Leng Yan lightly leaped up, her slender, smooth, jade-like snow-white legs bent, and she squatted on her own "grave" with her knees drawn to her chest. Her cape fluttered behind her as she quietly watched Lin Zhao.
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao jumped in fright, recoiled several steps back, his expression aghast, "Leng Yan? Or a ghost?"
"It's me..."
Leng Yan looked helpless. She stood up from her grave and said, "I'm not dead..."
"Ah!?"
Lin Zhao was utterly confused, his heart pounding. First, he suspected the woman before him was a ghost, but the afterglow of the setting sun was still present. She wouldn't be able to speak to him in the sunlight if she were a ghost. This meant she wasn't one. But if she wasn't a ghost, she must possess an extraordinary ability to revive the dead, and to do so after a desperate blow from a cultivator in the Upper Five Realms – what kind of existence was this?
In an instant, Lin Zhao felt that the small town was indeed a place where dragons hid and tigers lay coiled. This young girl... was actually a cultivator in the Upper Five Realms!
Leng Yan had no idea what he was thinking. She merely smiled faintly, "What's wrong?"
The young man cupped his fist, "Senior Leng!"
"Pfft..."
Leng Yan spat out a mouthful of blood, turned, and left, no longer wanting to deal with him.
...
Night, at the bookstore.
Qin Suihan, the bookstore owner, brewed tea for his guest. The female immortal in white and the scholar sat opposite each other.
"How is Lin Zhao?" Qin Suihan asked.
"Extremely well."
Ming Yuechi smiled slightly, "My junior brother is surely a peerless individual under the heavens."
"Mmm."
Qin Suihan nodded and said, "As a fifteen-year-old boy, Lin Zhao is indeed rare. It's difficult enough that he survived, but he has also retained his kindness towards this world after surviving. That is even more remarkable."
Ming Yuechi smiled, cupped her fists, and said, "Thank you, Mr. Qin, for protecting my junior brother on his journey."
"You're too kind."
Qin Suihan returned the bow and asked, "Are you leaving soon?"
"Yes."
Ming Yuechi sighed softly, "The lower realm is in chaos, and the upper realm is equally chaotic. The Northern Four Tribes in the lower realm are restless, and the demonic entities from beyond the heavens in the upper realm are also restless. None of us who are titled in the Divine Realm can rest. Moreover, descending from above consumes a great deal of destiny and cultivation. But as an elder sister... I must come down to see my junior brother and give him a small gift from his elder sister. Mr. Qin, do you agree?"
"Indeed."
The scholar smiled faintly, "Up until now, no one has taught Lin Zhao the path of the sword. It's best for you, a great Sword Immortal, to teach him the fundamentals. Setting up sword stances and cultivating sword intent within the sword lake – these all require guidance."
Ming Yuechi couldn't help but chuckle, "Mr. Qin, you have ulterior motives. You intend to ask me, his elder sister, for his first sword embryo, don't you?"
"Haha~~~"
Qin Suihan chuckled, "As expected of a great Sword Immortal, so perceptive."
Ming Yuechi frowned, "Where is his third senior brother? Why isn't he teaching him the fundamentals of the sword?"
"Perhaps that Saint of Warfare feels that his martial arts talismans are more outstanding than the sword path?"
"Most likely, that's his style."
Ming Yuechi stood up, bowed to Qin Suihan, and said with a smile, "The sword embryo for my junior brother has actually been prepared long ago. There's no need for you to remind me. However, Yuechi sincerely thanks you for your care for my junior brother. In truth, you are already half a guardian to him. This journey will also be an unforgettable one in his life."
Qin Suihan cupped his fists, "Qin is also honored!"
...
After dinner, Lin Zhao and Little Stone practiced boxing in the courtyard, their bodies drenched in sweat. Little Jiu'er, under the lamplight, was diligently writing and transcribing sage texts, also drenched in sweat.
At this moment, the immortal in white arrived.
"I thought you weren't coming back."
Lin Zhao stepped forward and smiled, "We've already had dinner. How about you? Should I go make you a bowl of chicken noodle soup?"
"No need."
Ming Yuechi smiled slightly, "Lin Zhao, I have something to discuss with you."
"Mmm!"
Lin Zhao nodded and followed Ming Yuechi into the side room. The moment they stepped inside, Ming Yuechi erected a small sword formation barrier, isolating them from the world. She turned to Lin Zhao and smiled, "Come, first perform the sect ceremony and call me Second Senior Sister!"
"Ah?!"
Lin Zhao was slightly taken aback, then cupped his fists and performed the martial artist's salute, "Lin Zhao, greetings, Second Senior Sister!"
"Good~~~"
Ming Yuechi smiled sweetly and said, "The heavens have blessed our Dragon Tongue sect. I never imagined the sword would find such a lovable junior brother!"
Lin Zhao felt a bit awkward, "Senior Sister, can you explain the whole story?"
"There's really not much to tell."
Ming Yuechi said, "Alright, I don't have much time left in the lower realm. Junior Brother, I will now teach you a sword stance method for cultivating sword energy and sword intent, and a heart method for refining the sword within the sword lake. Remember them well."
"Yes!"
Lin Zhao's eyes widened.
Ming Yuechi gently touched Lin Zhao's forehead. A wisp of divine consciousness immediately flowed into Lin Zhao's sea of consciousness, transforming into golden characters that flickered above Lin Zhao's spiritual vortex. The entire sword stance method and the sword refinement heart technique were imprinted into Lin Zhao's memory, making it impossible to forget even if he wanted to.
"Done."
