Southern Continent, Harmony Blossom Sect, Xi Shen's Cave Adobe
Looking at the koi fish swimming without a care in the world, Xi Shen calmed down. He could feel his cultivation rising, just by being in this cave adobe, "With this speed, I should reach Qi Refinement in just two years, then I'll be considered to have stepped on the path of immortality."
Taking out the storage ring Elder Xiao gave him, he injected it with his spiritual energy and all the gifts he recieved, except the two manuals, were sucked in, even the pink jade box was now inside the ring.
He took the cushion from the room and put it near the lake, as the spiritual energy was denser there. He sat down and checked his status, 'Status.'
{Status}
[Name: Xi Shen 喜神]
[Age: 12/110]
[Inheritance: Master of Divine Palace(Divine King) #Mortal Part]
[Cultivation: 6th level of Qi Gathering]
[Cultivation Method: Dao of Longevity]
[Physique: Thousand Leaves Body - Heavenly Grade]
[Root: Six Element Root - Heavenly Grade]
[Spells: None]
[Arts: Basic Swordsmanship - 4%]
[Looks: Above Average]
Seeing the [Arts] section, he contemplated, 'I should also practice my sword skills, learn spells, and cultivate.' A smile crept on his face, "Although there is a lot to be done, I'm excited. I only read about this stuff, now I'm here…"
Clenching his fists in excitement, determination filled his eyes, "Since I'm here, I'll make the most of it, and try to attain immortality." He picked up one of the manuals.
Opening it, he read, "Basic Swordsmanship - Way of the Sword" Reading it, Xi Shen realized that Qi Gathering and Material Artist are the same in the sword aspect.
The manual explained the difference between the Sword and the other weapons, crowning it as an emperor. It also delved into exercises and ranks of mastery of the Sword and general techniques in general.
'So to use the technique successfully and soullessly is Small Success, performing the technique out of repetition is Lower Ground.' He could understand this part as he read quite a bit of this genre back on Earth.
'Gain the soul behind the move to reach the Middle Ground.' He wrecked his brain to find out where he heard this, "Oh yeah, Zhu Yingshu did mention my Grandfather had a technique at Middle Ground mastery."
'But this next part…Break out of repetition is Higher Ground, and lastly unite Man, Earth, and Heaven of the technique to reach Grand Perfection.' He stared at the manual, deep in thought.
Snapping out of his daze, "What does that even mean? I have the same information in the inheritance, but why don't I understand it?" After a pause, he shook his head, "I didn't even learn how to crawl, yet I want to fly…"
With a sigh, he put down the manual and picked up the other one. It was thicker, as it held basic techniques every cultivator should know, 'I should memorize all of this? No wonder a lot of people go crazy and develop mental demons.'
After an hour, he finally finished reading it, "Heh, good thing I'm used to just reading. Who would've thought it would come in handy?" He closed the book and looked around the cave adobe to ease his mind.
He stood up, deciding to walk around it, to see every nook and cranny. Starting from the entrance, he carefully inspected his new home. He didn't find anything extraordinary, as he had already noticed important stuff.
To not go crazy, he made preparations early and enjoyed the peacefulness of the koi fish, wondering, "Now that I remember, there's a legend about your kind becoming dragons, it wouldn't be the most shocking thing."
Laughing, he sat back down on the cushion and started to cultivate, repeating the mantra of the Dao of Longevity. While he did so, the spiritual energy surged and formed a vortex around him.
As the spiritual energy entered his mouth and nose, he wielded it to enter and cleanse every cell in his body. He didn't feel discomfort at the process, only a mild tingling sensation.
The cultivation session lasted a week, he was immersed in the feeling that only hunger snapped him from it, "What? How am I already hungry? It shouldn't be in a week..."
He looked around, trying to gauge the time, but seeing the cave in the intact state, he was confused, "Maybe a week has already passed." He decided to contact Huo Fan, not to bother Long Jianxian with trivial matters.
Injecting the spiritual energy, he sent out a signal, and within a minute Huo Fan's voice entered his mind, {Junior Brother, what's the matter? Oh right, you don't have spiritual sense, I'll come to you.}
Xi Shen opened the cave adobe, and Huo Fan was already in front of the door, 'How fast. I wonder what his cultivation level is.'
Huo Fan, as he sized up Xi Shen, said, "You are about to break through the 7th level of Qi Gathering? Impressive." He took out a bottle of pills, "These are sustenance pills. I wanted to give them to Junior Sister Tang, but she grew up too fast."
