AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword

Chapter 16: Forbidden Ancestral Hunting Grounds

In pursuit of food, Lan Xiaohui brought me with her on an expedition deeper into the forest.

She walked slowly and I could tell that this exertion took quite some effort. What took even more effort, I am sure, was to keep a neutral expression while doing so.

She was not in the best physical state when the monkeys brought her. She was severely injured her cultivation was damaged after all and I am certain that the improvement to her Physique was not exactly a boon to her structural integrity either.

I feel so light and strong, she comments out of nowhere, and I am not sure if she means it, is delusional about her physical state, or is simply trying to convince herself that she is fine.

I dont know if theres a difference between the latter two options.

We hadnt encountered any monkeys or other spiritual beasts. At least, I hadnt seen them but my perception radius is not exactly something that would land me in the Scout Corps of some advanced nations military organization.

When it comes to advanced warning or early detection, I am about as blind as a slug.

Lan Xiaohui does not seem worried, but then again she doesnt allow her internal state to reflect on her external state. She is stoic and proud. We could be stalked by a dozen demonic beasts and she would look about as invested in the situation as I am right now at the prospect of my precious 10 cubic meter storage being wasted by berries, fruits, herbs and tree bark.

At first I thought she might try to hunt something down to eat since cannibalism wasnt her cup of tea and I worried she might become the meal of something else, rather than vice versa. So I was slightly relieved when it became apparent she intended to eat the vegetation instead.

Good, I thought. She does have some intelligence.

But does she really need this much vegetation? Nearly a quarter of my capacity is taken up by the most mundane and useless stuff, even though there are some marginally beneficial items.

Perhaps I am just looking down on the less fortunate items in the world; perhaps in my excellence I am simply not moved by the banality of the mundane.

My cultivation is weak, she says after a while, hopefully satisfied enough now with her dinner arrangements. Even if I break into the Foundation Establishment realm, I am not sure how to escape this Forbidden Ancestral Hunting Grounds. The beasts here may be at Qi Refining, or even Foundation, but they are much stronger than cultivators of the same realm.

Noted. That also explains how Wukong managed to bring down a Golden Core cultivator. Even though it cost him dearly, and eventually led to his death, in reality, it shouldnt have been that close. A cultivator with a formed Core was vastly more powerful than a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator.

It is likely to do with the deep body cultivation of the beasts. Either way, I am sure it helps.

After a moment, perhaps expecting a verbal or telepathic rather acknowledgment from me, she continues: How do we escape from here?

I assumed we would just slaughter our way out. I did not really think a plan beyond See thing; make thing dead was necessary. But then again, I dont know how vast this forest is, or what kind of creature lurks within. There is also the fact that she is absolutely correct about the relative power-to-realm ratio between cultivators and demonic beasts.

I suppose we could fly. Now, with her present, purchasing the [Flight] talent doesnt seem like such a gamble anymore. Surely, it could come in rather useful.

For one, she wouldnt be able to collect herbs and mushrooms in the sky.

Fine. Some information first, then.

What is this Forbidden Ancestral Hunting Ground? I ask. How big is it? How far is it from where we have to go?

[Telepathy] really is much easier now. It feels effortless to speak to her.

Lan Xiaohui seems to consider the question for a moment. She seems surprised at the question something that escapes her icy stoicism and shows on her features. Is it really that surprising that I dont know what this place is? I even told her I dont have complete memories.

You are an Awakened Treasure, but you do not know what this place is? she asks.

I remain silent. She will figure it out eventually. Even though it costs me almost no fatigue to speak to her, it doesnt mean I have to answer all her pointless questions or repeat myself.

Eventually she nods.

The Sect closed this place off, hundreds of years ago. At first, the rich Qi in the area, in certain places, and rare Yin medicinal plants were a boon to the Sect, but stronger and stronger demonic beasts appeared. At the time, this Ancestral Hunting Ground was vital to the Sect, but too many losses prevented the Sects growth, and then led to its stagnation.

As Lan Xiaohui begins her explanation, she stops and looks towards the sky, as if trying to remember the Sects history.

The Sect Master, at the time, closed off the area and used profound techniques and arrays to channel the Qi towards the center of the area. Every one hundred years, the Sect would deploy promising Heavenly Treasures to the forest, where they would, hopefully, gain enlightenment and awaken their sentience.

I also seem to remember something like this, in very a very vague way. It happened before my sentience awakened, as she put it. I remember that there was great discord and strife due to my presence, and that I was banished, or exiled rather, to this place. At least, that is the feeling I get when I try to remember my past.

Then the Sect would open the Hunting Grounds to the disciples for a period, and whoever returns with an awakened Treasure is immediately admitted into the Core Disciples.

Perhaps that explains the Golden Core cultivator that Wukong killed. Was he also looking for an awakened treasure?

What about the pills though? Or the manual? Neither were suitable for his cultivation depth. Perhaps he had just formed his Golden Core. It wouldnt be strange then, if he formed it without the assistance of others or resources like if he had to breakthrough alone in a Forbidden Ancestral Hunting Ground that its quality was so pitifully low. But that explanation doesnt quite sound right, either.

And you were left here to die? I ask her.

She nods. I was the concubine of the future Sect master. I had no ambitions to be admitted into the Core Disciples, she explains. I was left here because this place is brutal, and survival, even for Golden Core disciples, is only a distant possibility.

Tell me about your Sect.

I am from the Seven Killing Swords Sect. Do you know it?

No, I tell her.

She nods and ponders. It is considered an Evil sect. It possesses demonic methods, but only Core Disciples are allowed to practice them. Still, it values power over cooperation. It is brutal and competitive. Do you know of the Galaxy Sword Sect?

No, I tell her again.

She swallows. The Seven Killing Swords Sect is an affiliate of the Galaxy Sword Sect one of the three most prestigious Sects on the Sky Continent. They are very powerful and have existed for a very long time. Every few years, the Galaxy Sword Sect holds a contest to allow the brightest disciples of its affiliates to enter their Sect as an Inner Disciple.

As she explains the situation, she pauses and stops in her tracks. Her grip on me tightens and I feel her determination coldly coursing through me.

Yu Shun the Black Tiger will be there, and he will attempt to be admitted into the Galaxy Sword Sect. If I am to kill him, I must be his opponent. It is the only opportunity.

With a sigh, she relaxes and continues walking. Back towards where we came from.

But first, we must escape from this Forbidden Ancestral Hunting Ground. Cultivators are not the ones who are the hunters here anymore. We are now the prey.

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