Xuanqing Guard

Chapter 258: Chapter 258: Cloud Sword

Shen Hao followed Nie Yun, leaving their original spot and heading deeper into the Cloud Sword Domain, that is, in the direction of Caiyuan Village.

Nie Yun said he originally thought the Cloud Sword Domain had expanded again because people from the sect had come in, so he came out to take a look. But to his surprise, it turned out to be those Xuanqing Guards causing a stir outside. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com

Causing a stir? This was the first time Shen Hao had heard anyone use that word to describe the Xuanqing Guard.

Still, Shen Hao didn’t think Nie Yun was talking nonsense. Strength decided everything, and from the bits and pieces in Nie Yun’s words just now, this Deacon of the Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute’s Law Enforcement Hall was definitely at the Primordial Pill Realm, and most likely at Primordial Core Realm Perfection!

This was the second strongest cultivator Shen Hao had encountered since arriving in this world, second only to Li Shuyang of the Profound Sea Realm Second Layer. Coincidentally, they were both from the Gui Mountain Cultivation Institute.

Not far along, Shen Hao was surprised to find some gray fog clusters along the way, some as big as houses, some only the size of a millstone. These fog clusters didn’t dissipate, moved slowly, but with no apparent pattern, and would avoid those people who had fallen into illusions in the Cloud Sword Domain and stood there motionless.

"Just take a look for now, don’t touch these fog clusters yet."

"What are those?"

"You’re really curious?"

Shen Hao nodded, and said matter-of-factly, "Of course I’m curious, every unfamiliar thing in such a magical domain is an experience. Nie, please enlighten me."

"If you can get me thirty—no, twenty jars of Wuliangye after we get out, I’ll act as your guide for once. How about it?"

"Deal."

Nie Yun nodded in satisfaction, pointed at a fog cluster ahead, and said, "Those fog clusters are Cloud Swords..."

"Wait, Nie, you mean to say those things are ’swords’?"

"Of course. Otherwise, why do you think this place is called the Cloud Sword Domain? The swords resemble clouds, and the clouds are swords—this is the Sword Emperor’s signature technique. Alright, don’t interrupt." Nie Yun paused, then continued, "There can be different opportunities in Cloud Swords: magical artifacts, cultivation techniques, pill books, refining essence, and so on. The better the contents, the bigger the Cloud Sword. As soon as you touch a Cloud Sword, you’ll be stuck to it, and it won’t dissipate until you either die or take the treasure inside."

"Is it very dangerous?"

"Yeah. Cloud Swords are unpredictable; some can hurt you physically, while others attack your soul. Some turn into human form to fight you, others are just a tiny flying sword that delivers a single strike. I suggest you pick smaller Cloud Swords. With your mere Gathering Spirit Realm Third Layer cultivation... hmm, see if you can find fog clusters about the size of a fist."

Fist-sized... Shen Hao was speechless.

Maybe noticing Shen Hao’s frustrated look, Nie Yun laughed heartily: "Don’t think the fist-sized fog clusters have nothing good inside, little brother. Even with my Primordial Core Realm Perfection cultivation, at most I dare to touch fog clusters a bit over a yard across. Any bigger and it’s a gamble with death. And you’re not from the sect, so if you’re lucky, even a fist-sized fog cluster could offer you an incredible opportunity."

The implication: Don’t aim too high, your ability is limited, in a place like this, even leftovers would be enough to fill your belly.

Shen Hao was self-aware—when it came to life and death, even if he didn’t believe everything, he’d still be careful. Looking around, there were very few fist-sized fog clusters; after walking several miles he saw only three.

"Don’t be in a rush. With your cultivation, even managing two Cloud Swords would be stretching it; you could even end up seriously injured. So I suggest you wait a few days before trying. If you get badly hurt, you could be trapped in here too long to get help, and that could end badly. Understand what I mean?"

"Yeah, I get it. But... how do you actually handle a Cloud Sword?"

"There’s no trick—it’s all about raw power. How solid your cultivation is, how well you’ve mastered your magic, your combat experience, even your luck—they all matter. Frankly, I think this is a great place to train: there’s the threat of death pushing your potential, yet you can to some extent control the risk. Too bad you can’t come often."

Venturing into danger as training?

Shen Hao was a bit taken aback. Were all sect members so focused on cultivating the heart and strengthening themselves, or was it just Nie Yun?

But Shen Hao thought, if the benefits were good enough, he didn’t mind taking some risks either. So, along the way, even when he saw suitable Cloud Swords, he just memorized their locations and didn’t touch them. At the very least, he’d wait until he got a feel for the situation here.

Nie Yun walked briskly ahead.

Shen Hao saw the first batch of Xuanqing Guards from the Thousand Households Station who had been caught up previously, as well as some unlucky garrison soldiers. It didn’t feel good; most of those soldiers were ordinary people. Once trapped in illusions within the Cloud Sword Domain, they had little chance of escaping. If they were left until the domain retracted on its own, they’d starve or die of thirst long before that, even if they were still alive for now.

"You’re interesting," Nie Yun suddenly blurted out, out of nowhere.

"Huh?"

"I’ve met plenty of worldly cultivators, but precious few worry about others like you do."

"Heh, what are you talking about, Nie? I really don’t get it," Shen Hao smiled, not wanting to let others see through his thoughts.

"Not true? Just now, when you looked at those ordinary people with no cultivation, there was obvious pity and anxiety in your eyes, right?"

"We’re all born of mothers and fathers—are you saying you really don’t care whether these people live or die?"

Nie Yun shook his head, a hint of novelty flashing in his eyes, and his voice even grew louder: "Interesting, truly interesting. All cultivators rise above the mundane world by the same core path, but then they love to draw lines, looking at mortal lives as less than ants. Some, like Evil Cultivators, even treat mortals as fodder for their cultivation."

"Never thought someone like you—decent cultivation for the mundane world and pretty good talent—could still have compassion and a steady heart. That’s rare."

Shen Hao wasn’t sure whether that was meant as praise or criticism. He just smiled and said nothing.

Moving forward, Shen Hao finally saw the long-famous Caiyuan Village.

If not for the bizarre, ink-black, hunched figures patrolling around the village, this would just look like any ordinary farmstead.

"Those are..." As they got closer, Shen Hao saw the black humanoid monsters were truly strange—their mouths were huge, stretching past their cheeks farther than a frog’s. They had no eyes, only noses and ears, and their ears stuck up almost as wide as a handspan. They seemed slow when walking, but the explosive muscles in their legs told Shen Hao that if they ran, they’d be terrifyingly fast.

"Tomb Beasts. The defending force guarding the entrance to the tomb. Umm... you can think of them as a type of puppet. They feel no pain, don’t fear terror or dread, and will always follow preset commands. They never rest, never sleep, and as long as the tomb exists, they can’t die."

"Can’t die?"

"Right. Even if you cut them to pieces, all that happens is they return to their core spot, and soon they’ll just be reassembled."