Fusang Sword Heart Diagram

Chapter 77 Cultivation in Cloud Spirit Valley

With the spiritual energy within the talisman crane completely depleted, Ning Fusang and his group had no choice but to walk back.

Fortunately, the journey back was relatively smooth, and we did not encounter any danger.

More than half a month later, the group saw Xiaoyunfeng's shadow in the distance, and they were moved to tears.

"This journey has taken too long, but we're finally back at the sect!" Zhi Xiaocao sighed to the heavens.

Shi Zhou said, "We shouldn't be the last ones to come back, right?"

I left in early spring, and now it's early summer.

Zheng Xiaohui's eyes flickered. Jiang Xin and the others had drawn missions that were even further away, so they probably hadn't returned yet.

Although she had broken through to the second level, she had not yet learned sword control, so the group obediently climbed up the Cloud Ladder.

In front of the mountain gate, Ning Fusang spread out his hands and said to the group, "Give me back the Broken Spirit Needle."

Zheng Xiaohui reluctantly returned the broken spirit needle to her, and then the group went to Songhan Peak to pay their respects to Gu Pingsheng and hand over their mission.

When they arrived at Songhan Peak, besides the five of them, there were other people there, namely the five people in Jiang Xin's team that Zheng Xiaohui had just been thinking about.

Judging from the looks of it, their team isn't doing too well.

Gu Pingsheng gave it a B rating and then said, "There are still more than half a year until the outer sect competition. Go back and take good care of your injuries and cultivate. Try to get a good result in the competition."

Jiang Xin and the others nodded and bid farewell to Gu Pingsheng. As they passed Zheng Xiaohui, a slight look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Senior Sister Ning's team returned completely unharmed; aside from looking somewhat tired, they showed no signs of injury. Zheng Xiaohui's cultivation level even seemed to have improved.

Is the difference between a third-level cultivator leading the team really that big? Sure enough, she had underestimated the difference between the third and second levels of cultivation.

In the remaining six months, she must improve her cultivation as soon as possible, achieve a top-forty ranking in the outer sect competition, and enter the inner sect!
Gu Pingsheng then turned his gaze to the group. He looked at Zheng Xiaohui, a slight look of surprise appearing in his eyes: "Second level?"

Zheng Xiaohui recounted in detail how she had accidentally swallowed a demon beast's core and how Ning Fusang had helped her break through her cultivation realm.

However, she subconsciously concealed the matter of the black dragon.

Because at that time, they abandoned Ning Fusang to face the dragon alone while they fled for their lives. Such behavior was shameful and would leave a bad impression on Master Gu.

When Ning Fusang found them, everyone tacitly refrained from asking her about the dragon. Zhi Xiaocao was ashamed and too embarrassed to ask.

Seeing that Ning Fusang didn't mention it, Shi Zhouyun and Li Yeshan deliberately skipped over it.

Moreover, Ning Fusang found them from the other entrance, so everyone naturally assumed that after the stone bridge broke, she retreated from the cave and did not encounter the dragon.

Zheng Xiaohui spoke flawlessly, demonstrating great linguistic artistry.

After praising him a couple of times, Gu Pingsheng said, "Now that you have such an opportunity to break through to the second level, you should work even harder in the coming period. You might have a chance to enter the inner sect."

The outer sect competition is divided into groups. If you are lucky enough to be drawn into a group that is slightly weaker than the other groups, you may not be able to enter the top ten and get a spot as a personal disciple, but you still have a chance to enter the inner sect if you enter the top forty.

The probability is small, but it's not impossible.

As for the first level, no matter how they are grouped, there is no chance of them entering the inner sect.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xiaohui's eyes lit up: "I'll remember!"

Master Gu said she had a chance to enter the inner sect, so he must think highly of her. Zheng Xiaohui also has two beast cores, and she plans to go into seclusion to cultivate after she returns.

In the final year, there was no intensive training, and everyone cultivated on their own, so Zheng Xiaohui could have chosen to go into seclusion and refine the beast core.

Ning Fusang's lips twitched slightly. Zheng Xiaohui was just as her name suggested; she was clever but lacked wisdom, so she wasn't worried at all about her revealing the secrets of Qianyuan.

Of course, even if Zheng Xiaohui mentioned Qianyuan, Ning Fusang had prepared a flawless explanation.

She gathered her thoughts, took out the Still Water Sword, and Gu Pingsheng glanced at her and said, "Well done."

Ning Fusang knew that Gu Pingsheng was referring to her helping Zheng Xiaohui. Gu Fuzi was gratified that she hadn't stood by and watched her classmate die.

If she didn't want to get a top-tier rating, why would she care about someone as shallow and ignorant as Zheng Xiaohui?

The mission was completed exceptionally well, with no casualties. Zheng Xiaohui even broke through a new realm. Without a doubt, Gu Pingsheng gave her a top-tier rating.

Those who achieve the highest rating will have one opportunity to cultivate in Cloud Spirit Valley. Because some teams haven't returned yet, the number of people entering the valley cannot be determined, and naturally, the entry time is also temporarily undetermined.

