Flying on a Sword

Lu Yang spent three days on Hundred Refinements Peak, during which he and Li Haoran constantly discussed how to best forge the flying sword mount. "It needs to be as light as possible, otherwise it won't get off the ground, or it'll fly far too slowly." "What do you think about installing an ejection seat? You know, something that automatically shoots upward to help you escape with your life if danger strikes?" "Mount the flying sword overhead? No, no, absolutely not. Mine is a bona fide flying sword technique! Have you ever seen a sword cultivator propping a flying sword on top of their head like a windmill?" Hard work paid off, and after three days of effort, the mount was finally finished. "Give it a name?" Li Haoran suggested. "It's shaped like a carriage and can fly in the sky—how about calling it a flying car?" Lu Yang offered a rather plain name. "Senior Brother Lu, want to give it a spin?" With the mount refined, Li Haoran felt a wave of satisfaction and was eager to see how Lu Yang would take to the skies. Lu Yang nodded, feeling a little excited. He climbed into the car, gripped the steering wheel with both hands, and sat motionless for quite a while. "What's wrong?" Li Haoran asked. Lu Yang scratched his head. "I just remembered... I haven't actually learned the flying sword technique yet." Li Haoran: "..." *I spent all this time refining it in high spirits, and it turns out you don't even know how to fly?!* "Don't panic, don't panic, I can just learn it right now." Unruffled, Lu Yang called on the Immortal Fairy to teach him. The flying sword technique was a mandatory art for sword cultivators and widely disseminated; the Immortal Fairy naturally knew such an entry-level trick. Truth be told, she wasn't particularly eager to teach him. If he ended up learning it crookedly, her lifetime of illustrious fame would turn to dust and ashes. "The so-called flying sword technique uses the sword as a vessel to carry your divine sense. The stronger your divine sense, the higher your resonance with the sword, and the faster it flies..." When it came to teaching, the Immortal Fairy was leagues ahead of Eldest Senior Sister. She explained profound concepts in simple terms, making everything thoroughly accessible. Before long, Lu Yang had mastered the technique. The Green Blade Sword hovered in midair, gliding back and forth with effortless grace. Lu Yang felt that even if an elephant stepped onto the blade, it would still fly smoothly. His talent in the Dao of the Sword was indisputable. Lu Yang had an epiphany: this was likely the true purpose of the Sword Spiritual Root, guaranteeing that his sword arts and swordplay would never go astray. There was a slot beneath the flying car where the Green Blade Sword clicked into place, locked firmly and without any risk of slipping. Lu Yang climbed back into the vehicle, took hold of the steering wheel, and channeled the flying sword technique. Driven by the Green Blade Sword, the flying car actually rose into the air! At first, the vehicle hovered upward slowly. This was not because the sword flew slowly, but because Lu Yang had yet to fully adjust to this novel method of flight. By the time the flying car hung high in the sky, Lu Yang had gradually gotten the hang of the controls. He flew faster and faster, tracing figure-eights through the air. By the end of his practice, he could even execute acute-angle turns—it was practically miraculous! With his middle Foundation Establishment constitution, issues like oxygen deprivation or air pressure did not bother him in the slightest. "Haha! The day has finally come where I, Lu Yang, can fly on a sword!" Lu Yang laughed heartily. He had known all along that every problem had a solution. Who said he wouldn't dare take to the skies? The Immortal Fairy thought the experience felt rather novel as well. Across Hundred Refinements Peak, countless disciples craned their necks to watch Lu Yang fly, utterly dumbfounded. Even for Hundred Refinements Peak, which prided itself on progressive thinking and setting the trends of the era, an advanced vehicle like this flying car was an epoch-making creation. "Look, quick! What is that?!" disciples from Lu Yang's cohort cried out in astonishment at the flying iron shell above. "I saw that yesterday when I went to consult Senior Brother Li Haoran! It's a magical artifact refined for Senior Brother Lu!" "Senior Brother Lu? The one from our batch who has the Sword Spiritual Root, took first place, and was accepted under the Sect Master?" A junior brother's eyes widened with immense respect. Anyone who lacked direct contact with Lu Yang would be awed by his track record and assume he was a safe, composed, and dependable senior brother. Of course, there were also those whose long-term direct contact with him never altered that initial impression—such as Man Gu. "Yes, that's him! Senior Brother Li told me this is Senior Brother Lu's flying sword technique!" "Incredible! It's completely different from any flying sword technique I've ever seen! It gives you an inexplicable sense of security! You wouldn't need to buy insurance at all!" Among the policies offered by the Falling Coin Chamber of Commerce, there was indeed a flight insurance plan, subdivided into flight damage coverage, third-party liability coverage, and so forth. "Senior Brother Lu is the same age as us, yet he's already invented a flying sword technique of his very own. That's the difference between us!" "What a shame I'm not a sword cultivator, otherwise I'd learn this technique no matter what!" Lu Yang flew around to his heart's content before finally touching down, wearing a look of unsatisfied thirst for more. Stepping out of the vehicle, he noticed Li Haoran standing respectfully to the side, while Fifth Elder Zhou Xin had arrived at some point. "Fifth Elder," Lu Yang greeted with a respectful bow. "Heh heh. Lu Yang, right? Haoran told me the whole story. Your idea is quite solid; who knows, it might become a mainstream mode of transport in the future." "Fifth Elder flatters me." "Anyone familiar with me knows I'm not in the habit of praising people. This thing you call a flying car could bring you considerable profit." "Profit?" Lu Yang asked, puzzled. The Fifth Elder turned toward Li Haoran and said, "Now that you've come out of seclusion, it's about time you got familiar with the main business of our Hundred Refinements Peak. Novel items never seen before are frequently produced here. To protect our invention rights and secure profits, we regularly file patent registrations with the government. "Pill Cauldron Peak operates on the same principle. This is the primary revenue source for both our peaks. "A few of your senior brothers are heading down the mountain in a couple of days to register some designs anyway. Compile Lu Yang's concepts and accompany them." The Fifth Elder then turned back to Lu Yang. "You've got fine talent and a sharp mind—you're a natural fit for our Dao Seeking Sect. Study well under Yun Zhi; the Dao Seeking Sect will be yours in the future. Just steer clear of that old bastard Old Ninth." Lu Yang shrank his neck. Strictly speaking, with the Fifth Elder insulting his master, he as a disciple ought to step forward and argue. Yet he figured adopting the Immortal Fairy's optimistic spirit of 'backing down when outmatched' was a fine approach for now. The Immortal Fairy frowned. She had a hunch Lu Yang was thinking something terribly rude, but she lacked proof. "How is Master doing right now?" The Fifth Elder sneered coldly and offered no reply. ... Tianmen Peak, the pine forest. The seal on the cave dwelling had finally been broken. The Grand Elder through the Eighth Elder had already left, leaving behind only Daoist Buyu, who was 'unwilling' to depart. Bound like a caterpillar, Daoist Buyu squirmed on the ground. A yellow talisman was slapped onto his forehead, and a sock had been shoved into his mouth, reducing his protests to muffled whimpers. The rope was a top-tier supreme treasure, preventing him from breaking free through brute force, while the yellow paper sealed his magic power, rendering him unable to cast spells. As for how long it would take Daoist Buyu to wiggle his way out, that was left entirely to fate. This was his punishment for banging gongs and beating drums while the eight of them were trying to meditate and break the seal.