Chapter 175: Sword Sect

After settling matters at the Zixia Sect, Su Yun did not rush to leave.

He stayed on Zixia Peak for three days, scouring Fairy Zixia's library.

The Zixia Sect's Cultivation Technique leaned towards the fire element, which was highly compatible with the fire Spiritual Root within his Power of the Five Elements.

He memorized several Mahayana Stage fire-element Cultivation Techniques, planning to pass them on to those enslaved with fire Spiritual Roots in the future.

Fairy Zixia accompanied him throughout, like a silent statue; she did not speak, merely standing quietly behind him.

On the evening of the third day, Su Yun closed the last Jade Slip and stood up.

He walked to the window and gazed at the rolling mountains in the distance.

The setting sun dyed the mountains a golden-red, and purple clouds surged over the Peaks like a burning sea.

He asked Fairy Zixia about the situation at the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Fairy Zixia said that the Heavenly Sword Sect was located in the western desert and had about 20,000 Disciples, with female cultivators accounting for only twenty percent, or roughly 4,000 people.

The Sect Master was named Sword Wuxin, who was at the Mahayana Middle Stage. He was a sword fanatic who practiced the sword his entire life and kept away from women.

The Disciples under his sect were primarily male, and most female cultivators were Outer Sect Disciples responsible for handling chores.

Su Yun asked about the relationship between the Heavenly Sword Sect and the Zixia Sect.

Fairy Zixia said it was neither good nor bad; the two sects were separated by the entire Immortal Realm and rarely interacted.

However, the Heavenly Sword Sect and Wanhua Valley had intermarried for generations. Most female cultivators from Wanhua Valley married into the Heavenly Sword Sect, and male cultivators from the Heavenly Sword Sect often went to Wanhua Valley to find Dao Companions.

Su Yun nodded and said that they would go to the Heavenly Sword Sect first.

The next morning, he set off with Zi Ling.

Zi Ling was the Personal Disciple of the Zixia Sect's Grand Elder, at the Lianxu Peak Stage, and was very familiar with the terrain of the Immortal Realm.

The two flew westward for five days, and the greenery beneath their feet gradually faded, replaced by endless yellow sand.

The wind was strong, whipping up sand particles that struck their faces with stinging pain.

The air was filled with a dry sensation; a single breath left their throats parched.

Zi Ling pointed ahead and said that the Heavenly Sword Sect was located in the deepest part of this desert, built on an isolated mountain called Sword Peak.

The mountain was very tall and could be seen from afar, resembling a giant sword thrust into the yellow sand.

Su Yun accelerated and flew for another half day until the outline of Sword Peak appeared in his field of vision.

The mountain was steep with cliffs on all sides, and several black stone halls were built on the summit. The stone halls were covered in crisscrossing sword marks of varying depths.

Two Disciples stood in front of the mountain gate, both male cultivators at the Golden Core Stage, wearing black tight-fitting outfits and carrying long swords on their backs.

They saw Su Yun and Zi Ling and raised their hands to stop them.

"The Heavenly Sword Sect is a restricted area; outsiders are not allowed to enter."

Su Yun handed over a Jade Slip, which was an introduction letter written by Fairy Zixia.

The Disciple took the Jade Slip and probed it with his Divine Sense. His expression changed, and he turned to go inside to report.

A moment later, a middle-aged woman walked out from the mountain gate.

She wore a long black dress with a cold, stern expression, and her entire body was filled with sharp Sword Qi.

Spirit Transformation Peak Stage.

She looked at Su Yun, then at Zi Ling.

"People from the Zixia Sect? What is your business coming to my Heavenly Sword Sect?"

Su Yun said: "I have long admired the Heavenly Sword Sect's sword techniques for being unparalleled in the world, and I have come specifically to exchange and learn."

The middle-aged woman sneered.

"Exchange and learn? The Heavenly Sword Sect does not accept male Disciples. You may wait at the foot of the mountain; this young lady may go up."

Su Yun shook his head.

"I want to go up."

The middle-aged woman's face darkened.

"It is the rule of the Heavenly Sword Sect that men are not allowed to set foot on Sword Peak. This was set by the Sect Master, and no one can break it."

Su Yun did not say anything more.

He raised his hand and tapped the middle-aged woman on the forehead.

