Painting of the Nine Immortals
chapter-518

"Could it… really be THAT stone monument?"

After a gasp, Ling Xian's expression became unsettled.

He had encountered this stone monument during his time in the lost century. Both the look and the vibe was identical to the one he had seen. This was why Ling Xian's expression changed drastically. He truly did not expect to see this stone monument here and now.

If it weren't for that legend, he would be throwing out this monument right now.

Seeing Ling Xian's surprise, Lin Ying's heart tightened, and she asked, "Elder Ling, what is the story behind this monument?"

"Aye, it would be better for you not to know." Ling Xian softly sighed. Remembering the monument's horrifying back story, he felt a headache.

"Better if I don't know?"

Lin Ying froze, and Wang Yang frowned, unsure what made this monument so eerie that even Elder Ling Xian would be sighing.

"Aye, I don't want to talk about it because other than fulfilling your own curiosity, nothing good can come out of it." Ling Xian sighed again. "It may even cause a lot of trouble, and you may get hurt."

Wang Yang and Lin Ying frowned. Noticing Ling Xian's heavy expression, they repressed their own curiosity and didn't ask about it more.

"Aye, what a troublesome matter."

Ling Xian shook his head while sighing. After a moment of silence, he said, "I cannot talk about where the stone monument came from, but I can tell you that this monument is very terrifying and very troublesome. If you get your hands on it, you will get into big trouble one day. Therefore, I request that you give me the monument.

"I…" Lin Ying hesitated, a little bit unwilling.

Everyone could tell that this monument did not have an ordinary background and was extremely mysterious. Lin Ying was born extremely curious and very reckless. Therefore, she was a little unwilling to let it go.

However, Wang Yang chuckled and agreed right away, "Not a problem. Since this monument is terrifying, holding onto it will only get us into trouble. Elder Ling, take it away."

"Idiot."

Lin Ying rolled her eyes at Wang Yang and silently sent the message, "The stone monument is obviously not an ordinary object. We were also the ones who found it. Why did you agree to his request? Could it be because you believed in Elder Ling's one statement that it's troublesome?"

"Ying, who is Elder Ling? Why would he lie to us? He said holding onto it will get us into trouble, so I believe it will. I trust him," Wang Yang silently responded. The way he looked at Ling Xian was with utter respect.

It appears that Ling Xian's personality has attracted him and completely overpowered him.

Ling Xian was not lying to them. The terror of this monument is something even those of the original level would be troubled by. If he let Wang Yang and Lin Ying keep it, then something bad was bound to happen and their lives may be threatened.

This was why Ling Xian spoke up and requested the monument.

"Very good, then I accept this stone monument."

Ling Xian faintly grinned. Seeing that Lin Ying was unwilling to give it up, he thought about it. "Though this monument is troublesome, it's also a treasure. How about this, I will repay you with the Petals of Enlightenment."

"There really is no need. We are only alive because you saved us. Without you, both of us would've been killed by the nine headed spiritual lion. This monument would've also fallen into its hands." Wang Yang brandished his hand and was unwilling to accept it.

Lin Ying on the other side also shook her head. She appreciated Ling Xian a lot and was only unwilling to let go of the treasure because of curiosity. She wasn't unappreciative.

"Those are two separate events, and we shouldn't get them mixed up."

Ling Xian waved around his hand as well. Though the monument was threatening, there are pros with it as well and was a treasure in itself. Also, who was he? Why would he ever feel the need to take advantage of these two?

"Elder Ling, please listen to me. If you didn't step up in time, the two of us would've died, let alone getting our hands on this treasure." Wang Yang shook his head stubbornly and would not accept Ling Xian's payment no matter what.

At this, Ling Xian smiled helplessly. After staying silent for a bit, he had an idea.

Using his Qi, he scanned Wang Yang and Lin Ying's bodies and frowned.

His Qi sensed that the two of them were stuck at a bottleneck. Though the spiritual energy they have been storing were enough to move up a level, they could not breakthrough to the intermediate stage of the completion level.

This made him frown. As he recalled the different inheritances of the 12 peaks, he guessed what these two were cultivating.

Smiling, Ling Xian opened his mouth to speak, "If I'm not wrong, you were training under the Seek Sword Peak."

"Elder Ling sure have good eyes." Wang Yang's eyes flashed with shock. He couldn't believe that Ling Xian could see through them and find out the techniques they were attempting to learn.

Ling Xian waved around his hand, "Seek Sword, Seek Sword, all the inheritances related to that peak is based on the word 'seek'. This means, in order to breakthrough, you must understand the sword."

The Seek Sword Peak's inheritances did not lack next to other peaks. Different from others, however, the inheritances it had can only be acquired through enlightenment, not practice. The reason why it's called seek sword means the cultivator must know their swords well enough to realize where the sword draws its energy. From there, the cultivators can train and breakthrough.

Only after doing so can cultivators breakthrough.

Wang Yang and Lin Ying have been cultivating this way for a while. At first, their journey was smooth, but as their cultivation level grew, they have seen every single sword the Wan Jian House has to offer. Therefore, they were stuck at the beginning stage of the cultivation level, and they could not break through.

"Yes, this I know. But ever since we broke through from the beginning stage of the completion level, we could not find a sword to study. Therefore, our cultivation plateaued."

