Having disappeared for three years, Chu Kuangren’s feats and achievements were overshadowed by the other sky-prides who had emerged. However, some still remembered what he had accomplished.
Take the Northern Lingdao State for example. Over there, Chu Kuangren’s name was still known as the legendary “cultivator” that was passed down by the people.
Since the event of him killing a hundred thousand demonic cultivators and saving the Northern Lingdao State was recorded in the history books, his name would remain there forever for numerous cultivators in the future to regard as a role model.
Yun Feiyang was one of them.
“Ah, the Northern Lingdao State. After that demonic onslaught, how have things been?” Chu Kuangren recalled the past and asked.
Although it was just a casual question, it came across to Yun Feiyang as if Chu Kuangren still cared about the people there. That kind-heartedness of his made Yun Feiyang admired him even more.
“After the demonic onslaught, the state suffered huge losses as talents from each sect and orthodoxy withered in numbers. However, they have started to recover in the past few years. Even the destroyed Mountain River Sect has been rebuilt as well,” Yun Feiyang replied.
“That’s good to hear.”
“By the way, Brother Chu, are you going to the Sword Prayer City too?”
“Sword Prayer City?” Chu Kuangren was slightly puzzled.
Upon seeing his expression, Yun Feiyang realized that he had misunderstood and so he said, “A Great Sword Tournament is being held at the Sword Prayer City. Since many cultivators from all walks of life have been joining in on the fun, I thought Brother Chu was going to do the same as well.”
“I see. So all of you are going to the Sword Prayer City?”
“You’re right.”
“Alright then, I might as well tag along,” Chu Kuangren was starting to get interested.
“Really? That’s great!” Yun Feiyang became even more excited. Being able to travel with his idol was like a dream come true.
Along the way, Yun Feiyang was very enthusiastic and friendly towards Chu Kuangren. Although the other cultivators onboard were also very curious about this sky-pride, they were not as excited as Yun Feiyang was. Instead, all of them merely observed silently with not much interaction.
“The Sword Prayer City is a place where all the swordsmiths of the Azure Dragon Domain gather. Its history can be traced back to tens of thousands of years ago.”
“The swords that have been forged in the Sword Prayer City are very well known in the Azure Dragon Domain, and even the whole Firmament Star, especially the renowned Century Sword. It is every sword-wielding cultivator’s dream weapon. Every time it appears, crowds of people will be attracted to…”
Yun Feiyang continued to speak beside Chu Kuangren.
The so-called Century Sword was a renowned sword that was only forged every hundred years in the Sword Prayer City. Every time one is forged, a Great Sword Tournament would be held and every sword-wielding cultivator in the world would be invited to take part so that the famous Century Sword could choose its master.
Since the Century Sword had recently appeared, every single sword-wielding cultivator was heading to the Sword Prayer City in hopes to obtain it.
Even other non-sword-wielding cultivators had gone to join in on the fun as well.
“Because the Black Heaven Sect specializes in swordsmanship, we have good relations with the Sword Prayer City. Besides, approximately thirty percent of the swords from our Sword Mountain were also made in the Sword Prayer City.”
“Other than that, young lad, the Sacred Descendant Self Sword you have in your hands is also one of the Century Swords that was made in the Sword Prayer City.”
Chu Kuangren’s eyes revealed a surprised look.
“The Sword Prayer City forges Sacred Swords?”
“It’s not like that. Not many swords are forged to be Sacred Swords. In fact, it only becomes stronger and better through the spiritual bond that it shares with its wielder. The Descendant Self Sword only became a Sacred Sword due to the efforts of one of the Black Heaven Sect’s forefathers.”
“In fact, this also applies to other weapons as well. Most of the sacred weapons don’t initially start off as one, but due to the nurturing of the Sage and the purification of the Sage’s Daoist Rhyme, it eventually became a sacred weapon…”
“However, materials used can be an issue for it is easier for some weapons to become sacred weapons than others, or to become more powerful after it turns into sacred weapons… ”
“A good quality weapon will continuously improve according to its wielder’s cultivation level. That means that it’s possible for it to become an Emperor Weapon. The Century Sword of the Sword Prayer City will be this type of weapon…”
The Seventh Forefather continued to pour his knowledge at Chu Kuangren.
