CHAPTER 376: CHAPTER 3 SWORD TONGUE SECT TAKES THE LEAD BY 1 STEP

"As expected of the Heavenly Sword Sect, each star seems to be the size of a mountain."

Li Mo held the Illusion Fish Sword, standing atop the head of the Kun Whale. The Creation Book continuously fed him vast amounts of ancient information about the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Ten millennia ago, the Heavenly Sword Sect’s mountain gate was nestled amidst towering mountain ranges.

For those pursuing immortality in later generations, ten thousand years was neither too long nor too short, but it had utterly transformed the scale of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Li Mo’s blazing gaze swept across the sea of stars above.

According to the Creation Book’s feedback, these stars were the [Sword Tomb].

In the ancient Heavenly Sword Sect, the Sword Tomb resembled a cemetery, located in the core area of the Inner Sect, filled with flying swords left behind by generations of sword cultivators after their deaths.

Any sword cultivator upon entering the sect was required to retrieve a flying sword from the Sword Tomb and refine it.

Now, the Sword Tomb seemed more like a sanctified arena for nourishing swords.

If Li Mo’s eyes weren’t deceiving him, even the Sword Tomb itself was a unique flying sword, containing sword intent far surpassing his own Universal Illumination Sword.

Beams of starlight illuminated the surface of the Sword Tomb, making the sword intent emanate vast and boundless, much like the ocean.

"Ridiculous. The foundation of the Heavenly Sword Sect accumulates over time. Do medium and small sects really have any hope of catching up to it?"

Li Mo noticed that the Sword Tomb’s position did not remain fixed in the air; it seemed to rise and fall depending on its strength.

Those Sword Tombs closer to the ground likely housed lower-quality flying swords.

Li Mo frowned slightly.

With his level of Divine Sense strength, he still couldn’t penetrate even the lowest-level Sword Tomb. Furthermore, his Illusion Fish Sword stirred faintly with excitement.

The Illusion Fish Sword seemed particularly intrigued by a Sword Tomb overflowing with [Illusion]-type sword intent.

"If the Illusion Fish Sword were placed in the Sword Tomb for hundreds or thousands of years, it might even transform into a corresponding flying sword. The Heavenly Sword Sect truly embodies the philosophy: everything can become a sword."

Li Mo’s eyes burned with fervor.

The sword cultivation system of the Heavenly Sword Sect, including its array of techniques, differed significantly from those of the general Cultivation World. His Tao Seed would undoubtedly absorb unspeakable nourishment here.

"So this... is what it means to be a sword cultivator."

Ming Lin and others exited their Seclusion Rooms, standing in a daze as they gazed at the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Previously, they could not understand why the Sword Tongue Sect, despite being regarded as mere fodder by the Heavenly Sword Sect, continued to revere their Upper Sect so deeply. Now, they finally understood.

The Heavenly Sword Sect represented a direct path to becoming an Immortal.

The affiliated Sword Sects arrived from various directions via flying magical artifacts, each unable to suppress their awe toward the Heavenly Sword Sect.

As for the life-and-death trials of the Cocoon Sword Meeting, such concerns had long been cast aside.

Buzzzzz...

The Kun Whale silently approached within a hundred miles.

Li Mo’s pupils constricted, as six-tenths of his external Spiritual Power inexplicably vanished, and the four Nascent Souls within his body became listless.

"An array? No, it’s the taboo of a particular flying sword."

Li Mo scanned his surroundings and noticed that all cultivators within a hundred miles suffered similar afflictions. However, their flying swords appeared unaffected.

"Combining flying swords with the Mountain Protection Array? How terrifying."

The Kun Whale hid among the clouds, its wings spanning as it descended to eighty miles outside the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Li Mo’s vitality began draining rapidly. The flow only ceased when his flesh and blood contracted tightly—it seemed the taboo of a second flying sword had emerged.

Forty miles away.

The third flying sword’s taboo became apparent, causing any external Divine Sense to dissipate as if sinking into the ocean.

Li Mo realized why the Heavenly Sword Sect didn’t care about outsiders participating in the Cocoon Sword Meeting—its Mountain Protection Array alone could suppress the spirit of most intruders.

No matter the level of cultivation, anyone within the Heavenly Sword Sect had to behave obediently.

Whhhooooosh...

