Chapter 57: [Inheritance of the Pure Yang Sword Sage]

"A familiar ceiling."

Waking up from a hazy stupor, Lin Heng gazed upon a scene he knew intimately.

This was the room he had lived in for several years during his childhood, after being brought to the Cloud Sword Palace during his first simulation.

Its location was right beside Xiao Rang's quarters in the main hall of the Cloud Sword Palace, with a study situated next door.

Later on, many of the structures within the Cloud Sword Palace's mountain gates were destroyed due to the invasion of the Heavenly Star Valley and Frost City, causing this room to naturally cease to exist.

"Have I been rescued and brought back to the Cloud Sword Palace by Senior Brother Zhang Yuan and Master once again?"

This thought flashed through Lin Heng's mind.

Immediately afterward, he began trying to recall what had transpired over the recent period.

Yet the moment he started to think, Lin Heng felt a splitting headache.

It was as if his brains had been tossed into a blender, shaken and spun at high speed, instantly reducing his consciousness to a tangled mess.

At that very moment, a large hand pressed down upon the crown of Lin Heng's head.

A surge of warm energy poured downward, flowing from his spirit-crescent right down through his entire body, easing the agony in his head and allowing his consciousness to fully recover its clarity.

As his consciousness cleared, aided by the perception of his spiritual sense, Lin Heng caught sight of his current appearance.

As he was now, his cheeks and body were covered everywhere in horrifying sword scars.

Although the wounds had already healed, scarcely a patch of smooth, intact skin remained across his entire physique.

He was completely disfigured; no matter how exceptional his bone structure and facial features might have been, they could no longer support any semblance of good looks. It was fair to say he barely retained a human shape.

The condition within his body was equally abysmal. His bones, internal organs, muscles, meridians, and acupoints were exceedingly fragile. His entire body resembled a cracked jade artifact that had been forcibly patched back together, liable to shatter apart at the slightest vigorous movement.

The state of his consciousness was even less encouraging.

A sword light, surpassing all things in creation and seeming capable of splitting the heavens and cleaving the earth, hung suspended within Lin Heng's sea of consciousness.

This sword light was unceasingly draining Lin Heng's vital essence and spirit, eroding his foundational origin.

Were it not for a potent strand of sword Qi—coupled with his own resilient vitality—protecting his body and counteracting this erosion, Lin Heng would not even have been able to wake up.

"Is this what 1 point of physique, 1 point of charisma, and 1 point of comprehension feel like?"

"It's utterly agonizing."

Lin Heng sighed inwardly.

The pain radiating endlessly from both body and spirit left Lin Heng in an intensely irritable mood, making him desperately want to destroy something just to divert his attention.

"Child, you're awake."

"Do not be afraid. The place you are in right now is the mountain gate of the righteous martial arts sect, Cloud Sword Palace. This old man is Xiao Rang, the master of the Cloud Sword Palace."

"A few days ago, while pursuing the remnants of the wicked sect, the Abluent Hatred Pavilion, this old man spotted you in a desolate village within Anning County. At that time, you were severely injured by the uncontrollable sword Qi within your body."

"To save your life, this old man brought you back within the mountain gates of the Cloud Sword Palace."

"Your body is weak at present, so you must remember not to move around rashly."

"Once your body has recovered somewhat, you may follow this old man in practicing martial arts and learn how to control the sword Qi within your body, lest it harm you again."

A familiar voice rang out beside the bed.

Lin Heng instinctively turned his head to look, catching sight of an old man with crane-like hair and a youthful complexion whom he knew well.

Who else could it be if not his master, Xiao Rang?

Upon seeing this familiar person, Lin Heng's irritable emotions subsided considerably.

"Lin Heng greets Master."

A smile appeared on Lin Heng's face as he gave his assent.

Yet at this moment, owing to the numerous sword scars covering his face, Lin Heng's smile appeared exceptionally ghastly, and his voice sounded harsh and grating because his throat had been damaged by sword Qi, producing a hoarse noise akin to the grinding of two pieces of metal.

"Good, good, good."

"From this day onward, you are this old man's disciple."

Xiao Rang did not mind that Lin Heng's smile was unsightly or his voice grating; he repeatedly praised him, a smile blossoming on his face.

