Chapter 4

"Name?"

"Jiang Han."

"Why are you here to receive a sword?"

"The eighth-generation disciple of the Outer Sect has been missing for a year. According to the sect's rules, his qualification as one of the top hundred in the Outer Sect has been revoked, and I was originally the 101st."

Now, I have taken his place, becoming the 100th in the Outer Sect.

According to the rules of the Nine Profound Sword Sect, the top hundred in the Outer Sect are eligible to receive a hundred-refined long sword.

"Number 100 in the Outer Sect." Han Muye muttered, closing the registration book in front of him.

The Nine Profound Sword Sect is one of the nine major sects in the Western Border, a dominant force with control over hundreds of thousands of miles.

Being the 100th in the Outer Sect is not much to speak of.

But even this 100th position is the result of standing out among tens of thousands of Outer Sect disciples, with nearly a hundred thousand miscellaneous disciples below them.

Above the Outer Sect, there are nearly ten thousand Inner Sect disciples, hundreds of elite disciples, and dozens of direct descendants.

This is just the disciple level; above them are enforcers, hall masters, elders, and other powerful figures.

Considering all this, Han Muye, who currently has no cultivation and is a waste of a spiritual root, is probably at the bottom of the entire Nine Profound Sword Sect.

"Shameful, I only made it into the top hundred of the Outer Sect by luck."

Hearing Han Muye's mutter, Jiang Han's face turned red, and he spoke softly.

As he spoke, he took out two spirit stones from his pocket and placed them on the table.

He, the 100th in the Outer Sect, was the last among the sword-receiving disciples in the Sword Pavilion.

Five spirit stones in just a moment?

Han Muye subtly put the spirit stones away.

What a decent young man, Han Muye thought, smiling, and then pointed to the wooden rack in front of him, saying, "Go choose a sword."

Hearing Han Muye's words, Jiang Han finally showed a smile.

He had heard that in the Sword Pavilion, if the sword observer is satisfied, you can get a good sword. If the sword observer is unsatisfied, they might even give you a piece of scrap metal, and you would have no place to complain.

Who would dare to say the swords in the Sword Pavilion are scrap?

Jiang Han quickly walked to the wooden rack, touching one sword and then another, but he didn't dare to draw any of them.

Sword cultivators value the connection with their swords.

If you draw each sword to admire it and then put it back, you will offend the sword.

Other swords will then not be close to you.

Han Muye didn't rush him, putting the five spirit stones in his pocket, feeling the weight and satisfaction.

He had only earned half a spirit stone in six months of setting up a stall, but this one disciple coming to receive a sword earned him five spirit stones.

Being a sword observer is truly a lucrative job.

Han Muye thought about when he should treat Lu Gao, who helped him get this job, to a drink.

Turning to see that Jiang Han hadn't chosen a sword yet, he picked up a small hammer on the table and struck a small copper bell with a "ding."

Hearing the bell, Jiang Han sighed slightly, reluctantly stepping back and picking up the sword he had previously liked.

The bell struck by Han Muye was to limit the time for the sword-choosing disciples and also to protect them.

According to Old Huang, these disciples who come to choose swords have cultivated good sword techniques and need to nurture their own sword qi.

The Sword Pavilion is filled with countless sword qi, and if the disciples stay too long, the sword qi will interfere with their cultivation.

This is also why the Sword Pavilion does not select sword observers from the sect's disciples.

Sword cultivators who stay in the Sword Pavilion for too long will have their cultivation ruined.

Jiang Han held the long sword and handed it to Han Muye.

The sword observer must register every sword taken and every sword received.

Taking the long sword, Han Muye gripped the hilt and gently pulled.

"Clang—"

The long sword was drawn, emitting a cold blue light.

There were small inscriptions on the blade and the guard.

"Light and Shadow." Jiang Han whispered, a hint of joy appearing on his face.

A sword with a name is often a fine piece.

"Number 395874, sword name Light and Shadow."

After registering, Han Muye paused and said softly, "The sword is three feet five inches and seven points long, weighing fifteen pounds six taels and seven mace."

"The blade is five inches and one point wide, and the spine is three inches and two points thick."

...

Jiang Han looked at Han Muye with surprise.

Just by holding the sword, this sword observer in front of him knew all the details of the Light and Shadow sword?

When Han Muye handed the sword back, Jiang Han drew it and examined it carefully.

