At the mountain peak villa, the back mountain.
A sword mountain, filled with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, shrouded in rosy clouds and lingering auspicious mist. The sword mountain was rich in spiritual energy, continuously nurturing sword embryos. Among them, some sword embryos had only their hilts protruding from the mountain rocks, appearing very tender. These were newborn sword embryos, about to break through the earth like bamboo shoots after rain. Others had less than a third of their blades embedded in the mountain, with most of them exposed. These were already formed, mature weapon embryos. They could be used after being recognized by their owner and pulled out.
Lin Zhao, Shen Xingchen, Chen Xue, and Wu Zhi stood at the foot of the sword mountain. Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue looked up, amazed by the majesty and grandeur of the sword mountain. Lin Zhao, however, was silently counting how many flying swords were currently on the mountain. As for Wu Zhi, she was secretly heartbroken. Once Lin Zhao opened the sword mountain and allowed those cultivators who called themselves "heroes" to enter and choose swords, this sword mountain would likely be stripped bare in an instant. The spiritual energy required to nurture a sword mountain was far from enough with just the lotus pond in front of the Natural Dwelling.
"What do you think?"
Chen Xue pursed her red lips, her beautiful eyes fixed on Lin Zhao. "Have you really decided? Once you decide, there's no turning back. If this sword mountain's swords are all pulled out, it will be too late to regret it."
"It's alright."
Lin Zhao frowned. "The temptations offered by the Four Northern Tribes are simply too great. First, it was Lu Xiuyuan from the Demon race, then Tan Xin from the Ghost race. Once players join a sect, they are given magical treasures and skills. In comparison, players in the Righteous faction are treated very, very poorly. If we continue to stand by and do nothing, more and more players will join the Four Northern Tribes, and the situation might become beyond our imagination."
"Mm."
Shen Xingchen said, "Your consideration is not wrong. But Lin Zhao, have you ever considered the idiom 'a sliver of rice is kindness, a peck of rice is hatred'? If you open the sword mountain to all players in the national server without any return, they will think that your Snow Region Heavenly Pool, as a holy land of the human race in the north, should naturally provide players with magical artifacts. And once the spiritual energy of the Snow Region Heavenly Pool is depleted, many people will not be grateful, but will instead resent the Snow Region Heavenly Pool."
"..."
Lin Zhao's expression became solemn. "I hadn't thought of these things before, but now that Xingchen has mentioned it, I realize you're absolutely right. My previous idea was too simplistic, and I underestimated the complexity of human nature. Since that's the case, it cannot be free. Those who wish to enter the sword mountain to choose swords must pay a certain price."
"Mm."
Shen Xingchen nodded. "As for how much that price should be, that's up to you to decide."
"Alright, let me calculate."
Thus, Lin Zhao squatted on the ground, using small twigs as chips to calculate the sword mountain's reserves. After a while, he figured it out. Most of the sword embryos on the mountain were of Heaven-grade and Earth-grade. In the system store, a Heaven-grade sword embryo cost between 10-20 Flying Fish Coins, and an Earth-grade one cost at least one Flying Fish Coin. These were all things players had to exchange for mountain currency from the store to purchase. In other words, if we convert at the current gold coin to universal currency ratio of 1:7, one Flying Fish Coin is equivalent to 7,000 universal currency, and a good Heaven-grade sword embryo would cost over 100,000 universal currency.
It wasn't expensive, but it wasn't cheap either.
However, it at least gave players an opportunity to obtain high-level flying swords. After all, the quality of flying swords refreshed in the mall was poor, and the number of refreshes each day was limited. The moment they refreshed at 12:00 AM, they were almost immediately snapped up. Therefore, most sword cultivator players currently used Profound-grade and Earth-grade flying swords, with unsatisfactory offensive power.
Finally, Lin Zhao set the price. Each player who wished to enter the sword mountain must first pay an entrance fee of 2 Flying Fish Coins, approximately 14,000 universal currency. Furthermore, they could only enter the sword mountain for one hour, and each account could only choose one sword. This way, the Mountain Peak Villa only needed to invest a small portion of Golden Mullet Coins to cover the consumption of the sword mountain, and it would also significantly boost the combat power of sword cultivator players in the national server.
"Hoo..."
Lin Zhao stood up, took a deep breath, and said, "Wu Zhi, I'll leave this matter to you. Have Tang Guangjun come to guard the gate of the sword mountain. Anyone who dares to defy the rules of the Mountain Peak Villa, draw your sword and cut them down."
"Yes!"
Wu Zhi smiled, her dimples appearing. She was quite pleased with the rule Lin Zhao had just established.
...
Shortly after, Wu Zhi erected a sword path restriction that enveloped the entire sword mountain, leaving only one entrance. Soon after, a disheveled man ascended the mountain and cupped his fist towards Lin Zhao, respectfully saying, "Tang Guangjun pays his respects to the Mountain Master. The gateway of this sword mountain is like my head. If the gateway cannot be defended, then this head of mine is no longer needed. Please rest assured, Mountain Master!"
"Enough, enough."
Lin Zhao disliked talking to this guy. "Just do your duty diligently."
"Yes!"
Immediately, Lin Zhao looked at Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue and said with a smile, "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and announce it secretly within our Crimson Moon Knights! Let all sword cultivator players come quickly. Xingchen, inform Ayen and have her bring a group of elite sword cultivators from Sheng Tian to come over first. The sword mountain has been refreshing for so long, and now is the time of greatest abundance. If we miss this opportunity, we don't know when we'll be able to get a Heaven-grade flying sword again. Also, tell everyone to exchange for two Flying Fish Coins before they come, so they don't make a wasted trip."
"Mm-hmm!"
