novelzi Chapter 7 The Mysterious Sword
Chapter 7 The Mysterious Sword
Wen Ran slowly navigated the dimly lit tunnel, each step drawing him deeper into its depths. The air grew cooler, and the faint glow of spirit crystals embedded in the damp rock walls provided just enough light to guide his way. The further he went, the brighter the tunnel seemed to become, yet the sense of familiarity gnawed at him—this place felt known to him, though he couldn't recall why.
Suddenly, the path ahead split into three directions.
Wen Ran stopped, his sharp gaze scanning each tunnel carefully. But no matter how long he stared, each one appeared identical—dimly lit, damp, and stretching into the unknown. His irritation flared as he muttered under his breath.
"Seriously, that girl didn't even explain how to reach her room... Does she expect me to just figure it out myself?" His expression darkened with frustration, but he quickly stilled his mind.
He took a deep breath, letting logic overrule his irritation. "One wrong step leads to another," he murmured, quoting the proverb softly. "I need to choose wisely..."
He relaxed his body, letting his tension melt away as he focused all his attention on his ears. Slowly, he guided his spirit energy toward them, attempting to use a technique he had mastered in his previous life.
At the Spirit Gathering stage, his current cultivation was far from sufficient to perform it with precision. But his vast experience allowed him to adapt, channeling what little spiritual power his body could muster. The technique was crude compared to how it once was, yet it worked—just enough to heighten his senses.
As the spiritual power connected to the world, faint sounds began to filter through—the distant drip of water, the soft hum of energy vibrating through the tunnels. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to give him an edge.
A faint whisper reached Wen Ran's ear, drifting from the direction of the eastern tunnel. The sounds were muffled, like two people deep in conversation, their words too indistinct to decipher. Still, it was enough to give him a clear sense of where to go first.
"Found my targets," he murmured, his gaze narrowing. But a grim realization tempered his resolve. "I need a weapon. Without a sharp blade, this fragile body won't even be able to kill common servants. It's utterly useless..."
"What is that?" a deep voice murmured from beyond the door.
"I'm not sure," another replied, equally cautious. "But that aura... it feels like it belongs to someone in the Spirit Flow stage."
Spirit Flow? Wen Ran's thoughts raced. What kind of stage is that? Is this world's cultivation system different from mine?
A sinking realization hit him: his knowledge, honed over thousands of years, might not align perfectly with this world's methods. He couldn't rely solely on his past experiences to reclaim his former heights. He would have to adapt.
"Be cautious," one of the voices whispered, their footsteps creeping closer. "If a thief has broken into Elder Fang Tianyu's forbidden room, catching them will earn us a rich reward."
Their hushed conversation carried through the room, and Wen Ran's sharp ears caught every word. He knew he had little time to act.
A wild grin spread across his face, his eyes glinting with a dangerous excitement. He could feel the blade hum in his hand, its power beckoning him to unleash it.
Perfect. This thin body might be weak, but speed is its ally. His gaze sharpened as his plan solidified. This is a heaven-sent chance to test this weapon—and complete my quest.
Without hesitation, Wen Ran slipped into the shadows, his movements swift and precise. He found a pile of old, tattered cloths in the corner of the room and burrowed beneath them, his frail body concealed so well that, at a glance, it seemed as though no one was there. His breathing slowed to a near halt, every muscle in his body taut as he listened intently.
Moments later, the old wooden door creaked open, the sound echoing in the quiet room like a warning bell. Two pairs of footsteps cautiously entered, their weight pressing softly against the dusty floorboards.