Taking the pills, Xi Shen thanked him, and they chatted. After half an hour, Huo Fan advised, "Don't neglect your cultivation, I have high expectations. I'm going on another mission, you better become a Qi Refinement cultivator when I come back."
Xi Shen, looking at his departing figure, bowed, "Yes, Senior Brother." That got him thinking, 'Elder Ji said I should become an Inner Sect Disciple, who would've thought I would end up as a Core Disciple.'
A smug smile spread on his face as he closed the cave's door. He sat back down and took out one sustenance pill, putting it in his mouth. It quickly dissolved, 'Quite tasteless. Oh well…'
As soon as it did, the hunger disappeared, and he went back to cultivation. A month had passed, and Xi Shen didn't move an inch, but his cultivation improved, and he was on the verge of a breakthrough.
He breathed in the spiritual energy and heard a cracking sound in his mind, 'Finally.' His body felt rejuvenated, every cell felt lighter, and all his senses became sharper.
After half a day of stabilizing his cultivation, he was finally able to breathe out a sigh of relief, "I finally entered the later levels of Qi Gathering." He again felt hunger, as he popped the sustenance pill in his mouth, he checked his status.
{Status}
[Name: Xi Shen 喜神]
[Age: 13/160]
[Inheritance: Master of Divine Palace(Divine King) #Mortal Part]
[Cultivation: 7th level of Qi Gathering]
[Cultivation Method: Dao of Longevity]
[Physique: Thousand Leaves Body - Heavenly Grade]
[Root: Six Element Root - Heavenly Grade]
[Spells: None]
[Arts: Basic Swordsmanship - 4%]
[Looks: Above Average]
He looked at his status with pride, but it quickly disappeared as he laid his eyes on his [Spells] and [Arts], "I might be 7th level of Qi Gathering, but I would lose to a well-trained 5th level."
His gaze glossed over his age, "To think I missed my birthday…" With a sigh, he remembered the saying, "One day in Heaven is a thousand years for mortals."
He stood up, taking out the sword Huo Fan had given him. The sword's blade was about 60cm and made from white jade, while the handle was made from peach wood, 'Senior Brother Huo said it was a Low Earth Grade treasure he found in a cave.'
Opening the manual, he began his first practice of the swordsmanship. The manual emphasized the importance of the fundamentals, which are slash, stab, and parry.
Xi Shen didn't need to practice the stance as he's already practiced it under Xi Li. He started to slash vertically, as he was still in Qi Gathering, he couldn't infuse the sword with his spiritual energy.
The manual also contained a technique of the Harmony Blossom Sect, Seven Petal Sword Dance (七花剑舞). It was developed by the founder for disciples, as it's perfect for beginners, and it can stand toe to toe with sect secret techniques if it reaches Grand Perfection.
But Xi Shen first needs to master the fundamentals, and with that, he puts all his focus on mastering them. His mind synced with the movements, and he fell into a strange state.
After a thousand slashes, which took 2 days to complete, he felt like a fog had been cleared; now he could slash more easily, and the sword felt lighter in his hand.
Feeling the changes, he suddenly felt a sense of tiredness wash over him, 'I haven't slept in more than a month, I'm still a mortal, only those in Qi Refining can skip sleep and eating.'
He went to his bed and quickly fell asleep.
Southern Continent, Harmony Blossom Sect, Main Peak
The full moon lit up the secluded area of the peak, and willow's branches danced with the breeze. Two figures sat opposite each other, playing the game of Go.
One was an old man wearing a red robe, his white hair danced with the wind unrestrained, and the man's presence was no different than a mortal. He picked up a Go piece and placed it on the board, while saying, "He's indeed the one Master mentioned."
The other man wore a golden robe, and his silky black hair was held by a blossom crown. His presence was imposing, demanding respect, yet it felt inferior to the old man. Deep in thought, he mumbled, "But Grandmaster said he'll be a heavenly sent talent, how come he just broke into the 7th level of Qi Gathering at 13?"
The old man smiled, "A seed can grow into a mighty tree, if the conditions are right, don't be impatient, Jian'er."
Hua Jian looked at his master and, with concern, said, "But, the Bloodshade Hall might attack us in less the a hundred years. That dammed Tuo Zhe is 9th level of Nascent Soul, while I'm only at 8th."
Seeing his disciple clench his hands in disappointment and helplessness, the old man reassured him, "Don't worry, when the time comes, I'll invite Peng Huxing, he still owes me one favor."
