SWNOVELXO Chapter 113 - Sword Pavilion
The popularity of Sword Peak has improved somewhat compared to the past. With the addition of Gu Yao and his three companions, some people came to admire Chi Changye’s incredible swordsmanship, while others were attracted by Gu Yao’s pill-making skills. As a result, Sword Peak is no longer as shunned as it once was.
Gu Yao regularly provides Sword Peak with a portion of pills at internal prices. These pills have become an important reason for many disciples to join Sword Peak. A few alchemists who had been rejected by Pill Peak applied to join, and after Gu Yao’s decision, they were accepted.
In his spare time, Gu Yao would also offer some guidance or allow them to observe his pill-making. As a result, the alchemists’ skills improved significantly, and the pills they made were sent to the Gu Chi shop. While the quality of these pills was not as good as those personally crafted by Gu Yao, the old saying goes, “You get what you pay for.” These pills still had a market in Tianfu Academy and found buyers.
This was one of the reasons Gu Yao had decided to bring these alchemists into the fold. The shop couldn’t just rely on him and Chi Changye alone, especially when it came to the pills. If he was away for an extended period on a journey, wouldn’t the shop have to close? He couldn’t let one shop hold him and Chi Changye back, so expanding the supply of goods was necessary.
In addition to cultivating alchemists, Gu Yao also had Tian Feirong and the little fatty recruit a few talisman masters. They signed employment contracts, and the fact that only internal members could purchase pills at internal prices was enough to convince the talisman masters at the academy to join. As a result, the inventory at the Gu Chi shop increased significantly.
During this period, Gu Yao entered closed-door training, and Chi Changye also entered the Sword Pavilion for trials. When Gu Yao finished his seclusion and found that Chi Changye had not come out yet, he couldn’t help but feel worried. After handling his tasks, he couldn’t sit still and went outside the Sword Pavilion to wait.
It was only after entering Sword Peak that Gu Yao understood the situation of the Sword Pavilion. However, after learning the general circumstances, he became even more suspicious of the Sword Pavilion’s origins. When he first heard the name Sword Pavilion, he had discussed it with Senior Xu Chen, wondering if it might be something similar to Pill Pavilion. At that time, Xu Chen dismissed the idea. But now, it seemed that even if it wasn’t on the same level, it certainly had a remarkable background.
Anyone who enters the Sword Pavilion must pass through one challenge after another. However, the first challenge requires Foundation Establishment-level strength, and the high starting point is one of the reasons why so many cultivators are deterred. Once you enter, there is no way to withdraw halfway—there are only two possible outcomes: success or failure. The consequences of failure depend on how the challenge was attempted, so those without confidence dare not enter lightly.
It is said that the dean only succeeded in the first layer of the challenge, where he gained significant opportunities. Not long after, he successfully formed his golden core. This success attracted many cultivators who wanted to attempt the challenge, but none of them had the same luck as the dean. Later, the dean entered the Sword Pavilion again, but failed at the second layer. Afterward, he retreated for a long time. Some gossipers speculate that during that time, the dean may have suffered serious injuries and needed time to recover. Whether external forces took advantage of the dean’s injuries to suppress Tianfu Academy is unknown.
With just these two points, Gu Yao could already tell that the Sword Pavilion was extraordinary. However, the area around the Sword Pavilion is surrounded by heavy restrictions, and without special tokens and sword energy to clear the way, ordinary cultivators cannot approach. Gu Yao could only stand outside the restrictions, gazing from afar.
“Don’t worry, Senior Brother Chi should be able to pass the challenge,” Shi Yanyan said in a dry tone, though she was never good at comforting others. After more than two years of staying outside the Sword Pavilion with little interaction with others, she had grown even less inclined to speak comforting words.
She envied and resented Gu Yao and Chi Changye. If she had their strength and potential, perhaps she could have avenged herself. However, after meeting them, they never treated her with any ill will. Although they were not overly friendly, they regarded her as a normal junior sister. After going through so much, Shi Yanyan felt truly grateful. In her eyes, if even Chi Changye couldn’t pass the challenge, no one from Tianlin Continent would be able to succeed.
Gu Yao smiled. “I believe in him too.”
Because of this belief, they each focused on their own matters.
Xu Chen clicked his tongue in admiration within Gu Yao’s sea of consciousness. This was the second time he had observed the Sword Pavilion from afar with Gu Yao, and it seemed that Gu Yao had indeed guessed right. The Sword Pavilion was not ordinary. His second round of admiration was deeper than the first.
Xu Chen said, “I have an idea.”
Gu Yao was curious. “What is it?”
Xu Chen speculated, “I think the Sword Pavilion might not be complete. If you compare it to the Pill Pavilion, you see that the Pill Pavilion starts from the Qi Refining stage and progresses layer by layer. But the Sword Pavilion requires Foundation Establishment sword cultivators to even attempt the challenge. Maybe the most basic layer is missing—the layer for Qi Refining, which would have allowed for accumulated experience and training in the challenges. That’s why the second layer is so much more difficult.”
Gu Yao found this reasoning very plausible. Taking the Pill Pavilion as an example, if the first layer were missing and he were sent straight to the second layer, he would probably be excluded from the Pill Pavilion as well. He would need a long time to catch up on his studies, and those basic knowledge requirements were vast. How much effort and energy would it take for him to catch up?
If that’s the case, it’s easy to understand why the challenges in the Sword Pavilion are so difficult, Gu Yao couldn’t help but worry: “Brother Ye should be fine, right?”
