Chapter 3: Sword Baptism and the Hidden Seal
Clang!
Zzzhhh!
The first twenty-one Sword Lights slashed across the chamber like meteors, scorching Xiao Tian's flesh and shredding his outer robe. His body screamed in agony. Blood flowed in thin lines, but he clenched his jaw, unmoving.
> Body Tempering Progress: 13%
Pain Tolerance Adaptation: Increasing…
System Suggestion: Circulate True Qi to absorb sword intent.
"Damn… this is worse than fire," he muttered, trembling. "But… I can feel it. My meridians are slowly expanding… my flesh is growing tougher…"
Each ray of Sword Light wasn't merely meant to hurt—it contained pure Sword Intent, refined to temper one's body at the fundamental level. Bones creaked. Muscles swelled. Blood became heavier with power.
This was no ordinary body tempering technique. This was something only a Sword God could leave behind.
> Ding! Special Trait Detected: Sword Body Embryo Formed
[Trait: Star Sword Meridians]
[Effect: Increases compatibility with sword-based cultivation methods and spiritual weapons by 120%]
He gasped, knees buckling as the 54th Sword Light carved a bloody arc across his back.
But he laughed.
"Haha… This is it… This is what Lin Chen should've experienced three days later!"
Suddenly, as the 72nd Sword Light landed—
—a voice echoed from the sword in the center.
> "He who dares walk the sword path… must sever fate, endure pain, and touch the edge of death."
Xiao Tian looked up, blood on his lips. "I have no fate to begin with. So I'll take yours instead."
> Ding! Baptism Phase Completed – 108 Sword Lights Endured.
[Physique Advancement: Mortal → Sword Body – Grade 1 Star Embryo]
[Compatibility with Star Grave Sword: 63% → 91%]
The chamber quieted. The floating sword no longer trembled—it had recognized him.
And yet…
> Warning: Detected Incomplete Inheritance.
[Current Inheritance: Half-Version – Missing Core Sutra and Star Grass Nourishment Method]
[Nine Star Supreme Sword Body Progress: 1/9 Stars Awakened]
Xiao Tian's eyes narrowed.
"So Lin Chen would've only gotten part of it even if I hadn't arrived first… No wonder the system called it a 'Red' opportunity, not 'Golden.'"
He stared deeper into the chamber's back wall. Carvings hidden in dust, mostly eroded… but a line glowed faintly with his blood.
> "Bury the stars beneath the sword. Seek the Ninth Trial when your sword body bleeds starlight."
A second trial?
He wiped sweat and blood from his brow, lips curling into a smirk.
"Then I'll return. And I'll take everything."
> Acquired Item: Star Grave Sword (Sealed)
Hidden Path Activated: Outer Valley Sword Tomb (Locked until Sword Body reaches 3-Star Rank)
---
Meanwhile, in the sect's outer court…
A girl dressed in rags sat quietly on a slave wagon, staring at the sky.
To any cultivator, she looked ordinary.
But to Xiao Tian's Life Script System—
> [Name: ???]
[Fate: Red, Gold, Gold, Red]
[Opportunities: Spirit Blood Awakening, Primordial Phoenix Bone, ??? Sutra (Sealed)]
[Destiny: Unawakened Reincarnator Body]
> "Slated to die within 7 days in the hands of Lin Chen."
And Xiao Tian would soon cross paths with her.