Free Web NovelChapter 765: Xiao Ju Becomes a Disciple
Secondly, it cannot carry people in flight when one’s Cultivation is shallow.
When using this method, self-preservation already requires complete concentration, and maintaining one’s own transformation between solid and illusory states within the Sword Light is extremely difficult.
If one were to protect others, one’s mind would be unable to attend to both, and with the slightest carelessness, the Sword Qi could backfire or be forcibly dragged down and disintegrate. At best, it would result in severe injury; at worst, both the person and the sword would be destroyed.
However, in Song Yan’s opinion, this second point was not a major problem.
There was not much disappointment in his heart; instead, a strong interest arose.
The The meaning of freedom (carefree and unrestrained feeling) of transforming into a stream of light, with one’s mind following its form, was no less attractive than carrying people in flight.
With this escape technique, the sky is high and the sea is vast; where can one not go!
He sat down cross-legged directly in the courtyard, cast aside distracting thoughts, and immersed his Divine Sense in comprehending this technique.
The Divine Sense, which had undergone a complete transformation after Foundation Establishment, and the lotus within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, caused Xiao Song’s understanding of this escape technique to rapidly increase.
The Mind-Cultivation Technique circulated, drawing Qi throughout his body.
His body gradually became enveloped in a faint, sharp aura. Within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, the main body of the Unmoored Boat lightly hummed and vibrated, reflecting the Dao patterns of the lotus.
He attempted to draw a wisp of Sword Qi to entwine, guiding his own Qi mechanism to merge with the Sword Qi, turning his entire body into his Lifebound Flying Sword.
Time passed.
In the depths of the bamboo forest, the figure sitting cross-legged on the bluestone gradually became enveloped in a constantly flowing, hazy, pale silver-white halo.
The halo was not light emitted by external Sword Qi; it was more like a sharp edge emanating from deep within his skin and Meridians.
"Slurp."
Xiao He held half a large watermelon, digging into it with a small wooden spoon.
She watched Song Yan glow like a firefly in the bamboo forest at night.
Night fell, the moon was bright, and stars were sparse.
Song Yan’s eyes suddenly opened, a pair of golden eyes extremely striking in the night!
The next moment, his figure remained still, yet his entire being instantly blurred in place like a reflection in water!
A slender yet extremely condensed black and white Sword Light, like a comet striking the moon, shot up from the bluestone in the bamboo forest!
"Buzz—!"
A sharp, short sound of breaking air flashed and vanished!
The Sword Light instantly passed through the dense branches and leaves of the bamboo forest, without any collision, perfectly avoiding all bamboo branches.
With an indescribable spirituality and speed, it pierced through the newly descended night sky, soaring straight into the clouds!
Xiao He was stunned, then exclaimed, holding the watermelon: "Woah..."
"Amazing, amazing!"
Its speed was more than ten times faster than controlling a sword during the day! Its resolute trajectory and concentrated sharpness already showed the rudimentary form of a’Sword Escape’ where one’s ’body transforms into Sword Light, traveling a thousand li in an instant’!
The Sword Light flashed and disappeared at the edge of the clouds, then instantly changed direction, as if possessing life, leaving several winding and agile traces in the air.
A startling speed, an elusive arc.
At the entrance of the Immortal Cave, Xiao Ju, who had poked her head out, only managed to catch a glimpse of a star trail in the night sky. In a flash, that familiar figure was already standing in the courtyard again.
It was just that the sharp Qi mechanism enveloping his body was slowly retracting.
Void Wandering, a preliminary glimpse.
Song Yan lightly exhaled a breath carrying a faint Sword Qi, feeling the faint hum of the Unmoored Boat within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion.
"Fast, agile, hidden..."
Song Yan savored the brief escape just now, his mind clear.
"With this technique, whether I roam the world or face an enemy in battle in the future, the initiative will be in my hands."
However, his Cultivation of this technique had only just begun, and there was still a gap before truly achieving "body transforming into a stream of light."
