Sword Sect Outer Sect

Chapter 279 Seeking Benevolence
A brief silence fell over the cave, and the four people had different expressions.

Song Yan pondered for a moment before speaking, "Senior Yan has lofty aspirations."

"Although I have no expertise in weapon crafting, I know that for those who are not at the Golden Core stage to attempt to craft magic weapons is akin to a Foundation Establishment cultivator forcing their way to the Great Dao of the Primordial Spirit, which is probably not the right path."

Even if we stand on the shoulders of that predecessor and invest the manpower and resources of a dozen generations, the possibility of finally finding a glimmer of hope is extremely slim.

Song Yan did not completely deny it, but pointed out the difficulties involved.

This kind of heaven-defying act is even more difficult than a pseudo-core cultivator seeking to break through to the true core.

Upon hearing this, Yan Heng's facial lines seemed to deepen, and complex emotions flashed in his cloudy eyes.

He first nodded in agreement with Song Yan's words, then sighed heavily: "Senior Song... you are right."

"In fact, perhaps the Yan family's comments about us back then were not wrong."

"This is indeed a wrong path, a dead end with almost no hope..."

"However, it's not that our ancestor's last wish was wrong, but that we, his unworthy descendants, have gone astray."

Yan Heng's voice was low and hoarse, filled with deep weariness: "My lineage, starting from our ancestor Yan Bo, has been dedicated to fulfilling our ancestor's long-cherished wish generation after generation."

"In order to study the methods of weapon forging and to gather materials, generations of ancestors have given up too much time for cultivation."

"When most of our predecessors ran out of lifespan, their cultivation level was often still hovering in the mid-to-late stage of Qi Refining. They never managed to achieve Qi Refining perfection or establish a foundation for their Dao throughout their lives..."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over his grandson Yan Que beside him, his eyes filled with bitterness and helplessness.

"Generation after generation, they exhausted their energy and lifespan for an unattainable goal, resulting in the decline and decay of their families..."

"Over the years, I have come to realize that our ancestor was a true genius in weapon crafting. The path he chose to take is not something that ordinary people like us can replicate."

"To truly continue his research and follow his thoughts, even if it's just to explore a little further, one would need at least the Foundation Establishment stage of cultivation."

For a cultivator who has devoted a great deal of energy to refining artifacts on the wrong path, the Foundation Establishment Realm has become an insurmountable barrier.

Yan Heng himself had been stuck at the seventh level of Qi Refining for decades, wasting his time. Now he was old and frail, and there was no hope for the Great Dao.

“Previously, I also thought of following the path of my ancestors and continuing down it.”

Yan Heng sighed: "However, this time the demonic cultivators caused chaos, Dragon Pool Mountain was destroyed in a single day, the market was overturned, and we have nowhere to go."

"Now that the demonic cultivators have invaded, the cultivation world is in turmoil, and the area north of Chu is a battlefield."

"When chaos is imminent, human life is as insignificant as grass."

"I'm just an old man in the Qi Refining stage, and in this chaos, even survival is a problem..."

He looked up at Song Yan and said, "Senior Song, I am dead, my life is worthless, but my grandson is only ten years old."

"The patriarch's dying wish is that I, his descendant, be considered unworthy. Living is the most important thing."

"Now I only ask that I can take this grandson and find a safe place to get through this calamity."

After much thought, the only option is to swallow my pride and return to Beiya Mountain to beg for the clan's protection. Even if I end up as a separate family member, living under someone else's roof, it's still better than the two of us, grandfather and grandson, being left to rot in the wilderness.

"Manager Yan has thought things through very well." Song Yan nodded silently, indicating his understanding.

"With a large and deep-rooted clan, you'll always have someone to rely on when you go back. The Yan clan is also a powerful force in the Chu Kingdom. With your late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, it shouldn't be difficult for you to find a job with the main family and cultivate peacefully."

"Thank you for your comforting words, senior."

Yan Heng thanked him first, then reached out his hand as if he had made a great decision, and solemnly opened the sword box.

It was a sword, a broken sword.

The sword has a simple pommel, no guard, and no clear division between the hilt and the blade.

It was entirely black, covered with dark blue cracks.

Especially at the fracture site, the dark blue cracks are more numerous and obvious.

"Senior Song."

Yan Heng channeled his spiritual power, retrieved the broken sword, and held it above his hands.

"Our ancestor was obsessed with weapon crafting throughout his life and left behind countless works."

"However, he was too demanding of himself, believing that none of these attempts had truly achieved what he was looking for, and that they were all failures and did not meet his expectations."

"Therefore, he destroyed most of the results himself."

"The remaining small portion either circulated outside and was not destroyed in time, or some were secretly hidden by the clan members who couldn't bear to part with them."

