When Chen Jinshu returned from her master's residence to Ink Plum Courtyard, she carried a bronze chime bell in her hand. This bronze bell was the item her master had asked her to bring back from the cave heaven—an item used for connection.
There were a total of sixteen bronze bells, arranged in a trapezoid formation, each varying in size. The surface was a dull bronze, mottled with tiny cracks and covered in intricate patterns—clearly no ordinary artifact.
Yet despite injecting spiritual power into them for quite a while, the bells only emitted musical tones and showed no other reaction. If her master hadn't personally given them to her, she would've assumed they were simply decorative instruments.
"What exactly does Master want me to bring back?"
From her master's tone, she could tell the item was of immense importance. Yet her master hadn't clarified—only instructed her to activate the bells once inside the cave heaven. Given her master's current cultivation level, a possibility soon occurred to her.
"Could this be related to Master breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage?"
The thought sent a tremor through her heart. For her master to entrust her with something so crucial...
That night, Chen Jinshu was practicing the Nineteen Phrases of Falling Notes on her zither in the courtyard.
The sword spirit in the rear courtyard spoke again, but she didn't respond—her focus couldn't be broken while playing. Only when she finished the piece did she open her eyes, glancing toward the back with slight irritation.
"Didn't that guy already get a spiritual sword? Still not satisfied?"
She rose quickly and walked over, finding the little blue sword spirit gazing at her pitifully.
"Don't look at me like that. I already gave you the spiritual weapon you wanted. Even if it's not great quality."
"Human… possessing this sword, my essence recovers very slowly. Even slower than in the sword box."
Chen Jinshu was surprised. But after comparing the sword box and the spirit sword, she understood. Although the sword box wasn't ideal for a sword spirit, it was at least Tier 2. The sword she gave it was only mid-grade Tier 1.
The gap was… significant.
"I've only got one high-grade Tier 1 spirit sword left, and I need that for self-defense. I can't give it to you."
She glanced at the dim sword within the golden barrier and spoke firmly.
"Alright then. Looks like I'll have to keep using the sword box. But human, if you reach Foundation Establishment, can you give me a better sword? I'll trade you a sword technique."
The sword spirit slightly bowed its blade.
Chen Jinshu couldn't help but find it a little pitiful. It was the first living thing she'd met worse off than herself. Born only to be almost corrupted by demonic energy… Though to be fair, she hadn't fared much better, having nearly died herself. She didn't really have the right to pity others.
"Fine. But the sword technique better be simple—something I can master quickly."
She had already realized the zither had limitations. If it ever failed or snapped a string mid-fight, her sword might be her only defense.
"I've got a few simple sword forms. I'll teach you one."
The sword spirit floated and used its spiritual power to outline sword moves in midair. Golden miniature figures appeared in front of her, each practicing the forms clearly and precisely.
Chen Jinshu couldn't help but admire it.
"This sword spirit is no ordinary entity, being able to teach techniques like this…"
She even felt pity for the previous senior sister of Ink Plum Courtyard—living in a place that hid a sword spirit filled with countless techniques, only to die without ever unlocking it.
"Must have been a matter of fate."
After watching several rounds, Chen Jinshu finally constructed the full sword form in her mind. It wasn't difficult to learn, but would need constant practice to become second nature. The sword spirit tried to show another technique, but she waved it off.
"One set is enough. I don't have much time. The Grand Tournament starts in a few days. I'll be busy enough mastering this."
"Alright," the sword spirit said and zipped back into the sword box.
"Didn't expect to gain a sword technique out of this. And it has a nice name, too—Three Forms of Falling Plum Blossoms!"
It only had three moves, but the name reminded her of her zither technique, Nineteen Phrases of Falling Notes. Perhaps both were created by the same sword cultivator. She began to practice the Three Forms of Falling Plum Blossoms in the courtyard.
"Maybe I can use this in the early rounds to confuse my opponent. Then unleash a real killing move—they'll never see it coming."
Her seniors had mentioned that during the Grand Tournament, many Foundation Establishment cultivators would gather intelligence on combat techniques used by the competitors and sell the information to other participants.
As a result, most late-stage Qi Refining disciples would hide their trump cards in the early rounds, preserving an advantage for later. Chen Jinshu understood the logic. In the early rounds, she wouldn't need a major killer technique like Nineteen Phrases of Falling Notes anyway.
Five days passed in a flash. The early rounds of the outer sect Grand Tournament arrived.
The once-quiet Xuanming grounds burst into noise and activity.
Chains now linked the five main peaks, and the mountain housing the Scripture Pavilion had been transformed into the central elder viewing platform. Around it, a massive competition arena had been constructed, split into five fighting zones.
This setup allowed for all disciples to compete at once, significantly shortening the tournament duration.
Chen Jinshu had learned beforehand that the number of participants this year had increased by over two hundred—more than 700 total.
It was a new disciple recruitment year, and many of the fresh initiates had decent cultivation—most could reach the fourth stage of Qi Refining. Of course, these newcomers were mostly cannon fodder, but the sect still encouraged them to participate to build experience.
Chen Jinshu rose at dawn and was escorted by several senior brothers and sisters to the competition grounds. She was immediately awestruck by the size of the arena.
"Senior brother, senior sister, this place is huge! It could probably hold ten thousand people!"
From where she stood, she could see across to Bishui Peak and nearby Tianyue Peak.
Chains connected the five peaks in a perfect pentagram pattern, with the arena placed at its center—ingenious design.
"The arena was designed by the founding ancestor of the Xuanming Sect," a senior brother explained with a smile. "It was meant to unite the peaks and offer a space where all outer disciples could battle at once."
"The inner sect tournament in six months is also held here."
"Alright, junior sister, time to draw your lot. A good start in the first match sets the tone!"
"Got it!" Chen Jinshu replied cheerfully and strode toward the central drawing area.