Sword Cemetery of the Nine Swords Mountain.
Nine Swords Mountain is the world’s premier sword sect. Although it ranks lower among the Ten Great Sects, it is undeniable that its Sword Cemetery is one of the most formidable in existence today.
The swords here are, to varying degrees, sentient beings.
In this place, only swords choose their wielders—no one chooses a sword.
Lightning flickers incessantly within, and countless restless spirits stir uneasily.
Sect Master Chong Shuai of Nine Swords Mountain, with an immortal’s grace, walks through the dim interior of the Sword Cemetery.
In the past, all swords would shine brilliantly, their blades humming incessantly.
But for the past two days, there has been nothing but silence.
Chong Shuai arrives at a secluded spot and crouches before a sword that emits only a faint, flickering white light, as if on the verge of extinguishing completely.
The glow is so weak it seems it might vanish at any moment.
Chong Shuai channels his spiritual power into it, but it has no effect whatsoever.
“Ancestor Master… this sword has finally awakened.”
“Back then, to ensure this sword was laid to rest in the Sword Cemetery, you spared no effort, nourishing it with the spiritual energy of millions of spirit swords, causing our Nine Swords Mountain to fall from its position as the world’s top sect to this state… What is the secret of this sword?”
“Since it has awakened, does it mean its master is about to return? Will the path to immortality in the Cultivation World be opened because of this?”
“The essence of millions of spirit swords could only preserve its master—what kind of magnificence must they possess? How I wish to see the golden age return.”
He gently wipes the sword.
With just one wipe, the light on the sword goes out.
Out… it’s out.
Huh?
In that instant, countless chaotic scenes flash through Chong Shuai’s mind. Even someone who has witnessed great events can’t help but stammer.
“N-No… don’t mess with me! This is the future of our Nine Swords Mountain. We nurtured you with the spiritual energy of so many spirit swords, and you just go out like that?”
“Come on, Brother Sword, light up! Light up!!”
“It’s over, it’s over! The sword’s light is out!”
“Elders, come quickly and help!!!”
…
After the Ascension Ladder segment, fewer than a hundred newcomers remained.
Since the meal, Chi Miao hadn’t seen Jin Shengfei again. Returning to the guest room, she received a Nine Swords Mountain handbook from a senior disciple.
She wandered around the guest room and noticed that, aside from herself, none of the other newcomers were present. So, she skimmed through the handbook and learned some basic information about Nine Swords Mountain.
For instance, the elder who performed the Soul Probe on her was named Yan Ge, the Discipline Elder, who oversees punishments in Nine Swords Mountain. His strength is on par with the Sect Master’s, but due to his bad temper, he has very few disciples.
However, it is worth noting that Elder Yan Ge owns one of the nine mountains—Thundercloud Mountain.
Rumors say there are few top-tier powerhouses in the current Cultivation World, and Elder Yan is one of them.
Just then, a voice calls out nearby.
“Come take a look! The latest and most comprehensive guide to the third round of Nine Swords Mountain’s assessment! Only one high-grade spirit stone, limited to one copy, first come first served!”
A guide to the third round of the assessment?
Curious, Chi Miao moves toward the source of the voice and finds an old man with white hair running a street stall.
Unbeknownst to her, this old man is actually Elder Yan in disguise. He had prepared this in advance—if Chi Miao passed the second round, he would offer her this benefit as compensation for the Soul Probe.
But, not being thick-skinned, he transformed to deliver the item to her in this manner.
Ideally, he could also squeeze a little profit from Chi Miao to soothe his wounded pride from being scolded.
However…
Chi Miao just glanced at it and immediately turned to leave without looking back.
Yan Ge: “???”
This doesn’t make sense! Weren’t you quite fond of taking advantage of others, you little rascal?
Fine, fine! If you don’t want it, then he won’t give it! As if he’s begging you to take it!
“Go! Hurry up and leave! When the time comes and you want it, I won’t give it to you anymore!”
Just as she was about to disappear from sight, Yan Ge suddenly shouted, “Miss, wait!”
Only then did Chi Miao stop, looking around before realizing she was the only one there. She pointed at herself, “Me? What is it?”
Yan Ge: “Didn’t you hear what I was shouting earlier?”
It must be because she didn’t hear, otherwise why would she just walk away?
Chi Miao: “I heard you.”
Yan Ge: “?”
Yan Ge: “You heard me and still remained indifferent? This is a guaranteed strategy for passing the third round of tests!”
Chi Miao smiled.
“Old sir, I know your type—scammers. You can’t fool me.”
It wasn’t like she hadn’t been in this line of work before. Trying to scam her? No way.
“I’ve done this act of pretending to be an old man selling secret manuals countless times myself! You want to attract customers but are too shy to shout a few more times? Young man… you’re too green. Listen to your elder sister’s advice—you can’t make it in the scamming business with such thin skin.”
Scam your mother!
You’re actually proud and boastful about having scammed many times?!
Yan Ge’s face turned livid. Suppressing his inner fury, he forced a smile, “How could this be a scam? Look at what I’m wearing—I’m a disciple of Nine Sword Mountain. There must be something profound…”
“Stop right there!”
“You used that exact line at the entrance a couple of days ago. As a fellow professional, you should be more creative and not plagiarize, alright?”
Yan Ge: “???”
Used it a couple of days ago?
Chi Miao: “Alright, alright, you really can’t fool me. I’m leaving now.”
With that, Chi Miao really prepared to leave.
Yan Ge was furious.
He suddenly unleashed a powerful force, blocking Chi Miao’s path.
“Today, you will take this strategy whether you want it or not!”
Chi Miao was stunned.
Wait… had she provoked a real expert?
How could they resort to forced sales?!
Survival was more important.
Chi Miao immediately stood still, wearing an awkward smile, “Sir, it’s not that I don’t want it, but I really can’t afford it. I was just talking nonsense because I can’t afford it. Could you please be magnanimous?”
Yan Ge: “It’s only one high-grade Spirit Stone. Didn’t Jin Shengfei give you several hundred? I heard it clearly during the Ascension Ladder today.”
Chi Miao: “He hasn’t given it to me yet.”
Yan Ge: “Then one mid-grade Spirit Stone.”
Chi Miao: “I don’t have it.”
Yan Ge: “One low-grade Spirit Stone?”
Chi Miao: “I don’t have that either.”
Yan Ge: “You don’t have anything at all? Are you messing with me?! Your food and accommodation these past few days have been quite good, haven’t they?!”
He refused to believe he couldn’t squeeze even a little something out of you!
At this, Chi Miao scratched her face somewhat sheepishly.
“Accommodation was covered by Nine Sword Mountain, and food was covered by Jin Shengfei. I didn’t spend a single coin, and I don’t have a single coin.”
Yan Ge: “What about your family? Don’t they give you anything?”
Chi Miao: “I’ve been an orphan since I was young, abandoned in a small village. What family would I have?”
Yan Ge’s heart suddenly sank.
“Then… don’t you have any other friends?”
Chi Miao smiled again, “No, their families wouldn’t let them play with me. They said I was a trash picker.”
Before she started scamming, she truly had been a trash picker.
Later, when scavenging for scraps could no longer sustain him, he began to deceive people.
A surge of guilt and heartache welled up in Yan Ge’s heart.
They knew Chi Miao was an orphan, but they had never imagined his life had been so bitterly harsh. For a moment, his mind went completely blank.
He stared at the strategy guide in his hand.
How could he have deceived such a pitiful child—one with no parents, no friends, no one to rely on?
He truly was despicable.