The ground beneath the Sword Tomb was constantly ravaged by countless sword lights, with only a central area of ten miles appearing to be a dead zone for Sword Qi.

Li Mo understood that the Nascent Soul cultivators of the affiliated Sword Sects needed to act first, ensuring their disciples reached this deliberately cleared safe zone.

"No rush, no rush. Hehehe, let me study the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Mountain Protection Array. Perhaps I’ll figure out a way to bypass the diminishing effect on my spirit."

Li Mo patted the Kun Whale’s head, prompting the Tattooed Beast to slow down its pace.

He secretly utilized the Da Ai Mi Tian technique, causing numerous eyes to erupt around his body. At the same time, the Cave God’s Eye on his forehead scanned the various Sword Tombs non-stop.

With each scan, his understanding of arrays and Divine Sword Skills deepened. Array formations were no longer restricted to engraved patterns.

"Interesting, truly fascinating."

Li Mo resumed his meditative stance, sitting cross-legged with a fishing rod in hand, as his swordsmanship advanced rapidly.

Ming Lin and the others grew visibly anxious, but they were unable to influence Li Mo’s actions. The moment they stepped outside the courtyard’s boundaries, they risked being shredded to pieces by the raging Gang Wind.

The Kun Whale displayed slight unease at the suppression of its vitality but soon surrendered to sleep for a brief period.

The floating magic artifacts of the affiliated Sword Sects passed through the clouds without detecting the Kun Whale’s presence.

These groups halted at the edge of the Sword Rain, hastily setting up temporary encampments. The Nascent Soul cultivators began deducing the patterns of the Sword Rain.

The Cocoon Sword Meeting was still eight years away—there was no need to take reckless action.

Among the smaller affiliated Sword Sects, only sixty-one places were available, whereas medium-sized sects brought over two hundred representatives, with at least three Nascent Soul cultivators in their ranks.

Accumulations from the affiliated Sword Sects that had spanned millennia ultimately nourished the Cocoon Sword Meeting.

Yet, no one dared voice any objection. The influence of the Heavenly Sword Sect was practically tangible—a mere recall of one of their Sect’s Flying Swords could render an entire sect’s foundation obliterated.

Furthermore, the affiliated Sword Sects competed against each other during the Cocoon Sword Meeting.

Even within the affiliated Sword Sects, their foundations were worlds apart—smaller sects hardly held a supporting role and were most likely facing certain death upon arriving at the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Over past iterations, those sword cultivators who came out on top typically hailed from medium-sized affiliated Sword Sects.

Taking the outermost and most open positions near the Sword Rain, disciples from these sects were noticeably better prepared, diligently practicing and nourishing their swords even during downtime.

All factions understood one underlying principle—the first Sword Sect to step into the Sword Rain would attract an overwhelming wave of flying swords, making it incredibly perilous.

Patience was the first rule.

Some smaller affiliated Sword Sects, oblivious to the unspoken dynamics, feared insufficient time and brazenly attempted to cross the deadly Sword Rain.

In less than half a year.

Close to two hundred affiliated Sword Sects gathered outside the Sword Rain, forming a massive assembly of tens of thousands.

The most distinguished Sword Sects, without exception, were the holders of flying sword tokens, their entry slots already guaranteed.

The Heavenly Sword Sect had organized Secret Realms for refining swords nine times, birthing nine token flying swords.

Among them, three were in the hands of affiliated Sword Sects:

[Black Marrow] of the [Bone Sword Dao], whose swordsmanship cultivated a Lifebound Flying Sword through the spine;

[Tu Shan] of the [Big Armor Sword], where Lifebound Flying Swords were concentrated in the arms;

And [March] of [Sword You Gan], whose disciples bore sword tools embedded in their shoulders as secondary organs.

As entrance tokens, each of these flying swords possessed the might of a Sect-defining artifact, causing unease and dread among the other factions.

Curiously, while [March] and [Tu Shan] were held by their sect leaders, [Black Marrow] was wielded by an inner disciple of the Bone Sword Intent sect: Mu Jin.

Veiled by a magic robe and hunched over with an abnormal posture, Mu Jin’s entire spine had been extracted from his body.

After all, controlling [Black Marrow] required abandoning one’s original Lifebound Flying Sword.

Ordinary Lifebound Flying Swords lacked the vitality for taboos, but [Black Marrow], as a Sect-level sword, carried deep taboos.