The middle-aged woman's eyes widened, and her Spirit Transformation Peak Stage spiritual power surged out wildly, but Su Yun's finger was too fast, and the golden light had already entered her forehead.

[Enslavement successful] [Obtained new slave: Jian Xin, Loyalty 56] [Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining spiritual power feedback from Enslavement, cultivation stabilized]

Jian Xin's body stiffened, and the coldness in her eyes gradually turned into obedience.

She lowered her head.

"Master."

Su Yun withdrew his hand and asked her how many female Disciples the Heavenly Sword Sect had.

Jian Xin said there were 4,300, most of whom were in the Outer Sect, with only a few hundred in the Inner Sect.

Sect Master Sword Wuxin did not keep company with women, but he did not exclude female Disciples; as long as their sword techniques were good enough, men and women were treated equally.

Su Yun asked where Sword Wuxin was.

Jian Xin said the Sect Master was in seclusion in the Sword Cave at the summit of Sword Peak and had not emerged for three years.

Su Yun said to lead the way.

Jian Xin led Su Yun and Zi Ling onto the mountain path.

The mountain path was very narrow, wide enough for only one person to pass, with bottomless abysses on both sides; falling meant being smashed to pieces.

Su Yun walked very steadily, his steps neither hurried nor slow.

At the end of the mountain path was a black stone gate, engraved with sword marks, each carrying the Sword Intent of the Mahayana Middle Stage.

Jian Xin said this was the Sword Cave, where the Sect Master was in seclusion and would not see anyone.

Su Yun raised his hand and pushed the door.

The stone gate did not move.

He increased his strength, and the power of the Mahayana Middle Stage poured out. The stone gate shook a few times and cracked open a slit.

He pushed again, and the stone gate opened.

The cave was very dark, with only a few night pearls embedded in the walls emitting a faint light.

In the center of the cave, an old man sat cross-legged with white hair and beard, a haggard face, and a black long sword resting across his knees.

Mahayana Middle Stage. Sword Wuxin.

He opened his eyes and looked at Su Yun; there was no surprise or anger in his eyes, only calm.

"Who are you?"

Su Yun walked up to him.

"Su Yun of the Qinghe Sect. I have come to collect your Disciples."

Sword Wuxin's brows twitched.

"Collect Disciples? The Disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect do not accept outsiders."

Su Yun raised his hand and struck out with his palm.

Sword Wuxin swung his sword to block. The sword light collided with the palm force; the cave shook, and rubble fell from the ceiling.

The two fought fiercely in the cave, sword light and fist power intertwining, causing the stone walls to crack.

After thirty moves, Sword Wuxin's sword was slapped away by Su Yun.

Su Yun's finger tapped his forehead, and golden light flashed.

[Enslavement successful] [Obtained new slave: Sword Wuxin, Loyalty 44] [Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining spiritual power feedback from Enslavement, cultivation stabilized]

Sword Wuxin's body stiffened, and the calm in his eyes gradually turned into obedience.

He lowered his head.

"Master."

Su Yun withdrew his hand and turned to walk out of the cave.

Jian Xin was still standing at the door, head bowed.

Su Yun ordered her to gather all the female Disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Jian Xin accepted the order and left.

An hour later, 4,300 female Disciples stood in the open space in front of Sword Peak.

They were dressed in black tight-fitting outfits, carrying long swords on their backs, all looking heroic and spirited.

Su Yun walked down the steps and pointed at them one by one.

Golden light flickered in the sunset, like thousands of golden butterflies in flight.

4,300 people; he spent the entire afternoon pointing at them.

[Enslavement successful x 4300] [Ding, congratulations to the host for obtaining spiritual power feedback from Enslavement x 4300, cultivation improved significantly]

Su Yun stood in the open space, closing his eyes and feeling the new power surging within his body.

With the feedback spiritual power from 4,300 female cultivators, plus those he had collected before, his cultivation advanced significantly from the Mahayana Middle Stage, getting closer and closer to the Mahayana Middle Stage Peak.

He opened his eyes and looked into the distance.

That was the direction of Wanhua Valley, the in-laws of the Heavenly Sword Sect and one of the Seven Great Immortal Sects.

Wanhua Valley was full of female cultivators, with about 18,000 Disciples.

The corners of his mouth raised slightly.

"Next, Wanhua Valley."