Chapter 260: The Secret of the Heavenly Spirit Sword Body
One of the three great sword cultivator spirit bodies, the Heavenly Spirit Sword Body, appearing in the descendant of a human-beast hybrid, was completely wasted.
“Fellow Daoist Lei, that’s quite the clever plan you’ve come up with.”
At this moment, Lin Chang’an directly showed a look of displeasure.
The Heavenly Spirit Sword Body was indeed powerful, even comparable to the Heavenly Spiritual Root, but the problem was that being a human-beast hybrid, the mixed mana completely tainted this constitution, making it thoroughly inferior.
Lin Chang’an had long since grown used to cultivators being traded as goods in the Fog Sea of Tongtian, but that wasn’t enough reason for him to raise a burden.
“Fellow Daoist Tian, this item was previously nurtured by the Divine Sword Sect. After several twists and turns, it ended up in my hands. Take a closer look—this female cultivator has already reached early Foundation Establishment.”
So it turned out this female cultivator was once a remnant raised by the Divine Sword Sect, later sold off for spirit stones.
After all, the Divine Sword Sect had long since fallen into decline.
“That’s still not worth my fifty thousand mid-grade spirit stones.”
“Fellow Daoist, I also have a secret art obtained from the Divine Sword Sect.”
Following Fatty Lei’s voice transmission, Lin Chang’an’s expression instantly shifted.
The Blood Sacrifice Technique!
As long as she was cultivated to peak Foundation Establishment, she could be used as a sword-sacrificing vessel, potentially allowing a magic treasure to give birth to an artifact spirit.
Even if it failed, it would still enhance the treasure’s spirituality.
After hearing this, Lin Chang’an fell silent, while Fatty Lei revealed a smile. Lady Hong Third glanced at the two of them with a look of intrigue.
From start to finish, the Foundation Establishment female cultivator bound in chains, like a piece of merchandise, had not drawn anyone’s attention.
In the world of cultivation, strength reigned supreme, displayed now in all its cruelty.
To a Golden Core cultivator, a Foundation Establishment cultivator was no more than a slightly stronger ant.
“Fellow Daoist Tian, even if you don’t plan to use her yourself, you can present her to someone with such interests. With the secret art from the Divine Sword Sect included, surely this item is worth the price?”
Hearing Fatty Lei’s enticing offer, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but turn his gaze toward the female cultivator bearing one of the three great sword bodies.
This female cultivator had rare heterochromatic eyes, a trait that aligned with certain features of human-beast hybrids. However, her gaze was now vacant, filled with deathly stillness.
“It’s said that descendants of human-beast hybrids harbor a baleful aura from the beast bloodline, resulting in chaotic mana.”
Lin Chang’an seemed to think of something. His expression stirred, and he reached out to grasp her wrist.
The slender jade arm of this cold-faced, petite female cultivator was covered in whip scars.
Upon seeing this, Fatty Lei smiled and explained, “Fellow Daoist Tian, rest assured. This woman holds immense value. She’s just a bit temperamental. With proper discipline after returning, she could serve as a fine cauldron.”
Yet at the very moment he clasped her wrist, Lin Chang’an felt a sudden tremor in his heart, and he discreetly conducted an inspection.
“She’s indeed still a virgin. Some cultivators from major powers are quite fond of this kind of… attribute. However, there are plenty of hidden injuries on her.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Lin Chang’an spoke. Upon hearing that, Fatty Lei broke into a smile.
It seemed there was room for negotiation. This unsellable item had been sitting in his hands for too long—he’d suffer a loss if priced too low, but no one wanted it at a high price. It had remained stuck with him until today, when an opportunity finally presented itself.
What Lin Chang’an said wasn’t entirely untrue. Despite the flaws, this body still bore a spiritual constitution. Whether as a cauldron or a sacrificial offering, its value remained decent.
But only Lin Chang’an knew—when he infused a wisp of Evergreen mana, it actually purified the chaotic mana within her.
“As expected, if even the mysterious black aura from the Fusang Divine Tree could be purified, then so too could this mixed mana of a human-beast hybrid.”
A female cultivator with the Heavenly Spirit Sword Body would, after forming a Core, give rise to a strand of pure Heavenly Spirit energy in her dantian. As her cultivation increased, this pure Heavenly Spirit energy would grow more concentrated.
It was rumored that this Heavenly Spirit energy could help suppress the heart demon tribulation during the Nascent Soul breakthrough.
More importantly, this constitution also carried benefits for others.
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an’s heart couldn’t help but stir.
Especially during the formation of the Nascent Soul—it could greatly increase the success rate.
It could help suppress inner demons and, even in ordinary times, nurture magic treasures with its Heavenly Spirit energy.
“The Heavenly Spirit Sword Body—just its ability to nurture a treasure and boost the chance of birthing a sword spirit is enough to incite greed.
Not to mention that after Core Formation, the Heavenly Spirit Sword Qi within could further raise the odds of forming a Nascent Soul.”
Enhancing the odds of ascending to the Nascent Soul Realm—especially in suppressing heart demons—even the slightest improvement would drive countless powerful Golden Core cultivators mad with desire.