The intricacies and profound mysteries were considerable, requiring a large amount of time and effort to continuously experiment and practice; it could certainly not be accomplished overnight.
After several more attempts, exhausting the Sword Qi within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, Song Yan finally returned to the Immortal Cave, still feeling unsatisfied.
He also tidied up his other items a bit.
Some things that would no longer be useful after Foundation Establishment, he would leave for Xiao Ju.
Hmm, it’s about time.
He slowly walked to the edge of the Immortal Cave’s courtyard.
"Xiao Ju."
A calm voice sounded. The young girl, who was studying basic Formations, trembled slightly, immediately put down her book, and quickly walked to Song Yan, respectfully bowing her head: "Senior."
Song Yan looked at her calmly. During their time together these past few days, he had seen her resilience, diligence, and rare Comprehension Ability.
"Now that my Foundation Establishment is complete, I will fulfill my previous promise today."
The young girl’s heart suddenly pounded, and her breathing involuntarily quickened.
However, Song Yan did not immediately let her perform the Disciple-acceptance ceremony. Instead, his expression was solemn, and his tone was more serious than ever before.
"Xiao Ju, I will take you as my Disciple, but you have two paths to choose from, and you need to make the decision yourself."
"One is the ordinary path of Qi Refining. Regarding this, I assume you already have some understanding, so I will not say more."
"The second is the path I follow, the path of a Sword Cultivator."
"The path of a Sword Cultivator..."
Xiao Ju’s expression showed a hint of confusion.
"The path of a Sword Cultivator I speak of is not cultivating ordinary sword arts, but a Cultivation path based on the Sword Planting Technique!"
"This method requires severing one’s Spiritual Root to plant a sword."
He emphasized the four words "severing one’s Spiritual Root to plant a sword" heavily.
Song Yan’s voice carried a hint of solemnity: "The so-called Sword Planting means using the inherent Spiritual Power, dispersing one’s original Cultivation, and severing the Spiritual Root within the body!"
"In the Dantian and Qi Sea, one must open a ’Zhen Dao Sword Mansion’ and entrust one’s entire Dao Foundation to a Sword Dao seed."
"This method is extremely dangerous. Spiritual Power loss of control, Sword Qi devouring the body, and the Qi Sea collapsing are all possible."
"With the slightest carelessness, at best, the Dantian will be completely destroyed, rendering one a cripple, forever without a chance at the immortal Dao; at worst, one will die on the spot, with both body and Dao perishing."
"If successful, after severing the Spiritual Root and planting the sword, the Foundation will be reshaped. One must endure several times more tempering pain than ordinary Cultivation before being able to condense the Sword Dao seed."
He clearly and unreservedly laid out the pros and cons of both paths before Xiao Ju, especially the extreme risks and pain of the Sword Dao.
"Do you understand?"
Inside the Immortal Cave, silence reigned for a moment.
Xiao Ju was lost in thought.
The pain of severing the Spiritual Root, the complete destruction of the Dantian?
Death and the perishing of the Dao, a near-certain death?
These terrifying consequences seemed to be right before her eyes, impacting her mind.
However, just as Song Yan thought she would need more time to consider, or even be directly scared away by this cruel prospect.
Xiao Ju did not deliberate for long. She raised her head.
On her freckled face, which usually appeared a little timid, an unprecedented determination now emerged.
Her eyes were clear and bright, looking directly at Song Yan, without any trace of shrinking back or fear.
"Senior!" Her voice was not loud, but it was unusually steady, carrying a kind of certainty as if she had seen through everything, "I want to choose the path of a Sword Cultivator!"
"Xiao Ju’s Cultivation Aptitude is inherently poor."
She said firmly: "Xiao Ju knows very well that with such Aptitude, following the path of Qi Refining step by step, throughout her entire life, it would probably be difficult to reach Foundation Establishment. Perhaps reaching the Late Stage of Qi Refining would already be a stroke of luck."
She recalled her struggles in the Cave Abyss Sect, the endless mending and cold shoulders.
Suffering? Pain?