Wang Yang bitterly chuckled and Lin Yang appeared disappointed. They were now in their 30s, and normally, completion leveled cultivators on this level at this age were known to be geniuses.

However, amongst the top Heaven's Favorites in Yunzhou, they were falling behind. Using Ling Xian as an example, ignoring his current cultivation level, we can talk about his capabilities before today.

While in his 20s, he reached the intermediate stage of the completion level. This, was what it meant to be a top Heaven's Favorite in Yunzhou!

This was why Wang Yang and Lin Ying felt disappointed in themselves. They felt like they had wasted the House's resources and hope.

"The Wan Jian House, the House is known to have thousands of swords, have no proper swords for you to study?" Ling Xian frowned and felt surprised. But this was good. Now he can help.

"The Wan Jian House is built on swords. Naturally, it possesses many many spiritual swords. However, none of them were suitable for us." Wang Yang was somewhat disappointed.

"I see," Ling Xian softly smiled, "perhaps I can help."

Hearing this, Wang Yang and Lin Ying's eyes exploded with color. They shouted in unison, "You mean that?"

"I am not 100% certain. But I can definitely help a little." Ling Xian softly smiled. He had no good swords on him, but he had an extraordinary sword on him.

The Sword of Execution.

Though this sword was not exactly substantial, it was more than that. It can easily help others with enlightenment. This was because its transformation process is similar to the birth of a spiritual sword. It can help cultivators become enlightened and understand the source of where the sword draws its energy.

This was why he said he could help.

"Elder Ling, if you can really help us break through, then we would be forever in your debt."

Wang Yang and Lin Ying appeared very excited. They have been trapped in this cultivation level for far too long, and there hasn't been a single moment when they didn't think about breaking through. But as time went on, they lost more and more confidence and felt like they were wasting the Wan Jian House's energy.

Now that Ling Xian said he could help them, how could they not feel excited?

"Don't get too excited, stay calm. I am not certain that I can help you two breakthrough." Ling Xian waved around his hand and made no promises.

After all, this was the first time he was going to try and help someone's enlightenment with his sword.

"As long as there is some hope, we are happy. The two of us are getting more and more desperate." Wang Yang laughed quietly, and his eyes shone with anticipation.

Ling Xian grinned as well. "Then let us begin. You two, watch carefully."

His eyes flickered, and they turned one white and one black. Immediately, a ray of murky air poured out and solidified into a bloody red blade.

Because he was not in a battle but was helping others with enlightenment, Ling Xian controlled his speed and let the sword materialize little by little.

As the murky air began to dissipate, a long and bloody sword began to show itself. First, its detailed and graceful hilt, then the sword, before finally, the blade itself. The entire process was extremely mysterious and strange.

Without a doubt, from certain angles, the creation of this sword can help one learn a lot about swords.

The reality was exactly that. The moment the hilt appeared, Wang Yang and Lin Ying were stunned. Then, the two of them quickly turned to themselves and began to attempt an enlightening process.

Their two pairs of eyes stared directly at the Sword of Execution. What reflected upon them were mysterious symbols that normal cultivators wouldn't understand. They were using them to try and understand the Sword of Execution.

At this, Ling Xian lifted an eyebrow and said to himself, [The Seek Sword Peak sure has a profound understanding of spiritual swords. To try and understand the strength of the sword this way sure is interesting.]

[It seems like I should find an opportunity to cultivate it myself.]

Mumbling, Ling Xian let the Sword of Execution transform itself. He leapt into the sky and landed on the peak of the mountain.

Wang Yang and Lin Ying were already deep in their enlightenment. Unless they grasp onto how the Sword of Execution works, they will not awaken from their enlightenment in a short amount of time. Therefore, Ling Xian decided to use this time to deal with the mysterious stone monument.

"I cannot believe that I would see the stone monument inside the Imperishable Temple. I wonder if it's good luck or bad luck."

Ling Xian softly sighed. He looked at the suspending stone monument, and he felt a headache. However, since he has seen it, then he has no other options but to give his all and try to deal with it.

Even though the ending for a failure would be tragic – if he succeeds, then the monument will turn out to be a great fortune rather than trouble.

As for whether or not he can succeed, it will depend on himself, on the monument, and on the Heavens.

"Though I have much knowledge about this monument, I have never experienced it myself. All I can do now is to try my best. I sure hope this monument is a kind one."

As Ling Xian spoke out, he couldn't help but laugh at himself. An object sealed by this monument… how can it be kind?

"I sure am thinking way too optimistically."

Ling Xian shook his head as he continued to laugh. Then, he erased his grin, and his face turned serious again. This monument was extremely terrifying. Even for someone as powerful as him, he had to treat it cautiously.

"Let me begin. Whether I fail or succeed – I have to try."

Breathing in deeply, Ling Xian formed a hand seal. He was not planning on breaking the seal of the monument, he was planning on sealing it again!

Whooosh!

A ray of heavenly light howled and acted as an additional seal that once again surrounded this monument. Then, countless seals appeared and called out to each other. The power of it all was extremely insane.

Immediately, terrifying seals roared out and engulfed the monument and added 30% defensive powers to it.

Seeing this, Ling Xian softly sighed. Thinking that with this seal, he will have nothing to worry about for a while.

"Next, I will have to see whether or not the sealed object is willing to communicate with me."