Chapter 99: The Umbrella Named Tianji
Chapter 99: The Umbrella Named Tianji
Looking back on the two months since he left the Xuanxin Sect, Lu Hangzhi realized he had indeed done many remarkable things. Although these things now seemed quite insignificant, for Sword Spirits who were not very worldly, they should count as very impressive and face-giving achievements.
“Is what you said true?”
One Sword Spirit couldn’t help but question.
Lu Hangzhi recognized him as the one who had set the lowest requirement among them and smiled, “If I wanted the title of top True Disciple, I could take it anytime. Up to now, no Senior Brother or Sister should have successfully cultivated a Superior-Grade Spell Technique.”
“……”
The Sword Spirit thought carefully and found that was indeed the case.
“In that case, a gentleman’s words are swift as a whip. I’ll follow you.”
The other four Sword Spirits were all stunned!
“Sword Five, you surrendered so quickly?”
“You’re so lacking in ambition, overturned by such small waves?”
“Ah.”
“Indeed, we should have set the conditions higher,” the Sword Spirits chattered with sighs.
Sword Five returned to human form, landed on his new master’s shoulder, and immediately changed his tone, “That may not be so. Among the five of us, I was always the youngest… This time it’s different. When you all acknowledge a master, I’ll be the boss, haha…”
“……”
Lu Hangzhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
This youngest Sword Five clearly had twisted values.
Chen Ji was dumbfounded, unable to believe that a Sword Spirit was won over so easily.
He had prepared a long speech earlier just to protect his little disciple’s self-esteem, telling him not to mind too much and just take some Artifact Flying Swords casually. Who would have thought that with just a few words, he’d managed to trick a Sword Spirit!
Heavens!
That was a Sword Spirit!!
So many Elders throughout the generations hadn’t managed it, several Spirit Coalescence Elders hadn’t accomplished it, but his little disciple, who had been taken in less than a year ago, did it.
As a master, Chen Ji felt mixed emotions, and then he saw Lu Hangzhi starting to count on his fingers one by one in front of the Sword Spirits:
“Killing enemies above my level was too easy. With the Seven-Seven Sword Formation in hand, I’m invincible below Spirit Concentrating.”
“……”
The Sword Spirits were speechless, watching as Sword Four, who had been so confident just moments ago, instantly switched sides and landed on Lu Hangzhi’s other shoulder.
Lu Hangzhi continued:
“Killing Monster Beasts above my level was also simple. Several Soul-Concentrating Demon Beasts died by my hand…”
Chen Ji was deeply shaken!
Sword Three drifted toward Lu Hangzhi without hesitation.
Continue!
Lu Hangzhi looked at Sword Two.
“As for famous Evil Cultivators, does the Spirit Condensation Stage Ghost Cultivator ‘Jiuyou’ from earlier count? But I only took down his Clone.”
“……”
Sword Two hesitated for a moment, then gazed at Sword One and said, “A Spirit Condensation Stage Ghost Cultivator—even your master at his peak wouldn’t dare face him, let alone this little guy who’s only at Insight High Stage. Sorry, now you’re the only one left, Sword One.”
“You traitors.”
Sword One fumed, finally directing his anger at Lu Hangzhi, “Brat, I don’t believe someone as young as you has already been to Two Realms Mountain.”
Sword Two, Sword Three, Sword Four, and Sword Five all looked at Lu Hangzhi.
“Senior Sword Spirit, this disciple of mine really just came down from Two Realms Mountain.”
The one who spoke was Chen Ji.
Seeing so many Sword Spirits express willingness to follow Lu Hangzhi one after another, Chen Ji was somewhat stunned.
He hadn’t expected that a moment of kindness toward his little disciple would end up giving away the five most precious remaining Senior Sword Spirits in the Sword Tomb.
Watching as Sword One was indeed taken as well, the Xuanxin Sect Elders guarding the Sword Tomb hid in the shadows, whispering among themselves:
“Is this… appropriate?”
“Who knows? We’ve never encountered this before.”
“This kid is too ruthless, taking all five Senior Sword Spirits at once. What will our Xuanxin Sect disciples do in the future?”
“But… over hundreds of years, only Lu Hangzhi has been chosen by the Senior Sword Spirits…”
“That is true.”
“Let’s not worry. He’s Chen Ji’s disciple anyway; he’ll take the blame for everything. We shouldn’t get involved in this mess.”
“Right!” “Agreed!”
A group of Elders secretly reached an agreement to sell out Chen Ji at the crucial moment.
……
The Flying Swords nurtured by the five Sword Spirits were no longer ordinary Top-grade Magical Artifact quality. They had progressed more toward half-step immortal swords. Not only could they follow the caster’s commands and fight autonomously with great flexibility, but their power was also extraordinary, capable of directly threatening enemies at the Early Spirit Concentration Stage.
Acquiring five immortal swords in one go was beyond Lu Hangzhi’s expectations!
The five Sword Spirits were the true treasures of the Xuanxin Sect…
Was it really okay to take them just like that?
Lu Hangzhi felt everything was somewhat unreal.
“Master.”
Chen Ji could sense Lu Hangzhi’s hesitation and worry. He sighed and said, “The Senior Sword Spirits have resided here for many years. Since they have all chosen you, it proves you have deep fortune. With the help of the five Seniors from now on, you should cherish it even more and cultivate diligently, so as not to disappoint the five Senior Sword Spirits.”
“This disciple will remember Master’s teachings!”
“Mm.”
“Then, can this disciple pick some more Artifact Flying Swords?”
“……”
Chen Ji felt a hidden toothache, suddenly thinking that the decision to bring Hangzhi to the Sword Tomb really wasn’t thought through enough.
