Chapter 129 - 66: The Three Days Are Up, Returning to the Martial Arts Arena

Chapter 129: Chapter 66: The Three Days Are Up, Returning to the Martial Arts Arena

Su Xingying’s fighting spirit soared, her confidence brimming. On the other side, Jiang Xuan was just as self-assured.

He had just withdrawn from the Mountain of Books and Sea of Literature. Though his face was weary, his eyes shone with a brilliant light, sparks faintly flickering within them.

’I’ve grasped most of the mysteries of Mangzhong: Fire Tree and Silver Flowers! With this ability combined with the Frost Heaven Mark, my power has increased several-fold. I’m going to win tomorrow’s duel, no doubt about it!’

But despite this surge in power, Jiang Xuan had a nagging worry.

’The acupoints related to the Primordial Sea... I can’t find a single one anymore.’

Over the past few days, the number of acupoints he had opened had reached 96.

But since then, no matter how hard he searched, he couldn’t find any more acupoints connected to the Primordial Sea.

It was as if he were born with only 96 acupoints.

Upon realizing this, Jiang Xuan had tried to find a solution, but neither using the Clear Heart Mirror for Observing Oneself nor the Three Purification Mantra: True Communication had any effect whatsoever.

He had also considered using the Mountain of Books and Sea of Literature to study the insights and experiences of his predecessors in opening acupoints.

However, the Four Seasons Valley was, after all, only a Middle-Class Dharma Vein. Most of its disciples opened between eighty-one and ninety acupoints. By relying on the Clear Heart Mirror and the Three Purification Spell, the number of acupoints he had opened for a single Spirit Core had already surpassed ninety-nine percent of the disciples.

The experiences of the handful who had surpassed that were of little benefit to him.

’My Profound Middle Grade Spirit Root must be limiting me after all.’

’What should I do now? Keep banging my head against the wall with the First Spirit Core, or put it on hold and start opening the Second Spirit Core, the Sea of Qi?’

He didn’t agonize over it for long before making a decision.

’I don’t have the luxury of time. For tomorrow’s duel, and for the three-academy joint exam in three days, I need immense power to make any gains. Right now, every little bit of strength I can get matters.’

’Besides, when it comes to forming the Second Spirit Core, finding the first acupoint is just difficult, not impossible. As long as the Skill Passive I get when I advance as a Qi Cultivator is good enough, it won’t be hard to go back and complete the acupoints for the First Spirit Core.’

With this in mind, Jiang Xuan turned his attention to his Qi Cultivator class.

[Beginner Qi Cultivator, Level: 3/4 (1809/3300)]

Though only three days had passed, his Qi Cultivator class experience had shot up by over a thousand. He was only about 1,500 XP away from reaching Level 4 Perfection, which would take about three to five days of normal cultivation.

This meant that in a week at most, he would have to consider his first class advancement as a Qi Cultivator.

The reason his Beginner Qi Cultivator progress was so rapid was undoubtedly a benefit from his advancement to Profound Scripture Daoist.

Nearly a tenth of the books Jiang Xuan had acquired were about the experiences and insights of Qi Cultivation.

By using the Mountain of Books and Sea of Literature to read them, Jiang Xuan gained around 200 to 300 experience points each time.

——It hadn’t originally been that much, but the Scripture Pavilion’s enhancement to Jiang Xuan’s Spirituality manifested in all sorts of ways.

Now, reading a single book gave Jiang Xuan two to three times the experience he used to get.

Hmm... another thing to note was that every time he personally experienced the Book Mountain and Sea of Literature Illusion, he would memorize the book’s contents, which would then be filed away in his Memory Palace - Scripture Pavilion.

Using this method, though only two or three days had passed, the number of books in Jiang Xuan’s Memory Palace had already grown by more than one hundred and thirty.

As for why he became dizzy after reading just one book while studying *Mangzhong: Fire Tree and Silver Flowers*, yet could read over a hundred in the following two or three days, the reason was simple. Not all books contained as many mysteries as *Mangzhong: Fire Tree and Silver Flowers*, nor would Jiang Xuan run a Simulation Deduction in every Illusion Realm.

Most of the time, after using the Opening Scripture Profound Essence Spell to empower a book and create the Mountain of Books and Sea of Literature, he would simply enter to experience it immersively without trying to change anything.