He continued, "Some of them were sold to sects, while others ended up in other places and are now probably nowhere to be found."

"And this flying sword in my hand is the last work left by our ancestor."

Yan Heng's gaze fell on the ancient sword in his hand, with a complex emotion: "According to the secrets passed down in the clan, it is said that this sword was based on an extremely precious fragment of a magical artifact by our ancestor."

"A flying sword that was barely formed after incorporating a variety of top-quality spiritual materials available at the time... a half-finished product."

"Unfortunately, on the day the sword was completed, the founder examined it for a long time, but in the end, he was disappointed and abandoned it. He died soon after in depression."

"This failed product, which the patriarch disliked, was treasured by his descendants and carefully preserved generation after generation."

"I hope that one day a descendant will appear and, on this basis, fulfill the wishes of our ancestors."

Yan Heng's tone shifted from reminiscence to resoluteness: "Looking back now, it was actually putting shackles on myself."

"Keep this sword by your side. If you see it, your descendants will inevitably feel resentful and will be unable to resist trying again and repeating the same mistakes. In the end, they will only exhaust their strength and be unable to escape the fate of decline and death."

Yan Heng took a deep breath, his gaze hardening once more. He held the ancient sword in both hands and looked sincerely at Song Yan.

“Senior Song, I offended you greatly during the Longtan Mountain incident, but you are magnanimous and did not hold it against me.”

"I've come to apologize, but I have nothing of value to offer. I suppose you are a true sword enthusiast. If you are interested in this ancient sword..."

"Then I'll give it to you."

Having said all this, he felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders and solemnly handed the ancient sword to Song Yan with a respectful demeanor.

Song Yan raised an eyebrow, quite surprised.

But after thinking about it, I felt relieved. Keeping this thing in my possession was definitely not a good thing.

Judging from Yan Heng's words, it was not only useless, but also had a self-inflicted trap for the descendants left behind by Yan Bo.

Actually, Yan Heng had a little ulterior motive.

He glanced briefly at his grandson Yan Que, who was sitting obediently.

The cultivation world is currently in turmoil and fraught with danger.

This Song Yan is clearly a genius with a bright future ahead. If we can use this as a link to get in touch with him, it will not have been a waste of his gift.

No matter how faint the connection may be, it still exists.

His lifespan is nearing its end, and his days are numbered. To ensure a smoother path for Yanque, he has no choice but to set aside his obsessions and stake everything he can.

All for the sake of securing a slim chance of protection for his grandson when chaos was imminent.

Song Yan's gaze lingered on the ancient sword for a moment.

Wujinzang didn't react in any particular way, so it seems that this sword is not what he is looking for.

However, he was still very interested, because Yan Heng had just said that this item was very likely made from a fragment of a magical artifact.

Even if it's completely useless, it can still be placed in the fire pool of the Endless Treasury as material to strengthen other flying swords.

"I'll accept this sword."

Song Yan's calm voice broke the silence. He neither refused nor showed much joy, as if he were simply accepting an ordinary gift.

With a gentle lift of his hand, he channeled his spiritual energy, and the broken sword floated before him. "Back at Dragon Pool Mountain, those were just idle rumors; I didn't take them to heart."

"The apology was a bit too much."

He slightly turned his gaze and gestured to Xiao Ju.

Xiao Ju turned and walked to the stone table in the corner of the cave, took out the writing implements, and ground ink and dipped the brush for Song Yan.

Song Yan picked up his pen and wrote a letter to Yan Xun.

The gist of the story is that the grandfather and grandson will return to the Yan family in Beiya Mountain to rely on them, but since they are of low status, they may face difficulties.

If he has the time, he may send a letter requesting an audience. I would appreciate it if you, my senior, would remember our past friendship and grant him a favor so that he may be spared from hardship.

He infused a trace of his own spiritual power as a mark, then sealed the contents of the letter into a jade slip and handed it to Yan Heng.

That's all he can do. Anything more is just a family matter for the Yan family, and we can't ask for too much.

"If you encounter any difficulties, go and seek out the Fifth Young Master Yan Xun. He is kind and benevolent, and we have a history. If he sees my letter, he may be able to help you out."

Yan Xun's eyes showed gratitude, and not knowing what to say, he could only bow deeply.
"Your kindness and generosity, disregarding past grievances, have helped us... I am truly ashamed!"

Song Yan shook his head, his gaze fixed on the broken sword in front of him, and slowly said, "No need."

Yan Heng, being quite tactful, bowed deeply once more, then, pulling the still somewhat dazed Yan Que along, took his leave.

Outside the cave, Yan Heng looked down at the jade slip in his hand, then looked up at the gray sky outside the cave. It seemed that an invisible mountain that had been weighing on his shoulders for a long time was gradually dissipating.