Ming Yuechi withdrew her finger and smiled, "To become accomplished in sword cultivation, you don't need to be constrained by specific moves. Cultivate your sword intent well, sense your sword energy, and don't neglect refining your sword within the sword lake."
"Mmm."
Lin Zhao was still savoring the sword techniques his Second Senior Sister had imparted.
"Additionally."
Ming Yuechi lightly opened her hand, and a mass of silver metallic substance appeared between her fair fingers. She smiled, "Here, this sword mud was once the weapon of an ancient supreme being from the upper realm. After my master shattered it with a punch, it has been with me. Place it into your first sword lake to temper and refine it. Refine this sword mud into your first flying sword. Whether you choose to make it your life-bound item is up to you."
"Mmm..."
Lin Zhao held the sword mud with utmost reverence. Spiritual energy emerged from within him, enveloping the sword mud and sending it into his first sword lake.
At this moment, Ming Yuechi produced a stone resembling a green brick. "This is Qingxin Rock, used for honing flying swords. It's quite rare. After you cultivate your flying sword, you must sharpen it frequently to make it even sharper and indestructible."
"Understood, Senior Sister."
Lin Zhao reached out and took it. The moment he held it, it became incredibly heavy, almost making him, a cultivator at the fifth realm, unable to hold it.
Ming Yuechi saw this and smiled faintly. Her beautiful eyes gazed at her junior brother with lingering affection. "Your spiritual cultivation has been solidified quite well. Mr. Qin's 'Xing Ting Wan' that he taught you is indeed good. However, you no longer need to practice Xing Ting Wan. We sword cultivators under heaven do not adhere to this. You only need to diligently practice your sword stances and temper your flying sword. Alright, Senior Sister must depart."
"Mmm, Senior Sister is leaving so soon?"
Lin Zhao looked at his senior sister, who had arrived quickly and was leaving just as fast.
"Mmm-hmm..."
Ming Yuechi gently stroked the top of the young man's head and smiled, "In the future, when you become a Sword Immortal at the thirteenth realm, you can fly up to the upper realm with a single sword to see me again, and truly meet our Master and formally enter his tutelage."
"Mmm!"
Lin Zhao nodded.
"Farewell."
Ming Yuechi exited the side room. A flash of sword light appeared, and her stunning figure was engulfed within the light, soaring upwards. In the blink of an eye, she had left this realm.
...
In the distance, the mountains.
On the mountaintop, a Sword Immortal in the Star River realm, who was meditating and cultivating in the snow, slowly opened his eyes. Seeing a ray of sword light soaring into the sky from the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool in the distance, his sword heart trembled involuntarily. He frowned, "Flying up with a sword? This is the second time this year. What's going on with the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool? Have so many Great Sword Immortals appeared?"
In a snow-white mountain range, a wild cultivator in the Returning True realm emerged from his cave dwelling and gazed into the distance. "The Northern Four Tribes are restless and could launch a large-scale invasion southward at any moment. Why are Sword Immortals from the heavens frequently visiting the human realm? Who are they targeting?"
From a verdant peak that pierced the clouds, someone rode a sword into the sky, wanting to catch a glimpse of the Sword Immortal's grace. However, in an instant, he was suppressed by the overwhelming sword intent, finding it difficult to breathe. He couldn't get any closer than several hundred miles from the Snow Domain Heavenly Pool.
...
In the small courtyard, Lin Zhao began his first sword stance. It was wobbly and not quite right, but thankfully, he could already cultivate a wisp of sword energy in his spiritual vortex. He then guided the sword energy to circulate within his body, constantly tempering and strengthening it. As for his first sword lake, the mass of silver sword mud was slowly rotating within the lake, gradually changing its form. However, this was a long process that could not be rushed.
From afar, atop the old banyan tree above the Marshal's mansion.
Chu Huai Xi, clad in his marshal's robe, stood impossimpressively, holding onto the tree trunk. He used his martial artist's senses to observe Lin Zhao's situation.
"No need to be so anxious."
Huang Ting Yu was picking his nose nearby and said lazily, "Ming Yuechi is personally teaching him swordsmanship, so Marshal Chu doesn't need to worry unnecessarily. It's a sure thing that our Great Chen Dynasty will produce a Sword Immortal, with at least the eleventh realm as a minimum."
"Impossible."
Chu Huai Xi couldn't hide his joy. "That child Lin Zhao will at least start as a twelfth realm Sword Immortal."
"Hmph, greedy and never satisfied~~~"
Old Huang yawned and said, "There's movement from the north again. The armies of the demon, devil, and ghost races are constantly marching from the depths of the northern border. They are all elite troops, having been trained for over a hundred years. A great war is not far off."
"I know."
Chu Huai Xi sighed, "Unfortunately, time is truly running out for us."
Huang Ting Yu looked at the foremost general of the north and said, "Once the Northern Four Tribes launch their full-scale attack, it will be a war of extermination. After this battle, perhaps humanity will cease to exist in this world. We won't even have the chance to be slaves; we'll be completely wiped out. This is also the ambition and wish of that Demon Ancestor – to monopolize the destiny of the entire world and rewrite the history of the lower realm."
"Hmph!"
Chu Huai Xi sneered, "Monopolize the world, with the demon race in charge? Such foolish fantasy. The Confucianists, Taoists, Buddhists, as well as the military strategists, Mohists, Legalists, and others – which of them will allow the demon race to seize control of the world?"
Huang Ting Yu chuckled and said, "How would I know? I'm just working for you. If I could think that far ahead, I would have already cultivated into a Demon Immortal!"
"No!"
He shook his head repeatedly and laughed, "I am a demon race Sword Immortal, inherently a Demon Immortal!"