Two disciples voluntarily grasped swords, their blood forming a contract. Another disciple did not grasp a sword; they wanted to explore deeper into the Sword Tomb to see if there were better swords.
Two more disciples voluntarily grasped swords they liked; only one succeeded. The sword grasped by the other disciple immediately produced repulsion, resisting and struggling to break free from his hand. The disciple refused to give up, so the sword dragged him into the sky like a kite with a broken string, wildly flying. Finally, an Elder saved him.
Long Kangnian secretly closed the distance between himself and Long Aotien, acting like a big dog seeking his master's opinion: "Brother, which sword do you think I should contract with?"
Long Aotien ignored him, turning to pull Jiang Xi: "Second Senior Martial Brother… could you give me some more talismans?"
"Fourth Junior Martial Brother, don't drink too much, you too, oh~"
Long Aotien: "..."
Differential treatment, is it? You gave the younger martial sister a Dimensional Pouch!
Shi Qinxin diligently studied a large amount of sword knowledge, even more diligently than when she entered the Sword Tomb herself. She was energetically introducing it to Tian Ning.
Xiao Roushu appeared beside Tian Ning at some point, without speaking, just staring intently. Tian Ning could not bear this intense gaze.
"Junior Martial Sister, do you need something?"
"Nothing." Xiao Roushu continued staring at her.
Tian Ning: "..."
As the Sect Leader's daughter, Xiao Roushu had long known from her father that Tian Ning possessed Innate Sword Bone. She was merely curious. Tian Ning was indeed powerful in the arena competition, but was that the extent of Innate Sword Bone?
Since childhood, she had studied records of Innate Sword Bone. Compared to those Seniors, she thought the current Tian Ning was nothing special.
Outside, Sect Leader Xiao wiped sweat from his forehead, thinking of his daughter's lifelong obsession with the stories of Innate Sword Bone and her unusual persistence. He felt a little anxious, hoping that this child would not do anything outrageous.
The atmosphere was lively and bustling. The neglected Wenren Xue could only seek a sense of presence from Xie Xingzhi, recommending some suitable swords for the Junior Martial Brother.
Unnoticed, a disciple at the very end of the group quietly left, and they had already reached the deepest part of the Sword Tomb…
Long Aotien saw a sword and suddenly stopped. He hesitated for a long time without doing anything, constantly coughing: "Cough… cough… cough… cough…"
Jiang Xi: "Fourth Junior Martial Brother, are you sick?"
Long Aotien: "My throat is a little uncomfortable, so what? Cough… cough…"
Long Kangnian's eyes lit up, and he excitedly ran to grasp that sword.
Tian Ning: "..."
Fourth Senior Martial Brother is really awkward.
Long Kangnian had good talent and a stubborn personality. Although initially rejected by the sword, he refused to let go no matter how the sword tossed him around. Finally, after being completely disheveled, the sword no longer resisted.
Xie Xingzhi chose a sword based on Wenren Xue's recommendation.
Logically, there shouldn't be any problems. Wenren Xue knew this Junior Martial Brother had excellent aptitude; otherwise, Master would not have accepted him as a Direct Disciple. However, Xie Xingzhi's state of mind had changed during his competition with Tian Ning… he couldn't subdue the sword, and ultimately had to choose a high-grade sword of lower quality.
Seeing that time was running out, Xiao Roushu stopped staring at Tian Ning and chose a crimson Long Sword.
"Roushu, wait a moment. The Guanyu Sword's Sword Spirit has a fiery temper. Have you really considered this?" Because she was the Sect Leader's daughter, Elder Qiu specially stepped forward to advise.
This sword has a Sword Spirit!
"Uncle, I've already decided." Dressed in red, she looked exceptionally flamboyant: "If I'm going to choose, I'll choose the strongest sword!"
"...Alright, Old Ye and I will protect you."
Xiao Roushu's process of contracting with the Guanyu Sword was exceptionally long and difficult. After grasping the sword, her flesh and skin felt as if they were being burned by flames. Initially, she endured the pain, but later it became too much, and she couldn't help but cry out, yet she refused to let go.
"I… I saw you in a picture when I was three… ow, it hurts… I really like you! You… just be with me…"
The pain was unbearable, so she started saying things to distract herself: "I'm so pretty, you won't lose out by following me! I… I promise to wipe your blade every day, take you to see the most beautiful scenery in the world, take you…"
"..."
Sect Leader Xiao's eyes were full of heartache outside.
Seeing that she showed signs of successfully making the contract, only Tian Ning and the disciple who had previously rejected a sword remained among the ten. Shi Qinxin couldn't help but say:
"Little Junior Martial Sister, are you really not going to make a contract? It's good to try!"
Tian Ning shook her head.
Her significant other's temper… forget it…
Even if she did contract with a sword and return, she would be beaten every day… A good sword following her back only to be beaten every day; she felt sorry for the sword.
Xiao Roushu finally succeeded in making the contract, but… she was bald; the Guanyu Sword's fire had burned all her hair off. Fortunately, she was wearing a high-grade Magical Robe.
But she didn't care at all, surprisingly asking Tian Ning: "Why haven't you chosen a sword yet?"
They had already reached the deepest part of the Sword Tomb.
A person with Innate Sword Bone, could they possibly return empty-handed?!
Tian Ning didn't know what she was thinking, so she could only make up an excuse.
She tried to be humble: "I'm not good enough; I'm not worthy of the swords here."
???
Xiao Roushu looked at her in disbelief.
Tian Ning didn't understand why this young girl cared so much about her; they weren't even familiar.
Two Elders regretfully persuaded her a few times, but seeing that Tian Ning was truly insistent, they had no choice but to count the number of people and prepare to leave.
However, upon counting, they discovered… one person was missing!
"It's Junior Brother Cao, tenth place in this competition," a disciple said.
Junior Brother Cao was quiet and inconspicuous, like a ghost. They didn't even know when he disappeared?
Just as the two Elders were about to have Fu Hongming watch over the New Disciples while they searched for the missing person, Demonic Qi, exclusive to Demonic Cultivators, appeared inside the Sword Tomb.
"Not good!" Elder Qiu looked towards the southeast, startled.
There was still an unstable factor within this Sword Tomb, but it had been peaceful for thousands of years; it shouldn't be…
A group of people followed Elder Qiu towards the southeast. They didn't travel far before they saw the missing disciple.
"Junior Brother Cao!"
He was standing in the center of a formation drawn with blood, his left brachial artery cut open, continuously dripping blood to maintain the temporary formation drawn on the ground. He held a pitch-black sword in his right hand, his expression frenzied, constantly shouting: "Welcome my master, the Demon Lord's descent, to slay gods and destroy the earth, the divine weapon to awe the heavens…"
Elder Qiu recognized it at a glance: "It's the Demon Sword!"
"Old Ye, immediately take everyone away and ask for help from the Sect Leader!"
Sect Leader Xiao had already become restless upon seeing the Demon Sword.
"Open the Sword Tomb immediately!"
Something big was about to happen!
However, the disciple gave them no chance. After finishing his incantation, he did not hesitate, stabbing his heart with the sword.
The man died, and the formation was complete—
Strange patterns began to appear on the pitch-black Demon Sword. The formation on the ground tore apart the Sword Tomb's space, and the Record Stone, the only way to know the Sword Tomb's situation from the outside, went offline…
"