Hua Jian released his hands a bit. With a relieved sigh, he mumbled, "If the Immortal Jade Sect acts, these rats won't be able to do anything." He smiled a little in relief and put down the Go piece.
While he appeared calm, the old man was dejected inside, 'That fool, Huxing, would never repay me that favor. He wouldn't even admit it, much less repay it. I just hope this child Master predicted surprises me.'
The two of them continued their Go game, as night came to an end Hua Jian stood up, bowed, and left. The old man, who was left alone, went under the willow to cultivate, and mumbled to himself, "Master, the world has forgotten Grandmaster's glory."
Southern Continent, Harmony Blossom Sect, Xi Shen's Cave Adobe
Xi Shen woke up refreshed, and the first thing he did was take up his sword and begin his practice again. With every slash, he was feeling closer and closer to his sword.
After half a day, he changed the exercise to a stabbing motion. He again trained for 2 days with small breaks, as he was still mortal. Like that, a month had passed, and his swordsmanship reached 10%.
He mastered the fundamentals in just over a month, which was impressive as normal people needed at least four months. Xi Shen was quite satisfied, 'Now I can start learning Seven Petal Sword Dance, I'll cultivate during the day and practice the sword at night.'
He sat down to clear his mind, looking at the koi fish, he admired their ignorance, "There's a saying back on Earth, how was it…" He racked his brain to remember, "Ah, right. Ignorance is bliss, the less you know the better."
He rested for half an hour and began his cultivation, silently reciting the mantra of Dao of Longevity, 'One becomes Yin and Yang, Yin and Yang become Three Purities, Three Purities become Six Elements, Six Elements transform into Eight Trigrams, Eight Trigrams fuse into One.'
He fell into cultivation as he breathed in the spiritual energy. It circulated in his whole body, making him feel like he was receiving a massage. And soon he fell into the routine, he didn't even open his cave adobe, focusing his energy on cultivation and swordsmanship.
The river of time flowed without pause, and two years had quietly slipped away.
Southern Continent, Zheng Dynasty, Xi Clan's Residence
The patriarch of the Xi Clan, Xi Li, looked in front of him with hidden coldness, "You said three years, what is the meaning of this?" In front of him stood Sheng Hua, warmly smiling.
Her smile widened, "My father did say three years, but mortal's heart is unpredictable, much less cultivator's. So, father decided to lessen your thinking time."
Xi Li clenched his hands while thinking, 'If only I had six more months, I could've reached the 7th level of Foundation Establishment. Damn it.' He exhaled a breath of frustration and calmed down, "So, you want me to come with you back to Sheng Clan?"
Her giggle was filled with anticipation, "Yes, father ordered you so."
Xi Li wanted to grind her bones and torture her soul, but refrained from doing so, "And you promise Shen'er will be left alone?" To which she just nodded. He was relieved, 'Just you wait, you stupid witch, my son will destroy you and your clan.'
He stood up, saying, "Fine, I don't care what happens to me as long as Shen'er is safe." Her smile was even wider when she heard that, making her look crazy.
They both stood on their sword and flew away. Xi Li has already entrusted his Clan management to Zhou Ning and Zhu Yingshu. They were reluctant at first, but had to accept it as it was the only way.
Southern Continent, Harmony Blossom Sect, Xi Shen's Cave Adobe
Huo Fan stood in front of the cave adobe for a minute before calling, "Junior Brother, your Senior Brother has returned, aren't you gonna welcome me?"
As the cave adobe opened, Xi Shen walked out. His hair was even longer, reaching his back, he now stood at 159cm, and his aura was much sharper. He bowed, "Greetings, Senior Brother! I failed to meet your expectations."
Huo Fan looked stunned and mumbled, "I was only joking." Clearing his throat, he continued, "You didn't fail, you exceeded my expectations. Plus, I returned earlier for Master's birthday. To have reached the 9th level of Qi Gathering in just two years, impressive."
Xi Shen swiftly replied, "Thank you for the praise, Senior Brother."
Huo Fan waved his hand, "No need for thanks, anyway, Old Man's birthday is in three months, you should be able to breakthrough to Qi Refining in that time frame. Which will be quite the surprise for him."
He took out a bottle of pills, "These are Qi Refining Pills. After the breakthrough, they'll speed up your cultivation. That's all, I'll come to fetch you in two and a half months."
With that, Huo Fan left without looking back. Xi Shen looked at his departing figure before going back to his cave adobe, 'I'll definitely reach Qi Refining before Master's birthday.'