Chapter 586: Which Lineage’s Successor Are You?

Chapter 586 -530: Which Lineage’s Successor Are You?

If a Mica Sword Pill and a Tier Four Flying Sword were put up for auction, the latter would likely be the more coveted item.

A Tier Four Flying Sword could not only significantly boost a Sword Cultivator’s power but could also be passed down for generations as an heirloom.

No Sword Cultivation Sect would be willing to miss out on such an opportunity.

However, for an individual cultivator, the calculation was different.

The Realm advancement from a Mica Sword Pill was a tangible benefit to one’s own being, helping a person take a solid step forward on the path of the Great Dao.

While a Tier Four Flying Sword could dramatically increase a Sword Cultivator’s power, it was, in the end, an external object.

For an individual, what good was it if their Tier Four Flying Sword was passed on after they perished a millennium later, their Dao extinguished?

Since they had chosen to join the Star Palace—whether of their own accord or through a tacit understanding with their Sects—most were Cultivators who believed the Great Dao was a personal pursuit.

In that context, their choice of the Mica Sword Pill was quite understandable.

With a chuckle, Po Jun Star Monarch also took a Mica Sword Pill, not sparing the Buddhist Flying Sword a single glance.

Bai Zichen looked up. The others were all tensely awaiting his move.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he gestured toward the Buddhist Flying Sword in front of the Taiyin Star Monarch. Amid a shower of lotus blossoms, it landed in his hand.

A distinct sigh of relief could be heard from Tiann Xiang Star Monarch. Of the people left, he was the only one who hadn’t yet claimed a Mica Sword Pill.

According to the rules they had agreed upon beforehand, Po Jun and Ziwei had priority in every round of selection.

With Ziwei Star Monarch’s choice now made, there were two Mica Sword Pills left for three people. Naturally, Tiann Xiang’s hopes soared.

From the looks in their eyes, it was clear they were somewhat surprised that Ziwei Star Monarch would willingly forgo a Realm-Breaking Spiritual Pill for a Tier Four Flying Sword.

It would be one thing if he were only at the Early-Stage Nascent Soul Realm, where breaking through a single minor realm wouldn’t change much. But he was already at the Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Realm.

One more step and he would become a Great True Monarch of the Late-Stage Nascent Soul Realm, a status that would grant him an entirely different standing in the Cultivation Realm.

The gap between a Great True Monarch and other Nascent Soul Cultivators was almost half a Great Realm.

‘So young, and the most brilliant Sword Dao genius since the time of the Taibai Sword Sect. He must be at the height of his confidence… He’s probably never even considered the possibility that he couldn’t reach the Late-Stage Nascent Soul Realm on his own. No wonder he didn’t spare the Mica Sword Pill a single glance.’

Only Po Jun Star Monarch, who knew Ziwei Star Monarch’s true identity, could somewhat understand the genius Sword Cultivator’s choice.

To have achieved a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation at such a young age meant he had surely never suffered any setbacks on his path.

In Ziwei Star Monarch’s mind, the Late-Stage Nascent Soul Realm was surely just like all the realms before it—incapable of holding him back for long.

The three remaining Star Lords had no set order for choosing the treasures. Clearly, no one was willing to back down, including Taiyin Star Monarch and Jumeng Star Monarch, who already possessed one Mica Sword Pill each.

Finally, at Po Jun Star Monarch’s suggestion, the three began to bid for the right to choose.

When the bidding reached four Top-Grade Spirit Stones, Jumeng Star Monarch began to hesitate.

Although Mica Sword Pills could be taken more than once, doing so carried enormous risks. If the attempt at Breaking Realm failed, the lightest penalty was an eternal stagnation in one’s cultivation. One would become a lesser version of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, forced to conserve every last wisp of True Essence.

To consume two in a row required immense courage.

Besides, Jumeng Star Monarch was not some old, desperate Sword Cultivator with no other options, forced to stake everything on a single gamble.

In fact, the Sword Dao was merely a personal hobby for him. Given his background, there were many paths he could take to reach the Late-Stage Nascent Soul Realm.

The most direct path was a veritable highway to heaven: defeat a few rivals within his Sect and claim the simplest method of becoming a Great True Monarch on the entire Cultivation Continent.

Jumeng Star Monarch chose to accept a payment of four Top-Grade Spirit Stones from each of the other two, withdrawing from the competition for the pills.

As they had hoped, the Mica Sword Pills ended up in the hands of Taiyin Star Monarch and Tiann Xiang Star Monarch.

With the spoils divided, it was time to leave. They had already spent a considerable amount of time in the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven.

They had originally hoped to use the Sword-Cleansing Pool within the Grotto Heaven for some rapid Sword Refinement, but given the current situation, that was no longer a possibility.

As it happened, everyone had reaped substantial rewards and needed time to organize their gains upon their return—especially the Cave Profound Godslaying Sword Scripture, a prize that captivated the hearts of Sword Cultivators everywhere.

It was safe to say that everyone was eager to return.

…

“I hope you all will keep what happened in the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven confidential. I do not wish to hear any rumors circulating outside about the appearance of the Taibai Sword Sect’s legacy… If word of this leaks, it will only make our Star Palace a public enemy, which benefits none of you Star Lords.”

Po Jun Star Monarch said in a low, somber voice, his aura oppressive. He was clearly in a foul mood.

Bai Zichen suspected that Po Jun’s stated worries were only part of the issue. The greater reason for his mood was likely having to rely on the Qing Si Sword’s power again to leave the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven.

It was the second time Bai Zichen had experienced the might of a Tier Five Flying Sword, as stabilizing the spatial passage had once again required the Qing Si Sword Spirit to take action.

As the Qing Si Sword flew from Zichen’s hand, he once again clearly heard the phrase “ten Spirit Stones.”

At that moment, Po Jun Star Monarch’s back seemed to stoop noticeably.

A round trip had cost forty Top-Grade Spirit Stones. Even a Nascent Soul True Monarch with the deepest pockets couldn’t afford that many times over.

The Qing Si Sword was effective, to be sure, but its appetite was far too large.

‘Good thing the Abi Heavenly Prison Demon Sword is kept in check by Xiaozhi and hasn’t made similar demands. Otherwise, I couldn’t afford to keep it even if I sold myself…’

The Qing Si Sword was incredibly fast; on both occasions of Sword Control, he hadn’t found an opportunity to communicate with it.

Factoring in the sword’s exorbitant fee, Bai Zichen looked at the last two Top-Grade Spirit Stones in his possession and felt his confidence plummet.

After the five Star Lords bid each other farewell, he thought for a moment and decided to return to the familiar Tower Temple.

He would first organize his gains from the trip to the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven, convert his Fundamental Great Method, and only then consider the road ahead.