AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword

The four major sects enter the plaza at the same time, to the cheers of the public and the resounding of drums and flare of banners. On each side of the podium is a section of seats and platforms for the disciples of each sect, and the podium itself is a square that is at least two hundred steps long and wide.

Even with my enhanced perception of now some five hundred to six hundred steps, I cannot see all of it, but it is sufficient to determine that the plaza is packed with people from all over the continent, including some of the disciples of the earlier matches.

When they called this the most prestigious tournament on the continent, I didn't think it would be this popular and I had underestimated it significantly. Not only are thousands of people observing it directly, but I detect a multitude of formations inscribed at various points of the plaza whose function I determine to be the relaying of visual and auditory information. All this just to observe a tournament between Inner Disciples? I find it a wasteful allocation of resources and effort. If this were a competition between Core Disciples, I would consider it a more worthwhile endeavor.

More than that, many of the richer individuals in the crowd possess jade artifacts — bead-like in shape — with formations for recording information.

Considering that the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion is a sect best known for its formations and arrays and that this is their city, it would be no surprise that this event provides a considerable stimulus to the city’s economy.

At the center of the plaza, the organizers of the tournament and one elder representative of each sect are ready to address the public at large.

“Esteemed guests and visitors, it is time to finally open the stage for the main event of this Martial Conference, a tradition that has been held in this city for over a hundred years,” one of the organizers speaks — an elder of the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion — and his voice easily carries to all corners of the plaza.

“First, I would like to remind everyone that though the Martial Conference is a competition, it is primarily a way for us to renew our bonds of friendship and alliance — a spectacle to show the new generations the heights that they can reach toward and one day arrive at.”

Lan Xiaohui, already seated in her chair of honor, scoffs at these words. I know that Lan Xiaohui perceives this event as little more than a way for the major sects to flaunt their power in front of the lesser sects and remind them who runs the continent. This aspiration of reaching higher that the organizer talks about is an impossible goal for most cultivators and only serves the purpose of reminding them of the heights that they will never reach.

As the organizer continues padding the glory of the four major sects and the importance of their alliance, Tian Li leans closer to Lan Xiaohui and whispers. “Sister Zhu, who do you think will win this year?”

My owner is likely the least knowledgeable on this matter, but Tian Li’s conversation starter is at least successful.

“Personally, I like the Frozen Peak Palace, so I hope they win,” Lan Xiaohui replies.

Another disciple chuckles and chimes in. “There is no way the Frozen Peak Palace will win,” he says. “They focus only on the internal arts while they are Inner Disciples; they have few offensive capabilities.”

Lan Xiaohui shakes her head and then nods in the direction of the Frozen Peak Palace disciples toward a specific female with green eyes and black hair. “That girl is a sword maiden,” she says. “And she is extremely strong.”

While Lan Xiaohui may not know much about the major sects — not much more than anyone else — she can recognize someone who follows the path of the sword as closely as she does. The female in question has a pristine and strong sword aura — strong enough to draw even Lan Xiaohui’s attention.

I don't think this ability to recognize other sword cultivators is one that Lan Xiaohui uniquely possesses, but rather a trait of all cultivators who follow the path of the sword truly and genuinely. It is similar to what Lady Yue once said: The sword follows the sword.

The Frozen Peak Palace is a sect that only takes in girls with pure ice roots — virgins only, according to rumor — and their focus on the internal arts is well-known. Renowned for their beauty and poise, the Frozen Peak Palace disciples are rarely seen in public, confined to their seat of power in the distant north of the continent.

However, almost all the memories in my possession contain knowledge of their sword maidens — famous individuals who can wield the sect’s swordsmanship inheritances to deadly effect. [Glacier Breaking Sword] and [Pure Maiden Swordsmanship] are two of the foremost sword methods on this continent, alongside the Galaxy Sword’s own [Galaxy Sword Method].

On the other hand, because these special individuals are so rare — about one will appear in every twenty years — the sect rarely achieved good results in Conferences like this, since their internal arts rarely provide anything more than a strong defense.

The Heavenly Mountain Pavilion is similar in this regard; their focus on formations and arrays render them invincible in large-scale conflict, but in one-on-one duels, their abilities are far more limited.

“I think the Seven Killing Swords are the clear favorites this time,” Tian Li says and several other disciples nod in agreement.

Lan Xiaohui frowns, but even she finds herself somewhat agreeing that this is also a strong possibility.

“The Seven Killing Swords sect favors offensive methods and swordsmanship, so it is natural that they will have the advantage against Inner Disciples who have not practiced the sect’s inheritances yet, but,” the third-ranked disciple begins. “They will still have to show face to the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion and let them win. This is their Conference after all.”

None of the disciples surrounding her mention the Galaxy Sword as being even in the contest for first place; to them, not coming in dead last is already a respectable achievement.

The reason for this is simple.

Inner Disciples rarely, if ever, get the opportunity to study the sect’s inheritances. This year, Xie Zhiqiang held the potential of sweeping the opposition and was the primary reason why his cruelty and sadism were tolerated within the sect — at least among his peers.

Of all the sects, the Galaxy Sword sect is the least consistent in terms of what to expect, seeing as most of its gifted disciples come from other sects, or are wanderers, and at this event they can only rely on their own talents and luck to thrive.

It is only when one becomes a Core Disciple — in virtually any sect — that one is allowed to study the secret and powerful sect scriptures and methods, or receive instructions into the deeper secrets of a particular manual.

“The rules are simple and unchanged from the last several events,” the organizer continues. “Each sect will be allowed to send out one disciple, in the order of their ranking, to challenge the one on the field. The winner of the duel will earn points for themselves and their sect, the value of which depends on the ranking of the disciple. Tenth rank is worth one point, ninth rank is worth two points, and so on, with the first rank being worth ten points!”

Sensing the imminent opening of the event, the crowd erupts in cheers.

“The sect with the most points at the end will take the most glory, and the disciples with the most points will be awarded special items impossible to find anywhere else; from medicine and heavenly treasures to even obtaining rare cultivation manuals. And now, let the main event begin! This time, the Galaxy Sword will open by sending their disciple to be challenged.”

With those words, the representatives and organizers depart the podium, and Elder Huang’s voice rings out from behind my owner.

“Rank ten, Liang Zihao! Forward!”

The tenth-ranked disciple of the Galaxy Sword sect jumps to his feet and replies. “Yes, Elder Huang!” and then leaps forward, landing on his side of the podium.

A red flag is raised from the Seven Killing Swords section and a voice calls out. “I, Kang Qiang, also ranked tenth, will challenge!”

And with that, the Sky Continent Martial Conference officially begins.