Chapter 92 - 37: The First Sword, Winter is Coming

Chapter 92: Chapter 37: The First Sword, Winter is Coming

"This is a fine swordsmanship, and its concept is ingenious. But the cultivation for this technique is... rather inhuman."

Winter Solstice was an excellent technique, but as the old saying goes, experience is the best teacher.

In the case of the Guicang Jie Mie Sword’s first form, Winter Solstice, this meant that for Jiang Xuan to learn the move, he had to personally experience its endless, terrifying, bone-chilling intent.

He would even have to face near-death situations once, or even multiple times. Only by personally feeling the despair of death could the Frosty Winter Sword Intent he exuded instill that same terror in his enemies.

Once he understood all this, a bitter look appeared on Jiang Xuan’s face.

’Do I have to actively court death? No wonder Granny Lan said that by cultivating this swordsmanship, I was just bringing this suffering upon myself.’

However, the bitterness on his face lasted for only a moment before his expression became calm again.

’Understand death, feel death, face death... These things are difficult, but if someone in the Four Seasons Valley has done it, then so can I!’

’As a Clear Heart Swordsman, my understanding of swordsmanship won’t be inferior to anyone’s!’

He let out a long breath.

With his mind made up, Jiang Xuan cradled the Green Glass Bamboo Sword and slowly closed his eyes.

At the same time, he fully activated his Heart·Sincerity (Sword), immersing his entire Heart Spirit in the biting chill of the Ice Lake to resonate with the omnipresent Annihilation Dao Rhyme.

"Huh?"

Inside the Winter Lake, Jiang Xuan sank to the bottom as swiftly as a silent stone and quickly entered a state of deep Meditation. Naturally, Granny Lan saw it all.

Though she was far from the Ice Lake, with the cold water acting as a barrier, Granny Lan’s Magical Power was superior. Thus, none of Jiang Xuan’s movements or changes in his physical condition could escape her senses.

Besides, she was Jiang Xuan’s teacher, not his enemy. This was a lesson, not a battle to the death; she wouldn’t just stand by and watch him die.

Her earlier harsh, cold attitude, and how she’d plunged him to the bottom of the lake at the slightest provocation—it was all partly intentional.

She wanted to make Jiang Xuan anxious. She wanted him, there at the bottom of the lake, to watch his body go numb bit by bit, to feel his Magical Power freeze over and his Divine Soul erode from the cold, to experience true despair on the brink of death.

It was a cruel thing to do, a torment for the soul, but mastering the Guicang Jie Mie Sword required one to go through this ordeal. This was the sword of death, the Annihilation Sword—and moreover, the sword of despair.

’I didn’t force you to cultivate this swordsmanship; in fact, I advised against it. Since you’re so insistent, this is a bitter pill you’ll just have to swallow.’

These were Granny Lan’s thoughts as she plunged Jiang Xuan into the lake.

At the same time, she was also curious about Jiang Xuan. Before he arrived, Xia He had pestered her for ages, singing his praises. Everything she said suggested she held his abilities in high regard, and it made Granny Lan wonder what was so special about him.

But now, only a few breaths after entering the Ice Lake, Jiang Xuan had already calmed himself. He showed no sign of panic. Instead, he quickly entered Meditation in the bone-chillingly cold Ice Lake. This surprised Granny Lan, and she turned to Xia He. "To be able to quiet his mind so quickly... this little one you found is quite impressive."

At these words, Xia He immediately put a hand on her hip, her eyes curving into crescents as she beamed. "Hee hee, of course! Jiang Xuan is the best! And I was the one who convinced him to stay. With him and me, our Four Seasons Valley will definitely have two True Inner Sect Disciples after the Hundred-Day Exam. We might even break into the top eighteen!"

In response, Granny Lan flicked Xia He on the forehead. "Don’t be delusional. The top eighteen is territory for those with Celestial Level Spirit Roots. You should count your lucky stars if you two can even secure a place in the top thirty-six."

"Besides, right now, Jiang Xuan can only be considered clever. He has likely guessed that I won’t let him die, which is why he’s able to keep his composure."

"But as the Ice Cold Power seeps into his Heart Soul, as his Magical Power freezes and his body begins to shut down, even his Soul Fire will be extinguished by the biting cold, plunging him into endless darkness. If he can still maintain his composure in that desperate, death-like state... only then could he be called truly talented."

As she spoke, Granny Lan raised a hand and summoned a Water Mirror, which clearly showed Jiang Xuan’s figure at the bottom of the lake.

A short while later, her gaze grew extremely focused.

Based on her past experience, this was the point where Jiang Xuan should be reaching his limit. It was the ultimate test of a person’s Heart Nature and temperament.

At this point, even Di Chuan paused his Cultivation and came over to the Water Mirror to watch the figure sitting cross-legged in the icy water.

Xia He was even more nervous, her fists clenched and her heart in her throat.

Then, the three of them held their breath, staring intently at the Water Mirror for another short while.

But after the time it takes to drink a full cup of tea had passed, Jiang Xuan’s aura, though weakened, showed no signs that his foundation had been harmed.

He remained in his cross-legged, sword-clutching posture, as if he had become one with the frigid lake water.

This scene left Xia He, Di Chuan, and Granny Lan utterly astonished.

"?!"