Chapter 1

I was an inner disciple of the Lingyun Sect.

A thoroughly ordinary sect, with a thoroughly ordinary me.

Neither of us had any right to look down on the other.

In my hundred and thirtieth year of cultivation, I finally reached the Golden Core stage.

The battered iron sword in my hand no longer did me justice.

So I gritted my teeth and took out the savings I’d amassed over a hundred and twenty-one years, intending to buy a low-grade spirit sword.

The man from the Swordforging Sect shook my spirit stones in his hand, then shook his head and sighed. “It’s hard to do much for you with this little money.”

I tried to haggle. “That’s every spirit stone I’ve saved in a hundred and twenty years. Please, man. Give me a discount.”

He glanced at me. “You earned this little in a hundred and twenty years? Have you considered working harder?”

I was silent for a moment. “Facts aside, don’t you bear at least some of the blame?”

The man stared at me. “Huh?”

I saved for another sixty-three years and finally bought a low-grade spirit sword.

In the process, I sold my dignity and integrity countless times.

Selling them wasn’t the problem. The problem was that even selling them didn’t make me any money.

This fucking world could go to hell!

But perhaps not just yet.

I’d finally got my spirit sword. At least let me show off with it first.

I accepted a mission to descend the mountain and slay a demon.

Those mortals were going to swoon.

In truth, it was only a piglet tainted by demonic energy.

There was no need for a spirit sword at all.

But if I didn’t show off now, when would I?

The mortals gathered behind me.

I raised my immortal sword, which came with its own rosy glow, and recited the line I’d spent ages rehearsing. “Foul creature! You dare harm people in broad daylight? I shall carry out Heaven’s justice and subdue you!”

The flying sword left its sheath with a ringing hum, magnificent and unstoppable.

The mortals gasped in awe.

Worth it!

Now that was money well spent!

But the next instant, the immortal sword flew over the beast’s head without stopping and shot straight into the distance until it disappeared.

What?

Where are you going, my five hundred thousand spirit stones?

An eerie silence fell.

The beast that had been cowering on the ground saw my immortal sword was gone and suddenly grew bold.

It even started speaking human words. “Go on, hit me, then!”

…Excuse me?

The sheer audacity!

I rolled up my sleeves and went for it.

Just as I punched the pig’s head to pieces, a whole lot more flying swords streaked across the sky overhead.

I counted them off. “Five hundred and fifty thousand. Eight hundred thousand. One million three hundred thousand. Eight hundred and sixty thousand…”

Fuck. Why was mine the cheapest?

Was there really no one in this world poorer than me?

A clear, powerful voice rang out from far away. “Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source!”

Someone was using Ten Thousand Swords Return to the Source?

Was I really that lucky?

I’d actually get to see a legendary technique that only a genius sword cultivator could wield!

Wait.

These swords the genius sword cultivator was calling back to the source.

One of them wouldn’t happen to be mine, would it?

You godforsaken sword cultivators! I’ll fucking kill you!