Chapter 114 - 58: Winter Solstice Promotion, the Wind of Harsh Winter that Breathes Vitality into All Creation

Chapter 114: Chapter 58: Winter Solstice Promotion, the Wind of Harsh Winter that Breathes Vitality into All Creation

Yu Dai didn’t refute this point. Having a rival did indeed make one more driven, but she was worried. "But they’re at the age where feelings first start to bloom. Being together day in and day out, it’s inevitable that..."

"They won’t." Ning Rong cut her off before she could finish, her tone resolute and leaving no room for argument. "I know Yingying’s disposition better than anyone. She’s fiercely competitive and hates to lose. Because that boy, Jiang Xuan, bested her, all her attention will be fixed on him for the time being."

"But that same refusal to lose also means Yingying would never fall for someone weaker than her."

"And as for Jiang Xuan, with his Profound Middle-grade Spirit Root and his origins in the Lower Classes, his Cultivation progress will inevitably fall far behind Yingying’s."

"It won’t be long before Yingying completely surpasses him in terms of power."

At this, Ning Rong’s expression grew even more relaxed. "Rather than worrying about feelings developing between them over time, I’m more concerned that Yingying’s Cultivation will progress so quickly that she’ll defeat Jiang Xuan in their next match. Once she no longer has a rival, she’s likely to slack off a little."

Though she said this, Ning Rong had no intention of holding back Su Xingying’s progress. After her little joke, she said to Yu Dai, "The resources I requested have been approved. Take my command token later, go to the Ning Family estate, and retrieve the Profound Void Stone for Yingying."

"With the help of this treasure, three days is more than enough time for her to find all 108 acupoints of her first Spirit Core. When that happens, she will awaken her first Divine Collection."

Upon hearing this, Yu Dai immediately bowed and replied, "Yes, Madam."

After her response, the worry in her heart vanished instantly.

Like Ning Rong, she didn’t believe that her fiercely competitive Young Miss would ever fall for someone with less power than herself.

Furthermore, she couldn’t imagine the frail-looking Jiang Xuan ever catching up in Cultivation to her Young Miss, who possessed both outstanding Talent and abundant resources.

This wasn’t born of contempt, but was a judgment she had reached through rational thought.

’Acupoints are difficult to locate, and the Profound Void Stone is one of the few treasures in the world that can aid in that search. A treasure of this caliber... Jiang Xuan isn’t even qualified to lay eyes on it, let alone use it.’

’His victory now was purely because the Young Miss had only recently begun her Cultivation and lacked experience... No, that’s not right. It can’t even be considered his victory. If the Young Miss had just been willing to delay for a moment, he would have been the one to fall.’

’And the more time that passes, the greater the Young Miss’s advantage will become, bolstered as she is by so many resources.’

Once she realized there was no chance of anything developing between Jiang Xuan and Su Xingying, Yu Dai found him much less disagreeable.

She even took the initiative to suggest to Ning Rong, "Madam, should we give Jiang Xuan some resources as a reward? He does have some Talent, after all. In the future, when the Young Miss achieves a high station, she will need people to support her. He might become a capable subordinate."

"Fine. You see to the arrangements." Having ascertained Jiang Xuan’s background, Ning Rong had lost all interest. She waved her hand dismissively and put the matter out of her mind.

...

Jiang Xuan, of course, was completely unaware of the ripples and disturbances in the outside world.

He had just awoken from a deep slumber.

"Haaaa...!"

After a deep, refreshing slumber, Jiang Xuan felt his whole body loosen up. The Heart Spirit he had exhausted during his fight with Su Xingying was fully restored, and a sense of ease permeated his entire being.

A glance at the sky told him it was now midnight, but that made no difference to him.

’Actually, this is perfect. Winter Solstice is the Extreme Yin Sword, and midnight is the time of extreme yin. Now is the ideal time to cultivate.’

With this in mind, Jiang Xuan rose to his feet in the Valley of Spring and headed briskly toward the Winter Lake.

As he walked, he flicked a finger to open his attribute panel, his gaze landing on two key sections.

The first was the Nine Breath Qi Ingestion Technique.

[Nine Breath Qi Ingestion Technique]

[Grade: Deep Blue]

[Level: Fourth Realm: Expert (331/84,000)]

[Traits: Circulation of Heaven and Earth]

The Skill’s Trait hadn’t changed, but a description had been added.

