Chapter 174: Chapter 36: In Shushan, Just Off the Flying Sword
 

After returning to his room, Luo Yan began to organize the gains from the Three Islands Treasure Ship Secret Realm:

First and foremost, the acquisition of the Body Refining Secret Technique and the breakthrough to the “Marrow Cleansing Realm” were significant.

With the Witch Clan’s Body Refining Secret Technique, Luo Yan could, as a matter of course, “shorten the Marrow Cleansing duration,” and then, one day, he would be able to enter the Refining Mansion stage without arousing suspicion—a legitimate reason was now in hand.

Secondly, there was the knowledge of various ancient formations.

Modern formations tend to emphasize simplicity and grandeur, such as the Mountain Protection Array or the Sect’s Grand Formation, with tens of thousands of flag nodes aligned in a clear and straightforward structural order.

However, the ancient formations found in Gui Xu often emphasized complexity and integration, such as the Gui Xu Grand Formation with its immense volume of information, where the Formation Setter deliberately depicted its magnificent essence in a high-dimensional plane, revealing only the tip of the iceberg in the two-dimensional plane.

Perhaps the cultivators of ancient times felt this was more impressive.

Indeed, from Luo Yan’s perspective, both had their pros and cons.

The simplicity and grandeur of modern formations meant they were easier to learn and maintain, which was the result of the massive loss of Taoist traditions after the annihilation of the Chan and Jie teachings—after all, those complex and hard-to-learn formation traditions had almost all but vanished.

The complexity and integration of ancient formations, on one hand, made them difficult to decipher, and on the other, advantageous for use in battle, with many records even mentioning portable Formation Devices.

Luo Yan had already decided that, when he had the time, he would design a set of Formation Devices for himself.

The last gain was this Universe-constructing Heavenly Weaving God Shuttle.

It was completely black, dull, and lusterless, with an outline that resembled an elongated American football.

Except for a column of vertical Immortal Seal Script at a certain angle, there was nothing else.

For now, its function was akin to a mode of transport, with a flight speed faster than Sword Control, and less True Yuan consumption.

More importantly, in secret realms where Sword Control was not possible, this Divine Shuttle could still achieve spatial jumps, reaching places one’s feet could not.

Elder Shi Ding mentioned that the magical treasure contained three layers of seals, prompting Luo Yan to speculate:

Perhaps these three seals corresponded to “Universe,” “Cosmos,” and “Creation” in the Divine Shuttle’s name—each unsealing might realize one of these titles…

Of course, this was merely speculation.

“Ah Jing, it’s time to load the save and go to Shushan.”

“Okay, are you going to see Senior Sister An?” Kunlun Mirror casually asked.

“Shut up, I’ve just returned from Gui Xu and simply want to rest for a bit,” Luo Yan said coldly.

Laughing silently, Kunlun Mirror knew that Luo Yan didn’t know how to face Shi Liuli at the moment (after all, in Gui Xu, their relationship had developed to an almost intimate level), so he wanted to find a place to calm down.

[Save Point Two: Shushan Shangqing Faction, Qingluo Peak.]

[Character Identity: Ling Yunpo.]

[Overlaying Mirror Flower Water Moon Template, time-space travel commencing.]

Back at Qingluo Peak in Shushan, Ling Yunpo got up from the stone bed and dismantled his meditative posture, slinging his Sword Box over his shoulder.

“Master!” The Thunder Punishment Sword immediately called out, “Are we going to practice swordsmanship? I haven’t sparred with Senior Sister An in a long time!”

“How long could it have been?” Ling Yunpo thought to himself that it had indeed been a long time for him. But for you, it was only a day’s absence on a trip to the Demon Locking Tower…

With this thought, he suddenly remembered that An Zhisu’s Life-bound Sword Artifact, the Frostfall Sword, had been shattered by a Golden Core Realm Jiaolong in the Demon Locking Tower while protecting him.

Now, Senior Sister An could only temporarily use the Harsh Cold Sword left by their master, Su Jian.

Although it also belonged to the Water System Flying Swords, it was not her Life-bound Sword Artifact, making it weaker in both power and control.

Indeed, he needed to find a new sword for Senior Sister An.

