Legend of the Great Sage

wing me to unleash the full power of the Demon Dragon sword!

However, what delighted him the most was not these sword styles and sword techniques, but a manual called “Heart of the Sword”.
It was broken up into three sections for nurturing the sword, refining the sword, and tempering the sword.
It went into detail about how to increase a sword’s quality through refinement and tempering.

This was basically timely help to Li Qingshan right now.
He just happened to be trying to refine the Traitorous Demon sword into a true demonic artifact.
Although the Traitorous Demon sword could increase its power through devouring demon hearts, the rate of increase was relatively slow.
Even with the demon hearts of several dozen Demon Commanders in his possession, he could not say with certainty that he would succeed.
Now that he had this manual, the success rate had increased drastically.
It was not a guaranteed success, but he was seventy to eighty percent confident now.

Heh, looks like I still ended up taking advantage of them!

Completely satisfied, Li Qingshan then asked, “When do you plan on setting off?”

“In the next day or two.”

Hua Chengzan answered before suddenly gazing down the mountain.
“Someone is here.
That’s strange.
Why has he come to find me?”

A man stood before the formations at the foot of the mountain.
He was dressed like a farmer, giving off a very rustic vibe, but he possessed a bearing that no regular farmer possessed.
He stood tall, giving off neither a sense of inferiority or arrogance, like a framework of wood and earth.

Beside him stood an adolescent child in new clothes.
He carried a sword on his back, and he seemed rather uncomfortable.

It was the leader of the school of Agriculture, Li Long.
With him was Li Qingshi, who had his name changed to “Li Xiaoyao” by Li Qingshan.

Li Xiaoyao said, “Master, why don’t we just go back?”

Thunk! Li Long smacked Li Xiaoyao over the head.
“Damned brat, you’re the one who said you wanted to study the sword at the Sword Collection palace, which was why I brought you here.
Now that we’re here, you’ve lost your courage.
What kind of man are you supposed to be?”

“It’s all cultivation.
It doesn’t matter where I am.”

“How doesn’t it matter? My school of Agriculture tends to the land, primarily focusing on “life”.
We comply with the variations and fluctuations of life.
The sword is a lethal weapon that primarily focuses on “death”.
You need to be staunch and resolute! You’re still young right now, so your character is still undecided.
If you tend to the land for a few more years with me, it’ll be too late for you if you want to learn the sword again.”

“Will they want me?” Li Xiaoyao said uneasily.

To anyone that wanted to learn the sword, the Sword Collection palace could be regarded as a “holy land”.
Yin Xiaochou had made a name for himself too after defeating the genius cultivators of twenty-two prefectures, which caused him quite the pressure.

“How will you know if you don’t try? If it doesn’t work out for you, you still have other places you can go.
You’ll end up somewhere no matter what.
You don’t have to be afraid either.
He might be powerful, but wasn’t he still defeated by your- a person from the same hometown as us?”

When Li Qingshan was mentioned, Li Xiaoyao riled up with vigour.
Sure enough, he became a little more courageous.

During the years he had spent with Li Long, he had become much more mature.
He learnt about many matters of the past, and he also understood Li Qingshan’s difficulties, so his resentment vanished.
His uncle that refused to recognise him was still his role model.

At this moment, the formations opened up.

Holding onto Li Xiaoyao, the land beneath Li Long shrank and contracted, and they arrived on the mountain peak in a short while.
Seeing how Li Qingshan was also here, Li Long became a little more confident.

“What brings school leader Li to my place today?” Hua Chengzan asked with a smile.

Li Long had always focused on farm work, and Hua Chengzan had spent a lot of the past few years in secluded cultivation, so they did not have much contact with each other.
All he knew was he came from the same hometown as Li Qingshan.

“I heard you were about to go to the Sword Collection palace, so I specially came to see you off.
It’s just a small gift to express my respect towards you!”

Li Long took out the basket of fruit he had prepared, which consisted of apples, pears, and various other fruits.
They were all abundant with spiritual qi and glossy in colour.
Hua Chengzan tried to turn down the gift before accepting it at Li Long’s insistence.

Only then did Li Long say, “There’s something else I’d like to ask.
This child is my disciple.
He’s always been smitten with the path of the sword, so I was wondering if fellow Yin could take him to the Sword Collection palace to be tested?”

Li Xiaoyao glanced at Li Qingshan before becoming afraid to look at him again.
Then he raised his head and gazed at Yin Xiaochou who carried the Breaking Water sword on his waist.
His face became filled with respect and admiration.

“If he wants to become a disciple of the Sword Collection palace, he needs to undergo strict testing.
It’s not something I can decide with a word from me.
This child’s talent is mediocre, and he lacks a decisive air about him, so he’s not suited for the path of a sword cultivator.
It’s better if he continues cultivating in the school of Agriculture.”

Having inherited the sword intent from the past masters of the Breaking Water sword, Yin Xiaochou had developed some ability to judge people.
It had already been rather difficult for this child to set foot on the path of cultivation.
He had a very small chance at undergoing the first heavenly tribulation, but to the Sword Collection palace, a good chance at undergoing the first heavenly tribulation was the very basics they were looking for.
Otherwise, they would not even accept them as a formal disciple.

Li Xiaoyao lowered his head, his face reddening and paling at the same time.

“He’s still young, so he hasn’t undergone any trials to toughen up yet.
He does have some kind-heartedness, but he wholeheartedly wants to become a sword wielder.
Even I can’t change his mind!”

Li Long sighed gently and rubbed Li Xiaoyao’s head, but he looked towards Li Qingshan.

Li Qingshan said, “Just test him out, fellow Yin.
If he can’t pass the tests of the Sword Collection palace, then just make no more mention of this and send him back.
I didn’t exactly possess any startling talent or decisiveness back then either.”

“Really? But I found you extraordinary from the first time I laid my eyes on you.
This child also has Li as his surname.
Don’t tell me he’s your relative?” Hua Chengzan smiled.

Li Qingshan only smiled.

“I must learn the sword!” Li Xiaoyao suddenly raised his head and said loudly.

“Oh? Why?” Yin Xiaochou asked.

“My parents were killed by a crook!”

“You want to avenge them?”

Li Long shook his head.
“That crook died a long time ago!”

“Then why?”

“I- I want to kill other crooks up and uphold justice!”