Chapter 312 - 133: Ye Xiaoyu, Taiqing Master, Su Bai Bestows a Technique

"Haha! Brother Taiqing is right. The people of this world are foolish. They fail to recognize a great master of the Dao, yet they have a peculiar fondness for a few pieces of gold and silver!"

"Since that’s the case, there’s no harm in taking some gold and silver to keep up appearances."

As the laughter echoed, before the magnificent gates of the Gui Chen Sect, the many disciples welcoming guests all bowed in unison:

"We greet the Vice Sect Leader!"

The group of Daoists behind the Taiqing Daoist all tensed.

Before the laughter had even faded, a figure in a white Daoist robe came into view.

Xiao Yu had already stepped out. From dozens of yards away, he clasped his hands in a salute.

"Brother Taiqing, a full sixty-year cycle has passed since we last parted. I have missed you dearly!"

"Fellow Daoist Xiao is burdened by many affairs. It would not be right to disturb you on a normal day."

The Taiqing Daoist returned the salute with a faint smile.

His attitude was neither distant nor familiar.

"Unlike you, Brother, who enjoys a life of leisure in the mountains."

Xiao Yu’s smile never faltered as he continued,

"The Leader of Gui Chen Sect has not yet emerged from his seclusion, so he cannot welcome you personally. Brother Taiqing, please don’t take offense."

"Not at all."

Hearing that the Leader of Gui Chen Sect was still in seclusion, a glint flickered in the Taiqing Daoist’s eyes.

Only then did his gaze shift to the young Daoist Nun who stood behind Xiao Yu like a shadow.

"Is this a new disciple of yours, Fellow Daoist Xiao?"

The young Daoist Nun was quite pretty, with a childish air about her, looking to be no more than eight or nine years old.

But her cold, clear eyes held a maturity that belied her age.

It was reminiscent of Possession, of a soul’s rebirth, yet it felt slightly different.

"This is a Daoist Child I took in two years ago. She’s not an official disciple, but her talent is decent, her aptitude quite remarkable."

"In a few years, I might be able to accept her as a Named Disciple."

Xiao Yu glanced at the young Daoist Nun.

The young Daoist Nun understood at once. She bowed slightly and said in a crisp, clear voice,

"Disciple Ye Xiaoyu greets you, Elder."

"Clever and bright. Her innate talent is truly extraordinary."

The Taiqing Daoist casually took out a Dao Talisman. With a flick of his wrist, it cut through the air and landed in Ye Xiaoyu’s hand.

"This is a Gathering Spirit Dao Talisman. It has its uses."

"A Gathering Spirit Dao Talisman!"

The disciples behind the Taiqing Daoist were all shocked.

This Gathering Spirit Dao Talisman was no ordinary Dao Talisman, but a Divine Communication Dao Talisman.

In other words, as long as Heaven and Earth Essence Qi existed, the talisman would last forever.

Wearing it for an extended period could not only improve one’s physical constitution, but also extend one’s lifespan and increase the speed of their Cultivation.

Even more rare was the fact that it could be passed down to later generations.

It was practically equivalent to an heirloom Magical Artifact.

None of them, his own disciples, possessed such a rare Dao Talisman.

"Fellow Daoist, you are too generous."

Xiao Yu was also surprised by the Taiqing Master’s generosity. After a brief smile, he returned the gesture by taking out a snow-white porcelain bottle.

"This is an Elixir refined from a Celestial Returning Pill and other rare Spirit Plants. It can advance one’s Cultivation. While you may not need it, Brother, I’m sure your talented disciples will find it useful."

A Celestial Returning Pill!

The Taiqing Master’s gaze flickered as he looked at his disciples, whose eyes lit up with surprise.

"Since it is a gift from Sect Leader Xiao, you may accept it."

Only after receiving the Taiqing Daoist’s permission did the disciples accept the gift.

Meanwhile, Ye Xiaoyu silently extended her hand and accepted the Dao Talisman.

"Please, come in, Brother Taiqing. The True Man of Heavenly Tiger, Master Yi, and the Zilei Master have all arrived and are waiting in the main hall."

Xiao Yu said with a smile, gesturing for him to enter.

