Chapter 665 - 665: Elder Zhao

"Junior Brother, when Elder Zhao is on duty, he's usually in the Secret Manual Hall chatting with disciples as they pick out their Secret Manuals. He even gives them pointers on their cultivation sometimes."

"Elder Zhao is famous for being approachable with the junior disciples. If you have business with an Elder, you've really lucked out by coming today."

The Inner Sect Disciple said to Chu Qingyun on the way.

Hearing this, Chu Qingyun felt a little more confident.

After all, cultivating a Sect-Level Sword Technique was probably not going to be an easy matter.

Even information about Sect-Level Sword Techniques was a secret impossible for ordinary disciples to know, let alone cultivate one.

He had been able to smoothly cultivate the Ten Thousand Spirits Sacred Form only because he was the one who had submitted the Secret Technique to the sect in the first place. The condition of cultivating it for free had been agreed upon long ago, witnessed by Zhou Qian.

But the Sect-Level Sword Technique had nothing to do with Chu Qingyun.

However, on the way over, Chu Qingyun had made some preparations and believed he had a decent chance of success.

Finally, the Inner Sect Disciple led Chu Qingyun to the Fist Skill District and found Elder Zhao.

Elder Zhao looked quite old, with a white beard and hair. Although his face was covered in wrinkles, he gave off a very pleasant and approachable aura.

At that moment, Elder Zhao was discussing a Fist Technique Secret Manual with a few Inner Sect Disciples.

However, Chu Qingyun frowned when he saw those Inner Sect Disciples.

Among the eight Inner Sect Disciples, Chu Qingyun only recognized two of them: Zhou Jianxiong and Zhou Yongyang of the Qianshui Dynasty!

"Reporting to Elder Zhao, this Junior Brother says he has something important to discuss with you." The Inner Sect Disciple brought Chu Qingyun forward and reported to the Elder first.

Upon seeing Chu Qingyun, Zhou Jianxiong and Zhou Yongyang looked surprised, not expecting to run into him here.

Elder Zhao, however, turned to Chu Qingyun with a broad smile. "What is it?"

"Reporting to the Elder, this disciple wishes to cultivate a Sect-Level Sword Technique," Chu Qingyun replied.

Instantly, everyone nearby, including Elder Zhao, froze.

A level-one Martial King had come to an Inner Sect Elder to request cultivation of the sect's most important secret manual, a Sect-Level Sword Technique?

Was this a joke?

"Th-this... Elder Zhao, I didn't know this was what he wanted! Otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have brought him to you!"

The Inner Sect Disciple who had brought Chu Qingyun over hurriedly spoke up, trying to distance himself from Chu Qingyun.

Although Elder Zhao was good-natured, he was still a powerful and influential Inner Sect Elder. If Chu Qingyun's audacity angered the Elder and he got caught in the crossfire, it would be a disaster for him.

"Haha, a Sect-Level Sword Technique? Chu Qingyun, you've got to be kidding me! You think you're qualified to cultivate a Sect-Level Sword Technique!?"

Zhou Yongyang jeered from the side.

"Chu Qingyun, did becoming a Core Disciple by a fluke make you so arrogant you've lost all sense of direction? How dare you ask the Elder for a Sect-Level Sword Technique! You're showing no respect for the Elder!"

Zhou Jianxiong also spoke up, his words maliciously crafted to pit Chu Qingyun against the Elder.

The other Inner Sect and Core Disciples couldn't help but shake their heads, thinking that Chu Qingyun's actions were foolishly laughable and that he was just asking for humiliation.

As for Elder Zhao, he had initially been a bit angry himself, thinking this young man was just here to mess with him.

But when he heard Zhou Yongyang and Zhou Jianxiong say the name "Chu Qingyun," Elder Zhao's expression changed slightly.

'Chu Qingyun!'

'Could this be the Chu Qingyun the Sect Leader had mentioned?'

"Ahem, you're Chu Qingyun, correct? Let me ask you, did you just become a Core Disciple this year? And did you once submit a large number of Secret Manuals and Secret Techniques to the sect?"

Elder Zhao asked, clearing his throat.

A Sect-Level Sword Technique was a serious matter, after all, so Elder Zhao had to be sure.

Chu Qingyun nodded. "That is correct, Elder Zhao. When I submitted those Secret Manuals and Secret Techniques, I earned the privilege to cultivate many of them for free."

"I am willing to trade the right to freely cultivate twenty-nine King-level Secret Manuals and five Emperor-level Secret Manuals in exchange for the right to cultivate one Sect-Level Sword Technique!"

"If that's not enough, I can also add a Secret Technique that cultivates to the Martial Emperor Realm, as well as six Secret Techniques that cultivate to the Martial King Realm!"

After speaking, Chu Qingyun looked at Elder Zhao with an expectant expression.

'As for Secret Techniques, the Ten Thousand Spirits Sacred Form is all I need. The other free cultivation opportunities are essentially useless to me.'

"Hmph, King-level and Emperor-level Secret Manuals? How can they be compared to a Sect-Level Secret Manual? Even if you offered more King-level and Emperor-level manuals, you could never trade them for the chance to cultivate a Sect-Level one!"

"The Sect-Level Sword Technique is the sect's most core, guarded secret. How could it be something one can cultivate so casually?"

"Some things can't be acquired just by paying a price!"

Before Elder Zhao could even speak, Zhou Jianxiong and the others began to jeer sarcastically.

Moreover, every one of them was very confident that Chu Qingyun would definitely not get the Sect-Level Sword Technique he wanted. They were certain Elder Zhao would refuse him, and might even curse him out and punish him!

Unexpectedly, after hearing Chu Qingyun's words, Elder Zhao nodded in deep agreement.

"A Sect-Level Sword Technique is, naturally, not something that can be cultivated casually."

"However, you, Chu Qingyun, have submitted many Secret Manuals and Secret Techniques to the sect. That can be considered a great service you've rendered to us."

"So let's do as you've proposed. Trade all your rights to freely cultivate Secret Manuals and Secret Techniques for the right to cultivate one Sect-Level Sword Technique."

Elder Zhao said, looking at Chu Qingyun.

Of course, while that was what he said, the real reason was that the Sect Leader of the Saint Extreme Sect had previously given a personal order for the Secret Manual Hall, the Secret Technique Hall, the Saint Extreme Tower, and other places to provide Chu Qingyun with as much convenience as possible.

Because of the cautionary tale of Ling Yuan, the upper echelons of the Saint Extreme Sect did not want to interfere too much with Chu Qingyun's cultivation, lest he follow Ling Yuan's old path.

Therefore, they were simply doing their best to create optimal cultivation conditions for him.

After all, an Unparalleled Genius who could comprehend true Sword Intent while still in the Martial Spirit Realm... the entire Saint Extreme Sect had only ever produced two.

And the previous one, even having gone down the wrong path, was still one of the top powerhouses in the Saint Extreme Sect, with strength that ranked among the very best.

The Saint Extreme Sect would definitely spare no effort in nurturing such an Unparalleled Genius!

"Chu Qingyun, come with me. I'll take you to consult the Sect-Level Sword Technique."

With that, Elder Zhao led Chu Qingyun deeper into the Secret Technique Hall.

As for Zhou Jianxiong, Zhou Yongyang, and the others, including the Inner Sect Disciple who had led the way, all of them were left standing there, completely stunned. They still hadn't snapped out of it even after the two had walked far into the distance.

'A Sect-Level Sword Technique... could be cultivated just that easily?'