Chapter 5: Heavily Sword, Heavenly Palace

## Chapter 5: The Heavy Sword Tian Que

Emerging from the Nine Clear Pavilion, Ye Chen, guided by the instructions, made his way to the Spirit Tool Pavilion.

Guarding the Spirit Tool Pavilion was an elder of considerable girth, with eyes so small they seemed to require manual assistance to open. His entire body rippled with shaking fat, and his bare chest and exposed belly gave him the appearance of a corpulent Maitreya Buddha. This was none other than the head of the Spirit Tool Pavilion, Zhou Dafu.

"Greetings, Elder." Noticing Zhou Dafu lounging leisurely in a chair, Ye Chen stepped forward and respectfully offered a salute.

"Little fellow, I haven't seen you before," Zhou Dafu remarked, glancing at Ye Chen. He then sat up, his small eyes surprisingly sharp, and began to appraise Ye Chen from head to toe.

"I am a new outer disciple," Ye Chen replied, presenting his jade plate. "Elder Qing Yi instructed me to come here to select a spirit tool."

Zhou Dafu took the jade plate, examined it thoroughly, then casually tossed it back to Ye Chen. He settled back into his reclining position and waved a hand dismissively. "Go in and choose for yourself! Outer disciples are restricted to the first floor. Don't even think about sneaking up to the second."

"Understood!"

Ye Chen received the jade plate and stepped into the depths of the Spirit Tool Pavilion.

The first floor of the pavilion was vast, spanning several thousand *zhang*. A multitude of weapons were displayed, representing all eighteen traditional weapon types. Each spirit tool gleamed with a polished luster, like a vibrant bouquet of competing blooms.

"Indeed, they are all low-grade," Ye Chen muttered, his initial sweep revealing a slight disappointment. As an outer disciple, his selection was limited to the first floor's offerings.

Lost in thought, Ye Chen picked up a large ghost-head saber, but quickly shook his head. "Too light."

He set the saber down and picked up a spirit sword. Though sharp, Ye Chen still returned it to its original place.

He continued his perusal, moving from one weapon to the next like a shopper at a market. Despite the abundance of spirit tools, he circled for half a day without finding one that caught his eye. In his past life, he would have dismissed such tools entirely, but now, his circumstances were different, forcing him to search amidst this collection of low-grade artifacts.

He was on the verge of completing a full circuit without success. However, at that moment, the true fire within his Dan Sea trembled slightly and a hair-thin wisp of flame detached itself and floated away.

Somewhat stunned, Ye Chen quickly followed, arriving at a stone platform. Resting on the platform was a black iron sword, thick with dust from disuse. The wisp of true fire was wrapped around this very sword.

A tremor of surprise ran through him as Ye Chen grasped the iron sword's hilt. A spirit tool that could attract his true fire was certainly worth closer examination.

However, Ye Chen seemed to underestimate the weight of this iron sword. Even with a full breath of effort, he couldn't lift it.

"At least two hundred *jin*," Ye Chen estimated the sword's weight internally. It was no wonder it lay here, neglected. A weight of two hundred *jin* was no trifling matter; most disciples wouldn't be able to lift it. Even if they could, it would require the full exertion of their true qi. To wield this in battle would risk exhaustion and defeat before facing the enemy.

Yet, it was precisely this extraordinary weight that piqued his interest even further.

With a slight surge of true qi, he lifted the iron sword and gently blew away the accumulated dust.

Gazing upon it, Ye Chen felt a sense of ancient history. On the sword's hilt were two archaic characters: Tian Que.

"Tian Que," he murmured, carefully examining the iron sword.

The iron sword was unsharpened and wider than typical spirit swords. Its material was indiscernible, but its extreme weight was undeniable. The sword's body was etched with numerous symbols that Ye Chen couldn't decipher, and they appeared exceedingly ancient.

"Truly a strange sword," Ye Chen whispered to himself. He mused that while this unsharpened iron sword wouldn't be effective for cleaving, it would be an excellent choice for bludgeoning.

"This is the one." Ye Chen hoisted the Tian Que sword onto his shoulder and began to walk out.

"Hmm?" Zhou Dafu's soft hum of surprise reached him from nearby. "Little fellow, with your slender frame, why choose this type of iron sword?"

Clang!

Ye Chen approached and, with a loud clang, set the iron sword down. It was so heavy that half of the blade embedded itself in the soil.

"Elder, what is the origin of this sword?" Ye Chen asked, pointing at the Tian Que sword. "It's unusually heavy!"

"Ah, that!" Zhou Dafu stroked his small beard and pondered for a moment. "It was already here when I took over this Spirit Tool Pavilion. I'd say it's been here for at least a hundred years. As for its origin, I truly don't know."

"So that's how it is!"

"I'd advise you to choose a different spirit tool. This iron sword is exceptionally heavy. Pick a lighter one!"

"No need, this one will do." Ye Chen smiled, gently stroking the iron sword. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it.

"Stubborn little fellow. Carry it away then!"

"Thank you, Elder." Ye Chen again offered a respectful salute before hoisting the Tian Que and exiting the Spirit Tool Pavilion.

Just outside the entrance, he was met with surprised glances. Three or two disciples passing by first looked at Ye Chen, then at the Tian Que sword he carried, and couldn't help but point and whisper.

"Who is this fellow? I haven't seen him before. Is he a new outer disciple?"

"That sword he's carrying, that must be the Tian Que!"

"It seems so. He's quite strong! Though his cultivation is a bit weak, and his mind might not be entirely right."

Ye Chen paid no mind to their discussions. He had a feeling that the Tian Que sword was far from ordinary. Compared to the low-grade spirit tools, he preferred this one. Carrying it daily would even aid his cultivation.

"Hmm? People from the Zheng Yang Sect." A soft hum of surprise came from somewhere, and everyone around looked up at the sky.

There, another massive flying sword approached, carrying three figures: a beautiful middle-aged woman, a stunning young woman, and a handsome youth.

"What are the Zheng Yang Sect people doing at my Heng Yue Sect?" someone asked in doubt.

"You don't know this? In three months, there's the great competition between the Zheng Yang Sect, the Qing Yun Sect, and our Heng Yue Sect. The Zheng Yang Sect people seem to have come to discuss matters concerning the competition."

"That female disciple is truly beautiful, like a fairy maiden."

Ye Chen didn't listen to the surrounding chatter. His gaze was fixed on the sky, or more precisely, on the beautiful young woman on the flying sword. Her robes fluttered, free from worldly dust, like an exiled immortal, sacred and flawless.

Was she not Ji Ningxue of the Zheng Yang Sect?

"Didn't expect to meet so soon." Ye Chen murmured, a mixture of complexity and indifference in his deep, dark eyes. "I will return one day."

Perhaps sensing someone watching her, Ji Ningxue on the flying sword couldn't help but turn back to look down. At that moment, however, Ye Chen had already disappeared into the crowd.

"Such a familiar feeling," Ji Ningxue said softly.

"What is it, Junior Sister?"

"Nothing."

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