A few murky tears slid down his cheeks, only to be carried away by the cold wind.

"Let's go, Que'er, let's go home."

His back was still hunched, but his steps seemed a little lighter.

Inside the Earth-character 21 cave, Xiao Ju didn't want to disturb her master, so she took her leave early.

Song Yan toyed with the broken sword, muttering, "Uncle Yan..."

He recognized the name, not from somewhere he had heard of it before, but from seeing it in the sect's armory.

A few years ago, when I had just entered the late stage of Qi Refining and officially joined the inner sect, I had the opportunity to go to the sect's armory to select magical artifacts.

"Why not take it if it's free?" At the time, Song Yan randomly picked a decent-quality flying sword as a backup.

At that time, he had seen some strange magical artifacts in the armory. Because the appearance and names of the artifacts were extremely strange, he remembered the name of the person who made them.

It was Yan Bo.

If you do the math, it must have been a hundred or two hundred years since Senior Yanbo passed away.

It is quite surprising that the sect still has his old works.

Song Yan pondered for a moment, then tried to infuse a wisp of sword energy into it and immerse his divine sense in it, attempting to refine it.

The refining process was neither fast nor slow, and it was completed in about two hours.

Although this sword was forged from a fragment of a magical artifact, it is incomplete and only has a general shape, so calling it a magical weapon is rather far-fetched.

However, after trying it out, Song Yan discovered that the sword could be stored in the Endless Treasury.

With a thought, Song Yan's consciousness entered the realm.

The broken sword was now standing upright on his sword lotus phantom, with several streams of energy surging in from all directions and slowly merging into the broken sword.

This is the Tai Xu Sword Nourishing Chapter automatically operating, gradually nurturing this broken sword.

Some of the cracks are slowly healing, and some useless impurities on the surface of the sword are slowly peeling off.

Perhaps in the eyes of Wujinzang, this flying sword is seriously injured and needs "treatment".

Unfortunately, Song Yan knew that this was all in vain.

It was only a semi-finished product; without a master craftsman to reforge it, it would remain forever in this state.

To his surprise, however, faint blue spiritual energy was slowly emerging from the broken sword and gathering beside the sword lotus.

Suddenly, in this boundless realm, besides himself, another figure appeared!
The figure initially sat upright beside the lotus flower of swordsmanship, raising its head to gaze at the broken sword.

Just as I was about to go forward to check, I saw him suddenly stand up, look in the direction of the volcano, and walk towards it step by step.

Song Yan was somewhat puzzled.

So they followed him, walking step by step toward the volcano.

The figure's lips trembled slightly, as if he were muttering something to himself, but Song Yan couldn't hear it clearly.

“I… am…”

However, as he approached the volcano, the sound gradually grew louder.

Until he reached the summit of the volcano, gazing at the fiery inferno, he suddenly slumped down in despair.

The sound was initially blurry and indistinct, but gradually it came closer and echoed in Song Yan's mind.

"I am but rotten wood, beyond redemption!"

He stared at the fire pool on the mountaintop, repeating the same phrase over and over.

No matter how much Ren Songyan pushed him, he remained completely unmoved.

"..."

After pondering for a moment, Song Yan decided to leave him alone for the time being and returned to the center of this world, near the Sword Lotus.

With a casual gesture, the broken sword flew from the lotus platform, landed in front of him, and hovered in the air.

"This flying sword is not yet completed, so it shouldn't have any users."

This broken sword has only been around for a few hundred years, so it's unlikely that any sword cultivator has ever used it, nor has it witnessed the dramatic changes that occurred in the Yin-Yang Realm before.

"Could that figure be Senior Yan Bo?"

He re-examined the flying sword.

Whether it was the effect of that brief moment of nurturing or not, two extremely small characters were faintly revealed on one side of the broken sword.

"Seek benevolence."

Song Yan pondered the name for a moment.

"It seems that this Senior Yan Bo has indeed placed high hopes on this flying sword."

"pity……"

He glanced at the fire pool on the mountaintop and sighed softly.

He was now at a loss as to what to do with this object. He had originally intended to fuse it together to see if it could improve the grade of the Unmoored Boat Sword Body.

However, given the current turbulent situation in the cultivation world and his imminent departure for the battlefield, it would be inappropriate to begin refining at this moment.

After much deliberation, I've decided to put it aside for now.

Song Yan's divine sense withdrew from the realm.

Before he could even come to his senses, he sensed a communication talisman outside the cave.

He took it down and saw that it was an invitation from Elder Zhang Guangyuan, the Foreign Affairs Elder, to come to the Longshou Mountain Elders' Courtyard for a chat, as there were important matters to discuss.

Song Yan felt a chill run down her spine, realizing that this day had finally arrived.

(End of this chapter)