Chapter 86: Large-Scale Fan Meet & Greet!

["Master! The swords in the Sword Tomb have escaped again!"]

["Ahhh! Don't run! Rainbow Sword! I am your master!!"]

["Thunderclap Sword! Get back into the Sword Tomb right now! In life, you are a sword of the Limitless Sword Sect! In death, you are the sect's refined mystic iron! Where do you think you can run to!"]

Seeing this chaotic scene, you instantly understood what was happening and cursed the Ten Thousand Souls Banner again in your heart.

["Look at the mess you've made!"]

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner cackled wildly.

["Hahaha! This prosperous age is as I wished! My children, just like that! Wait until this old ancestor outlives this Chen Yi, then I'll come be your king!"]

Only Chen Yi could hear the Ten Thousand Souls Banner's voice.

When it came to not wanting to be discovered by outsiders, the Ten Thousand Souls Banner was even more proactive than you.

If you were discovered possessing the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, you could just say, "I was bewitched!" and get off scot-free, because you hadn't harmed anyone.

The Ten Thousand Souls Banner, however, would be in for a world of suffering.

You randomly found a white-robed disciple chasing a sword in the mountains.

["Hey, little brother, I'd like to ask, what's the process for wanting to join your sect?"]

The white-robed disciple was frantic.

["Aiya! Don't bother me, can't you see I'm busy?!"]

You took out several high-grade Spirit Crystals from your Storage Ring and handed them to him.

The white-robed disciple accepted them with both hands.

["May I ask what matter the senior inquires about?"]

["I want to join the Limitless Sword Sect."]

["As a disciple? Not only is it not the time for accepting disciples right now, senior, you look young, but your martial realm must already be quite high, right?"]

This white-robed disciple was very perceptive.

Seeing you traveling alone with a horse within the Eastern Wastes, and offering high-grade Spirit Crystals with a single gesture, he knew you were no weakling.

["Yes, I am not a novice martial artist."]

["The Sword Sect only accepts promising mortals as disciples. We don't want those with higher realms, not even those in the Body Refining Realm."]

["Besides becoming a disciple, are there other ways to enter the sect?"]

["Besides disciples, the Sword Sect also has affiliates. If you are willing to serve the Sword Sect, you can join as an affiliate. You can receive cultivation resources monthly, but you cannot cultivate the Sword Sect's techniques and must obey the sect's orders."]

["That works too."]

You just needed to get face time in front of the Sword Lord anyway.

The white-robed disciple pointed you in a direction. There was a mountain peak with the Limitless Sword Sect's Gate Hall, where you could apply to become an affiliate.

["By the way, let me ask one more thing. Where in the sect on a normal day would one have a chance to see the Sword Lord?"]

The white-robed disciple smiled and pointed at you.

["Senior, you also want to join the Sword Sect because you admire our Sect Master, right?"]

["Uh... you could say that..."]

["Don't be shy, who isn't? Our Sect Master is handsome, has incredible combat prowess, helps the distressed and aids the needy, punishes the wicked and eliminates evil. Though powerful, he doesn't bully the weak. He's approachable and humble, his personal charisma is just off the charts..."]

This guy spent a full ten minutes praising the Sword Lord, not repeating a single phrase.

You got the feeling this disciple might not be too fond of women.

Not hearing anything useful, you simply went to apply for affiliate status first.

A Golden Body Realm cultivation, even within the Limitless Sword Sect, carried significant weight. Being a sect affiliate was more than sufficient.

["Three hundred low-grade Spirit Crystals per month, fifty cultivation-assisting pills of your choice, one standard mid-grade spirit sword. If it breaks, you can go to the Sword Tomb to replace it. However, the Sword Tomb is quite chaotic right now, so claiming a spirit sword will have to wait. Additionally, there are Elder lectures and the Sect Master's sword discourse. You can participate once per month..."]

The managing elder of the Gate Hall was explaining the benefits you, with your realm, could enjoy after becoming an affiliate.

Three full pages, densely packed.

Undoubtedly, the Limitless Sword Sect's benefits and treatment were excellent.

If affiliates got this much, wouldn't formal disciples be soaring?

But you weren't envious.

In this life's simulation, the great opportunity of the Shen Family of the Starry Sky awaited you. You wouldn't stay in the Limitless Sword Sect for too long.

["Elder, I'd like to ask, is this 'Sect Master's sword discourse' where the Sword Lord personally gives a lecture?"]

["Yes. If you wish to comprehend the Sword Dao, you must not miss this discourse. The gains will be substantial."]

["When does it usually happen?"]

The managing elder smiled and pointed at you.

["I presume you also admire our Sect Master, which is why you joined the sect as an affiliate, right?"]

["Uh..."]

You had an ominous feeling.

["Don't be embarrassed, young man! All sword-wielding martial artists in this world can be called 'Sword Lord'—Rainbow Sword Lord, Thunderbolt Sword Lord. But only our Sect Master's title is simply 'the Sword Lord'. Do you know why?"]

The old man asked and answered his own question, not leaving you a breath to interject.

["Because all swords under heaven obey the Sword Lord's command! Indeed, who wouldn't admire such a great figure? He is not only handsome and supremely skilled in martial arts, he relieves suffering and aids the distressed across the Five Regions, is approachable and humble within the sect. His personal charisma is just off the charts..."]

You were speechless.

You felt the Limitless Sword Sect was like a massive fan organization.

Everyone here, whenever the Sword Lord was mentioned, looked like they were worshipping an idol.

After expending immense effort, you finally figured out when the Sword Lord would appear for lectures.

["However, there probably won't be any lectures recently. The Sword Lord's usually favorite sword also ran off, deep into the Great Wastes. The Sword Lord chased after it. Not sure when he'll catch up and return."]

["The Sword Lord's sword should have developed intelligence long ago and have a good relationship with the Sword Lord, right? It would still run away?"]

["Can't exactly say it ran away. That sword said it just wanted to go see the ocean."]

You realized you still underestimated the scale of the mess the Ten Thousand Souls Banner had stirred up. For low-level Spirit Artifacts, it was just granting intelligence, but when applied to high-level Spirit Artifacts, the effects seemed more complex.

["How could a single artifact cause such a huge disaster? Unbelievable..."]

Year Six, age twenty-four.

You worked as an affiliate for the Limitless Sword Sect for a year. The main task the sect assigned you was: capturing swords that had escaped from the sect.

In short: cleaning up the Ten Thousand Souls Banner's mess.

You didn't see the Sword Lord this entire year. Word was he was still in the Great Wastes chasing his sword.

Could only wait some more.

Usually, when going out to capture lost swords, you could also take the opportunity to collect Demon Souls in the Eastern Wastes, or pick spirit herbs to toss to Da Chun for him to refine pills for you.

Da Chun refining pills was basically equivalent to a lottery.

What came out depended on luck.

But as long as the quantity was large enough, quite a few good pills that enhanced cultivation were produced, helping you improve your cultivation base.

Year Seven, age twenty-five.

The Sword Lord returned with his sword. Word was they really went to the seaside and watched the sea view and sunrise for a long time before agreeing to come back.

You could only gaze up at him from afar.

Because you couldn't squeeze in.

There were too many people!

The entire Limitless Sword Sect, from top to bottom, surrounded the Sword Lord!

Could only wait for an opportunity to show yourself.

The opportunity came quickly.