The Green Duckweed Sword had mentioned the “Flying Smoke Sword” located in the Southern Sea—without the necessary information collected, there was no opportunity to pursue it for now.

“`

However, perhaps I could go to the Sword Pool to find a sword to serve as a transitional one for Senior Sister An.

With that thought in mind, Ling Yunpo set out for the Sword Pool.

The Shushan Sword Pool, located at the summit of Heavenly Gate Peak, also serves as the gateway of the Shushan Shangqing Sect.

Every aspirant seeking to join the sect must ascend Heavenly Gate Peak in their mortal flesh, facing many areas along the entire path with steps over one meter high and even sections where they must cling to cliff faces to pass. A moment of inattention can lead to a fatal fall.

Ling Yunpo, wielding the Thunder Punishment Sword, circled above Heavenly Gate Peak and saw several mortals climbing the mountain. They seemed to be disciples from the martial world, which invoked in him a mix of emotion and sighs.

Descending near the Sword Pool, he was immediately approached by two duty disciples who asked,

“Have you come for a sword… You are, Po Yun Sword Immortal!”

The other disciple quickly added with a smile,

“This way, please, Brother Po Yun.”

Ling Yunpo: …

What the hell is ‘Brother Po Yun’? Who has been spreading my name incorrectly?

He couldn’t be bothered to argue with the two unfamiliar disciples and, with a cold expression, passed between them to reach the edge of the Sword Pool.

Activating the innate talent of his Innate Sword Bone, Ling Yunpo began trying to resonate with the water in the pool.

However, this time there was no outburst of thousands of swords as there had been when he claimed the Green Duckweed Sword. Not long after, a Ninth-Rank Earth System Flying Sword burst forth from the water and landed in the palm of his hand.

“Ninth-Rank Earth System Flying Sword,” the Green Duckweed Sword lazily stated.

“Ninth-Rank won’t do, Senior Sister An’s transitional Flying Sword must be at least Tenth Rank,” Ling Yunpo lamented, casting the Flying Sword back into the pool.

He then resonated again, pulling out a new Flying Sword.

“Ninth-Rank Wood System Flying Sword,” said the Green Duckweed Sword in response.

“Wood System doesn’t suit Senior Sister,” Ling Yunpo said as he cast the sword back into the pool before resonating once more.

“Eighth-Rank Fire System Flying Sword,” the Green Duckweed Sword stated calmly.

“How come the Grade Rank is getting lower and lower?” Ling Yunpo said, annoyed, throwing the Flying Sword back into the pool, “Qing Ping, didn’t you have any girlfriends in the pool? Isn’t there one that would respond to my call?”

“No,” the Green Duckweed Sword chuckled, “Even among the Tenth Rank Flying Swords, not all Immortal Swords have a Sword Spirit. What are you thinking?”

“Without a Sword Spirit, summoning a Flying Sword from this Sword Pool is purely a matter of fate,” the Kunlun Mirror added.

With a cold expression, Ling Yunpo continued to summon about a dozen Flying Swords, not one of which was Tenth Rank.

Given such scarcity, it’s no wonder that he was immediately targeted by Ziyun Peak after pulling out the Green Duckweed Sword.

Forget it, I need to find another way. This public pool is just not reliable.

Ling Yunpo turned to leave the Sword Pool, intending to ride his sword back to Qingluo Peak when he suddenly saw Guan Shanyue descend.

One of the four mighty figures of Shushan, the senior sister of Green Bamboo Peak, the Fragmented Moon Sword Immortal Guan Shanyue, was usually accompanied by a procession of many junior brothers and sisters, making quite the scene.

This time, however, she was accompanied by only one person on a sword, the fifth-ranked Sima Changyan from the last Shushan competition.

“…In any case, I hope Senior Sister Guan will consider it,” Sima Changyan had just said when he caught sight of Ling Yunpo below and immediately fell silent.

Guan Shanyue, however, wasn’t as cautious and greeted Ling Yunpo with a warm smile,

“Isn’t this Brother Po Yun? Are you looking for a new Flying Sword at the Sword Pool?”

“Can you call me ‘Ling Yunpo’ please?” Ling Yunpo said helplessly.

“`