Even Nascent Soul cultivators might feel tempted if they found out.
At this thought, Lin Chang’an grew increasingly moved.
The reason she was deemed worthless was because her chaotic mana made it nearly impossible to reach the Golden Core Realm, stripping her of her greatest value.
But in his hands, things were different.
“For just a few tens of thousands of mid-grade spirit stones, I can obtain a cultivator bearing the Heavenly Spirit Sword Body, one nearly equal to the Heavenly Spiritual Root!”
With that, Lin Chang’an calmly glanced at the pair. This wasn’t just a massive gain—it was an absurd profit!
Back when he had just established his foundation, he had dual cultivated with Yun Yao and experienced these benefits firsthand.
Not to mention, this time the spirit body rivaled the Heavenly Spiritual Root.
And only in his hands could its full potential be unlocked.
Of course, this required her to form a Golden Core, and the higher her cultivation, the better the results.
Thinking to this point, Lin Chang’an calmed himself. Supporting a genius to Core Formation wasn’t all that difficult for someone like him.
If she had ordinary talent, he wouldn’t bother gambling on her.
Now, even though she was only in early Foundation Establishment, and despite possessing a talent comparable to the Heavenly Spiritual Root, reaching Core Formation would still take at least sixty years.
“Sixty years—a full Jiazi. Nearly a century. Though many variables may arise over such time, compared to the potential gain, no one could resist.”
At this thought, Lin Chang’an began bargaining with Fatty Lei.
“Fellow Daoist, what is this—!”
As Lin Chang’an negotiated, some of the materials he requested left Fatty Lei speechless.
The man had opened with a demand that included all the materials required for the Blood Sacrifice Technique—how could Fatty Lei not suffer a loss?
Seeing Fatty Lei’s stunned look, Lin Chang’an coldly replied:
“Fellow Daoist Lei, this human-beast hybrid, after Foundation Establishment, has shown flaws in her bloodline and is extremely difficult to cultivate further. I don’t have time to raise a liability.”
It was clear that beneath the facade of this disguised Golden Core cultivator, Lin Chang’an fully intended to begin preparations for the Blood Sacrifice Technique the moment he returned.
Fatty Lei merely froze for a moment, then smiled once more.
As expected, no sword cultivator could resist the temptation of birthing a sword spirit in their life-bound treasure.
He couldn’t care less whether that cargo lived or died. All he cared about was finally getting rid of it without suffering a loss.
“Fellow Daoist, this is all I have…”
In the end, the three of them completed the transaction inside the shop, each getting what they needed.
After obtaining the materials she sought, Lady Hong Third let out a soft chuckle and glanced at Lin Chang’an, though she silently muttered in her heart.
As expected, sword cultivators were always so obsessive.
In truth, she felt a bit regretful inside—for not being a sword cultivator herself.
This Heavenly Spirit Sword Body clearly enhanced the chances of an artifact birthing a spirit only for sword-type treasures. For other magic treasures, the benefit was minimal. That was also why this female cultivator had remained unsold for so long.
Part of it was the high price, the other was the low probability of success.
This time was purely because Fatty Lei seized an opportunity and managed to offload the cargo along the way.
“Fellow Daoists, should you come across any fine goods in the future, be sure to bring them my way.”
After the deal was made, Fatty Lei laughed heartily, one hand slapping his belly while the other fanned himself with a folding fan, clearly overjoyed.
“Fellow Daoist Tian, this item’s restriction jade token guarantees that this little girl won’t even be able to commit suicide.”
As he said this, Fatty Lei’s eyes turned cold. The restriction token in his palm flashed with a gleam, and at once the female cultivator let out a muffled groan of pain.
“What are you dazing off for? Don’t you know the rules, you little brat?”
“Master!”
From beginning to end, this cold-faced and petite female cultivator had remained vacant-eyed. Only under the restriction’s control did pain appear on her face, and she finally uttered the word “master.”
But upon realizing the one who had bought her would soon prepare to use the Blood Sacrifice Technique, her heterochromatic eyes showed no fear—instead, a trace of relief emerged.
Once Lin Chang’an took the restriction jade token into his hand, he nodded calmly.
This trip to the Fog Sea of Tongtian had not only yielded the much-needed third-rank demon core, but also brought an unexpected gain.
After leaving Azure Wave Island’s marketplace, Lin Chang’an didn’t hesitate at all. He raised his hand and cast a spell, enveloping the woman in a glow of his mana.
The next moment, he turned into a streak of light, quickly flying off with her.
As they soared through the sky away from the marketplace, for the first time, the dazed heterochromatic eyes of the female cultivator revealed a flicker of light.
This scene naturally didn’t escape Lin Chang’an’s notice, and he silently nodded in approval.
If she were someone utterly broken in spirit like a puppet, she would’ve been more difficult to manage.
…
All the way, with this burden in tow, Lin Chang’an didn’t head straight back but first stopped on a deserted island.
After thoroughly inspecting the female cultivator’s body from inside out for any tracking marks, he finally felt at ease.
