Return of the Mythic Bloodline-Chapter 349: Thunderbane Swordsmanship

"Everyone knows the Snow Goddess is ill. She cannot live past the age of twenty-five," Lyra revealed while running around the ground.

My eyes shot open at her sudden revelation.

"Nymeria is ill?" I mumbled. "Is that why she abruptly left? No. That cannot be. I checked her using Vivi in the Forest of Gumiho. She was completely fine. Is this related to what Nymeria told me in the forest, that she was suffering from a heart disease? But the Amrita water had completely cured her. Right. She must not have revealed that news yet."

"J-Junior Brother Lucifer," Lyra asked, stopping before me, "what are you mumbling? Speak louder. I cannot understand a word."

Her voice pulled me out of my daze. I rose from my seat and muttered, "Who said you could stop, Sister Lyra? Run two hundred rounds around the ground now."

"B-but Junior Brother, I only stopped because I could not understand your words," Lyra protested, already drenched in sweat from the running.

"Then leave," I said coldly. "I will not train you if you do not listen to me."

"Aaa! I am running, I am running!" she cried, returning to her position. "You are too mean, Junior Brother Lucifer!"

Although Nymeria would not participate in the clash, she might be present at the competition. It could be an opportunity to meet and speak with her.

"Sister Lyra, when will the competition be held?" I asked.

"In forty days," Lyra replied.

"Forty days? Is it merely a coincidence?" I murmured inwardly. "The two-year deadline Nymeria gave me will also end in forty days. Not to mention, on the forty-first day will be the complete white full moon of the seventh month of the year 1011, the promised date set for my marriage with Nymeria. I need to meet her as soon as possible."

If it were up to me, I would have sought Master Robert’s help to reach Everfrost Peak and meet Nymeria. However, the peak was too far from here, and each mountain along the way had arrays set upon it, making it impossible to fly over them. Traveling on foot was also not feasible, given Master Robert’s old age, not to mention the countless eyes we would attract along the way.

"Sister Lyra, keep running," I said. "I will return shortly."

Leaving the training ground, I made my way to the Treasure Hall, where the Treasure Hall Master gave me a surprisingly warm welcome.

The moment I entered the hall, he leapt from the other side of the table like a monkey, arriving before me in an instant.

"Welcome, little Lucifer," he said with a sly grin.

I raised an eyebrow in suspicion at his unusually welcoming behavior. I had done nothing praiseworthy for him. On the contrary, I had offended him greatly during my previous visit.

"Do you need something from me, Treasure Hall Master?" I asked, my eyes narrowing.

"Tsk tsk, look at you, suspecting your elder," the Hall Master retorted. "Tell me what you need."

"Oh, now I understand," I exclaimed inwardly. "This sudden change in behavior is because of my performance in the Core Disciple Selection Competition. He is coaxing me so I will reveal some secret techniques or methods behind my strong cultivation base."

"As a matter of fact, I do need something, Hall Master," I said, hiding my sly smile behind an innocent expression. "But I do not think I can afford it."

"Ask away, little Lucifer. You are standing before the Treasure Hall Master," he said, wrapping his arm around my shoulder with a smug look.

"I need the manual for Thunderbane Swordsmanship."

"W-what!" He nearly spat out blood upon hearing my outrageous request. "Y-you certainly did not hold back with that demand, little Lucifer."

With a smooth, honey-like voice, he continued, "Aiya, why are you so obsessed with Thunderbane Swordsmanship when you are only at the Awakened Sage realm? Thunderbane Swordsmanship requires Sword Aura, which can only be learned after reaching the Eternal Sage realm. It is completely useless to you."

"Do not worry, Elder. I will exchange it for a treasure of equal value to the manual," I said with a chuckle. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

"Little Lucifer, are you deliberately trying to anger me again?" the Hall Master muttered, his voice turning sharp.

"Certainly not, Elder," I said casually, taking out a Grade Three High-Tier Soul Stone from my space ring.

"S-so bright!" the Hall Master exclaimed, closing his eyes at the radiance of the Soul Stone.

"H-High-Tier Soul Stone!" he shouted, his eyes nearly popping out of their sockets and his jaw dropping.

"H-how did you come to possess such a priceless treasure?" the Hall Master gasped, his gaze locked onto the glowing stone in my hand.

"You must already know my background by now, Elder," I said with a shrug. "I was the leader of the entire Abandoned Lands before coming here."

"B-but still, that place is abandoned by the heavens, possessing no treasures whatsoever."

"Just eat the mangoes, Elder. Why bother counting the seeds?" I said with a smug smile, handing the stone to him.

"To be honest, this Soul Stone is far more valuable than the manual, since the swordsmanship is only suitable for certain cultivators who possess the lightning attribute and Sword Aura, while the uses of a High-Tier Soul Stone are countless and extraordinary."

"Keep it, Elder," I said, moving toward the table. "It will only bring me trouble, since my realm is too low to protect it anyway."

"If that is what you wish," the Hall Master replied, leaping back to the other side of the table.

After running his brush across the register and recording my entry along with what I had exchanged for the manual, he walked toward the wall behind the table, which was lined with numerous lockers.

From one of the lockers, he retrieved a book with a thick, beautiful cover adorned with intricate lightning patterns.

"This manual contains the Thunderbane Swordsmanship up to the first three Chapters. Although I do not understand what you need it for, I will not probe further."

I took the book, placed it into my space ring, and asked, "What about the remaining Chapters?"

"I must disappoint you, little Lucifer," the Hall Master said, shaking his head. "The remaining Chapters are exclusive to the Thunderbanes. They cannot be shared with outsiders unless they swear absolute allegiance to the Sect."