Chapter 588: Seven Star Sword Group

A subordinate carried a stack of official documents, placing them on the City Lord's desk in two piles.

The City Lord was a female cultivator of rare beauty. No one dared to question her authority or comment on her appearance. Her methods and cultivation were evident, given her position as City Lord in a city predominantly populated by male cultivators.

"It's been three days," Luo Hong mused, "why haven't they come down yet?" She sat in the main hall of the City Lord's residence on the third level, identifying herself as the City Lord. After dealing with the city's affairs, she habitually looked up at the sky, which marked the location of the fourth level.

Suddenly, a rift appeared in the sky, and three figures emerged from it, instantly appearing in the City Lord's residence hall.

"Senior Luo Hong, we meet again," Lu Yang greeted with a smile.

Luo Hong was speechless. *I recall you ascended alone,* she thought, *how is it that you've returned with two others?* Moreover, Luo Hong sensed that the two individuals behind Lu Yang were unfathomable, their power truly terrifying. As the spirit of the secret realm, Luo Hong could wield all its power. Despite the numerous treasures within, no demon clan prodigy, even after achieving great power, had ever dared to forcibly enter, a testament to Luo Hong's formidable strength. Even so, she felt she was no match for the two individuals accompanying Lu Yang. She even felt a sense of awe towards the female cultivator dressed in red.

"Luo Hong greets the Mistress!" Luo Hong immediately knelt and kowtowed to Jiang Lianyi.

"Wait," Jiang Lianyi said, "who are you?" Jiang Lianyi stepped aside, uncomfortable with someone kneeling to her without a clear reason.

"I am the spirit of the secret realm, created by the Master."

"Who is your Master?"

"Shi He. The Master instructed me to call him the Qilin Immortal." Shi He was the Qilin Immortal's true name. "The Master created this secret realm. He decreed that if anyone answered all questions correctly on the third level, they would be permitted to enter the fourth level. The Mistress resides on the fourth level, and upon her appearance, everything within the secret realm, including myself, would belong to her."

A complex immortal seal materialized on Luo Hong's forehead. She lifted it and respectfully presented it to Jiang Lianyi.

"This is indeed the mark left by my husband." Jiang Lianyi accepted the mark. This was the Secret Realm Seal, granting control over everything within to its bearer. In an instant, Jiang Lianyi comprehended the entire structure of the secret realm. With a single thought, she could command Luo Hong to do anything, and access the secret realm's treasure vault at will.

With a casual flick of her hand, Jiang Lianyi opened a spatial rift, revealing countless treasures piled high like mountains. These treasures, coveted even by powerful demon cultivators, were nothing remarkable in Jiang Lianyi's eyes.

"Do you need anything?" Jiang Lianyi turned to Lu Yang, implying she could give him all the treasures if he wished.

Lu Yang hesitated. While the treasures were valuable, he had no need for wealth. Spirit stones were unnecessary, and for artifacts, nothing seemed more precious than his Azure Edge Sword. As for cultivation insights and techniques, with the Sutra Pavilion and his Senior Sister available, he saw no reason to study the experiences left by powerful demon cultivators.

"I heard that some demon clan prodigies obtained immortal herbs here that, when consumed, allowed them to cross an entire major cultivation stage without any side effects?"

Jiang Lianyi reached out, her hand transcending space, and from the second level, she plucked a spiritual herb with seven leaves, each shimmering with starlight.

"You're referring to the Seven-Star Moon-Chasing Grass. Its growing conditions are extremely stringent, and while it can indeed elevate one by a major cultivation stage—for instance, from late Golden Core to late Nascent Soul—calling it an immortal herb is an overstatement. After consuming it, one can never break through to the Tribulation Transcending stage."

"Then I'll pass," Lu Yang decided, believing that cultivation should be a gradual process with no need for haste.

Jiang Lianyi replanted the Seven-Star Moon-Chasing Grass.

"Could I select a few swords to form a sword array?" Lu Yang suddenly asked.

"Yes, you may."

Jiang Lianyi beckoned, and seven precious swords, each distinct in style and immensely valuable, floated out from the pile of treasures, radiating a cold sheen.

"These seven swords are all yours." All the swords from the Ancient Creation Realm were here, each of them a growth-type artifact. The names of the swords were engraved on their hilts: Heavenly Pivot, Heavenly Sphere, Heavenly Jade...

Luo Hong, most familiar with these treasures, explained, "These names correspond to the ancient Big Dipper. This set is known as the Seven-Star Sword Set." Above each sword, the number 'two' hovered.

"Excellent items," Lu Yang remarked. As a sword cultivator, Lu Yang was overjoyed to receive seven distinct precious swords, beaming so widely his mouth couldn't close.

"How do I bind them to myself? Is it by dripping blood?"

Luo Hong solemnly replied, "It's not that simple. These seven swords possess sentience. To subdue them, you must nourish them with your body, your heart, and your blood. This is a lengthy process, taking anywhere from a month to a year."

The Seven-Star Sword Set chimed, confirming Luo Hong's words. Sword cultivators are proud, and their precious swords share a unique pride. Not just anyone can wield them; upon their creation, they established three rules for their use: Only an unrivaled sword cultivator, only an unrivaled genius, and only one who moves them with sincerity. While the Seven-Star Swords had not yet developed full intelligence, they certainly possessed sentience.

The Immortal Empress stepped forward, striking whichever sword chimed the loudest. Once the Seven-Star Sword Set fell silent, she pointed at Lu Yang and declared, "From now on, you will follow him, understand!"

The Seven-Star Swords emitted faint chimes, trembling and quivering. What seemed like a few casual taps was, in fact, an attack directly at their sentience. Had the Immortal Empress desired, she could have erased their sentience with just a few more strikes.

Subsequently, they floated close to Lu Yang, nudging him affectionately. Lu Yang quickly distanced himself. While a fluffy little rabbit rubbing against him might be endearing, seven swords doing so felt like an attempt to slice him to death. Lu Yang ran ahead, with the Seven-Star Sword Set persistently chasing behind him. Finally, Lu Yang simply used his identity jade token to store them, which brought an end to their pursuit.

Jiang Lianyi then instructed Luo Hong, "Continue to perform your previous duties within the secret realm; everything will remain as before."

"Yes, Mistress!"

"And furthermore, do not speak of my existence or Immortal Sister's to outsiders."

"As you command!" Upon descending from the fourth level, the Immortal Empress had instructed Jiang Lianyi not to disclose her existence to outsiders, as it could easily alert their enemies.

"Let's go," Jiang Lianyi suggested, "it's a good opportunity to see what the current cultivation world is like." Three hundred thousand years have passed; surely old acquaintances have departed, and things are no longer the same.

"Speaking of old acquaintances, there is one who recently resurfaced," Lu Yang said, stroking his chin. At this point, the Immortal Empress had already returned to the spiritual space.

"Who?"

"The ancient Di Jiang. He's been asleep since ancient times and just woke up. He's preparing to unify the demon realm and establish a demon nation. I reckon we'll emerge just in time for his founding ceremony."

Jiang Lianyi paused, then realized who Lu Yang was referring to – the ancient Di Jiang. This truly marked a significant change in the world.

"He's capable enough to establish a demon nation now?"

"There's one more matter I'd like to consult you about."

"You are the one who revived Immortal Sister; you don't need to be so formal with me. Speak your mind."

"Have you heard of the Heavenly Court?"