Only then did he bring her back toward the Five Dragon Island sea region.
Compared to the eternally gray and hazy tone of the Fog Sea of Tongtian, the moment they reached the Five Dragon Island sea region, blue skies, white clouds, and the calls of sea beasts and birds filled the air.
In the distance, a rainbow formed after a storm, as if pulling them from a dull gray world into a vibrant one.
“This is…”
Along the way, the female cultivator who had been treated like cargo finally spoke. Upon seeing the rainbow, her dim eyes revealed a rare glimmer of color.
But to a Core Formation cultivator, even a whisper could be heard clearly.
Lin Chang’an said indifferently, “This is the Five Dragon Island sea region. I’ve already lifted all the restrictions on your body. Once we reach the new place, I’ll apply new ones.”
Removing the restriction wasn’t out of kindness. He was simply afraid the previous ones had hidden traps, such as tracking spells.
A female human-beast hybrid bearing the Heavenly Spirit Sword Body—being discovered was nothing. But if it was found that she could cultivate normally, that would be a serious problem.
“Yes… Master.”
The female cultivator seemed startled at being noticed. Her eyes instinctively avoided his, but then, as if fearing punishment, she quickly replied.
Lin Chang’an merely shook his head without further explanation.
He had spent spirit stones to buy her, and just the fact that he could purify her mana meant there was no chance she’d be given freedom.
If word got out, he would have to flee to the Outer Sea.
“But compared to the chance of forming a Nascent Soul, a little caution is worth the risk.”
After all, he would have to plan for the Nascent Soul stage eventually, and which of the required spirit items didn’t come with immense risk?
Maintaining a calm expression, Lin Chang’an concealed his aura and led her toward his cave abode.
Meanwhile, the female cultivator looked up at the sky, her dim heterochromatic eyes basking in the sunlight. Rarely, she squinted in contentment, and even murmured in her heart:
“Mother, so this is what sunlight feels like—it’s so warm. I’ve seen the sun.”
For her, born in the Fog Sea of Tongtian, she had never seen the sun, only heard of it from her mother’s stories.
Later, a ragged group of cultivators arrived at their island and took it over.
She heard they were remnants of the Divine Sword Sect who had fled. Afterward, the cultivators began inspecting spiritual roots, and she was selected.
Her mother’s excitement, her family’s celebration—but that was the beginning of her nightmare.
Later, the island was conquered by other cultivators, and she was sold off by a fleeing elder of the Divine Sword Sect.
Like a piece of merchandise, she had finally been bought again.
“To be able to see sunlight before dying… how nice.”
Knowing her fate long ago, she showed a smile of release.
…
While Lin Chang’an was returning to his cave abode on Five Dragon Island, several uninvited guests arrived on the island where he had previously hunted the Sinister Spirit Beast King in the Fog Sea of Tongtian.
“There’s no mistaking it. This is the aura of a Wind-Chirp Bird—and it’s the very one lost from the Palace of Blazing Fire.”
A seductive female cultivator descended, surveying her surroundings while sniffing the air intoxicatedly through a formation disk that had long lost its response.
The aura matched perfectly.
“Senior Sister’s nose is still as sharp as ever—can’t believe you sniffed this out.”
Just then, a cold gleam flashed as Yun Yao’s icy figure appeared. She looked at her so-called senior sister with a sneer.
“Giggle, Junior Sister, my nose is very sensitive. For instance, I could even smell it when you fooled around with a man that day.”
The two mocked each other in turn. While Yun Yao’s face remained frosty, she glanced around warily, secretly breaking into a cold sweat for Lin Chang’an.
“A third-rank Wind-Chirp Bird. For someone to raise such a beast to the Golden Core Realm—this isn’t something an ordinary force could do. Most likely the Long Clan of Five Dragon Island.”
“What we need to do now is report this to the Sect Master, then send someone to track the Wind-Chirp Bird’s whereabouts.”
Yun Yao intended to warn Lin Chang’an and pretended to be eager for merit.
However, her senior sister only responded with a mocking smile.
“Junior Sister, aren’t you a bit too impatient? If that person could slay a third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast King in this place, do you think he’d only hunt one?
This is a rare opportunity. That person might still be nearby.”
Yun Yao’s heart tightened. She had thought of that too, which was why she wanted to change direction.
“Junior Sister, your little schemes are still too green. You wanted to trick me into leaving so you could search alone.”
The seductive senior sister mocked with a smirk, completely interpreting Yun Yao’s eagerness for merit as a ruse.
“Hmph! If your nose is so sharp, can you sniff out where that person is now? This third-rank Wind-Chirp Bird is no small matter.”
Though she hadn’t been exposed, Yun Yao still snorted coldly.
Her beautiful senior sister’s expression darkened slightly upon hearing that.
“That person is too cunning. He concealed his aura deeply and even used special powders to erase his scent.”
The two then ordered their subordinates to begin a carpet search.
Thanks to his earlier caution, Lin Chang’an had narrowly escaped a crisis by not being greedy.