Chapter 686: Moon-burier Half-Saint

Being able to practice for several months in the Sword Pavilion was every sword practitioner’s dream.

However, Zhang Ruochen did not dare to do this.

Although he was now at the Fifth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm and despite having cultivated a second holy meridian, his Holy Qi could only maintain his disguise for five days at a time.

After five days, he would take on his original appearance.

The Moon-burier Sword Saint was not alone in guarding the Pavilion. He was helped by the nine Sword Holders. Several highly cultivated sword practitioners in the Half-Saint realm were also secluding themselves there for practice, in a bid to improve their realms.

If Zhang Ruochen stayed in the Sword Pavilion for more than a few months, his true identity would be discovered.

It was a huge loss for him to have to give up this opportunity.

After careful consideration, Zhang Ruochen said, “I can promise to represent the Yin and Yang Sect during the coming Sword Technique Conference. I’m also looking forward to practicing in the Sword Pavilion. But I have one condition. I wonder if the Sect will agree?”

Gao Tianjiao’s face lit up. “So long as your condition isn’t too unreasonable, I’m sure His Excellency the Sword Saint will agree. Of course, you must earn his approval first. Let’s go and meet him!”

Zhang Ruochen turned his head and glanced at the altar in the middle of the square. Then, he climbed Whitestone Sacred Cliff with Gao Tianjiao and walked toward the lofty pavilion.

He wanted to investigate the Heaven and Earth Altar and uncover its secrets.

After careful consideration, he concluded that he did not need to rush to investigate. If he earned the Moon-burier Sword Saint’s approval, he would have many opportunities in the future.

After practicing for some time, Zhang Ruochen had finally reached a higher realm in his Change of 36 Forms. He had more control over his aura, flesh, bones, and Martial Soul. His control was now extremely precise. If he was careful enough, he could conceal his identity from the Moon-burier Sword Saint.

The Sword Pavilion looked like a tower. In fact, it was a very powerful Holy Weapon. Its defense and attack power far exceeded an ordinary man’s imagination.

Standing at the foot of the Sword Pavilion, Zhang Ruochen found it difficult to breathe even with his current level of cultivation. The ancient, saintly and very keen aura forced even Half-Saints to approach the place with a bow.

Its ground level door was open. White vapor poured out from the door, forming a misty bridge. Above the bridge, white, cyan and blue swords soared in the air and swooshing sounds swirled about.

Gai Tianjiao gave the Sword Pavilion three bows and then walked through the mist.

Zhang Ruochen did the same, following behind her.

After coming through the door, the scene greeting Zhang Ruochen changed at once. He had entered a large palace.

The palace was square shaped with each side spanning 300 meters. It was supported by ten golden pillars. Its floor was inlaid with gold tiles, and its surrounding walls were made of white jade.

There were countless bookshelves, full of sword manuals of every kind.

“Wenxin Sword Technique.”

“Pure Spring Sword Manual.”

…

There were not only sword manuals in paper form but also iron scrolls. Other manuals were inscribed on jade stones, tortoise shells, and bones. These writings were very ancient.

Gai Tianjiao saw Zhang Ruochen’s astonished expression. “There are 72 rooms on the first level. 36 of them contain rare sword manuals, as well as interpretations written by past sword practitioners.

“The other 36 rooms are rather cluttered. Some house renowned swords, others Sacred Glyphs. Still others store treasures that can help one comprehend sword techniques. Certain rooms are used as retreats for our sword practitioners.

“The room we are occupying now is ‘Qing Room 1.’”

Zhang Ruochen’s eyes turned to the wall. He saw the raised words “Qing One” on its surface.

“Isn’t the first level of the Sword Pavilion a bit too big?” he asked.

If all 72 rooms in the Sword Pavilion were as large as “Qing Room 1”, the space allotted to the first level had to be huge indeed.

Obviously, the Sword Pavilion was a Space-Time treasure with a vast internal space.

Zhang Ruochen had noticed this the moment he stepped into the Sword Pavilion.

The reason he pretended to be baffled and posed his question was that he wanted to be seen as a normal person. What kind of normal person would not be surprised by a Space-Time treasure?

Gai Tianjiao led the way. “The Sword Pavilion is not a simple tower. We are only on the first level. The second level occupies an area several times larger than the first.”

Zhang Ruochen observed the place carefully. He realized that time also passed differently on the first level compared to the outside world.

When two days passed inside the Pavilion, only one day passed in the external world.

Of course, only Zhang Ruochen would notice such time variations.

“No wonder the Taiji Sect Headquarters and the Three Sects are all vying for the Sword Pavilion. The time variation inside the Pavilion can make an extremely powerful Sect twice as powerful within a century.”

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On the first level, a sword practitioner had twice as much time.

What about the second level?

And the third?

Zhang Ruochen gathered his thoughts and tried to remain calm. He followed Gao Tianjiao to Qing Room 18.