But the five Senior Sword Spirits were much more relaxed. They leaped off Lu Hangzhi’s shoulders and flew near the giant sword: “Take as many as you need. These Flying Swords are just wasting away here, serving no purpose.”
“The Seven-Seven Sword Formation requires forty-nine Artifact Flying Swords. I think, let’s just take a round number and take fifty Flying Swords.”
“Mm, sounds good.”
Round number…
Chen Ji’s cheek twitched.
In the shadows, the group of Elders all felt a dark cloud looming over them.
The five Senior Sword Spirits had changed sides far too quickly!
Although everyone was extremely unwilling, no one could oppose the five Senior Sword Spirits or withstand their influence.
As soon as the words were spoken, several dozen of the finest Flying Swords rose from the ground.
“But… where should we put them?”
Lu Hangzhi suddenly felt troubled.
There were too many Artifact Flying Swords, and putting them in the Qiankun Pouch made summoning inconvenient.
The Sword Box was a good place, but it already had seven Artifact Flying Swords stored and could not hold more.
“This is simple.”
Sword One spoke, his voice loud and clear:
“I remember, back in the day, my master practiced the Seven-Seven Sword Formation and specially commissioned someone to craft an umbrella-shaped magical artifact. This umbrella had exactly forty-nine ribs, each one perfect for storing a Flying Sword. He planned to use it as his signature artifact when he traveled the Barbarian Wildlands after mastering the sword formation.”
There was such a treasure?
That was a really good thing!
Lu Hangzhi’s eyes lit up as he looked at his master, Chen Ji, but the latter transmitted a voice message with a pained expression, gritting his teeth: “This umbrella-shaped artifact cost as much as forty-nine Top-grade Magical Artifacts when it was custom-made. Add the forty-nine Top-grade Flying Swords you took, plus the five Sword Spirit seniors, even if you left all the remaining Ninth-Grade Monster Cores you have, it wouldn’t be enough… Although I am your master, I am also the Vice Sect Leader of the Xuanxin Sect.”
“Master, don’t worry. Besides having over a thousand Ninth-Grade Monster Cores, I also have many more Eighth-grade Monster Cores, Seventh-Grade Monster Cores…”
Before Lu Hangzhi could finish, Chen Ji broke into a warm, spring-like smile:
“Deal!”
“…”
Just like that!
The two of them concluded the largest transaction in the history of the Xuanxin Sect at the Sword Tomb.
Thousands of Insight High Stage Demon Beast Inner Cores were exchanged for a batch of unused Artifact Flying Swords from the Sword Tomb, along with five proud and aloof Sword Spirits.
Lu Hangzhi’s strength increased greatly.
The Xuanxin Sect’s treasure vault was filled like never before.
Both sides were very pleased!
…
When Lu Hangzhi received the umbrella-shaped artifact, he noticed it looked just like an ordinary umbrella, plain and unremarkable, except it had more ribs.
“This artifact is called ‘Tianji.’ When it was made, the Sect Master had many requirements: it had to have a Formation to conceal the artifact’s glow, a disguise Magic Formation, and a defensive Magic Formation inscribed to withstand attacks from those at the Spirit Condensation Stage… It was specially designed with forty-nine summoning channels, and! All the materials used were Top-grade Magical Artifact materials, with many complex steps! It’s just a shame that the Sect Master passed away before this artifact could truly make its debut. What a pity.”
After these words, several sighs of shared regret echoed through the small valley.
Lu Hangzhi fell silent:
So, the original purpose of crafting this artifact was completely unfulfilled. Sword One’s master never got the chance to show off with the Tianji Umbrella before he died.
How sad!
“Perform Blood Binding Recognition, then test this artifact’s power. It is far superior to that shabby Sword Box behind you.”
Sword One spoke solemnly.
Nodding, Lu Hangzhi quickly completed the binding, then bound all forty-nine Artifact Flying Swords one by one, feeling as though he had lost at least 300 milliliters of blood…
These Artifact Flying Swords were all of high quality, but the Sword Formations on them were mostly damaged and could no longer be used, which was a real shame.
“Want to try it?”
Chen Ji stepped back two paces, making room.
Lu Hangzhi nodded, familiarized himself with the Tianji Umbrella’s usage by touching it for a while, took a deep breath, channeled Magic Power, and slowly opened the Tianji Umbrella.
Seven Motions with One Thought!
Seven Artifact Flying Swords swiftly entered the Tianji Umbrella, becoming part of the frame. The process was smooth and seamless, without any awkwardness.
Truly, an artifact that cost a fortune—its performance was absolutely solid.
The first wave, the second wave…
In just a few breaths, all forty-nine Artifact Flying Swords had entered the Tianji Umbrella, leaving only Sword One hovering in the air.
Lu Hangzhi calmly rotated the Tianji Umbrella.
Through the umbrella’s handle, the forty-nine Artifact Flying Swords felt as if they were in his hand, ready to strike at any moment. Each rib felt like an extension of his own arm, connected by blood—an incredibly strange and wonderful sensation.
Not bad!
Really not bad!!
This feeling of being connected by blood and mind was indeed stronger than with the Flying Swords in the Sword Box.
With a single thought,
the Tianji Umbrella turned slightly, and seven Flying Swords shot out with astonishing speed, propelled by strong centrifugal force.
In an instant, a dazzling web of swords appeared in the air, then smoothly returned to the Tianji Umbrella.
Lu Hangzhi was very satisfied:
The attack speed was much faster;
plus, with the Tianji Umbrella already pointing at the enemy when opened, it skipped the steps of launching and changing trajectory, simplifying the attack and making it hard to defend against.
“A perfect Top-grade Magical Artifact!”
Hearing Lu Hangzhi’s praise, Sword One slowly nodded:
“When you master the sword formation, you will understand the true power of the Tianji Umbrella.”