He lightly performed a few sword flowers and practiced a few familiar sword techniques, finding that everything Han Muye said was indeed accurate.

They say the sword observers in the Sword Pavilion are mysterious and peculiar, and it seems to be true.

Jiang Han sheathed the sword, bowed to Han Muye, and turned to leave the Sword Pavilion.

As long as he walked out of this door, the sword would be his.

"Wait."

Suddenly, Han Muye's voice came from behind.

Jiang Han's hand tightened on the sword, turning to look at Han Muye nervously.

"Brother, is there any procedure or process that hasn't been completed?"

The five spirit stones had already been given, and the sword was in his hands. Jiang Han thought he wouldn't have to deal with the Sword Pavilion's sword observer for a long time.

"I think you should choose a different sword."

Han Muye looked at Jiang Han and said calmly.

"Why?" Jiang Han frowned.

Five spirit stones were a significant portion of an Outer Sect disciple's wealth.

Spirit stones are always needed for cultivation, and no one ever has too many.

Could this sword observer want more?

"The sword techniques you cultivate are not of the heavy and solid type. This sword is a bit too heavy for you."

Han Muye sat at the long table, his fingers lightly tapping on the surface.

Too heavy?

Holding the long sword, Jiang Han slightly perceived it, his expression changing.

For a sword cultivator, whether a sword is suitable is a matter of life and death.

If Han Muye hadn't pointed it out, he wouldn't have noticed that this sword was a bit too heavy for him.

Now, holding it, he felt it was indeed a bit heavy.

"Also, given your height and arm length, the sword you should use should be three feet and one inch. This sword is too long."

Too long!

Tightly gripping the long sword, Jiang Han's hand trembled slightly.

No wonder his movements were a bit off when he sheathed the sword.

He had thought it was just because the sword hadn't fully melded with him.

He remembered what the Outer Sect sword technique instructor had said when he first entered the Nine Profound Sword Sect.

The sword is the second life of a sword cultivator, and it must be lived with.

Understanding your sword means living longer.

He had thought, after cultivating for several years and being among the top hundred in the Outer Sect, that he was a knowledgeable person about swords.

But after Han Muye's few words, he was drenched in cold sweat.

He was a fool, knowing nothing!

Taking out the remaining five spirit stones from his pocket, Jiang Han bowed to Han Muye, "I beg you, Brother, to teach me!"

He might be a bit slow, but he was very obedient.

Han Muye put the five spirit stones away and pointed to the wooden rack.

"The third row, the seventh sword, Green Wheat."

Jiang Han hurried over, put the Light and Shadow sword back, and found the third row, gripping the seventh sword.

"The sword is three feet and one inch long, weighing ten pounds three taels and five mace. It has double-edged blood grooves, and when you swing it, it produces a sharp whistle, which is perfect for your sword techniques."

Hearing Han Muye's voice, Jiang Han slowly drew the sword.

Holding the hilt, he felt a connection with the sword.

No need to look further, this was the sword he wanted!

"The sword techniques you use mainly target the opponent's chest, abdomen, neck, and throat. When you strike, you need to be three times faster, and when you retract, it shouldn't be straight but more fluid."

"Also, remember, when you strike, you have a habit of pressing your thumb on the hilt, which is very fatal."

Han Muye leaned back in his chair and said calmly, "Consider this a bonus."

Jiang Han tightly gripped his sword, bowed to Han Muye, and quietly left the Sword Pavilion.

He only straightened his back after descending the nine steps, took a deep breath, and squinted his eyes, looking up at the shining "Sword Pavilion" sign.

"These ten spirit stones were well spent today."

Jiang Han's eyes sparkled with excitement.

"Even the Inner Sect disciples couldn't point out the flaws in my sword techniques, but this sword observer saw through them at a glance."

"I always felt my sword strikes were not smooth, but I couldn't find the reason. It turns out my hand position was wrong when I struck."

Turning and walking away, Jiang Han felt an indescribable fighting spirit rising within him.

"Secluding myself to cultivate and eliminating these flaws, I have confidence to enter the top eighty of the Outer Sect!"

In the Sword Pavilion, Han Muye closed his eyes slightly, with sword light flowing in his mind.

The sword user was still in the form of Jiang Han, but the sword light was much stronger.

"Xuan Yuan Sword Technique, Lone Tree."

Having comprehended another sword technique, Han Muye's lips curled up slightly.

He really liked this job as a sword observer.