Mu Jin gave a neurotic smirk, gradually disrobing from his magic robe.

His exposed skin was densely covered with black fungal patches, constantly corroding his flesh and blood. These patches were [Black Marrow], a fungal-type flying sword.

Its taboo was to devour flesh, incessantly feeding on its host.

Mu Jin’s face twisted in pain. Even with constant doses of elixirs, he could not counteract [Black Marrow]’s taboos.

He opened his eyes, which carried a chilly gaze that swept around the surrounding area. Even the Nascent Soul Elders among the Bone Sword Intent sect’s disciples lowered their heads to avoid his stare.

"You... come here."

Mu Jin pointed at a Nascent Soul Elder, whose expression alternated between fear and resolve.

The Elder hesitated briefly but had barely taken a few steps forward when spores from the fungi floated into the air, infiltrating his Five Internal Organs and Six Viscera.

"Aaaaah!"

The Nascent Soul Elder fell to his knees as his body became riddled with pits and hollows.

Mu Jin revealed a deranged smile, licking his lips with a truncated tongue. Only when the elder reached a state near death did Mu Jin relent.

The other disciples looked on in abject terror, listening as Mu Jin muttered to himself.

"There are three token flying swords among the affiliated Sword Sects. Two are in the hands of insignificant fools, unworthy opponents."

"The remaining five tokens were taken by loose cultivators, who are even less of a threat. The flying sword of the True Word Sect’s Secret Realm remains unaccounted for, but it’s of no concern."

"This time, I will undoubtedly claim the chief Sword Slave spot for entry."

As Mu Jin spoke with glee, [Black Marrow] responded by boiling over with fervor. Soon, black fungal mushrooms grew from his open wounds, their released Sword Qi dissipating into powder.

Carried on the wind, the fungal spores inflicted more suffering on nearby cultivators, eliciting anguished cries.

They all knew the sordid truth: the Bone Sword Intent sect leader had once vied for [Black Marrow], but in doing so had been reduced to a half-living, half-dead puppet of flesh and blood.

Who would have expected,

that Mu Jin, an Inner Sect disciple with seemingly no presence, had already advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage five hundred years prior and had long been plotting to obtain [Black Marrow].

"Who’s there?! Who is it?!"

Suddenly, a strange voice gurgled in Mu Jin’s throat as his pupils shrank to pinpricks.

The disciples followed his gaze and saw only an expanse of clouds, but at the same time, their Lifebound Flying Swords began trembling uncontrollably.

Then,

a deafening whale cry shattered the silence.

A Kun Whale spanning over a thousand meters emerged from the clouds, faint Sword Qi emanating from its presence.

Though the Kun Whale was under significant suppression by the Mountain Protection Array, it showed no signs of retreat. Instead, it spread its wings and surged toward the endless Sword Rain.

Mu Jin’s focus locked tightly onto the Kun Whale, but he quickly realized the threat [Black Marrow] sensed did not come from the giant beast.

He soon fixed his attention on the elder perched atop the Kun Whale’s head. The elder wore a straw coat and held a fishing rod made from bamboo strips.

The look in Mu Jin’s eyes turned manic as black fungal tears seeped down his cheeks.

"A loose cultivator? Impossible. I sense no token aura."

Mu Jin’s fear stemmed not only from this anomaly. The [Black Marrow] he had yet to fully refine began displaying inexplicable desire toward the elder.

If not for Mu Jin’s Spiritual Power forcibly suppressing it, [Black Marrow] might have abandoned him to pursue the elder instead.

Li Mo opened his eyes but maintained his fishing posture, his consciousness already engaging with the Fake Buddha technique and preparing to seize his foundation’s spiritual object the moment the Cocoon Sword Meeting commenced.

Ming Lin and the others felt a spine-chilling unease and screamed for Li Mo to pay attention to the Sword Rain.

In their perspective, Elder Taiyi was too engrossed in cultivation; otherwise, he should have sought protection from the Sword Qi surrounding them. How could he recklessly charge into the Sword Rain atop a massive beast?

Even the greatest of beasts at the Nascent Soul Stage would be obliterated in an instant, wouldn’t it?

Li Mo yawned, contemplating the feasibility of refining his body with Sword Qi.

He smiled, and his powerful voice reverberated within a ten-mile radius: "Fellow cultivators, the Sword Tongue Sect shall proceed first."