Chapter 107 - Tenfold

Boom—

The bronze gate slowly opened, and Lin Xuan glanced back at Beiwei City before he swiftly dashed off toward the distance.

“Inform the people from the Ling Family that the kid has left; prepare to get rid of him halfway,” whispered two shadowy figures hiding in the corner, who then quickly disappeared within the city.

The forest was lush and overflowing with the roars of tigers and the cries of monkeys.

Lin Xuan came to the Primitive Forest once again.

He didn’t hurry on his way but casually strolled through the woods, occasionally picking a few herbs.

“Once I brew the Spiritual Wine, I should be close to reaching the Ninth Rank of Congealing Veins,” murmured Lin Xuan.

“Lord of Wine, how about you teach me the art of brewing too?”

“I’d like to, but I’m afraid you wouldn’t be able to learn!” huffed Lord of Wine coldly.

“You must be joking, how could that be?” Lin Xuan objected.

“It’s clear you just don’t want to teach me!”

“Kid, let me enlighten you!” Lord of Wine sighed.

“This brewing is actually the same method as Refining; it’s called Engraving Skill.”

“Engraving Skill?” Lin Xuan was momentarily taken aback; he seemed to have heard this term in his family before, but he couldn’t remember it at the moment.

“Yes, Engraving Skill, it’s not only a method but also a profession,” continued Lord of Wine slowly.

“Using special techniques combined with powerful Soul Power to inscribe Spirit Patterns, those who do this are known as Engravers.”

“It’s no wonder you haven’t heard of it; finding an Engraver in Yunzhou would be a challenge,” Lord of Wine sighed.

“When you gather together a Soul Seal, I’ll teach you the art of Engraving.”

“A Soul Seal?”

Lord of Wine explained, “The Soul Power in your mind has been stimulated by the Sword Intent, temporarily termed as Sword Soul.

When your Sword Soul can gather into a sword talisman, I will teach you and that sword talisman imprint is the so-called Soul Seal.”

Lin Xuan nodded, only half comprehending.

It seemed the Soul Path was extensive and profound; he needed to study it further.

“Your body is now barely strong enough for another trial,” Lord of Wine said with a beaming smile.

“Take out the Red Flame Greatsword.”

“Oh.” Lin Xuan flicked his finger, and the dark red greatsword appeared in his hands.

“The original purpose of this greatsword was not actually for chopping people,” Lord of Wine said with a mysterious smile.

“If not for chopping people, then what?” Lin Xuan scratched his head.

“For strengthening the body?”

Lord of Wine was taken aback, “You know?”

Lin Xuan curled his lips, “Didn’t you have me carry it for cultivation before?

It’s just that now, its weight no longer affects me.”

“No effect?” Lord of Wine scoffed.

“Have you seen the rune on it?

The one with the fire-red imprint.”

Lin Xuan noticed a fire-red rune on the handle beneath the sword, although it was largely obscured by rust.

“Use your Soul Power and slowly infuse it; something magical will happen.”

Lin Xuan was skeptical.

He mobilized his Soul Power and then tried to touch that fire-red seal.

As he made contact, with a sudden, booming sound, an enormous force erupted around him, making his body tremble, almost causing him to stumble.

“F*ck, why is it so heavy!” He quickly circulated his Spiritual Power, and his body shone brightly, combating that inexplicable force.

Within a radius of one yard, the entire ground sunk, and even some trees turned to dust, sprinkling down.

“This power…” Lin Xuan gaped, and then exclaimed in alarm, “Ten Times Gravity!”

He had experienced Ten Times Gravity during the final challenge of the first stage of the Inner Sect test, and it was an agonizing feeling, akin to wishing for death.

“Yes, it is Ten Times Gravity; start by cultivating with it on your back,” Lord of Wine chuckled wickedly.

“I’m thirsty; I’m off to refine some Spiritual Wine.”

Lin Xuan’s mouth twitched uncontrollably: “Carry it on my back…”

“You’ve got to be joking!”