Xu Chen rolled his eyes: “You’re underestimating him. He’s originally a sword cultivator, and he must have undergone numerous trials in his former sect. The Sword Peak here has a legacy for sword cultivators. Besides the Sword Pavilion, what else here can compare to what Chi Changye has? Don’t worry. His sword intent is pure and solid. After this challenge, he should gain a lot. This kid is really lucky.”
Look at this, thinking that a genius of cultivation would fall into decline after falling into a resource-poor place with underdeveloped cultivation. But who would have thought that not only did he meet Gu Yao, who worked hard to treat his internal injuries, but he also encountered the existence of the Sword Pavilion. After a breakthrough, this kid’s future achievements will surpass what he had before.
Gu Yao was delighted to hear this. If Brother Ye had gained something, that was certainly great news. However, the gap between them hadn’t narrowed; it had actually widened. It seemed he still had to work harder—Reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining wasn’t enough to satisfy him.
Xu Chen rolled his eyes again at the silly kid. He stroked his chin and said, “Since I’m a Pill Master, I didn’t pay much attention to sword cultivators. But as far as I know, my previous place also had a lot of sword cultivator sanctuaries. In the future, if there’s a chance, Chi Changye could try to tame the Sword Pavilion. If it’s similar to the Pill Pavilion, then he can go further in the path of sword cultivation.”
Back when they were in the small secret realm, seeing Chi Changye strike with his sword, Xu Chen noticed that although Chi’s cultivation level had dropped, the sword intent and destructive power of the sword strike were superior to what he had seen from Chi before. This showed that he had indeed gained something extraordinary.
Gu Yao was stunned for a moment, then said, “If I get the chance, I’ll try to talk to Senior Brother Chi about it.” It would be too abrupt to mention it now, and even if the Sword Pavilion wasn’t complete, how could he subdue it?
Thanks to Xu Chen’s words, Gu Yao felt more at ease. He decided to stay outside, waiting while calmly reading a book, occasionally refining a batch of pills and organizing his previous research insights.
He wasn’t in a hurry to form his foundation yet. Before doing so, he wanted to refine an upgraded version of the modification elixir. This way, not only would the success rate of forming his foundation increase, but his spiritual power after foundation establishment would also become more solid.
From Chi Changye, he had learned that even among cultivators of the same level, there were differences. Those who barely made it to Foundation Establishment with the help of pills had no chance against Chi Changye, who had just formed his foundation.
Shi Yanyan saw this and didn’t disturb Gu Yao further. She stayed nearby, practicing her sword or meditating, the meridians in her limbs that had been severed before were now fully healed.
Meanwhile, Elder Yi and the rarely seen Dean Yu occasionally came to observe the situation. However, they didn’t make an appearance. With someone challenging the Sword Pavilion again, how could they not be nervous? According to Dean Yu, he felt that Chi Changye should wait a few more years before attempting the Sword Pavilion. It was still too early. However, this was Chi Changye’s own decision, and he couldn’t stop him.
On this day, the two of them arrived at the Sword Pavilion one after the other. There was still no movement inside the Sword Pavilion. Elder Yi couldn’t help but feel worried. Chi Changye was the best sword cultivation talent he had seen in years. He could even be said to surpass the previous dean in some respects. He himself couldn’t offer any guidance, and if such a talent were harmed because of the Sword Pavilion, the loss would be too great.
“Dean, do you think Chi Changye… sigh, I should have stopped him earlier,” Elder Yi said with regret.
Dean Yu shook his head and said, “This child’s determination is unshakable. No one can stop him. He knows his own wounds better than anyone. He must believe that he can enter. Don’t forget, he was once a sword cultivator who had formed a Golden Core. Even if he’s only at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, he’s not necessarily weaker than someone who has completed the Foundation Establishment.”
Only cultivators who have formed a Golden Core understand the difference between Golden Core and Foundation Establishment. It’s a drastic change. Even though Chi Changye’s cultivation has fallen back to Foundation Establishment, his mindset and comprehension from his time as a Golden Core cultivator remain. His control over spiritual energy and sword intent is far beyond what a regular Foundation Establishment cultivator can compare to. So, while Dean Yu was worried, he still had a positive outlook on Chi Changye’s prospects.
“I hope you’re right, Dean,” Elder Yi sighed. “That Gu Yao is quite a person, loyal and righteous. After coming out of seclusion, he’s been staying here. If it weren’t for his pill skills, Chi Changye wouldn’t have recovered so quickly.”
Because of this, Elder Yi’s opinion of Gu Yao had been steadily rising, and he had grown more and more fond of him.
Dean Yu nodded and said, “Indeed. Valley Master Hu also sent me a letter, entrusting me to take care of Gu Yao. Even if he hadn’t asked, I would still do so.” With Gu Yao around, even the Pill Peak’s actions have become more restrained. With competitors, there’s pressure.
As the two were casually talking, Dean Yu suddenly became alert. He swiftly stood up and looked toward the Sword Pavilion. At the same time, Gu Yao, who had sensed something, walked out from the wooden house where he had been resting. He had a vague, intuitive feeling that Chi Changye was about to emerge.
At that moment, a vast and sharp sword energy soared into the sky. Dean Yu’s gaze sharpened, and he immediately threw several jade talismans into the air. The entire array of protective formations around the Sword Pavilion was activated, layers upon layers of energy wrapping around the area, quickly concealing the unusual phenomenon.
A look of joy appeared in Dean Yu’s eyes.