Only at the Mahayana Stage Does the Reversal System Appear - Chapter 148

Chapter 148 The Sword Master’s Dilemma

Only those at the Fusion Stage and the Tribulation Crossing Stage can refine secret realms. After refinement, secret realms acquire special rules. For example, during the random tests within the Mysterious Secret Realm, Meng Chun was left with only a remnant soul. Her power wasn’t enough to trap everyone in an illusion or dream. This was due to the secret realm’s rules

. Another example is the three tests within the Sword Tomb, which also follow the rules of the secret realm.

These secret realms are considered personal belongings to them, maintaining a certain independence from the world of Kyushu. When the Yin-Yang Heavenly Seal awakened the Kyushu spiritual treasures, it didn’t awaken the spiritual treasures within the refined secret realm. Therefore, the spirit swords in the second test remained normal, not spirited.

Legend has it that the spirit swords in the second test were all swords of the former Sword Lords, some of whom he carried with him, others captured from his enemies. These swords were numerous, and the Sword Lord used his magical powers to obscure their true nature, imposing rules that limited each person to drawing only one, and the ability to do so depended on fate.

Rules are rules. Even if you’re as gifted as Bai Hongtu, seeing the best spirit swords unable to be drawn, lacking destiny, you’ll have to settle for second best, missing the chance to advance to the third test.

However, every rule has its exceptions. Jiang Li now plucked the swords, mud and all, like pulling a carrot. Regardless of rules or destiny, he could pull them out.

After a brief, childish tantrum, Jiang Li finally put the spirit swords back in.

The second test took place in a vast space, and Jiang Li’s area was only a small part. The others were far away and couldn’t witness Jiang Li’s miraculous maneuvers.

Spirit swords of the spiritual, magical, and Daoist calibers were often obtained by those with a strong destiny.

Those with strong destiny received Daoist spirit swords, those with lesser destiny received spiritual spirit swords, and those without any destiny received rusty swords, barely above scrap metal.

Many others had entered with Qin Luan and the others, their faces beaming with smiles, a testament to their considerable gains.

“Look, a Dao-weapon-level spirit sword.”

“I also have a Dao-weapon-level spirit sword.”

Qi Sha Daozi and Qin Luan came over noisily, comparing their skills.

“Mr. Jiang, whose spirit sword is of higher quality?”

Qi Sha Daozi thought to himself that he’d been connected to swords since childhood. At three, he slept with a sword in his arms; he’d wet the bed without it. At five, his father spanked him with the scabbard for mischief. At seven, he broke his leg and used his sword as a crutch. Although he didn’t detect his sword spirit roots at twelve, he constantly fantasized about having them. At fifteen, an ancestor appeared in his dream, telling him that he would master the Seven Killings Stele of the Heaven-Severing Heaven.

What did this prove? It proved that I, Qi Sha Daozi, was born with a sword in my blood. What could you, Qin Luan, have to compete with me?

“Qin Luan’s spirit sword is superior to yours.”

“Huh?” Qi Sha Daozi was stunned.

Jiang Li continued to explain, “You both received top-grade Daoist weapons. Legend has it that the Sword Lord wielded a two-handed sword for a period of time during his fusion phase. These two swords must be the male and female Twin Snake Swords worn by the Sword Lord. Yours is the female, and Qin Luan’s is the male.”

“Your female sword won’t work against Qin Luan’s male.”

“Furthermore, the Twin Snake Swords can only unleash their full power when held in the same hand. Used separately, their power diminishes by 60-70%, or even more.”

Qi Sha Dao Zi felt a deep sense of defeat.

Though reluctant, he had no choice but to give the sword to Qin Luan.

After all, he had the female sword.

However, Qin Luan refused, instead handing the male sword to Qi Sha Dao Zi.

“Qin Luan, don’t insult me!” Qi Sha Dao Zi glared at Qin Luan with gritted teeth and took the male sword.

Qin Luan: “…”

Your spiritual platform and physical body are quite separated.

