Gateway of Immortality

Qin Sang flipped to the last page of the family genealogy, yet he still couldn’t find any mention of a Foundation Building cultivator. The highest level recorded was that of Song Hua's grandfather, Song Yi, who had only reached the seventh stage of the Qi Refining Realm before disappearing without a trace during a journey.

The sword will decree of Shaohua Mountain might still be lying in the tomb of the Song Clan ancestor!

Qin Sang held the Song Family genealogy, his expression fluctuating with indecision. Although his understanding of the cultivation world was still limited, the benefits of joining a sect were obvious.

Just like that shopkeeper beside the Divine Artifact Pavilion, the envy of rogue cultivators towards sect disciples was evident from their few words.

However, Song Hua had saved his life. Whether intentionally or not, Qin Sang owed him a debt of gratitude. He never prided himself on being a good person, but he wouldn’t harm the person who saved his life.

Moreover, Shaohua Mountain was a prominent sect of the righteous path. If he truly lacked a spiritual root, obtaining the sword will decree would be useless.

Qin Sang sighed softly, setting aside the Song Family genealogy, and picked up another unnamed book. He also retrieved the ebony sword hidden in his chest.

The unnamed book was actually the Song Family Sword Art, which was also the sword art used to activate the ebony sword!

This so-called Song Family Sword Art was merely a modified version of the sword control techniques from Shaohua Mountain, adapted by the Song Family's ancestor.

Once the sword art was mastered, one could control a sword with spiritual consciousness, soaring through the skies. With a single thought, the sword light would streak across the sky like a startled swan or a wandering dragon, coming and going in a flash, striking down enemies from a thousand li away.

When the sword control technique reached a certain level, one could transform sword qi into a rainbow and fly using the sword, exuding immense divine power that would leave others in awe.

Qin Sang had long coveted the ability to fly using a sword. The basic spells of the Netherworld Scripture included the Windwalking Mantra, which merely enhanced movement speed, and the Airborne Technique, which allowed one to hover briefly, but neither enabled true flight.

The reason Qin Sang couldn't activate the ebony sword was because he lacked this sword art.

The Song Family genealogy recorded that the fourth-generation ancestor of the Song Family had once found a fragment of a flying sword astra[1] while exploring the cave of an ancient cultivator.

Although it was just a fragment, it was still of astra quality.

Only a cultivator in the Core Formation Realm or higher could refine astra. Each astra was crafted from extremely precious spiritual materials and painstakingly refined day and night by a Core Formation Realm cultivator, resulting in immense power, far surpassing even the finest artifacts.

After acquiring the flying sword fragment, the Song Family ancestor was overjoyed and spared no expense to commission a renowned artifact refiner from the market to forge it into the ebony sword.

As a result, the ebony sword was neither an astra nor an artifact, yet it differed significantly from ordinary spiritual swords and artifacts. Because it was originally a treasure fragment, it was far more durable and sharp than common spiritual swords and artifacts. However, it could only be activated using a specific sword art.

But the drawback was also significant: the ebony sword consumed a vast amount of energy, requiring a Foundation Building cultivator to sustain its usage. A cultivator at the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm could barely activate it.

For cultivators below the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm, their spiritual power was too meager, necessitating the use of spirit stones to accumulate enough power to release even a single strike.

Given Qin Sang's current resources, he could at most unleash eight strikes.

Of course, the ebony sword's power was extraordinary, making it difficult for opponents of the same level to withstand.

Qin Sang held the Netherworld Scripture in one hand and the Song Family Sword Art in the other, lost in thought.

Whether cultivating the sword art or spells, neither could be accomplished overnight; both required a long, painstaking effort.

If cultivating the spells hindered his progress in cultivation, it wouldn’t be worth the loss.

He had to decide for himself whether it was worth it.

He had yet to face another cultivator, so he wasn’t sure which of the five spells to prioritize. However, focusing all his efforts on the Song Family Sword Art was undoubtedly unwise.

Even if he found malevolent yin qi and his Soul Pill was replenished, as his realm increased, his cultivation speed would slow down, and occasional bottlenecks could further delay his breakthrough to the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

Until he reached the tenth stage of the Qi Refining Realm, he would have to absorb spirit stones and prepare in advance before each use of the ebony sword. In a critical moment, his opponent wouldn’t give him time to prepare.

He would still need to rely on spells and artifacts like the Purple Soul Bell to fight his enemies. The ebony sword would serve best as a hidden ace.

Of course, the Song Family Sword Art was still worth practicing.

Qin Sang threw away Song Hua's miscellaneous items and packed his own belongings, feeling much lighter. After all, carrying that gold and silver had been quite exhausting.

The Purple Soul Bell and the Ice Silkworm Armor remained outside, ready to respond to any crisis. With those items secured, Qin Sang lost interest in practicing the Netherworld Scripture and immersed himself completely in the Song Family Sword Art.

For an entire day, Qin Sang did not leave the courtyard, becoming entirely absorbed in the Song Family Sword Art.

The primary focus of a sword control technique was to nurture the sword. Only by thoroughly understanding the characteristics of one’s spiritual sword and merging one’s mind with the sword could one wield it with full control and unleash the true power of the sword art.

Qin Sang communicated with the ebony sword using his spiritual consciousness. Following the guidance of the sword art, he first used his essence and blood to refine the sword, earning its recognition. After spending a whole day, he finally stored the ebony sword in his dantian, where it was constantly nourished.

This method of nourishing a spiritual sword was the most fundamental sword cultivation technique of Shaohua Mountain.

According to the Song Family Sword Art, only when one had achieved the realm of unity between person and sword could one be considered to have entered the path of the sword. This was still a distant goal for Qin Sang.

Even when he was not in a cultivation state, Qin Sang could still feel the presence of the ebony sword in his dantian.

Qin Sang opened his palm, and with a thought, a wisp of dark light appeared in his hand. The small ebony sword floated above his palm, its previously unremarkable form now gleaming with a faint light, exuding an extraordinary aura.

Although Qin Sang's face was slightly pale, his excitement was unmistakable. He couldn’t help but point forward and softly command, "Go!"

The ebony sword trembled, then shakily flew forward. Its speed was very slow, and it had barely traveled a few zhang before Qin Sang’s face turned ashen. He quickly recalled the ebony sword into his body, letting out a sigh of relief with a lingering expression of fear.

In his excitement, he had forgotten that nurturing the sword consumed a great deal of spiritual power.

Moreover, the ebony sword’s consumption of spiritual power was astonishing. Even such a short distance nearly depleted his reserves.

After meditating to restore his energy, Qin Sang returned to his previous state. He knew that sword cultivation could not be rushed, so he took out the Netherworld Scripture and practiced the spells first.

These basic auxiliary spells were quite simple. With his experience in Object Manipulation Technique, Qin Sang learned them all within a few hours.

Of course, mastering their application would require diligent practice.

Qin Sang tried each spell on parchment, but the results were disappointing.

In the end, Qin Sang decided to focus on the Cloud Evasion and Thousand Li Ice Seal spells—one for escaping and one for defense—both of which were urgently needed.

With the Purple Soul Bell and the Ice Silkworm Armor already at his disposal, which had similar effects to the River-Locking Fog and Water Barrier spells, he didn’t need to prioritize these two.

As for the Shapeshift spell, Qin Sang felt that even if he could create an illusory clone to confuse his enemies, if the illusion was seen through, it wouldn’t help him escape.

1. An astra is a supernatural weapon. It is presided over by a specific deity and imbued with spiritual and occult powers. The term came to denote any weapon that was released from the hand (such as an arrow), compared to holding it (such as a sword). ☜

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