"Oh shit—" Ling Tian barely got the words out before a searing agony tore through his mind.
Memories crashed into his skull like a floodgate bursting open. His brain felt as though it had been set ablaze.
His eyes streamed as he crumpled to the ground, the sensation of a thousand needles drilling through his consciousness overwhelming him entirely.
"UUggghh—"
His body locked up, convulsing wildly as the torrent of memories hammered against his mind. After some time, the agony at last faded, and a notification appeared.
[You have successfully integrated with Sword Master Memories.]
[You gain Sword affinity.]
[Your affinity with swords has increased by 50.]
Ling Tian lay sprawled across the ground, chest heaving, body drenched in sweat, clothes soaked through and clinging to his skin.
So that's how cultivators lived. At least now I know what one actually is. Even if the memories were useful, that hurt like absolute hell…
"System, warn me next time something's going to feel like that. Ah... and bring up the cheapest recovery pill you've got."
[Yes, Host]
[You bought the Elementary Recovery Pill - Flawless Purity. -5 lust points.]
Taking the pill, he swallowed it quickly, feeling his energy recover instantly.
"How long has it been?" he asked, sitting down cross-legged and starting to circulate his Qi.
[About two hours and fifty-nine minutes.]
"Plenty of time left..." He opened the system store, peeling off his soaked clothes and tossing them into the corner.
From the miscellaneous section, he purchased a fresh robe.
Black. He'd always preferred black. Another five lust points vanished from his account as the garment materialized in his hands, leaving him with one hundred and forty-five points.
Now, let's see if I'm actually a sword master. But first... I need a sword.
"What's the best training sword you've got?" Ling Tian asked.
A cheap one would do for now. Tomorrow, on the road to Yun Xi, he could find something proper with the gold coins he had on him.
As for his lust points...
Cultivation techniques, combat arts, movement skills. He needed all of them. But he reined himself in. What he had left was barely sufficient for even a lower-tier technique, and something like that wasn't worth spending on.
[Item: Special Training Sword]
[Description: A Special Training Sword that can absorb qi and spiritual energy more easily. Made from a special wood that is harder than normal steel.]
[Normal Grade Weapon - Peak]
[Price: 15 lust points]
[I can offer a regular wooden sword if the host doesn't like it.]
"That one will do." Ling Tian smiled, and just like that, his fortune of well over fourteen hundred lust points dwindled back down to just above a hundred.
[You bought a Special Training Sword. -15 lust points.]
****
The cultivation room's air shuddered as perspiration streamed down Ling Tian's bare torso, soaking through his trousers.
A wooden sword moved ceaselessly in his grip. Sword Qi wrapped around it, and the radiance of sword intent flooded the chamber with every motion.
Each swing sent small shockwaves rippling through the space around him.
Spent at last, Ling Tian dropped onto his back, chest heaving with ragged, uneven breaths.
"System... How is it?" he managed between gasps.
[You are now capable of controlling your sword Qi and sword intent with ease.]
"Well... Usually, it needs a hundred years minimum, but I've become a Sword Master in a day." A satisfied smile crossed his face. He had been testing the experience he'd newly acquired, and the outcome was nothing short of remarkable.
What he was doing was called imbuing Qi, a basic technique of a swordman that consisted of circulating energy through his weapons, and Sword Intent, proof that you are a sword master.
In the higher realms, sword intent won't be a problem, but in the Elementary Spirit Realm, it was a bit overkill; sword Qi should be enough until the Heavenly Spirit Realm.
"Show me my status."
[Name: Ling Tian]
[Age: 18]
[Cultivation: Elementary Spirit Realm - Sixth Stage] [Can advance with lust point]
[Affinities: Fire: 35, Water: 35, Ice: 35, Wind: 35, Earth: 35, Nature: 35, Light: 35, Dark: 35, Sword: 50] [Can be upgraded with the lust point]
[Spiritual Roots: Elemental Spiritual Roots] [Mortal Grade - High] [Can be upgraded with the lust point, and new roots can be bought in the lust store]
[Bloodline: Blood of Incubus Lord] [Mortal Grade - Low] [Can be upgraded with lust point]
[Physique: Body of Incubus Lord] [Mortal Grade - Low] [Can be upgraded with lust point]
[Lust points: 125]
[Harem Members: N/A]
[Ability: Incubus Touch, Incubus Aura, Incubus Eyes]
Seeing his status, he was quite satisfied with it. Then he asks.
"What's the time?" Ling Tian rose to his feet with a weary grunt. He had trained enough; now it was time to absorb spiritual energy and replenish his Qi reserves.
[It's 11:45 PM.]
"Good, there's plenty of time until morning." He sheathed his sword and lowered himself into a cross-legged position.
Without hesitation, he began drawing in the spiritual energy that permeated the room.
The night had stretched on, long and uneventful, yet the moment he had submerged himself fully into training, all awareness of time had slipped away from him.
Only a knock at the chamber's heavy door pulled him free from his trance.
He opened his eyes, gathered his things, dressed without wasting a moment, and swung the door open.
"Good morning, young master. I hope your cultivation session was to your satisfaction?" An attendant greeted him with a warm smile.
"It was... satisfactory." He returned the smile, fishing a few silver coins from his pocket and pressing them into her hand.
"You are far too generous, young cultivator." Her expression brightened the instant she felt the weight of the coins.
That sum alone was worth more than three days of her wages.
"Should you be in the city for the Azure Dragon Sect selection, do bear in mind that it begins tomorrow at noon. If you find yourself needing another session this evening, come and ask for me." Her tone shifted as she spoke, the practiced warmth of a professional giving way to something far more genuine.
Ling Tian gave a brief nod and stepped out of the Thousand Petals Pavilion. He stopped at a nearby bathhouse to wash up, then made his way directly to Yun Xi's inn.