CBGC - ch108.2

Before this, Su Tingyun must sit next to the obelisk for a day, and then stay at the bottom of the Cleansing Sword Lake for another day.

The names of all the cultivators from the Obliteration Sword Tower are on the strange stone, and each one contains their sword intent from their lifetime. Putting aside the Killing faction, the Haoran faction has a unique understanding of the Haoran Zhenqi Sword Technique. Su Tingyun needs to sit by the obelisk and contemplate on her predecessors' sword intents.

She had stayed by the strange stone before, but this time is little different.

The Sect Leader leads her to burn incense and pay respects to the ancestors. After she knocks her head on the ground ninety-nine times, she is permitted to kneel on one side, while the Springwater Sword has to be placed on her knees.

Faint blue smoke rises up in spirals, like three small dragons winding up the obelisk, the wisps of smoke make the names at the top indistinct. The bottom ones are theirs, and after their still-bright names, follow the names of the deceased.

The blue smoke turns into a haze, and there’s the continuous holy chants. Those lives that faded away in those flowing lights, and the time that flowed for millions of years, they are returning at this moment, bringing back from the past the people and the swords in their hands, delivering them to the present.

The predecessors and newcomers of the Obliteration Sword Tower, both seem to be in the same world at this very moment.

Su Tingyun feels that she is standing on a vast plain, with soft green grass beneath feet and the sound of the wind in her ears.

A bright moon hangs high in the sky, the moonlight is like frost, making the endless loneliness of the empty plain more apparent.

But with her sword in her hand, she no longer feels alone.

One after another, swords cultivators appear before her eyes, some saluting with a smile, some nodding in greeting. But after each greeting comes a sword strike that shakes the heavens.

One person, one sword.

The swords of many.

Su Tingyun is drenched in sweat, but she neither hides or cowers. Like avoiding the sword intent in the bamboo forest, she dodges these sword techniques.

The power of the sword techniques grows stronger and stronger. Dodging alone is no longer enough, so Su Tingyun swings her sword to defend herself. Because her opponents would only strike once, she can only use one move as well. Her sword, from the initial clumsy hacking to the precise force in her wrist, the arc of her swing, and the strength of her thrust, her sword technique gradually forms its fledgling stage.

One person after another would appear, and after each, they’d say while leaving, "Next one, who's next?"

Su Tingyun keeps brandishing her sword, losing count of how many times she has struck.

The Springwater Sword hums with joy. Each battle seems to give new life to its sword spirit, giving it a stronger fighting intent. Su Tingyun merges her mind and heart with it, now becoming like a sword that cuts through all obstacles before it, going forward with courage and determination, and showing no signs of fatigue.

She becomes more and more courageous as she fights, stronger as she battles.

Next one, who's next?

Another person appears.

This person's figure is hazy, and after appearing, he doesn’t make any movements, other than directly striking with a sword. Su Tingyun still blocks with her previous sword movements, but after that, she suddenly discovers that the opponent's sword light is innumerable, not just one sword strike.

Should she retract her sword and avoid this sword intent?

The Haoran Zhengqi Sword Technique can be controlled at will. Even if it’s retracted in an instant, it will not cause any backlash. However, Su Tingyun does not dodge, she urges her spiritual energy to the extreme, and her flying sword is just and true. She uses the power of one sword to break through the myriad of sword phantoms.

After the person's phantom sword lights are shattered, instead of saying "Next one, who's next?" like the others, this one bursts out in laughter and looks at Su Tingyun, saying each word slowly, "The Haoran Zhengqi Sword Technique has finally produced someone talented."

Then, the person's shadow disappears, and another one comes up. But as before, there’s nothing unusual about them.

Su Tingyun is puzzled because it’s nagging her mind. For the following, she counts the number of people who appear next. Once she’s out of the illusory world, she matches the names on the obelisk, and realizes that the strange person is most likely the swords cultivator whose name has been erased and could not be read.

All the other people had their sword intent left in their names, so they spoke exactly the same way. Could this sword cultivator, and the four characters of their name, have an individual consciousness? Is this person still alive?

Who is it?

Su Tingyun asks around but no one knows the answer. After all, it was a very long time ago.

After cultivating with the obelisk, Su Tingyun goes to the bottom of the Cleansing Sword Lake to cultivate some more. Little Uncle has reserved a spot for her, so she doesn’t need to do anything else at the bottom of the lake. She just needs to immerse herself.

She holds her Springwater Sword and meditates near the seal at the bottom of the lake. Not too long after that, she suddenly feels something strange.

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