LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 30:
Chapter 30: Reclaiming the Stone Sword:
The second layer of the battlefield was breathtakingly beautiful, with majestic mountains, flowing rivers, and vibrant clusters of flowers in full bloom.
Lu Ye admired the scenery for twenty seconds, feeling refreshed, before setting off toward Stone Sword Cliff.
Based on his calculations, in about two hours, all kinds of demons, monsters, and ghosts would begin to appear, sparking a relentless series of battles. Many human prodigies would meet their demise.
It didn’t matter. Those who died were never truly prodigies to begin with.
Running at full speed, he reached Stone Sword Cliff in half an hour.
At the base of the cliff, countless broken swords lay scattered on the ground or embedded in rocks. A rough estimate suggested over a thousand.
Each sword marked the death of a sword cultivator here.
Lu Ye stepped forward.
“Buzz!”
All the broken swords began to hum in unison.
Another step.
“Whoosh!”
Three broken swords flew straight at him, only to be deflected with a wave of his sleeve.
Yet another step.
This time, all the broken swords attacked simultaneously.
Lu Ye threw a punch, scattering a large number of swords, only for them to form a ring and come back at him.
The air was filled with the sharp whistling of sword energy.
Surrounded by the broken swords, Lu Ye used punches and palm strikes to send them flying as he steadily advanced.
Not a single sword could harm him.
This wasn’t because the broken swords were weak.
Each of these swords, even in their broken state, could unleash sword energy at the level of the Infant Stage. When dozens or hundreds of them attacked together, they could kill even a Void Refinement expert.
But Lu Ye was simply too strong.
10 minutes later, he had broken through the area of the broken swords.
Bending his knees, he leaped upward with immense force.
His body shot into the air like a rocket, reaching the cliff’s summit in a single burst.
At the jagged peak of the cliff stood a sword, its blade covered in a thick layer of brown stone-like crust.
The sword, four feet long, stood silently, its appearance hidden beneath the stone.
Lu Ye’s gaze softened as he looked at it.
It had been so long since he’d last seen the Stone Sword.
When the Stone Sword had shattered in his previous life, he had briefly considered reforging it but ultimately gave up.
The sword could be reforged, but the sword spirit was irreplaceable.
Now, both the sword and its spirit were here before him.
As he approached the sword, his robes were sliced open by invisible sword energy. Strands of his hair fell, and shallow wounds began to appear on his exposed skin.
Reaching out, he grasped the hilt of the Stone Sword.
In that instant, a torrent of terrifying sword energy surged toward him like a flood.
Lu Ye closed his eyes, his sword heart calm and his will unwavering.
Though he was now drenched in blood, his grip on the Stone Sword did not falter, and his feet remained firmly planted in the rocky ground.
He could not take a single step back.
If he retreated even slightly, his connection to the Stone Sword would be severed forever.
This was merely the sword’s test. The overwhelming sword energy and intent were part of its selection process.
In his past life, Lu Ye had never backed down from this challenge.
In this life, he would do no less.
His hand gently brushed the sword. “Don’t be afraid. Don’t be confused.”
How could a sword feel fear or confusion?
The sword itself could not, but its spirit could.
The sword spirit, faintly conscious, was filled with bewilderment and uncertainty. A thought surfaced in its mind:
“What nonsense are you spouting? Who’s scared? Who’s confused?”
The sword energy intensified, slashing a mist of blood from Lu Ye’s body.
Lu Ye…
Oh, right. He had forgotten that the Stone Sword hadn’t yet revealed its timid nature.
Yes, this sword was timid.
Not fearful of enemies, but of the dark.
Though it was absurd for a sword to fear the dark, the Stone Sword truly did.
It had even refused to let Lu Ye forge a scabbard for it.
“Follow me, and you’ll become the strongest sword in existence,” Lu Ye said again.
“Stronger than the Three-Life Sword!”
“Stronger than the Ancestral Sword!”
“Stronger than the Supreme Sword!”
“Stronger than the Invincible Sword!”
Hearing these names, the Stone Sword didn’t know how strong they were, but they sounded impressive.
Moreover, it couldn’t force Lu Ye to retreat.
This man was almost stripped of all his flesh, yet he hadn’t taken a single step back.
It conceded.
The sword energy vanished.
The Stone Sword returned to its silence.
Lu Ye glanced at his wounds but showed no reaction.
He formed hand seals, and his blood condensed into an intricate symbol—the binding contract.
With a soft hum, the Stone Sword resonated, linking itself to Lu Ye.
The sword spirit, though still unsure of its new master, was weary of staying here for so long. If it didn’t leave now, it might be stuck for another thousand years.
If this master proved unworthy, it could always find another after his death. Its power would eventually attract someone strong.
Sword energy flowed from Lu Ye’s palm into the Stone Sword.
The crust began to crack and fall away, revealing a blade that was also brown, lacking the sharp brilliance of a legendary weapon. It even appeared tarnished, like rusted iron.
As Lu Ye poured his energy and pure sword intent into it, he smiled.
“From now on, your name will be Stone Sword. Your nickname will be Little Stone. Agreed?”
The sword trembled slightly.
[No, give me a cooler name!]
“It seems you love that name. From now on, that’s what I’ll call you.”
[No! I don’t agree! What kind of name is Little Stone or Stone Sword? That’s awful! I’ve been called Stone Sword for so long, and now that I’m finally back, you’re still calling me Stone Sword? Hey! Are you listening? I don’t want this name!]
“Master, I knew I’d find you here!”
Chu Ling’s voice rang out as she approached quickly.
“Congratulations on reclaiming the Stone Sword, Master!”
Stone Sword? What?
The Stone Sword immediately merged into Lu Ye’s body, unwilling to remain exposed to the darkness. It chose to embed itself in his hand, forming a sword imprint on the back of his palm.
With the most important item in hand, Lu Ye turned his focus to other treasures.
For the younger generation, the most valuable items were in the first layer of the battlefield.
For instance, the Pure Water could enhance one’s aptitude, the Heavenly Spirit Pool could accelerate cultivation, and the Hundred Herb Valley contained countless treasures for refining and trading.
Lu Ye descended to the first battlefield, heading toward the central volcano.
Without hesitation, he jumped straight into the crater.