Though he did not know why this child felt immensely close to him the very moment they met, this was a good thing.

Perhaps it was because, although Lin Heng had been unconscious over the past few days, he had not been entirely devoid of perception of the outside world.

To have a natural talent akin to a banished sword immortal descending to the mortal realm take him as master was his honor, an absolute windfall.

"Come, drink some porridge and nourish your body."

"Once your condition improves a bit, Master will cook some fish soup for you."

Smiling, Xiao Rang picked up a bowl of spiritual porridge brewed from verdant rice that had been prepared beforehand, and fed it to Lin Heng.

"Alright."

As he drank the porridge, Lin Heng could not help but be amused.

The simple mention of fish soup recalled memories from the distant past.

That was when he had just started reading and learning characters, and Xiao Rang had taken him out fishing during an afternoon break.

Unable to catch a single fish, Xiao Rang had resorted to directly using his inner Qi to blast the fish out of the water, vividly displaying the pathetic and unsightly demeanor of a fisherman who had been skunked.

While Lin Heng ate, Xiao Rang spoke, recounting in detail what had transpired over the recent period.

This served to eliminate any sense of unfamiliarity between the two and let Lin Heng understand what the Cloud Sword Palace had done for him.

"Thank you, Master, for your care these past few days."

Lin Heng expressed his gratitude.

"Master, I am tired."

Once he had finished eating, Lin Heng proactively spoke up.

The brief conversation just moments ago had completely exhausted the energy he had only just recovered, and he now felt an urgent need to rest.

"Very well, then rest well, my disciple."

Xiao Rang spoke with a smile, used a handkerchief to wipe Lin Heng's mouth, and tucked in the corners of his blanket before turning to leave.

Watching Xiao Rang's retreating figure vanish from sight, Lin Heng closed his eyes and drifted into slumber.

Early the next morning, Lin Heng awoke.

His weak state had receded significantly. In terms of his overall sensation, his physical condition was fairly good, and the splitting headaches he experienced whenever he exerted his mind were gone.

Only at this moment did he have the spare capacity to ponder and sort out the events that had occurred since the simulation began.

"By fusing with the [Azure Wood Spiritual Body], I was transformed into a child of nature, and my karmic fortune increased, reaching 29 points."

"Then, seizing the opportunity of my transformation into a child of nature, my mind hovered between heaven and earth, perceiving that strand of invincible sword intent flowing through the cosmos."

"Because I lacked the qualifications to comprehend this sword intent, I suffered a backlash and was gravely injured, causing my physique, comprehension, and charisma to plummet to rock bottom."

"Had I not fused with the Azure Wood Spiritual Body and possessed an extremely formidable life force, I might well have perished as a result."

"Yet it was not entirely a misfortune. Turning adversity into a blessing, I stimulated the deepest potential of the Azure Wood Spiritual Body and attained an extraordinarily resilient vitality. Even with my current body being practically shattered and forcibly pieced back together, I will not die."

"One might call this the Innate Beastly Workhorse Sacred Body."

"Beyond that, I also obtained this powerful sword intent that had inflicted such severe injuries upon me. Once I digest and comprehend it, I will be able to grasp the artistic conception of the Peerless Sword Emperor, thereby commanding all the swords in the world."

"This conception of the Peerless Sword Emperor is also tied to a powerful martial arts inheritance."

"According to the informational prompts received upon comprehending the sword intent, once I master the Sword Emperor conception, I will be qualified to unlock this inheritance and acquire the legacy of the [Pure Yang Sword Saint], who shattered the void and ascended in broad daylight according to ancient legends. At that time, I will be able to learn how cultivation is pursued beyond the realm of Heaven and Man."

"Perhaps I will also uncover many secrets of the ancient era and touch upon that true world belonging to high-level cultivators."

Lin Heng contemplated deeply.

Family background represented the circles and resources one was capable of accessing.

His current family background—entering the Cloud Sword Palace and being accepted as a personal disciple by Xiao Rang—was the same as in his first simulation, standing at the level of 20 points.

Only by subsequently acquiring the inheritance of the [Pure Yang Sword Saint] and gaining the opportunity and resources to transcend the realm of Heaven and Man would he truly match a family background of 40 points.