The three people he named were all famous experts in the Void Realm and Feather Transformation Realm from the Dayu Immortal Dynasty. One of them even possessed a higher Cultivation than him.

These individuals were all either sect patriarchs or Sect Leaders.

"Our fellow Daoists have certainly arrived early."

The Taiqing Daoist chuckled softly and walked through the gates, side by side with Xiao Yu.

The people Xiao Yu mentioned were from the sects with the closest ties to the Gui Chen Sect, so it was only natural they would arrive early.

The disciples from the Taiqing Temple cast a curious glance at the young Daoist Nun by the gate before hurrying to follow.

The Gui Chen Sect’s grounds were vast, containing everything from rockeries and lakes to pavilions and terraces.

The floors were paved with seamless white jade, and walking among the swirling mists felt like treading through an Immortal Realm.

The disciples of the Taiqing Temple maintained calm expressions, but their hearts were reeling.

This was far beyond any mortal luxury they could have imagined.

The rockeries, the lakes, the magnificent golden halls, the very slabs of white jade underfoot—all of it was carved with layer upon layer of Patterns.

These Patterns interconnected with one another,

forming an indescribably massive Grand Array!

The Spiritual Qi here was even richer than at their own sect’s headquarters.

’To think they could construct such a Pocket World Blessed Land, a veritable Holy Land for cultivation, right outside the Capital City!’

Their reverence for the Leader of Gui Chen Sect deepened involuntarily.

Only the Taiqing Daoist, showing no surprise, continued to chat and laugh with Xiao Yu as if nothing was out of the ordinary, heading toward the main hall.

One disciple’s eyes widened as he peered into the distance.

He could see auras overflowing from the hall—some transcendent, some peaceful, some bitingly cold, some sinister, some chilling to the bone...

At a glance, it was impossible to tell just how many people were inside.

...

Ye Xiaoyu clutched the Gathering Spirit Dao Talisman, her expression vacant as she stared into space.

The Gui Chen Sect disciples welcoming guests at the entrance didn’t dare disturb her.

They simply assumed she was contemplating the mysteries of the Gathering Spirit Dao Talisman.

In reality, however, Ye Xiaoyu was communicating with a faint, flickering Divine Thought in her mind.

’Teacher, what should I do now?’

The Divine Thought was incredibly faint, its fluctuations almost nonexistent.

Yet Ye Xiaoyu was consulting it with the utmost seriousness.

Because this was the very same Divine Thought that had saved her life a few days ago, and it had been silently guiding her Cultivation ever since.

It was the only teacher she truly acknowledged in her heart.

The Divine Thought flickered, and an invisible ripple in her mind formed into a message:

’Wait.’

Ye Xiaoyu agreed, but a question surfaced in her mind.

’Teacher, you told me to wait by the gate. Am I waiting for a senior brother?’

’He’s half a junior brother to you, you could say.’

As the Divine Thought replied, it silently emerged from between her brows, transforming into an infinitesimal ripple that spread outward.

’He’s here.’

’Teacher...’

Ye Xiaoyu felt the Divine Thought leave her, and her heart filled with a profound reluctance, mingled with panic and unease.

But she let none of it show on her face.

She had already experienced far too much; at her young age, she had learned to hide her emotions.

Feigning a casual glance, she looked in that direction.

The invisible ripple drifted on the wind down the long street, floating toward the corner, toward a tall pedestrian shrouded in a black cloak.

’Is... is that my junior brother?’

’But why only half a one?’

WHOOSH!

A light breeze seemed to sweep down the long street, stirring Jin Yunfeng’s cloak.

’Did Elder Su truly leave something behind for me here?’

The instant the ripple entered his body, Jin Yunfeng shuddered but quickly suppressed the reaction. He feigned ignorance, moving with the crowd past the Gui Chen Sect’s entrance and continuing on his way.

He could feel the young Daoist Nun’s probing gaze from the entrance, but he didn’t stop, and was soon gone.

Only after walking down three or four long streets and doubling back a few times did Jin Yunfeng finally breathe a sigh of relief.

The moment he relaxed his guard, a brilliant light erupted within his Heart Sea, illuminating all its dark corners.

Vaguely, within that radiance, a Divine Sword seemed to materialize, bobbing up and down, flickering in and out of existence.