The two beautiful women smiled, their dimples appearing. At this moment, Chen Xue wished she were a sword cultivator, so she could put everything else aside and rush into the sword mountain to choose an unparalleled sword.
Soon after, Ding Chi, Zhang Jun, Lu Han, Bu Su Li Ren, Shen Lan Zhi Ren, and others heard the news and rushed over, their faces full of joy. They had long wanted to change to a more suitable flying sword, but they never had the chance. The flying swords refreshed in the system mall were all flawed. The offensive power of Heaven-grade flying swords was inferior to the Earth-grade flying swords received from their sects, and currently, over 99% of players did not have a sect.
A while later, Leng Yan also arrived, bringing over 400+ high-level sword cultivators from the Sheng Tian guild. They all had smiles on their faces, and under Leng Yan's leadership, they entered the sword mountain. More and more people arrived. The Crimson Moon Knights currently had about 2000+ sword cultivator players, and Sheng Tian had over 4000. If these two major guilds plundered it, the sword mountain would likely be bare.
By the afternoon, players from the Crimson Moon Knights and Sheng Tian were happily leaving the sword mountain, each with their own gains. Some obtained Heaven-grade sword embryos, while others got Earth-grade ones. Even an Earth-grade sword embryo was comparable to a Heaven-grade sword embryo in the mall. In any case, it was not a loss. Those who obtained a Heaven-grade sword embryo for only two Flying Fish Coins were truly blessed by heaven. There were not a few such people in the two major guilds.
"Oh my..."
Ding Chi held a sword embryo that resembled a fiery red dragon in his hands, marveling. "You tell me, how's my luck? I was the first to rush onto the sword mountain, and the first one was automatically recognized by a Heaven-grade sword embryo. I even suspect I'm a natural sword immortal embryo."
"Lawyer Ding, have you no shame?"
Lu Han pinched his nose and chuckled. "If even you are a sword immortal embryo, then in the future, this world will be filled with five-realm sword immortals."
Zhang Jun laughed heartily. "Damn it, who would have thought that I, Zhang Jun, would also have the good fortune to obtain a Heaven-grade flying sword embryo? I'm so happy!"
"Such ambition..."
Shen Xingchen and Chen Xue, the two beautiful vice-leaders, stood with their arms crossed, watching everyone with smiles.
When Leng Yan walked out of the sword mountain, she also held a Heaven-grade sword embryo. Heaven always favored beautiful people, and Leng Yan was one of them. Even though she wasn't among the first to enter the sword mountain, she still managed to obtain one from the limited number of Heaven-grade sword embryos.
About 30+ members of Sheng Tian behind Leng Yan were also recognized by Heaven-grade sword embryos. These Heaven-grade sword embryos were powerful and would definitely elevate their combat effectiveness. They were grateful. Although they couldn't offer much in return, they all stepped forward and nodded to Lin Zhao. "Lin Zhao, thank you. I finally have a suitable flying sword. Sincerely, thank you!"
"No need for politeness."
Lin Zhao smiled and nodded. "It's good that you got it."
"Exactly, no need for politeness."
Ding Chi said, "Crimson Moon Knights and Sheng Tian are all one family. What's there to be polite about between family?"
"Hahahaha~~~~"
Many people from the two major guilds let out knowing smiles. Leng Yan's pretty face turned red, unsure of what to say. So, she crushed her return scroll and went back to the city. Before leaving, she smiled at Lin Zhao. "When you have time, I'll treat you to a meal. You name what you want to eat!"
"Alright!"
Lin Zhao waved goodbye and began to plan what to eat. It had to be both delicious and expensive, as Leng Yan was not short of money, and they couldn't let the wicked capitalists get away cheaply.
...
Qingliang Mountain, Qingliang Sect.
Old Ancestor Zhao Jingyu finally emerged from his seclusion and flew to the front of the Hidden Dragon Abyss in the back mountain. His sleeves fluttered as he descended slowly from the air. Beside him was his son, the Twelve-realm Zhao Suiguang. At this time, after a period of seclusion, Zhao Jingyu had refined two natal items and was now like a fish in water, having reached the late Thirteen-realm. His cultivation was increasingly abundant, and he was no longer what he used to be.
On the coiled dragon pillar, a Twelve-realm great demon was bound by heavy iron chains, its body covered in scars. Its demonic energy was constantly being refined and transformed into the fortune of the entire Qingliang Sect.
"Old friend."
Zhao Jingyu narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Thanks to you, Zhao Jingyu has achieved great success in his cultivation, and is one step closer to the Fourteen-realm!"
"You?"
Huang Tingyu slowly raised his head, grinned, and said, "To step into the Fourteen-realm, you first have to merge with the Dao. How can a piece of trash like you, Zhao Jingyu, merge with the Dao? Merge with the Dao shamelessly?"
Zhao Jingyu narrowed his eyes. "Why bother seeking trouble?"
"My skin is itchy, is that not allowed?"
Huang Tingyu sneered, "One big, one small, both full of lechery and deceit. A bunch of scumbags, not a single decent person among them!"
"Are you looking for death?"
Zhao Jingyu roared, flicked his palm, and produced a golden vine. The next moment, it whipped down onto Huang Tingyu, tearing his skin and flesh. However, fortunately, Huang Tingyu was a Twelve-realm great demon with thick skin and hide. The wounds healed at a visible rate.
He frowned, gasping for breath. "Damn it, I wonder what my little brother Lin Zhao is doing. Why is he so slow? That Wu Zhi girl was bullied, and you came charging over alone that day. If I, Old Huang, were a woman with long, white legs and a bouncing bosom, wouldn't you, boy, rush over overnight?"
Alas, prioritizing women over friends!