Qing Room 18 was another 300-meter square palace. In its center a round pillar supported a raised platform.

A cultivated-looking man of 50 odd years sat cross-legged on the platform. He was robed in purple and his skin was very fair. A purple and gold Taoist cap bound the violet hair on his head.

Simply by sitting cross-legged on the platform, he was absorbing all the light and heat from the heaven and the earth. He seemed to be the center of the universe, causing everything else in the palace to pale in comparison.

This man was the Moon-burier Sword Saint, one of the Three Great Sword Saints of the Eastern Region.

“Our respects to the Sword Saint.”

Both Gai Tianjiao and Zhang Ruochen bowed.

The Moon-burier Sword Saint opened his eyes, revealing purple irises that gleamed with brilliance. He sized the two people before him up and smiled. “No need for such ceremony. Take a seat first.”

Gai Tianjiao and Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the cushions on his left and right.

Only now did Zhang Ruochen raise his head to glance at the Moon-burier Sword Saint above him. He heaved a secret sigh of relief.

There was no man on the platform. The figure was merely a mass of Qi.

The Moon-burier Sword Saint’s true body was not here physically.

The Moon-burier Sword Saint’s eyes gazed intently at Zhang Ruochen like two sharp swords. He smiled. “Lin Yue, I hear that you earned three Sword Comprehensions from our Patriarchs during the coronation ceremony. You really look like the favored son they claimed you to be. No wonder even Patriarch Taiyi thinks highly of you.”

Zhang Ruochen quickly said, “You flatter me, Sir.”

“An overly modest person can’t be a sword practitioner,” the Moon-burier Sword Saint said. “A sword practitioner needs an unyielding, penetrative aura. Only then can he break through all the hurdles.”

Gai Tianjiao saluted the Moon-burier Sword Saint with hands folded. “Master, do you think Junior Brother Lin Yue is capable of taking on the great responsibility?”

“There’s no more suitable candidate than him. In my opinion, he’s a talent born for the sword.” The Moon-burier Sword Saint was wearing a smile.

A talent born for the sword!

Gai Tianjiao was fairly stunned. She had not foreseen such high appraisal from the Sword Saint. His short assessment could easily make Lin Yue famous throughout the Eastern Region.

The Moon-burier Sword Saint’s eyes glittered like two bright stars. “Lin Yue, are you willing to be my disciple and represent the Yin and Yang Sect in the coming Sword Technique Conference?”

If you were the Moon-burier Sword Saint’s disciple, you could pretty much do anything you wanted to in the Sect. Who wouldn’t give the Sword Saint face?

Sword Saints were known to be extremely picky when they chose their disciples. They would consider many factors.

The Moon-burier Sword Saint had merely taken a glance at Zhang Ruochen and made this decision. It was a very rare thing to do. Even Gao Tianjiao was surprised. She could not understand why he was doing this.

Zhang Ruochen himself was also rather surprised. He stood up at once and gave the Moon-burier Sword Saint a bow. “I’m most grateful for your kindness, Sir. But as I already have a Master, I don’t think I can be your disciple. However, as a disciple of the Yin and Yang Sect, I will be most willing to attend the Sword Conference and represent our Sect. I will do my best to defend the Sword Pavilion.” …

No Monk, from the weakest to the strongest, should have only one Master.

The purpose of being apprenticed was to learn.

Only someone who had mastered the strengths of various schools and comprehended their martial techniques would do well on the Holy Road.

However, Zhang Ruochen was already Sword Saint Xuanji’s disciple. The latter was of equal esteem with the Moon-burier Sword Saint. It would be disrespectful to his first teacher to take the Moon-burier Sword Saint as a master as well.

If he did that, would he not be implying that Sword Saint Xuanji was inferior to the Moon-burier Sword Saint?

Although Zhang Ruochen’s identity now was “Lin Yue” and no one knew he was Sword Saint Xuanji’s disciple, he would never do anything disrespectful to his Master.

It would only be acceptable if the two Masters had a wide gap in their cultivation. Or if they were both exceptionally powerful, in very different ways.

These were the only reasons a Monk could take different Masters and avoid criticism.

The Moon-burier Sword Saint narrowed his eyes. He obviously had not expected Lin Yue to refuse the chance to become a Sword Saint’s disciple. He started to laugh.

If Patriarch Taiyi had not picked Lin Yue out in person, the Moon-burier Sword Saint would not have chosen him as a disciple either.

“I know that you are Half-saint Zixia’s disciple. But you must know he will be happy if you are under me. He certainly won’t blame you.” The Moon-burier Sword Saint was smiling.

Zhang Ruochen said, “I won’t take another person as my Master unless I have surpassed my first in cultivation.”

Although Lin Yue had rejected him, the Moon-burier Sword Saint did not pressure him to accept. “Very well! It’s good for you to have some principles. And a sword practitioner really ought to stick to their principles.”