Chapter 30: Regaining the Stone Sword

The second layer of space was picturesque.

Mountains, rivers, and blooming flowers filled the view.

Lu Ye enjoyed the scenery for about twenty seconds, feeling relaxed, before heading toward the Stone Sword Cliff.

According to the timeline, about two hours later, various monsters and demons would make their appearance, and from then on, battles would erupt continuously.

Countless geniuses of the human race would die or be injured.

But it didn’t matter. Those who could die weren’t true geniuses after all.

He continued running.

Half an hour later, he arrived at the Stone Sword Cliff.

At the base of the cliff, broken swords lay scattered on the ground or were lodged between the rocks. There were probably over a thousand of them.

Each sword represented a sword cultivator who had died here.

Lu Ye took a step forward.

"Buzz!"

All the broken swords began to hum.

He took another step.

"Whoosh!"

Sword lights flashed, and three broken swords flew toward him. Lu Ye waved his sleeve, sending them flying.

He took another step.

All the broken swords suddenly erupted, launching attacks.

Lu Ye threw a punch, sending many of the broken swords flying, but they formed a ring and came back toward him.

The sword energy howled.

Lu Ye’s figure was completely surrounded by the broken swords. With each punch and palm strike, he sent the swords flying in all directions, moving step by step deeper into the area.

By now, not a single sword had managed to land a hit on him.

This didn’t mean the broken swords weren’t strong.

In fact, each sword here, with just a single sword strike, could easily reach the Nascent Soul level. The power was immense, and dozens, even hundreds, of sword lights would erupt at once, easily killing someone in the Refining Void realm.

But Lu Ye was too strong.

Ten minutes later, Lu Ye broke through the area filled with broken swords.

He bent his legs and leaped into the air.

His body shot up like a rocket, soaring from the ground to the top of the cliff. There, among the jagged stones, a sword wrapped in brown stone dust stood quietly.

The sword was four feet long, and its true form couldn’t be seen due to the layer of stone dust.

Lu Ye’s gaze softened.

It had been so long since he last saw the Stone Sword.

When the Stone Sword was shattered in his past life, he had the thought of reforging it, but he had eventually let it go.

The Stone Sword could be reforged, but the sword spirit could never return.

But now, with the Stone Sword present, the sword spirit was there as well.

He approached the Stone Sword, his dark ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) robe leaving marks as it was cut by sharp swords. His hair fluttered, and small wounds began to appear on his exposed skin.

He extended his hand.

Gripping the hilt of the Stone Sword!

In that instant, countless terrifying sword energies surged toward Lu Ye like a flood.

Lu Ye closed his eyes, his sword heart clear, his will unyielding.

Though his body had turned into a terrifying mass of blood, his hand holding the Stone Sword did not tremble. His feet dug into the stone, grounding him.

He couldn’t step back.

If he took a step back, he would have no further connection to the Stone Sword.

This was merely a test from the Stone Sword. Whether it was the sword energy or the sword intent, they were all part of the sword’s selection process.

In his past life, Lu Ye never took a step back.

Let alone in this life.

His hand even lightly brushed against the Stone Sword, whispering, "Don’t fear, don’t be confused."

How could a sword be confused or fearful?

The sword itself couldn’t, but the sword spirit could.

At this moment, the sword spirit, in its confused state, vaguely had a thought arise.

"What nonsense are you spouting? What the hell are you barking about? Who the hell would be afraid? Who the hell would be confused?"

The sword energy intensified.

A massive blood mist erupted, scattering toward the back.

Lu Ye...

Damn, I almost forgot, the current Stone Sword hasn’t yet revealed its timid nature.

Yes, this sword is indeed timid.

Of course, it’s not afraid of enemies; rather, it’s afraid of the dark.

Though it sounds absurd for a sword to be afraid of the dark, it truly is.

The Stone Sword even refused to let Lu Ye forge a sword sheath for it.

"Follow me, and become the strongest sword in the world," Lu Ye spoke again.

"Stronger than the Three Lives Sword!"

"Stronger than the Ancestral Sword!"

"Stronger than the Supreme Sword!"

"Stronger than the Invincible Sword!"

The Stone Sword listened to these names. Although it didn’t know just how powerful these swords were, the names themselves sounded incredibly strong.

Plus, it couldn’t make Lu Ye take a step back.

This man, with his flesh almost entirely stripped away, still didn’t retreat a single step.

It could acknowledge that!

The sword energy suddenly disappeared.

The Stone Sword returned to its silent state. Lu Ye glanced at the injuries on his body but showed no significant reaction.

He formed seals with his hands.

Blood gathered automatically, forming a rather mystical symbol—this was, of course, the master-recognition contract.

With a faint sword hum, the Stone Sword formed a close bond with Lu Ye.

In fact, the Stone Sword was still trying to figure out what kind of master it had. It worried whether it had chosen the wrong master.

However, it had been here for too long. If it didn’t leave now, it would have to stay here for another thousand years, and that was far too long.

But it didn’t matter. If its sword master turned out to be incapable, it would eventually pass to someone else’s hands. With its strength, it would eventually end up in the hands of someone powerful enough.

Sword intent blossomed from Lu Ye’s palm.

Pieces of stone dust began to fall from the sword’s body. Beneath the stone dust, the sword remained brown, lacking the dazzling sharpness it once had, even appearing spotty, like it had rusted.

Mighty true essence and pure, crystal-clear sword intent flowed into the Stone Sword.

"From now on, your name will be Stone Sword, with a nickname—Little Stone. Do you agree?" Lu Ye asked with a smile.

The Stone Sword trembled slightly.

[Disagree, quickly give me a cool name.]

"It seems you like this name. Then, from now on, you’ll be called that."

[No, I didn’t agree! Little Stone? Stone Sword? That sounds horrible! I've been the Stone Sword for so long, and now, as I’m about to leave the mountain, you want to call me Stone Sword? Hey, did you hear me? I don’t want to be called Stone Sword!]

"Young master, you really are here!"

Chu Ling’s voice came from the distance as she quickly flew over.

"Congratulations, young master, you’ve regained the Stone Sword!"

Stone Sword?

Huh?

The Stone Sword automatically merged into Lu Ye’s body, as it was afraid of the dark and decided to settle on the back of his hand.

A sword mark appeared on the back of his hand.

The most important thing, the Stone Sword, was now obtained. Next, it was time to look for other useful items.

For the younger generation, the most useful items were almost all found in the first layer of the battlefield.

For instance, the Pure Water could cleanse one’s talent, enhancing their abilities.

The Sky Spirit Pond helped people cultivate quickly.

Then, there was the Hundred Herbs Valley, which had numerous spiritual treasures and fruits. It also helped speed up cultivation and could be harvested for resources.

The first major battle would take place in the first-layer battlefield.

He flew toward the first-layer battlefield.

It was time to collect the divine fire.

As a weapon refiner and alchemist, a good flame was essential.

Although the divine fires here weren’t of the highest quality, they were perfect for transition at the moment.

Thanks to Lu Ye’s guidance, others had already arrived at the second-layer battlefield. When they saw no one there, they excitedly began searching.

Lu Ye returned to the first layer, and the sword wounds on his body had already healed.

His figure appeared at the very center of the volcano’s mouth, and without hesitation, he jumped straight in.