offered afterwards. What do you think, Senior?"

Having just eaten its fill and thus softened, the Purple Lightning Sword no longer maintained its aloof demeanor. It responded immediately. *Your offer is certainly the best among all candidates. However, I am a Tier 4 artifact, and you are only at the Foundation Establishment stage. If you fail to form your Core, wouldn't I have wasted another two hundred years?* If the Purple Lightning Sword chose a master this time, it would definitely aim to ascend to a higher level, or at least avoid regression. Serving a Golden Core cultivator at least offered this hope. However, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the realm was still too low for it to even unleash its minimum power.

"While I am currently only at Foundation Establishment, I am quite confident in forming my Core," Chen Mobai countered. "Senior, you should also be aware of the Immortal Sect's restrictions on obtaining Core-forming spiritual materials. How about we establish a sixty-year contract? If I fail to form my Core within sixty years, I will unconditionally terminate the contract with you. The high-grade spirit stones provided during this period will serve as compensation for your lost time. Senior, there aren't many people with such resources in the Immortal Sect as I have. If you miss this chance, there won't be a second one."

After Chen Mobai finished speaking, the Purple Lightning Sword fell silent. After a long pause, the Purple Lightning Sword conveyed a message: *You can draw up a written agreement. We can first draft a letter of intent. I will make my final decision after I've interviewed the remaining candidates.* Chen Mobai's face lit up with joy. He immediately drafted all the previously discussed terms, adding a confidentiality clause to ensure that the conversation just had would remain known only to Chen Mobai and the Purple Lightning Sword, not to be disclosed to any third party.

After both parties had agreed to the contract, Chen Mobai retrieved the raw spirit ore and the high-grade spirit stone he had placed in the sword case, returning them to his storage pouch. If these items were seen by the three Golden Core cultivators who would arrive later, it would easily reveal issues. The Purple Lightning Sword was a bit reluctant to let them go, but it understood that it hadn't formally chosen Chen Mobai as its wielder yet, and the agreed-upon conditions weren't due for fulfillment. However, it had absorbed a massive amount of spiritual energy from half of the raw spirit ore and was already full, so it allowed Chen Mobai to take them away. In any case, if it chose him as its sword master, all of these would eventually be its own.

"Senior, what were the situations of the previous twelve candidates?" Chen Mobai asked. Seeing that there was still plenty of time left in the day, Chen Mobai didn't immediately leave the Sword Pagoda. Instead, he sat down and began to chat casually with the Purple Lightning Sword.

*One candidate possessed a Lightning Spirit Root, which suits me perfectly. If I were to merge with him, I should be able to reach the realm of my previous master in the future. However, he already has a more powerful natal artifact than me and is unwilling to abandon it, so our discussion fell through.* This was likely referring to Zhongli Tianyu. He had a Bagua Mirror, which, though currently incomplete, was left by Patriarch Zhongli and was inherently of a higher grade than the Purple Lightning Sword.

*There was also a young man with an innate sword heart, just like my previous master's Dao companion. It's just a pity his cultivation was a bit low...* Hearing this, Chen Mobai wasn't sure if it was referring to Zhai Jianbai, but it felt very likely. This true sword cultivation genius, who had established his Foundation through enlightenment, was highly regarded by Zuo Gong, who even believed he could surpass him.

*There was also another peculiar individual. I felt he could wield me, but after a test, I realized he wasn't worthy. I'm not sure where you found such a well-hidden person.* Who was it talking about? Chen Mobai was completely confused, but by then, the Purple Lightning Sword was already talking about the fourth, fifth, and subsequent candidates. While the "peerless sword cultivation geniuses" chosen by Hao Cao might have been somewhat exaggerated, they were, without exception, cultivators with achievements in the way of the sword. Some even earned the admiration of the Purple Lightning Sword itself. *If properly nurtured, they might become future Sword Grandmasters.*

Amidst their conversation, the day quickly passed. Chen Mobai walked out of the Sword Pagoda's main entrance. "Go back and wait for news. Don't leave the courtyard gate. I will notify you once the Purple Lightning Sword makes its choice," Hao Cao emphasized when he saw Chen Mobai. Pei Qingshuang was also there, but she didn't approach. After exchanging glances, they nodded to each other as a greeting. Yan Qiongzhi was present too, as she was the next person to enter the Sword Pagoda. After Chen Mobai and she bowed to each other, they passed by and left.

After Yan Qiongzhi entered the Sword Pagoda, Chen Mobai returned to his own residence. He sat in quiet meditation for three days and three nights. "It's time." An alarm rang, and Chen Mobai opened his eyes, pressing the dismiss button on his phone. He let out a long breath and looked out the window. There was still no movement. Although he had conversed very well with the Purple Lightning Sword, not truly having secured it yet meant he couldn't fully relax. He wondered how long it would take for the Purple Lightning Sword to make its decision.

As Chen Mobai pondered, a majestic sword hum, echoing through the skies, rose from the Sword Pagoda. It was like an invisible, vast sword wave, spreading to every corner of the Shanhai Academy. Almost everyone heard it and looked up towards their windows. On the fourth floor of the Sword Pagoda, Hao Cao muttered, "I hope I haven't made a mistake," as he removed all seals and restrictions placed on the Purple Lightning Sword by the Shanhai Academy.

A brilliant arc of purple light shot into the sky, then flew towards a spot west of the thousand-zhang stone sword. Chen Mobai, standing at his window and looking towards the Sword Pagoda, frowned. Why was the Purple Lightning Sword flying in a direction other than his? Could it be an idealistic sword that had abandoned vulgar spirit stones? Unwilling to give up, he continued to watch the direction where the Purple Lightning Sword had vanished, hoping for a miracle, for the sword to come to him. However, after the time it takes to steep a cup of tea, the sword, after a final hum, had completely disappeared into the western horizon. In the end, was it still a matter of cultivation realm? Chen Mobai thought the Purple Lightning Sword had ultimately chosen a Golden Core cultivator.

Just as he was feeling dejected, the arc of purple light suddenly reappeared in the western sky. It then circled twice in mid-air, as if searching for a direction. Finally, it fixed its direction towards Chen Mobai, transforming into a streak of purple lightning essence and flying straight towards him.

*Bang!* A hole was punched through Chen Mobai's windowpane. A dignified and majestic long-handled sword flew in, enveloped in dazzling purple light, and landed before him. A wave of thought came from the Purple Lightning Sword: *Sorry, I flew in the wrong direction earlier.* Chen Mobai was speechless with a mix of laughter and tears. He had almost believed it was an aloof, idealistic sword.

"For the next sixty years, please guide me well!" Chen Mobai said. He bowed to the Purple Lightning Sword, then extended both hands and grasped the gleaming purple long-handled sword.

*Rumble!* A thunderous roar, like a bolt from the clear sky, echoed above the thirteen stone swords of the Shanhai Academy at that moment. Ruan Zixiu, a middle-aged cultivator with a melancholic expression, sighed as he watched the scene outside his window. Next door, Huo Xiqing frowned, his square face filled with indignation. But at this point, no matter how furious he was, he could only accept that the Purple Lightning Sword had not chosen him. Meanwhile, Yan Qiongzhi, on the other side of the stone sword, had flickering eyes. She knew the Purple Lightning Sword had landed at Chen Mobai's location. She hadn't expected him to be able to surpass the three Golden Core cultivators. Truly worthy of the Soul Transformation potential.