The Divine Sword had no hilt; it was formless and colorless. Yet as Jin Yunfeng’s Mind-Spirit Sensing connected with it, he seemed to see the colors of all creation reflected within the blade.

The vision showed...

...resplendent starlight, a blazing sun, majestic mountains and rivers, lush vegetation, and the shimmering expanse of Bishui Lake...

...and a young man in white, sitting quietly by the shore, his aura as vast and ethereal as an Exiled Immortal’s.

This colorless Divine Sword seemed to contain the entirety of creation.

Inexplicably, he understood the essence contained within the Divine Sword.

It was a Swordsmanship technique.

A Swordsmanship technique of only a single move.

Sword Nine!

Though it appeared to be a single move,

...a thousand forms of Sword Intent and ten thousand schools of Swordsmanship surged through Jin Yunfeng’s mind. The essence of the Sword Dao flowed into him, giving rise to infinite enlightenment.

In a daze, he seemed to witness the entire life of a peerless Swordsman.

By the Bishui Lake Shore, a Sword God sat alone.

’Such Swordsmanship... such Swordsmanship...’

When he came to his senses, Jin Yunfeng’s Heart Spirit was shaken. He felt that this sword technique was a perfect match for him.

He had come to the Martial Dao late in life. Though he was a Sword Cultivator, his blade was that of a mortal hero from the Jianghu, not the Flying Sword of a true Sword Cultivator.

Su Bai had seen the memories of many powerful Sword Cultivators. Their Flying Swords consisted only of a blade, without a hilt.

This was because many Sword Cultivators had no need to physically wield a sword. Once their Cultivation reached a certain level, anything could become their sword—even their own will.

But Jin Yunfeng had started late, with no master and no backing. The Swordsmanship he had learned was merely a common Seventh Grade Cultivation Technique.

Even though he had reached the Dragon Mansion Realm, his refusal to join a major power meant he had no way of obtaining a higher-grade Cultivation Technique.

Therefore, despite being in the Dragon Mansion Realm, he might not have been able to defeat a Dao Palace Realm disciple from one of the major powers.

But now, seeing such a profound Swordsmanship technique, he was not only thrilled but also deeply moved.

This Swordsmanship was a perfect fit for him.

’Thank you, Elder, for granting me this technique!’

After a moment’s trance, Jin Yunfeng felt a surge of gratitude.

Su Bai had saved his life, and now he had passed on this profound Swordsmanship. Jin Yunfeng lived his life by a simple code: all debts, whether of gratitude or vengeance, must be repaid.

’But a debt to a person this powerful... I’m afraid I’ll be paying it for the rest of my life.’

Then again, successfully mastering this Swordsmanship in such a short time would be an incredibly difficult task.

And so, in the days that followed, he sealed himself away, cultivating the Swordsmanship without rest.

The more he practiced, the more stunned Jin Yunfeng became.

At first glance, the technique resembled the Martial Arts of the mortal Jianghu, but its core was Divine Thoughts. It was all about controlling the sword with one’s spirit.

This Swordsmanship.

It valued spirit over technique, momentum over form.

One strike of the sword would ignite the Divine Thoughts, landing with the force of a falling star!

Although he had received the inheritance of Su Bai’s Divine Thoughts, truly mastering it would likely take eight to ten years.

But he wasn’t trying to achieve true mastery right now.

He just needed to be able to execute that single strike.

He also knew he would only get one shot. After the previous assassination attempt, that old bastard was bound to be on high alert.

’One strike. It has to kill him!’

Some things could not be compromised, could not be postponed. Procrastination was not an option.

He knew that if he waited eight or ten years to completely master the technique, his chances of success would be far greater.

But still, he decided to act according to his plan.

If one waited until they were completely certain before acting on anything...

...then nothing in this world would ever get done!

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow... How many tomorrows are there?

「In a dimly lit room within a remote inn.」

Jin Yunfeng was nurturing his own Sword Intent within his heart.

At a certain moment, he whispered,

"Sword Nine..."

Instantly, specks of brilliant silver light began to rise from the depths of his heart.

As time passed, the light grew ever more brilliant, illuminating every shadow in the room.

Until, at a certain moment, the light burst forth.

As brilliant as the midday sun!