He ignored Qi Sha Daozi and instead addressed Jiang Li, “Mr. Jiang, before I encountered the Hegemonic Sword, I sensed a connection with a sword. It might be the best sword in the Sword Tomb, but I couldn’t draw it. I had to search for another spirit sword, and finally found this Hegemonic Sword.”

The familiar plot piqued Jiang Li’s interest. “Where is that sword?”

Qin Luan led the way, leading Jiang Li to a small mound studded with swords.

“This is it.” Qin Luan grasped the hilt of one of the swords, exerting all his strength but unable to pull it out.

Jiang Li had just grasped the sword and was about to exert force when he felt a divine thought emanate from it.

“Fellow Daoist, don’t attack.”

“Sword Lord?”

A cloud of white mist emerged from the spirit sword, condensing into a humanoid form. He wore a white robe and white boots, his features were handsome, his figure tall and graceful, and his brows held a hint of the arrogance unique to sword cultivators. Even a glance conveyed the sense of oppression from a superior.

Bai Hongtu had also possessed this, but after a battle with Jiang Li, he had become more docile.

This was the first time Qin Luan and his companions had witnessed a true Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivator. Unlike Jiang Li, who had returned to the purest form of the Mahayana stage, the Sword Lord’s arrogant, arrogance more closely matched the image of a powerful being in Qin Luan’s and his companions’ minds.

If Jiang Li had adopted this attitude, Qin Luan and his companions might not have dared to follow him, as the psychological pressure would have been too great.

What Qin Luan didn’t know was that the Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivators throughout Jiuzhou had previously shared a similar attitude: arrogant and stubborn, they felt they were invincible.

After all, they were all at the Tribulation Crossing Stage, so who could be worse than the other?

However, Jiang Li’s appearance changed the attitudes of these Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivators. Jiang Li demonstrated with his strength that there truly was a Mahayana stage beyond the Tribulation Crossing Stage, and that their cultivation was far from sufficient, leaving them no room for arrogance.

This, in turn, led to the Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivators throughout Jiuzhou now practicing diligently, no one daring to act arrogantly.

“That’s me. I see that fellow Daoist’s cultivation is unfathomable. I’m sure you’re in the Tribulation Crossing Stage, just like me. But even so, please don’t get involved. This is my own business.”

The Sword Lord couldn’t see through Jiang Li’s cultivation, which meant he was also in the Tribulation Crossing Stage. The Sword Lord didn’t consider becoming an Immortal or the Mahayana Stage. With the Immortal Ladder gone, no one could become an Immortal.

As for the Mahayana Stage, in his opinion, that was even more impossible. As a Tribulation Crossing Stage cultivator, the more he cultivated, the more elusive the Mahayana Stage seemed to him, and he felt that no one could reach the Mahayana Stage.

“What’s going on?”

“Four thousand years ago, I entered the Tribulation Crossing Stage. Grateful for the grace of heaven and earth, and thanking all living beings for sharpening my sword, I inscribed the twelve sword techniques on a stone tablet as the first test. I gave the swords I had collected throughout my life to sentient beings with predestined connections as the second test. The third test is myself. If anyone can see me and pass my test, I will teach them a few things and even accept them as my disciple.”

For a sword cultivator to receive guidance from the Sword Lord is truly a great opportunity.

“It’s truly shameful,” the Sword Lord sighed. “Who could have imagined that, while in retreat on the third level, I would encounter a tribulation of the Inner Demon, shaking my sword spirit. A single misstep led to a precipitous defeat, allowing the Inner Demon to possess me, while I, the original owner, was driven out and attached to the sword.”

“I was on the second level, and the Inner Demon was on the third level. I manipulated a portion of the rules to keep him there. If he dared to leave, the rules would backfire. While not fatal, it was enough for me to defeat him and reclaim his body.”

“This sword is the best sword mentioned in the second test. Only this sword can withstand my soul. Anyone who draws it out, according to the rules, will be transported to the third level. If I forcibly change the rules, the Inner Demon will escape from the third level.”

“This is how we remained in a stalemate for four thousand years, unable to defeat each other.”

(End of Chapter)