Chapter 90 - 37: First Sword, Winter is Coming

Chapter 90: Chapter 37: First Sword, Winter is Coming

Upon hearing Jiang Xuan point out the flaws, Wu Shan’s first reaction was to frown in thought. He then walked over to the Great Cauldron, picked up a few remaining grains of rice, and placed them in his mouth, savoring them carefully.

After a few moments, Wu Shan’s eyes shot open. His gaze, fixed on Jiang Xuan, was now filled with incredulous excitement and sheer ecstasy.

"It’s actually true... You can sense the deficiencies in the Spiritual Cuisine?!"

Jiang Xuan didn’t deny it, replying calmly, "My palate is just a bit more sensitive, that’s all."

"This is more than just ’a bit’ sensitive." After saying this, Wu Shan’s expression grew solemn, as if he had made a great resolution. He took a step forward, gripped Jiang Xuan’s shoulders tightly, and said in a heavy voice, "Jiang Xuan, come to our Valley of Summer!"

"You not only comprehended the Warm Sun Dao Rhyme from a single meal, but you also possess such a heaven-defying talent for tasting and appraisal. It’s a perfect match for the legacy of our Valley of Summer—a match made in heaven! As long as you’re willing to come, in less than ten years, the position of Chief Disciple of the Valley of Summer will be yours without a doubt!"

"Huh?!" Wu Shan’s impassioned words and his high praise for Jiang Xuan’s future left Xia He completely stunned.

Jiang Xuan, however, remained perfectly calm. "I will learn the Valley of Summer’s Cultivation Technique."

The moment he said this, Wu Shan understood. Jiang Xuan was still determined to walk the path of the Four Seasons Reincarnation.

This left him at a loss for words, a conflicted expression on his face.

Before, he hadn’t been opposed to Jiang Xuan taking this path.

The path was fraught with risk, but the rewards for success were immeasurable. Besides, he and Jiang Xuan hadn’t known each other long, having only met once. It wouldn’t have been appropriate to overstep his bounds by trying to dissuade him.

But now, things were different.

To comprehend the essence of the Warm Sun Dao Rhyme from a single meal and detect flaws in Spiritual Cuisine just by tasting it—such a Talent was a priceless treasure for the Valley of Summer.

At the very least, as long as Jiang Xuan was alive and regularly ate his Spiritual Cuisine, he could continuously point out the deficiencies in his cooking. This would allow Wu Shan’s Culinary Skill to improve steadily, free from any bottlenecks.

And in the Valley of Summer, Culinary Skill and one’s Cultivation Realm were inextricably linked.

Furthermore, he had even higher hopes for Jiang Xuan.

Within the Shenxiao Sect, the Grade of each Dharma Vein’s Cultivation Technique was not set in stone. A prodigy or powerful expert could augment, revise, and optimize the technique to a certain degree.

Some supreme prodigies could even directly raise the Grade of a Cultivation Technique.

And in Wu Shan’s eyes, Jiang Xuan possessed exactly that kind of potential.

’Jiang Xuan’s affinity with the Valley of Summer is second to none, and his Talent is absolutely top-tier. If he stays in the Valley of Summer to cultivate diligently, he might just be able to eliminate the core flaw in the Flame Splendor Supreme Profound Chapter and elevate it to the level of a Middle-Class Dharma Vein.’

’When that happens, not only will the Valley of Summer’s status rise accordingly, but my own path of cultivation will become a hundred times smoother.’

Realizing that Jiang Xuan’s safety was now inextricably linked to his own cultivation path, Wu Shan was naturally even more against him practicing the exceedingly dangerous Four Seasons Reincarnation Technique.

However, he also knew he was too clumsy with words to dissuade Jiang Xuan, so after the rejection, he said no more.

But he didn’t let the matter drop.

As a full and satisfied Jiang Xuan followed Xia He to go learn the sword, Wu Shan didn’t even bother to clean the Great Cauldron he normally treasured. He simply turned and sprinted toward the heart of the Valley of Summer.

’I must report this to the Valley Master immediately!’

...

While Wu Shan rushed frantically toward the Valley Master, Xia He had already led Jiang Xuan to a small courtyard north of Huangni Village, on the shores of Winter Lake.

In the courtyard, a kind-faced old woman was dozing in a bamboo chair. Not far away, Di Chuan sat with his eyes closed, comprehending the sword. His current state was quite pitiful—not only was his face pale, but he was also dripping wet from head to toe, as if he had just been fished out of the lake.

"???"

While Jiang Xuan was still taken aback, Xia He spotted the old woman and immediately greeted her with cheerful affection.

"Granny Lan, I’ve come to see you."

Her crisp, lively voice roused the old woman from her slumber.

"So, Little Xia He is here." The old woman opened her eyes, first smiling at Xia He as she ran over. Then her gaze fell upon Jiang Xuan, and her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

Xia He didn’t notice this. As she skillfully began to massage Granny Lan’s shoulders, she started her introduction excitedly, "Granny Lan, this is the Jiang Xuan I told you about yesterday! He’s incredible! Yesterday, just from tasting the seasonal vegetables once, he completely comprehended all the Four Seasons Dao Rhymes!"

"And today, Brother Wu Shan also said Jiang Xuan’s Talent is unparalleled..."

"To fully grasp the Four Seasons Dao Rhymes just by tasting some vegetables... your Comprehension is indeed impressive. And looking at the aura about you, it’s no wonder that oaf Wu Shan thinks so highly of you." After hearing Xia He’s praise, Granny Lan nodded. But then, her tone shifted abruptly. "Are you sure you’re in the right place, though? With that Warm Sunlight Aura of yours, you’d be better off learning Mangzhong: Fire Tree and Silver Flowers."

Jiang Xuan cupped his hands in a fist-and-palm salute, his voice calm but firm. "Elder, I will learn Mangzhong as well. However, the Guicang Annihilation Sword is more deeply connected to the mysteries of the Four Seasons Reincarnation, so I wish to learn it first."

"Heh... Another one who thinks he’s fated to survive the Four Seasons Reincarnation." Granny Lan scoffed. "But do you have any idea? Because of how dangerous the Four Seasons Reincarnation is, anyone who dares to cultivate this Taoist Skill is either supremely talented or possesses an unyielding will and a fearlessness of death. In all these years, I’ve never seen a single person try it who wasn’t qualified. And even so, the final success rate for navigating the Four Seasons Reincarnation is still only thirty percent!"

Her words did make Jiang Xuan’s expression turn grim, and his appraisal of the Four Seasons Reincarnation Technique’s danger rose another notch.