Hadn’t these things accompanied her since childhood? What was there to be afraid of?
Song Yan looked at her: "This matter concerns your life and Dao. If you choose the conventional path of Qi Refining, I will still take you as a Disciple, guide you in Cultivation, and do my best to help you seek Opportunities."
"Choosing the Sword Dao means a near-certain death, and the pain is unspeakable. Don’t you want to consider it more carefully?"
"No need."
She took a deep breath, released the heavy burden in her heart, completely loosened her hands, letting the old scars be exposed to the light, her voice clear and strong.
"The pain of this body, endure it, and it will pass."
"Compared to forever only being able to look at others’ backs, without even the chance to pursue the Grand Dao, this path before me, no matter how dangerous or painful, can ultimately give me hope!"
Having been plagued by misfortune since childhood, meeting a benefactor like Senior Song might have already used up all her luck.
How could she not seize such a precious Opportunity?
"No matter how difficult, Xiao Ju wants to try!"
With that, she took half a step back and, without hesitation, knelt down firmly towards Song Yan, her forehead touching the ground, performing an extremely solemn Disciple-acceptance ceremony!
Song Yan looked at her kneeling figure, listening to her clear, firm, and resolute words, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
There was relief, admiration, and a hint of imperceptible empathy.
He had once made a similar desperate choice on the brink of death in a mountain stream somewhere.
He did not immediately step forward to help her up, but let Xiao Ju complete the entire kowtow ceremony.
Only when her forehead lifted from the ground did Song Yan take a step forward, gently offered support, and helped her up.
"Good!"
Song Yan nodded.
"Since your mind is made up, then from today onwards, you are my Disciple, Song Yan’s Disciple."
"You must remember what you said today, and do not regret it."
Xiao Ju bowed again: "Disciple, I will obey Master’s command!"
Tears shimmered in Xiao Ju’s eyes, but no longer from fragility, but from immense joy.
What she didn’t know was that Song Yan was also a little dazed.
He hadn’t expected that he would one day establish his Dao Foundation and be able to take on Disciples.
However, besides that, he didn’t feel anything particularly special.
Because in Xiao Song’s heart, he still felt that he wasn’t qualified to teach anyone anything, merely taking on another Outer Sect Disciple for the declining Sword Sect.
He was not even twenty-two years old; strictly speaking, he was only five years older than Xiao Ju.
Since they had become Master and Disciple, Song Yan naturally no longer hesitated and immediately imparted the Spirit Transformation Chapter without reservation.
About ten days later, Xiao Ju was ready for Sword Planting.
She already possessed the fifth layer of the Qi Refining Realm, on par with his Cultivation at that time. Coupled with having him, a Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivator, as her Protector, he believed there would be no problems.
She only needed to spend some time thoroughly familiarizing herself with the Sword Planting Technique.
The Cultivation quiet room of Immortal Cave Di Zi Er Yi was protected by layers of Restrictions. Xiao Ju sat cross-legged within it.
Dressed in the plain white undergarments Song Yan had prepared for her, her body trembled slightly from nervousness, but her eyes were exceptionally firm.
Song Yan sat cross-legged in front of her. The Spiritual Pressure of the Foundation Establishment Realm was perfectly contained, leaving only a steady and reliable aura.
He made a sword gesture with his fingertip, and the Spirit Gathering Sword Array quickly formed, condensing the Spiritual Qi within the Immortal Cave to be even purer and more stable.
"Xiao Ju, do not panic. Guard your mind and observe your Dantian internally."
Song Yan’s voice was calm and penetrating, like a clear spring, washing away Xiao Ju’s timidity.
"Severing the Spiritual Root and planting the sword is extremely painful, but if your mind is in disarray, all previous efforts could be wasted, or even your Dao and body could perish."
"You only need to stabilize your mind. If the Sword Qi shows any signs of losing control, I will suppress it. You only need to focus on yourself and act according to the method you have comprehended."
Xiao Ju took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: "Yes, Master."