This method resulted in very little consumption for Jiang Xuan. In fact, the Dao Rhyme from the text in the book alone was often enough to sustain the Illusion Realm’s operation.

While this still took a toll, after becoming a Profound Scripture Daoist, Jiang Xuan’s Heart Soul strength had reached the Spirit Core Late Stage. This allowed him to ’read’ twenty to thirty books in one sitting just for comprehension before his spiritual energy was depleted.

’I never thought the Mountain of Books and Sea of Literature would be so effective for memorization... At this rate, moving the entire vast collection from the real Scripture Pavilion into my Memory Palace is no longer a pipe dream.’

’It’s just a shame that duplicate books don’t work.’

’After I finish moving this massive collection of Daoist Books, if I don’t want the physical Scripture Pavilion to become obsolete, I’ll have to keep buying more Daoist Books.’

As he thought about this, Jiang Xuan grew even more expectant for the next day’s duel.

’Su Xingying, how many Daoist Books I can afford to buy in the near future is all up to you.’

...

Because his battle with Su Xingying was about more than just victory—there were also Spirit Stones on the line—Jiang Xuan arrived at the Martial Arts Arena bright and early on the appointed day.

Su Xingying hadn’t appeared yet, leaving Jiang Xuan to wonder whether he should find someone else in the Martial Arts Arena for a warm-up match or just wait.

But before Jiang Xuan could come to a decision, a voice suddenly sounded from behind him.

"Young Master Jiang Xuan, we meet again."

The sudden voice made Jiang Xuan turn around. He saw that the person calling him was Su Xingying’s servant—the same old woman who had given him seven hundred Spirit Stones on her mistress’s orders.

His brows furrowed slightly at the sight of her.

He could sense she didn’t think much of him. Three days ago, she had looked at him as if she were scrutinizing a criminal.

In the next moment, her words made his heart sink.

"My Lady Su has learned of the matter between you and the young miss..."

"..." He immediately assumed the old woman had shown up early to put him in his place or to warn him to stay away from Su Xingying.

But just as Jiang Xuan’s thoughts turned to the worst-case scenario, the old woman’s next words stunned him. "I heard that you are an even match for the young miss and that she considers you a formidable rival. Lady Su was very pleased to hear this."

"Huh?!"

Jiang Xuan’s dumbfounded expression made Yu Dai chuckle. "What’s with that face? Did you think Lady Su would forbid the young miss from dueling you?"

Before Jiang Xuan could reply, Yu Dai continued, "Rest assured, Lady Su is not so petty, nor is she so short-sighted. Having an evenly matched opponent is greatly beneficial to the young miss’s cultivation."

"Therefore, upon learning of this, Lady Su not only did not oppose your duel but, on the contrary, ordered me to deliver some modest gifts to thank you for honing Miss Xingying’s skills."

As she spoke, Yu Dai placed several Middle Grade Spirit Stones and a bottle of Elixir Pills into Jiang Xuan’s hands.

The tangible gift instantly dispelled Jiang Xuan’s prejudice toward Yu Dai. His opinion of the Su Family’s matriarch, whom he had never met, also improved immensely.

’This family is full of good people.’

Feeling a wave of emotion, Jiang Xuan cupped his hands toward Yu Dai. "Senior, please give my regards to Lady Su."

"And please tell her that when I duel Miss Su Xingying, I will give it my all."

"That would be for the best."

During their conversation, Yu Dai did not immediately try to recruit Jiang Xuan.

This wasn’t because she had abandoned the idea, but because she believed that since Jiang Xuan had fought her young miss to a standstill just a few days ago, he was now at his most arrogant.

Trying to recruit him at a time like this would have a low chance of success.

’These Nobles from the Lower Classes who haven’t seen the world are always conceited, thinking they’re second to none. If I try to recruit him now, this little guy might even think I’m insulting him.’

With this in mind, Yu Dai wasn’t in a rush. She would first build a better relationship with Jiang Xuan and then wait for her young miss to defeat him soundly.

In fact, she didn’t even plan to make an offer after his first loss.

’He won’t necessarily accept it after a single defeat.’

