Chapter 53 of 100
Chapter 53
15 min read3,752 words
Hearing the results of the minor competition, Qi Yunhe's lineage came first, Lu Shizhong's lineage was second, and Zhang Jinghe's lineage came last. This was the first time in over a decade that they had taken the lead, but unfortunately, Qi Yunhe could not see it himself. May he rest in peace in heaven.
Xun Ye presented the prizes for the minor competition on behalf of the sect leader. Wei Shizhao received a sword pouch, while Xin Laoyao and Hu Yong received words of encouragement.
Xi Huzi returned to his cave to cultivate. His internal injuries had not yet healed, and he should not overwork himself. Besides, the Red Mist Valley Sword Discussion was approaching, and the fate of the Immortal Capital Sect was uncertain. He had no mood for celebration.
Liyang, Xuantong, Yuanrong, Shaoling, Yuxu, Pingyuan, and Immortal Capital were known as the seven side branches. The Dao techniques of the seven branches originated from Kunlun, and there was no inherent superiority or inferiority among them. Every seventeen years, when a rare type of cicada appeared in Kunlun Mountain, Kunlun would send its direct disciples to host the Red Mist Valley Sword Discussion. The seven side branches would send their disciples to compete, and their rankings would determine the order of the seven branches. The top-ranked branches would win cultivation techniques, sword formulas, magical artifacts, and medicinal herbs. The two lowest-ranked branches would have their sect leaders personally compete in sword duels. The loser would choose another Kunlun disciple to compete, and if they lost again, they would become wandering cultivators, and a new sect leader would be chosen by Kunlun.
It was very harsh but very effective. Since the founding of the sect, no one in the seven side branches dared to slack off.
Since Xi Huzi took charge of Immortal Capital, he had experienced three Red Mist Valley Sword Discussions, and the ranking of the sect had steadily declined. If he lost this time due to his injuries, would his disciples and grand-disciples stay on Immortal Cloud Peak, relying on others, or follow their master to wander the world?
They all say, "It's good to rest under a big tree," but the Kunlun Sect is not a tree that allows just anyone to rest under it!
What should have been a lively birthday celebration became cold and lonely due to the sect leader. Everyone lacked the mood for a night of candlelit conversation and dispersed.
Wei Rongniang took the opportunity to pull the eldest disciple aside and said a few intimate words, inviting him to her cave. Xun Ye had something on his mind, shook his head slightly, and politely declined. She felt a bit disappointed, handed him a gift she had prepared, and asked him to pass it on to his junior disciple. Then she left with a sad expression.
Xun Ye entrusted Yue Zhilan and others to Zhang Jinghe, who would take them back to Heavenly Capital Peak, but he kept Wei Shizhao alone.
Wei Rongniang's gift to her junior disciple was a bottle of fasting pills, about twenty in total, all of high quality. One pill could sustain fasting for several months and also replenish some primordial energy.
Xun Ye taught Wei Shizhao the incantation to control the sword pouch and ordered him to practice until he was proficient, then store the iron rod inside.
The sword pouch was different from a storage bracelet. When the right materials were added, it could warm and refine flying swords. Xun Ye told Wei Shizhao that his iron rod was made of black iron and was not ordinary. If he could find rare iron ore and add it to the sword pouch, the black iron would gradually absorb the essence of the iron ore, improving the quality of the iron rod.
Xun Ye earnestly advised him that with his aptitude, he was not suitable for cultivating the "Great Unity Foundation Building Scripture," but rather the "Howling Moon Technique." Unfortunately, the technique on the animal skin fragment was incomplete, lacking the crucial step of forming the Dao embryo. If he forcibly formed the Dao embryo according to the "Great Unity Foundation Building Scripture," it might backfire and ruin his cultivation.
Wei Shizhao nodded in agreement. He had already noticed that after opening six acquired acupoints, the primordial energy in his body formed a complete tidal flow. Each additional acupoint made the tidal flow stronger, something the "Great Unity Foundation Building Scripture" had never mentioned.
Xun Ye pointed out a path for him. Cultivating body-strengthening techniques should not be done in isolation. The best way was to strengthen the body through combat, but the Ghost Gate Abyss was too dangerous for him, even for a transformed demon like Qiluo. It was best to avoid it. Currently, there was an opportunity. The Qingyang Hall needed to collect a batch of demon cores to refine medicinal pills, and the sect leader had assigned the fifth disciple, Wei Rongniang, to handle this. He could ask his junior sister to let Wei Shizhao accompany her for some experience.
Wei Shizhao agreed.
For some reason, Xun Ye explained the "Great Unity Foundation Building Scripture" in detail again.
The "Great Unity Foundation Building Scripture" taught by Immortal Capital was incomplete, only covering the cultivation methods for the Dao embryo, sword seed, and sword control stages, and the essentials of absorbing primordial energy, which only mentioned five types: sharp metal, yin wood, water, fire, and earth. The great solar yang fire and moon essence were omitted.
The Dao embryo stage was the first major hurdle in cultivating the "Great Unity Foundation Building Scripture," roughly divided into three steps: the first step was to open the acquired acupoints, known as the three minor stages and one bottleneck; the second step was to connect the meridians, allowing the primordial energy to flow freely, with the difficulty depending on the number of innate and acquired acupoints. With more than ten acupoints, it was like water flowing smoothly; the third step was to form the Dao embryo, guiding the primordial energy from the acquired acupoints into the dantian to form a drop of mysterious essence, which would be nurtured and strengthened, becoming the Dao embryo.
Only after passing the Dao embryo stage could one truly embark on the path of a sword cultivator.
Xun Ye imparted many key points for forming the Dao embryo, regardless of whether Wei Shizhao could use them or understand them, insisting that he memorize them. Wei Shizhao seemed to realize something—these words were not for him but for him to pass on to Qin Zhen.
Xun Ye spoke for more than half an hour, then asked if he had any doubts. Wei Shizhao felt a deep sense of empathy and asked, "Is Master planning to leave Immortal Cloud Peak?"
Xun Ye gazed at Wei Shizhao for a long time, then smiled and said, "Three days ago, I requested the life-and-death seclusion from the sect leader. If I cannot break through the sword control stage, I will die on Eagle's Beak Rock. This parting may mean we will never see each other again."
"Is Master planning to cultivate the Ice Heart Technique in seclusion?"
"Exactly, this is my only chance. Success or failure hinges on this."
Wei Shizhao was silent for a moment, then knelt and bowed three times respectfully.
Xun Ye was greatly comforted, waved his hand, and said, "You... very well, you may go!"
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