Zheng Xiaohui felt like she'd been hit by a pie; she could actually enter Yunling Valley to cultivate? Her joy was almost overflowing.

Cloud Spirit Valley is a place that only inner disciples can enter. Of course, sometimes the sect will also give the opportunity to enter Cloud Spirit Valley for cultivation as a reward to outstanding outer disciples or those in miscellaneous duties.

"I will inform you once the time for entering Cloud Spirit Valley is set. Now that you have completed your mission, go back and rest."

Seeing the fatigue on everyone's faces, Gu Pingsheng did not keep them any longer.

Zheng Xiaohui was originally very tired, but after learning that she could enter Yunling Valley to cultivate, she is now in high spirits and does not feel tired at all.

The situation of Li Yeshan and the others was similar.

After descending Songhan Peak, the group parted ways. Ning Fusang first went to Taiyuan Hall to collect the cultivation resources she hadn't received for the past two months before returning to Wuyuan.

The flower wall planted by Ruan San Niang was bright and beautiful. Ning Fusang gently pushed open the courtyard gate and found many fallen flowers and withered leaves in the yard. Spider webs were also on the water vat. She sighed, "It seems that Ruan San Niang has not returned yet."

Otherwise, she would definitely have cleaned the yard thoroughly.

Ning Fusang used a dust-sweeping spell, and the courtyard quickly became tidy before she pushed open the door and entered her house.

Ning Fusang took out the Bewitching Bell and the Thousand Spirit Cage. Xie Taiting was seriously injured at the time and was powerless to erase the contract on the spiritual artifacts, so she had to refine these two spiritual artifacts herself.

The Bewitching Bell is a third-tier spiritual artifact, which would be easier for her to refine, so Ning Fusang chose to refine the Bewitching Bell first.

The dark blue bell, shaped like an upside-down forsythia flower, has four petals clustered together. Inside the Bewitching Bell, the small and exquisite tongue bell, under the invasion of Ning Fusang's will, rebelled and jingled.

A deep, seductive power emanated from the Bewitching Bell, slowly influencing the will of the one who refined it. Ning Fusang coldly curled her lips, her will clashing with the Bewitching Bell like a raging flood, instantly annihilating the will within it.

The Bewitching Bell fell into Ning Fusang's hands and became extremely obedient.

Ning Fusang exhaled a breath of turbid air. Refining the Bewitching Heart Bell had left her somewhat mentally exhausted, so she stopped refining the Thousand Spirit Cage.

In the days that followed, Ning Fusang didn't cultivate her spiritual energy much, but instead focused on swordsmanship. She still practiced her sword every day at dawn, and spent the rest of her time either in the library or listening to lectures from the sect's instructors.

During her break, Ning Fusang exchanged some unwanted items for spirit stones through Fei Qi. Over time, their relationship became fairly familiar. Sometimes, Fei Qi would help Ning Fusang find what she needed.

After returning to her sect, Ruan Sanniang would leave early and return late, and Ning Fusang and she rarely encountered each other.

As the outer sect competition drew closer, everyone worked harder and was busy every day. Apart from Ning Fusang, there was no one else who still had the leisure to attend those classes.

However, she is at the third level of the cultivation realm, which is more than enough for her to achieve a good ranking in the outer sect competition. No one will compete with her. They just hope that they won't be grouped with her during the group assignments, especially not in the first round, otherwise they will have nowhere to cry.

A month later, Ning Fusang received a notification from Liang Heng, Gu Pingsheng's eldest disciple, and went to Yunling Valley.

Besides the team she led, Xu Jianjia's team also received a top-tier rating. The ten of them followed Liang Heng through a narrow mountain crevice to the entrance of Yunling Valley.

An elder dressed in a gray Taoist robe stood guard outside the valley. Liang Heng stepped forward, took out his token, and handed it to the gray-robed elder for inspection. At the same time, he cupped his hands and said, "Disciple Liang Heng of Songhan Peak is here on my master's orders to send my junior brothers and sisters into Yunling Valley for cultivation."

On the back of his identity jade pendant was a depiction of a cloud-covered pine tree. After examining it, the gray-robed elder returned the jade pendant to Liang Heng.

The gray-robed elder had already received news that a new batch of disciples would be entering Cloud Spirit Valley for cultivation, so he did not question them further.

Liang Heng gestured for everyone to take out their identity jade tokens. Xu Jianjia handed over her jade token, and the gray-robed elder touched it with his fingertip. A ray of spiritual light entered the token, and when probed with divine sense, a blue rune could be seen.

The gray-robed elder returned the jade token to Xu Jianjia and said, "When the runes disappear, the magic array of Yunling Valley will teleport you out."

"Thank you, elder."

Xu Jianjia took the jade token and headed towards Yunling Valley.

After all ten people entered Yunling Valley, Liang Heng left.

"Such rich spiritual energy!" Zheng Xiaohui whispered.

She had never been to a place with such abundant spiritual energy.

