Chapter 39: Chapter 36 Sword Pool, Lotus

"The first two trials of the Inner Mansion, the 'Lotus Sword Pool' and the 'Ten Thousand Swords Mountain', will have dedicated hosts. Soon the Three-Eyed Giant Ape will take you to meet it, and it will instruct you on how to partake in the tests."

"And I will be waiting for you at the peak of Ten Thousand Swords Mountain, at the third trial. I hope that I will be there when you step onto the summit!"

"At that time, I will tell you about the origins and the invaluable nature of the 'Flying Sword Heritage' I left behind!"

Qian Jizi looked at Jiang Yao and Ye Chen with hope: "Ye Chen, Jiang Yao."

"Senior."

"Senior."

Ye Chen and Jiang Yao both looked up at Qian Jizi.

Qian Jizi nodded: "My astral projection stayed here to wait for the truly deserving recipient of the Flying Sword Heritage. I've been waiting for over three hundred years without finding the right person!"

"I hope that you two will succeed this time!"

Ye Chen and Jiang Yao exchanged glances, both their eyes filled with an inexplicable determination.

No matter what, they were going to venture through the three trials of the Inner Mansion together and strive for the Flying Sword Heritage!

"Senior, rest assured, we will definitely strive to reach the peak of Ten Thousand Swords Mountain to see you again!" Ye Chen said.

"Yes, Ye Chen and I will not easily give up," Jiang Yao stated firmly.

"Good," Qian Jizi nodded. He turned toward the Three-Eyed Giant Ape, "Giant Ape, lead them to the 'Lotus Sword Pool'."

"Yes, Master!"

The Three-Eyed Giant Ape replied respectfully.

"Ye Chen, Jiang Yao, I will be waiting to see you again at the peak of Ten Thousand Swords Mountain!"

As Qian Jizi's voice echoed, he vanished with a sweep of his large sleeve.

Watching Qian Jizi's astral projection disappear, Ye Chen and Jiang Yao both felt a sense of loss from parting. Whether it was Qian Jizi revealing his true form to teach them martial skills at the 'Mirror Light Spirit Wall', or just now informing them about the trials in the Inner Mansion, they could both perceive Qian Jizi's expectations for them.

"Ye Chen, let's both do our best," Jiang Yao said with a slight lift of her head, her clear eyes gazing at Ye Chen, cheering him on.

"Yes, let's work hard together!" Ye Chen looked at the girl's pale face and nodded firmly.

The Three-Eyed Giant Ape looked toward the towering mountains in the far distance of the Inner Mansion, heaving a deep sigh, "The master still refuses to see that old demon bird; he is afraid of remembering 'Senior Lian Yue'."

"Those paired flying swords at the peak of Ten Thousand Swords Mountain are the astonishing treasures that the master and Senior Lian Yue obtained from the 'Sea God Palace' during their journey to the 'Sea of Chaos', capable of moving even the mightiest in the Heavenly Saint Realm!"

"Unfortunately, Senior Lian Yue..."

At this thought, all three eyes of the Three-Eyed Giant Ape dampened slightly.

"What's wrong, Senior Ape?" Jiang Yao noticed the Giant Ape's unusual expression and asked with concern.

Ye Chen turned to look at the Giant Ape as well and saw the tears brimming in its divine eyes.

The pair were a bit confused.

"Since you've made it here, I will not make things difficult for you," the ice-blue feathered bird continued to speak, "However, whether or not you pass the challenge of the Inner Mansion depends on your own abilities."

"Before you, a total of eighteen pairs, thirty-six people, have entered the Inner Mansion, but all thirty-six of them were eliminated in the first two challenges! I do not hope that you will be the nineteenth pair to be eliminated!"

The ice-blue feathered bird looked at Ye Chen and Jiang Yao with its cold eyes and spoke chillingly.

"Rest assured, Senior, Jiang Yao and I will strive to pass the test," Ye Chen said to the ice-blue feathered bird, "Please inform us about the first challenge."

Though astonished by the giant feathered bird with wings spanning over two hundred zhang, Ye Chen felt no fear.

For one thing, this was a testing ground in the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode; for another, when he obtained the Starlight Tower in the void space beneath the Antarctic Glacier, he had seen myriad giant beasts that stretched for ten thousand meters, making this giant feathered bird seem quite small in comparison.

Seeing that Ye Chen's eyes were clear and showed no trace of fear while conversing, the ice-blue feathered bird was slightly taken aback. It then glanced at Jiang Yao again.

"This little girl, reaching Spirit Sea Realm at the sclerotic age of seventeen, it's no wonder Qian Jizi values you. It's surprising that a True Qi Realm youngster like you would also be valued by Qian Jizi. But now it seems you do have some courage," it commented.

"With that being the case, prepare yourselves to start the first trial, 'Opening the Sword Palace Acupoint,'" said the giant feathered bird before gesturing towards the lake with a flap of its wing.

"This lake is called 'Lotus Sword Pool.' When the lotus blooms, the water in the pool will transform into 'Sword Qi Spirit Liquid.' Then, you shall enter the Sword Pool and draw the 'Sword Qi Spirit Liquid' to open the Sword Palace Acupoint!"

"The first challenge will only grant you three days. If you cannot open the Sword Palace Acupoint within three days, it means you have no affinity with the sword, and you will be directly eliminated!"

"Moreover, within the three days, in addition to opening the Sword Palace Acupoint, you must also strive to absorb more 'Sword Qi Spirit Liquid' into the acupoint. The more spirit liquid you absorb, the larger the opened acupoint will be, and the higher the quality of the nurtured Flying Swords will naturally be!"

"If the Sword Palace Acupoint you open is too small, you will also be eliminated!"

"Now, remember the secret technique for opening the Sword Palace Acupoint and prepare to start the first trial!"

After the giant feathered bird finished speaking, two Jade Slips shot toward Ye Chen and Jiang Yao. Upon receiving them, they saw that the Jade Slips recorded the secret technique to turn the brow's meridian seal into the Sword Palace Acupoint.

Clenching the Jade Slips in their hands, they quickly committed them to memory.

After communicating the secret technique to Ye Chen and Jiang Yao, the giant feathered bird gave another flap of its wings toward the lake. In mid-air above the lake, a huge lotus bud directly rose up.

This lotus bud was a hundred meters in size, and once it appeared in the air, it began to rotate smoothly.

With the rotation, the petals of the bud slowly parted, and in a moment, a lotus flower over three hundred meters in size floated above the surface of the lake.

As the lotus flower bloomed completely, endless light cascaded from its petals, falling into the water below.

The once placid lake suddenly radiated endless sword gleams, and strands of sword energy flowed ceaselessly within, instantly turning the entire blue lake into a sea of silver white!

"The Sword Qi Spirit Liquid has formed!"

"Go in and absorb it. Whether or not you can open the 'Sword Palace Acupoint' within three days depends on your fate!" the giant feathered bird said to Ye Chen and Jiang Yao.

"Let's go, Jiang Yao."

"Ye Chen, let's go."

Ye Chen and Jiang Yao exchanged a glance, and then, with a flicker, they both flew into the waters of the Sword Pool.