[You can use Magical Power as a medium to circulate the force of an attack throughout your entire body, allowing your physical body and acupoints to bear the damage together.]

[Note: Can currently only redirect physical Power.]

This was an excellent Trait, and its Effect had been on full display during his fight with Su Xingying.

Without it, Jiang Xuan would have been unable to block Su Xingying’s second strike; his sword would have been knocked clean out of his hand.

Unable to even hold his ground, he naturally would have had no chance to turn the tables and win.

Furthermore, the way Circulation of Heaven and Earth relieved the pressure on his heart and lungs allowed his critical-state burst to last for a much longer period.

’It’s a useful Trait, but right now, the most important thing is breaking through to the Fifth Realm,’ Jiang Xuan thought.

In this world, Skill proficiency was generally categorized with the Third Realm: Mastery considered "Minor Success," and the Fifth Realm: Master Level considered "Great Success."

At these two stages, a Skill’s power would typically undergo two major transformations.

And the power boost from the second transformation was far greater than the first—an increase of more than tenfold.

’The first transformation, which gave me Circulation of Heaven and Earth, has been incredibly beneficial. I wonder what kind of change the second transformation will bring... And when it reaches Great Success, will it become any easier for me to find my acupoints?!’

Jiang Xuan couldn’t help but imagine that once his Nine Breath Qi Ingestion Technique reached Great Success, he might be able to contend with Su Xingying without having to desperately burn his own vitality.

However, getting this Cultivation Technique from the Fourth Realm to the Fifth Realm required a whopping 84,000 experience points—several times more than the first four Realms combined.

Even though the Nine Breath Qi Ingestion Technique could run automatically, reaching that goal was still a distant prospect for him. He shook his head and put the matter aside.

His gaze shifted to his other Skill—Winter Solstice. It, on the other hand, was very close to its transformation.

[Winter Solstice: Second Realm: Proficient (4899/4900)]

’Just one point away. Once it reaches Minor Success, my power should surge as well.’

He quickened his pace, and soon, Jiang Xuan arrived at the shore of the Winter Lake.

Since Granny Lan wasn’t nearby to watch over him, Jiang Xuan didn’t dare submerge himself at the bottom of the lake.

Relying on his control over the Ice Cold Power, he formed a Cold Jade Bed on the surface of the Winter Lake.

The Cold Jade Bed was bone-chillingly cold. The moment he lay down, Jiang Xuan felt as if his very blood was freezing over, a piercing cold seeping into his being. Yet he knew in his heart that this extreme cold was the key to comprehending the Winter Solstice Sword Intent and breaking through his Realm.

And so, despite the difficulty, he remained on the bed.

He lay there for most of the night.

For the first several hours, the sensation of an imminent breakthrough thrummed within him. But the feeling was too vague, like the moon’s reflection in water or a flower in a mirror; no matter how he tried, he couldn’t quite grasp it.

Jiang Xuan did not grow impatient.

’The Third Realm is known as Minor Success. Advancing to it was never going to be easy.’

’And since Winter Solstice is tied to the power of the seasons, to the Power of Heaven and Earth itself, it’s that much harder.’

’Fortunately, I have the Three Purification Mantra: True Communication, which allows me to better harmonize with the Power of Heaven and Earth...’

At this thought, Jiang Xuan completely emptied his Heart Spirit, cast aside all distracting thoughts, and let himself merge as one with the Ice Lake beneath him.

"Haaaa..."

Lying on the ice bed, thoughtless and empty, he slowly began to feel the illusion that he was merging with the Ice Lake—as if he were the lake, and the lake were him.

And from the Ice Lake’s perspective, Jiang Xuan seemed to see the seasons change. The cold winds arrived, the Vitality of all worldly things faded, their activity slowed, and everything between Heaven and Earth was finally covered by a blanket of heavy snow.

Winter is Coming. All life falls silent. And the wind... the wind is winter’s clarion call!

VMMMM—!

As this realization struck him, Jiang Xuan’s consciousness jolted. In that instant, a profound and transparent understanding welled up from the depths of his being, as clear as the sun breaking through the clouds.

"So that’s it... Use the biting winter wind to extinguish the Vitality of all things? I understand now!"