C51 The Black Yellow Gas Was Indestructible.

On the precipitous slopes of Dangerless Peak, a youth clad in gray was diligently scaling the heights. As he climbed, small stones tumbled from the summit, striking his face but mercifully avoiding his eyes, instead rolling off his chin and down his body.

The day was sweltering, and at high noon, the heat intensified the scorch of the rocks on Dangerless Peak. Wang Tian could feel his skin searing under the temperature. His hands frequently brushed against sun-baked stones that were scalding to the touch. Surprisingly, his skin remained relatively unscathed.

He pressed on, ascending with caution. Despite his vigilance, mistakes were inevitable, and on several occasions, he nearly plummeted down the mountain. Each time he did fall, a cluster of white ribbons, emanating from a formation glowing with blue light, would catch him securely and lift him back up.

This formation was different from the one the night before. Not only did the ribbons catch him, but they also guided him, showing him the clearest and most suitable paths for his ascent. Wang Tian's eyes sparkled with realization; this had to be a formation Jiang had crafted just for him. His heart pounded with excitement.

Today, he believed, would be the day he conquered the summit! Wang Tian, the humble chef from the First Devil Sect, was determined to scale Dangerless Peak. Fueled by this thought, his drive surged.

Meanwhile, Jiang Su had skimmed through Holding Cloud and commenced his practice. This sword manual was unique, designed specifically for the soft sword—a weapon seldom used by Sword Cultivators in the Cultivation World due to its complexity. The rigid sword was the preferred choice, aligning with the Cultivation World's aesthetic.

Jiang Su lacked a soft sword; his current weapon was the Life Sword. He had once managed to transform the Life Sword into a soft sword, though it proved awkward to wield. Why he had done so remained a mystery to him.

Upon learning that Jiang Su was practicing Holding Cloud, Shangguan Yue, who lay dormant within the Life Sword, stirred awake. He awaited the moment Jiang Su would wield the Life Sword as if it were a soft sword.

A millennium ago, within a concealed chamber of a Secret Realm, Chen Pingsheng came upon a treasured sword. Beside it lay a book, a prize for those who could wield the sword with the finesse of a soft sword.

Upon opening the book, aglow with a golden radiance, Chen Pingsheng found its pages empty, for it awaited its true master.

The essence of the book was the Black Yellow Gas, a force unseen in the Cultivation World for countless millennia, and within its pages, it surely chronicled the Archean Ten Thousand Desolation Body.

Jiang Su unsheathed his Life Sword, pressing it against his back, just above his waist. From this angle, the sword appeared to merge seamlessly with his belt.

He began to move, the memory of his recent observations guiding him as he manipulated the Life Sword with the fluidity of a soft sword. Sword shadows, energy, and marks interwove wildly through the air. A drifting leaf, coming too close to the young man clad in white, was instantly reduced to dust by the swirling sword energy.

In Jiang Su's grasp, the Life Sword, once unyielding, now moved with supple grace, yet retained its keen edge.

Two hours on, Wang Tian realized his earlier concerns were unfounded. Despite Jiang's mentorship, the ascent eluded him.

After completing two Holding Cloud techniques, Jiang Su observed Wang Tian's relentless efforts. Exhausted but undeterred, Wang Tian's struggle with Dangerless Peak was evident.

Yet, Jiang Su considered that such rigorous training might accelerate Wang Tian's breakthrough, solidifying his cultivation level.

Only a Body Cultivator could conquer the summit of Dangerless Peak.

The system inquired, "Do you find it odd to use the Life Sword as if it were a soft sword?"

Jiang Su acknowledged, "True, a soft sword would be slimmer. This one isn't quite right for Holding Cloud techniques. It's time I forged a proper soft sword."

No sooner had he spoken than a familiar mechanical voice announced the completion of a covert task.

"Hidden mission accomplished: Life Sword Transformation. Your reward, the Black Yellow Gas Attraction Art and a Sword Type Transformer, has been deposited in your Storage Space."

The Black Yellow Gas Attraction Art? Such ancient energy was disconnected from today's Cultivation World. Knowledge of channeling the Black Yellow Gas was one thing, but possessing it was another matter entirely.

Upon discovering the book, Jiang Su realized it was fated to gather dust in his storage space.

The system mused to itself that the absence of something in the Cultivation World didn't preclude its existence elsewhere.

Jiang Su found some utility in the sword-type converter.

He instructed the system, "Activate the sword-type converter."

"Host, congratulations on becoming an Armament Cultivator. You have employed the sword-type converter, a tool that can soften or harden sword-type weapons at will. It can also alter the sword's shape, transforming it into a bow, a fan, or similar items," the system announced.

This was exactly what he had previously requested the system to do in the kitchen, when he had wanted to turn a sword into a fan.

Yet, he doubted the practicality of this feature.

With a mere thought, the Life Sword in Jiang Su's grasp visibly softened and slimmed. He casually twirled the sword by its hilt in the air.

In a swift motion, he sidestepped and whipped the now flexible sword at a tree ahead.

Jiang Su had only anticipated a few sword marks on the tree, but to his surprise, the tree toppled over with a thunderous crash.

The system informed him that using a non-shape-shifting sword would boost its attack power by 50%.

Jiang Su's brow furrowed. If the Life Sword couldn't change shape, why had it just become a soft sword?

"The Life Sword has finally awakened," the system explained. "It has always been a soft sword. After a millennium, it has at last found its master."

It was hard for Jiang Su to believe that the robust Life Sword was, in fact, a soft sword.

Luckily, he had the ability to manipulate the Original Sword Body, allowing him to toggle its firmness.

Still, Jiang Su couldn't help feeling a twinge of disappointment at being unable to alter the sword's shape.

"So it turns out, the soft sword is more effective; its attack power even surpasses that of a hard sword," Jiang Su reflected with a sigh.

With a 50% increase in attack power, the sword's might was truly formidable.

Shangguan Yue bit back his words, his gaze flickering with unspoken thoughts.

Should he reveal the secret of the Ancient Desolation Indestructible Body to Jiang Su? What if Jiang Su thought he was losing his mind?

In the end, Shangguan Yue chose to remain silent. Even if the revelation offered Jiang Su a glimmer of hope, it wouldn't alter their reality. The Cultivation World had been devoid of Black Yellow Gas for ages.

The Ancient Desolation Indestructible Body, even in the present day, held no value. That is, unless the Ancient Sealing Secret Realm were to resurface. For it was there that the abundant Black Yellow Gas of the ancients was stored.

If Jiang Su were to acquire the Ancient Desolation Indestructible Body, only then would he achieve true immortality.