’But as they say, the first rush is full of vigor, the second wanes, and the third is spent. After several consecutive defeats, his pride will be ground down. He’ll realize the truly vast gap between a commoner like himself and Miss Xingying. That will be the time for me to make my move.’

...

Thanks to the gift, the atmosphere between the two was reasonably amicable.

However, with the battle fast approaching, Jiang Xuan didn’t have time for more small talk.

He found a spot, took a deep breath, and began Nourishing the Spirit and calming his Qi.

A short while later, Su Xingying arrived gracefully.

What made Jiang Xuan raise an eyebrow was that Su Xingying had arrived at the Martial Arts Arena with another person in tow—a Cultivator whose depth he couldn’t fathom.

’Even here, inside the Shenxiao Sect’s Mountain Gate, she has a powerful expert watching over her every step. Is this the kind of entourage a direct heiress from a top Noble Family has?’

As he mused on this, Jiang Xuan wasn’t particularly surprised by Su Xingying’s look of soaring confidence.

When she had set the time for their duel three days prior, Jiang Xuan had guessed she must have been planning to make significant progress in that time.

This simply confirmed his suspicions.

"HUUU..."

Letting out a long breath, Jiang Xuan spoke to Su Xingying. "I’ll wait for you in the Mirage Mirror: Three Thousand Realms. Same place, the Land of the Setting Sun."

With that, Jiang Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged in a lakeside pavilion, entered the Mirage Mirror: Three Thousand Realms directly through the mirror.

"Right behind you." Su Xingying entered after him.

What Jiang Xuan didn’t see after entering the Mirage Mirror was the middle-aged man who had come with Su Xingying. He watched Jiang Xuan’s spirited figure with a complex, unreadable expression.

This sight made Yu Dai’s brows knit together tightly.

"Li Liang, Lady Su ordered you to come here so you could use your similar experiences to persuade Jiang Xuan to join the young miss’s service."

"How are you supposed to convince him when you look so dejected?!"

"Or do you feel the Su Family has treated you poorly?"

"That’s not what I mean." Cradling a long saber, Li Liang still looked as listless as ever. "Half of my cultivation was achieved thanks to the Su Family’s resources."

Having said that, he shrugged. "I just don’t see the point in putting on an act in front of that kid. He’s clearly strong-willed. The only way to make him yield is for Miss Xingying to defeat him utterly. It has to be a crushing victory, one that shows him he has no hope of ever catching up. Only then will he give up."

"Mere words won’t be able to sway his resolve."

Hearing this, Yu Dai didn’t get angry. Instead, she smiled. "The young miss will accomplish that."

Without arguing, Li Liang, still cradling his saber, nodded with a bitter look. "Yes. Family background, resources, Talent, even her master... the young miss is superior to him in every way. Whether now or in the future, his chances of victory are infinitely close to Zero."

As Li Liang spoke, he thought back to his own past. He too had once been a Noble from the Lower Classes. When he entered the Sect, he had been just as high-spirited, dreaming of walking his own path, free and unrestrained.

But the longer he cultivated, the more he realized the gap between himself and the prodigies from the Noble Families.

He didn’t have high hopes for Jiang Xuan, either.

’You have Talent, but it’s not enough.’

Sighing internally, Li Liang said to Yu Dai, "When Jiang Xuan is defeated by the young miss—and by such a despairing margin—he’s bound to come out feeling bitter and dejected. If you invite him to join the Su Family with a condescending attitude at that moment, it will only fuel the flames of his anger and jealousy."

"He won’t be in any state to listen to reason."

"But someone like me, someone in the same state of mind, might be able to get him to sit down and listen."

"I see." Yu Dai nodded, her expression turning serious. "No wonder Lady Su sent you. You really are the most suitable person for this task."

"Then let’s stick to the plan. After Jiang Xuan is defeated, you’ll go comfort him. Then, you’ll encourage him, guide him, and get him to challenge the young miss again."

"After three consecutive losses, once he has thoroughly accepted the gap between them, you can use that master-disciple bond to bring him into the young miss’s service."

Seeing Li Liang’s pained expression, she offered a rare word of comfort. "Don’t feel burdened by it. Joining the Su Family will be a good thing for him."

"...I know." After a long silence, Li Liang finally nodded, acknowledging her final words.