Chu Kuangren only nodded. He had come across all of that from the scriptures and recorded texts before, but the Seventh Forefather’s explanation was better and easier to understand.
…
One day later, Chu Kuangren and the others arrived at the Sword Prayer City.
It was a busy city with many people going about their lives. Blacksmith shops had been set up on both sides of the street everywhere, and constant clunking and clanging sounds could be heard.
Some of the sounds were very irritating while some were very pleasing to the ear as they carried some kind of mysterious Daoist Rhyme like a piece of music score…
Other than the blacksmith shops, countless sword cultivators could be seen within Sword Prayer City. Regardless if they were men, women, young or old, but among the sword cultivators that Chu Kuangren saw, ten out of nine had a sword-based Daoist Rhyme emanating from their body.
Chu Kuangren’s Daoist core felt a little excited when he arrived at this city.
Due to his Exquisite Nine Orifices Sword Heart, Chu Kuangren possessed an innate compatibility with swordsmanship. So now that he was here at Sword Prayer City, it gave him a sense of familiarity like a fish in water.
“Interesting.” Chu Kuangren grinned.
Something made him very happy.
‘It seems like I’ve made the right choice coming to Sword Prayer City.’
“Brother Yun, I’m afraid we have to part ways here.”
Chu Kuangren gave Yun Feiyang a fist salute.
“Alright Brother Chu, farewell.” Yun Feiyang was slightly reluctant. He may have only spent a day with his idol, but he was already deeply attracted to Chu Kuangren’s personality and charm.
Looking at Chu Kuangren’s receding figure, Yun Feiyang secretly made up his mind. From now on, he would work hard in his cultivation and swordsmanship so that he would become an outstanding cultivator like his idol Chu Kuangren.
After parting ways with Yun Feiyang and the others, Chu Kuangren and Lan Yu decided to find an inn to stay at first.
Since the Great Sword Tournament was about to happen, numerous cultivators had arrived at the Sword Prayer City, so most of the inns and hotels were fully occupied.
However, that was not a problem for someone like Chu Kuangren. According to his net worth, he could build an inn just by the sheer volume of soulstones he possessed.
After finding a place to stay, it was already nightfall.
The night market in Sword Prayer City was extremely lively. Along with Lan Yu, Chu Kuangren strolled the streets and they came across a stall.
The owner of the stall was a middle-aged man in gray robes, and in front of him were many weirdly shaped stones.
Each stone was marked with a price. The cheapest one cost a hundred top-tier soulstones, which was an unimaginable price for most cultivators there.
“These ores look good.”
“I agree that it does. However, even a top-tier ore costs hundreds of top-tier soulstones. Take a look at this middle-tier ore, the owner dares price it at a hundred top-tier soulstones? That price seems a bit high. ”
“There are many rich people in the world anyway, so there’s no need to worry that no one will buy it. Take a look there, a few people are already taking their pick.”
The stall was crowded with people.
So both Chu Kuangren and Lan Yu went up to join in on the excitement too.
“Oh, they’re gambling on ores here,” Chu Kuangren said after taking a look.
As the spiritual qi of the heavens and earth gathered on the ground, it would occasionally form into stones that contained very rare minerals. These stones were known as ores.
The surface of ores was very unique as spiritual thoughts could not penetrate it. So one could only rely on their eyesight, experience, and other means of judgment to determine the value of the ore. Sometimes a common ore could contain extremely top-tiered minerals, which could be valued at dozens or hundreds of times its original price. However, sometimes ores could also be bought at a high price that contained nothing but a piece of waste inside.
“What do you think, young man? Want to give it a go?” The stall owner had noticed Chu Kuangren’s interest, so he invited.
Chu Kuangren thought for a while before he decided to squat down and said with a smile, “I shall pick a few for fun then.”
He had piles of soulstones in his Yin and Yang ring anyway, so he could afford it.
He casually pointed at a black rock and said, “I’ll choose this then.”
When everyone noticed that he had chosen an ore without properly observing it, they instantly knew that Chu Kuangren was a rookie in the ore gambling circle.
No, he probably had not touched an ore before, let alone be a rookie in ore gambling.
