Chapter 14: Heavenly Sword Sect

Rumble!

The dark clouds in the sky caused Lin Jichen to momentarily retract his good mood. He quickly made his way toward the Tianyan Sword Sect.

"Stop! Who are you?" A disciple guarding the sect's entrance blocked his path.

Lin Jichen presented a letter. After checking it, the disciple let him pass.

"Take this letter to the elder in charge on the eastern side to register yourself. Then, choose the elder you wish to apprentice under. Bring the letter to them, but whether they accept you or not depends on your own fate."

"Thank you." Lin Jichen carefully put away the letter and sprinted inside.

"This guy… why is he running so fast? Is he in a hurry to reincarnate?" the disciple muttered.

If Lin Jichen had heard that, he would have answered: he wasn't trying to reincarnate, but if he didn't hurry, he would be forced to.

Failing a tribulation would mean complete annihilation—both in the game and in reality. How could he not run faster?

He dashed madly into the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Looking at the grand and majestic sect, Lin Jichen couldn't help but marvel. As expected of the number one sect in the world.

It was far more imposing than his previous spell-cultivating sect.

The Sword Sect was the most favored among players—after all, who didn't dream of soaring through the skies on a flying sword, roaming the world freely?

Because of this, the Sword Sect had the highest number of players, the strongest experts, and the fiercest competition.

For Lin Jichen, this was also an entirely new challenge.

But now, he had no time to admire the sect's scenery. He needed to head east to find a powerful figure to help him survive his tribulation.

Just as he was about to move, streaks of light suddenly shot out from the sect's inner hall.

More and more lights flew in from all directions of the sect.

Each light represented a powerful presence.

These figures emanated an unfathomable aura.

Lin Jichen had no doubt that any one of them could crush him as easily as one crushes an ant.

As a former expert at the Dao Comprehension Realm, he was very familiar with these auras.

Most of them were at the Spirit Manifestation and Nascent Soul Realms.

A few were even at the Divine Transformation Realm!

In "Eight Desolations", there were ten cultivation realms:

- Qi Refining

- Foundation Establishment

- Core Condensation

- Golden Core

- Spirit Manifestation

- Nascent Soul

- Divine Transformation

- Dao Comprehension

- Ascension

- Immortalization

Each realm was further divided into three sub-stages.

Before his rebirth, Lin Jichen had reached the mid-stage of the Dao Comprehension Realm. At that time, the highest-level players had only reached the peak of that realm.

No one had entered the Ascension Realm.

Not a single NPC across the four continents had reached the Immortalization Realm.

In the past, Lin Jichen wouldn't have taken these people seriously. But now, he was just a mere novice at the Qi Refining Realm.

Moments later, a figure clad in pure white flew out from within the sect.

Lin Jichen looked up and saw an absolutely stunning woman.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, with an ethereal elegance.

Her jet-black hair contrasted against her fair skin.

Her phoenix eyes shimmered like autumn waters, yet carried an innate authority.

Bathed in the soft morning light, her graceful figure appeared even more enchanting against the backdrop of her snow-white gown.

Her every movement was mesmerizing, as if she could steal one's soul.

"She blooms by the water, her bones like sinking wood, her skin like jade."

Lin Jichen's eyelid twitched—he recognized her. He had once been fortunate enough to see her.

She was none other than Leng Feiyan, the esteemed Sect Master of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

A top-tier powerhouse in "Eight Desolations", at the peak of the Ascension Realm.

Lin Jichen had seen her because, after the game merged with reality, she had once helped China fend off an invasion of demonic forces—annihilating a million ghostly wraiths with a single sword strike.

Since then, countless players revered her as a deity.

As soon as she appeared, everyone in the sky immediately saluted her with a sword gesture.

"Sect Master!"

"Why do I sense the signs of a heavenly tribulation in my Sword Sect? Could it be that a core disciple has broken through?" Leng Feiyan asked.

Her voice was like the sound of a pipa in a secluded valley—soft yet commanding.

The elders and disciples all shook their heads, indicating they had no idea.

Leng Feiyan frowned slightly, her expression showing a trace of confusion.

As everyone was pondering the situation, Lin Jichen, who had been completely ignored, suddenly shouted at the top of his lungs.

"New disciple Lin Jichen requests the great elders to save my life!"

His voice, tinged with a crying tone, stood out sharply.

Everyone immediately looked down.

Upon seeing him, they all silently sighed.

"What a refined young man!"

He had an elegant and noble demeanor, like warm jade. His face was strikingly handsome, his posture upright and dignified.

Even though he was only wearing simple coarse robes, they couldn't conceal his extraordinary aura.

"He stands like an orchid and a jade tree, his smile as gentle as the bright moon. Calm and composed, he exudes an otherworldly charm."

It was as if he had been crafted to perfectly match one's aesthetic preference.

Even Leng Feiyan and the elders couldn't help but develop a favorable first impression of him.

"You are a new disciple?"

Leng Feiyan's voice remained cool, yet still pleasing to the ear.

Lin Jichen had expected to only seek help from a law enforcement elder, but unexpectedly, he had run into the Tianyan Sect Master herself—what a golden opportunity!

"Reporting to the Sect Master, this disciple, Lin Jichen, has just arrived to seek a master and was on his way to register with the enforcement elder."

"Oh? Then why did you call for help?"

Lin Jichen awkwardly pointed above his head. "This disciple just stepped into the Qi Refining Realm and encountered a heavenly tribulation, so I had no choice but to call for help."

What?!

Everyone laughed.

This new disciple was certainly handsome, but he sure liked to joke around.

Heavenly tribulations only occurred when breaking through from Core Condensation to the Golden Core Realm. How could a mere Qi Refining novice possibly trigger one?

That was completely absurd.

Just as Lin Jichen was about to explain, the heavenly tribulation arrived!

Boom!

A bolt of lightning as thick as an adult's arm tore through the clouds, striking straight toward Lin Jichen's head!

Lin Jichen wailed internally: I'm doomed!

"Save me~~~!"

Knowing he stood no chance against the tribulation's might, Lin Jichen could only cry for help, hoping some kind soul would intervene.

Seeing the lightning truly aimed at him, the elders were shocked and prepared to step in.

However, Leng Feiyan moved first. With a casual wave of her hand, a beam of light enveloped Lin Jichen.

The heavenly lightning struck, but the light formed a protective barrier, effortlessly blocking it.

The terrifying force of the tribulation didn't even cause a ripple—it was completely nullified in an instant.

After that single lightning strike, the dark clouds rapidly dispersed, and the sky brightened once more.

Lin Jichen let out a deep sigh of relief.

Thank the heavens I survived.

But while he had escaped death, he now had a far bigger problem.

Every elder, including Leng Feiyan, was now staring at him in shock.

Triggering a heavenly tribulation at the Qi Refining stage—this was unheard of.

There were only two possible explanations.

The first: he possessed a supreme treasure that had attracted the tribulation.

The second: his talent was so heaven-defying that the heavens themselves sought to suppress him.

Either possibility was enough to pique the interest of the top figures present.

Leng Feiyan, just as intrigued as the elders, raised her jade-like hand, sending a wisp of spiritual energy into Lin Jichen's body.

The moment it entered, the surrounding spiritual energy suddenly became restless, surging madly into him.

The spiritual energy around him reacted as if fish had found water—joyfully rushing toward Lin Jichen.