Silently sensing his inner condition, he discovered that his Spiritual Power was being depleted rapidly, and it wouldn’t take long before he would be completely exhausted.

“Let’s go all out!” Lin Xuan gritted his teeth, “That guy has already become the fifth-ranked martial artist on the Hidden Dragon List.

If I don’t work harder, I won’t stand a chance at all!”

Remembering his rival, Lin Feng, Lin Xuan clenched his teeth and persevered, pulling the Red Flame Greatsword out and then struggling to carry it on his back.

Ah—

He exerted force with both hands, while his entire body’s Spiritual Power trembled.

Crack!

The Red Flame Greatsword moved slowly at first, then gradually rose little by little, and finally, Lin Xuan managed to lift it into midair.

During this process, his arms trembled incessantly, as if they might drop at any moment.

Huff!

Huff!

At last, Lin Xuan carried the Red Flame Greatsword on his back, which felt like carrying a mountain, immeasurably heavy.

His back remained bent the whole time, utterly unable to straighten, as sweat flowed down his cheeks like a stream.

Thump!

Thump!

With every step he took, the ground first fractured into a web of cracks, then sunk deeply, with Lin Xuan’s knees almost buried in the soil.

Despite the difficulties, he didn’t give up and continued walking step by step, resting for a long time after each step.

Inside his body, Lord of Wine, watching from within the Mysterious Small Sword, nodded slightly to himself and then murmured, “If I don’t strengthen your little frame, how will you be able to drink the Spiritual Wine I’ve concocted for you?”

“Keep pushing, young man!”

After twenty difficult steps, Lin Xuan had completely exhausted all his Spiritual Power.

He realized it wasn’t just the effects of ten-times gravity; the dark red greatsword was also continuously suppressing his Spiritual Power, giving him a suffocating sensation.

Thump!

Sticking the longsword into the ground, with almost the entire sword body buried, Lin Xuan sat down within a one-yard radius of it, crossing his legs to recover.

His normally fast-circulating Spiritual Power had now become excruciatingly slow.

He was neither anxious nor impatient and gradually recovered from his initial shock and irritation, calmly beginning to cultivate.

Half an hour later, his Spiritual Power was restored to its original state.

“Again!” Lin Xuan exclaimed in a low voice, once more shouldering the Red Flame Greatsword.

He had barely walked a few steps when his heart suddenly jolted with a strong sense of danger.

Mustering his Soul Power rapidly, he could clearly sense a black arrow flying towards him from behind.

“Illusion Thunder Step!”

Lin Xuan roared, a flash of golden light under his feet as he darted to the side.

However, to an outsider, it looked like Lin Xuan merely staggered one step to the left.

“Damn this weight!” Lin Xuan cursed under his breath, moving his body again just in time to dodge the arrow.

Swoosh!

A slit appeared in his clothing, revealing his robust muscles.

“Hmph, I thought we were dealing with someone formidable.

I didn’t expect him to be this useless, even struggling to dodge an arrow!”

“It’s laughable that we brothers were sent for such a waste!”

Several disdainful voices came from behind.

Lin Xuan slowly turned around to see five figures in black clothing standing there—three at the Eighth Rank of Congealing Veins, and two at the Ninth Rank.

“Little Xuanzi, don’t take off the greatsword,” Lord of Wine’s voice casually rang in his mind.

Lin Xuan’s face fell, and his expression turned quite ugly, “Are you trying to kill me?”

No one responded.

Lin Xuan cursed irritably twice, and his expression, as observed by the men in black, only added to their misunderstanding.

“Look, he’s scared, hilarious!”

“Such a waste might as well be dealt with quickly!

It’s a disgrace for him to live!”

“Let me do it.

It’s been a while since I’ve encountered such top-grade trash.

Let me have some fun!” One of the Eighth Rank black-clothed figures sneered and stepped forward, drawing a dagger that glinted with cold light, and rushed rapidly towards Lin Xuan.