Closing her eyes, she fully circulated the "Geng Ling Scroll," activating the Spiritual Qi of the fourth layer Qi Refining Peak with all her might, letting it flow through her Meridians like a rushing stream, accumulating strength for the impending severing of the Spiritual Root and planting of the sword.
At a certain moment, all her Spiritual Power converged, transforming into a sharp aura.
Although Song Yan did not urge her, Xiao Ju had already made up her mind and no longer hesitated. She activated this wisp of Spiritual Power, instantly cutting towards the four Spiritual Roots within her body.
"Ugh... Mm..."
A suppressed groan of pain squeezed out from deep in her throat.
The Foundation of her Cultivation instantly collapsed.
Her Dantian and Qi Sea violently shook, and the original Spiritual Power dissipated, losing its restraint.
The out-of-control Spiritual Power was like thousands of wild horses, rampaging through her Meridians and flesh, seemingly wanting to tear apart every inch of her body.
In that instant, fine beads of blood seeped from all her pores, staining her plain white clothes red.
Song Yan’s fingertip moved slightly, and a gentle wisp of Spiritual Power gathered at his fingertip.
His figure did not move, but the vast and boundless Foundation Establishment Spiritual Pressure, released with this wisp of Spiritual Power, forcefully straightened and suppressed the violent, out-of-control Spiritual Qi within Xiao Ju’s body.
Xiao Ju’s spirit was highly concentrated amidst the extreme pain, her consciousness clearer than ever before.
She cast aside all distracting thoughts, immersing her entire Divine Sense into the depths of her Dantian, which felt as if it were collapsing.
The Qi Sea churned. Where the Spiritual Light dissipated, the embryonic Sword Qi that remained after she severed her Spiritual Root did not disappear.
Boom!
The sensation of pain instantly broke through its limit! Xiao Ju felt her Dantian being completely torn open!
From her seven orifices, the Spiritual Qi that had originally diffused and lost control, as if finding a new home, was frantically poured into and devoured by the newly opened rift (fissure)!
The nascent fissure, after devouring a large amount of scattered Spiritual Qi, began to change dramatically, slowly stabilizing and expanding, eventually forming a peculiar space at the very core of Xiao Ju’s Dantian, shaped like a nascent, inwardly sharp green leaf.
Under the Insightful Void Sword Eye, Xiao Ju’s current state could not escape Song Yan’s gaze.
Seeing the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion initially take shape, he also breathed a sigh of relief.
The most difficult step had been completed. Having survived the opening of the Sword Mansion, with the subsequent blessing of the Spirit Gathering Sword Array, Sword Planting was merely a matter of following the steps.
In an instant, a small, visible Spiritual Qi vortex above the quiet room began to spin wildly, and Spiritual Qi poured down.
Xiao Ju’s body trembled violently, already on the verge of collapse.
But her tightly clenched teeth did not loosen. She forcefully guided her own pulling force, following the trajectory of the Cultivation Technique.
After an unknown period, which felt as long as a century, the churning, intense pain and humming deep within Xiao Ju’s Dantian and Qi Sea finally slowly subsided.
In the center of the Sword Mansion, a rice-sized "lotus seed" emitting faint golden patterns condensed into shape, silently suspended!
Xiao Ju’s body went limp, completely exhausted, and she fell forward.
A pair of warm hands timely caught her.
Song Yan had come to her side at some point. He gently helped her up, pressed her pulse, and channeled a wisp of pure Sword Qi into her body to help her stabilize the still-weak Sword Dao seed.
"Good."
Song Yan looked at the young girl before him. Although her face was as pale as paper and her breath was faint, a tenacious and unyielding spirit faintly shone in her brows.
His eyes held approval and the relief of a burden lifted.
"The Sword Mansion is complete. In your future Cultivation, this Sword Mansion and Dao seed will be the Foundation of your Cultivation."
"After a few days of rest, you can begin to re-Cultivate your Realm."
Xiao Ju opened her eyes wearily, struggling to force out a faint smile: "Yes..."
That’s great, Xiao Ju.
You didn’t disappoint Master.