The spiritual energy within Cloud Spirit Valley was so dense it was almost tangible. White smoke continuously billowed from the ground, and the further one went in, the thicker the smoke became. Within just a few steps, the white mist separated everyone, making it impossible to see each other's figures.

Ning Fusang continued walking forward. As she passed through the spiritual mist, the blue runes on her identity jade tablet had dimmed slightly, but she didn't pay much attention to it.

Suddenly, her vision cleared, and the mist no longer obscured her view.

A straight stone path extends forward, flanked by towering cliffs carved with numerous symbols, pictures, and sword techniques.

This is the Cliff of Enlightenment.

Many inner disciples sat cross-legged at the bottom of the cliff, some with their eyes closed in meditation, others gazing intently at the cliff carvings.

A girl with an oval face suddenly turned around and looked at Ning Fusang at the entrance of the cliff.

She stopped cultivating, walked towards Ning Fusang, greeted her, and said, "Congratulations on getting first place in the graduation exam."

When Min Qianyun was in the outer sect, she also won first place and entered Yunling Valley to cultivate, so when she saw Ning Fusang here, she quickly figured out the cause and effect.

Ning Fusang thanked him and walked towards the stone path. She looked up at the things on the stone wall, and fragmented images floated in her mind. The next moment, her sea of ​​consciousness felt as if it had been pricked by a needle, and those images disappeared.

Min Qianyun said, "What you saw was a broken sword technique, which still contains sword intent. It can damage your sea of ​​consciousness, so try to watch it as little as possible."

Min Qianyun meant well. She only observed the shape of the sword inscription on the cliff, but dared not engage with it spiritually, for fear of being drawn into the sword intent. Ning Fusang, however, stared at the sword inscription so intently that he would naturally be injured by the sword intent within it.

Ning Fusang said "thank you" and then continued to look at the cliff carvings.

Seeing this, Min Qianyun said nothing more, turned back to her original position, and closed her eyes to cultivate.

Inner disciples can't just enter Cloud Spirit Valley whenever they want. They need to consume contribution points to cultivate in Cloud Spirit Valley, so they generally don't waste time on trivial matters.

Ning Fusang was once again pulled into the brutal world of sword intent. Those fragmented lights and shadows attacked her. In Ning Fusang's sea of ​​consciousness, a phantom sword materialized and became entangled with the lights and shadows.

This is a sword-testing contest, but it takes place within the sea of ​​consciousness.

Ning Fusang's forehead veins bulged slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on her face. Her expression was cold and stern, and she did not give an inch.

Within his sea of ​​consciousness, the ferocious sword intent weakened considerably and finally dissipated with a roar.

A single sword strike splits the flower.

The name of this broken sword technique immediately came to mind for Ning Fusang.

Ning Fusang spent the rest of the time practicing the Splitting Flower Sword technique. Min Qianyun had already left Yunling Valley when Ning Fusang finally opened his eyes.

She probed the identity jade tablet with her divine sense. The rune was so illusory that its color was almost indistinguishable. Ning Fusang got up and walked back.

The spiritual energy in Yunling Valley is abundant and rich, even to the point of liquefaction; the best proof is the water mist clinging to one's clothes.

Ning Fusang had no intention of breaking through to the next realm, so all the spiritual energy she refined was stored in the green jade gourd.

The surrounding spiritual mist formed a cloud ring, encircling Ning Fusang. Not far away, Zheng Xiaohui, who was attempting to break through to a higher realm, opened her eyes and asked, "Why is all the spiritual energy heading that way?"

She frowned and followed the ribbon-like white smoke forward. In the blink of an eye, the cloud ring suddenly dissipated, and Zheng Xiaohui was once again enveloped in a thick fog.

After thinking for a moment, she walked towards the place where the spiritual energy had just surged. The runes were about to disappear, and even if she sat down now and focused on cultivation, she wouldn't be able to break through her realm. She might as well go and see who had been drawing energy just now.

With so much spiritual energy surging over, it must be someone else trying to break through to a higher realm, just like her, right?

Zheng Xiaohui had only taken two steps when, just then, the runes on her identity jade tablet disappeared, and she was teleported out by the magic array.

The bright sunlight was completely different from the cool shade inside Cloud Spirit Valley.

The sky was a clear, deep blue, without a single cloud, exceptionally sunny; it was already midsummer in Lingzhou. A gentle breeze blew, refreshing and not scorching.

Zheng Xiaohui did not break through her realm this time when she entered the valley. She refined the spiritual energy, but the barrier was much thicker than when she was in the first realm, and she could not break through it at all.

Her spiritual energy filled and emptied repeatedly, and she tried to break through it five times, but to no avail.

Zheng Xiaohui glanced at the others, wondering if they had managed to break through a minor realm by utilizing the spiritual energy within Yunling Valley during their cultivation.

Everyone left without exchanging pleasantries, which made the atmosphere less familiar and warm than when they first joined the sect.

Because they gradually realized that they had a conflict of interest.

Everyone wants to get into the inner circle; they are classmates, but also competitors.

(End of this chapter)