AI Cultivation: Reborn as a Sword

The trip takes just over two full days at subsonic speeds, with one stop for rest. The size of this continent is impressive. Without accurate measurement instruments, I still estimate that we crossed a distance of at least ten thousand kilometers.

For most of the flight, and the couple of months spent in isolation, my owner mostly meditates, circulating her newly acquired fire energy. To be specific, in theory, with a lot of effort, she could produce fire-type qi before as well, but with her weak fire root, doing such, and without a cultivation manual to aid it, would be extremely inefficient. Now, with her divine fire root, this is a completely different story.

My owner only stirs from her meditation once we begin descending toward the ground, presumably, near the end of our journey.

According to the other disciples, when my owner finally left that cave, everyone else had already departed for the Sky Kingdom on the sect’s ark. She did not seem disappointed by this and had already planned on going to the Sky Kingdom on her own, like this.

Once we lose altitude, Lan Xiaohui finally climbs to her feet and shares her perception with me, as the city comes into view beyond the misty layer of clouds.

To call it a large city would be an understatement. This sprawling settlement extends as far as the eye can see — Lan Xiaohui’s very limited eye. Beyond the tall buildings and streets that are thirty to forty steps wide, is a large range of mountains, and it is safe to assume that the city occupies all the space up to those mountains. Its population is very likely in the millions.

“I did not expect Sky City to be so large,” Lan Xiaohui says, likewise impressed by the settlement. “When you consider that the Sky Kingdom is also the smallest, it puts things into a bit more perspective.”

“Explain.” Curious about what she is talking about, I prompt her to clarify.

“Heavenly Mountain Pavilion is the power behind the Sky Kingdom, one of the three most prestigious sects on the Sky Continent,” Lan Xiaohui says. “It may be the smallest kingdom, but Sky City is the largest city on the continent, and considered the capital. Heavenly Mountain Pavilion also leads the Sky Dragon Alliance, formed by the four kingdoms.”

As we descend further, using my owner’s sight, I can finally begin to discern some of the districts connected by the vast and luxurious infrastructure. The city appears to be divided into five districts; one in the center, and then surrounded by four others. It is not the most efficient design, but it is a step above developing the city based on whatever need is most pressing.

“Do you know about the four kingdoms and the three major sects?” She asks.

I do know about it; there is a long history collected within my acquired memories. Surprisingly, not all of them agree on the specifics, though they all concern the Seven Killing Swords sect.

"Tell me," I transmit to my owner, curious about her interpretation.

“The Sun Kingdom does not have a major power,” Lan Xiaohui explains. “The three major powers are the Galaxy Sword Sect, the Frozen Peak Palace, and the Heavenly Mountain Pavilion.”

"But the Seven Killing Swords sect is the most powerful sect of the Sun Kingdom, and it is the fourth member of the Sky Dragon Alliance," I tell my owner. "That should qualify it to be a major sect."

Lan Xiaohui shakes her head. “You are right; technically, it is, but it does not have the same resources or legacy as the other sects. My former sect rose from nothing overnight, and its focus on accomplishment over tradition and long-term planning collected all the wandering cultivators of the Sun Kingdom into one place — or poached them from other up-and-coming sects. They also have a long history of going to war with other sects and stealing their resources.”

I do not disprove of such measures. Now that I know that every other continent has one, single major power that controls the continent, the state of affairs on this Sky Continent is rather peculiar. A consolidation of power should be the first order of business for these sects, to deter potential invasion.

Perhaps that is merely my history as an exo-solar weapon speaking. If they have survived for this long like this, perhaps there is no threat to speak of.

Alternatively, it is possible that the continent is in this state exactly because of outside threats — if they show any weakness or infighting, it might trigger an invasion from outside forces.

More importantly, I am still unsure what determines a sect’s status as a major power. My owner says that the Seven Killing Swords does not have the same resources or legacy as the other sects — does that mean that there is no Guardian Sect behind it?

Furthermore, according to my owner, Yu Shun practices a demonic internal art. Surely, that did not come from nowhere — the sect must have some legacy. An ancestor, perhaps, like the Galaxy Sword Sect's founder?

Perhaps this status labeling is similar to the blindness directed at my owner — simply because her roots are not heaven-defying, she is considered to have average talent. In truth, my owner is by far superior to her peers, and even some of her superiors.

I still possess vague memories of the sect, and its thousands of disciples, and though it may not be a “major” power, it is certainly on par with the Galaxy Sword Sect.

"I think most cultivators regard my former sect, in some way, as a major power, but not a prestigious sect. The other three major sects have hundreds and thousands of years of legacy and history," Lan Xiaohui says. "In that way, I think they refuse to acknowledge it."

They underestimate it, is what my owner is trying to say.

"Are you worried about the future?" I ask my owner. Normally, I can see her feelings clear and colorful, but when it comes to the future, I do not understand any of my owner's emotions and desires.

My owner shakes her head, then she shrugs. She is undecided.

"You never told me why you wanted me to... destroy the sect," she says.

“We need their resources,” I tell her.

“That’s it?” she asks.

“That’s it,” I confirm.

She chuckles. “I thought you’d have a bigger reason. Your history is also with that sect.”

“The resources are just the reward for destroying it,” I explain, though she blinks at me calling the spoils a reward. “You crossing paths with the sect is inevitable; once you kill Yu Shun, you will be their enemy and they will stop at nothing to have their revenge. It is more convenient for us to commit to destroying them first."

Lan Xiaohui, after hearing my full explanation — or what she thinks is the entire reasoning — nods slowly, suddenly more thoughtful.

“So that is why…” she hums. “You want to protect me.”

Technically, I only want the resources. The sect is just a convenient target because my owner already has a grudge against the sect, so I determined it would be the one that would be the easiest for me to convince my owner to destroy.

"I understand," she says, nodding. "When the time comes, I won't be merciful."

Very good.

I have a good owner.