Immortality Through Array Formations

Chapter 1392: Chapter 773: Sword Bone

Ouyang Mu glanced at the old monster cultivator again, his expression filled with emotion.

Judging from this, the old demonic artificer trapped in the monster cultivator’s lair should be considered as his fellow sect member and true... clan elder?

Moreover, it has been hundreds of years, presumably having a much higher seniority than himself.

A slight sense of respect inevitably arose within Ouyang Mu’s heart.

The old monster cultivator looked at Ouyang Mu, his expression complex, his eyes melancholic, and said:

”Back in the day, I was much like you, possessing an exceptional talent for artifact refining, but I was reclusive, reticent, spending all day only knowing how to cast swords, viewing the crafting of a unique celestial sword as my lifelong aspiration...”

”Celestial sword...”

The old monster cultivator’s expression was wistful, ”In those days, young and arrogant, not knowing the vastness of heavens and earth, I absolutely did not understand how utterly unreachable those two words were, how... despairing they made one feel.”

He then smiled self-mockingly, ”We claim to be cultivators, practicing immortality, but what ’immortality’ truly is, to this day, no one knows.”

”Anything associated with the word ’immortal’ is deep and frightening, indescribable...”

Ouyang Mu’s expression became solemn, and he nodded.

Indeed, he viewed the crafting of a ”celestial sword” as his lifelong Tao cultivation dream.

But the deeper he cultivated, the more swords he crafted, the more he felt that the celestial was beyond reach.

In this life, perhaps he would never even come near the ”celestial sword”.

Let alone crafting it with his own hands, even a glance would be a great luxury.

The old monster cultivator’s murky eyes silently glanced at Ouyang Mu, his thoughts complex and inexplicable, eventually he sighed and continued:

”Hundreds of years ago, I was still a member of Tai’a Sect, a... disciple of the Ouyang Family.”

”At that time, the Ouyang Family was already planning changes, no longer solely focusing on sword casting but using it in conjunction with swordsmanship, forging a path to develop sword techniques, becoming a true Sword Dao Sect.”

”But I did not wish to cultivate swordsmanship, I only wanted to cast swords.”

”Others abandoned sword weapons to learn swordsmanship, but I persisted wholeheartedly, tirelessly day and night, painstakingly researching sword casting methods.”

”In the sect, I was not valued, but it did not matter, as long as I could cast swords...”

At this point, the old monster cultivator couldn’t help but hunch over, coughing a few times, coughing up blood.

But he wasn’t concerned, instead quietly wiped away the bloodstains, continuing:

”Originally, I thought I would remain in Tai’a Sect, continuously learning artifact refining and sword casting, all the way until old age, yet unexpectedly...”

The old monster cultivator’s expression turned bitter, ”Once during mountain hunting, I accidentally strayed into the dense forest outside the Valley of Ten Thousand Demons, losing my way...”

”Some monster cultivators discovered me, they began to hunt me down, I was not strong enough to be their match, and was captured by them.”

”They opened their bloody mouths wide, initially wanting to eat me, but upon discovering my sword casting abilities, spared my life, letting me craft evil swords for them.”

”I... had no choice.”

The old monster cultivator’s expression was wooden, ”When I was in the sect, I also once thought I was a steadfast Righteous Cultivator, thought I could uphold the righteous way in the face of demon monsters, resigning myself to death.”

”But when truly facing those grinning monster cultivators, I realized, I was wrong.”

”I knew nothing about myself.”

”I... was a coward.”

When the old monster cultivator spoke these words, his gaze was indifferent, it seemed that the non-human torment over the years had eroded his pride and accepted the helpless reality.

Ouyang Mu showed sympathy, ”Old... elder, it’s not your fault.”

The old monster cultivator shook his head, ”Things have come to this, I have already become like this, now discussing right and wrong is meaningless...”

Ouyang Mu wanted to comfort him with a few words.

But he was tongue-tied, unable to immediately think of comforting words.

The old monster cultivator sighed and continued:

”I compromised, I surrendered, I betrayed my sect, betrayed my clan, and betrayed my Sword Dao.”

”From then on, I became a monster cultivator, became an Evil Sword Master.”

”I abandoned my former identity, stayed in this dark Ten Thousand Demons Prison, accompanied by Monster Beasts, among monster cultivators, used human bones, flesh, and blood to refine artifacts, not knowing how many evil swords I have crafted for these monster cultivators until now. Nor do I know how many people have been killed by these evil swords driven by these monster cultivators...”

The old monster cultivator laughed a little, blood in his mouth, it was unclear whether it was self-mockery or self-satisfaction.

Ouyang Mu felt conflicted.

The Sword-Casting Master was such, even a Righteous Sword-Casting Master could not decide whether the sword weapons they crafted would be used to banish demons for good or recklessly harm.

Not to mention the Evil Sword Masters crafting evil swords.

”And now, as my end approaches, this lifetime of forging numerous sins comes to... a head... ”

The old monster cultivator said this, glancing at Ouyang Mu, ”But before dying, I have a wish, spending nearly a lifetime trapped in this Ten Thousand Demons Prison, knowing neither age nor day, relentlessly researching artifact refining...”

”These refining techniques are mixed with both righteousness and evil, in the end, even I cannot distinguish them.”

”However, righteous or evil, they are the fruits of my lifetime of labor, I must pass them on, otherwise I will die with my eyes closed.”

The old monster cultivator stared at Ouyang Mu, his gaze deep:

”Throughout the Ten Thousand Demons Prison, you are the only one I can pass them to.”

Ouyang Mu was stunned, his expression hesitant.

If it were righteous sword casting techniques, naturally he would be grateful.

But this elder was an Evil Sword Master, his skills largely composed of bloody and wicked sword casting methods.

He simply did not want to learn.

At a loss about what to do, he habitually lowered his head, glanced at his sleeve, and then felt determined in his heart.

”Thank you for your kindness, elder...” Ouyang Mu’s expression was ”conflicted” for a while, finally he sighed and said: ”I will learn...”