“Come, come, everyone gets one!”
“Qingyan, this is yours. Qingquan, you take one too for protection.”
Returning to the mortal world, Lu Zheng brought Liu Qingyan and Hu Zhou back to the Liu family.
Though it was late, dinner couldn’t be skipped, especially after a fight. Honestly, they were quite hungry.
After dinner, it was time to divide the spoils.
Though there was no method to wield them, the nails’ ability to expand and contract made them useful as unconventional weapons.
Master Liu and Madam Liu declined, so Lu Zheng gave one nail each to the Liu sisters.
“Xiaozhou, you take one too. You can never have too many protective items, and this is easy to carry.”
“Thank you, Master!”
Lu Zheng toyed with the nail in his hand.
It was elliptical, slightly flattened, thicker at one end with a gentler curve, thinner at the other with a sharper arc, vibrant red, and textured like jade or stone. If he hadn’t seen it himself, Lu Zheng would struggle to believe this was a nail taken from a corpse, as it looked more like a jade ornament.
But when infused with true qi, the elliptical ornament transformed.
The thinner end would gradually elongate, growing longer and sharper, with both sides becoming increasingly edged.
It ultimately became a slender, guardless sword, one end sharp and fine, the other a half-inch thick, flat cylindrical handle for gripping.
“Swish!”
“Whoosh!”
“Hee hee, so fun!”
Liu Qingquan played with her nail, demonic power surging, making the sword extend and retract, delighting in the process.
“Nail sounds too crude,” Liu Qingyan said, handling hers. “It reminds me of that glamorous corpse. Let’s give it a new name.”
She was still irked about Bai Yuqing’s attempt to seduce Lu Zheng.
“Fine, you pick a name.”
“Let’s call it… Red Jade Sword.”
“Sounds good, your call!”
“Hee hee!”
Lu Zheng’s quick agreement delighted Liu Qingyan, her gaze toward him brimming with affection.
Having just acquired a “Mind-Nourishing Method,” with the moonlight soft and a cool breeze blowing, it was perfect for focused study.
He studied so intently that he lost track of time, absorbed in learning all night.
…
“What’s this?”
“Red Jade Sword. Point the thicker end toward yourself, infuse a bit of power, and try it.”
“Swish!”
“Oh my!” Shen Ying’s eyes lit up. “A flying sword?”
“What do you think?”
“Lu Lang, where did you get a flying sword?”
“Taken from the Netherworld.” Lu Zheng recounted their trip.
“Lu Lang~”
“Hm?”
Shen Ying said softly, “The Netherworld is full of countless ghosts and unpredictable dangers. Why didn’t you take me along with Qingyan?”
Lu Zheng explained helplessly, “It was sudden, and it was Old Brother Xin’s territory. I didn’t expect any danger.”
“Hmph! How does Xin Zhanting manage things? He can’t even secure the area from Night Mountain to the Yin-Yang Road!”
Shen Ying frowned, looking worriedly at Lu Zheng. “I’ve heard of the glamorous corpse. Are you really okay?”
“Relax, I’m fine.”
“Are you sure?” Shen Ying set down the Red Jade Sword, sidling closer with a slight smile. “Unless… you prove it to me?”
…
Lu Zheng proved he was uninjured, leaving Shen Ying breathless but convinced.
…
“This is the way of sword cultivators’ flying swords. Without cultivation methods or sword-wielding techniques, it’s at least seventy percent weaker, but it can still serve as an unconventional weapon. Thank you, Lu Lang.”
“The way of flying swords…” Lu Zheng squeezed the white peach bun in his hand.
“Yes, between sword techniques and sword pellets. It lacks the agility of sword pellets and the might of sword techniques, but it can harness the sword’s power, reaching farther than sword techniques, each with its strengths.”
“Tell me more. I don’t know about sword cultivator classifications.”
Indeed, the white peach buns from Peach Blossom Village were delicious, soft, warm, and sweet with every bite.
Shen Ying giggled, handing him another bun.
“Taoist cultivation has many sects, and sword cultivators are no exception. I only know the three most widespread types.
First, sword techniques, akin to martial arts, cultivating sword qi and practicing close-combat swordsmanship. With a long sword in hand, they are invincible, similar to the body-cultivating sect of Taoism.
Second, sword pellets, also cultivating sword qi, but they gather the essence of heaven and earth, merging it with boundless sword qi to form a sword pellet, nurtured in the dantian qi sea, blending with the three treasures of essence, qi, and spirit. When facing enemies, they release the pellet, transforming it into sword light and qi, immensely powerful.
Third, flying swords, forged from heavenly materials and treasures, cultivating both self and sword. They can even fly on swords early, wielding them freely in combat, leveraging the wielder’s strength, earning great renown.”
Lu Zheng listened attentively, nodding seriously, then started on the second white peach bun.
“Don’t think these sword cultivation paths seem ordinary. Their true power lies in the sword qi they cultivate.”
Shen Ying’s eyes narrowed slightly, her brow relaxed, continuing, “Sword cultivators are renowned as the foremost in attack, unmatched in sharpness, not just empty boasts.”
Lu Zheng nodded, acknowledging sword cultivators’ prowess, but said, “My skills aren’t just talk either.”
Shen Ying bit her lip lightly, her eyes sultry. “I know, Lu Lang, you don’t just use your mouth. You use many things~”
Lu Zheng nodded. The buns were finished, time for the main course.
Sated, he assigned Shen Ying a set of cultivation techniques as homework before returning to Tonglin County.
…
Back home, Lu Zheng took out a Red Jade Sword, infused it with true qi, and it transformed instantly.
Using the “Transportation Technique,” he manipulated the sword to zip around him.
With over a century of cultivation, his mana was vast, and the sword’s range grew wider.
However…
Lu Zheng recalled the sword.
Despite the impressive “whoosh” sounds, the Transportation Technique wasn’t for combat. Without sword qi, relying solely on true qi to control the sword’s body, its power was inferior to the Xiuchun blade.
In modern times, it would be unbeatable, but in ancient times, it was practically useless.
“Ugh, where can I find a sword cultivation technique?”
Lu Zheng rubbed his chin. “Bai Yuqing’s ten nails were forged as flying swords. Could the Chaos Corpse Pool have sword cultivation techniques?
Was Bai Yuqing a sword cultivator in life, becoming a glamorous corpse after death?
Did she record her techniques from life, storing them in her lair?
What a pity I killed her. Her collection in the Chaos Corpse Pool likely fell to the other two, right?
Hard to steal…
Wait?
No need to steal. I know the Earth Travel Technique! Those two wouldn’t carry Bai Yuqing’s things on them, would they?”
Lu Zheng felt he’d unlocked a new approach. Some things, illegal in modern times, in ancient times…
Well, still illegal, but surely the Great Jing Dynasty wouldn’t care about crimes committed in the Netherworld, right?
